NADD Is An Alternative Government
Halifa Sallah, the coordinator for the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) has described the newly forged coalition of opposition parties in The Gambia as an alternative government.
In a recent interview with the online radio station freegambia.com, Mr. Sallah said NADD is working for a point where the current regime would recognize it as an alternative government capable of taking responsibility for the affairs of the nation.
When a government moves toward the absolutism of power as the APRC is doing, he said, it does not respond to demands unless and until it is forced to realize that it is dealing with a major force and that someday, it could find itself on the other side from which it would wish its demands to be met. NADD’s fundamental objective, Mr. Sallah said, is to build a very strong democratic foundation in order to ensure that future governments do not abuse the principles of democracy and human rights.
On the question of the delay in naming a flag bearer for the coalition, Mr. Sallah said criticism of NADD in this regard is desirable because it would force the coalition partners to speed up the process. So far, he said, NADD is working systematically to ensure that the required instruments and institutions are in place before naming the flag bearer. The selection of a flag bearer, he said, will, according to the partners’ memorandum of understanding, be by consensus. "If the coalition partners are not able to reach a consensus on who the flag bearer would be then the issue will be put to the vote by general members in all administrative divisions of the country." If elected, he said, the new NADD president will serve for only one term of five years after which the individual parties will be free to contest the elections on their own or in partnership with other parties.
According to the memorandum of understanding the flag bearer, after five years will neither seek re-election nor support or sponsor any candidate. There would be a new constitution according to which no person shall seek re-election after a second five year term. But what is primary right now, he emphasized, is the establishment of the structures and institutions, the strong foundation necessary for the long-term efficiency of the coalition and the long term-growth of genuine democracy in The Gambia. So far, he explained, NADD has a memorandum of understanding, a constitution, a code of conduct and is working on a manifesto.
After the setting up these instruments, Mr. Sallah explained, NADD would then set up its secretariat which will have three units as well as branches in all seven administrative divisions of the country. The three units of the secretariat will be the finance and administrative unit, the information technology and civic and political education unit, and the program unit. As of now, he said, the coalition has an executive committee headed by a chairman, Assan Musa Camara and composed of two members from each of the coalition partners with one alternate member. There is also a technical committee structured along the same lines which is responsible for advising the executive on policy matters, planning and evaluation, among other things.
NADD also has a code of conduct prescribed by the memorandum of understanding which is designed to guide the behavior - both words and actions - of the member parties. The four main objectives of the code of conduct, Mr Sallah said, are the harmonization of the positions, principles and policies of the coalition partners in order to foster greater understanding among them, to establish pillars of integrity which are necessary for the coalition to be taken seriously and to ensure that all member parties will always put the national interest ahead of their individual interests, to serve as a cornerstone for public confidence in NADD, and to establish an acceptable mode of NADD-media relations. The code stipulates, he said, that whoever is the spokesperson for the coalition will give factual, authentic information to the media and promote healthy debate and freedom of expression. All parties to the coalition, he said, will be free to express their opinions while taking care not to misrepresent or trivialize NADD.
Because of the difficulties coalitions across the African continent have faced, Mr. Sallah said, NADD is working systematically to ensure that it builds the requisite instruments and institutions on which a strong democratic foundation will be built. The coalition is working on a countrywide launching process during which it will explain its aims and objectives to the Gambian people. Of particular interest to NADD would be the sensitization of the people on the usurpation of their powers by the current president as well as the encouragement of the youth to register and exercise their legitimate power come the 2006 elections. Mr. Sallah said many youth have been disenchanted with electoral politics in The Gambia and NADD will work hard to reinstate their lost confidence and convince them to vote.
On the public media, Mr Sallah said the Constitution of The Gambia clearly stipulates that the public media should give equal access to all political parties in the country. The public media, he charged, has been violating the Constitution and NADD will work very hard to make sure that they are given equal coverage. While NADD will ask for the invitation of international observers to monitor the 2006 elections, he said, the coalition is confident that it will be in a position to make sure that the democratic process is respected and adhered to by the APRC.
Interested readers can go to www.freegambia.com and listen to the full audio version of Mr. Sallah’s interview.
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Over 500,000 Beds In The Gambia
by Sulayman Makalo
A study conducted by the National Malaria Control Unit, NMCU, has revealed that in totality 503, 195 beds exist in The Gambia. Out of this figure, 291, 141 beds have mosquito nets.
According to National Bednet Dipping statistics 2004, out of the 291, 141 nets, only 183, 539 were treated with insecticides to prevent mosquito bites. This figure, according to the findings of the survey, is very low because it represents only 27.9% of the entire net usage in the country. Of utmost worrying to the NMCU officials is the drastic decline of insecticide treated bed net usage in the country, with Western Division having the highest number of bed nets but at the same time record the lowest bed net usage. The survey ranked Lower River Division as the highest bed net user in the country. "With a total of 36, 606 nets in the Division, 29,856 were treated with insecticides, representing 50.1% of net usage," malaria experts states.
According to the statistics out of 68, 335 bed nets in central River Division, 57, 523 were treated with insecticides representing 36.7% while in Upper River Division, of the 42, 462 bednets, 28, 620 were treated with insecticides representing 23.2% respectively.
The statistics further added that the two categories of North Bank Division East and West, out of 23, 912 and 13, 882 bednets, 12, 939 and 5, 805 nets were treated with insecticides representing 27.1 and 15.9% of net usage in the division respectively. It added that the division with 105, 944 bednets, only 48, 796 nets were treated with insecticides representing 14.1%.
However, the malaria experts described insecticide treated bednets as a worthy investment that can prevent deaths and promote well being of the population.
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Opposition To Rebuff Anti-Corruption Crusade If…
by Sulayman Makalo
Hamat N.K. Bah, the leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and National Assembly Member of Upper Saloum has said that the opposition will join President Jammeh’s fight against corruption if he (Jammeh) clarifies certain issues surrounding his government’s activities.
Speaking at a political rally in Nana Village in Niamina West recently, Hon Bah asserted that if President Jammeh openly clarifies with authentic documents the issues of the selling of the Atlantic Hotel, Captain Ebou Jallow’s alleged scandal, the 52 million Dollar Taiwanese grant to The Gambia which he said has not been do date, the fund misappropriation at the Central Bank of The Gambia and also submit the audit and financial report of his government over the years to the National Assembly, the opposition especially NRP will join his government’s fight against corruption in the country. He said unless this is done, the so-called ‘war against corruption’ would therefore affect only a particular section of the society. Hon Bah however described the 9 million Dollar cost of the Atlantic Hotel as ‘unclear’ that needs some clarifications. "The President should also clarify the alleged scandal involving Captain Jallow, the former AFPRC spokesman who was accused of absconding with the said amount and refunded it to The Gambia government," he noted.
The Upper Saloum representative however further called for the explanation of the said Taiwanese grant, the Central Bank saga as well as the failure of the Jammeh government to submit the audit and financial report of his government to the National Assembly. He reiterated that if all the these raise issues are answered with clear documentation, the opposition will no doubt join Jammeh’s call and continuous efforts in the fight against corruption in the country.
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Editorial: No Clubs or Clans!
After firing unwanted members from his cabinet, President Yahya Jammeh on Thursday again presided over the swearing-in-ceremony of four Secretaries of State: Raymond Sock, Nenneh Macdoll, Baboucarr Jatta and Ismaila Sambou – Secretaries of State for Justice, Trade, Interior and Local Government, respectively.
It is interesting and enjoyable to hear Jammeh freely speaking his mind, especially in such an important public function. The four secretaries who swore allegiance and secrecy to the state must have digested or eaten Jammeh’s words, in particular, that he does not want existence of clans or clubs within his cabinet, whose ultimate responsibility is to remain servant of Gambians. But why is he raising the issue of clan or locally dubbed teri kafo now? Is it because he has learnt bitter lessons of ruling a divided house or cabinet? Or his advisers draw his attention to how the erstwhile Progressive People’s Party leader used his intelligence to shatter teri kafo by appointing its members as ambassadors?
Without mincing words, Jammeh responded to rumours milling in town concerning his frequent firing spree, which according to political pundits, is increasingly becoming unbecoming. I wonder how many Secretaries of States have had their heads rolled by the Jammeh regime. But it must be above 80 by now.
His speech, undoubtedly, is rich with some wise words that the public can learn lessons from. But it appears that his regime is recognising the important role played by the independent media, hence his speech that the public should not waste time to disclose any malpractices affecting the country. This is where journalism plays its part.
However, the public is also concerned about the frequent hiring and firing of public officials, with some questioning why the 1997 Constitution mandated only the Head of State to hold such powers. In fact, one lawyer said, "the draft constitution has mandated the national assembly to approve the appointment or termination of the services of Secretaries of State." But why was such an important clause missing in the final draft?
If this and other important clauses remain in our constitution, we would have ranked among countries in Africa endowed with best form of governance. And the irony of it all is that while concern was being raised on the missing clauses, the rubberstamping assembly went ahead to amend clauses, such as Section 48, thus, making simple majority elections constitutional. This implies that candidates who score less than 50% of the vote can be declared president. It is good to commit people to go for a referendum but it is also unfair to tamper the same constitution without their approval.
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Big Boost For Gambian Heritage
by David Thoronka
The national museum precinct, last Wednesday hosted eminent personalities from both the public and the private sectors for the launching of the two books about The Gambia’s diverse cultural and rich heritage.
Speaking at the occasion, the executive director of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr. Momodou C Joof described the occasion as a red letter day in the annals of the institution, which was founded in 1989, with the mandate of preserving, promoting and protecting the tangible and the intangible aspects of our unique Gambian heritage.
According to him, another museum has been inaugurated in Kerr Batch to further implement the institutions mandate, noting that the institution has tirelessly worked to produce the books.
Mr. Joof further applauded the efforts made by the West African Museum Programme (WAMP), and the US Embassy in The Gambia for their financial assistance, which he indicated had enabled them to tap the rich cultural heritage of the country.
In their book review, both Mr. Sidibeh of the University of The Gambia and Mrs. Adelaide Susseh Gaye, World View CEO, applauded the RDD for a job well done, lamenting that it is unfortunate that the trends in cultural and traditional obedience is eroded by the day, mainly because of the clash between the African, Western and Arab cultures.
"But we can develop and improve with modernisation without relegating our culture into an obscure and unseen corner", they indicated. Mr. Sidibeh and Mrs. Susseh Gaye both recommended that the DOSE should adopt the books and make them accessible to the schools and institutions of higher learning for in-depth study of the Gambian culture and heritage.
Delivering the keynote address, the SoS for Tourism and Culture, Hon Susan Wafa Ogoo, said the launching of the books is a culmination of a rigorous and painstaking exercise of a project, which started in 2003.
She indicated that NCAC has made tremendous achievements in their mandate and have succeeded to enlist James Islands and the Stone Circles into the world heritage list. "It may please you to note that RDD is the pioneer in the field work of oral history, research and collections in the sub region and can today boost of a collection of more than 6,000 tapes on Gambian history, culture, languages, folktales, proverbs, riddles, genealogies, religion, music and dance", she added.
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Daycare Centre For Jahuru Manding
by Alieu Darboe
The Schools for Gambia, a British Gambian NGO recently inaugurated a Daycare Centre in Jahurumanding, CRD.
In her inauguration speech, Mae Winterton, the founder of the organisation, underlined the importance of the project, which she indicated objects to promote quality education for all, especially those in the provincial areas.
She deliberated on the historical background of the charity, which she added was established in the early 1990’s, following a visit in The Gambia.
According to her, she was deeply moved by situations in The Gambia, which prompted her to establish the initiative. She said it is sad to see children learning using sticks in the sand, while others seat on bare floors and under big trees.
Speaking earlier, Musa Sanyang, the organisation country representative, said for the past fifteen years, the organisation has been reaching out to schools in The Gambia, including Nursery, Primary, Middle School, Senior Secondary and tertiary institutions.
He further added that since they begun works, lot of stuff have been disbursed to schools, including provision of stationeries, building and repairing of schools, provision of uniforms and clothing.
Present at the occasion were SFG members, parents, students and a cross section of the community.
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YNP In Anti-Aids move
by Lugman Khan
The Youth Network for Partnership (YNP), a youth organisation in Brikama, recently held a daylong programme of activities in Daruhairu to join the crusade against HIV/AIDS.
The occasion began in the form of a marathon fun bearing the theme "Women, girl and HIV/Aids the attendees".
The Public Relations Officer of the association, Ali Jawo warmly welcomed all and sundry to the historic session, after which the divisional Aids committee representative, dilated on the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS, noting that since the infection is on the increase efforts must be mounted to curtail the situation.
Other activities included a drama, lunch, remarks by a girl-child and participants; cultural dance and a thug of war, which is symbolic of the power of dichotomy between the weak, the vulnerable, the incapacitated and the strong.
The secretary general delivered a vote of thanks and the occasion came to an end in the early parts of the night.
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National Ozone Office Embarks On Provincial Tour
by Lugman Khan
The National Ozone Unit under the offices of the National Environment Agency (NEA) recently embarked on a five-day provincial tour.
The purpose of the tour was to meet refrigeration technicians in the up-country and prepare them for training on retrofitting and drop-in techniques to enable them convert ozone-depleting substances (ODS) used in refrigerators into a movable acceptable gazes that are not harmful to the ozone layer.
The tour took them to Kerewan, Farafenni, Posteh, Bansang, Janjanbureh, Mansakonko, Soma and Basse. Under the Montreal protocol, The Gambia is obliged to phase out and ban the use of ODS in the country.
The National Ozone Unit was found to take charge of this task, in all Article 5 countries under the Montreal protocol. The two common gases used in The Gambia, which depletes the ozone layer, include refrigerant 12 (R12) and refrigerant 22 (R22) used in fridges and air-conditioning, respectively. The most reconditioned refrigerators coming into The Gambia contain R12. Therefore under the proposed training, technicians would be taught how to convert such ODS to safer gases like R134a which does not deplete the ozone layer.
The protection of the ozone layer is vital to environmental health, since without it infections like cataracts, and skin cancer, would be widespread, coupled with the risk of the melting of the ice in the Antarctica and excessive high temperature.
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Aids Info Centre For Children
by Ahmed Carayol
Believing that Gambian children need sufficient information to know and protect themselves from HIV/AID, Children Against Aids is set to establish an information centre for children in the country.
Children Against Aids, CAA, which operates in all major schools in Banjul, Kanifing Municipality and Western Division, is the first and only registered child anti-aids charitable organization operating in The Gambia.
In this regard, the organization is planning to stage a show geared towards raising funds for the establishment of the centre. This fundraising which will be in the form of national inter-school talent festival and competition, takes place at Kairaba Beach Hotel on April 16th.
In performance would be the following artists: Jaliba Kuyateh and Freaky Joe, Jollof Dance Group Senegal and Soul Mate Sisters from Senegal and Sierra Leone respectively. CAA is therefore appealing to the general public support their crusade by gracing the occasion.
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HMS Portland Visits The Gambia
by Alieu Darbo
A British Naval frigate, HMS Portland, last week visited The Gambia.
The HMS Portland was launched at Scots Clyde on 15 May 1999 by Lady Heather Brigstocke. The Ship was accepted into service by the Royal Navy on 15 December 2000 and commissioned on 3 May the following year .The penultimate in a class of fifteen ships, she achieved a top speed of 30.8 knots during contractor’s sea trials in the summer of 2000. This is a record for this class of ship.
The ship’s visit is part of a programme of exchanges with the Gambian armed services, which includes specialised training and other support.
Whilst here, the Commanding Officer, Commander Stephen M Allen accompanied by the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, Mr. Eric Jenkinson, will call on and hold official discussions with the Vice-President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Commander, The Gambia Navy.
The Ship crew will also be engaged in a number of activities. These include sporting events; with a football match against a joint Gambian police/army team at the Bakau mini football field behind the Medical Research Centre (MRC) and a rugby match against an expatriate team on MRC grounds.
They will also host children from the St. John’s School for the Deaf and the SOS Children’s Village on board the vessel.
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The Healthy Political Society
by Baba Galleh Jallow
Great political thinkers agree that all political action aims at either preservation or change. Preservation is motivated by the desire to preserve the good or prevent a change for the worse. The desire to change, on the other hand, is motivated by the desire to bring about something better, to build a healthy political society, to realize the ultimate aim of human society, which is the attainment of the best possible life, the common good for all members of society.
In order to bring about the good political society, we need to have a fairly accurate knowledge of what constitutes the good itself. This is a particularly contentious issue and a daunting task, but one which we must nevertheless address. Gaining knowledge of the good requires that first of all, human beings recognize their limitations as finite and fallible beings. It requires the keeping of an open mind at all times, under all circumstances, the toleration of ideas and views contrary, even hostile to our own. It requires the encouragement of healthy debate and ultimately, a readiness and willingness to accept our mistakes and improve on them.
No society can attain any meaningful level of progress or get anywhere near the realization of the common good without allowing the growth and flourishing of a free marketplace of ideas at which all members of political society, particularly responsible for running the affairs of a nation, are always ready and willing to trade their views and opinions for better ones. This is not to suppose that those in political authority are always wrong in their views and opinions. It is merely to suggest that in most cases, their authority tends to blind their better judgment; that in most cases, the intoxicating effect of power tends to impress their minds with mistaken and often dangerous ideas which are nevertheless very attractive to them. Even where people in political authority have very good ideas, it is possible that there could be better ones in the free marketplace of ideas; or there could be ideas which could serve as valuable additions to their own.
All human beings have their individual opinions on what constitutes truth and falsehood, good and evil, justice and injustice, right or wrong. A healthy political society or a political society genuinely interested in becoming a healthy one must seek to replace these diverse, often divergent and conflicting opinions on truth and falsehood, right and wrong, good and evil, justice, injustice and wrong with true knowledge of these. Centuries of serious study and reflection by the world’s greatest minds have proved that there are such things as universal standards of virtue and vice - of good, evil, truth, falsehood, justice, injustice, right and wrong. True, there is often need for specification and qualification as a result of the fact of human diversity, of the peculiar characteristics of human societies. But unless people choose to ignore the reality because recognition would cause them inconvenience of some sort, there is no denying the fact that there are things that are universally acceptable or unacceptable. Murder for instance is wrong regardless of where it is committed. So is theft - including the forcible appropriation of people’s legitimate, inoffensive and harmless liberties. Most of these universal standards are enshrined in what are called universal human rights.
It is true knowledge of these universal standards of virtue that a healthy political society should seek to cultivate with a view to having them take the place of untried opinions. This is not to say that opinions, right or wrong, should be dismissed out of hand. For it is from the plurality of opinions that we can identify the path to true knowledge. Therefore, in a healthy political society, political opinion and political knowledge must be allowed, even encouraged, to co-exist peacefully.
Of particular interest to the search for true political knowledge is an understanding of the oceanic concept of law. Like all great political virtues, there is a universally acceptable standard of what constitutes law. The harmony or lack of harmony in a political society is mostly a function of the nature of its laws. A society relapses into barbarism and anarchy when those in political authority take to promulgating unjust laws for the purposes of furthering their own selfish interests at the expense of the national interests. If there is one thing that differentiates a progressive political dispensation from a backward and redundant one, it is found in the character of at least some of their laws. A progressive political dispensation will never promulgate an unjust law; or when it does, the society to which it is responsible will challenge and void such a law. But a backward and redundant political dispensation feels responsible to no one but itself and so will pass any law that it feels will serve its own parochial interests.
Most political philosophers accept the definition of law proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas. Of course, a redundant political dispensation will be quick to dismiss this proposed definition even before hearing it on the grounds that it is an alien or western definition. Such timid escapism, however, does not affect the validity of St. Thomas’ definition of laws as an ordinance of reason for the common good, made and promulgated by political authority. Thus, a just law must be derived from reason; and it must serve as a force of reason. A law must also serve the common good, rather than the perceived good of particular interests such as a backward and redundant political dispensation. Ultimately, a just law must be compatible with the precepts of natural law as enshrined, for instance, in the universal declaration of human rights or as stipulated in what is termed divine law - the law according to the Quran, the Bible, and other revealed texts.
A law that is lacking in any of these elements or attributes - reason, the common good, compatibility with natural law - is no law at all. It would simply be an unjust instrument of coercion imposed through an abuse of political authority. Examples of these so-called laws would be laws that seek to stifle contrary views and opinions, laws that place unnecessary obstacles on the growth of institutions necessary and vital for the emergence of a healthy political society (e.g., Decrees 70/71), and laws that discriminate and persecute citizens on the basis of political bias or contrary opinions. All such laws are laws only by name and are not deserving of the slightest respect. True, they could be imposed by force; but no citizen is morally obliged to obey them, because they are contrary to the dictates of reason and to the achievement of the common good.
By their very nature, unjust laws - which, again, are actually no laws at all - are extremely harmful to the well being of political society. The existence of such non-laws are always an indication of the presence of tyranny or a move toward tyranny which is universally acknowledged to be the worst form of government. Tyranny is the worst form of government because it is in direct contradiction to the attainment of the common good. It is the worst form of government because rather than being the good social doctor all political authority is meant to be, tyranny seeks to purge the body politic of all its vibrant and healthy members, leaving only the diseased and mediocre, who will unquestioningly fawn, stoop, crawl and cringe to serve their own selfish interests and other interests far removed from the common good.
Tyranny must therefore be opposed and discouraged at all times because it is openly hostile to those sections of political society who are purely motivated by a genuine desire to contribute to the common good by seeking to enlighten political society. It must, ultimately, be stripped of its benign and oily mask and its ugly face exposed to the scorn and ridicule of all right-minded persons because it seeks persistently to stifle initiative, and through the brutal politics of exclusion and fabrication, to silence those members of political society who are animated by nothing but a moral impulse fired by love of truth and love of country. So long as a nation is violated by the nauseating vestiges of tyranny, that is far from achieving the ultimate aim of a healthy political society: the common good.
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Talk All Leave None
with Khadija
One Year – No Arrests Yet
It is exactly 53 weeks today – precisely one year seven days when The Independent’s Eagle Printing Press was reduced to ashes by unknown assailants. And ironically nobody has so far been hooked for committing the heinous crime, despite the lip service by the police that investigations are still on. Over the years, The Independent, like other innocent Gambians, has succumbed to arson attacks yet no arrest was made.
We have seen that when one of them (the security forces) is victim to any incident/incidents, they are quick to react, arrests are made and the culprits are taken to court. But with The Independent or the media, nothing! We have suffered two arson attacks and nobody has been brought to book. Is it that those who committed these crimes are from another planet? We need answers.
Physical Planning Unit – What are you doing?
It has come to the notice of Grapevine that officials of the Physical Planning Unit of the Department of State for Local Government and Lands are not carrying out their responsibilities according to laws laid down for construction in this country.
Many people building houses do not consider these laws, and it is a known fact that before one starts a building one should get an approval from Physical Planning.
It is observed that those who are building two or three storey buildings are intruding into the privacy of some people. Some people even use the wall fence, dividing the two compounds, as part of their buildings thus leaving no space in between.
There was a time when people who did not observe the rules and regulations laid down had their compound bulldozed to the ground. Please explain Mr. Director.
We Are Servants of the people
Grapevine was very happy when they heard the president saying that Secretaries of State are ‘servants of the people’. This was during the swearing of the four new SoSs who were appointed after the Paul Commission report was presented to Mr. Jammeh.
We are taking note of this, because many people think differently. Some feel that although he is a President he is behaving as a Burr when in other words he is ‘the servant of the people’ as he rightly pointed out.
The Almudo Syndrom
Few years back, almudos were not seen roaming the streets of Greater Banjul but since the last two months of 2004, they are seen idling the Tipper garage area. These are small boys in filthy dresses begging for food or money. Who is to blame? Most parents send their sons to learn the Qur’an but these Qur’anic teachers use them as beggars. Authorities should introduce stiff penalties to safe these children from exploitation. In some cases if these boys do not take home enough money they go out dinner or food.
Raffle or lucky deep?
Around Bambo along the Sayer Jobe Avenue, there is a game of lucky deep going on. People pay money with the hope of winning some of the bowls, buckets, radios and other valuable household goods. But the majority of these people do not win. What beats Grapevine is that it is only these involved in the game that wins.
The guy organising this game has his own boys who buy tickets pretending that they are playing and they win.
What is the police doing or the KMC police? A stop should be put to this. Housewives are mostly the victims of this game. Must of them need most of the goods put on display but in they end up losing the money given to them by their husbands to prepare food for the family. What a day, if meal is not provided?
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The Roar Of Africa:
The Anti-Terrorism Fight
As loud as the roar of a lion or the trumpeting of a bull elephant, African nations are announcing their determination to fight terrorism. As any herdsman will testify, the roar of a lion strikes terror in the heart of both man and beast.
The roar can be heard all over the continent, from East Africa to West Africa, from Algeria to South Africa. The sound of anti-terrorism is gaining in volume as it rolls through the continent.
What is this sound? It is the sound of the African nations declaring a new era. In conflict resolution and making a solemn pledge to work together to pursue peace. The most recent evidence of the movement to improve security in the country was the first ever summit meeting of the Heads of States of the Great Lakes Region. Heads of State from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Burundi, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and the Central African Republic met in Dar es Salaam to forge a common front against interrelated regional conflicts.
The agreement hammered out at the meeting will also serve to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
The final declaration set forth "priority options and guiding principles" to guide East African States in raising the level of security in their respective States. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan defined the final declaration as "a new era for millions of African men, women and children" (2).
The new era that Annan described has to include previous multistate agreements in the fight against terrorism. As early as 2001, right after the attacks on New York and Washington, Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal’s president, urged African leaders to come together to ensure no African country offers sanctuary to terrorists or gives them money or other assistance.
In July of this year, the 53-member African Union (AU) decided to create a regional research centre as part of a strategy to defeat terrorism on the continent. In October this year, that center opened. At the AU anti-terrorism conference in Algiers inaugurating the center, a meeting consensus was that terrorism had not receded significantly in spite of the worldwide anti-terrorism campaign.
The meeting also agreed on the center’s goals to gather intelligence, identify arms supply networks, exchange information on terrorist groups and to work out ways of striking at terrorists before they have a chance to carry out some terrorist incident.
The Algiers meeting also committed AU members to strengthen border controls, to legislate extradition agreements, to suppress terrorist financing and to exchange intelligence. On the proactive side, the states agreed to put together a list of terrorist organisations and to coordinate actions against them.
Meanwhile, African intelligence heads have also been busy. Thirteen chiefs of intelligence met in Kenya in November to construct a common counter terrorism strategy. Dr. Chris Murungaru, Kenya’s national security minister, said the transnational nature of terrorism dictates that cooperation between countries and among domestic security agencies must take place. He made the point that no country can make war on terrorism single-handedly.
The rush of African counter terrorism strategies may be just in time. The vulnerabilities of the continent to terrorism are multiplying. At the AU summit meeting in July in Addis Ababa, Abdelkader Messahel, Algerian minister for African and Maghreb affairs, said countries like Niger, Mauritania, Kenya and Tanzania felt particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
An international security organisation has published reports that recent intelligence indicates that al-Qaeda ‘ s loss of sanctuaries in other parts of the world makes Africa a possible haven where terrorists could train recruits and plan new attacks. The organisation points at Sudan as an example. According to the organisation, such terrorist groups as al-Qaeda, Egypt’s al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya and the Egyptian and Palestine Islamic Jihad are still using that country as a base.
No shortage of vulnerabilities to terrorism exists in Africa. On the Horn of Africa, wars, insurgencies, disease, refugees and food shortages threaten the lives of 15 million people. African food shortages at the famine level caused by locust invasions, draught and conflict are proving fatal to children and animals. In Mali, 10,000 tons of grains are needed for one million people whose livelihood has been devoured by swarm of locusts.
Perhaps the nation currently most vulnerable to extremism is Sudan with its terrible internecine conflict in Darfur. According to the United Nations, 70,000 people have died from hunger and disease and 1.6 million Darfuri have fled their homes. In what has been described as a conflict pitting Arab against African, radical Islam’s foot in the door dates as far back as 1983 when the imposition of Sharia law caused so many problems.
The United Nations has demanded an end to the violence and threatens sanctions.
The Country’s upheaval, strategic location on the Nile, easy access to the Red Sea, fragile political alliances of neighbors and its oil and gold deposits make it an enticing target for terrorist groups to attempt some radical moves. The roaring movement toward continent-wide cooperation against terrorism is a strong counterweight to terrorist plans.
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THE COMFORTER, THE COUNSELLOR
by G. Goree-Ndiaye
Every form of parting – whatever the circumstances - has always been painful and many of us aren’t usually ready for it, no matter how much notice we would have had. It is even worst when the departure is imminent or sudden. The closer the ties, the harder the blow. It wasn’t any different with Jesus and His disciples. As his ministry drew to an end, He broke the news to His disciples on several instances and in very clear terms, that He was going to die, but somehow it did not sound right in their ears. "As you know the Passover is two days away – and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (Matthew 26:2) Still it did not register. Earlier he had declared, with reference to His death: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:19)
How could the Man who had raised the dead, die? He must Himself have seen the expression of doubt in their eyes to have sought to comfort them. One thing was certain however, they were not ready for this. And so to bring them some relief, He said to them. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." (John 14:1) After an intensive three and a half years training of trainers course with His disciples, in order to equip them for the mission to which they were called, Jesus, the Master, suddenly realised that His imminent departure would shatter them. So He told them about the Guide; "I have much too say to you, more than you can bear. But when he, the Spirit comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell what is to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." (John 16:12-14) The Comforter will be the Glorifier and Exhibitor of Jesus. The Father’s role in sending the Comforter is vital in the succession process. Our Lord said He was not going to leave us His disciples, orphans. (John 14:18) So until His eventual return the Holy Spirit was going to take up a permanent position - the Abiding Guest. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17) From this passage we discern that the Comforter/Counsellor is a representative of Jesus but it is the Father who would be the One to send Him. His authority would come from Jesus, the Son.
Was that enough to calm their fears and relieve their pain? Jesus was leaving but He wanted to assure His disciples that He was not leaving an empty seat behind. "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father, he will testify of me." (John 15:26) Still in a bid to allay their fears, Jesus confirms that this Counsellor will be a true Representative because he was going to speak of Him (Jesus). Therefore they should have nothing to worry about. It would be a continuation of, and it wouldn’t be any different from what He (Jesus) had been teaching them.
It was conditional also that Jesus should leave otherwise His Replacement would not come. "Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go I will send Him to you." (John 16:6-7) Indeed Jesus had come to the end of his earthly assignment and had to cede His place to the Holy Spirit – the Third Personality of the Trinity. This was yet another palliative to enable His disciples accept, as well as come to terms with, His departure.
It is important that we underline the five main functions and characteristics of the Counsellor/Comforter to understand that Jesus wanted a smooth continuity. Firstly, He will abide forever (John 14:16); His character is permanent; secondly, he will bring remembrance of Christ’s ministry - The Comforter as a teacher. "But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)
With the impending confusion following Jesus’ death and crucifixion, some of the disciples were going to abandon ship and had even returned to their former occupations, whilst others had headed home - considering their years of apprenticeship under Jesus wasted. But that was not to happen. They had become fishers of men and God moved to bring them back on track. Thirdly, He will testify concerning Christ – to testify is to speak of someone, someone you know. We suppose that the Holy Spirit who descended on Jesus at His baptism has a close relationship with Him. They were together at the creation - working as a team - God, His Word and the Spirit which moved as depicted in Genesis Chapter 1. (John 15:26) Fourthly, he will convict the world of sin; (John 16:7-8) and lastly, he will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13)
Both of God’s lieutenants – Jesus and the Holy Spirit came from above and were anointed to carry out the special assignment that no human could.
Jesus was crucified and He rose again from the dead like He declared because death could not hold Him captive. Did the Spirit come to relieve Him? Yes he did, on the day of Pentecost – fifty days after Jesus departed this earth and ascended into heaven. Prophet Joel had prophesied this: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams." (Joel 2:28) That Sunday morning, "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit …" just as Jesus promised. And so Scripture was again fulfilled. The Comforter came to abide in us forever. Take the Comforter for your comfort.
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Essa Bokar Sey, Diplomatic Guru
By Sana Camara
(Contd from our last issue)
After this diplomatic career, would you mind telling us what you are currently engaged in the US?
I am here and I am working as usual. I am a teacher in Tarrant County Texas. The people there are so nice, they have taught me a lot more about life. In America the sky is the limit. Governor Arnold Schwatzneger in California is a bright example of that. America has received, always been known for receiving and helping aliens. The same America allow those aliens, refugees, asylum seekers and travelers or expatriates to be part of the cream of their society. We as Gambians should learn from that. Former SoS Albright, Gov. Arnold are both from Europe and today they are big shots here. That’s why I like this country because they practically open their arms to every person who wants to excel.
You were making scathing criticism of the APRC government on both the Gambia L and Post websites? Why were you so bitter with them?
I am not bitter but concerned. Well you do also have the right to use words in the way you deem it fit. We live in a changing world where ideas are the sea that helps us sail. Criticism is not bad whether bitter or mild. In fact if you observe what I used to write on the L (where I used my name!) I was always using Yaya. I did not spell his name as he is being called now. Why? Because I wanted him to see the human part of his existence likewise remember where God lifted him from. Then use sense but not anger to respond to what people say to him. I just disagree with Jammeh. The best example I can tell is that husbands and wives fight to death. Did they hate each other when they started relating? No. Why do people fight? Fighting is always around and it will be here till the end of the world. However fighting is always captioned by peace. Criticising Yahya as the head of the APRC does not mean me hating peace and peaceful means. I love Peace.
Philosophically, let me ask this to anyone reading my answers: can anyone show me a patient suffering from malaria who could be cured by sugar? It is only Nivaquinin that cures malaria not honey or sugar. Does that mean the doctor or the pharmacist curing the patient hates him or her? Not at all. That is why truth cleans the toxic part of souls and hearts. Criticising Yahya does not mean he cannot criticise me. Indeed he can, because I am not an extra-ordinary angel who makes no mistakes. But Yahya also has to put up with the fact that he must receive criticism and then adjust or readjust. Yahya can only know that reality when he resorts to God at night and then shuns impatience to adore patience. One thing Yahya has to know is that he has already been called Mr. President in his life. So all he should do now is to leave a good legacy as a future former Mr. President. Certainly he will be called former President Jammeh one day. The rest is in the hands of God.
Your critics have it that you started such criticisms only after your falling out-of-ranks?
I agree with some of those who raised that flag because of the way psychologists analysed thought: That is, thought means: PAST EXPERIENCE AND SUBSEQUENT MENTAL OPERATION. They have lived and saw politics being used as a chessboard where players use different tactics to win the minds of the masses. Who am I not to receive that whip? I would have reacted to any critic who went that far with any leader like I did with Jammeh. In fact some of those critics called me "turn coat" (laughter...)
Yes I cannot escape those words, terms, jargons and even insults. That is why I see life as huge classroom. In fact that helps me become more and more metamorphosed in the political arena. However here is what I have to say on that: "It is the end result that matters not the process itself". The end will determine if I am bitter, confused, and full of personal vendetta, a turncoat or as others said.... "Essa is ungrateful because Yahya made him what he is today". All that can be expected from critics because politics is a sea of jargons and a place where the gymnastics of those very jargons are valuable commodities during debates and a war of words. In fact how can I criticise Yahya or others and then expect to go home snoring without being criticised myself?
Do you consider coming back to the Gambia? Is your life at stake?
I will come back to The Gambia when God decides. If my life is at stake? Well...."ifs" do not determine anything concrete so I cannot relate to that question because my life is real and I am alive. Therefore I would rather not use uncertainty as an open-minded optimist. Courts and legal perspectives are based on facts and evidences therefore if and maybe cannot determine the future for me. All I know is that I am away and The Gambia is my home so God will determine when I can come home and see the Smiling Coast.
What do you think of the present political situation of the country?
The present political situation is self-explanatory. Look at the Gambia L, the Gambia Post, the allafrica.com, The Independent newspaper, Daily Observer etc. My thought is based on what the people think. What the people think is plain and simple. Society’s mirror are the journals, TVs, movies, books and the jabbering in the streets. Well, the every activity being produced by Gambians including Yahya himself is what I think of and this gives the very picture all of us see home and abroad everyday.
What about the arson attacks on The Independent and the home of Ebrima Sillah, former BBC correspondent in Banjul?
The arson attack on Sillah or any other person in The Gambia is uncalled for and very sad. Whether it is under Yahya or any future government I do not concur with such banditry. Burning houses is not what sends a message. Burning down people’s houses is terror at the farthest point, period. You see when I see people calling those green boys "dangerous men" it makes me feel cold. Then I ask myself this question: The Green Boys can only show their bravery by burning down the houses of innocent journalists like Sillah? This is pathetic! Time will tell if they are brave or not.
Do you support any political party?
Yes
Which one?
I support NADD. I am a NADD fan and a NADD supporter. Difference in political opinion has to be encouraged in a democracy if not the contrary means democracy has been wounded and then caged by the red fangs of shrinking dictatorship. Indeed supporting a party does not mean I cannot criticise that party too if and when they were to do wrong.
What do you think of NADD to oust the Jammeh regime?
You see my principle is not leader-centered, it is policy or principle-centered. Jammeh is no big issue where decent democracy exists. Indeed he is an issue if the party he leads becomes leader-centered. Be it Jammeh or Demba, whoever leads a party and then head a government that adores democracy as a culture, facilitates access to resources without any let or hindrance is a good leader.
NADD, I believe was formed not only to oust any person, it was formed to strengthen democracy. The same happened in Ghana, Senegal and so on. Rawlings led a coup that was very bloody, people were executed at the seaside. Well, when democracy came he (Rawlings) was taught that men and women can be governed without guns and gunpowder. Hissen Habre of Chad is out, others and others. Their countries are still there. For me Jammeh is just an element but he is not the image itself. The image is our country’s existence. So let no party project Jammeh during elections, it should project the issues under Jammeh.
Lately, Gambians have witnessed scores of arms attacks which analysts believe could sow seeds of instability in the country? Your comments.
Instability? Anyway all I know is that the picture has been painted for every body. We can only see what is before our eyes! Armed attacks and instability? These words make me feel so sad! I wish I would hear you ask me about rice and food self-sufficiency because that is what we thought was going to be the line of thought by now. After 11 years in power? Anyway arms do not solve problems. So be it the government or others, please let anyone intending to use arms know that bullets do not vote, they wipe out souls. I do not want to see Gambian refugees traversing borders. No!
Any final message?
My final message is The Gambia Our Home Land We Strive, Work and Pray. God bless us all!
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Faces Behind U-17 Local Organising Committee
by Namory Trawally
May 2005 will be one of the most important date for Gambian sports specially football as the country will be hosting its first ever continental football championship.To make the championship one of the best in Africa, eleven (11) sub-committees were formed to take care of different important sections needed during the two weeks competitions.Each sub-committee is headed by a chairman and comprises sub-committee members.The chairman of the sub-committees together with SoS Samba Faal, Alhagie Omar Sey, Jammeh EK Bojang and Alhagie Ousman B Conateh, form the Local Organising Committee (LOC).The 15 members LOCeets every Wednesday during which each sub-committee chairman present a report of his sub-committee.
The LOC members are as follow:
Hon Samba Faal-Chairman
Alh Omar Sey-Vice-chairman
Jammeh EK Bojang-Secretary
Alhagie O. B. Conateh-Adviser
Dick Dathe-Food and Accommodation
Buba Janneh "Star"-Finance
Bakery Jammeh-Marketing
Bora Mboge-Media and Publicity
George Gomez-Accreditation
10.Seedy MB Kinteh-Social
11.Momodou MB Jagne- Transport
12.Kalifa Manneh-Medical
13.Omar Sallah-Infrastructure
14.Baboucarr Jobarteh-Protocol
15.Lt Colonel Lang T. Tamba-Security
6th Edition of CAF U-17 Championship
7th - 22nd May 2005 Delegation Accommodation
Atlantic Hotel - Nigeria
Ocean Bay Hotel - South Africa
Sunbeach Hotel - The Gambia
Palm Beach Hotel - Burkina Faso
Sunset Hotel - Mali
Kombo Beach Hotel - Ghana and WAFU Delegation
Bungalow Beach Hotel - Zimbabwe
Bijilo Hotel - Cote d'Ivoire
Kairaba Beach Hotel - CAF Presidence
Senegambia Beach Hotel - CAF Organising Committee, Secretariat and Referees
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GPDSA Wins Bronze Medal
By Ejatou Jallow (GPDSA)
From Mauritania
The Gambia Physically Disabled Sports Association participated in the Zone 2 wheelchair basketball tournament from the 16th to the 20th March 2005 in Nouakchott-Mauritania. The team, led by Mr. Sulayman Colley, won the bronze medal.
The Zone 2 basketball tournament for physically disabled opened on March 16th with a march-pass by delegates of the four participating countries, which are The Gambia, Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania. The opening match was played by Senegal and Mauritania which scores were 24points against 22points in favour of the host country.
On the 17th the Gambian team, which played against Mali, won with 54points against 9 points. On the 19th, there were two matches. Senegal played against Mali and the Gambia against Mauritania. Senegal beat Mali with 88 points against 2 points, and Mauritania won over The Gambia with 47 points against 11 points.
On the closing day, on the 20th of March, Mauritania won Mali with 38 points against 8 points and Senegal won The Gambia by 47 points against 17 points.
Unfortunately there was no final match, as other countries part of the tournament did not turn up for the competition.
The team with the highest points was considered the winner. Mauritania was lucky one and received the winner’s cup with gold medals. It was followed by Senegal with a cup and silver medals and the third position went to The Gambia with bronze medals for the players. Ebrima Manka was crowned best player of the tournament. The Malian team received a discipline cup.
That evening a farewell reception was organised during which the president of the Federation of the Mauritanian Disabled Sports (F.M.D.S) advised delegations to maintain regional integration to achieve their associations’ goals.
GPDSA thanked the Gambian embassy in Nouakchott for its support and their sponsors.
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GFA Interim Committee 100 days
by Kebba Yorro Manneh
Kudos to the President of the GFA Alhagie Omar Sey for the lucid and candid interview given to Peter Gomez of Sports File, who has stolen the show from all journalists, to ‘celebrate’ the president’s 100 days. No wonder he is a very seasoned personnel in the said domain. The insight into the interview is indeed commendable for the man is diplomatic, as he had played his cards to his chest and done well the job tasked to him .He has emerged from the interview charting the way forward by challenging all and sundry to live up to the expectations hence my quote.
However certain burning issues lamented over the years are still glaringly clear to warrant focus and attention. No need to belabor many write-ups, interventions and electronic media interventions, I had on the said issues over the years. But to reminisce on the salient ones, I numerate here in pending issues to ameliorate the stance in football.
1- Integrate The Nawettan Into The Mainstream League Competition
2- Regionalise The League And Clubs To Have More Following
3- Institutionalise The League Clubs For Revenue Base
4- Decentralise The League Competition To Cover The Entire Country
Expounding on the four above, one does not need to look far ahead to realise that other countries thrive in football due the said facets taken onboard, thus it behooves on us to emulate.
On the issue of restructuring the FA and its components, the dire need for a Constitutional Review Committee as oppose to a Rules and Regulations Committee ostracizing potentials like my humble self just to be appointed and reneged on, one cannot help but harp on that point that the entire fabric has to be premised on that, for that is the parameter for which our success can be educed.
As I am deliberately left out of this domain, let me engage the FA on the following salient issues and subsequent ones as I am always complacent when left out of such committees to vent my spleen on such importance of National Significance for Public Consumption.
1- Why not the required stipulation as enshrined in the constitution for a review committee as opposed to the rules and regulations one?
2- Why avail the blue print documents from FIFA when premised on our projections, the FA can push its ideals onto that body?
3- What stops the FA to organise a stakeholders conference on the constitutional means now summed up by the FA in institutionalizing the Rules and
Regulations Committee.
4- How about a re-organization of the GF A secretariat to project for the up and running of the FIFA Goal Projects amongst other additional responsibilities?
Can the National Sports Council project this discourse? Well, in the absence of the regularisation of that august body hence its term of office has already elapsed and moves are yet to be finalized to project the new formation, as a stakeholder let me take the regularized body to task as follows:
1- Convene a stakeholders conference to get the said body out of its illegal status
2- Format a discourse on the way to commemorate the International Year of sports and physical education arrange a provincial tour of the zone to sensitize the entire country on the significance of the year 4- Monthly monitor the progress or otherwise of the performance of the Associations and Federations on their modus operandi.
Well in the absence of all these projections being considered I may be tempted to defy the leadership of the said council to make it more responsive, rejuvenated and revitalized with an eye to see sports thrives Food for Thought! "
Good a thing three months hitherto the elapse of the tenure of the office term of four years after a lot of pressure from my end to regularize the National Sports Council a body, I had ever emphasized its significance as the umbrella organization for all sporting bodies that is constitutionally mandated to see sports thrive, it was promulgated.
Reference is made to the first write up in January 2001 in the Observer Newspaper in which I articulated how the august body is to operate by stipulating the modus operandi in short, medium and long term plans hence I was OSTRACIZED. Knowing very well that I had a lot to offer the august body, I continue to positively engage the said body all throughout its tenure in WAKE-UP CALLS for a stakeholder’s conference on sports, print and electronic media interventions on the way forward. History has now absolved me and hence my vindication to take my rightful place in the august body. HOPE FOR
THE BEST.
MORE AS EVENTS UNFOLD!
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Imported Poultry Products Unsafe
by Pa Modou Secka
The president of the Gambia Poultry Farmers Association, Ali Khan has warned the public to be careful of consuming imported poultry eggs and meat. He described them as "unhealthy and unsafe."
In an interview, Mr. Khan said that his association is trying to bring down the cost of poultry feeding.
Unlike animal husbandry, he said, poultry farming though challenging and expensive to sustain, is more profitable. "It demands more resources and energy. That is why I am calling on government and private sector to work as partners so as to develop poultry farming in The Gambia. Poultry is a good business that people need to seriously look into."
He said poultry farming goes beyond keeping only birds. "It also includes meat production, eggs, manure and feather."
However, he said, the greatest challenge faced by poultry farming is the feeding of birds to enable them develop eggs and meat fit enough to supply the demands of the local market. "This is impossible which is why we have been importing poultry products from Senegal and Europe. Time has come for us to produce our own market although it is expensive."
One way to bail poultry and livestock farmers in The Gambia, charged Mr. Khan, is for the government and financial institutions to give financial support to them. "If government does not support farmers, how can they perform well? The government is the backbone of farmers." He said the high cost of poultry food makes poultry eggs and meat expensive.
Khan underscored the importance of poultry in the country. "Poultry contributes towards Gambia’s socio-economic development and therefore deserve serious investment." Mr. Khan advised poultry farmers to interact and share information relating to their business. "It is only fools will sit down in their corners and say they will make a good development," he charge.
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Ecowas To Introduce Common External Tariff
By Gibril MS Jassey
Member states of the Economic Community of West African, Ecowas, last week held a three-day meeting in Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul to discus possibilities of introducing a common external tariff on inter-state road transit.
The meeting which was attended by experts from six Ecowas members countries will be making presentation and discussion on state reports on the adoption of the common external tariff. The Banjul meeting is also meant to create a solid framework necessary for the launching of the tariff on May 28th as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the sub-regional grouping.
Participants of the Banjul workshop held discussions on presentations on agriculture and harmonization of bi-lateral trade agreement.
According to Mr. Ryan Wash of USAID, US government is proud to be associated with Eowas towards actualizing ISRT which will reduce the difficulty encountered by traders. He added that the ISRT will not only facilitate free movement of goods and services alone, but also foster healthy competition among Ecowas states.
In his keynote address, Permanent Secretary at Department of Statement for Trade, Industry and Employment, Tamsir Manga said alongside other states, The Gambia participated in promoting cooperation and integration within the region in 1975, thus leading to the establishment of ECOWAS. "The vision and motivation was to raise the living standards of our peoples, ensure economic growth, faster relations among members, thus, as one entity to contribute towards the progress and development of the continent," he said.
He said greater integration within Ecowas member has led to the adoption of a common external tariff.
Some may asked whether ISRT will be applicable in a region where countries differ in economic size and levels of development and industrialization, but Mr. Manga is upbeat saying "difference of terrain is an added incentive to work together for common interests and benefits. We are a vibrant market but the inter-Ecowas trade is just at 15% of the region total trade."
Before the introduction of the tariff, Ecowas states need to classification of products as well as beef up sensitisation of their citizens. Besides, the rates of the tariff should be in line with the objectives of National Economic Polices especially in the areas of Taxation, Trade and Industry in member countries.
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Lamin Nooran Tourney In Progress
The annual Nooran football tournament in Lamin village, which kicked off recently, is in progress at the town's football field.
In last week fixture, Wayeto defeated Highwall 2-0 in a well-contested game.
In the second game of the week, Outlaw FC humiliated Bala Family 4-1.The following day, Stone Boys beat Dutabakoto 2-1.
In the last game of the week, Word Star drew 1-1 with Gam United.
Meanwhile, to intensify competition within the tournament, the organisers of the Nooran have decided to be selecting every week a best player and honor him with the title "Star of the week".
For this week, Zack Obega of Wayeto FC was named ‘Star of the week’.
Zack Obega, a student of Saint Peter’s Senior Secondary School, scored two goals for his team in the first and second game, after coming in as a substitute.
The organisers of the Nooran also expressed their happiness, as the tournament has so far not faced any discipline problem.
"There have not been any push and pull at any given time and we hope and pray that it will continue this way", said one of the organisers.
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Plantiff Testifies In MRC Legal Battle
by Lamin Njie
As the legal battle between Medical Research Council, MRC, and its workers union members continues in High Court, the vice president of the union, Momodou Jarjue testified before Justice Izuako on Monday.
He produced cassettes he had claimed to have recorded at the MRC disciplinary proceedings in which he (Jarjue) and colleague, Alieu Faal were dismissed.
The first plaintiff told the court that the cassettes were the original records of the proceedings of the said MRC disciplinary meeting.
At this juncture, the defense counsel applied for the court to allow him go with the cassette so that he could listen to it. This, he argued, would allow him to compare the transcribed version of the said meeting. "This will at least satisfy me to be accurate," he said.
The case has been dragging in the courts since May 2003. The aggrieved men are also claiming damages plus 25 percent interest.
The case was adjourned to May 18, 2005 for continuation.
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Nigga 1 Drags Lawyer OD Mbye To Court
by Dawda Faye
Lawyer OD Mbye recently appeared before Magistrate Kebba Sanyang of Kanifing over a land dispute he had with Musa Joof alias Nigga 1.
In his testimony, Nigga 1 told the court that in April 1998 Lawyer Tambedou directed him to Lawyer OD Mbye who wanted to buy a land. He said Mbye informed him about a land in Kotu belonging to his friend called Honourable Abdoulie Bojang. "Before buying, I asked him to produce the documents," Nigga informed the court. He added that after being shown a leased property by the defendant, he was satisfied.
According to him, the defendant asked him to pay D120, 000 for the said empty land but they finally agreed on D80, 000. "I have paid D80, 000 through his attorney, Lawyer Tambedou."
Upon visiting the said land in January after his return from Oslo, Nigga 1 told the court, the defendant prepared the documents. However, he (Nigga 1) had never seen the said Honourable Abdoulie Bojang during the transactions.
At this juncture, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe applied that the two settle the case out of court. This application was granted by Magistrate Sanyang who ordered the two parties to report back to him late. Mrs. Mendy represented OB Mbye.
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