NAWEC, Kharaffi 50-year Take Over Deal Called Off
Utility Bills To Be Paid In Foreign Exchange
by Ahmed Carayol
The President Yahya Jammeh has informed the Gambian nation that the 50-year take over deal of the National Water and Electricity Corporation, NAWEC, by the Kharaffi Group has been called off and put on hold because the company to take over refuses to accept some conditions under the first agreement that was signed.
Speaking to journalists at the Banjul International Airport on his arrival from a four-day state visit to Mauritania, the President in reply to a question about the Nawec deal confirmed that it was called off. He continued that after the first agreement was signed, the Kharaffi Group asked for certain concessions. Most of these concessions, President Jammeh said, were not in the interest of Gambians, and as he has the interest of Gambians at heart he decided to call the deal off .
He revealed that the Kharaffi Group: 1) Did not want to pay for the infrastructures that were in place at Nawec; 2) Will not be paying taxes; 3) Asked for consumers to pay utility bills in foreign currency; 4) was to fix the tariff in accordance with the fluctuating world price of fuel; 5) Would implement the rural electrification only if their company is economically viable; and 6) Would not accept liabilities of Nawec.
President Jammeh said that the date for the Group to take over as stipulated in the first agreement was not respected. As at that time Nawec has completed the rehabilitation of Machine No.6. The only thing remaining was to put it on together with the other machines. Nawec, he said, is not now supplying electricity because of the Kharaffi deal as people were thinking, but because the Corporation had invested money into the rehabilitation of their machines.
It would be recalled that the rumour was spreading in town that the Nawec/Kharaffi deal had been called off, but there was no official confirmation of this. This paper The Independent, two Fridays ago carried a story captioned "Nawec Chairman Dispels Rumours". In the story the Chairman, Mr. Jeng noted that he could not confirm nor deny the story, as there was no announcement over the radio or television to the effect that the deal has been called off.
Now that the President has confirmed that the deal is off, people have been talking some senses about the Corporation.
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In IRA Suspect's Trial, Commissioner Of Oaths Testifies
by Lamin Njie
Bakary J. Camara Commissioner of Oaths on Thursday testified in the on-going trial of the IRA suspect Cathal Omoalian, at the Brikama Magistrate Court before Magistrate Jawo.
In his testimony, Mr. Camara indicated to the court that he lives in Brikama and works as Commissioner of Oath at the Brikama Police Station. He narrated that on Monday 16th August 2004, one Amadou Wurri Bah came to his place and said he wanted an ID Card. According to Mr. Camara, he asked for his previous documents which he indicated to be lost. Mr. Camara told the court that Amadou pleaded that he was not well and asked him to process all the necessary things. "After the process, I handed over everything to my junior, Bubacarr Bah", Mr. Camara continued.
Mr. Camara said the ID Card was later handed to the owner Amadou Wurri Bah. But unfortunately, while Amadou was on a trip to Soma the vehicle he was in was intercepted by the Mandinaba Police Post and he was found in possession of a false Gambian ID Card. "I later confirmed that I gave him the ID but I did not know that false ID Cards could be made", he told the court.
At this juncture, the case was adjourned to March 2nd, 2005 for further hearing.
It could be recalled that Cathal Omoalain, a 58 year old Irish national (suspected to be an IRA), Momodou Drammeh and Bubacarr Bah were arrested by the police at the beginning of this year and charged with ten counts ranging from conspiracy to commit felony, contrary to section 368 of the Criminal Code; and making false documents contrary to section 320 (A) of the Criminal Code.
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Ex-President's Bodyguard's Case Suffers Setback
by Buya Jammeh
The legal matter involving a former bodyguard of ex-president Sir Dawda Jawara, Tijan Touray and Kabba Jawara, an immediate cousin of the former president, has suffered several adjournment since its mentioning before the High Court.
However, the case which is presided over by Justice Yamou of the High Court, was at first adjourned to the 8th November, during which the defence counsel applied to the court for the plaintiff Tijan Touray to deposit his title deed before the court in the form of sureties, which will serve as a guarantee, if the case should go otherwise in favour of the defenses to enable the court to sell it, as the plaintiff is not staying in the country. This was granted to the defense.
Since then, the case was adjourned to 30th of January 2005, on the said date the case was unable to proceed, thus it was further adjourned to the 16th of May 2005.
The plaintiff Tijan Touray who has been a personal aide to Sir Dawda since 1994 is suing Kabba Jawara for break of contract, fraud and false misrepresentation, which reportedly incurred damage to the plaintiff.
Tijan Touray and Kabba Jawara are said to have been business partners involved in the importation and selling of computers. Both reportedly invested over 12000 pound sterling, out of which ex-president Jawara had contributed over 3000 pounds sterling.
According to writ summons in respect of the case the plaintiff is claiming 12,000 (twelve thousands British pound sterling) being the value of computers received by Kabba for onward sale in The Gambia. Touray is also claiming D776 000-representing profits accrued from the sales of the defendant.
In the third claim, the plaintiff is also demanding D800, 000 for an alleged breach of contract on the part of the defendant.
A further D500, 000 is being claimed by the plaintiff as damages for fraudulent misrepresentation and deceit aside from interest at a rate of 35percent on all sums due to him.
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Standard Chartered Bank Dragged To Industrial Tribunal
by Dawda Faye
Recently, one Rachael Nickle a former cashier/clerk at the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) dragged the bank to the Industrial Tribunal at the Kanifing Magistrates’ court, claiming D3, 548,000 for loss of earning for thirty-six years of service and other damages.
In a hearing presided over by Magistrate Richards, the plaintiff related of her career with the bank. In her evidence, Ms. Nickle said that as cashier at SCB Serrekunda she received D2, 000 as basic salary. Later on, she was moved to the remittances department of the bank headquarters in Banjul to operate as a supervisor, receiving D6, 000 as salary. While there, she was upgraded with a basic salary of D7, 000.
Continuing in her testimony, Ms Nickle revealed that as supervisor the manager of her department had to go on maternity leave for about four months and she took over the post.
On the 29th January 2003, she had a telephone call from the bank’s Human Resource Manager Aisha Njie who informed her that a letter was coming to her, querying that she (Aisha) had a telephone call from the British High Commission and said she (the plaintiff) signed a letter for an ex-employee of the bank. She further said that it was Aisha who wrote that the details in her file (Aisha) deferred from the letter’s content.
Rachael Nickle continued that after that incident, a letter was written to her to indicate that the bank was considering to terminate her services. She was asked, in this letter, to appear to be heard or be represented. Bola Carrol, her lawyer, represented her during that meeting. Subsequently, a termination letter was sent to her.
After two hearings at the tribunal, during which the bank was not represented, the chairman of the tribunal, Moses Richards, told the tribunal that he was going to give the plaintiff judgment for all she asked for. And as a result he entered judgment in favour of the plaintiff. Thus SCB will be paying D 3,548,000 to the plaintiff for loss of earning for thirty-six years of service and other damages.
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Editorial: Bravo to the police but……
Bravo to the police for their recent press release updating the public on their investigations into Deyda Hydara’s assassination. It is indeed a commendable gesture to keep the public abreast of the progress of their investigations. This looks like a new approach which we hope is part of their community policing initiative.
However, from the tone of the release, the police seem to have assumed a defensive posture rather than merely informing the public on the progress or otherwise of the investigations. While the initiative was commendable, but the approach left quite a lot to be desired. Indeed members of the public are certainly not interested in whether or not the assassins used a pick-up truck or a Mercedes Benz taxi or even whether or not it had a number plate. All that the people want to know is who killed Deyda and why, or whether there has been any progress in the investigations, which unfortunately was not quite evident in the release.
Another question everyone seems to be asking is why among the numerous unsolved cases of murder, attempted murder and other serious cases of misdemeanors still pending with them, the police only chose to inform the public about their investigations into Deyda’s murder. Does it mean that they have abandoned investigations into all the other cases such as the mysterious death of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former finance minister in 1995, the attempt on the life of Lawyer Ousman Sillah in 2003 as well as numerous other similar crimes, including the many arson attacks on journalists and their media houses, which are still pending? The public are certainly still interested in knowing the status of those cases as well.
We can recall that last September, a member of the National Assembly, Honourable Hamat Bah mentioned the names of two members of the State Guards whom he accused of being accomplices in the burning of The Independent printing press, but there was no attempt ever made by the police to apprehend the alleged culprits, or to at least inform the public what action if any was taken to verify the accusation. Therefore, as far as the public perception is concerned, that case and many others before it have been closed.
While there is no doubt in the public appreciation of this new approach of the police to inform the public of the progress of their investigations into such high profile cases, but it would be much more appreciated if they were to extend it to all other similar unresolved cases. Otherwise, they risk being accused of merely doing this to satisfy both the local and international outcry this case has generated. Even though, as far as their release was concerned, it contained hardly anything new worth reporting.
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NTADG Ousman Nyang Revisits 1988 Education Policy
by Juldeh J Sowe
The Director General of the National Training Authority of The Gambia, Mr. Ousman Nyang said that Gambia adopted a new year education policy in 1988, designed to restructure the country’s education system and improve the quality and relevance of the educational services to benefit the majority of Gambians. One of the programme aims is the expansion of the technical/vocational education training, to provide Gambians with the required and necessary skills. Speaking at the first award of IPFM Diploma Certificates, to successful Students/Staff of the Central Bank, Africell, and GRTS, recently Mr. Nyang stressed, "If any meaningful change and impact should be registered, definite efforts geared towards building positive attitudes, must be intensified. Civil society must recognise, appreciate skills acquisition, and not underrate students, who pursue technical and vocational programmes.
Many of our youths continue to believe that the way to attain social status and prestige is to pursue academic career only.
There must be equal opportunity and recognition accorded to other careers, and these can only be fostered by a complete change of attitude by the society".
Mr. Sam Ali Ashcroft, the chairman of Task Crown Training said, that task crown training services had taken the initiative, to cut down overseas training cost, for both the private and government institutions, with high quality and recognised diploma at affordable cost in the local currency.
So far, this is the first ever external examination to be conducted in The Gambia by the Institute For Professional And Financial Managers (IPFM) England, and we are proud to say that out of 13 students who sat for the examination, 5 passed with distinctions, 5 obtained ordinary passes, with referrals.
Training the human resource is very vital in enhancing productivity, therefore, other institutions should emulate the actions of the Central Bank, Africell, and GRTS to enable them enhance the efficiency of their staff, by sponsoring them to this high quality diploma programmes in process.
Ebou Ngum, a student gave the vote of thank on behalf of his colleagues.
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Workshop On Malaria Opens For Journalists
by Lamin Njie
The Gambia Press Union (GPU), the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU), the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and The Centre For Innovation Against Malaria (CIAM) are holding a five days advocating workshop on malaria for about twenty media practitioners, from the print and electronic at the Baobab Hotel Resort in Bijilo.
The aims of the workshop is to raise the quality of reporting and programming, to provide audience with accurate, relevant interesting, entertaining and educational information, that will assist journalists to make healthier choices with respect to malaria control.
During this weeklong programme, the participants will learn how to report on malaria in ways that will contribute immensely to the control of malaria, and positively influence the attitudes and behaviours of community members and decision makers.
The workshop also aims to provide an opportunity for journalists to do brush up on their general reporting skills.
Addressing the course participants at the opening ceremony of the programme, the president of The Gambia Press Union, Demba Jawo said "everyday there is a workshop on HIV/AIDS while nothing is said about malaria". He continued that, the time had come for malaria to be given the right attention it deserves, since it also affect the life of many people, especially children under 5 and pregnant women.
He urged the participants to take the training seriously as they are the watchdog of the society. Mr. Jawo finally thanked the organisers for this workshop, noting its worthiness.
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Teachers Raise Concerns
by Fatou Badjie
The head of the Educational and Professional Studies of The Gambia College, Mr. William Cole and other teachers raised concern over the insecurity of teachers and the inconducive environment in which they operate.
Addressing students and rotaractors at a vocation conference recently organised by Rotary Club of The Gambia College in collaboration with Rotary Club of Banjul, held at The Gambia College, Mr. Cole said "the amount of motivation teachers need is far limited than realised," pointing out the attitude of students towards their teachers in school. "The home is responsible for molding the character of students, now schools are given added responsibilities as parents go to work. School girls now dress like big ladies, while boys smoke cigarette like gangsters," he said.
He hence also adviced students to grip the opportunity they have and be serious in school as "the knowledge acquired by a person can never be changed," adding that they should build up their own individual capacities as their destiny lies in their own hands.
On teachers, he urged them to be role models to students and be disciplined so that their students will respect them.
On the issue of child’s rights and women empowerment, Mr. Cole advice the "to be teachers" to be very careful about these two terms because teachers deal with children and women in schools.
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HIV/AIDS Training Workshop In Mandinka
by Ahmed Carayol
"Nematulay Yiriwaa kafoo" a community based organisation on Saturday 5th February began a four day sensitisation training workshop on HIV /AIDS which is to be done in series for members of local communities residing in Busumballa.
The theme of the workshop is "Women and Children Empowerment to the fight against HIV/AIDS" which is attended by a cross section of the community boys, girls, women, men, religious leaders, traditional healers, traditional birth attendants and village development committee members. The workshop is aimed at empowering the vulnerable members of our society to a great awareness to prevent them from this pandemic HIV/AIDS. The aim also contribute to a great extend since the topics discussed were:
The threat of HIV/AIDS in national development,The effect of sexual transmitted diseases in relation to Hiv/Aids The Hiv/Aids cases in the Gambia HIV/AIDS prevalence and the expected figure for the next five years going through the strength observed
The impact of culture to the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst relative topic that affects the lives of our common man.
The training was conducted in Mandinka language, which is understood, by the local communities, and the form of presentations were Video Shows, Group discussions followed by questions and answers. The local communities showed signs of learning and grasping some ideas and the willingness to change their sexual behaviours in the society. The training ended on Saturday 12th February 2005.
The workshop was sponsored by The National Aids Secretariat and the facilitators came from different works of life including Mr. Mohammed Jallow of the Association of Health Journalist, Mr. Ebrima Jadama, Mr. Sulayman Jatta.
Statistic survey on HIV /AIDS prevalence in the Gambia has raised great awareness in local communities to help in the eradication of the disease.
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Lion Heart Studio Invests D1m To Promote Music
by Ousman Baldeh
The Gambia music industry had been actively involved in national endeavours, educating young Gambian musicians, and participating crucially in the contribution towards the development of music in The Gambia.
Mr Buba Touray, alias Perry B owns Lion Heart Studio at Manjai kunda, was born in Janjangbureh CRD and began his music career in the United States in 1988. He travelled to Sweden, Denmark, UK and Germany for nine years, working with the music industry to strive the goals of music in The Gambia.
Buba also told this reporter, that he worked in a warehouse to save money and had invested over D75, 000 in the business in a bid to meet the needs of Gambian musicians.
On what Lion Heart Studio can offer to Gambian musicians, he said "duplicating CD and DVD, recording cassettes to DVD, CD to CD recording, LP to CD recording, designing CD covers and photocopying jackets at cheaper rates at Lion Heart Studio."
People are more into music and Gambia is coming to the music industry development", he observed. He called on people to come out and record their voice, pointing out that clear voice recordings are better on CD.
Perry B who has many expectations in the music industry applauded that Gambians would no longer have recording problems as Lion Heart can do it in six minutes. Perry B who was DJ in Germany said he feels that music is lovely and his father was an inspirational musician and himself has worked with one of the best engineers, "Snipers".
He expects Gambian youth to trend in music to create self-employment as music in The Gambia is progressing and musicians like Egalitarian and Freaky Joe are sources of encouragement for a better life in the music industry.
Over one million dalasis has already been spent on equipment to fast track the development of music in The Gambia. He noted that Egalitarian and Freaky Joe are achieving the goals in rap music at home and in Senegal.
He urged Gambians to invest in music to develop our homeland.
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Ask Anything (4)
by G. Goree-Ndiaye
John, the disciple that Jesus loved, concluded his Gospel with these words. "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25) What this means is that the disciples must have done some selection of the most important events in Jesus’ life.
I wonder how many times He must have asked this question. "What do you want me to do for you?" Even though Jesus could see through the pain of these desperate and ailing persons, even though He was aware of the depth of their agony and their heart desires, He would rather that they say so precisely themselves. Not only will their need be ascertained, but the results will definitely correspond with the persons expectations.
Many a times we think we know what a person wants, and we end up imposing our wishes on them whether they like it or not. We feel we are better placed to judge for the other person. Yet, for a certainty, we all have our heart desires and are propelled by different winds in different directions. We do not always share the same ideals or are motivated by the same impulses.
Just as the previous articles in the series have shown, Herodias wanted to get even with John the Baptist, whilst young disciple Elisha had his eyes focused on the prize – something that could be of significance to the work of God in the ministry he was to take over. Nobody could have got it right like the young king Solomon who put the emphasis where it was most needed - dependency on God for better governance.
In this final article on "Ask Anything", we read of an account of a determined and desperate man who wanted to move "from darkness into His(God’s) marvellous light." (1st Peter 2:9) He had been feeling the effects of the sun’s rays but had never really seen its beauty. By some stroke of misfortune he had been denied his sight. Jesus, the light of the world, is going to change that because the glory of God in all its splendour, is for all to behold. He enquired from Blind Bartimaeus in Jericho, a roadside beggar, after the latter had hailed him amidst the drowning street noise (because as usual Jesus had pulled a crowd), and serious attempts to shut him up: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." (Matthew 20:31)
Our Lord Jesus could hear him because of his insistence, so He stopped and called him, and asked "What do you want me to do for you?" He did not say I want some food, neither did he say give me some money. He asked for his eyes to be opened because that was the key to his success. That impediment had to be lifted so he could go about his business and not live a miserable, monotonous life of being pegged at his station day after day after day, begging. Blind Bartimaeus was thinking freedom and he met in this very special encounter the One who was sent "to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight to the blind…" (Luke 4:18)
Blind Bartimaeus would not let anyone get in his way as did Elisha when he was focused on attaining his prize. Do not allow anyone to get in your way, to stop you from reaching your breakthrough. There are many who would gladly be an obstacle, who would go all out to frustrate your dream, but don’t you let them. See your God-given promises through, that you may become worthy in the position where God has put you.
It was not to everyone that Jesus asked this question and there definitely was a reason why. What a privilege it would have been for those to whom this question was asked? Could you have put yourself in their stead? Imagine your encounter with the Lord and He asked you this question, would you have responded rightly? Well I have news for you the Bible gives us the assurance that Jesus is still asking us to ask anything? "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13)
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask what ever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:7)
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:24)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7)
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer." (Matthew 21:22)
"You want something but do not get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:2-3)
What other assurance would you need to ask? Put our Lord to the test in 2005. Ask ANYTHING
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THAT’S OUR WEST AFRICA
by Kofi Akosah Sarpong
Kofi Akosah-Sarpong argues that the Togolese military installation of President Gnassingbe Eyadema’s son, Faure Gnassingbe, as the new president following the death of his father should not surprise anybody because "that’s West Africa".
The Togolese military’s fast installation of President Gnassingbe Eyadema’s son, Faure Gnassingbe, just few hours of his father’s death, once again, confirms the West African character – complex and turbulent, weak rule of law, weak civic virtues, fragile democracies, under current of anarchic forces, flashes of dark spiritual practices, and prone to disorder. It is, therefore not surprising when French President Jacques Chirac told South Africa President Thabo Mbeki to "understand the soul of West Africa" to before he can broker peace deal in Ivory Coast, a country cut into two by rebel-soldiers. "I would really like President Mbeki to immerse himself in West Africa so as to understand the mentality and the soul of West Africa, because in times of crisis, you have to really know people’s mentalities and what is in people’s souls," Chirac is quoted by the BBC as saying.
A few weeks ago, Guinea’s ailing, acute diabetic President Lansana Conte, 71, escaped by hair-splitting assassination attempt. Doubts and potential trouble hovers as Conte’s health worsens and people worry about a future of deadly power struggle in a country where there are under currents of attempts for civil war. In October 2004, mutinous soldiers demanding payment of outstanding wages, an increase in pay and better living conditions in barracks killed Guinea Bissau’s military chief, General Verissimo Correia Seabre.
Since 2002, after decades of brutal civil war, Sierra Leone’s peace is maintained by more than 17,000 United Nations peacekeepers, the biggest UN peacekeeping force and success in the world, and the country appears teleguided, indirectly, by its former colonial power Britain. A lasting mark of the Sierra Leone conflict, which left over 50,000 dead, was the atrocities committed by the rebels, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and government soldiers alike, whose brand was to hack off the hands of their victims. A United Nations-backed War Crimes Tribunal is underway trying those, from both rebel and government sides, who bear the "greatest responsibility" for the wartime brutalities. For 14 years, Liberia was wrecked by civil war. Like Sierra Leone, Liberia has some 7,500 UN peacekeepers in the country.
While West Africa’s proximity to Europe made it a place for all the terrible events of encounter with the Europeans since 500 years ago which led to the horrendous slave trade and then later to the long-running colonialism, West Africa’s culture, too, has greatly contributed to the region’s unpleasantness. Voodoo, of which troubled Togo is heavily mired, good or bad, is only in practiced West Africa compared with other parts of Africa; witchcraft is heavily believed in West Africa than other parts of Africa; threat ritual sacrifices; juju-marabou is deeply a West Africa diet in contrast with other parts of Africa; all sorts of spiritual mediums (most of mix West Africa’s native juju-marabou spiritualism with Christian Biblical rituals) and wide range of prophets in the sub-region impact on the mind and soul of the region. These, coupled with other religious practices, have made most West Africans (it doesn’t matter their education level or religious affiliation) use more of the magic, superstitious part of their brains than their objective, realistic part of their brain. Most of the Nigerians who patronised the Okija shrine in Anambra state, where over 100 corpses had hands, genitals or heads missing, were "Big Men" with high university qualifications. So as Chirac told Mbeki, to understand West Africa and its strange thinking and strange people and strange developments, you have to understand its culture first, any other attempts is secondary.
The Togolese "military coup," (forget about the denial by Faure and the military brass that there is no military takeover. They are all from the same tribe), emanates from the Togolese and West African culture. As the Associated Press’ Ebow Godwin reports from Lome, the Togolese capital, "The army move and the parliament’s endorsement reflected the determination of Eyadema’s minority Kabye ethnic group, which dominates the army, to hold onto power along with ruling party members who have benefited from decades of Eyadema’s patronage." There is no need for all these troubles in Togo when Eyadema died. There are so many successors, from the Speaker of Parliament (even if the Speaker was out of the country) to the Prime Minister to the Chief Justice that Faure Gnassingbe, a United States and France educated man who should know better, should be the new president. I am sure like most West African leaders, Faure’s rush to usurp the Togolese constitution might have been that he has been told by some juju-marabou mediums or other booming spiritualists that he has to rule Togo at all cost, at all cost to the disorder and security of Togo. After all, his late father was one of the most rabid juju-marabou dabblers in Africa before his death, using it to scare, dominate and exploit the poor Togolese people, a situation that led to lack of respect for the rule of law and laughable democratic ethos, and which has made Togo atrophy.
So what is happening in Togo should not surprise anybody, because "that’s our West Africa."
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Are Girls Sources Of Income?
by Fatou Badjie
What does it take for one to be rich in a blink of an eye? Does it necessarily mean that one should struggle for decades, or does it mean one should engage in big business like buying and selling of demanded commodities? Well, it could take so many things for one to be rich depending on how one wants it. In this generation, it does not take the world to be rich or transform from grass to grace, when one have a female child. It is hard to believe, but it is a fact. Female children should be valued in society now because they can be a good source of income at any age.
In our midst, if not everyday, we are almost always told of marriages between young men and women, girls and "semesters" or even girls and "sugar daddies". Has it ever occurred to us to think of the reasons for such ‘emergency’ wedding between the above mentioned categories of people? One obvious reason is the benefits these marriages can bring but they differ from one family to another. Certain parents or guardians of female children give their daughters’ hand in marriage to gain wealth that could serve them for decades. For instance, parents in certain cases do ask for five hundred thousand dalasi (half a million) for their daughter to get married; an amount that can serve them for a long period of time. Sometimes, parents or guardians seek a compound, ticket to Mecca, Europe or America from the suitor before the girl gets married. We have also heard of cases where men are asked to buy a bed, set of chairs, gold jewelries, expensive quality clothes and a huge amount of money for dowry. In the case where the suitor is living in or from Europe or America, he is conditioned to take the girl to Europe/America or buy a compound and car for her before or soon after the marriage is tied. Because of the high demand of materials from the in-laws, most men living in The Gambia withdraw from getting married unless they travel oversea in search of greener pastures to fulfill these requirements. As a result, most young girls resist marrying Gambian men residing in The Gambia and prefer those abroad just because of the income that could be generated from the marriages. It is now like a culture in The Gambia for school girls, graduates or non-scholars to marry rich men in order to please their parents as well as see their selfish dreams come true.
After all exorbitant expenses before, during and after the wedding, the aftermath is disheartening and unpredictable. Researches have proven that most marriages base on wealth hardly last long. The man either gets fed up or the lady gets bored, thereby leading to divorce. One of the most serious effects of such marriages is when there is divorce while the parents are dead and the man asks for his money.
Aha…, problem begins! The woman now has to go through push and pulls to compensate the man if the latter does not forgive her. Also when a marriage is built on money, the marriage ends when the money finishes. In such marriages, there is no respect in the relationship; as a result they live in continuous confrontation. Sometimes the husband tends to overrule the wife, thereby denying her to voice out whatever she has in mind, which is another form of discrimination against women.
In the case of "sugar daddies" or "semesters", God knows how they get the money they spend on women. It is possible that some of them might be infected with HIV/AIDS or STIs which are contagious and fatal. What hurts most is that the parents who collect the wealth from the suitors/husbands hardly face the consequences. The innocent girl has to go through the hardship all alone. Is that fair?
However all cannot be said because every thing cannot be mentioned. The only message we are passing is that we are all visitors to this earth as we will, one day, all return to where we came from. Woe be tied on to those material-lover parents who instead of training their daughters good morals, try to indoctrinate them of the concept that "money can get you everything". It is true that money talks, but who know the language it speaks?
We should be mindful when choosing a man for a life partner. It should not be based on money because money fakes. Believe it or not, no condition is permanent.
Thus, poor men should never be discouraged or even withdraw from getting married. Life is simple when we make it simple by cutting our clothes according our sizes. Some women believe in materials while others do not, so let men not depend on one woman for marriage if all she cares for is money. Besides, there are some humble and contented women who exercise patience and are not greedy.
At this juncture, we advice parents to be mindful before giving their daughters’ hand in marriage as well as limit their demands because it is too high for a civil servant of this country. Girls are not commodities, thus on no condition should they be exchanged with money nor should they be used as a business commodity.
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Talk All Leave None
With Khadija
Serrekunda Garage
The Serrekunda Garage has been given a facelift. Thanks to taxpayer’s money which has been used in the proper way to rehabilitate the garage where thousands of people interact daily, selling, buying or boarding vehicles. During the rainy seasons the garage used to be very nasty and messy – but people have been patient.
Now the rehabilitation work is going on but in a very slow pace. Why? Is it that the necessary funds are not there, as the KMC recently complained that they are losing about D55, 000 which is not collected, as they no longer put up check points to collect dues.
Though we appreciate the good work that is being done, we are keeping a steady eye on its progress.
Re: The Poorest Tourist Season
Please refer to the Grapevine article "The Poorest Tourist Season" dated Monday 31st January 2005.
We are surprised that you published a bias article in your well-circulated paper and not bother to consult the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) to get an update on the latest tourist arrivals figures. Please find attached the latest figures for 2003 and 2004.
For your information, the number of tourist arrivals as at December 2004 is 90,098. This represents an increase of 16,853 over the year 2003 (19% increase). The arrival figures for January 2005 are 14,474 (an increase of 11% over 2004 January). The statistics themselves are revealing enough to show the increase in tourist arrivals.
Lest we forget, tourism is a dynamic and fragile industry. It is also an industry that employs many people of diverse occupations. Tourism is not just limited to wood carvers and batik makers. There has been a significant shift of demand and supply of tourism enterprises and entrepreneurs. In fact, the very nature of our tourism arrivals (40% repeater rate) means that tourist will be less likely to buy same souvenir items after time and neither are they ready to live in the same environment on each visit. The fact is that other Gambians are benefiting immensely from this years season whether they are legal or illegal. The GTA is right now looking into this problem.
Tourist arrivals are up. We need your help in our fight against the bumster menace. A recent survey indicates that 70% of tourists who failed to return single out this issue as the only cause.
EDITOR’S NOTE
We have no bone to pick with the GTA. But when we see the reality on the ground we take it for granted. Fair enough. In the past the Tourist Department used to issue fortnightly tourist arrivals. But this is no longer the case. It came as a surprise when we saw the tourist arrivals. If Grapevine had not mentioned about the poor state of the season, these figures would not have been circulated. Bravo, Grapevine. Wood carvers and batik seller are on the ground and have daily contacts with the tourists. In fact some are better informed that those working for the tourism authority.
We all know that this season is a very bad season.
ECO – Action Please
The introduction of our new currency the ECO is just few months away and we have not seen any posters informing the general public about it or posters showing the designs. We are just hearing news or what Radio Kankan is spreading around.
Our authorities should sensitise the public on this issue, to avoid the Francophone case just recently when they changed their CFA Francs notes. The time limit was so short, that it had to be extended when the first date passed because many people did not change their money.
Criminal Code amendment assented To
Reports have reached Grapevine that the Criminal Amendment Code 2005 has been signed into law. Although, Grapevine cannot confirm when it was assented to, many people have been calling our office informing us of this development; and for us to be prepared for registration under the new bound of half a million dalasi (D500,000).
Groundnut Trade Season
As stated by the SoS for Agriculture: "this season is a rare case of trade season". About 4 million dollars an equivalent of 120 million Dalasi has been budgeted to buy nuts but farmers are nevertheless suffering as they are not getting money for their nuts instead they are being "notés" (their names are noted down for future payment).
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FIFA, CAF Support U-17 Championship
by Namory Trawally
The world football governing body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be supporting the CAF U-17 football championship to be held in Banjul from the 07th to the 21st of May 2005. The two football governing bodies have decided to financially assist The Gambia for a successful hosting of the championship.
This was revealed by the president of the Gambia Football Association (GFA) Alhagie Omar Sey during the launching of the fund raising appeal and the unveiling of the CAF U-17 logo recently held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
Mr. Sey added that the world governing body under the leadership of Joseph Sepp Blatter has decided to assist The Gambia with D1.5m (1.5million Dalasis) toward the hosting of the competition.
He further revealed that the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) under Essa Hayatou also agreed to give the television rights of the championship to The Gambia. He continued that presently, the media sub-committee of the national organising committee of Gambia 2005, headed by Bora Mboge, DG of GRTS is looking forward for a deal with major television stations.
Commenting on the hosting, Mr. Sey added that, as host nation, their duties are the provision of two Stadiums where the matches would be played and to that regard the Independence Stadium and the Serrekunda East mini-stadium have been identified.
Mr. Sey continued that after the provision of infrastructures, The Gambia would also be responsible for the lodging and transportation of international delegates such as CAF officials, referees and other invited guests.
Adding to that, Mr. Sey pointed out that, The Gambia should also promote a conducive environment for a successful hosting of the games.
Mr. Sey also said the benefits of hosting the U-17 championship are many. He named few such as the exposure of youths to a higher football level, and the Gambia will have the chance of winning the trophy "since we are playing at home" and therefore qualify for the World Cup U-17 championship to be held in Peru in August". He pointed out that The Gambia will be exposed to the world.
"The other benefit of hosting this championship is that it will also show the Gambian capacity to host a major competition in the future", Mr. Sey concluded.
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International Year Of Sports And Physical Education 2005: The Way Forward
by Kebba Yorro Manneh
Sequel to an earlier article on the 3rd of January on Foroyaa promulgating fair play in the sporting spirit as the New Year 2005 resolution to kick start the designation of the year as that of sports and physical education, I proffer the following suggestions as the way forward.
1. Get a National Secretariat to collaborate with UNESCO and other UN -Agencies in concert with the National Sport Council to co-ordinate the projected activities.
2. Use the opportunity to review, revive and revitalise schools sports by bringing back the olden glories of excellence in school sports.
3. Get all line ministries and institutions to get focal points to be readily available to articulate, co-ordinate and rationalise the sporting spirit in all and sundry.
4. In concert with the international bodies establish linkages to ensure that sports is embedded in the very fabric of society for through that society will thrive as sports is an entry point to any development thus fertile ground for societal advancements.
Expounding on the above, no need to emphasise the essence of the secretariat to be headed by a seasoned educationist of national and international repute and a sports personality who will and can stem up the operations through pragmatism and commitment to the ideal.
In reintroducing physical education and sports in general in the school system, first the education policy must encompass the sport sector and the structures then in place that buttressed schools sports are put in place. Well, the turncoat bureaucrats who rose through sports to become personalities in good positions but now shun sports are challenged to wake up in this regard to assist the likes of my humble self. Sait Mbye, Sulayman Cole amongst others who still have the passion for sports and are 24 hours obsessed to it, to see through the injection of sports in schools on a vigorous footing.
Kudos to SoS Faal for the launching of the designation of the year that should be the premises to put our acts together. Are We Ready? More to come!
SUBJECT: CO-ORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
As assigned, please find here in proposals for the effective co- ordination of the task with an eye to making the episode a success in line with the national projections for the event which I am privy to by virtue of my long standing experience, expertise and above all total commitment in the said domain.
Convene a meeting of physical education teachers in clusters to map out strategies for the developmental programme of the year as follows:
A. ESSAU CLUSTER 15th February 2005 - 9.00 am.
B. ALBREDA CLUSTER 15th February, 2005 -12.00 Noon
C. NDUNGU KEBBEH CLUSTER 15th February 2005- 3.00 pm
D. KEREWAN CLUSTER 16th February 2005- 9.00 am
E. F ARAFENNI CLUSTER 17th February, 2005 -12.00 Noon
F. NGAYENSANJAL CLUSTER 17th February 2005 -3.00 pm.
2. Convene a Regional meeting with stakeholders to finalise the strategies on Monday the 21st February 2005.
3. Forward the ratified logistical and financial inputs to effect things.
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Trust Bank Revives Inter-Schools Competitions
by Sainabou Kujabi
Senior Secondary Schools around the country have benefited from a sponsorship package amounting to D200, 000 (Two hundred thousand Dalasis) by Trust Bank Gambia Limited as part of the assistance to senior secondary schools sports.
However, Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Athletics are the four (4) major sporting events that will be competed by senior secondary schools under the co-ordination of the Gambia Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA).
The Trust Bank Inter-School Secondary Schools Competition 2005 sponsorship package was officially launched last Thursday at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
SoS Samba Faal in his launching statement applauded Trust Bank for their noble gesture and appealed to other institutions to emulate them, as any contribution to sports is a gift to the well being of young people.
"We have seen the decline in inter-senior secondary school sports competition over the past few years and I am confident that this investment would rekindle the interest and bring back the glory as the scouting ground for national sportsmen and women", he lamented.
SoS Faal assured the back of government support and partnership in the promotion and development of sports in The Gambia.
Deputising for the Managing Director of Trust Bank, Mr. Oremi Joiner, general manager for banking said the launching of Trust Bank Inter Senior Secondary Schools Sports 2005 is another event in the bank’s calendar of social responsibilities.
He highlighted that Trust Bank and Western Union have been very much known for their nawettan football sponsorship as they are equally aware of the important role school sports can play in breeding talents and wish to take a step further to contribute to the development of school sports but not only football.
"We believe schools form an integral, if not the most important component of grassroots sports that a country can rely on to produce sporting legends in the likes of Biri Biri Njie", he stated.
Mr. Joiner asserted that the bank will disburse a total sponsorship package of D200,000 in the form of trophies and cash prizes and some cash contribution towards the co-ordination and logistics.
"By our understanding from GSSA, all senior secondary schools countrywide have a chance to participate in the games in form of a national championship and at the end, the two top schools will each receive a trophy and cash prizes", he said.
The ceremony was attended by stakeholders in sports development and the vote of thanks was delivered by Alieu Jeng of GSSSA who appealed to the bank to extend its package to all levels.
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RSF Expresses Shock At AU’s Decision To Let Gambia Host 2006 Summit
The African Union has decided to let President Jammeh host a summit, forgetting his hostility toward the press. Commenting a year ago today on the attempted murder of lawyer Ousman Sillah, he boasted of his soldiers’ professionalism and said they wouldn’t have missed if they’d been given the job. Ten months later, editor Deyda Hydara was murdered.
Reporters Without Borders said today that it was "astounded" at the African Union’s "gift" to Gambian President Yahya Jammeh in the form of a decision to let him host the AU summit in July 2006 despite the murder just weeks ago of a leading newspaper editor and journalist Deyda Hydara.
The press freedom organisation pointed out that the decision coincides with the first anniversary of shocking comments by President Jammeh about the attempted murder of leading attorney Ousman Sillah, in which the modus operandi was very similar to that used by the gunmen who killed Hydara.
Many blamed the attempt to kill Sillah on the government and in response to the outcry; President Jammeh had this to say on 9 February 2004:
"My army and my armed forces are professionals and the whole world knows that. The nature of the offense shows that if it were done by my armed forces, there is no soldier in my army who will shoot at a human being twice and miss and you expect that individual to live."
Hydara did not live. He was gunned down at the wheel of his car while driving two of his employees home on the night of 16 December 2004.
"Gambian journalists are still reeling from Deyda Hydara’s death and now the African Union sends them this bitter message," Reporters Without Borders said.
"President Jammeh is being rewarded despite his intransigence and hostility towards journalists and, what is worse, he has been granted the favour of hosting an international summit just a few months before he plans to run for reelection as president," the press freedom organisation said.
"We don’t understand how the AU is making such a gift to Yahya Jammeh without asking for anything in return," the organisation said, referring to the lack of progress in the investigation into Hydara’s death and the fact that the police are no long considering the possibility of a political motive, although everything point to this.
Reporters Without Borders said, "this decision, announced in the wake of the Abuja summit of 30-31 January, is all the more astounding as it constitutes the only public response from the AU to Hydara’s death."
The organisation noted that, on the eve of the Abuja summit, it had called on the African Union to "publicly condemn" the murder of Hydara, who was the Reporters Without Borders correspondent in Banjul as well as the correspondent of Agence France-Presse and co-editor of The Point, a newspaper that appears three times a week.
Reporters Without Borders had also urged the AU leaders to ask President Jammeh to get the Banjul police investigators to seriously consider the possibility of a political motive.
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ILO Commends Gov’t for Ratifying Conventions
by Ahmed Carayol
The Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the Sahel Region with office based in Dakar, Senegal Mr. M.A. Ould Sidi has commended The Gambia government for ratifying the Core Conventions of the ILO, and promised that his organisation will assist in the implementation of the Employment Policy and Action Plan.
Mr. Sidi who recently ended a two-day working visit thanked the UNDP and the FASE Project for promoting women’s empowerment in a practical way. He emphasised that the FASE project has been a resounding success in The Gambia, and ILO hopes to replicate the project in other countries. During a visit to the Sunwing Fruit and Batik Sellers at Cape Point, where he had a meeting with the vendors, he said he was highly impressed with the quality of product on display. He thanked the UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. John O. Kakonge for his continued support towards the realisation of the project’s objectives.
Mr. Sidi met senior officials of the Department of State for Trade, The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Trade Union representatives. He visited some activities of the UNDP funded FASE project. At the Department of State for Trade, Mr. Sidi was briefed on government’s effort at implementing the National Employment Policy and Plan of Action.
During his meeting with Trade Union representatives and the Commissioner of Labour, the trade unions requested for logistical support and capacity building to better address their members’ needs. The ILO Director assured them that his organisation would support their capacity building activities for 2005. He however called on the trade unions to develop a 5-year strategic plan that would encompass their medium and long term activities for possible donor assistance.
At the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, GCCI, the Acting Chief Executive Mr. Mam Cherno Jallow, briefed the ILO Director on current activities of GCCI. These include membership drive, the establishment of an enterprise fund and capacity building for small and medium enterprise. Mr. Ould Sidi expressed the need for GCCI to finalise arrangement for its strategic plan for development and assured GCCI that ILO will fund the consultancy.
Mr. Andre Bogui, Senior Enterprise Development Specialist at the ILO Dakar office accompanied the ILO Director on the visit.
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RSF regrets death of BBC Journalist In Mogadishu Shooting
Reporters Without Borders has voiced its deep regret at the death of BBC reporter Kate Peyton, who was fatally injured in a drive-by shooting on Wednesday, February 9 as she was entering a hotel in Mogadishu to meet the speaker of Somalia’s transitional parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.
"We are shocked and saddened by her death, and our thoughts go out to her family and friends," the press freedom organization said.
"If there were any need, this cowardly attack on a journalist shows that it is imperative that a democratic state, guaranteeing the freedom and safety of its citizens, be rebuilt as soon as possible in Somalia," Reporters Without Borders said.
"We have long been condemning the arbitrary violence reigning in the streets of Mogadishu," the organization pointed out. "As most of the clan chiefs have declared their allegiance to the new government, we call on the last diehards to not spoil this chance for peace being offered Somalia today. This is the essential condition for preventing a repetition of this kind of attack and catching its perpetrators."
Usually based in Johannesburg, Peyton, 39, was hit in the back by a pistol shot fired by masked men in a white Toyota Corolla taxi shortly after 3 p.m. as she was outside the Hotel Sahafi International in southern Mogadishu with several bodyguards around her. Peter Greste, another BBC journalist who was beside her, was not hit.
Peyton was rushed to the Medina Hospital, several kilometres away, where a doctor operated on her injury, according to the Somali Journalist Network (SOJON), a local press freedom group. The doctor said he had to remove her spleen, and that her liver was also slightly injured. She died from her injuries a few hours later before she could be evacuated to Nairobi.
Peyton’s bodyguards had given chase to the gunmen who had fired at her. Their car was found crashed, with a pistol inside, in Barmuda, a district in the centre Mogadishu. The gunmen had fled on foot. In the absence of any central authority, the neighbourhood where the shooting occurred is normally under the control of hotel security guards. Most foreigners visiting Mogadishu hire bodyguards.
Peyton was part of a group of foreign reporters accompanying a delegation of Somali parliamentarians who are supposed to pave the way for the transitional government’s arrival in Somalia on February 21. Since his installation on August 29, 2004, the parliamentary speaker has been chairing sessions in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi because Somalia is so dangerous.
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Malaria Is Gambia Leading Public Health Problem
by Lamin Njie
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr. Yankuba Gassama has stated that in The Gambia, malaria is a leading public health problem responsible for nearly 40 percent of all visit to maternal and child health facilities countrywide.
Speaking on Monday at the opening ceremony of a workshop on malaria for Gambian media practitioners at the Baobab Hotel and Resort, Dr Kassama indicated that similarly 20 percent (20%) of all pregnant women seen at antenatal clinics present symptoms of malaria related causes. According to him, 57 percent (57%) of admissions at local basic health facilities are malaria related and 61 percent (61%) of all referrals to tertiary levels are due to malaria.
"It is therefore right to focus on the problem of malaria given the scale of both the health and economic consequences," he stated.
Dr Kassama further mentioned that a policy shift on the front line choice of drug is underway and a scientific decision will be reached sooner rather than later.
The SoS also underscored the importance of the workshop emphasising the impact it will have in national efforts to reduce the scourge of malaria. He indicated that both print and electronic media are central partners in the development process of The Gambia, which the health sector has recognised since.
Dr Kassama finally called on everyone to work towards a healthier and ultimately happier nation, saying: "Together we can do it and we must do it because after all health is everybody’s business," he concluded.
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