*Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue*

*Issue No. 49/06, 26-28 June, 2006*
*Editorial*

*AU Summit***

The AU Summit constitutes the ordinary session of the African Union, which
comprises heads of state and government or their duly accredited
representatives. The office of the Chairperson of the assembly shall be held
for a period of one year by a head of state or government elected after
consultation among member states.

When the summit was held in Sudan 16 - 24 January, 2006 the heads of state
decided not to make the president of Sudan the Chairperson of the assembly
because of the unresolved problems in Darfur and other concerns. The
President of Congo was made the Chairperson. So hosting the summit is
therefore not synonymous with being the Chairperson of the Assembly.

One may now ask: What are the heads of state coming to do in the Gambia. The
answer is simple. The assembly of heads of state is responsible for
determining the policies and budgets of the union, appoint the Chairperson
of the AU Commission and the Commissioners, create new organises and so on
and so forth.

The summit is going to concentrate on the rationalization and harmonization
of the regional economic groupings that are created to facilitate regional
integration. Other issues such as the conflict areas are also going to find
expression.

FOROYAA will follow the summit and keep the readers acquainted with all
developments.


*Another 18 Million Dalasis Paid To Farmers*

Reports reaching the Foroyaa have indicated that the Federation of
Agricultural Cooperative Societies (FACS) have paid a total of D30 million
out of the total sum of D48 million it is owing the farmers. This sum of D48
million dalasis is the amount owed to farmers between January and March this
year by FACS alone. It does not include the private buyers.

According to earlier reports, published by FOROYAA No. 39/2006, a sum of 12
million dalasis had been paid before. Now, reports have it that an
additional D18 million had been paid, bringing the total paid by FACS to D30
million dalasis. This means that a sum of 18 million dalasis is still
outstanding.

The source further indicated that the payments were done through the GGC by
government except for the first payment, which was done by GAMCO. The source
indicated finally that groundnuts taken on credit basis by private buyers
association members are yet to be paid for.





*JUSTICE MONAGEN CAUTIONS THE STATE LAW OFFICE*
*By Surakata Danso*

Justice Monagen, who presides over one of the busiest courtrooms in the High
Court, has cautioned the state law office to always make sure that witnesses
are brought before they bring prisoners to court.

The judge made these remarks following the appearance of several detained
prisoners in her court whose cases could not proceed due to absence of
prosecution witnesses in the cases against the accused persons including
manslaughter and murder. When the cases were called, the prosecutors asked
for adjournment due to lack of access to witnesses. For the illegal rape
case the problem had been lack of a Bambara (a dialect of Mandinka)
interpreter. The accused in the case is one Sarjo Jarra, a Malian. He is
said to have been arrested and detained since the year 2000.

Justice Monagen indicated that she does not see the need why the state and
the court should continue to encroach on the life of accused persons for
lack of witnesses and interpreters. She asserted that the Police should make
sure that witnesses are provided. She further indicated that the court
should also make sure that interpreters are available at all limes. She
finally suggested that there is the need for a meeting between the court,
the Attorney General's Chambers and the IGP's office to sort out the issue
of non availability of witnesses in criminal trials.




NAMS HAVE POWERS OVER SECRETARIES OF STATE *By Abdoulie Dibba*

Contributing to the adjournment debate at the National Assembly last Monday,
the National Assembly Member for Wuli West, Hon. Sidia Jatta, told his
colleagues that there is no use crying over the absence of Secretaries of
State during Assembly meetings particularly adjournment debates. Hon. Jatta
told his colleagues that they must stop crying because they are not
powerless. He said they have constitutional powers to control the Executive,
and, not only to control them, but they also have the powers to even remove
them from their jobs. He pointed out that some of his colleagues clamored
for Permanent Secretaries to attend Parliamentary sittings on behalf of
Secretaries of State. He stressed that the constitution is very clear on who
should attend sittings under Section 77(4). He indicated that Section 77(4)
stipulated very clearly that "*the Vice President or a Secretary of State
shall, when requested by the National Assembly, report to the National
Assembly on any matter concerning a department or other business of
Government committed to his or her charge and shall be entitled to attend
and speak in the National Assembly whenever any bill or other matter
concerning such department or business is being debated*". Sidia told his
colleagues that it is the Secretaries of State who should go to the National
Assembly so that when Parliamentarians raise issues, they will respond. He
said Permanent Secretaries cannot speak at the National Assembly. He further
stated that Permanent Secretaries attend National Assembly sittings out of
their free will, but they are not constitutionally bound to do so.

Hon. Jatta told his colleagues that they have been crying since 1997 when
they could discipline Secretaries of State to attend by simply telling them
that "Since you are not interested in the concerns of the people we are
representing in this august body, we too, when you come with your bills and
protocols we would have no interest in them. They need us to enact their
bills and ratify their protocols. If we are ready, we can discipline the
Secretaries of State".




*PRESS STATEMENT*

FORUM ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BARRED

A network of free expression and journalist organisations has issued a press
release accusing the Coordinating Committee set up by the Government of The
Gambia to oversee the African Union (AU) Summit of barring civil society
organizations on the continent from holding a forum on freedom of expression
in the country.  The forum was scheduled to take place in Banjul, the
capital, on June 29 and 30, prior to the Summit.

According to the press release, in a letter sent on June 19, 2006 to "The
Association of Non-Governmental Organisations" (TANGO) and copied to the
Kombo Beach Hotel, which had been booked as venue for the Forum, the General
Coordinator of the Summit, Mr. Bolong Sonko, told the hotel management to
suspend the freedom of expression forum until government approves it.   The
Gambian government therefore effectively stopped the NGOs from holding the
forum, the statement points out.

The statement considers the Gambian government's action as hostile to human
rights a violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.   The
signatories of the statement find it unacceptable for the Gambian
authorities to attempt to subject an NGO forum, particularly one aimed at
discussing an issue as fundamental as the right to freedom of expression, to
governmental approval.

According to the statement, in recent months, since the government announced
the foiling of an alleged attempted coup d'état, security agents have
arrested scores of Gambian citizens, including journalists, lawyers,
Secretaries of state, civil servants, army personnel, and the Speaker of the
National Assembly.

The statement points out that the state of fear imposed on the people of
Gambia is such that citizens are afraid to have any conversation whatsoever
about public affairs.  The regime has closed down several newspapers and
radio stations, and has frightened and gagged most of the newspapers not yet
closed down.

The statement further indicates that it is for this reason that the Network
of African Freedom Expression Organisations (NAFEO) has declared President
Jammeh's government "the most violent violator of press freedom in West
Africa" today, and the Gambia one of the six "hotspots" of freedom of
expression violations in Africa.

The African Union offers a new framework for good governance, respect for
human rights and the rule of law. It is therefore unacceptable and
intolerable that despite being the host of the African Union Summit, the
Gambia government persists in silencing free speech and trampling on the
basic rights of Gambians," the statement asserts.

The signatories of the statement then conclude by making the following
demands:

1.                denounce and protest the Gambian government's high-handed
action and violent repression of human rights in the Gambia;

2.             call on the leaders of democratic governments attending the
Banjul Summit to reject the Gambia government's action against the planned
freedom of expression forum;

3.             demand that the AU makes it obligatory on any host government
to permit civil society organisations to organise their forums during all
AU-authorised events, including summits;

4.             demand from leaders of democratic governments attending the
Banjul Summit to condemn the widespread and unending violent attacks on
human rights in the Gambia.

5.             further call on the Heads of State and Governments of the AU
to take urgent steps to ensure that the Gambian government respects its
obligations under international human rights law.





*VIEWS OF ORDINARY GAMBIANS ON *

*AU BANJUL SUMMIT*
*By Musa Barrow & Madiba Singhateh *

Electricity poles have been erected, roads have been reconstructed, villas
have been built, VIP protection course have been organised, a media
onslaught has been mounted, companies and communities have handed over their
contributions.

All these are geared towards making The AU Banjul Summit not just a success,
but a memorable gathering of African Leaders, the like of which Africa has
never been held  before.  Within a short period of time the country has
witnessed a rapid revamping of its infrastural adjustment, the kind of which
is unprecedented.

Proponents of the AU Banjul Summit argued that the staging of the African
Union Summit in the country is a national issue, which will earn The Gambia
glory and pride in the international arena.  They further insisted that, it
also transcends party politics, since it is an opportunity for the Nation to
attract potential business investment.

When our reporter went out to the streets to seek the views of ordinary
Gambians on AU Banjul Summit, the views of the proponents were shared by
some people and among them were two market women, Mariama Drammeh and Fatou
Sanyang, who said that the AU Banjul Summit is a great event for all
Gambians.  However, when the two women were initially approached by our
reporter, they looked reluctant to voice out their opinions.  One of them
told our reporter that, she knew very little about the AU Banjul Summit,
because according to her she wakes up early in the morning to go to the
market and returns late at night.  She said, she does not have time to
either listen to the radio or watch TV.

According to another enthusiast of The AU Banjul Summit, one Aji Marico, the
summit is a source of pride and honour for the country.  His views were
echoed by two other youths, one Abdullah Seckan and Lamin Daffeh, who also
believe that the country could derive some economic benefits by hosting the
AU Summit.  However, when they were asked to explain some of those economic
benefits they were not able to give answers.

Also speaking from the pro-AU Banjul Summit camp was one man, probably in
his fifties, who wished to remain anonymous.  He stated that it is the
responsibility of all Gambians to make this forthcoming AU Banjul Summit a
success.  Talking about the benefits that Gambia can derive from the summit,
he noted that some potential investors might come with the leaders.  He
further indicated that since the main agenda of the summit would be African
integration, if that happens Gambia must definitely benefit.

In sharp contrast to the views earlier expressed, some people are sceptical
about the issue. And one such opinion was the one expressed by a man who
wanted to be only known as Mr. Conteh.  He stated that although he is not
opposed to Gambia hosting the summit, given the present economic situation
in the country, it would have been prudent to spend the huge sums of money
spent in the preparations for the summit on other important sectors.  Mr.
Conteh further elaborated that, the money used to build lofty Presidential
villas and purchasing of lavish and flashy cars, should have been used to
pay farmers and provide better social services throughout The Gambia.  He
described the current reconstruction of roads in KMC and the surrounding as
a mere show-piece aimed at disguising the true state of most of our roads.

Mr. Conteh also added that the essence of the summit would depend on what
African Leaders discuss. He said that if they discuss issues regarding their
own personal interests rather than the issues affecting ordinary Africans,
then the purpose of the summit would be defeated. He also implored African
leaders to look into the state of African Football.

Sharing Mr. Conteh's comments was one Ansu Jammeh who further appealed to
Gambian authorities to free all political prisoners.  Another sceptic of The
AU Banjul Summit, Alieu Demba, stated that hosting the AU Summit is just
varity with very little benefit for the country.  He also said that it would
have been wise to invest in the socio-economic development of the country
rather than host the AU Summit at such exorbitant cost.

According to one Yoro Saho, hosting the AU Summit is a good idea. But he
went on to say that after the summit, government should concentrate on
improving the standard of living of Gambians.  Referring to the ongoing
preparation on efforts, Mr. Saho questioned the essence of flashy cars and
lofty buildings when the standard of living of ordinary citizen is falling.

He also cited a striking personal experience at the Jammeh Foundation
Hospital in Bundung, where, he said, his wife gave birth two months
back.  According
to him on that fateful day, there was no doctor or nurse at that hospital to
look after his wife when she gave birth.  To add insult to injury, Mr. Saho
said, there wasn't even water at the hospital at that particular moment.





*SOS MBOWE CLARIFIES*
*By Abdoulie Dibba*

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tamsir Mbowe, told
Deputies at the National Assembly that the embargo on the issuance of new
licenses applies to all categories of drug outlets namely category A, B and
C. SoS Mbowe went on to indicate that the embargo is due to the problems
faced in the private sector such as proliferation of drug outlets,
non-licensed outlets and also drug outlets being manned by non-qualified
personnel which need to be addressed. SoS Mbowe said the current drug
legislation that is the Medicines Act 1984 and the Medicines Regulation 1986
were reviewed in 2005. SoS Mbowe told Deputies that the Revised Drug
Legislation, the Medicines and Related Products Act, 2006 is currently being
finalized for submission to Cabinet and the Assembly for enactment before
end of 2006.

SoS Mbowe concluded by saying that "the embargo will be lifted as soon as
the new Drug Legislation is enacted by the National Assembly. SoS Mbowe made
these remarks at the National Assembly while responding to a question raised
by the Member for Janjangbureh Constituency, Hon. Musa A. K. Sillah,
regarding the embargo on the issuance of licenses and its lifting.

In a supplementary question, the Minority Leader of the National Assembly,
Halifa Sallah, asked SoS Mbowe to clarify whether impact assessment has been
done since the embargo? In response, SoS Mbowe said impact assessment has
been done.





*AU SUMMIT*

*As from this issue, we open this column to report   on developments related
with the AU summit and to discuss Pan-African issues.*

*WHAT DOES THE AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT MEAN FOR AFRICANS*?

*BRAVO BANJUL AU- SUMMIT*

*TRADE UNION'S POSITION FOR SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA BY PA
MOMODOU K.B FAAL EXECUTIVE SECRETARY GENERAL G.W.C*

Africa is currently facing major challenges to which urgent, humane and
sustainable solutions must be found during the Banjul AU Summit

In fact, over the last five years, many African countries have been
implementing multiple strategies aimed at solving the crucial problems
brought about by the implementation of the measures of the Structural
adjustment programmes, especially in the economic and social fields.

Yet again, these countries today find themselves in another predicament
where they must make efforts and unprecedented sacrifices to attain and
maintain themselves like the other industrialised countries, on an economic
performance orbit, which goes with the globalisation of the economy.

This globalisation phenomenon is translated by an increasing interdependence
of the global economy, as a result of rapid economic and technological
changes

The process of this globalisation of the economy sees itself as the
guarantee for economic growth and the development of countries, advocates
for a liberalisation of the global economy, increase competition and
relegates social issues to the background.

Owing to the poor economic performance and this inexorable adventure facing
us in a situation where employment, the purchasing power, production,
investments, terms of trade on the regional and international markets are
permanently on the decline, Africa is at the fringe of this new order.

Besides, the efficiency of developmental policies of the high potential
sectors including agriculture, industry and the inadequacy of researches on
local and foreign market opportunities, keeps the Continent outside this
competition.

It is therefore imperative for African Trade Unions to make an in depth
diagnosis this globalisation phenomenon, analyse its consequences on workers
and put forward sustainable alternative solutions capable of guaranteeing
the social advancement and economic development of the continent

The first pad of this article will therefore look at the prevailing
conditions at the time of Africa integration. The second part should tackle
the consequences of the globalisation and the third will evolve on trade
union methods and strategies that could be implemented to confront the
challenges of globalisation.

*1. EMERGENCE OF THE GLOBALISATION PHENOMENON IN AFRICA*

After the independence era, the domestic wealth of many African countries
attracted foreign capital. Investments of the 70s had no serious economic
justifications and were rather a pretext to seek prestige and indirect
advantages. This gave birth to the phenomenon referred to as "white
elephant" in other words, prestigious projects.

However, the trend to consume foreign manufactured products became the order
of the day. In these conditions, African cities, the place of residence of
the privileged strata became the clients of the industrialised centres of
the West- The rural areas where the majority of African populations lived
were therefore ignored. The building of the foundation of a prosperous
economy was thus neglected. Relations established following formal and
informal alliances between Governments and multinational enterprises did not
enable Africans acquire and master the necessary know-how to advantageously
position themselves on the scene of world affairs. African economies found
themselves constantly declining

This situation worsened with the economic recession of the 70s following the
oil crisis of 1970 and 1983 and coupled with the low prices of raw materials
and the constant deterioration of the terms of trade.

At one stage, Governments were no longer in the position to pay back their
accumulated debts. This state of affairs, towards the mid 80s, made the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund launch their strategic
"Structural Adjustment Programmes" (SAPS).

The aims and objectives of SAPs are on the need to restructure African
economies, redirect public sector expenditures and eliminate prices
manipulations. It also seeks to create a favourable environment for private
sector investment.

Measures based on the criteria of profitability and competitiveness was put
in place. It involved changes to the production apparatus to stimulate
efficiency. The final objective on the one hand, is to enable African
countries to play along in the competition and assert themselves on the
international markets and on the other eliminate budgetary imbalances and
absorb their foreign debts.

This is how, through indebtedness and SAPs, Africa entered globalisation in
full swing.

As far as Africa is concerned, it is a system of development based on the
global integration of national economies and the increased role of economic
actors that multinational companies constitute. This phenomenon is not new
to Africa. It has already been in existence at least as far as trade is
concerned. However, its tempo has increased of late with the integration of
financial markets and the technological development of the means of
communication, leading to the shrinking of the world to the extent that
lifestyles and processes of thought and action seem to be standardising.

In short, this globalisation phenomenon has been increased by the following
factors among others:

- the predominance of economic policies centred on the global market;

- the withdrawal or reduction of institutional barriers to international

Trade through multilateral agreements with the view to harmonising policies
and      improving access to market;

- the technological advancement in transport and electronic communication,
which have significantly reduced the cost of trade and made viable the
export of wide range of goods and services;

- the rapid developments of the world financial markets to remove cost of
transactions;

- the geographical dispersal or global integration of productive and
marketing processes controlled by multinational corporations.

Globalisation is taking place at different rhythms depending on the
countries and activities. In view of the above, one could say that the
success or failure of a country or region in the process of a globalised and
liberalised world economy depends on the level of its trade, investment
inflows, technological development, its competitiveness, its penetration
into the international markets as well as the efficient management of its
resources. In addition to all these elements are the other factors
associated with peace, stability and correct choice of developmental
policies.

However, the experience with SAPs proved to us at the time that socio
economic problems are not solved with only figures and curves of economic
growth. Global equilibrium are insufficient for mart happiness. The economic
globalisation shall go hand in hand with the globalisation of the
fundamental human and good governance

*ii CONSEQUENCES AND CHALLENGES OF GLOBALISATION*

Globalisation in the scope of first conception seems to be a model of
development based on internationalisation of production and the integration
of the world economy. At the onset, it translates the expectation of new
developments within the scope of a free, liberal and competitive world
market. 1-lowever, no matter the justification of the optimism of
globalisation, r argument can hold as far as its risks for Africa is
concerned. Having suffered the bitter consequences of the developmental
policies of the 70s, Africa should be careful not to adopt developmental
approaches that have sometimes been against the interests of workers.

This explains why beyond all afro-pessimism, our analysis of Africa's
situation owing to its integration into the globalisation process highlights
poignant consequences and challenges of various dimensions.

*2-1 At the economic level*

One of the strongest tendencies of the reconversion of the economy within
the framework of globalisation is the privatisation of enterprises, leading
to outright sale of local industries to multinational companies. This
practice has re-in a capitalist economy, the control of which governments
find increasingly elusive in Africa. Those with the capital are increasingly
controlling the economy and investments, which are not always made according
to a better development but rather according to prospects of better
turnovers.

One would no doubt witness a free play of economic forces; however, it still
stands to bring about a de-capitalisation of African countries to the
advantage of giant companies of developed countries. These latter set
themselves up in African countries in the form of a financial suction pump,
further exploiting our poverty. Thus, as the producer of input and
semi-finished goods, African workers are simply exploited on the basis of
the fact that as individuals they have no power to defend themselves.

There is therefore a development of under-development in such a way that
African countries are economically poor ones across the planet.

The neo-liberal opening was also pronounced in Africa through strong
monetarist practices involving the re-establishment of the macro economic
equilibrium. African countries made desperate efforts at reducing their
budgetary deficits by implementing harsh monetary discipline. However, they
witnessed the resurgence of inflationary pressures at the lowest level of
economic activity. Economic infrastructures collapsed following) the
reduction in government expenditure and the high interest rates. Dodging
customs banters, the giant multinational companies flood the African markets
with low priced goods, which contribute to the poor sales of African
products and the collapse of African enterprises. Newly created companies
and jobs run the risk of folding up owing to the low competitiveness. The
result is a process of local African disinvestments and an increased
poverty.

Some forces and structures have emerged as the major actors of globalisation
and the liberalisation of the economy and whose influence on the global
competition and economic development sometimes transcends national
frontiers. These forces and structures are among others: the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) for trade and investments, the World Bank (WB) and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) for structural adjustment, multinational
companies for the production and management, technological advancement for
information, communication and transportation.

As regards measures to respond to globalisation, sub-Saharan African
countries have still not succeeded well. Though some among, them belong to
international groupings such as EU-ACP (Lome Convention), they have not been
able to develop strong economic groupings of their own such as the European
Union to ensure a real economic integration and harmonise economic policies.
Efforts by regional groupings such as the creation of ECOWAS have not yet
yielded the desired real economic integration.

On the whole, we realise that Africa got involved in the globalisation
unprepared and without acquiring new reflexes and appropriate production
methods.

Of what purpose therefore, is the opening into a world market to a country
whose position is more or less non existent in the sub-regional, regional
and international trade?

Of what purpose therefore is globalisation to a country whose overall
domestic savings cannot be mobilised for financing companies or investments?

It therefore appears that the solution to Africa's problem as far as
globalisation is concerned, by far goes beyond the simple economic point of
view. In reality, it is a problem of building more humane society. The model
of development, which would be required, should be that which takes human
being into consideration.

*2.2 At the social level*

The complexity of the non-enviable situation of African workers still does
not allow for a dear identification of the difference between the phenomena
caused by the problem of under-development and globalisation. The reality of
this situation is brutal and reflects their living conditions.

With the integration of Africa in the process of globalisation, there is
first of all an exacerbation of the social crisis. Owing to the low growth
rates, there is little job opportunities. We should also take note of the
fact that with the reduction in social investments in favour of
re-establishing the macro-economic equilibrium, the social sectors for the
development of woman/ man are affected.

The medico-health structures or several African countries have seriously
deteriorated in the course of the last few years. Illiteracy has increased.
Under-financing of the social amenities has rendered workers' access to
health care and education insufficient. This state of affairs prevents
workers from drawing the maximum benefit from globalisation. The forced
integration of Africa into the globalisation phenomenon has given rise to
especially urban economic activities. This situation generates a strong
movement of rural exodus. In the host areas, especially big cities, social
problems have increased to such an extent that today, in Africa; there is a
highly increasing urban poverty owing to the fact that the city could not
offer the expected employment. Furthermore, the African population is
experiencing a high population growth rate (about 3%), while the continent
requires an economic growth of 5% and the creation of several millions of
new jobs to guarantee income. The prospects are dark, to the extent that 45
to 50% of Africans live below the poverty line (US$1 per day).

The informal sector, the present survival solution has rapidly developed and
provides 40% of urban employment. However, working conditions there are
difficult and offers no social security to the workers.

Globalisation is taking place in Africa through the imposition of
unacceptable working and living conditions. This is particularly obvious
following the revisions of labour codes, which try to reduce the collective
and individual rights of workers.

Hence, this is expressed in Africa through the liberalisation of the labour
market, privatisation, deregulation and the flexibility of working
conditions.

Globalisation has provoked a series of problems related to labour and has
rekindled others. It leads to a lot of suffering and to new forms of
poverty. Given that the average per capita income is $490 (1995) with an
annual economic growth rate of negative -1,1% (1985 workers in sub-Saharan
African countries are poor. This situation has brought about a degeneration
of human relations, weakening of the social fabric and jeopardised living
conditions of families and children. Child labour comes about as a survival
strategy for the family.

90% of the young girls between ages 7 and 8 who are child maids work in
extremely difficult conditions with no social security schemes

Employment opportunities being limited to the informal sector, many
companies in this sector resort to child labour and exploitation of
unskilled and cheap labour.

Under the weight of globalisation, the situation of women is becoming
increasingly precarious. Their resources are rapidly reducing and they are
compelled to spend ungodly hours at work and compromise themselves to
survive in a difficult environment. Of a labour of force over 257 million
workers, 42% are women and 68% of whom are engaged in food production and
18% in the industrial sector. Most of these women and especially young girls
hide behind the migration phenomenon to the detriment of educational or
specialised training in the quest of better living and working conditions.

* 2.3 At the cultural level*

In spite of the thought processes, the globalisation of communication has
sparked off a process of erosion and destruction of cultures in Africa. In
fact, the crux of the matter here is the scope of the resources of some
multinational enterprises that make use of an unprecedented penetration and
diffusion force. Hence, a large patronage of certain images and some
cultures. However, it is not the foreign cultural product that matters as
such, since its presence is important in many other respects. It is the
penetration of the multinationals to occupy the whole field of cultural
supply. It leads to the solution where African cultural and ethic values are
not respected.

There is also what may be termed as the invasion of western media, which
reinforces the marginalisation of African national languages.

In the lace of all these, there is cause to promote new cultural principles
which will position man/women in the centre of interests, not only to pull
out Africa from its lethargy, but also to save the world. The values of
African civilisations, of which the precepts of generosity are acknowledged,
may be the hope for all of humanity.

*2.4 At the Political level*

The political world of globalisation is defined as the democratic world,
which has become a reference model. This is how some recent events brought
down some dictatorial regimes. Today, it is the process of democratisation,
the rule of law and the reference to the right of the person, which defines
the hopes, and aspirations of citizens everywhere. However, alt these take
place with a strong presence of ultra-liberal ideology. The welfare state is
being questioned. In the new challenge, there is the emergence of the civil
society as an opposition force. There is however more ground to be covered,
especially as regards trade unions. Tri-partism is threatened; trade unions
are not involved in the resolution of the problems of workers.

In Africa the World Bank, IMF and other financial donors (bilateral co
operation) are ever so powerful that the sovereignty of states is in crisis.
No Government can singularly pursue its own national developmental policies
without taking the demands and interests of these institutions into
consideration. Powerful interest therefore directs the choices of policies,
which are not always favourable to workers.

It is therefore, for trade unions movements in the African society to assume
the role of a mediator in its capacity as a social force, breathe a new life
into a development dynamics for the benefit of all.

*2.5        At the trade union level*    **

The integration of Africa into the new division of labour has had serious
consequences on the labour world and workers as a whole.

The risks, impasses and contradictions are many which are:

* Unemployment;

* Massive lay offs

* flexibilisation to make retrenchment procedures and laws governing fixed
period working contracts less restricting;

* weakening of the solidarity mechanism;

4ns4 #4zs't4octc

* The development of the informal sector and dangerous and Hazardous jobs ;
as well as

* Social exclusion.

Neither job security nor increase in the purchasing power of workers can be
guaranteed. Collective bargaining is rarely successful because African trade
unions are confronted with the internationalisation of decision making
centres and capital.

There is also the issue of de-unionisation, shrinkage of negotiation margin
of trade unions. African trade union movements are therefore faced with a
problem of responsibility and efficiency. Meanwhile, it is for them, as
organised social force, to efficiently participate in the process of
economic and social development.

All things considered, globalisation should be demystified to avoid the
farce of the development of underdevelopment and of the vast network of
domination and exploitation of the poverty of African workers.

*Ill- TRADE UNION ALTERNATIVES AND STRATEGIES*

In order to face up to the different challenges mentioned above, t is
important to prepare the basis for a social, economic and political
offensive of the trade union movement in order to consolidate the defence
and promotion of workers rights and freedoms and their organisations. The
objective is to surmount the adverse effects of globalisation and institute
a human faced full developmental process. It is therefore more than just the
need for African trade union movement to carry out this struggle with
coherent strategies at the political, economic, social and cultural levels.
It shall involve the taking into account of the primacy of labour over
capital, co-operation, social justice and the full involvement and
participation of workers and the population in general in the development of
their countries and continent.

* For an effective contribution to the solving of the problems enumerated,
workers must mobilise themselves and unite their forces to achieve, through
negotiation, the balance between economic growth and social advancement,
especially as regards the promotion of employment, working conditions and a
just remuneration for work done- It is within this framework that the
principle of social security which seems to be disappearing at the time of
globalisation should be defended and widened in such a way as to make social
security one of the major themes of the social dialogue,

* There is no doubt that this task requires more resources and organisation
that a trade union structure only, cannot cope with. It is why trade unions
must widen their base by mobilising more members and resources, by
organising and creating trade unions in the informal and rural sectors.

* As social partners, and workers' representatives, the need for the
consolidation of a unity of action in national and continental and
international trade union diversity and the strengthening of a free and able
civil society is imperative in order to come out with a real social
programme which safeguard the ultimate interests of the workers and
populations of the African continent.

* To take advantage of the united forces and opportunities that inter- union
integration and co-operation may yield, it is necessary to give priority to
negotiation of regional and sub-regional agreements, which guarantee the
rights of migrant workers.

* It is also necessary for workers to propose and defend social clauses in
the commercial agreements, which are negotiated in the Government circles
and are represented.

* In reaction to the increasing globalisation and liberalisation, trade
unions must participate in the setting up of mechanisms of economic
co-operation, national and sub-regional trade integration. It is by so doing
that trade unions may and should be able for instance to efficiently develop
strategies for the training, protection and defence of the interests of
workers in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs).

Trade unions must encourage and put forward policies of free movements of
goods, persons and services and the use of a common currency on national,
sub-regional and regional markets.

In a fast globalising environment, it is important for trade unions to
increase and intensify their co-operation with all the international
organisations such as the ILO, UNDP, FAC, WHO, UNICEF,…… the financial and
trading institutions like the WB, IMF, WTO and the regional and sub-regional
organisations: AU, ECOWAS, CACU.

* The new trade union policy in the face of globalisation calls for the
reinforcement of the culture of transparency and democracy as far as
decision making and management at all levels are concerned.

* One of the possible bases for a sustainable self sufficiency and a
multiplication of employment is the creation of small and medium scale
enterprises for the production of goods and services for lucrative markets.
Trade union must be able to create multi-sectoral co-operatives, mutual aid
schemes, associations arid projects of any other collective interests. This
calls for the encouragement and support of the mechanisms of accessibility
to capital, through the promotion of savings, affordable credit, and
appropriate technology.

* Considering the constraints of private initiatives in certain areas at
this time of globalisation, trade union organisations now have the task of
initiating and increasing dialogue with governments to bring about a good
choice of strategic economic policies which take social advancement into
account, especially education, health and job security.

• As a social force, trade unions must penetrate the media, sensitise
workers and give their points of view on all issues concerning the labour
world and the different challenges facing the populations. This calls for
innovations and new reflexes in order to develop communication strategies in
enterprise, national union organisations and with all other actors.

* Trade unions must sensitise workers and populations in general to be able
to stop once and for all armed conflicts, which create employment and wealth
elsewhere through military and humanitarian interventions in sacrificing the
life and development of Africans. In this respect, the creation of national
and regional platforms between trade unions and governments is necessary to
tackle the problems of peace, stability and development.

*           The implementation of these strategies requires institutional
capabilities and development based on long and short term specific and broad
based training programmes. It is why an increased of co-ordination of
activities of national organisations is deemed imperative to really assume
the responsibility of promoting a sustainable human development.

* It is in this light that professional organisations must be further
reinforced and structured into confederations in order to have bigger and
more credible organisations.

* In the light of the presentation of the living and working conditions of
African women and young girls, actions aimed at eliminating constraints
wherever they exist is important in order to ensure a real consideration of
the concerns of all socio-professional categories of women and youth
associations. This involves the reinforcement of pan African commissions on
working women and the efficient organisation of the youth.

* The struggle against child labour must be pursued and in this way, lead
governments to harmonise national laws on employment, and education in order
to eliminate the differences existing in many countries between the minimum
age for admission to employment or work and that of the age at which
compulsory education stops.

In the face of these challenges the labour movements is already making
headway through its departments and their different programmes, by assigning
it specific objectives in order to give substantial support to its
affiliated organisations.

*CONCLUSION*

The globalisation phenomenon is irreversible. The challenge to Governments,
trade unions and the civil society in general is big. It calls for all the
individual and collective conscience to offset the harmful effects on living
conditions.

Trade union movement has never been absent from the crucial moment of the
struggles that have characterised our continent. This old experience, which
is due to its ability to mobilize workers and populations in general, is a
wealth, the value of which cannot be estimated, considering the effects of
globalisation.

Therefore, the time has now come for us to propose as a workers' movement,
suitable alternatives given the urgency to restore the real sense and the
specific finality of economic activity. It is therefore important to come up
with solutions of a different economy capable of providing solutions to the
problems facing us, with a social content because the end purpose is to
satisfy the needs of workers.

We are resolutely committed to actively participate in the process of
dialogue through tri-partism, co-operation and a unity of action of the
trade union movement in order to solve the problems brought about
globalisation, through specific projects of different natures.

We are therefore launching an appeal to all workers, partners and our
governments to strive for a humane development and economic growth.

BRAVO!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!

Present Jammeh and the Banjul Au Summit Organisers

There Is Victory For Us.





*WHAT DOES THE AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT MEAN FOR AFRICANS*?

What is the African Union? Why are they meeting in the Gambia? What does an
African Union Summit mean? How much does it cost the Gambia to host the
summit? What benefits does it give us for hosting the event? Why should
Africa unite? What are the objectives of the African Union? How can the
African Union and African unity solve the problems of hunger and poverty,
HIV/AIDS and malaria, corruption and coup d'etats, rebel wars and drought
violation of human rights and bad governance among others in Africa? Can the
Africa Union ensure the dignity, prosperity and liberty of Africans in the
world?

These are the questions, which should have been the topics for discussions
by GRTS, the newspapers and radio stations in the Gambia. Instead what we
see is propaganda that is trying to take us for a ride by making us believe
that the AU is a sign of approval of the Government of the Gambia by the
international community. Meanwhile artists and musicians of all sorts are
being mobilised to produce songs and portraits in the name of welcoming
so-called African leaders, and to praise President Yaya Jammeh for all the
good things that happen to this country. We are been told to come out in
large numbers to welcome guests to the Gambia, but we are not told what will
be the benefit of the coming of these guests to the Gambia and Africa. It is
because of the lack of awareness created by African leaders and their
governments, which is the reason, why the vast majority of Africans do not
know what the African Union is all about. Since the days of the OAU to the
AU, there has been no effort by African leader, except for the Nkrumahs,
Sekou Tourays, Julius Nyereres and the Kenneth Kaundas, to inform and
educate the populace on issues about African unity. Interestingly all our
leaders parade themselves as serious Pan-Africanists yet no one of them ever
made Pan-Africanism a subject in their election campaigns. No one of them
created any policy or programme that will promote and speed up African
Unity. In each and every African country, our leaders and their anti-African
governments do nothing other than creating policies and laws that bring more
hardship onto Africans, treat us like aliens and subject our people to all
forms of oppression and exploitation. Meanwhile these leaders emerge as rich
and powerful, more than the people who voted them into power.

In the days of Nkrumah, Sekou Touray and Modibo Keita, they made sure that
Ghana, Guinea and Mali had provisions in their constitutions, which states
that in the interest of African unity, their countries will surrender their
sovereignty. But today, the only thing our leaders are interested in is to
protect their territorial integrity so that they can be lords over their
people. No one of them wants to see a unified Africa because they do not
want to lose their titles and unjust privileges. This is why they only pay
lip service to African unity, but all their actions, decisions, policies and
programmes are all against African unity. If not, why is it that since the
creation of the AU more than five years ago, still the majority of Africans
do not know what the AU is doing? There has been no mass consultation and
sensitization in any African country to engage the people about unity. No
referendum has been held in any country to ask the people whether they wish
to be part of the African Union or not. But we see in Europe how their
leaders constantly engage their people on issues of European Union. They
even had to ask the people in a referendum in which some agreed and others
do not. But still they are pursuing the agenda to make sure that the whole
of Europe become one country. Why therefore are our leaders not doing the
same here? All they are interested in is to gather every six months in one
country after another just to waste our time and resources on a summit that
does not produce any tangible development for the vast majority of Africans.
I call on all Africans to demand from our leaders an agenda right now about
their plans for unity. This agenda should include the time when we should
have a democratic United States of Africa. For that purpose I have
reproduced here the agenda Kwame Nkrumah presented to our leaders in 1963.
Unfortunately just as the leaders of yesterday failed us, today these same
leaders are failing us by not implementing this agenda. This is the 10-
point proposal of Kwame Nkrumah, delivered on the 24" May 1963 in Addis
Ababa,

Ethiopia:

1. A Common Economic and Industrial Program

2. An African Common Market

3. A Common African Currency

4. An African Monetary Zone

5. An African Central Bank

6. A Continental Communications System

7. A Common Foreign Policy and Diplomacy

8. A Common Defense System

9. A Common African Citizenship

10. A Common African Army with an African High Command

This is the agenda these leaders should address and implement if Africa is
to assume its rightful place in the comity of nations. This is the agenda
that will empower Africans to be the masters of their own destiny and place
our resources in our own hands for our benefit. This is the agenda, which
will empower Africa to do away with poverty, hunger, misrule, conflicts,
diseases, and all other forms of oppression and exploitation. This is the
agenda that will develop, protect and give Africa power and prestige in the
world. This is the agenda that will bring about democracy based on
transparent and accountable governance, the respect for human rights, and
peace and stability in Africa. Anything less or different from this agenda
should be rejected by all Africans right now and put pressure on our
governments and leaders to go back to the Nkrumah plan. For that purpose, we
should demand that a commission be created for each of the proposals so that
each commission will be tasked to produce a blueprint for the implementation
of the proposal in six months and present to the AU Secretariat and
Parliament in June 2007. The AU Secretariat and Parliament should implement
the recommendations of the Commissions by December 2008 so that by that time
we can launch the United States of Africa.

In conclusion, let all Africans ask their leaders these 10 questions, and
see whether our lives have really developed or deteriorated.

1. Why is it that after five decades of independence the majority of African
people are poorer today than in 1960?

2. Why is it that after fifty years of independence majority of our people
are yet to enjoy freedom of movement and speech, free education, health care
and better living conditions?

3. Why is it that after so much billions of dollars in loan the African
community is still so wretched and poor and continues to languish under all
forms of hardship?

4. Why is it that all leaders of Africa and those working in their
governments quickly get rich and live better lives than the majority of our
people living in the villages, towns and cities across our Motherland?

5. Why is it that after decades of implementing several economic and social
policies the masses of our people are still no near better living
conditions?

6. Why is it that Africa, which is the richest continent in the world, is
home to the poorest people on earth?

7. Why is it that all our leaders 'speak' in favour of African unity for
over 50 years, and yet still they cannot form a union government?

8. Why is it that our people, who fought for independence so as to get land
and avoid over taxation and to better their lives, rather they continue to
be deprived of that same land and endure even more taxation and hardship?

9. Why is it that Africa, which is the richest and second largest continent
in the world and endowed with the most valuable mineral and natural
resources, is the weakest and poorest continent in the world?

10. Why is it that each of the continents of the world has a permanent
representation in the United Nations except Africa, which in fact has the
highest number of member states in the UN?

If you attempt to answer these questions, only then will you realize that
Pan-Africanism and its objective - the total liberation and unification of
Africa— is not just imperative and inevitable, but also a necessity that has
been imposed on us by the realities of Africa and the world.

Postscript: Let the people know that the African Union holds a summit every
six months, and each time one African country hosts it, which means that the
Gambia's hosting of this event right now does not mean anything special. The
last summit was held in Sudan, which has a government that authoritarian,
and supports militias - the Janjanweed — to kill their fellow citizens in
Darfur. Yet still our leaders refuse to condemn the Khartoum government by
refusing to allow the AU summit to take place there. Instead they all closed
their hearts and minds to the suffering of our people and associated
themselves with a government that does not deserve to host the AU summit,
but continues to annihilate fellow Africans even when the summit was taking
place in Khartoum. Fellow Africans, this will show you what kind of leaders
we have in Africa.

In the service of Africa, I remain,





*INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST PLEADS NOT GUILTY*

*By Bubacarr K. Sowe*

Lamin Camara, the defense counsel for the *Independent* newspaper reporter,
Lamin Fatty, on Thursday told the Kanifing Magistrates' Court that the
charge against his client is "duplicitous and uncertain."

Lawyer Camara submitted that his client should not be charged with uncertain
offences. "The charges filed against my client are duplicitous and
uncertain. The particulars are duplicated. The charge as laid out is bad.
The evidence could be uncertain," Camara argued.

According to the particulars of the offence, Fatty, between the 23rd and the
27th of March 2006, while working for the *Independent *newspaper, wilfully
or recklessly or negligently or having no reason, published false
information about an individual.

However, the police prosecutor, 1748 Mballow, objected to the submission
made by Lamin Camara. He said there is nothing wrong with the charge. "The
charge is proper and Fatty should take his plea," Mballow indicated. The
Presiding Magistrate, Kebba Sanyang, ruled that duplicity of offence only
happens in the statement of offence and not in the particulars of the
offence. He, however, adjourned the trial to the 6th of July and indicated
to the defense counsel that he is free to forward his matter to the superior
courts.

Lamin Fatty who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on the 10th of April and
remained in detention until the 12th of June when he was brought to the
Kanifing Magistrates' Court. He was then granted bail in the sum of fifty
thousand dalasis and a Gambian surety.





*TREASON PROCEEDINGS ADJORNED*

*By Surakata Danso***

The concealment and conspiracy trial involving the following accused
persons, namely Captains Abdoukarim Jah and Pierre Mendy, Lieutenant Momodou
Alieu Bah, Samba Bah, Lance Corporal Babou Janha, Private Alhagie Nying and
Hamadi Sowe has been adjourned to 30th June 2006. Justice Monagen made this
order following the notice that the sixth accused, private Alhagie Nying, is
yet to have a counsel.

When the case was called after the defence and the prosecution announced
their presence, the court noticed that the sixth accused had not been
represented even though the state had promised to provide counsels for the
two accused persons who were not represented during the last sitting. The
acting DPP, Mr. Emmanuel Fagbenleh, later applied for an adjournment to
allow them to put their house in order.





*AFRICAN LEADERS URGED TO ACT*

*By Bubacarr K. Sowe*

The Civil Society fraternity across Africa on Thursday finalised a series of
recommendations aimed at convincing the African leaders to act positively on
the development of the continent, during the African Union (AU) Summit in
Banjul.

As part of preparations for the summit, The Association of Non-Governmental
Organizations (TANGO) recently organized a four day forum at the Friendship
Hotel, Bakau, with participants from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zambia,
Congo and The Gambia.

The director of TANGO, Ousman Yarbo, described the forum as a golden
opportunity for Africans to voice out their demands to the African heads of
states. Mr. Yabo also called for an end to corruption, poverty, bad
governance and conflicts, stressing that African citizens are tired and
desperate. He said that what Africa needs is the development of its human
resource with sound education, health care, transport and self-reliance on
agriculture.

Yaya Sanyang, the country director of Action Aid International - The Gambia,
called on African leaders to invest more in production inorder for the
continent to be self-reliant and self-sustaining. "It is not a matter of
debt accumulation," Sanyang said. Sanyang also called on participants at the
forum to consider the African Peer Review Mechanism which most African
governments have failed to sign and adopt.

Tennyson Williams, country director of Action Aid International – Sierra
Leone said until Africans engage locally, the continent would not catch up.

"The politics of aid is not helping but deepens poverty," Williams said.





*HALIFA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PUBLIC FUND*

*By Abdoulie Dibba*

The Minority Leader at the National Assembly, Hon. Halifa Sallah, is of the
opinion that Parliamentarians need to find out what has happen to the monies
of the Continent Bank depositors. Hon. Sallah made these remarks at the
National Assembly during the adjournment debate. He indicated that if one
looks at page 11 of the 2006 estimates, one would discover under Settlement
of Confirmed Outstanding Debt an amount of D20 million for the settlement of
Continent Bank depositors. This amount, Hon. Halifa said, is to pay what has
ultimately been caused by mismanagement and misappropriation of resources.

The Minority Leader told his colleagues that the crisis in the Continent
Bank is caused by mismanagement and misappropriation of resources. He
pointed out that even though they cannot leave the depositors to suffer,
Parliamentarians must continue to find out what has happened to the
resources which were deposited by the depositors and what is being done to
recover it because they are using public resources to settle the depositors.
Halifa stressed that they must make an enquiry. He further posited that they
must be informed what happened to the depositors' money.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤