Plans announced to make LINA autonomous

Immediate past Liberia News Agency (LINA) Director General Rep. J. Nagbe Sloh says the first bill he will introduce at the Legislature next week is the LINA Autonomy Bill that pushes for an autonomous status for the nation’s news agency.

Mr. Sloh who is now a representative for Sinoe County was turning office over to his successor, newly appointed LINA Director General Mr. Kwame Weeks when he made the pledge Tuesday, 13 March at the Ministry of Information.

Mr. Sloh observes that internationally, Liberia and Burkina Faso’s news agencies look bad, vowing that he will work to ensure that Liberia’s news agency gets the support it needs to succeed.

“… Right now, Liberia and Burkina Faso are the only countries on the planet earth whose national news agencies are so attached to the Ministries of Information,” he says, adding that internationally Liberia looks bad and Burkina Faso looks ugly.

He also promises that while he is at the House of Representatives, the crumbling walls of state broadcaster ELBC will be drastically improved and LINA will reflect a true national news agency.

Liberia’s Information Minister Eugene Nagbe expressed confidence in the new LINA Boss Mr. Weeks, saying he had absolutely no hesitation that Mr. Weeks is competent.

Mr. Nagbe describes LINA as a critical component in the national media team, and pledges his ministry’s preparedness to work with Mr. Weeks.

Responding, Mr. Weeks says his goal at LINA is to make his president look good. He told LINA staff that if they make the news agency look better, the President and the Information Minister will shine. He promises that under his administration, information coming out of LINA is one that is going to be robust.

By Winston W. Parley