*Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue* *Issue No. 34/2006, 4-7 May, 200**6* *Editorial* ** YANKUBA AND THE GROUNDNUT TRADE A Radio Gambia Programme, Weekend News update, conducted by Malick Jones, at which the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Mr. Yankuba Touray, was a guest, gave rise to a controversy, which deserves comment. Reacting to a proposal that Government should be engaged in the purchase of the groundnuts so that Farmers will be paid for their nuts on time and proper arrangements made for the timely evacuation of nuts. In response SOS Touray noted that this arrangement is welcome but it cannot be implemented because the Government does not have the means. He pointed out that the purchasing of groundnuts involves a lot and requires a lot of investment, possibly from D300 million to D600 million. For this reason the Government should only act as facilitators and allow the private sector to do it. SOS Touray has forgotten or does not know that Social Security had spent D45 million in purchasing Ocean Bay Hotel and more than D300 million in refurnishing it. He has ignored the fact that Government had facilitate a loan for Premier Agro to purchase nuts which they did not pay fully after the end of the trade season. Furthermore, during last year's trade season the Government arranged for Social Security to serve as a guarantor for a loan of D120 million dalasis to GAMCO. Up till recently this loan had not yet been fully repaid. Still further this year the Government facilitated the provision of credit facilities for The Gambia Groundnut Cooperation amounting to D35 million for the purchase of Groundnuts. In short, the State cannot purchase nuts and the private sector is yet to come up with adequate finance to purchase the groundnuts. This is why, in spite of renewed promises year after year, credit buying always prevails in the groundnut trade. As it stands, many farmers are yet to be paid for groundnuts, which they supplied in some cases since December 2005. The SOS, according to reports by a local newspaper, had made a firm promise that by the end of April 2006 all farmers would have been paid. Today is the 4 th May 2006 and a good proportion of farmers are yet to be paid. They continue to languish in poverty, misery and degradation as the Executive continue to mismanage the economy. SOS Touray's statement is a clear testimony that the regime is not in a position to solve the problems of the masses. DENTON DENIED ACCESS TO COUNSELS Lawyer Ousainou Darboe has informed this paper that they are yet to have access to their client, Mariam Denton, who is currently incarcerated at the Mile Two Central Prison. Mr. Darboe said Neneh Cham Chongan went to Mile Two Prison on Tuesday to see Mariam Denton, but the Prison wardens had told her that they have not been given the green light to allow her to meet her client. "We will see what to do. We will have consultation amongst ourselves," Darboe remarked. A recent court ruling has made it categorically clear that the detainee has the right to have access to a counsel of their choice. Denton is the most senior female member of the Bar Association. She has defended some of those who were found liable by the Paul commission. She was arrested following the abortive coup, which led to the arrest of prominent figures. Efforts to reach the Director General of Prison's on phone bore naught. * * SERGEANT MENDY'S FAMILY EXPRESS SHOCK *By Fabakary B. Ceesay* Sergeant Buba Mendy of The Gambia National Army has gone missing several weeks ago. His family members expressed surprise that he has not been seen for a long time. They said Mendy has not been working before the 21st of March 2006. A family source said Buba's absence from work was due to an accident he had with a motorbike. He resumed work two weeks after the foiled coup and continued working up to Friday 14th April 2006 when his family last saw him. According to a source, the Sergeant has never been absent from home for weeks, but his long absence this time, is worrying. The family source added that a family member went to the Tourism Development Area military post to ask the soldiers about his where about. The source noted that upon arrival at the post, their family member asked a female soldier about Mendy's where about, but the female soldier told her that Mendy was out, noting the soldier was quick to tell the family member not to bother to wait for him. The source noted that a senior army officer asked the family member whether they heard anything concerning Mendy, and when the family member replied in the negative, the officer then advised their family member to go home and relax. The source indicated that their family member tried several phone calls to talk to Mendy, but to no avail. The source expressed dismay over the failure of Mendy's soldier friends for not visiting the family since Mendy went missing. "They had always visited us; some times with Mendy himself," the source said. Sergeant Buba Mendy was said to have been enlisted in the Army in 1990. When this reporter went to the TDA Army Post to enquire about Sergeant Mendy from his colleagues, he was told that Sergeant Mendy was with them there but they cannot tell what actually happened to him and they don't know why he is absent from work all this time: Foroyaa contacted the Army Public Relation Officer (PRO), Lt Lamin Gano, who said that he did not know anything concerning Sergeant Mendy and that he did not know him personally. * * PRESS FREEDOM DAY *By Sarjo Camara Singhateh * Below is a press release from the Gambia Press Union: May 3rd each year is a day celebrated internationally to take stock and promote freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is not only enshrined in our constitution, it is contained in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights. Section 25(1) (a) of our constitution shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media." We can express ourselves in various ways - such as speech. writing, art, gesticulation, mannerism or any other form of communication. The media (either print or electronic) is a means of mass communication through which any person or group of persons can communicate with the public in general. The media therefore is fundamental to any civilized society. It is not surprising that the constitution stipulates, "the freedom and independence of the press and other information media are hereby guaranteed." On this occasion The Gambia Press Union (GPU) regrets to state that the press in the Gambia has faced and continuous to face lot of problems, namely (a) Repeated arrests and detention of journalists from the print media (b) Sealing of media houses by the state security services without court order e.g. Citizen FM, Sud FM and Independent newspaper. (c) Several assaults on journalists, which led to the untimely death of Deyda Hydara e.g. the Independent press offices radio one FM. Embrima Sillah and Alieu bah's houses, (d) Arson attacks on media houses and the premises of journalists (e) A hostile altitude by the executive towards the independent press. We therefore take this occasion to call on the government (1) Engage in dialogue with the media. (2) Stop the unwarranted arrest and detention of journalists and the sealing of media houses. In particular they should release Lamin Fatty of the Independent newspaper who is still detained or take him to court. . (3) They should unseal all media houses and allow them operate. (4) To step up their efforts on investigations into all pending cases relating to the assaults on journalists, * * WORKERS CLAMOUR FOR N/A SEAT *By Annia Gaye* The Gambia Workers Union has urged the government to nominate workers' representatives to the country's National Assembly and municipal councils. In their view, such a move will strengthen the social dialogue and participation of workers in national policymaking; they said this will enhance the protection and promotion of the dignity of workers. Speaking during the Workers' Day celebration at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Ebrima Garba Cham remarked that the prices of basic commodities have increased greatly while salaries have not increased by the same amount or percentage. He said the Workers' Union has recommended to the Secretary of State for the Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment a general salary increase of 200 % across the board to all categories of workers excluding Secretaries of State. He said this will contribute remarkably in alleviating poverty and will also help the poor pensioners. The Workers' Union also urged the trade secretary to establish a taskforce to address the situation. At The National Assembly *Halifa Sallah* *On Education* Hon. Speaker, we also presume that affordability has been addressed, but the reality is that the number of pupils who are going into the private schools because of the lack of space in the public schools is increasing. Hon. Speaker, you would found these private schools charging D4, 000, D5, 000 or D6000 per annum, to be paid as fees.** How many of these poor parents can afford to pay these colossal sums of money? I'm sure, many of the National Assembly Members here are constantly receiving young people asking for sponsor or scholarship in order to continue their studies. Hon. Speaker, the issue of drop outs has not been addressed. We should not continue to speculate that the problem is only the issue of quality and relevance. The issue of accessibility and affordability is still fundamental in our educational system. Hon. Speaker, for girls' education in Banjul and Kanifing Municipal Council area, it is said that there is free education for girls in urban areas of this country in terms of fees, but the rest would be shouldered by parents. The reality is that, most parents are beginning to see that there is no free education for girls and that they as parents are shouldering greater and greater responsibility to educate their daughters. So it is important to look at this issue critically, and from my own perspective, education is a system, and in that system, the structure needs to be provided, the learning materials needs to be provided and the teachers are to be provided. The absence of learning materials poses greater danger to our educational system. And yet we have people with knowledge in the service and some retired. There was a book production unit. All we needed was a system of weighing what the curriculum is, identify people even on competitive basis who would want to provide the materials and engage them to provide the materials for our school system. Then Hon. Speaker, we would put an intellectual cadre in the country who would be able to address all sectors of our educational system and therefore we would take charge of our destiny by producing the learning materials needed in our schools. And unless we do that Hon. Speaker, the issue of quality and relevance would not be addressed. Hon. Speaker, if you go to the University and see the textbooks, Hon. Speaker the importation of these books is actually increasing the cost of education and is undermining the development of education. *On PMO* Hon. Speaker, the Personal Management Office used to be the spot of first call for people who graduated from high schools and junior secondary schools. They would go and write applications to see whether there is a place for employment. But today, if you go into our school system and ask the vast majority of the students the question: - if you finish and obtain your certificates, what would you do next? They would not be able to tell you. All these young people are looking for relatives and friends who can help them to be able to get a job. There is no system in place! Essentially, the personal management office should be the spot of first call so that those who graduate would go and make an application, then we should be able to evaluate the potential of all those people who applied and see the places that are available. They can also be able to trace the employment level in the country. They would be able to tell those who are employed and those not employed. This will also help in the type of training that would be necessary. But that is not the function that the PMO is serving and I want to emphasize very empathetically that the role of the PMO should charge to open up to people who are coming out of our school system so that they will be able to go and register. We can then see ultimately what to do with those with potential and what to do with the statistics in terms of planning. *On Agriculture*** Hon. Speaker, if we go straight to agriculture at page 13, the president said that out of the total estimates production of groundnuts this year, the commercial crop is estimated to be 30, 000 metric tons. In seasonal paper No.1 of 2005 at page 4, the president indicated that in consonance with the recommendations of the study, the Gambia Agricultural Marketing Company (GAMCO) was established and as at 24 th February 2005, this company has disbursed D250 million as crop finance to the cooperative societies and marketing agents. In this connection so far, about 32, 000 metric tons of groundnuts have been purchased. Hon. Speaker, we are been told that GDP has increased because of the increases in groundnut production and here, we are told that we bought more groundnuts last year than what is available this year. That is really a concern! How can there be an increase in GDP because of the increase in groundnut production if we could purchase 30, 000 tons this year while last year we purchase 32, 000 tons? Hon. Speaker, it is important for us to see that there is statistical *jiggery* and we need to become critical of the figures we receive in this National Assembly. Hon. Speaker, we are told tat GAMCO has all the capacity to purchase the groundnuts of the farmers, but here we are told by the president that "*overall, more than 10, 000 metric tons representing 33 percent of groundnuts have already been purchased by GAMCO and GGC. Arrangements for the complete financing of the remaining tonnage are far advanced and it is expected that by the end of the trade season all the nuts will be purchased."* So it means that they do not have capacity to purchase the groundnuts of the farmers. This is what we have been told! What is also very evident Hon. Speaker is that we have been told in this National Assembly that GAMCO has to get loan from Guarantee Trust Bank to the tune of D120 million, guaranteed by the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) and that public corporations have invested in GAMCO as shares amounting to D57 million. That was last year! So how can this company at this very stage, this year, lack the capacity to purchase the groundnuts of the farmers? What happened last year with the profits gained? Where is the money that was meant for crop financing? But Hon. Speaker we are still being told that funds for crop financing is being sought, to help these companies to purchase the groundnuts of the farmers. I think we need to look into this very critically. We expect companies to really carry on what is expected of them. Hon. Speaker, we have seen the stage of the economy. We have been told that because of proper macro-economic management we are envisaging more grants and more benefits from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). But Hon. Speaker, we have been told clearly by the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs in his budget speech that we have not managed well. At page 10, paragraph 52 of the budget speech, the Secretary of State indicated that " *the end of 2005 marks the completion of the Gambia's first Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), implementation cycle of 3 years. The implementation process has been hindered by a number of setbacks that has made the overall PRSP process less successful. The most serious setback was the suspension of the PRGF program by the IMF in 2003 and because of the program suspension; the Gambia could not reach HIPC completion point as planned in June 2003, as reaching completion point is conditional on satisfactory implementation of a PRGF. The second setback which was a direct result of the PRGF suspension was that US$115 million funds pledged by donors during the 2002 Geneva Round Table Conference on the Gambia was not disbursed.*" The Secretary of State is emphasizing here and we must bear that in mind that implementation of PRSP programmes was undertaken with a lower than anticipated budgetary resources envelop. Consequently, less than 40 percent of the PRSP programme has been implemented. So we must bear in mind Hon. Speaker that we must engage in proper financial management. To improve agriculture Hon. Speaker, it is mentioned that NARI is doing well. But Hon. Speaker, if you look at the estimates, and you look at the allocation to NARI, especially on the area of field study, you would discover that the allocation on field study has been reduced from D100, 000 (one hundred thousand dalasis) to D60, 000 (sixty thousand dalasis). So how can anybody say that there is commitment to the development of agriculture! The same D12, 500, 000.00 (twelve million five thousand dalasis) that was allocated to NARI in 2005, is the same this year. So where is the commitment to improve agriculture? *WORKS ON SERREKUNDA – MANDINA -BA ROAD WILL BE FINISH SOON* * Nathalie Guerra* Most roads in The Gambia are in poor condition. Many roads projects are going on, but the constructors are facing a lot of difficulties. At the north bank the road from Barra to Kerewan is finished. The construction of the road from Kerewan to Farafenni (59 km) started in may 2005 and if everything goes like planned Mr. Lamin Sanneh, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of State for Works and Construction, hopes it will be finished in June of this year. The financing of the roads happened through funds received from the I.D.B. (Islamic Development Bank) and the Gambian government. Present plans include a trunk road from Farafenni to Lamin Koto over a distance of 104 km. This project started three years ago but is delayed because the contractors faced problems with finding the right materials. The road should be finished around July 2006. The Arabic Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Kuwait, OPEC and the Gambian government are the donors. Studies, financed by Kuwait, are going on to define the road project to connect Georgetown with the Eastern part of the country. As soon as enough donors are found, the contractors will start to build this road. Mr Sanneh hopes this will be by the end of August of this year. The situation of the roads of the South Bank is worse. At the moment, two projects are going on: the construction of the road from Serrekunda to Mandina Ba and the construction of the road from Mandina Ba to Soma. The latest started three months ago and Mr Sanneh says it will take approximately three years to be finished. The contractor for this road project is M.A Kharafi. The construction of the road from Serrekunda to Mandina Ba started 6 years ago, and is not completed yet. The road covers a distance of 28 km. The contractor is C.S.E. (Compagnie de Sahel d´Entreprise). The donors are the I.D.B., OPEC and the Gambia government. According to Mr. Sanneh it took so long because the scoop of the works increased as they faced organisation problems with the contractor. The construction of a road in a crowded urban area brings a lot of practical problems. The first consultant, UNITEC, is replaced by STUDI international. Mr. Sanneh things the road will be finished in June of this year. At the moment, works are progressing well. They are working on the sidewalks; the pavement of the roads, the street- and traffic light's and within two weeks the asphalt works can start. Mr Karamo Jaiteh, the Acting Deputy Director of the Department of State for Works and Construction, confirms they faced many problems concerning the construction of the road from Serrekunda to Mandina Ba. Studies for this road started in 1994 and in 2000 construction works took place. The main problem was the funding of the project. To solve the funding problem, more donors had to be searched. It took one year to write and send letters to institutions that might become donors. During this time, the construction of the road stopped and the prices rose. They started with a budget of 92 million dalasi, but in the meantime, a budget of 160 million dalasis is needed to complete the works. The first consultant UNITEC would not proceed because the budget became too high, and another consultant had to be found. The project was split into two phases: the consultant UNITEC completed phase 1. Phase 2 was under consultancy of STUDI International. The donors of this project are the I.D.B., OPEC and the Gambia government. Other problems they had to deal with are the organisation problems with C.S.E. Also most construction materials are imported from neighbouring countries and often problems with the ferry occurred to get the materials on time. Mr. Karamo stresses the fact that all services like old water pipes; cables for electricity and telephone had to be taken out and removed to replace them by new ones. But at the moment, he is positive about the evolution of the works: "the production is going faster and the organisation of works has become better. Once we finished the road in the crowded urban area, the works will speed up. I think at least within two months the construction of the road will be finished." *OPERATION CLEAN THE NATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION* The monthly Operation Cleans the Nation, initiated and implemented by the Head of State in an effort to clean our Environment, is also said to be characterised by another Environmental pollution. The pollution of the Greater Banjul Area, after the Saturday Operation Clean the Nation, has compelled so many residents to speak to Foroyaa in an effort to express their concern, regarding the Nature of Pollution that they normally experienced after the exercise. According to one Bintu Kujabi, a resident of Talinding Sicap, who lives close to a mechanic garage, every time there is Operation Clean the Nation, the people at the garage take advantage of it to burn their old tyres pretending that they are also cleaning their Environment. She remarked that the burning of their tyres results to the emission of tick black smoke which she said, could lead to heart and chronic chest infections that could be very detrimental to human health. Another woman, a resident of Ebo Town, also complained about the smoke that is they are exposed to after the Saturday Operation Clean the Nation exercise in the following words: "Though our environ is seen to be cleared, the smoke that is emitted is killing us. I think something needs to be done to address this situation; otherwise our health will be at risk. However, in my view, Enronmental Management does mean merely sweeping and burning rubbish. The people must be educated first to know that they are responsible for the improvement of the degrading Environment and therefore they need to cooperate fully in order to sustainably manage the Environment. For instance, before we think of managing our waste, we have to put the issue of waste creation in to consideration. That means the people need to be sensitised regarding their attitude towards the creation of waste. The Government and organisations also dealing with the management of the Environment should also make sure that all unsustainable patterns of production be totally rejected through an Environment Impact Assassinate, EIA." It could be recalled that some years ago waste management was much less of a problem; food and goods were wrapped in natural materials – banana and other leaves and occasionally newspapers. Clay pots were also used instead of bottles. These materials would quickly decay and be absorbed into the soil. But today much of what is available to us comes wrapped in plastic, in tin cans or plastic bottles. These materials are strong, light and cheap to manufacture but they can take a longtime to break down. Therefore, the attitudinal change towards the creation of waste through sensitisation is the most important issue that the people need to focus on rather than cleaning our environment just to realise another environmental pollution. *SOS BALA GAYE CLARIFIES* *Abdoulie G Dibba* SOS Bala Gaye has indicated that the external Auditors of the Central Bank, Deloitte and Touche. Gambia Ltd, have completed the audit of the financial statements of the Central Bank of The Gambia for the years ending 31stDecember 2003 and 2004. SOS Gaye made this statement when the minority leader Halifa Sallah asked him to throw light on the results of external auditing of the Central Bank and to further clarify whether the Bank's authorities are aware of their obligation to submit annual reports of activities and reports to the National Assembly. He went further to indicate that the results of the Auditors expressed qualified opinions on both audits. He said Auditors usually qualify their opinions if either of the following situations exists and the Auditor concludes that the effect of the matter is material: There is limitation on the scope of the Audit; there is a disagreement with management relating to accounting policies; adequacy of disclosures. SOS Gaye said that "Deloitte and Touche. Gambia Ltd's" qualified opinion on the basis of a limitation was not material and pervasive as to require a disclaimer of opinion or an adverse opinion. SOS Bala Gaye pointed out that the Central Bank of The Gambia is well aware of its obligation to submit annual report of its Activities and Business to the National Assembly under section 162 (10) of the constitution. It is in that spirit he said, that the bank has attached copies of the annual reports for 1999 and 2000. He said the annual reports for the subsequent years shall be submitted to the National Assembly in due course. * * *FOROYAA PANORAMA *** *WITH THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR DORETTA LOSCHELDER* In this edition of Panorama, our columnist interviewed the ambassador to the Republic of Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. She did throw light on her career as a diplomat. Foroyaa: Could you give a brief history of your education background? Interviewee: After my high school education in Bonn (Germany), I started law in Bonn in a University in Southern Germany. I got a scholarship from the German Government to go the Ecole National del' administration in Paris. It is an administrative school in France. At that time, there was an agreement between Germany and France for The German Government to send young people in ENA for training. ENA is an elite school for administrators. Most of the people in the French Government passed through this school. Chirae and Doming Devil pein passed through this school. I joined the Foreign Service after my training. Foroyaa: How and when did you join the diplomatic circle? Interviewee: I joined in 1974. That was move than thirty years ago. After studying law, I worked briefly with a solicitor in London and I got a lot of Interest in international Law. I was considering whether to be a lawyer or to go to the judiciary. But finally I though it was best to travel because what I was interested was the Foreign Service where you have broad spectrum of international relations. Foroyaa: How is it like shifting from the legal profession to the diplomatic arena? Interviewee: It helps a lot. I was first posted in Japan. There were lots of legal matters concerning ships that I had to handle. When I was posted to Tel Aviv, I was head of the visa and consular section, which was the biggest section of the embassy. Without being a lawyer, it would have been difficult for me to work there. Foroyaa: In which countries did you work as a diplomat? Interviewee; The first country was Japan. I went to Israel, then I was posted to peking (China), in between I went to Germany to serve in the foreign Ministry. I started my African career ten years ago. In Africa, I was first posted to Burkina Fasso, then I was later posted to Germany to become Chief of Division for Southern Africa. Them I was posted to Kinshasa as ambassador for 4 years. From there, I was ported to Dakar. Foroyaa: What was your experience in Burkina Fasso like? Interviewee: Well it was something new for me. It was the first time I had to professionally deal with economic corporation, which before was not the subject I dealt with. One of the things I like most in Burkina Fasso is the hospitality of the people. I still have contacts and friends in Burkina Fassa. Foroyaa; what does your work entail? Interviewee: The main focus is the bilateral relations between Germany and the countries I deal with. That is to say the political dialogue between Germany and those countries. For instance, last week we organised a football match between a group of Senegalese who had scholarships in Germany and members of the embassy. This is also part of the bilateral relation. What is attractive in this profession is that you deal with a variety of issues. You deal with issues that are difficult and unpleasant, but you also deal with pleasant issues. Foroyaa: What is the most interesting thing about your job? Interviewee: The big variety of subjects. It entails a lot of diplomatic work, but you make interesting contacts during your career. You have the opportunity to meet a lot of people, know a country and the culture of its people more than if you go to a country as a tourist. Foroyaa: What are your challenges? Interviewee: In this region, the focus is on economic corporation in a broader sense. This is a challenge because we have to work to make sure that our work is as successful as possible. Also not only in the interest of the countries directly concerned but also in our own interest. Lets take example of Congo for instance. The whole international community (Germany as part of the community) has interest in the Congo, which has the biggest forest in the world. It is of great importance for the climatic changes that the forest there is preserved. That war and illegal destruction of the forest will harm the environment and affect the whole world. Germany is very much dependent on exports. We have interest to have partners in Africa and the whole world that we could have normal economic relations with. The big challenge is the question of human rights, which is universal and indivisible. Foroyaa: What problems do you often have from visa applicants? Interviewee: People sometimes for tourist visa to go and have a short stay and come back. But they go and they don't come back; they try to stay there illegally or they go to other schengen countries. This poses a serious problem. Foroyaa: What are the consequencies of staying illegally? Interviewee: They would be expelled back to the country they come from. They will not also be in a position to work on the basis that they are staying illegally. This might be dangerous, because they would try to find a job, but the job will not be protected. People with suspicious background will give them work and exploit them they would not also have access to medical care. ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤