The lip service to free education for girls should stop. Let the study be commissioned and let the truth be told to the people. 

For Freedom

Saiks

 

 

> Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 18:20:23 -0500> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Fwd: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue No. 15/2008, 4 - 5 February 2008> To: [log in to unmask]> > Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue> Issue No. 15/2008, 4 - 5 February 2008> Editorial> They are sending the girls away from> School Mr. President!> It is claimed that there is free education for girls in The Gambia . > However, little is mentioned of the limited nature of the education support being > provided to some girls. > The senior secondary schools have started sending girls away from school for > not paying their fees. > Some of the girls are required to pay Three Thousand Dalasi and others more > than Four Thousand Dalasi. Those who cannot pay must stay at home.> In a meeting between the president and the representatives of the governing > body of the university, he alluded to the fact that a researcher had talked > about education being more expensive, a comment which he considered to fall > short of international findings. We hope the SoS for basic education will > commission a study on the accessibility of secondary education, giving gender > mainstreaming particular consideration. We are convinced that she will > corroborate that the cost of secondary education is making access more prohibitive to > young men and women from poor families. The lip service to free education for > girls should stop. Let the study be commissioned and let the truth be told to > the people. If the government disagrees with Foroyaa we challenge it to make > its position clear through a pres release and call on us to send those > affected to the Department of State. > > Essau And Dibba Kunda Arrestees Charged> By:Abdoulie G.Dibba> This paper has been reliably informed that the residents of Essau and Dibba > Kunda in the North Bank Region, who were arrested by the police in the > aftermath of the local government elections have been charged by the police. > Speaking to this paper, Inspector Sulayman Secka indicated that the people who were > arrested in Essau, namely, Sima Sonko, Sally Jawara, Joy Koka Sonko and > Fatou Sonko are charged with being idle and disorderly. The quartet were arrested > by the police at Barra police station on 26 January and detained for three > days without been charged. Inspector Secka also added that the following > people from Dibba Kunda, namely, Ali Ndow, Baboucarr Ceesay, Jim Chune, Jim > Jobe(1), Jim Jobe(2), Adama Sowe, Malick Ceesay, Alhagie Jobe, Ali Mbye and Biran > Mbye are all charged with conduct that is conducive to the breach of the peace.> He said the reason forwarded by the police for not taking them to court is > due to the fact that the region does not have a resident magistrate but a > traveling magistrate and that since October, 2007, there has not been one in the > region. He said that once the Region has a magistrate, the suspects would be > taken to court. As of now, the PRO said, the arrestees have been released on > bail and are reporting to the police. However, the arrestees informed this > reporter on Sunday that the frequency of their reporting to the police is a big > burden. According to the ten arrestees in Dibba Kunda, they are asked to > report to the police three times a week, that is, on Monday, Wednesday, and > Friday.> The suspects, who are normally accompanied by their sureties, complained > that they spend D750 on transport every week. This they said places a big > economic burden on them. “This is why even if our rights are violated, we do not go > to the courts for redress because of the financial constraints that people > in the countryside encounter” said one of them.> The arrestees from Dibba Kunda are the supporters of the independent > candidate for Sabach Ward, in the recently concluded council elections, while those > from Essau are supporters of the NRP candidate for Essau Ward.> > About D1.2m Project For Journalists> GPU Congress Expected Soon> By Amie Sanneh > The President of The Gambia Press Union, Madi M.K Ceesay, has disclosed that > the GPU has a project of about 1.2 million dalasi for Gambian Journalists. > This project he noted, is a two year project and will be used to capacitise > journalists from both the print and electronic media. The project Mr. Ceesay s> aid, will be run by GPU and GAMES which is based in Denmark.> The GPU President made these remarks at the GPU office, on Friday, at the > opening of a week long training course for journalists which is also part of > the project. This training course is divided into three components, field > reporting, online journalism and web mastering. The training is being facilitated > by trainers from Denmark.> The GPU President added that the training of journalists under this project > will not only cover journalists but also technicians and editors. He pointed > out that the project has employed a project coordinator and an administrator. > Mr. Ceesay revealed that the GPU has established small fund generating > activities in the form of a printing machine and an Internet Café. He described > journalists as the watchdogs of the people who should also allow people to > scrutinise them for transparency. Mr. Ceesay took the opportunity to inform > journalists that the GPU congress will be held next month.> For his part the project coordinator, Charles Camara, said the training > project will help build the capacities of journalists in their respective areas. > Describing the time as short, Mr. Camara urged them to make maximum use of > the little time available to them.> > Sene-Gambian Teachers Call For Integration> By Fabakary B. Ceesay> The Gambia Teachers Union on December 9, last year, signed a joint > communiqué with a leading teachers’ union in Senegal, Syndicate Unique Et Democratique > des Enseignants du Senegal (SUDES), in Dakar, during the 12th National > Delegates Congress of the latter held in Thies and which set aside February 1st as > “Sene-Gambia Day,” to be observed by the two unions. This memorandum was > signed based on the common desire to foster regional integration through > increased access, promotion of professional reliance and equity.> The agreement also entails GTU and SUDES to establish a cooperative > agreement for the mutual benefit of both Teachers’ Unions. The maiden celebration > took place on 1 February, 2008 at the GTU Cooperative Credit Union conference > hall.> The acting General Secretary of GTU, Mr. Essa Sowe, said that it is the norm > for Africa and her people to associate, particularly those within the same > sub-region, in order to safeguard or promote the interest and well being of > their people. Mr. Sowe urged the people of the two countries to protect the > geo-political as well as the socio-economic ties that naturally bind them. He > noted that no significant difference can be noticed between the people of the > two nations, in terms of the way of life or culture. Mr. Sowe said that the > co-operation agreement will reduce social exclusion and ensure an inclusive > civil society and the participation of workers and their organizations in the > process of decision making and implementation of national policies and > programmes. > Mr. Omar J. Ndure, the President of GTU, said that it was an unconquerable > act on the part of the colonialists, from outside the boundaries of Africa, to > separate a people, who had share the same cultures, traditions and > aspirations, just by the scroll of a pen. He emphasized that the 1884 Berlin > conference can be undone by co-operating in all spheres of life, irrespective of > boundaries and colonial languages. Mr. Ndure said that the event will bring about > co-operation among teachers sharing the same professional ethics and > aspirations. “We teachers have a moral responsibility to participate in nation > building by providing relevant and quality education for our children. In addition > we have an impeccable role in guiding children to nurture and uphold the > right moral and ethical values that can help them face challenges of life > tomorrow. These noble tasks are cherished by both GTU and SUDES, as a basis for our > co-operation,” he said.> The Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Basic and Secondary > Education, Mr. Baboucarr Bouye, on his part said that both peoples of the two sides > are biologically related and that it is one family living in both sides. > Permanent Secretary Bouye further stated that there is no historical narration > that one can make without connecting the two countries. He said that the > initiative by the teachers is very essential as it will serve as a bridge between > the same people who share the same tongues, and every thing in common; that > such fora should even be conducted in our local languages and not in the > colonial languages. > The Senegalese Ambassador, Mr. Momodou Faal, called on the two unions to > maintain this initiative and work hand in glove to strengthen the international > aspect of the two nations. Ambassador Faal said that the two nations cannot > go without each other; that both should be each other’s keeper. He said the > cementing the bond of relationship between family members is godly and should > be welcomed by the people.> Mr. Sainabou Gaye, a representative from SUDES, said women have a role play > in the integration process of the two sides. She added that wherever there is > mutual family ties women must be at the forefront. > Rohey Sillah, first Vice President of GTU, said that The Gambia and Senegal > are inseparable. The occasion was marked by an historical narration of the > two countries by Alhagie Mansour Njie. > > THE GAMBIA’S ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE> Budget for implementation of PRSP = US$754 million Funding gap of $480 > million> Theme of RTC: “Taking a Decisive Step towards Achieving the MDGs in The > Gambia”> The Government of the Gambia, with the support of the UNDP, is organizing a > Round Table Conference (RTC) with its development partners, to be held in > London, United Kingdom, on the 5 and 6 February 2008, according to a press > release issued by the UNDP. The main objective of the RTC is to engage the Gambia’> s development partners in policy dialogue on national development policies > and programmes, the release adds. It follows the production of the country’s > second generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which is firmly > anchored against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the country’s long > term strategy, Vision 2020.> The release explains that the PRSP is divided into five main pillars, namely;> 1 Creating the enabling policy environment to promote growth and poverty > reduction > 2 Enhancing the capacity and output of the productive sectors> 3 Improving the coverage of basic social services and social protection > needs of the poor and vulnerable> 4 Enhancing governance systems and build the capacities of local communities > and Civil Society Organisations to play an active role in economic growth > and poverty reduction> 5 Mainstreaming poverty-related crosscutting issues into poverty reduction> The budget for the implementation of the PRSP is US$754 million, of which > the Government of the Gambia will contribute $ l 00.million, $174 million is > secured in donor commitments leaving a funding gap of $480 million. With The > Gambia reaching HIPC completion point, the funding gap is expected to drop to > $310 million.> The release states that the conduct of the RTC is timely, as it comes on the > heels of the Gambia reaching HIPC completion point, a remarkable achievement > that was preceded by the endorsement of the PRSP II itself by the joint IMF > / World Bank Executive Boards in the summer of 2007. According the release, > the successful conduct of the recent local government elections also serves to > underscore the conducive development cooperation environment within which > the RTC is being conducted.> It further states that the strategy adopted for the RTC is based on the > Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, with its underlying principles of ‘> national ownership and leadership, as well as mutual accountability.’ The release > notes that key strategy documents have been prepared for programs envisaged to > have a catalytic effect on the attainment of the pillars of the PRSP. > Missions have also been mounted to key donor embassies and capitals, designed to > engage them on the approach and expectations vis-a-vis the RTC, as well as The > Gambia’s development aspirations, at large. The theme for the RTC is “Taking > a Decisive Step towards Achieving the MDGs in The Gambia”> The Gambian delegation will be led by Her Excellency the Vice President, Dr. > Ajaratou Isatou Njie Saidy, and will include the Secretary General and Head > of the Civil Service, the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic > Affairs, several other Secretaries of State, the Governor of the Central Bank, and > the Chairman of the National Planning Commission, inter alia. On the part of > The Gambia’s development partners, it is expected that UNDP’s Regional Bureau > for Africa Director, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, as well as other high level > dignitaries from multilateral and bilateral development partners, will participate > in the RTC. The new UNDP Resident Representative Designate, who is expected > to take up position shortly, Ms Chinwe Dike, will also grace the occasion.> The release concludes that at the end of the RTC it is expected that the > development dialogue will be considerably strengthened between the Gambia and > its development partners, areas for enhanced cooperation identified, and a road > map clearly delineated and agreed for follow up activities after the RTC.> > MARRIAGE AND FAMILY> Life Is Not A Game> Part 1> With Amie Sillah> Sophie is an undergraduate student at the University. She is studying > Management and Development. Her boyfriend Essa is also an undergraduate student > doing Computer System. Sophie is expecting a baby for Essa. She has undergone > three abortions. She is not ready to undergo another one. Doctor advised her > that she can lose her life if she ventures another one. This was a big > dilemma. She told Essa about it. Essa sympathized her situation but he was not in a > position to father a child. His parents are poor and from the provinces. > Sophie is an orphan. She also hailed from the provinces. Essa insisted on > abortion as a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Sophie would not > bulged this time around. Essa ran through a childhood friend George. He is from a > rich family. He use to patronize Essa during tier secondary school days. He > is a generous man. Essa hatched a plan with Sophie to dupe him. Did they > succeed? What happened next.> > The Problem> They are both undergraduate students. Sophie is studying Management and > Development, while Essa is studying Computer Systems. Sophie under went three > repeated abortions. She refused to abort her fourth pregnancy. Her life was on > the line Dr. Joof warned her. She refused to Essa’s request to abort her > pregnancy. The lovers were in a dilemma.> > The Plan > Essa is deceitful and crafty. He thought of how to dupe in order to execute > his plan. George, an old childhood friend and benefactor came to his rescue. > George is from a rich family and he is very generous. Infact, he was the one > who financed Essa’s education through his parents. He is an only child of a > very rich family.> > Essa Meets George> George was in South Africa. His parents do some business in Johannesburg. > Now he is in London transferred to another branch of his family business. He > came on vocation. The two friends bumped into each other at the shopping > centre. They were both excited, after elaborate greetings, they decided to go to a > pub to chat over a drink. They remembered old school days. “You were > suspended from school after the student riot”. George reminded him. “Of course, that > was true. I was charged as a ring leader. And you know what! They were > looking for escape goats and obviously when one is labeled a ring leader you are > dealt with. Oh! I missed you boy. Give me your card. “Essa demanded. George > dipped into his pocket and gave him a card. You are lucky boy. Only this one is > left”. He dipped into his pocket and gave him a wad of new notes. Essa was > excited. “What are you doing now? Are you married?” George asked. “Marry? No! > I am an undergraduate. No money, no marriage”. “What about you?” Essa > asked. Geroge. He showed him his finger and Essa laughed. “My mom is at my neck. > She said I have to marry by hook or crook. She said she needs an heir to our > business empire. But how? I am not hook to any maiden as yet. Who am I going > to marry? She needs to give me time to settle down, interact, socialize to > find a compatible woman. I don’t want to gamble my life. Life is not a game. But > the rich old lady would not hear of it. She said she wants to see and nurse > her grandchild before she joins her ancestor. Dad would have acted > differently. I missed my dad. He was cool and understanding. He was a great democrat. > He believed in human rights. But my mom is the opposite of my dad. She is all > imposing, domineering and maternalistic. She still sees me as a school boy > not a grown up man of 30 years”. Essa tabbed him on the shoulder and encouraged > him. “They area all the same, mothers. But she is right. She would want you > to be settle, get married and giver her an heir”. “You sound like my mother”> . George teased him. They left the pub and went their different ways. > > George and Mom> Mom confronted George and reprimanded him. “You have an empire on your name. > You are my only son. When are you going to get settle and lead a responsible > life? “But mom! I am just returning into the country. Give me time to settle > down and get a good woman for a wife. Don’t involve me in an adventure we > will all live to regret. You know woman these days. They will look at what I > have but not who I am. Give me a little time please to make the right choice. > Life is not a game mom!” “How much longer would I give?” “Mom! Marriage is > an institution. I cannot just dive into it like that!” George argued’’. “I > need to see you get settle to give me a grandchild period! And that should be > pretty soon. And also Youngman, Don’t come home drunk!” George left in a > jiffy. He tried to escape mom’s taunts and grumbles.> To be contd.> > FOCUS ON POLITICS> Collapse of Soviet Union and End to Cold War Politics;> “A Wind of Change”> With Suwaibou Touray> We have suspended this column “focus on politics” to allow the columnist to > participate in the Local Government election campaign in his constituency.> In the last issue, we have dealt with the “Wind of Change” when the Soviet > Union collapsed. We have followed the analysis made by the Foroyaa, as to how > the cold war came into being.> We have stopped where we said among other things that the Soviet Union’s > propagation of the theory that capitalist countries could only survive by > exploiting the people in colonies and dependencies and the need to rise up against > their colonial masters won the appraisal of many intellectuals and literate > people in the colonies.> Let us continue from where we stopped.> According to Foroyaa, socialism was becoming a universal force; that workers’> power was the order of the day. This it wrote, provoked union activities > and workers’ strikes in countries like Britain.> Foroyaa gave an example of such strikes in Britain in 1926 which eventually > led to the formation of a Labour government in 1929 to satisfy the demands of > the working population. This however did not save Britain.> By the latter half of 1929 up to the end of 1933, the advanced capitalist > countries experienced serious economic crisis.> According to Foroyaa’s analysis on the wind of change, a country like > Britain suffered a serious depression in 1931, which led to the closure of > industries, massive unemployment and poverty, while the Soviet Union comparatively > launched successful five year plans from 1928 to 1932 and from 1933 to 1937; > that it experienced economic stability as unemployment was eradicated and the > living standard of the people became better.> According to Foroyaa, this again influenced workers and intellectuals in > other parts of the world to focus attention on the Soviet Union and on socialism.> As a result, communist parties developed in many parts of the world and were > given moral and material support by the Soviet Union.> Two camps were therefore emerging in the world. The was the camp which > called for national liberation in colonies and dependent territories and workers > power in the advanced capitalist countries and the camp of countries which > wanted to maintain capitalism and colonies; there was the socialist camp under > the leadership of Soviet Union as well as the capitalist camp comprising > countries such as Germany, Britain, France, United States and Japan who were > engaged in so much competition amongst themselves that they could not form a camp.> According to Foroyaa, the influence of socialism, at the time, was stronger > than the influence of capitalism.> And as Foroyaa wrote, after the 1929 – 33 crisis that gripped the advanced > capitalist countries, the small companies were swallowed up by bigger > companies which could begin a new wave of production and economic growth; that this > economic went hand in hand with the desire for more markets and sources of raw > materials by countries which were subjected to disadvantages when Britain, > France, United States and Italy, met to share the gains of victory after the > First World War.> Foroyaa then analysed the position of Italy which it said was on the side of > the victors but was treated as a junior partner during the sharing of the > cake of the victors of the First World War, but which felt cheated for not > being allowed to annex Austrian territory. Hence when Mussolini took over power > and stood at the helm in July, his regime did everything to build up Italian > narrow nationalism or national chauvinism and to strengthen the military might > in preparation for war to capture more territories.> Japan too, which was on the side of Britain, France and the US during the > First World War, felt unfairly treated in the sharing of the gains, since she > was not allowed to take part of China.> According to Foroyaa, Japan has built up narrow nationalism and national > chauvinism among the people and strengthened her military might in preparation > for expansionist wars.> For Germany, its defeat in the First World War made it possible for the US, > Britain and France to profit at her expense. So Germany had the desire to win > back her lost possession and influence.> So according to Foroyaa, it was evident to any fairly competent analyst of > world events, from 1930 onwards, that a Second World War was inevitable.> By 1931, according to the Foroyaa supplement, tension began to heighten when > the Japanese rulers invaded and occupied Manchuria, China. Thus one can say > that that was the beginning of the Second World War in 1932.> The defeat of Germany and the fall of Japan in World War Two gave rise to > the ascendancy of the US and USSR as world powers. “After the war, Europe was > left in ruins and had to face the task of being reconstructed economically and > politically. The US, whose territory had not been affected much by the war, > could do much to aid the recovery efforts of European countries, as Foroyaa > wrote, gave it a dominant role.> On the other hand, Foroyaa wrote, the Soviet resistance to Germany’s forces > built up its prestige. The local communist parties in German occupied nations > were at the forefront of resistance against such occupation and were given > support by the Soviet Union to take over power in these countries.> Hence between 1945 and 1947, two nations emerged as world powers, the United > States and the Soviet Union.> Several questions were addressed in this supplement such as; ‘How did the > Cold War emerged? What gave rise to the crisis in Eastern Europe? What was its > inevitable outcome and what lessons to learn from the whole thing?’.> According to the analysis of Foroyaa, the Japanese, Italian and German > rulers could only further their territorial ambitions by defying the treaties > which restricted the expansion of territories. They could further their aims only > by being oppressors. Hence, as Foroyaa wrote, despite the Stimson Doctrine, > Japan began an invasion of the international settlement of Shanghai, China, > approximately two weeks after the US had come up with its Stimson Doctrine.> Foroyaa analysed how, in November 1923, Hitler led an uprising in Germany > which was put down and for which he was sentenced to five years; that he was > later made Chancellor of Germany by Hindenburg in 1933; that Hitler served less > than one year in jail during which he wrote “MEIN KAMPF”, a book in which > he promoted the racial superiority of the Germans.> To make matters short, Hindenburg died in 1934 and Hitler became ruler of > Germany.> Foroyaa analysed how Hitler defied the Versailles Treaty which was designed > to prevent Germany from ever developing into a military power by introducing > universal military training in Germany and how Hitler generally prepared > Germany for war. > Foroyaa said even though the USSR did not gain from the Treaty of Versailles > at the end of the First World War, by 1939, it had become a major power and > had influence all over the globe among the workers and intellectuals in the > advance capitalist countries.> According to Foroyaa, Germany had the ambition to dominate countries and > dependencies in order to build a powerful German nation, and the Soviet leaders > had the mission to transform the war, they referred to as an imperialist war, > into an international struggle, where the workers in capitalist countries > and the liberation movements would take over power from their rulers..> Foroyaa analysed the battle of Britain and the German occupation of France > in which France accepted defeat; how German forces occupied Yugoslavia and > launched attack on Greece compelling Britain to withdraw her troops; how Japan > initially got the upper hand with her combat with Britain and America which > later joined the war; how Germany had penetrated the USSR with German troops > numbering over one and a half million and launched an offensive on Stalingrad > and the Caucasus.> Foroyaa also explained the turning point and the defeat of Germany; the > defeat of Japan; the reality after World War two, the economic reconstruction of > Europe, the political implication on Bulgaria, Czechoslavakia, the GDR, > Hungary, Poland, Romania etc.> Foroyaa analysed how the “COLD WAR” syndrome emerged, the struggle between > the two superpowers, i.e. United States and USSR and the poverty of the > struggle; the arms race and ideological warfare; the intensification of the Cold > War; the Korean crisis; how USSR developed a highly industrialized economy; > the question of socialist democracy and how to consolidate democracy and so on > and so forth. > To make a very long analysis short, Foroyaa concluded that in a year’s time, > we were to enter the 21st century; that the future was rushing upon us with > break-neck speed; that our thinking, therefore, must assume an accelerated > power of motion if we were not to fall out of step with the demands of the > changing times.> For The Nation newspaper, most African countries have been maintained in > power with the help of the massive loans, aid and other crumbs from the western > countries and donor agencies. The Nation was of the opinion that since the > doors of Eastern Europe were now opened for Western investment and aid, the > tide was likely to change from Africa to Europe. It called on African > governments to adapt or be ready to perish as the loans and aid were soon to whittle > away, leaving us only with the AIDS disease.> See next edition of Focus as we edge closer to 1990, Gambia’s Silver Jubilee.> > Appeal For Waste Disposal Vehicle> By Lamin Fatty> Mr. Demba Mballow, the Head of the Cleaning Section of the Basse Area > Council, has strongly appealed to the ‘appropriate authorities to provide them with > trucks to enable the council to perform cleansing services. Mr. Mballow made > these remarks recently in an interview with this reporter at a recent > cleansing exercise organized by a group of Red Cross volunteers and Rafam members > in Basse.> According to Mr. Mballow the only truck that they used for the collection > and disposal of the waste was not functioning. While urging the council to > maintenance the truck, Mr. Mballow also advised the general public, particularly > the people residing along the market and the police station area, to be > responsible for the removal of their household waste by paying donkey carts to > dispose them. For his part, Mr. Mustapha Manneh, one of the only four people > responsible for waste disposal with donkey carts, said they face difficulties > because to the breakdown of the council vehicles and coupled with limited > staff. > An attempt to talk to the Governor of URR and the chairman of the interim > management committee of the Basse Area council, Mr. Omar Khan, could not > materialise as he was said to have traveled to Banjul. > Foroyaa will however seek the opinion of the Governor on the issue.> > International Roots Festival Media Campaign Launched> By Fabakary B. Ceesay> The 9th edition of the International Roots Festival Media Campaign was > launched on Friday 1 February at the Paradise Suites Hotel. During the previous > festivals, the role that The Gambia media played in publicizing and sensitizing > people about the event cannot be over-emphasized. The media has undoubtedly > remained an important partner of the International Roots Festival since its > inception in line with its desire to consolidate this worthwhile partnership > and the efforts to develop this Pan African event. > > This years Roots Festival encourages a wider participation of the Gambian > population who are encouraged to dress in traditional Gambian attire throughout > the duration of the festival. This will help showcase our beautiful > traditional dresses while at the same time providing the international guests with a > better understanding and appreciation of Gambian culture. To give the festival > a wider African flavour, other African nationals residing in The Gambia have > been invited to participate and showcase their culture. > A national coordinating committee, appointed by the Secretary of State for > Tourisn and Culture, has since August, 2007, been working behind the scenes to > plan and implement the festival programme which features boat trips to > Juffureh, James Island and Janjangbureh, as well as an initiation ceremony in > Kanilai, among others. During the week long festival, there will also be a > showcasing of Gambian traditional performances, as well as an investment fora and > educational discussions. The occasion will also create a platform for Africans > in the Sub-region and those from the diaspora to share and learn from each > other. Visitors are expected from the UK, USA and the Caribbean.> > The International Roots Festival, conceived in 1996 by the government, is a > biennial event organized by the Department of State for Tourism and Culture, > in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture and Gambia > Tourism Authority. The festival mainly funded by the government with public and > private partnership, is a commemoration of the forced enslavement of millions > of Africans to the Americas and the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th > centuries. It is intended to serve as a bridge building initiative between Africans > on the continent and all people of African descent worldwide. It also serves > as a moment to celebrate our rich, diverse and yet homogenous cultural > heritage, which augurs well for the promotion of The Gambia’s cultural tourism. > > The festivals inspiration is drawn from Alex Haley’s famous book, Roots, > which is the story of how he traced his 8th generation ancestry to a slave > caught in the village of Juffereh and forcibly transported to America to be sold > as a slave. Research shows that over 243,000 were forcefully transported from > the Senegambia region by registered trans atlantic slave ships between 1646 > and 1850s. Consequently The Gambia is home to millions of Africans in the > diaspora through their ancestral umbilical cord. > > The SoS for Tourism, Angela Colley, said that as the festival grows and the > infrastructure gets more developed, they would want to decentralize it, moving > it away from Banjul, and Kanifing municipality into the hinterland, where > guests would have the real Gambian experience. SoS Colley said that the > organizing committee of the festival thought it fitting to do the launching with > their esteemed selected partners. She noted that their first partners are indeed > the media. The SoS added that the 2008 partners are people and institutions > that have been carefully selected. “These are indeed very important people > and institutions that matter in Gambian society.”> The Chairman of Marketing and Publicity Sub-Committee, Mr. Ebou Waggeh, > during a press conference, said that the media will have access to information as > regards the festival. He further said that the participation of the Gambian > media lagged behind in previous festivals compared to international media > coverage of the event. He indicated that this time around the local media would > be transported along with the international media to cover all the > programmes. He emphasized that the local media is a priority in this year’s event which > is the reason that prompted this launch of the media campaign.> > > > > > **************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. > (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp003000000025> 48)> > ����������������������������������������������������������> 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]> ����������������������������������������������������������> 

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