Gov't Finally Closes St. Luke

Gov't Finally Closes St. Luke

The Inquirer (Monrovia)

July 19, 2005
Posted to the web July 20, 2005

Monrovia

The Government of Liberia has ordered the immediate closure of the St. Luke School of Medicine for illegally operating in the country.

According to an Information Ministry release issued over the weekend, the government's decision is based on the findings and recommendations of a five-member committee constituted last March to probe the existence of St. Luke.

A full criminal investigation is to be conducted against the proprietor of the school and others who may have knowingly aided the process of opening the school.

All medical degrees issued by St. Luke School of Medicine are nullified and the school pronounced non-existent in Liberia, in keeping with the committee's recommendations approved by the Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, His Excellency Charles Gyude Bryant.

The committee had observed that an Act to Incorporate St. Luke was approved in 2003, but was never enacted by the legislature in session.

The cabinet committee further observed that the St. Luke School issued medical degrees in December 2001, January 2002, June 2002, August 2002, February 2003 and June 2003 when Monrovia was under attack.

The Cabinet Committee chaired by Justice Minister Kabineh Ja'neh, included Education Minister Evelyn Kandakai, Transport Minister Vamba Kanneh, Health Minister Peter Coleman and the Director General of the Cabinet Soko V. Sackor.