Mohammed Foday Yumkelia, the outgoing high commissioner of Sierra Leone to The Gambia, yesterday, bade farewell to Vice President Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy at State House, after a three and half-year devotion to duty which resulted in the  strengthening of relations between Banjul and Freetown.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after an audience with the vice president, Mr Yumkelia thanked the government of The Gambia for creating the enabling environment which enabled him to score such an achievement.

He said that some of his compatriots in The Gambia have continued to play a significant role in the development of the country in the areas of education and health, two areas of importance in a country’s development drive.

He added that finalising the joint commission between the two countries and removing barriers that hinder integration were achievements he would have loved to have accomplished during his tenure.

But he was quick to acknowledge President Jammeh’s benovelance in waiving some taxes for Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia.

In a separate development, Vice President Njie-Saidy also received in audience Alasan Senghore, head, Zone, West and Central Africa of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, based in Dakar, Senegal.

He told newsmen shortly after the audience that their discussion centred on The Gambia Red Cross Society and the role it plays in disaster management and control.

He saluted The Gambia for having the best disaster management and prevention framework among the 24 countries under his jurisdiction. To him, The Gambia is a role model and he thus called on other countries to emulate it.

Says President Jammeh as he donates 1/2 million plus for UTG Convocation

His Excellency, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh has made it clear that the University of the Gambia will always be his number one priority, as education and the training of competent professionals is crucial to development.

The General Convocation Committee of The University of The Gambia (UTG) called on President Jammeh, the founder and Chancellor, at State House, on Wednesday.

The purpose of the high-powered delegation was to inform His Excellency, the president of the plans for the Convocation to be held on Saturday, the 26th of January, 2008. The UTG delegation was led by the SoS, Higher Education, Abdoulie Sallah; Chairman of the UTG Board, Mr Abdoulie Touray and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Andreas Steigen.

Also in attendance were Mr Lamin Sam Jaiteh, the Registrar; Senior Lecturer Jenung Manneh, chairman of the General Convocation Committee; PS Higher Education, Dr Saidou Jallow; the star-graduate of UTG, SoS Tourism, Ms Angela Colley; the Attorney General Marie Saine-Firdaus and SoS Local Gov’t, Lands & Religious Affairs, Mr Ismaila Sambou.

Generosity

A happy and jocular President Jammeh expressed his pride in the existence of The University of The Gambia and the fact that so many Gambians are graduating from the UTG to serve the nation.

"Many were sceptical and many thought we could not do it," said President Jammeh, adding "I am proud of our University. I will always support it and I will safeguard it jealously. It is my baby and I will look after its well-being." As Mr. Jenung Manneh presented his budget for the Convocation, the president offered to pick up the bill for the reception at D227,200.00 and then went further and agreed to pick up the bill for the Convocation Dinner at D350,000.00. The gathered audience, including this reporter, were overwhelmed by the president’s generosity, but the president went further still and raised prizes for star-students from as low as 2,000 dalasis to 10,000 and raised other prizes from 5,000 to 20,000.

Warning

Moving on to a more serious message, the President warned university teachers to stick to teaching and to avoid political demagoguery. "I want my university to have high academic standards and I will not tolerate mediocrity or political demagoguery", said the President. The president advised malcontent lecturers to look elsewhere. "Students of my university are dedicated to good academic achievements and development of the country" said the president. "Non-performing teachers have no place at the university," stressed the president.

For his part, the Board chairman, Mr. Abdoulie Touray, eloquently described the president’s commitment and support of the UTG, stressing that this is not the first time the President has supported the University.

"Your Excellency, you have supported us generously for all the past convocations and we are grateful," said Mr. Touray. The Vice-Chanclellor also thanked the President and emphasised that standards will be maintained and the warning about sub-standard teachers will be addressed.

Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice-President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, yesterday received at her office, Serign Nyang, APRC Atlanta branch Secretary and the Board of Directors of the Special Olympics, The Gambia, led by Beatrice Allen, Chairperson of the Special Olympic, The Gambia.

Speaking to reporters soon after his audience with Vice President Njie-Saidy, Serign Nyang, said he was delegated by the APRC Atlanta Chapter to visit Vice President Njie-Saidy to reiterate their support and stands for the government of The Gambia in the United States of America.

According to him, in the United States, they have tried to establish APRC chapters within other states that don’t have such a chapter before, by talking to the people to promote the APRC government and the development achievements of President Jammeh’s government.

He then highlighted some of their achievements in the campaign, saying “we are so far excited and pleased because lots of people who were coming into the country and did not believe the government, have now seen the major achievements of the present government and are now convinced by our words of the new Gambia we were telling them. Now if they come, they see for themselves the positive changes that took effect in their absence and return with the excitement”.

He then commended the Jammeh government for making their work in the USA very easy as everyone has seen the major developments they have been telling them. He then announced that, through this development they are able to gain more support from Gambians in the USA.

For her part, Beatrice Allen, Chairperson of the Special Olympic, The Gambia told reporters that her call on the Vice-President Njie Saidy was to meet her, together with formidable athletes prepared to attend the Special Olympic Games in Shanghai, China in October 2007.

According to her, they have done all ground works and sometimes in February this year, they had national games with the objective of ensuring that they select four of the best from the lots that will represent The Gambia at the Olympic Games. “All has been done and we are now mobilising resources to be able to go and attend the games successfully. So, we came to meet Vice-President Njie-Saidy to pass our request, through her to President Jammeh because he has been a personal supporter of the special Olympic Games. She noted that they have already selected the identified companies and institutions for support.