In Foroyya's October 22nd edition, the following news story stands out. Dr. Ogunade encountered the much talked about orders coming from the "invisible top." Which ever way you want to go! -I mean whether 'seeing is believing' or 'believing is seeing." As usual, "I have been directed from the above that you should baggage and leave." Such an imaginary statement is common nowadays. 

 

Now, Dr. Ogunade, you've seen with your naked eyes. achaaaaaaa, run for your safety-helter, skelter.

 

Thanks for the forward Sister Jabou. 

 

 

Regards,

Yero

 

 

 

 

Training For West African Journalists Calls OffBy Fabakary B. CeesayThe planned two day training workshop for West African Journalists slated for 19th and 20th October in Banjul has been called off at the eleventh hour without any reason advanced from the organisers. The proposed programme was organised by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) in collaboration with the open society initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).A commission’s member pointed out that they received orders indicating to the Commission that there could not be any possibility of hosting the event in The Gambia. “We were told that the workshop cannot take place here,” he said. Dr.Feyi Ogunade, Senior legal officers of the commission in charge of promotional affairs said, “now that the event cannot take place here, it will be rescheduled to another country.” Dr. Ogunade declined to comment on where such an order came from. It should be borne in mind that six Gambian Journalists with participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo were to benefit from the training. Gambian Journalists were only informed of the development shortly before the start of the programme. It was also brought to their attention that their counterparts, who were due to come from other countries were informed to cancel their fights. They were said to have already bought their air tickets to and from Banjul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:53:32 -0400> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Fwd: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue No.124/ 2007,22 –23 October, 2007> To: [log in to unmask]> > Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue> Issue No.124/2007, 22 – 23 October, 2007> Editorial> What Do Women Have To Show By 2009> The APRC administration has adopted a National Policy for the advancement of > Gambian women covering 1999 to 2009. The policy period is almost coming to > an end.> Since the birth of the Women’s Bureau and the National Women’s Council > established by an Act of Parliament in 1980, the World Bank , the African > Development Bank, governments like that of Norway have pumped in millions to promote > Women development projects. At the time of adopting the policy, DFID was > collaborating with the Gambia Government to focus on gender and poverty related > programmes financed with a million pounds grant from the British Government.> Those who praise the APRC government on gender issues often ignore the low > representation of women in parliament, that is only 9.4 percent (less than one > out of ten), and the high incidence of poverty among them and instead > concentrate on the number of women in Cabinet as Secretaries of State who have no > security of tenure and who are hired and fired at will by the Executive.> The true success of a government is, first and foremost, measured by the > number of people it has succeeded in freeing from poverty and tyranny and > enabled to live in liberty and dignity. Others are secondary indicators.> The policy adopted in 1999 stated that women constituted “about 50 per cent > of the agricultural labour force, 70 per cent of the unskilled agricultural > labour force and 40 per cent of total agricultural production.”> In the area of crop production, the report added ”Women produce 3% of the > maize, 6 % of millet, 2% of sorghum, 3 % of course grains, 99% of upland rice > and 24% of groundnuts;”> The policy promised a review of the Labour Act, the General Orders and the > Public Service Commission regulations to protect women. It promised “to > promote the use and maintenance of appropriate technologies by women;” that “ > initiatives will be taken “to promote markets , storage facilities and > transportation for women’s produce and products;” to facilitate “ basic needs such > as food, shelter, clothing and education” and “ help increase the access to > and availability of appropriate technologies aimed at reducing the burden > /workload of women.”> It is abundantly clear that the poverty of the women is on the increase. > Poor women in the urban and rural areas lack basic food shelter and clothing. > Their burden is increasing as their children become as poor as they are > instead of easing their suffering. Girls are coming out of school in the tens of > thousands without any prospect for employment or marriage. Those employed as > uncertificated teachers are terminated annually and have no access to > maternity leave or pension claims. They are producing without adequate market for > their produce. Transport costs are increasing and women who engage in the retail > trade are finding it more and more difficult to earn enough to maintain > their trade and finance the upkeep of their families. It is amazing to see them > leave their homes at dawn to go to the gardens and farms or to run after > truck loads of goods in order to have a means of income only to end up with > pittance. The lives of poverty they live, sleeping on grass mattresses infected > with bed bugs and lice do not seem to prick the conscience of those who have > escaped the clutches of poverty. Foroyaa wishes to inform its readers that in > the New Year it will establish a women’s column to be known as the Women’s > Platform. The column will do a survey of all women projects which had been > initiated in the Gambia since the first Republic, note the sums involved and > access their impact on the lives of the women. It will interview women farmers, > workers, public sector employees and their associations to enable those who > administer the society today and those who want to change the society for a > better tomorrow to hear the voices of the women and know their real plight. This > is the way forward. > > “African Swine Fever Drastically Reduced”> By Yaya Bajo> Dr. Babucarr Jaw, Director for the Department of Veterinary Services told > Foroyaa that the African Swine Fever outbreak that struck the country sometime > ago has been drastically reduced. In an interview with this reporter on > Thursday 18 October, he said when the outbreak occurred the only strategy they > employed was improvement of the management system. He said the pig breeders > were urged to strictly apply standard bio-security measures and that they were > also provided with booklets and audio cassettes which contained relevant > information on the control measures of the disease.> “We built their capacity through sensitization and we also liaise with > authorities from the sub-region as the disease is trans-boundary,” he disclosed. > Dr. Jaw added that when the outbreak occurred, their plan was to stamp out the > pigs and compensate the owners, but it was not easy as the social dimension > was looked into. He said pig breeders were also advised to restrict the > movement of the pigs and to properly dispose off the carcass. He said this can be > done by burning or burying the pigs between two layers of white lime to avoid > the spread of the disease.> The Veterinary Director noted that pig farms should be properly disinfected > and left empty for at least six weeks before introducing sentinel pigs ( i.e > introducing one or two pigs into the farm and observe them for at least > another six weeks). He added that at the end of the period blood samples should be > taken to ascertain whether the virus is still circulating or not and if the > samples are negative then pig breeders can be adviced to re-stock, but the > animals must be from flocks that are confirmed free from infection.> Dr. Jaw further spoke on the Technical Cooperation Programme Proposal > Submitted to the FAO for funding. He said the programme will look at the holistic > issue of the African Swine Fever. “I have also engaged in discussion with > Animals and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) which is a branch of the > United States Department of Agriculture to provide us with test kids as well as > capacity building for our laboratory staff,” he divulged. He added that they > would soon send them a team of experts to kick-start the project.> Dr. Jaw said they are in constant touch with the pig breeders association, > adding that the association is currently on a restructuring process with a > view to properly address the needs of their members. “We also exchange sanitary > information with regards to all trans-boundary animal diseases,” he said. > Dr. Jaw defined African Swine Fever as a trans-boundary animals disease and > that the virus’ capacity to spread is high and it is highly contagious. He > added that symptomatically, the disease show high mortality, refusal to eat, > difficulty in moving with legs and diarrhea are some of the signs. “The disease > can be transmitted from animal to animal through direct or indirect contact > (ie through food, equipment and human beings). It has no treatment and it > does not have any vaccine to prevent it from occurring,” he concluded.> > Rambo In Court, But…> By Fabakary B. Ceesay> Ousman Jatta alias “Rambo” the councillor of Old Bakau and Cape Point Ward > who was called by the police to appear before Kanifing Magistrates Court on > Friday 19 October, came to court only to find out that there was no case for > him in court on that day.> Rambo came to court escorted by a large crowd of family members, supporters > and sympathizers. Dressed in a Friday gown, Mr. Jatta appeared confident as > people came to greet and shake hands with him as a sign of solidarity to him. > His counsel, Mr. Ousainou Darboe, went to make consultations with court staff > and later informed Mr. Jatta and his entourage to return home, as there was > no case for him that day. > > Interview with Halifa Sallah> On the Exchange Rate of the Dalasi, ECOWAS Court on Ebrima Manneh and > Other Burning Issues> > Foroyaa: What is the way forward? > Halifa: This would have been a good opportunity for any government which > had not relied on any opportunistic manipulation of the exchange rate regime > in place to cause the disequilibrium, to put its financial institutions on a > solid foundation.> Foroyaa: Do you believe that the current exchange rates are not market > determined? > Halifa: I will be able to give an unequivocal answer if the Central bank can > give answers to the following questions:> What is value of the dalasi notes which are currently in circulation or are > reserved in the coffers of the Central bank?> Are the commercial banks experiencing any shortages of dalasi deposits in > their buying of foreign currency? > What is the value of each of the foreign currencies which had been traded up > to the time of the exchange rate instability?> Who determines the exchange rates, the banks or the Central bank?> Foroyaa: Why are these questions relevant?> Halifa: They are relevant because exchange rate instability has primary and > secondary causes? It is common knowledge in economics that if you print more > paper money than goods and services required to be exchanged the value of > the currency will depreciate and inflation will skyrocket On the other hand, if > the currency available falls far short of the requirements for the goods and > services to be traded it will experience an appreciation in value. The > object of monetary policy in industrialised export oriented economies and non > industrialised import dependent economies are different. > In short; an industrialised export oriented economy could get its Central > bank to intervene to devalue its currency and contain inflation, thus making > imported goods more expensive than locally produced goods. Devaluation of > currency in an industrialised country can be linked to the stimulation of demand > for local goods by nationals and importers who would be able to buy more goods > from the foreign money they possess: In a non industrialised import > dependent economy depreciation of the value of the local currency can lead to > inflation and appreciation of the currency can undermine investment and create the > type of uncertainty which drives away importers and causes scarcity of goods > which are not produced locally. Shortages of goods are likely to cause > inflation. The monetary policy suitable for developing countries is the maintenance > of exchange rate stability.> Foroyaa: Some readers may wonder how there can be shortage of local currency > when government can just print money as it wishes.> Halifa: It is not that simple. Shortage can be artificially caused by > simply hoarding money or it can be caused by the quick wear and tear of money > without raising the money to pay for the printing of new money. This is the > primary responsibility of the Central Bank. > Section 161 of the Constitution states: “The Central Bank shall be the only > authority to issue the currency of the Gambia.” The minting or production of > currency is a very expensive enterprise. The currency requires security > features to distinguish it from counterfeit. Hence shortages of currency can > occur if old ones go out of circulation without enough new currencies being > produced. I am not sure whether that is the case but one has to go to a bank to > withdraw money from an account to discover that the money available is a > health risk because of its decay:> Foroyaa: Finally how is exchange rate stability maintained?> Halifa: Section 161 subsection 4(a) of the Constitution states:> ‘’The Central Bank shall promote and maintain the stability of the currency > of the Gambia.’’ The primary task is for the Central Bank to ensure that > the value of the dalasi in circulation does not fall short of the actual > demands for dalasi in all transactions in the economy. Secondly, the Central Bank > must ensure that enough foreign currency exists to carry out all the > transactions required in the economy. Where there is foreign exchange in excess of > what is required the Central Bank should implement fiscal policies which will > enable it to mop up such foreign exchange to put it in its reserves or advise > the banks to deposit it in their foreign reserves. Furthermore the Central > Bank should keep track of the wear and tear of the local currency with a > view to putting out of circulation by environmentally friendly means monies > which are no longer fit for circulation and raise the necessary funds to replace > them without any delay. Where there are dalasis in circulation in excess to > what is needed in all the transactions in the economy the Central Bank must > adopt monetary and fiscal policies to mop up the excess liquidity or encourage > the banks to expand more into development banking by investing in foreign > exchange generating projects to ensure a balance and proportionate growth of the > foreign exchange requirements of the country in the absence of speculators. > With exchange rate stability the banks will derive slow but sure profit from > investments in the productive base while maintaining the balance between > supply and demand in the currency market. The primary role of the Central bank is > precisely to adopt policies which will enable it to facilitate a balance > between supply of and demand for the Gambian dalasi, on one hand and supply of > and demand for foreign currency, on the other hand. Once it is capable of > doing this there will be exchange rate stability.> Foroyaa: What is your last word on this issue before we move to the issue of > Chief Manneh and the ECOWAS Court ?> Halifa: If I am wrong I stand to be corrected by the Central Bank, the other > Banks, the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs or the > Chamber of Commerce through granting an interview with the paper Foroyaa or the > Daily Observer.> Foroyaa: How do you see the detentions without trial of Chief Manneh, > Kaniba Kanyi and others and the proceedings before the ECOWAS Court?> > To be continued> ]> Ecomansa Holds Seminar On Appreciation Of Dalasi> By Gibairu Janneh> Following the appreciation of the dalasi against foreign currencies many > thought that the price of basic commodities would also be reduced. This is > however not the case yet. The foreign exchange rates have dropped yet the prices > of commodities are still high. This situation of the economy prompted the > Economic and Management Studies’ Association of the UTG to organise a seminar on > Wednesday on the theme “The appreciation of the dalasi and its effects on the > domestic economy” held at the Girl’ Guide Headquarters in Kanifing.> The main speakers at the seminar included Dr. Buhari Sillah, Head of > Economics Department, Mr. Lamin Bittaye, a part time lecture in Economics and Yaya > Jallow a Graduate Assistant, Mr. Jallow explained what is meant by foreign > exchange. He said that the foreign exchange rate of a country is determined by > the amount of foreign currency surplus reserves that a country has based on > the supply. He added that a country’s foreign exchange does have an influence > on the countr’s trade, unemployment and its general level of economic growth.> Mr. Bittaye said the appreciation of the dalasi was due to the positive > measure taken by the Central Bank; that from 2004, The Central Bank embarked on > reserve building which led to the dalasis’ appreciation. He further stated > that other measures by the Central Bank, such as the control of inflation, > reduction in Bank charges, staff monitor programmes were all measures that > facilitated the growth of the dalasi.> For his part, the head of the Economics Department, Dr. Buhari Sillah, > analysed the general situation of the country’s economy and concluded that with > time the prices of commodities will be reduced. He however noted that this > reduction will be gradual as other factors are also involved.> > Brikama Area Council CEO Sacked> By Modou Jonga> > Reliable reports reaching Foroyaa have it that the Chief Executive Officer > of the Brikama Area Council, Mr. Balla Musa Cham was recently relieved of his > duties by the authorities. The sacked CEO is said to be replaced by Mr. > Momodou Jallow,the CEO at Jangjanbureh who reported to work yesterday. > According to sources at the Brikama Area Council, Mr. Cham received his termination > letter on 16th October. Sources stated that no reason was advanced for the > sacking of the BAC Chief Executive Officer.> When this reporter visited the Brikama Area Council, two BAC officials who > preferred anonymity confirmed the story .> When contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Brikama Area Council, Mr. > Joof confirmed that Mr. Balla Musa Cham was relieved of his duties on > Tuesday 16 October and that no reason or reasons were advanced for his sacking. He > also said that he is replaced by Mr. Momodou Jallow, Current CEO of the > Jangjanbureh Area Council. Efforts to speak to the sacked CEO proved futile.> > GAMLISA Celebrates 20th Anniversary> By Saikou Ceesay> GAMLISA, originally founded as GAML (Gambia Library Association) was > established in September 1987 and one of its aims was to unite all persons engaged > or interested in library and information services in The Gambia.> In presenting his paper at the 20th Anniversary of the organisation, Mr. > Abdou Karim Sonko, representative of the Secretary of State for ……said GAMLISA > is currently carrying out sensitization campaigns to create more awareness > about the profession in the country and also to seek technical and financial > assistance to enable them organise educational programmes for practitioners and > users. Mr. Sonko considered the three-day Book Bonanza as very timely and > the theme which is “Information for Development” as appropriate Mr. Sonko said > “when we talk about information we are referring to what is being > communicated and the mode in which it is communicated”. He said the main concern of > GAMLISA, is to influence the policies that affect the availability and access or > otherwise to information for the Gambians populace. Mr. Sonko promised that > GAMLISA will allows applaud and appreciate whatever steps are taken by the > Department of State for Information of state in particular, and the government > in general to enable them as professionals, provide the necessary services to > influence access to information for everyone.> Mrs. Elie Bahoum, an Executive Member of the Gambia Library and Information > Services Association (GAMLISA) said this avails them the opportunity to meet > and discuss issues relating to information science in its widest connotation. > Mrs. Bahaum said since then, the Association, under various stewardships, > has grown from strength to strength registring many success stories, such as > being affiliated to international sister organisation, setting up of > documentation centres, conducting training programmes for its personnel among others.> Mrs. Jainaba Faal attended on behalf of the Director of National Aids > Secretariats (NAS). She stated that everyone, rich or poor, young or old, is > affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic are the most vulnerable. Mrs. Faal assured her > organisation strong conviction that GAMLISA would continue to pioneer HIV/AIDS > prevention, information dissemination amongst their target groups, notably > the youths and students utilizing their various facilities (libraries) across > the country. Mrs. Faal indicated that GAMLISA has joined the wagon of > contributing in HIV/AIDS interventions. She assured GAMLISA of her organisation’s > unflinching support in this national and international concern.> Adama Cupah from African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights also shed > light on the GAMLISA’s untiring efforts to unite all persons engaged in library > and information services in The Gambia and abroad.> > MARRIAGE AND FAMILY> Discrimination In The Family> Mom Rings Her Friends, Aja Bintou, Aja ‘B’> Mom rang Aja B and explained the situation to her. She calmed her down. Aja ‘> B’ is above her status. She is married to a business tycoon, Alhaji Musa. > She is blessed with two girls in the marriage. Her eldest daughter, Fatima is > married to an oil tycoon based in Saudi Arabia. Isha, her youngest daughter is > married to a UN Diplomat. Fatima is a surgeon, also practicing in Saudi > Araba. Isha is a computer guru, running her IT business. Aja ‘B’ is also a > businesswoman specializing in wedding gowns and wedding accessories. She has > influence over Haja Oumu. She tells her home truths. “Zai rang yester night”. “> Oh! That’s great. Where is she?” Aja B asked. “She would not tell”. Haja Oumu > explained. “Well! Take it easy. At least there is a break through. She called > after a month’s silence. I’ll come over to your place”. “Thank you Aja ‘B’> . You are really a sister”. Haja Oumu commented.> At Her Office> She told her Secretary to cancel all calls. “I don’t want to talk to > anyone. Take important messages only”. “Okay Ma!” said Khadijah her Secretary.> Sulayman And Badara> Badara is Saul’s best friend. He travelled to Europe. He has just arrived. > He found him in a sorrowful mode. Saul explained his problem with Haja Oumu. “> What about your girl? Is she still focus?” Badara asked. “She is excellent. > She has no problem. She loves me with all her heart and soul. Her mum is the > only problem”. Saul confirmed. “Has her mum have any influence over her?” “> No! She has no influence over her. Infact, she is rebelling. And is not living > with her family at the moment”. Saul explained. “Fine! Give her all your > support. Get her positive blood relatives on your side and move on”. Badara > advised. “Take the bull by the horn and marry your babe. Lean on me. I’ll carry > you on, all the time! Cheer up!” Badara shook up Saul.> Bani And Her Mom> Bani told her mom some home truths. “Mom! I cannot understand you. You used > to be a warm, kind, accommodating and compassionate person. You never > discriminated against any body. You were a team leader and love working in a team. > But no more mom! You are different. You hate, scorn and loath the poor and > the needy. All because of your promotion! You are climbing the success ladder. > But he careful mom! Be careless! The old adage says when you are climbing up > don’t malice those you pass on the ground. In case you start falling down > they will hold you high up not to come crashing down! I am fed up with > everything. Zai left became of your nagging. I might leave as well! This house is > becoming too hot for me!” Bani threatened. “Shut up foolish girl! If you want to > leave, leave, but not use anyone as a escape goat. Your cases are different. > Zai challenged my authority and decided to leave by herself. Your case is > different but if you want to leave, take at the way!” She pointed towards the > door.> Three Months On> Zainab appeared. Musa, the gateman first welcomed her. He was excited to see > his small madam. “Welcome Miss Zainab! We all miss you”. “Thank you! Is > anybody in?” Zai asked. “Yes! Madam is in”. “Thank you!” Zai walked towards > the big house. Musa exclaimed with amusement. “Oh Miss Zainab! Madam will be > happy. She is worried to death!”> Mom Meets Zainab> Mom met Zainab as she entered the sitting room while Zainab came in. Mom > cautiously greeted her. She is scared for her to leave again. Zainab returned > her greetings in a polite manner and went into her room. Mama changed her tone > and became more accommodative. She talked to herself and expressed self pity. > “I want to better their lives. You’ll not kill me! Life is very short!” she > grumbled.> The Pregnancy> Zainab gave the shocking news. “I am pregnant!” She explained. “Preg what? > For who?” Mama asked. Zainab refused to talk.> Saul Enters The House> Mom threatened to kill Zainab. Then Saul entered the sitting room. “You’ll > not accept him mom but he is my choice the father of my child!” Zainab > confessed. “You have to abort that bastard in your womb! You cannot bring shame > into our family. I have nothing to do with this pauper or his unborn child. You’> ll have to abort it or else I’ll commit two murders”. Then she left and went > into her room in a rage. Bani gave Zai solidarity. She caressed her. “It’s > okay sister! I’ll talk to her”. “Thank you!” Sulay responded, Zainab nodded > her head. Saul cuddled Zainab into his arms and consoled and reassured her. > Zainab cried over his arms.> Mom Pays A Visit To Haja ‘B’> Mom paid a quick visit to her best Pal, Haja ‘B’. She announced that Zai > have returned home. “Allah be praised! That’s good news”. Haja ‘B’ announced > with excitement. “Wait a minute! It is not like that”. “What is it again?” “> Zainab is pregnant for him!” “What?” Haja Bintou consoled her friend. “ > Nature has a way of solving it’s problem. If the two are meant to be no one can > put them asunder!” “What do you mean?” Mama asked “Let them be! What else > do you want to do?” Haja Bintou asked. “She has to abort the pregnancy and > give up her relationship with Saul!” “But that is impossible and you know it! > It is against our religion, even the pregnancy before marriage. I am sorry. > Your refused to join the two lovers you cause it. Now! You must repent. > Repent your ways! Give the youths their chance, let them be! Zainabou is over 18 > years. By law she can take care of herself. Please my dear friend! Let your > children be. When she delivers her baby, let Saul marry her”. Mama jumped up. > “Over my dead body! I’ll not allow it. You are selfish. Do you ask what > type of work Saul does?” She roared. “That is immaterial! What Saul does for a > living is left to him and his wife”. Haja Bintou defended her point. “What > about if he is an armed robber?” Mama asked. “Saul is not! And you know it! > He is a decent guy working as an accountant at the Continental Bank. I bank > with his institution. “Haja defended her point. “He is an ordinary accountant. > A human counting machine! I’ll not allow her marry my daughter. How about > your two daughters Fatima and Isha who are married to an oil tycoon and A UN > Diplomat respectively?” Mama challenged Haja ‘B’. Did I Bintou. She laughted > at her. “Choose their spouses? You know I didn’t leave your daughter. Let her > be! And please don’t do any stupid thing. Forgot about abortion. That is out > of it. Abortion is dangerous. You daughter can lose her life and get barren > for life. I do not support abortion unless it threatens the lady or the mother> ”. Haja Bintou emphasize her point. Mama was very angry with her friend and > mento. They did not see eye to eye. Angrily, she left Haja Bintou’s house and > went back home.> > FOCUS ON POLITICS> THE 1987 SUPPLEMENTARY REGISTRATION;> PDOIS CLASH WITH PPP AGENTS> We have been focusing on politics in this column. We have traced the > political history of the Gambia from Pre-Colonial to Post-Independence era. The > narration of events is meant to help the youngsters to know the past so as to > understand the present in order to enable them shape the future.> In the last issue we have dwelt into issues raised by a political party > (PDOIS) in the first ever-National Education Conference. We have stopped where we > said Mr. Araba Bah replaced Mr. M.E Jallow as leader of The Gambia Workers > Union and was subsequently appointed by the President as a nominated member to > the House of Parliament. We then asked whether he would be able to genuinely > serve trade union interest in the house even where it conflicts with > government interest.> Let us continue from where we stopped.> The 1980s were the painful years not only for the ordinary Gambians but even > so for elites. Despite these difficult times, there remained some genuine > elites who refused to run or hide from the difficulties and stood their ground > and tried to participate in the democratic struggle by establishing > progressive newspapers with a view to help enlighten the masses and enable them take > positive decisions. But this did not happen without a price.> In their bid to organize to get some recognition and protection from the > state, the independent press in The Gambia struggled for almost four years > between 1983 to 1987 to have what they called “A National Press Council” but > their struggles bore naught. This was why at a Press Conference held with the > President at State House, Mr. Dixon Colley, editor of the Nation told Sir Dawda > that they the Press had been clamoring for the state to pioneer a National > Press Council since 1983 but as he said nothing tangible has happened since > then, eventhough he told him, “you have always promised to look into it.”> In his reaction, the president called on the new Minister of Information to > address the problem.> It was in this light that the new Minister Lamin Nafa Saho, met the Local > Press on Friday the 8 of July 1987 to discuss the proposed National Press > Council (NPC). In that meeting, the following people who mattered were invited; > Mr. M.L Auber, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Saja Taal, the Under Secretary and > Mr. Marcel Thomasi, Director of Information and Broadcasting. The minister > after his welcoming remarks delved into the purpose of the meeting and quoted > the question raised by editor Dixon Colley of the Nation Newspaper and the > president’s response to that question. The minister said after thinking about > the matter, he had new ideas, which he said he wanted to experiment with. He > however admitted, according to reports that he was a layman in media affairs and > that he was subjected to correction. He again emphasized that the need to > establish a press council was indeed felt.> Mr. A.A Njai, Secretary to the study group elected by the Gambia Press Union > and the department reported that he had informed the outgoing minister and > even wrote two reminders to keep the issue continuously alive but as he said > there has not been any response. According to reports, as the discussion > ensued the minister proposed that a seminar be organised at the end of which NPC > maybe established. This, the reports said was unanimously accepted by all and > sundry.> According to the Nation, Pap Saine of Reuters also suggested that lawyers > and writers be invited for their resourcefulness. This suggestion too was > accepted by all except Dr. Taal, the under Secretary at the ministry but according > to Dixon Colley, that was not a problem. The problem was that the under > Secretary intervened in such an outburst that could be described as “uncontrolled”> emotion. The reaction of Mr. Colley in the Nation report showed how > hysterical he was about the whole thing. So what did the under Secretary said that > created such rancor amongst media practitioners?> Dr. Taal, according to reports said he could not take the issue seriously > because as he said, the Gambian press was full of “untrained” “unorganized” > and “unprofessional” journalists. Mr. Taal described certain pressmen as disc > jockeys and others as the “devils” advocate’, and so on and so forth. Dixon > who later responded to the under Secretary’s out bursts in the Nation > described the action as immature sentimentalities; that Taal should know when and > where to display it and of course to whom. Dixon fired back and said, he was > surprised by the behavior since Mr. Taal was a public administrator who > claimed to have been a trained journalist and who was one of the fierciest, radical > and most importantly critics of the regime during his Kent street Vour days. > He expressed surprise that Taal was now operator of a system he used to > detest and denounce so savagely. He asked whether this was not a disappointment > to the minister. He also urged Secretary General Langley to speak to Taal to > avert future embarrassments to the Government in the future and so on and so > forth.> Many journalists at the time felt that the regime was not serious about > creating National Press Council; that the true feeling of the state was in fact > coming through an Under Secretary that the meeting was just a smokescreen. > Many wondered why highly certified intellectuals act in ways that do not serve > the interest of the people but appeared to favour the state.> An African historian Paul Tiyambe Zeleza who studied the predicament of the > African intellectual at the time described the period in his book “> Manufacturing African Studies” as thus, “The economic crises that hit many African > countries from the mid 1980s further compounded the problems of intellectual > production and reproduction, that the social sector targeted for retrenchment > by the structural adjustment programmes SAPs ostensibly adopted to rectify the > crises, had affected education and intellectuals in general, forcing many > intellectuals to resort to what he described as moon lighting, or sought to > exercise their entrepreneurial skills in the nebulous world of the “informal” > sector whilst others tried to endear themselves to the state for lucrative > appointment.”> PDOIS COMMENCES RESEARCH ON REGISTRATION> Supplementary Registration of voters took place throughout the country in > late 1987. The PDOIS, which had as its agenda to research into the electoral > system bought caloi bicycles for its militants to monitor the registration. > They took the task never to miss any single day of registration. So each > registration team had a monitor attached to it. The team in Banjul was the first to > discover the tactic of the PPP agents in their attempt to dominate the > registration process.> The First Encounter> The PDOIS militants insisted that election officers follow the instructions > of the supervisor of elections, which was a requirement by the election Act. > It was also a requirement of the Act for the supervisor of elections to > enforce on the part of all registration officers “fairness, impartiality and > compliance with the provisions of the election Act.> The PDOIS militants claimed that they have discovered that PPP agents were > the ones issuing claim forms which they said was the responsibility > expressedly assigned to registration officers by rule 2 paragraph (3) which stated that > “the registration officer shall on application supply a form of claim free > of charge to a claimant.> The PDOIS executive said they wrote numerous petitions to the supervisor of > elections and contacted the deputy for redress without delay. All > administrative channels they said had been exhausted to no avail. These petitions were > made public by publishing them in Newspapers as open letters to the supervisor > of elections without any reaction. The PPP Agents led by Pesseh Njie > insisted that it was a custom for their party militants to issue claim forms and > they were only out to help people to register. They however insisted that it was > the law that should prevail not tradition.> When the struggle intensified, the PPP Agents who had no moral strength to > hang on to decided to place their tables adjacent to the registering officers > so that claimants would think that the PPP agents were one and the same with > the registering team. The PDOIS claimed that that was sending a wrong > impression to the masses that everything was under PPP control. Secondly failure to > go to the PPP table could give an indication of how the person intended to > vote, which could lead to victimization. They argued that the arrangement > nullified the climate of impartiality, which would characterize the election > process from registration to the declaration of results. The PDOIS claimed that > the practice undermined the very principle of free and fair elections; that it > must cease.> . As the tension increased, it was a big surprise to find that the PPP > agents began to hide forms under their tables. This was the time it became clear > that the PPP’s Election machine had its foundation in the crude registration > system, the Foroyaa commented.> It was at this time that a clandestine publication was discovered in > circulation against PDOIS captioned “A Banjul Political Observer writes to enlighten > public on PDOIS.” > > Asset Awards Craft Competitors> By Isatou Bittaye> The Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET) has awarded > four winners of the Arts and Craft Competition 2007 on Thursday 18 October at > the ASSET Cultural Encounter at Timbooktoo Bookshop, Bakau.> In declaring the competition open, the Director General of Gambia Tourism > Authority (GTA), Mr. Kaliba Senghore said the competition was aimed to improve > the quality of art and craft products and ensure responsible tourism in The > Gambia. He added that it is all about partnership and promoting responsible > tourism in The Gambia. Mr. Senghore said the first competition was held in 2005 > at the Alliance Franco Gambinne the current one was but done at the ASSET’s > Cultural encounter. He added that the competition will be held yearly in > ensuring fair and responsible tourism. He said ASSET aims to encourage its > members to be more innovative and develop small scale tourism. Mrs. Binta Jobe, > Director of Quality Control and Lincensing (GTA) said ASSET is taking the lead > in ensuring that responsible tourism is achieved. She congratulated the > participants and thanked ASSET for the good initiative. The winners of the > Decorative category are Malick Ceesay and “Monkey Business”. They were awarded each > a cash prize of D7,500.00 and a certificate. The first winner of the > practical category is Equi-Gambia who received a cash price of D10,000.00. They were > followed by Paper Recycling Skills Project who got a cash price of > D5,000.00. The judges were Lamin Marenah, Anna of Top Shop, Karri from Marouns > Supermarket and Mr. Goerge.> > Escaped Convict Gets Extra-Two Year Jail Term> By Saikou Ceesay> Soriba Kondi, believed to be Guinean national who had previously been > convicted and> jailed on 3 April to ten years imprisonment for his implication in an armed > robbery, was on Thursday 1 1th October sentenced to four years imprisonment > for escaping from lawful custody.> The accused Soriba Kondi had absconded from prison vehicle while in lawful > custody on their way to Bundung Magistrates court with six prisoners.> Soriba Kondi is said to have a separate pending case against him at the > Bundung Magistrates Court. The prosecution called two witnesses. During cross > examination PW1 Abdoulie Njie, a police officer attached to the Banjul Police > Station, presented the cautionary statement obtained from the accused at the > station. He explained in detail that the statement tendered with thumb print > before the court, is the accused person’s statement. He narrated that he is not > aware of anyone that beat the accused to obtain statement from him. During > cross examination PW2 Essa Keita a police officer attached to the Bundung > Police Station maintained that the accused person stamped the door with his foot, > and allowed other prisoners to escape from lawful custody. Police officer > confirmed that he didn’t allow the prisoners to escape.> In his defence the accused Soriba Kondi: said his sister gave fifty thousand > dalasis to prosecutor Sergeant Omar Jaharteh to secure his escape. In short > he insisted that his sister Adama Kondi gave the said amount in the pretence > of Adama Jallow and Muhammadu Darboe both prisoners serving at Mile Two.> Delivering his judgment at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, Magistrate Moses > Richards said “having looked at> the evidence, before the court,” it is now pertinent for him to look at the > law. Moses Richards interpreted section 108 of the Criminal Code of the Laws > of the Gambia and asserted that the evidences before the court are clear and > detailed. He ruled that the accused escaped from lawful custody between State > Central Prison and Bundung Magistrates’ Court. He said the accused > complained of being beaten by the investigators but didn’t provide any witnesses, > citing that he perverted justice.). > In this mitigation the accused begged for forgiveness. He was finally > sentenced accordingly. Count 1; two years w1ili~out option of a fine and Count 2; > two years without option of fine for his admission that he had paid D50,000 > for escape. Both sentences are to run consecutively at the Jangjanbureh Prison > with hard labour. Altogether Soriba Kondi is to serve fourteen (14) years, > with pending charges at the Bundung Magistrates Court.> > Training For West African Journalists Calls Off> By Fabakary B. Ceesay> The planned two day training workshop for West African Journalists slated > for 19th and 20th October in Banjul has been called off at the eleventh hour > without any reason advanced from the organisers. The proposed programme was > organised by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) in > collaboration with the open society initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).> A commission’s member pointed out that they received orders indicating to > the Commission that there could not be any possibility of hosting the event in > The Gambia. “We were told that the workshop cannot take place here,” he > said. Dr.Feyi Ogunade, Senior legal officers of the commission in charge of > promotional affairs said, “now that the event cannot take place here, it will be > rescheduled to another country.” Dr. Ogunade declined to comment on where such > an order came from. It should be borne in mind that six Gambian Journalists > with participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, > Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo were to benefit from the training. > Gambian Journalists were only informed of the development shortly before the start > of the programme. It was also brought to their attention that their > counterparts, who were due to come from other countries were informed to cancel their > fights. They were said to have already bought their air tickets to and from > Banjul.> > Land Palaver At Sohm > WR Governor Declines To Comment> By Modou Jonga> Foroyaa is reliably informed that a land tussle erupted in Sohm village in > the Kombo East District. Reports indicate that the district chief, Basiru > Jarju, sold a piece of land to two American Nationals, Brian and Ayondele Carson > to the tune of D100,000 dalasis.> Sources noted that for more than five months no valid official receipt or > other relevant land transfer documents has yet been issued, relevant > authorities such as the Governor of Western Region, and National Assembly Member for > Kombo East were approached to facilitate the issuance of the said official > receipt but the authorities are yet to intervene directly to solve the land > palaver. However, the authorities are said to have talked with the district chief. > Sources noted that following the sale of the said land to the new owners, > the once cordial relationship between the Americans and the Chief has turned > sour. The Americans are also said to be bullied, threatened and harrassed > systemically at Sohm. Sources told this reporter, that the Americans are also > threatened with deportation by the said district chief, if they continue to > demand the said official receipt. > Speaking to this reporter Brain and Ayodele Carson confirmed that they are > yet to be issued with a receipt by the chief and that they are often harassed > and threatened following their demand for the said receipt. They noted that, > they came to settle at Sohm because they were convinced when they were in the > United States of America by a resident of Sohm who is based in the United > States of America to come to Sohm. The duo stressed that their bright dreams of > settling at Sohm was dashed due to the current hostile atmosphere they found > themselves in with the said concerned authorities in the said land case.> When he was contacted, Basiru Jarju, Chief of Kombo East noted that the said > plot of land is not sold to the American. He added that the plot land is > given to the Americans gratis by the people of Sohm. Chief Jarju vehemently > said the allegations of harassment and intimidation against the duo is > unfounded. On his part Mr. Lamin Bojang, National Assembly Member for Kombo East > confirmed the said land palaver but noted that he had an audience with the > concerned parties in order to solve the dispute. Mr. Bojang noted his resolve to > solve the said standing dispute. The Governor of the Western Region Abdou F. M > Badjie on his part urged this reporter to contact the said district chief and > further declined to comment. > > Timber Dealers Decry Forestry Ban> By Modou Jonga> Barely a month after the coming into effect of the ban on all forestry > activities by the President of the Republic, numerous timber dealers are lamenting > that it is unbearable and detrimental to their survival. The timber dealers > at Brikama expressed their frustration with the ban on timber cutting, in an > interview granted to this reporter.> Abdoulie Tinn, a timber dealer noted that the ban completely halted his > business and that the ban should be lifted because it is unbearable. The ban on > forestry activities, noted Mr. Tinn, is seriously affected his income > generating capacity in taking care of the basic needs of his family. While urging the > government to revise the circumstances of the said ban, Mr. Tinn has > lamented that he has lost over ten thousand dalasis due to the ban and logs of > timber left uncollected in the forest.> Another desperate timber dealer, Landing Nyassi, said he has been in the > timber business for ten years and that he is finding it extremely hard to make > ends meet. We are at a lost to understand the reasons for the ban on forestry > activities”. He stated that the scarcity of saw dust due to the ban has also > affected woman who produced the ‘Soda Soap using materials including saw > dust. He lamented that he has 22 logs of timber left in the forest uncollected.> Sedio Sonko noted that the ban has halted his timber business. “The scale of > the felling and marketing of the red timber has necessitated the ban, “ he > posited. According to Mr. Sonko he had one hundred and fifty dalasis worth of > timber uncollected in the forest and has lost an amount of ten thousand > dalasis due to the recent ban. Another timber dealer, Ousman A. Jammeh, said he is > desperate. Mr. Jammeh urged the relevant authorities to furnish them with > sufficient information as to what gave rise to the forestry ban through the > mass media.> More than thirty timber dealers who spoke to this reporter have lamented > about the adverse economic effects of the benon them due to the said ban. They > reiterated the call on the government to reconsider and lift the ban in due > course. > > Brikama Art. Turf to Develop Football> By Modou Jonga> The artificial surface being constructed at the Brikama Box Bar mini stadium > will contribute in the development of football, said Lamin King Colley.> King Colley, chairman of the Western Region Sports Committee was speaking > during a tour of the project by the FIFA consultant Dr. Eric Harrison. Colley > said the project represents a hallmark in the development of football not only > in the Western region but the country as a whole. “The project will enhance > the development of Gambian players”, he added. > Brikama is the beneficiary of the first artificial surface in the country. > The project is being funded by FIFA through the Gambia Football Association > GFA at a reported cost of D10million. > Dr. Harrison the project’s consultant in appraising the state of the project > talked of FIFA’s desire in developing football infrastructures. He also > called on those that will be tasked with the management of the facility when it > is ready to perform their tasks efficiently, and revealed that seminars will > be organised to educate them on how to maintain the facilities.> Also present during the tour were the Director of GFA’s Technical Training > Center, Bakary Terema Dahaba and the project contractor.> > > > > ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com> > ����������������������������������������������������������> 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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