Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue

Issue No. 011/2009, 28-29 January, 2009

Editorial:

RE-INSTATE
THE LECTURER BEFORE IT BECOMES A PUBLIC MATTER!!

Foroyaa has reliably learnt that a Lecturer on
Development Studies at the University of the Gambia has been given a dismissal
letter after the recent graduation ceremonies. We are also informed that no
reason is given for the dismissal. We are informed that discussion is taking
place between different stakeholders to reconsider the decision. We will
therefore withhold the name of the lecturer until our next issue and publish
the details if the matter is not resolved by then.

If such a dismissal stands it will mark a poor
beginning for the Gambianisation of the University and anybody who is
interested in the reputation of the University of the Gambia should be ready to work for
the reversal of the decision. It is absolutely essential to reverse such a
decision if the University is to earn integrity on an International basis. A
university is not a National Institution. The degrees the students acquire must
be acknowledged internationally if they are to be of significance.

One may now ask: Why should there be reinstatement
without pre-condition?

The answer is simple. The University of the Gambia
is the apex academic institution of the Land. Those who head it have the
obligation to prove through their actions that they have knowledge and would
not do any thing which may manifest a gross display of ignorance or gross
disregard for professional integrity. The institutions of the University must
be made to work and those who are to exercise control and direction over its
affairs must abide by the dictates of law and conscience. They should be
willing to face the executive and tell it the truth regardless of the peril or
the cost. This is what heads of Universities are made of. They must be protective
of their staff and the climate to promote academic freedom. This is the only
way they should be able to convince any political leader that they are fit to
train those who will be able to serve the nation without fear or favour,
affection or ill will.

Suffice it to say that the constitution is clear on
the rights of public officers. It states that

"no public servant shall be

(a) victimized or discriminated against either
directly or indirectly for having discharged his or her other duties faithfully
and according to law; or

(b) be removed from office or reduced in rank or
otherwise punished without just cause."

Furthermore,
the University of the Gambia
is very clear who should appoint and remove members of the Academic staff. The
Chancellor has no power to appoint or remove Academic staff. Section 7 of the
University of the Gambia Act states that

(1) "The Chancellor of the University is the titular
head of the University.

Where is
Jarsaja Kujabi?

Family Anxious to Know

By Fabakary B. Ceesay

The family members of Sarja Kujabi, aka Jarsaja
of Foni Dobong, who disappeared more than three years ago, said they are too
anxious to know the whereabouts of their family head. They said the
disappearance of their bread winner is causing both economic and psychological
havoc within his family of four wives and fourteen children.

According to the family, Mr. Kujabi was picked up by
two plain clothes State agents, whom they identified as Ousman Tamba and M.L
Badjie, a driver at the NIA. They said that Jarsaja was found working at his
farm on the highway at his home village
of Dobong in the Foni
Kansala District of Western Region. According to the family, Jarsaja was told
by those who came for him that he was urgently needed by the president. They
added that he was in a happy mood and even requested them to take him home to
change his clothes as he was in his farming clothes.

"Since the rainy season of 2005, we have never set our
eyes on our dear family head. We did not
even know where they took him. We did everything we can to establish his
whereabouts but to no avail," says one of the aggrieved family members.

The family members lamented the anguish and suffering
that the disappearance of Jarsaja has brought them. They said that the entire
members of the extended family of Jarsaja are affected in one way or the other
by his disappearance. They prayed for divine intervention to help in the
release of their husband, father, brother and uncle.

Mr Jarsaja Kujabi was at one point a bigwig of the
ruling APRC party in the Fonis and reportedly very close to president Jammeh.
He is an elder brother to the former NIA director, Abdoulie Kujabi.

When Foroyaa
got in touch with the NIA concerning the issue of Jarsaja, they said they do
not know his whereabouts. On a previous occasion, the Police had also said that
they don't have him in their custody.

A New Political Party Registered

By Abdoulie Dibba

A new political party called Gambia Moral Congress
(GMC) has been registered as a bona fide political party in the Gambia
according to a Press Release from the Independence Electoral Commission (IEC).

The leader of the party cum national executive
chairman is Barrister Mai M.K Fatty. According to the release, the colour of
the party is RED and the symbol is eight white stars. Seven of the stars
represent the seven regions of the Gambia while the other star
represents the unity of the people. The motto of the party is People for Human
Rights and Economic Justice.

Mr. Fatty was born at Taibatu
Village in Wuli West constituency in
the Upper River

Region. He is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme
Court of the Gambia.
He worked with Amie Bensouda before setting up his law firm. He rose to
prominence after he successfully defended Ebrima Barrow who was standing trial
along side Dumo Saho, Lieutenant Omar Darboe, Lieutenant Lalo Jaiteh, and
Ebrima Yarboe who were accused of treason. He was later involved in a serious
accident and was airlifted to Dakar
for treatment By the time of going press, Mr. Mai Fatty could not be reached
for comment. Foroyaa will get in touch
with Mr. Fatty for an interview and inform our readers accordingly.

Codex Finalises Draft Strategic Plan

Ousman Sillah

A one day finalization workshop for the draft
Strategic Plan, developed by the National Codex/ Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Committee (SPS) or NCC, was held on

Wednesday, 21 January, 2009, at the NaNA Conference
hall at Mile 7 in Bakau.

In his introductory statement, Dr. Omar Touray,
Chairperson of the NCC, told

participants
that the meeting is primarily organised to enable the Codex members and other
stakeholders to come together to review the current five-year draft Strategic
Action Plan for food safety and SPS (animal and plant health)

issues in the country. He said the participants are
basically required to add value to the document that has been prepared by the
NC/SPS Committee for the past years by incorporating the information gained in
the Competent Authorities workshop held in November 2008, the experiences of
all the stakeholders present and any other feedback in order to finalize the
draft Strategic Plan. He said the draft finalization forum is very important.

Dr. Touray pointed that following the finalization and
adoption of the Plan by the NC/SPS Committee, the document will first be
submitted to the National Nutrition Council, headed by the Vice President of
the republic and including other relevant government departments and other
stakeholders, and later presented to the Cabinet and National Assembly fro
endorsement in early 2009.

The NCC Chairperson also informed the participants
about the other activities

that are planned for January and February 2009, which
include a public hearing on Standards on Oils and Edible Fats to be held in
collaboration with the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), and inviting Banjul
City Council (BCC) as well as Brikama Area Council and a workshop for media
practitioners.

He said that in 2008 the NCC had agreed on the number
of international Codex meetings in which The Gambia will be represented and the
participation.

In his welcoming address, Mr. Pa Modou Cheyassin
Phall, the newly confirmed Executive Director of the National Nutrition Agency
(NaNA) and CODEX Focal person, reiterated the importance of the finalization
workshop on the draft Strategic Plan.

He said 'It has been a long journey and we have come
to the end.'

Mr. Phall pointed that the process has started since
2006 and that so much efforts, ideas and energy have been invested in the work.
He thanked all the members of the Codex and its Chair, the other stakeholders
as well as the FAO Consultant for their commitment and immense input over the
years that leads to the development of the strategic action plan which is being
finalised.

He applauded the NCC members for their high sense of
commitment and dedication to national duty and describing the Committee as
exceptional and worthy of emulation as well as being a household name now.

For her part, the FAO Consultant, Ms. Londa Vandewald,
pointed that she is proud to be associated with the NCC. She said that the
CODEX Committee in The Gambia is far ahead of similar bodies in other countries
in terms of perspective, work and focus.

Ms. Vandewald, who has been in The Gambia for two
months now, said that the NCC applied for and was awarded a small awarded a
small FAO project to implement an integrated 'Biosecurity; approach to food
safety, animal and plant health. She said project activities were initiated in
October 2008, with a Biosecurity capacity needs assessment carried out by her
and a stake holders workshop held on 16
October ( marking World Food Day ) to raise awareness on the concept of
Biosecurity and fro participants to contribute their input on the Strategic
Plan. The FAO Consultant acknowledged the significance of the Competent
Authorities workshop held in November and which, she said, identified and
discussed the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOTs).

Masami Takeuchi, FAO expert on Food Safety, said her
organisation is now practicing the bio-security approach and that they are
introducing the concept to other countries. She cited Bhutan as a
country that has been successful in implementing this approach and hoped that
The Gambia too will succeed in its efforts. Ms. Takeuchi promised to work
towards securing assistance from FAO to support 6 countries, including The
Gambia, in their efforts to attain bio-security and food standards.

Following the presentation of the draft document by
Mr. Malang Fofana, Senior Programme Officer at NaNA and NCC Secretary, the
participants broke into four specialised working groups to review and finalize
the Strategic Action Plan on Food Safety and animal and plant health for The
Gambia from 2009 to 2013.

20 Journalists Trained on Court Reporting

By Fabakary B. Ceesay

Twenty journalists specialed on court reporting are
currently undergoing a training funded by the National Commission for
UNESCO-NATCOM through the Media Agenda. The training is taking place at the
Gambia Press Union Offices in Bakau.

In his
keynote address, the Judicial Secretary, office of the Chief Justice, Mr.
Haruna Jaiteh, stated that he understood that the training package for court
reporters is the first of its kind, adding "Is both significant and timely".
Mr. Jaiteh said judging from the number of participants, it is clear that the
Gambian media nurtures considerable interest in court matters. Jaiteh posited
that the courts and the press are two necessary partners and complementary
pillars in the whole governance enterprise. "The relationship
between the courts and the press is a simple one way traffic, the press
transmits the cases to the public," said Jaiteh.

Going further, Mr. Jaiteh pointed out that the moral
responsibility of the press has been succinctly outlined in the holy Quran in
chapter 5 (Al Maida), where God made himself very clear in authorizing the
publication of the first murder case in human existence. He added that God
enjoined the reporter, the prophet Muhammad (SAW), to in these words, "Recite/report
to them (the readers) the story of the two sons of Adam with truth". Jaiteh
added that God had made emphasis on this point and went on to add in another
"Surah" that, "There is nothing besides the truth save falsehood". Mr. Jaiteh
indicated that the holy Quran clearly set the tone and standard for all
journalists and pressmen covering all spheres of human activity.

Mr. Jaiteh posited that the overall aim of the courts
in administering justice is to maintain the rule of law by adhering to the due
process of law. He stated that due to those reasons, the courts are open and
transparent institutions that perform their duties within full public view. He
asserted that the press has become the interface between the courts and the
public, adding, "Is not a simple task". He indicated that to serve as an
interface, certain amount of knowledge, skills, ability and behavior is needed.
He said that knowledge of the courts and journalism would certainly be of
immense help, the ability to understand court cases and issues around them are
also very vital, and the skill to effectively communicate and transmit the
facts. Lawyer Assan Martin (former magistrate) in presenting on "What to be
reported in court cases" stated that journalists can attend court proceedings
like the general public. He stated that section 61 of the Criminal
Procedure Code indicated that the judge/magistrate can allow the public access
to the courts but can also make orders not to allow the public or particular
press in the court room. Lawyer Martin indicated that journalists in court
should report the proceedings in a fair manner and should desist from bias
reporting. He added that the names of the judge or the magistrate, the accused
person if an adult, the prosecutor, the witness, evidence of their testimony if
not damaging to national security, the court rulings, decision and sentences
and also any positive remarks by the adjudicating judge or magistrate can be
reported. He added that adjourned cases can also be reported.

Lawyer Martin, pointed out certain things that the
journalists must not do in relation to court matters that includes, reporting
facts that are prejudicial in a case, e.g. "Trial by the Media", pre-empting
the outcome of a case, reporting matters of state secrets as part of our national
defence e.g., a place of arsenal, names of secret agents, only named them as a
security officer and names of victims of rape. He stated that in juvenile
courts under the Children's Act provides the child right to privacy and for
such reasons, trials involving children is held in "Cameras, in chambers or
video link". Martin posited that the children's act prohibits any one to
publish the identity of the child in any matter except by the permission of the
court. He added that the identity of the child includes his/her name, address,
school, names of their parents or guardians. He added that the law seeks to
protect the child as he or she grows to be an adult.

Lawyer Martin indicated that the reporter and the
editor have to make judgment of their publication whether the information
available to them should be in the public domain or whether it has a
prejudicial effect or amounts to contempt of Court.

The Director for Media Agenda, Mr. Madi M.K. Ceesay,
said the important of Courts cannot be over emphasised due to the fact that it
is the fourth arm of the State. He added that what happens in court is only
known to the public through the journalists who is specialized in court
reporting.. He added that that was the reason that's why Media Agenda deems it
necessary to implement this initiative. He said people have also seen the
impact made by court reporters on the press in the Gambia. Mr. Ceesay posited that
court reporters should try to establish links with the judicial authorities to
acquaint themselves with court proceedings to avoid minor errors. He urged the
reporters to form themselves in an association like the Health Journalists
Association, Sports and Human Rights Journalists.

The participants are drawn from both the print and the
electronic media.

THE
FORTHCOMING CELEBRATION OF THE 118 BIRTHDAY CEREMONY OF EDWARD FRANCIS SMALL

This piece is an
answer to the call from the desk of that erudite scholar, Nana Grey-Johnson to
public spirited individuals as well as groups, more so the media fraternity,
Trade unionists and politicians to rise and honour the late Edward Francis
Small. This call came in the run-up to the celebration of his 118 Birthday
anniversary.

The day for the celebration is Thursday 29'" January,
2009, an important day in the calendar for Journalists, Trade Unionists and
Politicians. It is important in the annals of the history of the social and
political evolution of this country.

The day should be observed and feted, being the
birthday anniversary of that illustrious son of The Gambia who at the time of
need, had emerged, as an underdog, giving so much by way of enlightenment,
leadership and civic education to the people of this country during the dark
colonial days.

Edward Francis Small did all these and several others
about which we are going later to be specific, with very little means or
practically nothing. He grappled with a colonial government ,whilst his rivals
wallowed in fortune, and did very little. That made him to be remembered and
singled out as a defender of the people, a patriot, father of Journalism,
father of Trade Unionism and founder of the first political party in The
Gambia.

To have an insight into his work for The Gambia, we
have first to reconstruct the social, economic and political landscape of the
country and put it in perspective. Small was born in 1891.He began a new life
around 1917/18, closing the old era that was dominated by religion and later
facing intrigues which turned his life for a while upside down.

The time in question was when the colonial government
was at its height, known for its rigidity and suspicious of every son of the
soil of being a threat. But they were not interested in ameliorating the living
conditions of the people and not keen for reform. At the time money was in the
hands of only the government and commercial firms, and very little money was
paid as wages to the Gambian white and blue colour workers. This gave rise to
the successful and celebrated first workers strike mounted in Bathurst in 1929.

The social life of the country around that time was
grim, facing poverty, hunger, disease and the attendant factors, bringing to
mind the outbreak of an endemic disease that wiped out half of the population
of Bathurst and the part seriously affected is named 'HALF-DIE, a name that is
in official books up to this day.

The social problem faced was compounded by the
unbridled rivalry among sons of the soil; businessmen and well-to-do
individuals each making a bid to be nomi nated to have a seat in the
country's legislative council.

At the time the masses did not matter. Their numerical
strength and their Civic rights did not count as they had no voting right. What
was of importance was for an individual to show loyalty and allied oneself to
the governor for he and he alone had the power to nominate an individual of his
choice as a member of the legislative council and representative of the people,
whilst the people had no voice in the selection of a political representative
and the composition of the legislature council. Money was being wrested from
them in the name of Rates to pay wages to an all-white expatriate public service.

Amidst all these there was yearning for a leadership,
an effective leadership that would recognize their sufferings and speak for
them. For those at the time in the political arena were self-serving
individuals, seeking contracts and nominations from the hand of the governor.

The wishes of the people were eventually met after an
incident that happened in the protectorate in the town of Balanghar. That changed the course of events
in the political evolution of The Gambia. For it resulted in the emergence of a
leader. A strong leader devoted to the services of the people. He was Edward
Francis Small.

A skeletal descriptive background reminds us that he
was born in Bathurst
in 1891, hundred and eighteen years ago. He accepted an appointment and was
sent by the Methodist mission to the town of Balanghar as a missionary. There he had an
unpleasant incident, exchanging blows with a European trader who felt offended,
he claimed, by being disturbed from his sleep when the bell of the Methodist
Mission chapel there tolled to herald the watchnight service on New Year's Eve.

The Divisional Commissioner at the McCarthy Island
Division at the time, joined the fight, siding his European brother and causing
the removal of Small from Balanngar. At hand-sight, it is believed that there
was more in this than the mere chime of a tolling church bell. It is believed
that the action of these two Europeans involved a case of conspiracy, a
manoeuvre of getting rid of an unwanted person. For no one, especially a
Christian with the love of his religion in his heart can feel offended let
alone having cause to physically assault a church steward tolling a church
bell, more so, when the tolling was the dawning of a New Year. If a church bell
is not tolled within a church premises and at that particular time, where else
will it be tolled? Whilst everybody was jubilating, the trader and the
commissioner apparently had a scheme to fix Edward Francis Small. He apparently
left Balanghar a victim of conspiracy, feeling bitter and

distrustful of colonial rule and its agents. The
question is how many of the likes of Edward Small in The Gambia and elsewhere,
had being subjected to such a conspiracy and treatment by colonial agents? Acts
like this mischief had been rampant during colonial days. People framed,
pilloried and victimized without any justification.

Acts like this and the political, social and the
economic situation all combined emboldened and hardened the likes of Edward
Francis Small. The lookalikes were in all parts of West Africa, Gambia
not the only country that had faced that heinous plot. This was the scenario
when Edward Francis Small threw his hat in the political arena. A seasoned and
a ready man, different from others in all ways, socially, politically, and
mentally. He took the nationalist stance and the populist approach, holding
public meetings and denouncing government measures, allowing aggrieved people a
platform for voicing their grievances. He advocated constitutional and
political advancement and a reduction of the powers of the governor.

All these looked very new in the politics of the time
and very challenging and irritating to a colonial governor. Small as a full
time public figure had no other agenda, all his time was devoted to politics
and he was determined to wage a fulltime struggle against the powers that be. A
strategy he crafted together was a platform of three planks, a political plank,
a Trade Unionist plank and a journalist plank, all lethal weapons, each
galvanizing, sharpening, and re-enforcing the others; weapons he used
intelligently enabling him to call a strike in 1929 which was so successful
that the government and the Employers Association all ran after him begging him
to call off the strike and offering him more than he had demanded.

The public support thus far acquired helped him in
1931 to be the winner of the first direct election to the Gambia's
Legislative Council. The significance of this cannot be over emphasized. It was
the first time a son of the soil along with other rivals contested for a seat in
the Legislative Council, thus breaking an entrenched constitutional tradition
that had existed and used by the governor. In this way he ensured that the only
way the son of the soil could have seat in the Legislative Council was through
his nomination and he was careful in his choice, putting first and foremost the
interest of the colonial government over and above that of the people of the
country.

Edward Small being he winner of more bread and butter
for the public in the strike of 1929, increased his fame and then continued to
be unequalled and called a patriot, a word in the past denoting respectability.

Notwithstanding the fact that newspapers were being
published, according to records, as far back as 1871, twenty years before Small
was born and thereafter, we have not been privileged to set our eyes on the
1871 newspaper and its name is not available; neither did we see any edition of
the newspaper called 'Opinion' published in 1901 in Janjanbureh. We have been
privileged to see copies of the newspaper called. 'The Bathurst Intelligencer'
published in 1898. We even made an extract from a page of that newspaper.

The publishers of those newspapers were Gambians, but
none equalled Edward Small in the eyes of the public. To them and to succeeding
generations, he was a true nationalist, a hero enjoying popularity and fame
that was never extinguished but remained alight at all times. His fame was
exemplified and kept alive by his admirers and supporters by the construction
of an epitaph deep in the heart of Bathurst, now
Banjul, at the
intersection of Clarkson Street,
Albion Place
and Cameron Street.
The epitaph is unfortunately the victim of vandalism.

Small's life ended just like many who came after him.
Poor and a recluse, for their properties were auctioned and sold over their
heads in paying debts incurred by their political supporters. This had been the
lot of politicians of the 19th and 20th centuries. His legacy cannot be counted in
terms of pounds, shillings, and pence. What Small left for the nation was a
printing press called the 'Outlook'. This was inherited by the late M. B.
Jones; the Labour Union was inherited by the late Babou Kebbeh and Dodou
Ceesay; a political party, named, 'The Committee of Gentlemen'; a name borrowed
by the late Idrissa Samba, Kebba Foon and M. B. Jones and used during their
week-end night political broadcast talk. Last but not the least was the spirit
of nationalism generated in every Gambian. We have a lot to be grateful to
Edward Francis Small and leaders that came after; for, without their
steadfastness, their love for the country, this country would have sunk.

This country is fortunate. It has produced a national
icon, an immortal, whose Birthday Anniversary is worth celebrating. But our
merriment and happiness is marred and the chill runs down our spines by the
knowledge that the grave of Edward Francis Small is beginning to cave in where
it has stood since January 1958 when our press hero was buried. Unfortunately
time has worn the stone fabric, and funds are being sought payable to the GPU
or to Nana Grey-Johnson to refurbish and preserve the grave for posterity with
expert tilling.

Is there any Gambian of this generation to doubt that
Edward Francis Small was first in all good deeds relating to public service?

Please help in funding works on his grave.

I will in my next instalment show how I too had
problem in Balanghar with the Divisional Commissioner from 1951 to 1957.

Alhaji Ba Tarawale

(A veteran Journalist)

The
Country Poverty and Employment Study Launched

By Abdoulie Dibba

The Country Poverty and Employment Study report
entitled "Towards and Employment Centre Development Strategy for Poverty
Reduction in the Gambia, Macroeconomic and labour market aspect was on Thursday
22 January 2009 launched at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

In his welcoming remarks, the National Project
Coordinator for GAMJOB Mr. Malang Nyass said the study which resulted in this
report was commissioned under the Gambia priority employment
programme (GAMJOBS) in 2007. He said a draft report was shared at a validation
workshop in July 2008 attended by many stakeholders following which the report
was finalised and now published. Mr. Nyass indicated that the Gambia Priority
Employment Project (GAMJOBS) is the Gambia Government's attempt to operationalize
the National Employment Policy and National Employment Action Plan in response
to increasing unemployment and poverty in the Gambia particularly among youth and
women. The project he said is launched with support from ILO and UNDP in 2007.
The overall objective of GAMJOBS Mr. Nyass said is to create an enabling
environment for employment creation through development of skilled, versatile,
dynamic and efficient workforce thereby creating opportunities for wages and
self employment in both the formal and informal economy within the context of
the Poverty Reduction strategy Paper (PRSP) and vision 202. Mr. Nyass went
further to say that high potential sectors of the economy such as agriculture,
tourism, fisheries, re-export trade and infrastructure will be targeted for the
activities of GAMJOBS. To achieve its objectives Mr. Nyass said, the
implementation integrated strategy namely;

� Mainstreaming employment into PRSP and
other national macroeconomic and sector policies.

� Strengthen labour market policies and
institutions

� Establishment of Gambia Enterprise and
skills

Development and Training Fund (GETFUND)

� Promote labour intensive technologies in
public works programmes to create Employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Mr. Nyass argued that to create employment growth
path, they need to move towards a new strategy which will promote incremental
possibilities of the existing opportunities and adopting never initiatives.
These he said are critical for the country to move to a higher growth path and launch
a stake-up attack on unemployment and poverty. Such an approach he said needs
to be realistically guided by policy making which must be based on solid
analytical and empirical evidence. Mr. Malang Nyass concluded by saying that
the report they are about to launch is unique in that it provides a road map to
operationalise one of GAMJOBS key strategic areas and that is mainstreaming
employment into PRSP and other national macroeconomic and sector policies.

In his
launching statement, the Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Employment
Abdou Kolley indicated that the report is based on the outcome of a study
commissioned under the Gambia Priority Employment Programme (GAMJOBS) to assess
the links between growth, employment and poverty. The study SoS Kolley said
examine major macroeconomic trends, employment conditions and poverty situation
using available data and assessed where possible changes and trends through
time. The findings and recommendations of this report SoS Kolley said, are
drawn primarily from macro trends, the poverty pictures that emerged from the
2003 poverty survey and the status of employment as complied from a variety of
sources. The primary purpose of this study he said has been to identify areas
in which macroeconomic and labour market policies could be changed or developed
better to support an employment focused growth strategy. SoS Kolley asserted
that the substance and central thesis of this report suggest that the economic
performance they attained over the years cannot be sustained for long and
employment cannot be substantially created unless ways and means are found to
address current critical issues. SoS Kolley said the study presents recommendations that
policy makers could use to inform their employment strategies based on the
evidence provided, and he quoted some of them as follows: the monetary policy,
financial sector reform, an exchange rate regime, industrial policies and
fiscal policy. SoS Kolley indicated that the monetary policy which attempts to
achieve very low inflation rates by targeting the growth rate of monetary
aggregates. This type of regime he said will contribute to high real interest
rates and introduce a pro-cyclical bias which will impede the realisation of
Poverty Reducing. SoS Kolley said an alternative approach to monetary policy
that targets real interest rates at a level consistent with long-run economic
growth is warranted. SoS Kolley pointed out that financial sector reform is a
necessary complement to an alternative approach to monetary policy. Policies he
said are needed to channel resources to activities whose growth will improve
employment opportunities and thereby improve access to credit. He said
financial reform to enchane access to credit should be pursued through a
coordinated set of policies. SoS Kolley also highlighted that the report
indicates that an exchange rate regime which is informed by market dynamics and
is managed to ensure international competitiveness should
be used to improve the net export position of the Gambia. He said the industrial
policies should target sectors that have the highest potential of employment
creation, especially for unskilled labour. He also pointed out that sectors
that have been identified as high priorities include horticulture, groundnuts,
fisheries, re-export activities and tourism. On the fiscal policy, SoS Kolley
said the report pointed out that it requires carefully targeted and
administered budget expenditures need to be put in place. He said expenditures
can be financed by improved domestic resource mobilization and supplemented by
ODA inflows. SoS Kolley concluded by saying that the examples quoted above and
many other recommendations contained in this report, therefore attempt to
illustrate how a coordinated approach to policy at a number of levels can
define an economic strategy that would improve employment opportunities on a
sustainable basis. He said the recommendations touched on different sectors and
that he wishes to call on the relevant sectors to study them with a view to
possibly implementing them accordingly.

Babylon F.C and Jatta's F.C Will Lock Horns in Farato Final

By Lamin A. Darboe

Babylon
and Jatta's F.C are through to the 2008/2009 Nawettan final in Farato after
defeating their opponents at the weekend.

On Saturday Jatta's eliminated scorvil F.C 3-2 on
penalty after a one all draw in the 90th minute.

While on Sunday, Babylon F.C came from a goal down and
won 2-1 against the old hands. Siaka Manneh of old hands opened the scoring
when volleyed the ball in the net.

But 15th minute later,
Sanna Marong equalized the lone goal lead and later added another one to put
his team into an unassailable lead.

The old hands players fought harder to level the score
margin, but their efforts were frustrated by their opponents.

Abdoulie Fadera, head coach for Babylon F.C expressed
confidence in his team's victory in the final. "I am always certain that the
boys will bring me the honour. They have been showing me the spirit. Since we
started they have not lost any game, which itself is a successful record".

Lamin Jatta for Jatta's F.C said, "They are our
headache, but we will humble them in the final". The date for the final is yet
to be decided by the committee.

"The Boys
Deserve To Be Commended" SayS Foday Bah

By Lamin A Darboe

Despite losing 2-1 to the Senegalese home based
team on Sunday at the stadium, the Gambian selection team coach Foday Bah
hailed his players for what he called their "wonderful performance".

The Senegalese FA requested this friendly match with
the Gambia to gauge their
team's preparation ahead of the 1st edition
of the Africa Nation cup for home based players scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast
this year.

. Alpha Omar Sowe opened the score sheet for Senegal in the
17th minute. And in the 40th minute, Mustapha Jallow doubled the score
margin.

However, Lamin Samateh of the Gambia
cancelled one goal from the score line. Samateh sent in a brilliant ground ball
to beat past goal keeper Momodou Bah. In the dying minute, George Cole almost
equalised for the Gambian side when he sent in a powerful ball, but the ball
rolled to touch.

Foday Bah, Coach for the Gambian side said despite the
defeat, the boys have played a good math. They started training on Monday; the
players do not have collective training for a while.

Joseph Koto head coach for the Senegalese team
disclosed that his team is on preparation for the Nations Cup.

SoS Gomez Asks "Baby
Scorpions" to Raise Gambia's
Flag

By Lamin A Darboe

SoS Sheriff Gomez, has appealed for financial,
human and material resources to boost the National U-17 team's preparation for
the under 17 championship in Algeria.

He made this call on Wednesday during the launching of
the marketing committee task to facilitate and coordinate the fund raising
ventures for "Operation road to Algeria".

He pointed out that the department of youth and sports
is now on the drive towards looking into excellence in sports.

He further said, "It is nothing other than ensuring
through this marketing committee that we have all the resources needed,
financial, human, and material resources so that the U-17 can bring home the
glory"

SoS Gomez indicated that the U-17 has always been a
good grooming ground for the U-20 which develops into the senior team.

He called on the entire Gambian population, private
and public sectors to come to the aid of the U-17. SoS Gomez concluded his
speech by thanking the Gambian president for his personal encouragement,
motivation and support to the players.

Senegal Outclass Gambia
in Draught Competition

By Lamin A Darboe

The Gambia Draught Federation over the weekend
organised a 2 day international friendly draught champion held at Corinthia
Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

The international friendly
tournament involving the Gambia
and Senegal,
kicked off on Saturday and ended on Sunday. The competition brought together
ten players, five from each federation.

Alh. Momodou Dibba, the
president of the Gambia National Draught Federation, applauded the Gambian
players for putting up a stiff resistance against their Senegalese
counterparts. Alh. Dibba said that though the Senegalese won the match, but the
draw of Sheikh Njie against the great champion Basiru Bah who is number one in Africa, has made the Gambian players proud.

GNDF president assured that
when they go for the return leg in Senegal, they will surely turn the
score line.

Abdoulie Kah, deputy
permanent secretary at the department for youth and sports challenged the
Draught Federation of the Gambia
to include this friendly match in their annual plan of activities.

Mr. Kah reminded that the
department of State for Youth and Sports is discouraging mere participation in
sports, but to participate and win. "That's what excellence in sports is all
about".

DPS Kah appealed to the
Africa Draught Federation to hold a training seminar in the Gambia to enable the Gambia to develop the standard of
Gambian draught players.

Alh. Adama Gaye, Vice
president of the Senegalese federation disputed the notions that draught is not
good. He said draught is only prohibited when it is done to the extreme.

Mr. Gaye indicated that
draught is a mind game which sharpens the minds of the children. "This is why,
in places like China,
children are introduced to draught as early as six years."

According to him, draught
significantly helps in developing physicians, mathematicians, chemists etc.
Vice president Gaye proposed to the national federation to organise regional
draught competitions to enable its regional players who can serve as feeders to
the national federation.

At the end of the two day
event, prizes were awarded. As the champions, the Senegalese draught players
were presented with a giant trophy and cash prize of D6000. The Gambian players
were given a consolation prize of a sizeable trophy and D3000. The prizes were
presented to them by Abdoulie Kah DPS for sports.

The two day friendly was
coordinated by international draught referee Alh. Ndongo Faal.

Veterans Top
National Cricket League

By Isatou Bittaye

The Veterans cricket team has defeated GPA by 47 runs
in 30 Overs on Saturday's encounter.

Speaking to this reporter, the administrative
secretary of The Gambia Cricket Association, Mr. Wilfred Riley said the
Veterans scored 203 in 30 overs for 9 wickets and 40 runs and 4 wickets through
batsman Malamin Fofana. Mr. Riley added that GPA scored 157 in 24 overs for all
out and batsman Melvin Williams recorded 34 runs while best bowler Gabriel Njie
recorded 4 wickets in 6 overs.

He added that the man of the match was Malamin Fofana
with 40 runs and 4 wickets as he was very influential in their team's victory.
Veterans are now on top of the league table with 9 points as they have three
straight wins.

Jewel of India and Asian 11 followed the
veterans on the table with 6 points each. Asian 11 defeated Wallidan on their
Sunday's encounter by one wicket. Asian 11 scored 190 in 30 overs for 10
wickets. Batmen Ram Mohan recorded 3 wickets in 6 0vers.

Wallidan's batsman Mosses Bahoum recorded 73 runs
while best bowler George Greywood recorded 3 wickets in 6 overs and Wallidan
scored 187 in 30 overs for 7 wickets.
GPA are in 3rd position with 3 points and their next match on
Sunday is against Jewel of India at the July 22nd Square in Banjul.

--
yj

There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.
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