Culled from the independent.

EC GRANTS D680 MILLION TO GAMBIA CHARGES D'AFFAIRES DISCLOSES

The European Commission's Charge d'Affaires in The Gambia Georges Marc Andre
has disclosed that a grant of D680 million has been given to The Gambia by
the European Commission for the year 2002. Mr Marc Andre made the revelation
while answering questions during a radio programme on the Brikama Community
Radio last Sunday. He said the grant was part of the Cotonou Partnership
Agreement signed in Cotonou, Benin on June 23rd, 2000, "following which the
EC has just announced this grant of 51 million Euro, equivalent to D680
million for The Gambia which is not a loan, but a grant which will not be
paid by your children," he clarified.

The Charge d'Affaires further noted that the grant would be helping in the
development of The Gambia for the forthcoming five years. He said that a
large percentage of the EC grant would go to Western Division and Central
Kombo in particular. Mr Marc Andre said they would also engage in a host of
road rehabilitation projects, and to extend the road from Mandinaba to
Ziguinchor. He revealed that with the new financial envelope, they would not
only be busy with development put also with non-state actors who he said
were the civil servants and the press. He said they were looking at how to
implement the objectives of poverty alleviation but also with the equitable
growth for the country.

"We are looking at how to invest such sums in the best way to improve the
quality of life of Gambians," he pointed out. He further stated that the EC
consider the context of capacity building and gender issues in particular,
because as he explained societies must grow in a balanced way with equitable
treatment for men and women. On environmental protection, Mr Marc Andre said
that it is a matter of culture and expressed the EC's involvement in
promoting awareness. He noted that without a conducive and properly
protected environment, "we will all suffer one day from our own
consequences," and stressed that fighting for the environment is a
protection of the future. He also clarified doubts that the EC gives direct
aid packages to certain community projects without passing through the
government.

Mr Marc Andre said the commission never sponsors projects in The Gambia
without passing through the government, in the sense that the government
signs the programmes committing itself on the funding which the EC is
bringing. He observed that the decision is to empower the people of the
communities to be able to identify their own felt needs. He said that the EC
is looking forward to seeing that people representing the communities are
elected through secret ballot by the community itself in order to be an
accountable body, but he was quick to point out that civic education will
play an important part as the people of the communities need to be more
aware of the power of their votes. Immediately this is done, he explained,
the EC would render more accounts in the local councils, which will be
accounted for " because we want the communities to be responsible for their
own developments."

In another development.

State withdraws case against student demonstrators

The state represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions Chief Akimoye
Agim withdrew the appeal made to The Gambia Court of Appeal, against the
release of student demonstrators in last year's April 10 unrest. A notice of
withdrawal of the case filed as civil No. 20/2000 was filed by DPP Agim.
Considering the motion to withdraw the appeal case, the Appeal Court
therefore stroke it out.

MORE NEW GEGERATORS FOR NAWEC AND FREE EDUCATION FOR GIRLS.

Mr. Touray also promised that in two years time, girls will gain free
education from primary to senior secondary level and that later this month a
new 6 megawatt generator will be ordered and in July and October another new
generator will be received in order to boost the electricity system. He also
promised that there were plans to build a factory and also that a new
all-inclusive system of tourism was being planned for some hotels and
restaurants.

Have a good day and bye 4Now, KB Jobe.

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