Thursday, April 30, 2009
Gambia Press Union with Unesco Opted to Celebrate World Press Freedom day On the 3rd May2009 at Paradise Suites Hote by 5:30pm!!!
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Breaking News:Gambia Warns Against Swine Influenza Outbreak!!!
africa » gambia
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Ministry of Health in a statement issued on Tuesday has warned against an outbreak of a deadly respiratory disease called Swine Influenza (Flu) in Mexico, the USA and some parts of Europe and is now spreading too fast to many other part of the world (Pandemic). According to the statement, over 2,000 cases including 152 confirmed deaths have been reported.
Swine influenza is transmitted from Pigs to humans. According to the WHO, the virus is now been transmitted from human to human through coughing, sneezing and the coming in contact with direct or indirect infected patients, pig or object contaminated with the virus.
The signs and symptoms of the disease in humans, the statement added, include; Fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue. Diarrhoea and vomiting is possible and is reported. In Pigs, the symptoms include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, and difficulty in breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes.
"In view of the highly contagious nature of the disease, The Ministry of Health is hereby requesting the general public to quickly report to the nearest health facility and Veterinary post or officials if any of the above signs and symptoms are realized or seen in humans or pigs.
On the prevention and control of Swine influenza, the Ministry of Health urges the public to always observe personal hygiene practices; washing of hand thoroughly with soap and water; thoroughly cook pork or pork products before eating; properly cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing; cover your mouth and nose when dealing with life pigs; wash your hands thoroughly with soap and during and after attending to pigs; avoid touching your nose or eyes during and after handling life or slaughtered pigs; do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus and avoid close contact with people who are sick with the flu virus.
"The Ministry of Health and her Partners are on the high alert and necessary measures are being taken to prepare the country for possible emergencies. The support and cooperation of the general public in this regard is highly solicited," the statement concluded.
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African NewsSierra Leone: Koroma challenged over death penalty!!!
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| Freetown (Sierra Leone) - Director of Amnesty International, Brima Sheriff has stated that President Koroma should demonstrate leadership and abide by international and national obligations by abolishing the death penalty in Sierra Leone. He further said that he should make history in the country by commuting the sentences of all those currently on death row, adding that this would also demonstrate that he was abiding to the African Commission's resolution on moratorium as one of the vice chairmen of the union. Sheriff said that there were twelve people including three women on the death row at the country's maximum prisons on Pademba Road in Freetown.He called on President Ernest Bai Koroma to use his constitutional power provided for by article 63 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone on the 48th Independence Day to commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment, especially regarding three women currently on death row. The director said they were calling on the government to join the world towards abolishing death penalty and removing capital punishments from its national legislation. He disclosed that in 2005 the Sierra Leone truth and reconciliation commission, TRC report found out that the continued existence of death penalty on the country's statutes book would be an affront to civilized society based on the right to life. "It made the abolition of the death penalty an imperative recommendation of the report requiring that the government implement it without delay," the release stated. Brima Sheriff observed that the government was under a legal obligation to implement all the recommendations of the TRC report beginning with the imperative ones. He said Sierra Leone was a state party to the African Chapter on Human and People's Rights, adding that in November 28, 2008, the African Commission on Human and People's Right at its 44th ordinary session in Abuja, Nigeria adopted a resolution calling on state parties to the African Charter to observe a memorandum on the death penalty. He noted that pending steps towards total abolition of the death penalty, Sierra Leone must ensure that in those cases, the most rigorous internationally recognized standards for fair trial are respected, and provisions in legislation providing for mandatory death sentences be removed. Unfortunately, the president could not, in his address to the nation, mention anything about the death penalty apparently because the call to do so on the country's Independence Day came rather late. However, he did commit himself to fighting injustice against women. "We are resolute in fighting injustice particularly against women and we have demonstrated affirmative action by appointing a woman as Chief Justice...Our system of justice is improving, that is why we have just successfully prosecuted criminals who landed large quantities of cocaine in our country. Source:Afrika.no,a Norwaygian Paper |
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Africa: Gaddafi’s caldron and our cocktail (editorial)!!!
Africa:Gambia: Gaddafi's caldron and our cocktail (editorial) |
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| Banjul (Gambia) - The Heads of State Summit of the African Union ended Wednesday 4th February leaving a bitter after-taste in the mouths of many proponents of a new African Renaissance. By The Gambiaaffairs (Gambia) | In his inaugural speech as new African Union (AU) chairman, Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi said that multi-party democracy in Africa leads to bloodshed. Speaking at the AU summit in Ethiopia, Col Gaddafi said Africa was essentially tribal and political parties became inevitably tribalized, which he said led to bloodshed. He concluded the best model for Africa was to be found in his own country, where opposition parties are not allowed and he had served as erratic autocrat for nearly forty years. Col Gaddafi has been making pronouncements to this effect for as long as anyone can remember. In the heat of the Cold War, he even propounded this in the so-called Green Book which claimed to have invented a Third Way that was different from the advertised models of both warring parties. But while his words stroke some anti-colonial chords in the hearts of many Africans then, today they sound out of tune with the democratic aspirations of hundreds and millions of Africans. Most countries on the continent are experimenting with political democracy today and only Libya and Eritrea remain the few truly one party-states, but even tyrannical regimes in Ethiopia, Gambia, and Guinea Equatorial have to pretend being multi-party states. Even Gaddafi's Libya cannot claim to have been completely unaffected by the new wind of change. Over the last several years, his regime did not only disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction, it was pressured into introducing some reforms that included ones that aimed at loosening the suffocating air of repression that weighed down on all aspects of Libyan life. The Gaddafi regime went out of its way to appease the Benghazi-based political opposition by releasing prisoners and relaxing police surveillance on them. This is one of the reasons why many feel disappointed with his remarks on democracy. The other is that he has been made AU Chairman in an institution that has over the years tried to extend the frontiers of Democracy in Africa by having institutions like the Pan-African Parliament, peer review mechanisms and that appears to be interested in promoting respect for human rights and civil liberties. At a time when his initiated move towards a continental union government is on the lime light, his fascistoidal anti-democratic statements must be alarming.At the final press conference of the summit on Wednesday, Col Gaddafi sought to back up his argument by citing other countries like Kenya, where elections in December 2007 were followed by ethnic killings, and war-torn Somalia. "We don't have any political structures [in Africa], our structures are social," he was reported to have said. "Our parties are tribal parties - that is what has led to bloodshed." But this in no way invalidates the system of multi-party democracy or justifies despotism. In spite of almost 30 years of iron-fisted one-man rule the age-old antipathies among people of Sabha, Tripolitanians and those of the Benghazi region continue to be a most significant undertone of Libyan politics and public life. Gaddafi is detested by almost everyone from the Benghazi region, perhaps also because of his tyrannical rule, but also on the basis of ethnic sentiments and regional particularism. Africa is a cocktail of ethnic groups, as Mazrui will say, but in Gaddafi's view it is a bubbling caldron of tribes that cannot sustain political systems much less those that tolerate pluralism, and that allow the diverse views to solidify into political parties. A multi-party dispensation is a leveled playing field where these divergent views freely and fairly contest for political power to put into practice their ideas. Though the contest should be about the quality of ideas, it is necessarily of numbers, an arithmetical contention with victory given to one with most votes. Politicians may go out with ideas but they almost always also go for numbers and whatever can entice potential voters even if it means playing the ethnic card. This may be repugnant to many, but it is understandable and must be tolerated until voters grow out of the ethnic hang-up. This may take its time, but there is little that can be done about it other than the political education that comes with progressive reform or the gradual evolution of nation building and there is no environment that facilitates this development better than a democratic dispensation. Brute force may help calm down the bubble of the caldron but it cannot extinguish it, only a free and fair environment can enhance the stake that citizens feel they have in the nation state that can change the frightful caldron into a cocktail of diversities that enriches and deserves celebration. We therefore disagree strongly with Gaddafi's tirades against political democracy and do think that he is hardly fit to take the seat of the African Union, be it a Commission or an Authority, much less, the dreamt of continental union government. The days of despotism are numbered, the prolonged but maturing yearning of peoples for freedoms and greater liberty, our natural appeal for what is fair, recent advances in technology that keep on breaking the pockets of seclusion, and the force of globalization have combined to make the call for democracy irresistible. There may be some occasional backtracking here and there, as has occurred in July 1994 when The Gambia tumbled from the hands of the Jawara-regime to those of the Jammeh regime, but these are just temporal and episodic instances that cannot stop the long march to freedom and democracy, Gaddafi should know. |
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Big Interview With Dr.Tamsir Mbowe:Hundreds of HIV\Aids patients Cured!!!
By Saikou Ceesay,Banjul
Hundreds of HIV\Aid patients have been cured of HIV\Aid virus since the inception of President Yahya Jammeh's HIV\Aids treatment programme in 2007, and seventy-nine (79) patients are going under treatment at the Serrekunda Health Centre. Said Dr.Tamsir Mbowe, the Director of medical and health services at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital as well as the Director of President Jammeh's HIV\Aids treatment programme.
Dr.Mbowe made these assertions during an interview with the Daily Newspaper held in his office in
Mbowe said it is difficult to know correct statistics in
He said among the challenges they are facing is limited beds for patients and the denial factor of the existence of HIV\Aids in society .Mbowe indicated that the treatment duration of patients varies from three days, two weeks and three months, depending on the patient's response to the treatment. He said some response positively whilst it takes time for some patient's to response to treatment positively.
Mbowe revealed that they monitored patients that are cured from the treatment but said they sometimes find it difficult to trace them as most patients get drown into the society.
As to whether it is possible to get rid off HIV\Aids virus in the world, Dr.Mbowe expressed optimistism that with time every thing is possible and that it is possible for President Jammeh's treatment to wipe off the virus. He used the interview to call on the world to join in the band wagon in support of both curative and preventive measures of the virus. He said the treatment serves as a tool to motivate many people to come forward for voluntarily counseling testing (VCT) in a bid to know their HIV\Aids status.Mbowe further stated that the treatment is free of charge without requesting any dollar or dalasi for it. He was quick to say that global fund is helping and calls on other organizations to come forward as the HIV\Aid is a global problem. To this end, he said before they discharged any patients they should make thorough scientific medical check up until it is discovered that there is no pathology remaining in the patient's body.
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Breaking News:U.S. Embassy In Banjul On World Malaria Day!!!
Opinion/Editorial by U.S. Ambassador Barry L. Wells
For Immediate Release April 21, 2009
WORLD MALARIA DAY
For about half the world's population, malaria remains one of the greatest threats to public health. It is a disease that causes poverty, disrupts the livelihood of families, and far too often, steals the future of lives in Africa, the Amazon, the Mekong Delta region of Southeast Asia and elsewhere. In tropical Africa alone, the disease kills nearly 3,000 people each day. Young children and pregnant women are at greatest risk.
World Malaria Day is observed April 25 to call attention to the disease and to mobilize action to combat it. The U.S. has taken extraordinary steps to curb the spread of this preventable and curable disease.
The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) represents an historic $1.2 billion, five-year expansion of U.S. government resources to fight malaria in Africa.
The strategy is straightforward. First, prevention: PMI supports indoor residual spraying to keep deadly mosquitoes at bay, the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets to provide protection from malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and preventive malaria treatment to expectant mothers during pregnancy. Second, treatment: PMI distributes new and highly effective medicines and trains health workers on the proper use of those medicines. Working with national governments and other donors, PMI has helped to rapidly scale up these malaria prevention and treatment measures across 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Outside of Africa, the U.S. supports two regional malaria activities to contain the emergence of multi-drug resistance: the Amazon Malaria Initiative covers all eight countries making up the Amazon Basin of South America, and the Mekong Malaria Program covers all five countries in the Mekong Delta Region in Southeast Asia.
During the third year of implementation, the
In
Malaria control programs must be sustainable. We are focusing on building capacity within host countries by training people to manage, deliver, and support the delivery of health services, which will be critical for sustained successes against infectious diseases.
Partnerships with host country governments, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank Booster Program for Malaria Control, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and others have made these successes possible.
Partnerships with faith-based and community organizations are especially valuable to malaria control efforts because of the credibility these groups have within their communities, their ability to reach the grassroots level, and their capacity to mobilize significant numbers of volunteers. PMI has supported more than 150 nonprofit organizations.
Across Africa and around the world, children and their families are sleeping under bed nets; local groups are teaching mothers to take anti-malarial drugs when they are pregnant and seek proper treatment for their sick children. In schools and villages, community centers and places of worship, clinics, and hospitals, optimism is growing that we can and will succeed. We share that optimism. On World Malaria Day, the United States will continue to galvanize action and spur grassroots and private sector efforts to control the disease.
End of Press release
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World alert:United States Will Be Engaged in Arab-Israeli Peace Process!!!
to the Gambia.Please stay tune..
By Merle David Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer
Washington - The prospect of an Arab-Israeli peace still exists, but will require some difficult choices, says President Obama.
At a brief White House news conference April 21, Obama said that achieving a lasting peace and the creation of a Palestinian state requires resolution on the part of all involved parties.
"And it's going to require that we create some concrete steps that all parties can take that are evidence of that resolution. And the United States is going to deeply engage in this process to see if we can make progress," the president said shortly after meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Abdullah said he agreed with the president's objective of a two-state solution that meets everyone's needs.
"I think we're looking now at the positives and not the negatives and seeing how we can sequence events over the next couple of months that allows the Israelis and Palestinians, and Israelis [and] Arabs to sit around a table and move this process forward," Abdullah said.
Abdullah said that President Obama has the full support of Jordan and the Arab League to move the Israelis and Palestinians to fruitful negotiations as quickly as possible. "We believe that it is important for all of us to keep our eyes on the prize, and the prize is peace and stability finally for all the people of our region," Abdullah said.
Obama said he recognizes that the Israelis have formed a new coalition government in the past few weeks, which was a complicated process in itself. This, the president said, is why Special Envoy George Mitchell continues to listen to the Israelis, Palestinians and to Arab partners in his visits to the region.
"Unfortunately, right now what we've seen, not just in Israel but within the Palestinian Territories, among the Arab states worldwide, is a profound cynicism about the possibility of any progress being made whatsoever," Obama said. "What we want to do is to step back from the abyss."
Obama said that diplomats can not talk forever, and that at some point steps need to be taken to meet the objectives of the talks - a two-state solution - but also to show that there is progress on the ground.
The president said he will discuss making progress when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington in coming months. "My hope would be that over the next several months, that you start seeing gestures of good faith on all sides," Obama said.
"Ultimately, neither Jordan nor the United States can do this for the Israelis and the Palestinians," the president said. It is not in anyone's interest, Obama said, to perpetuate conflict.
What foreign affairs decisions should President Obama consider? Comment on America.gov's blog. ( http://blogs.america.gov/campaign/2009/01/21/day-2-what-should-obama%e2%80%99s-top-priorities-be/ )
(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Breaking News:Health Ministry Poised to Enforce Smoking Act!!!
Following a nationwide regional consultations on the Prohibition of Smoking Act (public places) Act of 1998, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as a ministry assigned to implement this Act, has with immediate effect banned smoking in all public places as stipulated under the Act.A statement issued by the Ministry yesterday said all heads of institutions, organizations, workplaces and other public places are hereby urged to implement this Act as in such establishments, smoking will be allowed only in clearly labelled designated smoking areas.
According to the statement, a person who contravenes a provision of this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dalasis and not less than two hundred dalasis or to a term of imprisonment of not more than three months or to both fine and imprisonment.
"The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare wishes to inform the general public, institutions and organizations that smoking in public places is prohibited by an act of parliament, under the Prohibition of Smoking (public places) Act of 1998," the statement reads.
This Act, the statement adds, was later assented to President Yahya Jammeh on 23 September 1998, thereby making public smoking unlawful and punishable by law.
"The Act defines public places to include all government premises, all work places, hospitals or health facilities, private premises, vehicles and shops to which the public have access," the statement says.
According to the World Health Organisation, over 5 million people die around the world each year due to both active and passive smoking, the statement adds.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare expressed its resolve to work closely with the security forces to enforce this Act and commended the public for their cooperation and support in the implementation of this Act.
"Hence it is common knowledge that many people innocently or unknowingly become victims of tobacco use by being exposed to second hand smoke at their places of work, homes or other public places," the statement concludes.
Source: Picture: Dr Mariatou Jallow
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Breaking News:Court Subpoenas Prisons Boss, Medical Officer in Musa Suso Case!!!
Magistrate Kayode sitting at the Banjul Magistrates' Court yesterday issued a subpoena to the Director General and the Medical Officer of prisons to appear before the court today This is as a result of an application the defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh made before the court regarding the health condition of his client Musa Suso.
According to Mr Jobarteh, the court order made on
He informed the court that instead they removed him from the cell in which he was kept and took him to a one-man cell where he was given a bucket to urinate in. He revealed that the accused Musa Suso collapsed in the cell but was never taken to hospital. He added that the defence was not prepared to proceed with the case in the condition in which the accused is.
Mr Jobarteh then urged the court to order the prisons authorities to take the accused straight from the court to the hospital for treatment.
In response, Superintendent Lamin Sowe, a prisons officer, told the court that they had personnel who were trained as medic by the RVTH who normally attended to inmates or detainees.
It is they, he said, who recommended that inmates or detainees be taken to hospital for treatment. This, he added, happened after they had attended to an inmate or detainee.
He said Musa Suso's case was reported to them by the Chief Officer that the court made an order for him to be taken to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).
According to him, Superintendent Bakary Kujabi, a medic at the prisons, attended to the accused Musa Suso.
In his ruling Magistrate Kayode said, "It is my considered opinion that from the answers given to the question of the defence counsel, Superintendent Lamin Sowe is not competent to speak on the state of the health condition of the accused."
He added. "I therefore conclude that the evidence of the Director General of Prisons and the Prison Medical Officer on this issue is very relevant, more so in the light of the earlier order of this court regarding the issue for medical attention to the accused." he stated.
"A subpoena is hereby ordered to be issued and served on both Director General of Prisons and the Prisons Medical Officer to appear before the court on
Hearing continues today.
Author: Modou Sanyang
Source: Picture: Musa Suso
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Breaking News:Gambia Government Refutes WalFajr Allegations!!!
The Government of the Gambia Gambia
Below we reproduce the release sent to this paper last evening:
The Government of the
In light of such repeated, unethical and unprofessional conduct by Wal Fajr, the Government of the Republic of the Gambia wishes to express its continued commitment and willingness to uphold and strengthen the bonds of friendly relations that exist between the brotherly peoples of the Republics of The Gambia and Senegal on the basis of mutual respect of each other's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
It is in light of this spirit that the Government of the Republic of the Gambia would like to call on the Senegambian media in general and Wal Fajr in particular to desist from such acts and urge them to support the propagation of the culture of peaceful coexistence, amity and stability which has been positively ingrained in the Senegambia region.
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
Breaking News:Mixed Public Reactions on Escalating Price!!!
It is evident that there have been mixed reactions as to current state of escalation of prices of basic commodities in the country, a situation that makes one sits up with profound concern.
The issue, according to recent reports, has implications for majority of the citizens, especially those receiving a minimum monthly salary.
This paper went out and about to hear from people concerning their views on the current market standards and prices of essential commodities in the country.
Many businesspeople whom we spoke to called for reduction of tariff duties on goods. They said high tariffs and taxes are responsible of the recent hike in prices of commodities.
Some people have also acknowledged the difficulties that they are facing, regarding the prices of the necessities of life.
In the view of Lamin S. Darboe, former Chief of Kombo South, said many people if not all depend on rice as the staple food in The Gambia, hence having it that high price is difficult to afford. He maintained that fuel is used every day, especially those who depend on it as a source of energy for light.
"We in the rural areas use generators for energy to watch out televisions, films as well as to charge our mobile phones.
"So if the price of fuel is so high, some will not be able to afford it and eventually cannot have access to the mentioned facilities.
In her opinion, government must not be blamed for the increase of prices on commodities. "We have nothing to blame the government for. It is the people themselves who sell and buy the same commodities," she said.
"The government has the power to decide and enforce. So why can't they react to this frustrating situation and save each and every Gambian from this terrible situation? They should make subsidies for tax payers especially those in business and impose it on them to reduce prices," said one Alfusainey Manneh of Tallinding market.
This, he added, if done will see a drastic reduction in the prices of basic commodities.
One Binta Njie of Bakau market said the people have themselves to blame for the increase in the prices of commodities. "I believe the answer to the current increase in the prices of commodities is simple. We only have ourselves to blame. We grow rice, tomatoes, garden eggs among others here in The Gambia and yet their prices are expensive," she said, adding that unless we are committed and ready to work hard, life will be difficult for each and everyone.
Author: Alieu Jabang
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Friday, April 10, 2009
TOP HEADLINE STORY :GAMBIA:PAP SAINE'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE AUTHENTIC-SAYS BIRTH REGISTRATION OFFICER IN COURT!!!
The trial of Pap Saine, Co-publisher and Managing Editor-in-Chief of The Point newspaper concerning his nationality continued yesterday at the Banjul Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Lamin George.Testifying, the second prosecution witness, Dawda Leigh, told the court he is a birth and death registration officer at the Medical and Health Department. He said his duty entails registration of births and deaths, to approve documents for birth certificates. "In the event of doubt of birth or death certificate from individuals or organisations I do verify," he told the court.
Mr Leigh further informed the court that on
According to him, he requested the certificate and the file involved, adding that the file or the register was torn apart. "But going by the record on the birth certificate belonging to Baboucarr Saine No:CLR2/289/74, the records indicated a file that was in our possession, and going by the hand writing on the birth certificate and signature of the registrar, these were similar to other records that were in our possession," he stated. " I conclude that the said birth certificate belonging to Baboucarr Saine was authentic," he added. He said Certificate No 289 belongs to Babucarr Saine, and 1974 was the year the birth certificate was registered. "
Going by the birth and death registration Act, parents shall within 14 days of a birth, register their children. However registration beyond this period is permissible, but has some legal and financial charges attached to it," he added. The birth certificate was shown to the witness and he said it was identical with that brought to his office, because it contained the same information.
He said he made a statement to that effect and it was written by himself.
It could be recalled that Mr Pap Saine is standing trial on charges of obtaining registration by false pretence and obtaining passport by false declaration. He denied the charges.
On count 1, the alleged offence revealed that Pap Saine sometime in the year 1994 in the city of
While count 2, the alleged offence stated that Pap Saine on or about the 21st May 2007 at the Immigration headquarter in the city of Banjul by false declaration obtained a Gambian passport No PC 183902 for himself thereby committed an offence.
The defence lawyers are Antouman Gaye, Hawa Sisay-Sabally, Momodou Musa Drammeh and Ms Hajum Gaye.
The prosecuting officer in this case is Cadet Inspector Amadou Keita.
The case was adjourned to
Author: Modou Sanyang
Source: Picture: Pap Saine
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Breaking News:New Constitutional Amendment Removes Limitation on Number of Ministers in Cabinet!!!
Members of the National Assembly on Monday 6th April amended section 71 of the constitution of the Republic of the Gambia thus removing the limit on the number of ministers who may be appointed into the cabinet. Moving the motion before deputies for amendment, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice said this is intended to provide greater flexibility in the number of ministers who may be appointed at any given moment in time depending on circumstances of the time.
Deputies also enacted the Constitution of the Republic of the Gambia 1997 (Amendment Bill) 2009 thus replacing the nomenclature of Secretary of State with the title of minister.
This motion, which was also tabled before deputies by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, seeks to put an end to what the minister described as unfortunate misunderstanding by restoring the name minister and ministry as before in line with international practice.
According to the Attorney General, in most jurisdictions, the title of Secretary of State is lower than that of a minister. "The former is a junior rank and different from the latter. As a result, Secretaries of States have had difficulties in explaining to their counterparts in other countries that they are not junior ministers", she said. She noted that they have also had difficulties in relating with some of their peers especially within the African continent due to this misunderstanding. This, she added, is most profound in respect of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when she travels abroad to transact business concerning our foreign and diplomatic relations.
She however noted that the amendment is only restricted to the change of nomenclature and does not in any way affect the functions and responsibilities of these offices as provided for in the 1997 constitution.
Similarly in Tuesday sittings, the Public Order Act was also amended. The new act amends the Public Order Act that came into force on the 31st October 1961. Read details of the said Bill in our subsequent editions.
Author: Baboucarr Senghore
Source: Picture: Marie Saine Firdaus
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Breaking News:Spanish Lady Charged!!!
Marie Carmen, a Spanish lady, was on
According to the particulars of offence on count one, on or about the 20th March 2009 between the hours of 10-11:00am along the A.U. High Way Kombo North, the accused Marie Carmen drove a motor vehicle registration number Bjl 6931 F without due care and attention and thereby caused an accident. On count two, the particulars of the offence read that, on or about 20th March 2009 at the hours of 10:00 – along A.U. High-Way Kombo North, the accused drove a motor vehicle Reg: no BJL 6931F without breaks.
When the charge sheet was read to her, and interpreted in her own language she claim to understand, she pleaded guilty on count 1 and not guilty on count 2.
At that juncture the accused was granted court bail in the sum of D10,000 (ten thousand dalasi) before the case was adjourned to
Author: Binta Fatty
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Thursday, April 9, 2009
Gambia Press Union on Chief Manneh Disappearance!!!
The Gambia Press Union wishes to publicly express its determination and continued resolve to bring to a successful outcome, the issue of the whereabouts of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh.We are indeed saddened that it has taken the Gambia Government, 2 (two) Years, to be more specific, 1001 (one Thousand and One) Days since his disappearance on July 2007 and a ten month silence following the ECOWAS Court Verdict of the year long, Chief Ebrima Manneh. The Gambia Government court case for a senior Government Official to make public mention of their stance on the issue of the State's involvement in the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh.
It is rather unfortunate that the Gambia Government, in the entirety of the ECOWAS Court Proceedings failed to appear even though it was given the opportunity to defend Herself.
As has already been pointed out, "the State can only release a person from custody, if he or she is in fact in the custody of the State." However, we wish to bring to the attention of relevant Authorities that a pronouncement of Chief Ebrima Manneh not being in State Custody is not in its own enough exoneration.
The State and its relevant Security Apparatus also have the responsibility to ensure the protection of life and property, thus the disappearance of any Gambian should be an issue of paramount concern. We therefore urge the relevant authorities to do everything within their power, to ensure that investigations into the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh commence forthwith.
The
The struggle continues.
Meanwhile the President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) Ndey Tapha Sosseh yesterday presented over five thousand letters to the family of Chief Manneh.
Speaking at a brief presentation ceremony held at Chief Manneh's family compound in Lamin, Kombo North Western Region, the GPU President said the letters were sent from people all over the world, as a result of a campaign carried out by GPU and Amnesty International.
She expressed her organisation's concern regarding Chief Manneh's issue.
She reaffirmed GPU's unrelentless support to Chief.
In their letters, concerned people have extended their sympathy to Chief's family while expressing their enthusiasm that he will one day join his family.
The letters were received on behalf of the family by Chief Manneh's step mother, and brothers as the father was reported to have gone out while the mother was also said to have been to the rice field.
For their part, Chief's family members thanked GPU for its support.
Source: Picture: Chief Manneh
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
TOP HEAD LINE TALE:President Jammeh Presents Over D29 Millions to U-17!!!
In fulfillment of his pledge to the national U-17, the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh yesterday presented 29 million, Six hundred and Ten thousand dalasi to the team and officials that attended the U-17 Championship in Algeria.The money that was presented was all in physical cash.
The first eighteen players of the U-17 team including the coach and seven team officials each received One million dalasi, while six of the players who were not on the official list but were in Algeria, each received D500, 000.00.
President Jammeh also extended his philanthropic gesture to the four sports journalists that covered the championship plus four others. Each received D30, 000.00.
The Protocol officer and security who accompanied the team each received D150, 000.00 and two advance party members also collected D50, 000.00.
During the presentation ceremony held at State house, President Jammeh commended the Baby Scorpions for making everybody proud stating that his reasons for supporting football is because it is one of the highly paid jobs in the world. It also reduces unemployment and provides a source for remittances back home.
Jammeh noted that sports is of paramount importance to his government agenda and advised the Baby Scorpions not to forget the supremacy of God and the blessing of their parents in all they do.
He urged Gambians to be coming out to watch football matches at the Stadium and to change their attitude towards their national teams, adding that Gambians were not very supportive to the team during the qualifying stages.
"Gambians should support the team both morally and financially," he emphasized.
The Vice Captain of the team, Omar Colley who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the President for his gesture, and also the companies and individuals who supported the team.
All the 18 players of the U-17 side were said to have opened an account with Trust Bank.
Other speakers included Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, 1st Vice President of the Gambia Football Association and chairman of the marketing committee.
(See a more detailed report on this historic event in our subsequent edition).
Author: Saikou Ceesay,Banjul
Source: Picture: President Jammeh with the cup
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Breaking News:Three Gamtel Employees Charged with Economic Crime!!!
Three employees of the Gambia Telecommunication Company Limited (Gamtel) were yesterday arraigned at the Banjul High Court before Justice Joseph Wowo charged with economic crime.
Ebrima Bandeh, Adama Ceesay and Sheikh Gaye are alleged to have caused financial loss while being employees of the Gambia Telecommunication Company Limited (Gamtel).
Meanwhile the 1st and 2nd accused persons were earlier granted court bail when their defence counsel Lamin Mboge filed a bail application at the High Court. The bail conditions are that they must provide two Gambian sureties each in the sum of D500, 000 each. The sureties must also deposit title deeds of property valued at the said sum.
The 3rd accused, Sheikh Gaye, was remanded in custody pending his defence counsel filing a formal bail application before the High Court.
Hearing continues.
Author:Saikou Ceesay,Banjul
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Breaking News:Musa Jawara Harps on Western Capitalism!!!
In exclusive interview with Gambiaaffairs blog,Musa Jawara shed light on host of issues including the western capitalism.Below is the full excerpt:It is evident that the global economy is experiencing a major slowdown owing primarily to the worst financial crisis since the great depression. Stock markets have become increasingly volatile, some major financial institutions in advanced economies have collapsed, capital flows to emerging markets have weakened and some currencies have depreciated sharply.
The global financial system is facing turbulent times, and the international financial markets are uncertain, and volatility continues in the world market.
Here Musa Bassadi Jawara harps on the demise of Western Capitalism and what's in it for Africa. Please read on:
Since
Street, almost instantly engulfed the U.S. financial markets; and from Tokyo, London, Berlin and Europe at large, South-East Asia to the nook and cranny of every financial capital on the globe, the financial and economic devastation is of the Himalayan magnitude. As the fall out from Wall Street become more and more macabre, amid tremendous consternation in Washington, former president George W. Bush jettisoned the free market principle and directed the Federal intervention, in the free market system the size and scope never been seen, since the great depression. For George Bush, this was in direct contravention to his party's ideological orthodoxy…. mind boggling and baffling ….. The raison d'être of the very survival of a people is on the line, who said political ideology and dogma would not be contemptuously brushed aside…? The late President Truman of the United States advised the American people that they should eat less bread and thus save the much-needed grain for starving Europe. He added that Americans would not lose in health by the recommended act of self-denial. A tremendous philanthropic gesture by President Truman, but occurring at the same time, Africa had been devastated by famine more severe in scope and lethality than in Europe. This demonstrates, the duplicitous policy toward Africa did not start today. Joseph Stieglitz, a Nobel Laureate, resigned his position as chief economist from the World Bank in protest of the Bank's condescending policies toward the developing world, particularly Africa. Given this lacuna and sordid motives exhibited by the West and Breton Woods institutions of dereliction and incessant pauperism of Africa, a new economic mechanism must be fashioned to meet the challenges and needs of Africa.
As the G-20 nations met to discuss the crisis in London last week, so should the African Union! The clarion call by the current Chairman of AU, Colonel Gaddafi, a dynamic leader, the need for strategic partnership and economic integration in Africa is not only necessary, but must be done and spoken in economic parlance that the West has hitherto never seen. America started to heed the civil rights demands by Dr. King and others, when there was the threat of economic boycott from the Negroes all across America. Africa has the resources and the raw material that make the Western industrial machine tick; therefore, there is power within and must command a sway in a G-8 or G-20 economic round table!
To conclude with the local financial system: there is a plethora of commercial banks in The Gambia, the growth of which must be curbed or will be anathema to the restoration of economic and financial health of this country. The same is true of cellular phone companies and the resources and energy put forth here, can be directed in more resourceful ventures for the betterment of society. The brandishing of cell phones by the indigenous all across the country and the debauchment of social and concomitant economic ills, is the vogue of our day. There is need for redress.
Thank you for reading through.
Musa Bassadi Jawara is a US-Gambian trained enonomist. He was the Gambiaaffairs 'Personality of the Week' some two weeks ago.
Author:Saikou Ceesay,Banjul
Source: Picture: Musa Bassadi Jawara
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Saturday, April 4, 2009
Breaking News:13 Gambians Reported Drowned In Libya Sea Accident!!!
By:Saikou Ceesay,Banjul
Reliable information reaching Gambiaaffairs has it that Thirteen Gambian youths drowned at sea when the boats they boarded capsized in Libyan high waters. The boats that are said to have carried about three hundred economic migrants sunk in the Libyan waters on Sunday 29th March, in their endeavor to reach the Italian Island of Lapedusa for greener pastures.
The Gambians that are confirmed death by Gambiaaffairs as at now are Bafoday Jaiteh, Bakary Jaiteh, the two share the same father, Alagie Suwandi Jaiteh, Lamin Kanteh all from Njaba Kunda in Central Baddibou, Jerreh Conteh hailed from Katchang in Upper Baddibou, Abdoulie Kanyi, Sanusi Sillah both residents of Brikama, Ebrima Dampha and Nyakassi Dampha both from Farato in the Kombo North, Ensa Dinding Bojang, Ousman Bojang, Lamin Manneh and one Basolo, all said to be from Sanyang in the Kombo South District.
This Paper contacted the Foreign Affairs Office for comment. The Directorate of Protocol, Mr Juma Janneh said they are tirelessly working hand in hand with the Libyan authorities to identify Gambians that are said to have involved in the accident. Janneh indicated that as at now, they could not ascertain how many Gambians are dead and how many survived. He added that his office is receiving conflicting information concerning the matter, and called on the general public to provide them with any vital information on the matter.
This Paper also found the Libyan Ambassador at Mr Janneh's office; the two were busy working on the matter.
It could be recalled that in mid February this year, 9 Gambian youths were reported death between the Niger- Libya borders on their way to Libya when their vehicle reportedly ran into a land mine.
Many Gambian youths are now in Libya looking for all possible means to get to Europe for greener pastures.
A returnee told this Paper that many Gambians are currently in detention in Libya after they were caught illegally crossing into Libya or in the high seas to smuggle to Italy. The returnee also added that a good number of them have been expelled from Libya and are stranded in Mali.
This Paper contacted the Foreign Affairs Office for comment. The Directorate of Protocol, Mr Juma Janneh said they are tirelessly working hand in hand with the Libyan authorities to identify Gambians that are said to have involved in the accident. Janneh indicated that as at now, they could not ascertain how many Gambians are dead and how many survived. He added that his office is receiving conflicting information concerning the matter, and called on the general public to provide them with any vital information on the matter.
This Paper also found the Libyan Ambassador at Mr Janneh's office; the two were busy working on the matter.
It could be recalled that in mid February this year, 9 Gambian youths were reported death between the Niger- Libya borders on their way to Libya when their vehicle reportedly ran into a land mine.
Many Gambian youths are now in Libya looking for all possible means to get to Europe for greener pastures.
A returnee told this Paper that many Gambians are currently in detention in Libya after they were caught illegally crossing into Libya or in the high seas to smuggle to Italy. The returnee also added that a good number of them have been expelled from Libya and are stranded in Mali.
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Friday, April 3, 2009
Journalists And The Tactics In the Gambia!!!
By:Saikou Ceesay,Banjul
Picture:Saikou Ceesay
Journalism is a noble pofession and most journalists enjoy their work.Before 1992,there was no viable press in the country.Having stated this,we recall that there were veteran and educated journalists like messer Edward Francis small,M.B.Jones,Dixon Colley,Finden Daly,Lenrie Peters Snr and Mr.Allen,who took on the dare and worked hard in those days to produce newspapers to inform,educate and entertain the public.
Journalists are important members of the society because the nature of their function within the community.They contribute greatly to the development process of a country and are therefore crucial partners in dvelopment and not enemies of the state,as seen to be the case in many countries.Although practising a noble profession is one of the greatest achievement in life.Journalists have tedious time obtaining information to publish for the benefit of the reading public.
It is an improtant initiative for journalists in the Gambia to know that the media fraternity comprising of journalists now have a "blogging" called "Gambiaaffairs" being run by journalist Saikou Ceesay and host of experienced and qualified journalists.This is the first of its kind in the country.Many suggested that this is indeed and innovation and we all waits in anticipation to see what this new venture would turn out to be and how the public would respond to this novelty.Journalists were excited and proud about the Gambiaaffairs.blogspot.com that at long last their views on current issues are published to the reading public.
As journalist i understand that it is the prerogative of every developing country to establish and develop a viable press in their individual states.The job of a journalist is very demanding.He or she must go in search of news each day inorder to write about what is happening in the country.He then has to ensure that the stories are correct before putting "pen to paper"to write an article that is suitable to the newspaper office for publication.This is when journalists tend to clash with the authorities.The newspaper and journalists play the role of "watch dog"in the country and it is our duty as journalists to report on any unusual happening in the country and make this known to the reading public.
It appears,though,that it is a crime to write any article or report relating to the adverse behaviour of one of our senior officers in government,parastatals and so on.Every officer holding a responsible post in the civil service,is expected to work hard for the department he or she belongs to and display exemplary behaviour to his subordinates and to the public.We will Continue the discussion on our next edition on Sunday.
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Thursday, April 2, 2009
TOP HEAD LINE STORY:GAMBIA RANKED AT HIGH RISK OF DISASTER!!!
Her Excellency, the Vice President and Chairperson of the National Disaster Management Committee, Dr Ajaratou Isatou Njie-Saidy, has said that The Gambia is ranked 24th among the developing countries at high risk of disaster.The Vice President made these remarks at the opening of a three-day workshop on the launching of the development and updating of the oil spill contingency plan for The Gambia.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice President Njie-Saidy said The Gambia is among the 100 countries that are vulnerable to climate change effects globally.
"The
According to Vice President Njie Saidy, The Gambia is vulnerable to climatic variations due to physical architecture of the country coupled with a high population density.
"These pressures need to be released through better planning and co-ordination. An oil spill will add to such pressures. An effective and well simulated Oil Spill Contingency plan will serve to release the growing pressures of vulnerability in the country," Vice President Njie-Saidy added.
For his part the Secretary of State for Local Government and Lands, Ismaila Sambou, expressed the need for preparedness to address regularly and play aggressive roles to ensure that there is proper care on how to work around the oil spill and other related areas.
"Although we have been relatively fortunate in The Gambia, we should take a very aggressive role in ensuring that we are prepared and the issue should be regularly addressed. Most of the industrial labour still requires a high input of manual labour from loading and offloading often materials not considered harmful such as cement, flour etc without any respiratory protection. It is obvious that long term health problems will develop," he said.
For Secy. Sambou, Disaster Management should not only be seen as a national issue but an important issue in international relations.
"Today disaster management should not only be seen as a national issue but an important issue in international relations because globalization has opened up channels for trade and movement of goods and people. Thus we all have to co-operate to both mitigate and respond to disasters," he said, adding that prevention is the best method to control any disaster.
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BREAKING NEWS:VICTIM OF ABDUCTION DIES!!!
| Reports reaching this Paper has revealed that one of those that were abducted by the witch hunters in Sintet in Foni Jarrol in the Western Region of the country, passed away on Thursday 26 March at her residence in Sintet. The deceased, Mrs. Sansang Camara died at about 1pm on that date and was laid to rest the same day at 5pm in Sintet. According to family sources, the deceased was abducted by the so-called witch hunters at her home on 10 March 2009. Sources further said at the time of her abduction, Sansang was sick and was receiving medical treatment. According to her family members, she was abducted by the so-called witch hunters who took her to Kanilai for screening. According to the family members, before her abduction, Sansang told her captors that she was just coming from a medical facility where she went to seek treatment for illness. |
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Breaking News:Victim of Witch Hunting Dies!!!
Source:Foroyaa Newspaper
Mrs Sansang Camara, a victim of witch hunting who resides at Sintet, in Foni died on Friday 27th March and was laid to rest that same day.Family sources say that the late Sansang was abducted and taken to Kanilai, the President's village, where she was forced to drink concoction. See the next issue for the details.
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Mrs Sansang Camara, a victim of witch hunting who resides at Sintet, in Foni died on Friday 27th March and was laid to rest that same day.Family sources say that the late Sansang was abducted and taken to Kanilai, the President's village, where she was forced to drink concoction. See the next issue for the details.
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