- Women Rights Activists in Gambia granted bill. by Femi Peters O.S (The Gambia) At a Magistrate Court in the city of Banjul, The Gambia, Bail was granted to two women rights activists after spending over a week in custody at the womens wing of Mile 2 Maximum Prison in The Gambia. These women namely, Dr Isatou Touray the Executive Director and Mrs Amie Bojang Sisoho the Programme Coordinator both activists working for the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) where charged for the theft of funds to a tune of €30,000. The sum of €30,000 was alleged to be stolen by these women in Banjul and diverse places in the Gambia, these funds were provided by the YALOCAMBA SOLIDARI…

- by Femi Peters O. S (The Gambia) Gambia gets News GSM Operator Glo Having acquired its sixth license to operate in Africa, the Africa’s telecommunication giant, Globacom is now prepared to storm The Gambians Telecommunications Market, this is happening exactly one year after the last GSM company QCell hit the market.this would make Glo the fifth GSM company to come into The Gambia.The Gambia would be the third Anglophone country in West Africa to receive the Glo endorsement in innovative Telecommunications services. It is reported that this license is coming just four months after securing a similar license in Senegal. The other countries where Globacom presence is felt are…

- Femi Peters O.S (The Gambia) FITA collaborates with TAV on Agricultural Sensitization in The Gambia. At a recent meeting held at the Agricultural Voice (TAV) office on the Mosque Road, Serrekunda, The Gambia, The Farmers Inter-trade Association (FITA)whose President Musa Jawneh agreed to collaborate on some Sensitization projects to be implemented that would have direct influence on the productivity of farmers, sourcing solutions to some of their constrains and giving timing advice to them on Agricultural issues from the Production of both Livestock, crop and horticulture production to the processing and to the final Marketing of such products. FITA was established in 1994 to ad…

- By Femi Peters (Gambia) US Coastal Guard Trains Gambian Security Services. The US Ambassador to The Gambia, Ambassador Barry Wells said as he addressed a joint Security training on issues of the United States support and cooperation to continue to enhance maritime security and counter narcotics measures in the region. The Office of Security Cooperation (O.S.C) - Dakar, Senegal in conjunction with the United States Embassy in Banjul, Gambia continues to engage in capacity building of various host nation law enforcement counterparts. As part of these efforts, the U.S.G has committed to helping The Gambia make security improvements that will enhance its ability to combat narcotics tra…

- By Femi Peters O.S (The Gambia) Nigeria Provides More Technical Aids to The Gambia In the early 1970s the Government of Nigeria and The Gambia signed a number of protocols in the areas of manpower assistance to the Judiciary, the legal sector, training of security personnel such as the Police ,Prisons ,Immigrations and Customs Personnel, where Nigeria deployed a military training team NIBAT to the Gambia to in order train members of the Gambia Armed Forces in the various military fields both in Nigeria and in the Gambia ,and with that evidently attracting quite a number of Gambians leading them to have a closer relationship with Nigerians over the years. Having strengthened the…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Nutrition drive paramount to Gambian Development During the validation of the draft of the National Nutrition Policy 2010-2020, organized by National Nutrition Agency NaNa and funded by the World Bank. Hon. Fatou Mass Jobe, the Gambia’s minister for tourism and culture, speaking on behalf of the Vice President, Aja Isatou Njie Saidy, made emphasis on the role of nutrition, especially with regard to young children, in realizing the future development goals and plans while made central in the mapping out of development plans. She also said with Proper Nutrition a wide range of economic and social improvements can be achieved. The policy is strateg…

Thirty Gambian fashion designers and apparel producers are planning on attending a major textile expo in the United States of America in May. - The delegation of Textile and sewn products Industry week (TASPIW) in Atlanta, Georgia would be in The Gambia, led by a representative of the US Embassy and an official of the ministry of Trade and Employment. The show will expose visitors to the latest equipment and technology in textile making and apparel production as well as to the high quality fabrics in the United States. The visit to the expo in Atlanta would help develop the Gambian fashion industry and in turn help the country maximize benefits under the Africa growth and opportunity …

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Vice President hard on Gender equality and women’s empowerment. Commitment by the government to gender equality and women’s empowerment under the leadership of H.E. the President Sheikh Professor Alhagie Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, is amply demonstrated by its ratification of various conventions, protocols, resolutions, treaties, policies and legal frameworks of the African Union and the International Community. This was made known by Her Excellency, Dr Aja Isatou Njie Saidy, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia as she reiterates government commitment to the issue. Making this remark at a two-day validation of the national gender and wo…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia). Gambia’s financial debt at increase implies Law Maker. The National Assembly Member for Wuli West, Honorable Sedia Jatta said improving the Agricultural sector by introducing concrete plans would enable the country to be debt and economically free, since the country debt has increased from D2 billion in 1985 to D16.84 billion with the current Government .he also remarked during the debate on President Speech It will be difficult for the Gambia to achieve its Vision 2020 and MDG with high dependency on foreign support unless the Agricultural sector is well mechanized to a standard were by Gambians don’t depend on imported food items. He fu…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) PURA takes stand on GSM Companies Rivalry in the Gambia Reporting from The Gambia, the ongoing battle of supremacy between Two GSM companies namely Africell Ltd and QCell Ltd in The Gambia as made the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) to take a firm stand while sensitizing the general Public on the issue of the claim of having the cheapest tariff and what to note about the services rendered by this GSM companies and how to judge which provides the best and cheapest service as PURA works towards the Equity in Development through Professionalism and Partnership. PURA is mandated to regulate tariffs in the Information and Communications industry i…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Assembly Member agrees on stronger Senegal-Gambia Ties. At the National Assembly on the 30th of March, A debate opened amongst the members of the assembly over on the President’s speech during the state opening of the 2010 Legislative year. The issues debate upon where related to development and the remarkable achievements made by the Government in the year 2009. Starting from the bills highlighted in the speech, infrastructures, capacity building on Health, Education, Environment and other developmental projects including The Gambia’s foreign policy with Senegal and also on increasing crime rates and Drug trafficking. The Hon National A…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia). Disaster prone settlements in The Gambia under watch. It is stipulated that about 10,000 settlements in some parts of the greater Banjul area including the capital city could be affected by the climate change problems associated to violent storms, sea level rise, flooding. The effects would be at its peak during the period of rainy season making the environment inhabitable in the long run; this could only be averted by maintaining and protecting the Tambi wetland which is situated between Western Region and the greater Banjul area. Mr. Kawsu Jammeh, an Environmental Education officer under Department of Parks and wildlife protected area has said mo…

- BY Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Gambian Finance Ministry strategizes towards achieving Vision 2020 The reintroduction of economic planning geared towards the establishments of a closer relationship between Vision 2020, development plans and budget through a medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) is the action plan through which the Hon Momodou S Foon the Gambia’s minister for finance has said that the Government has intends to achieve its goals. He added that this move augurs very well for the government’s desire to embrace programme budgeting. At the African Development Bank funded Public Financial Management PFM workshop which was organized by the Ministry of…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Call for Domestication of international laws During a Public Lecture organized by the United States (US) Embassy in Banjul, in honor of the International Women’s Month. Sagar CT Jahateh, Secretary and Chairperson of the Legal Aid Committee of the Female Lawyers Association, The Gambia (FLAG) has called on government to strengthen their efforts in empowering women by taking an action to domesticate international laws that the government of The Gambia have signed and adopt it with the laws of The Gambia. This call was made while delivering public lectures to a cross section of female students from various schools while encouraging the female second…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Gambia’s implementation of UNESCO Sandwatch Project In 1999, UNESCO launched a Project where a volunteer network of primary and secondary school students, teachers, youth group, non-governmental and community based organizations, work together to monitor and enhance their beach environments. This project was called the Sandwatch Project. On the 30th march a workshop was held in The Gambia to evaluate the implementation of the project. However Climate change which happens to be sensitive topic was added to the frame work of the Sandwatch Project because it was important Sandwatch embraces the challenges of climate change and Sandwatchers around t…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Gambian Tourism Minister repositions Gambia for Global Market After two days of lively and insightful discussions on the Tourism and Culture Industry, the Gambian Tourism Authority (GTA) highlighted their achievements and the constraints the institution ad industry faced in the past three to four years. While Deloitte from an outsiders perspective went through the achievements, exposed the challenges as regards the master plan for the tourism industry from 2006 to date had meet the global trend and the position of The Gambia in the Tourism world. These presentations by the groups clearly shown that they shared a common vision. For Gambia to reposition…

The Gambia's Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources, Lamin Kaba Bajo has said fighting illegal fishing was the only viable alternative to ensuring the sustainability of fishing stock in the sub-region. - He said this during the 25th Anniversary of the Sub –Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) held in The Gambia. The Theme for the celebration was the call for Fight against illegal fishing: the Sub-Regional cooperation for better synergy of action. The minister said the objectives of the commission was to foster international cooperation between member states to improve the framework for sustainable management of fisheries resources and is to harmonize national policies on pr…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) Coca Cola Multinational Company Gives to Youth & Sport Ministry Coca cola is know for its great support to football and sports in general all over the world as it partners with FIFA to organize the World Cup Football Tournaments. Coca cola has always given consideration to development of football from the grassroots at schools and its Football academies in order to tap into and nature talents right from the grass roots. Gambia not been left out in this support by Coca cola company’s it receives (60) Footballs at the Independence Stadium, Bakau in The Gambia of which 10 is going to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the rest to be distributed t…

- By Femi Peters O.S (Gambia) IMPROVED ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN THE GAMBIA The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) convened a workshop on the 25-26th March 2010 together with the Attorney-Generals Chambers and the The Gambia Bar Association on the implementation of the Legal Aid Act, 2008.this process started in 2005 to improve access to justice in the Gambia. Access to Legal rights according to Amie Bensouda, the Chairperson IHRDA Board of Directors in her opening speech is commonly understood and defined as a fundamental human right as she made reference to a seminar entitled Access to Justice in The Gambia Financed by Department fo international Development(DFID…

- By Femi Peters O. S (GAMBIA) Taiwan Technical Mission reiterates support to Gambia Upland Rice Expansion Project The Gambian Upland Rice Expansion project which is a Four year project initiated by His Excellency President Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J.Jammeh.Kicking off in 2009 with 7 thousand hectares land yielding a total of 11.3 thousand tons of paddy rice with an average yield of 1.7 tons from the harvested 6.7 thousand hectares this achievement was made possible by the joint cooperation between Gambia Agricultural Ministry, local Authorities, Farmers and Taiwan Technical Mission. The Taiwan Technical mission reiterates its commitment to giving its support to the 2nd year…

- By Femi Peters O.S (GAMBIA) Gambia’s Five Year Project on Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP) lunched. This project was launched on behalf of the President A.J.J.Jammeh by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Honorable M.S. Kah on the 15th of March, 2010 under the auspicious of international Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). In its realization of is objectives of the vision 2020 goals, Millennium Development Goals and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).this Five year project was initiated for the benefits of all Gambians especially for the women and the youths. The LHDP beginning barely a year after the launch of African Development Bank (ADB…

- Gambia Starts legislative Year 2010. By Femi Peters O.S from The Gambia. The Honorable speaker started the sitting with an opening prayer after which all other protocols where observed. Members of the National Assembly, The Executive Cabinet of Ministers,The Judiciary and other Observers were all present. Then She Quoted The section of the 1997 constitution, Section 77 subsection 1 which stipulates that the President must address the National assembly at least once in a Legislative Year after which she adjourned the Sitting in anticipation of the arrival of the President where he would address the National Assembly and Declare start of the Legislative year. Approximately 45 Minutes late…

- By Femi Peters O.S from The Gambia Battle of supremacy between two telecom Giants in the Gambia. Gambia having Four GSM companies, have instigated a fierce competition amongst them and a growing rivalry is also brewing between two namely Africell and Qcell. The First GSM Company established in the Gambia which happens to be The Gambia Telecommucations Cellular Company Limited (GAMCEL) was established by incorporation on the 16th day of November 2000 and Business commenced in earnest on 25th May 2001 when the GSM network was launched. After which Another GSM company called Africell whose parent holding Company called Lintel Company was launched, Africell is also presence in Sierra Le…

- Jatropha cheaper energy, Blessing or Curse to developing countries. By Femi Peters O.S Jatropha curcas is a poisonous plant that grows abundantly in Africa, Central and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. However indestructible, this “wonder" plant grows in terrible soil with hardly any water, it could fight off pests, and its seeds are jam-packed with oil. In the Gambia, Jatropha curcas is called Tabanani in Wolf, Baganaa in Mandinka , Kiidi in Fula and due to its indestructible nature it is used as live fence to keep away animals because they are inedible to man and animals. Its oil which is predominantly used as a source of fuel can also be used for making soaps and it…