This is for your information:
| The Independent Published Friday, February 23, 2001 |
|
|
|
According to him Sheriff had in fact intended to go since December shortly after he (Baldeh) took over as managing director but that he had urged him to stay until this time. "We are very sorry for missing him but also we cannot stop him from going abroad for further studies," he remarked. Mr Baldeh described Sheriff as an outstanding person and one quite committed to the work of the Daily Observer. He revealed that Sheriff secured sponsorship for a three-year law degree in the UK. Asked as to whether Sheriff's departure was going to have any negative impact on the Daily Observer, Mr Baldeh admitted that they were definitely going to miss him, "because it will be very difficult to have a man like Sheriff". The management has however appointed Paschal Eze as acting Editor-in-Chief. In his letter of resignation addressed to the management of the Observer Company, Sheriff indicated that he was proceeding to the UK in furtherance of his education. However, all attempts to talk to him were unsuccessful, as our reporter was unable to trace him.
Senegalese farmers prefer Gambian currency Senegalese farmers living along the border with The Gambia find it more convenient to use the country's local currency, the dalasi, instead of the CFA Franc, the legal tender in Senegal and seven others countries and member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). The farmers say with the dalasi, they could purchase much cheaper goods directly from The Gambia without having to go through the hassle of exchanging one currency for other, in the process of which they lose money. The Gambian currency is thus used in almost every commercial transaction in the area to the detriment of the CFA franc, the Senegalese News Agency (APS-SEN) reported Monday. "Here, we sell and buy in dalasis", said Mor Kebe, a farmer in the Medina Yorofoulah administrative area of Kolda. The transactions include consumer products such as sugar, tea, tomato, soap and fabrics. The local markets of the villages situated at the border are stocked with food products imported by The Gambia from English- speaking countries like (Nigeria, Great Britain, United States) or Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand. For instance, one kilo-tin of concentrated tomato which costs 1,500 CFA francs in The Gambia sells at almost double at 2, 500 CFA francs in Senegalese territory. Also, a 50-kg bag of sugar which costs 14,000 francs in The Gambia, sells at between 20,000 and 22,000 francs in Senegal. The huge price differential has made smuggling a lucrative business in the area, the agency said. Culled from Pana PEACE Tombong |