MONROVIA, May 5 (LINA) – Deputy Information Minister Isaac Jackson has described as “totally strange and unacceptable” a statement by the In Profile Daily newspaper that it will collect from government US$75 for each press release.

“You cannot dollarize the news and deprive Liberians of the right to be informed about things taking place across the country,” he said Tuesday at the Ministry of Information press conference.
 
He noted that the publisher of the In-Profile daily, Carlton Boah, was invited Monday for a meeting to discuss the issue of the payment of the US$75 for a press release, adding ,“Boah remained defiant in his decision.”
 
Jackson added that during the close of the meeting, Information Minister Lewis Brown gave the paper 48 hours to retract and withdraw this public service announcement and to act in line with international best practice.
 
He then called on the PUL to intervene to ensure that the newspaper fully complies with the government regulation.
 
Jackson stressed that if the PUL does not intervene to take the necessary corrective action, government will be compelled to take action that will make Boah abide by the acceptable standard around the world.
LINA DMW/JGT/TSS/PTK