TUBMANBURG, July 21 (LINA) - Commuters in Bomi County say the arbitrary hike in transport fares is hindering their social and economic interests. The commuters, who are mostly business people traveling between the capital Monrovia and Bomi County, say commercial vehicle drivers in the county are increasing transport fares daily.
The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) was created by an Act of the National Legislature in 1965 with the statutory responsibility to develop and disseminate factual information about the Government of Liberia both at home and abroad. In addition to information dissemination, MICAT promotes Cultural and Tourism activities through institutions such as the National Museum, which is the custodian of Historical Artifacts, as well as Cultural Villages and the historic Providence Island.
The ministry articulates Government programs and policies to the general public through the following outlets:
- The MICAT Regular Thursday Press Briefings
- MICAT Outreach Program dubbed “ Taking Government to the people”
- The New Liberia Newspaper
- MICAT Website www.micatliberia.com or www.micat.gov.lr
- The Broadcasting, Television and Graphic Arts Departments
- The Liberia News Agency (LINA)
1. The MICAT Regular Thursday Press Briefings
The MICAT Regular Thursday Press Briefing is one of the most popular means through which information on Government programs and policies is disseminated to the general public through live radio broadcast, prerecorded audio-visual and television coverage, daily and weekly newspaper publications, as well as the
Internet and other social media portals.
2. MICAT Outreach Program dubbed “Taking Government to the people”
The MICAT Outreach Program serves as one of the most effective outlets through which the general public and
government functionaries often engage one another in frank interactive discussions on government programs
and policies at university campuses, various Aytaye shops and town hall meetings across the country.
3. New Liberia Newspaper
The New Liberia Newspaper is the government-owned newspaper used to collect and disseminate information
on developmental projects and programs, as well as enlighten the general public on how government programs
and policies are implemented. Produced three times weekly, the New Liberia Newspaper is circulated at various
government ministries and agencies, and is sold for 25 Liberian Dollars.
4. MICAT Websites
The MICAT website (www.micatliberia.com) is a worldwide portal that provides the general public as well as non-residents regular access to information on government programs and policies. The website is regularly updated with press briefings and press releases, as well as other important information such as tenders, bids and
employment opportunities, among others.
5. The Broadcasting, Television and Graphic Arts Departments
The audio-visual arm of MICAT contains a Radio and Television Broadcast Unit that is involved with the gathering and production of news and content from various news sources through excerpts, actualities or clips from MICAT's weekly press briefings, review of the New Liberia Newspaper, development from line Ministries and Agencies, major activities of UNMIL, rural activities and community news, as well as policies
and pronouncements of the government through English and vernacular language reporters and announcers. In addition, MICAT utilizes its Graphics Arts Section to graphically propagate Government programs and policies through billboards, signage and other visual arts montages across the country.
6. Liberia News Agency (LINA)
The Liberia News Agency (LINA) is another department of MICAT that is used to collect, package and propagate information on government programs and policies. The department has offices in the 6 counties through which information is disseminated to citizens in rural Liberia.
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open to a plateau of drier grasslands. The country possesses 40% of the remaining Upper Guinean rainforest. Liberia has a hot equatorial climate, with significant rainfall during the May to October rainy season and harsh harmattan winds the remainder of the year. Liberia covers an area of 111,369 km2 (43,000 sq mi) and is home to about 3.7 million people. English is the official language, while over 30 indigenous languages are spoken within the country.