President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, last Friday, presided over a landmark passing out ceremony, marking the completion of months of training of the 29th intake of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), the latest batch of men and women to have joined the force.

With a record 876 personnel, including 63 females, this latest batch is said to be the largest single intake since the creation of the force.

Speaking to a parked crowd of members of his Cabinet, and a cross-section of the community, President Jammeh, who is the commander-in-chief of GAF, described national service as a noble mission. His task, he promised, is to modernise the armed forces; something he had never shied away from.

Capacity building is set to take centre stage in the training packages of the men and women in arms and to this effect, the head of state assured the security and national armed wing that all those with the relevant academic qualifications would be given the same opportunity as those in the civil service to pursue further studies.

“The same opportunity will be given to the civilian mass. If you join The Gambian armed forces, you could become a doctor, a surgeon, or whatever your want to be,” he said, announcing that from now on, his government intends to send at least 25 members of the armed forces for studies overseas. He also used the opportunity to express zero tolerance for armed robbers, drug dealers and paedophiles.

President Jammeh disclosed that he would be positioning armed and security men and women in key strategic positions right across the country to check on such phenomena. In a show of benevolence, the Gambian donated two buses, fully equipped with medical facilities, to the armed forces corps. The buses will be used to render much needed medical services to remote parts of the country.

Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, the chief of Defence Staff of GAF, expressed his appreciation of the president’s gesture.  Major General Tamba reiterated the armed forces readiness to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, as well as their unqualified loyalty to the president and his government.
 
General Tamba also acknowledged the uniqueness of this year’s passing out ceremony, describing it as unprecedented in the history of the force.

Assuring the men and women of more support in the form of training and capacity building, the general urged the country’s military to serve the nation and the people with diligence, humility, kindness and mercy, warning them against oppression and harassment.

Several men and women were awarded medals for their outstanding performance during the training process.

Ensa Badjie, the inspector general of Police (IGP) has said there will be no single extension of peacekeeping mandate for any security outfit in the country.

“If your mission ends and you have come back, as far as my tenure as the Inspector General of Police is concerned, there will be no extension of a peacekeeping mission for any single security outfit in The Gambia,” the IGP declared.

IGP Badjie made these remarks whilst addressing eight Gambian peacekeeping observers who recently returned from Darfur, Sudan, in a flurry of events at the Gambia Police Force Headquarters, Banjul.

IGP Badjie added that he will not allow any form of segregation within the national security outfits, as all the security outfits are serving one leader, President Jammeh and the Gambian people.

Loyalty

He then added: “You must be loyal to the president and serve the Gambian people; if you cannot be loyal to the president, it’s high time for you leave the service before you get sacked. There will be no compromise for those who are not loyal to the president. Even if you get 20 PhDs, as far as you are not loyal... because as security officers you have to be loyal to the president and your country, The Gambia, and promotions within the security outfits will be based on merit.”

He used the opportunity to urge his officers to be cooperative and be always willing to serve the Gambian people, adding that they should also be willing to go wherever they are posted in the country.

“If you fail to cooperate you will be sacked,” he warned, drawing comparison to conditions within the Darfur region and other parts of The Gambia.

“You are security officers, you must be willing to serve your country and be loyal to the president of the republic,” he stressed, and congratulated the eight officers for serving in the mission.

In other developments, IGP Badjie presided over the presentation of certificates to donors of the Gambia Police Force and the closing ceremony of the Inspector Development Course, during which he urged the participants to effectively apply the knowledge and skills acquired to improve their policing duties.

Donation

On the presentation of 250 rain coats and 250 rain boots donated by Hon Suku Singhateh, the NAM for Lower Baddibu, IGP Badjie welcomed the gesture, describing it as timely considering the fact that the rainy season is here.

“The items donated will greatly help the police in their operations, especially at the checkpoints throughout the country,” he said and renewed his call to strengthen community policing as another effective means of curbing crime.

He urged the communities to cooperate with the police at all times to achieve a crime-free Gambia, saying that the police cannot do it all alone.

The police chief thanked the donor for the gesture and assured him that the items would be put to good use. He seized the opportunity, on behalf of the GPF, to thank all donors and supporters of the Gambia Police Force (GPF).

The events were attended by security chiefs, the majority leader of the National Assembly, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, and the mayor of KMC, Yankuba Colley, among other dignitaries.

The US Embassy in Banjul has unveiled a longer validity visa of up to five years for eligible Gambian applicants.

“US State Department, in cooperation with the US Department of Homeland Security, will now issue B1/B2 ‘tourist’ visas valid for up to five years at a time, a dramatic increase. Currently, Gambians may only qualify for a visa valid for up to two years,” a press release from the US Banjul Embassy stated.

However, the release drew a difference between a visa validity and the length of stay granted to visitors to the US.

“The length of stay granted by the US Department of Homeland Security to travellers will remain the same, despite the change in visa length. Most travellers are granted up to six months in the United States, although the understanding is that most travellers will depart the United States within a few weeks of arrival, as they originally stated in their visa applications.”

The US Embassy noted this latest development will allow qualified applicants to travel to the United States without having to renew their visas frequently.

“This will reduce the costs to Gambian travellers, as they will have to pay fewer visa application fees and will save time in going through interviews at the embassy. It will also reduce the workload on US Embassy staff, allowing them to devote more time to first-time applicants,” the release stated.

Similarly, American citizens will now be eligible for five years validity tourist visas to The Gambia, which should help in boosting the tourism sector, according to the embassy.

President Hugo Chavez of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has extended his compliments and congratulations to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, on the 14th anniversary of the July 22 Revolution.

This goodwill message was contained in  a letter addressed to the Gambian leader by Reinaldo Bolivar, the Venezuelan vice-minister for Africa.

“Since we established [the] diplomatic relationship between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of The Gambia on 17th August, 1974, both nations have maintained a warm bilateral and friendly relationship. Our countries have strengthened solidarity bonds and we have shared mutual and common interests. We wish to strengthen our friendly bonds and brotherhood and we also desire to express our respect to your country,” the letter stated.

A platoon of 23 officers of the Gambia Police Force will leave for East Timor in Asia today on a UN peace-keeping mission. The group will replace other Gambian officers, whose one-year term has ended.

Addressing the officers at a farewell ceremony held at the GPF headquarters in Banjul, Ousman Sonko, the secretary of state for the Interior, reminded the officers about the responsibility that rests on their shoulders and urged them to be good ambassadors of The Gambia.

“As you are leaving for East Timor, respect their [East Timorese] culture and customs. Always live up to expectation and maintain peace amongst yourselves in East Timor,” said SoS Sonko, while further urging them to stick to their assignment.

He then thanked President Jammeh for creating the opportunity for Gambian service men and women to take part in foreign peacekeeping operations, since 1994.

For his part, Ensa Badjie, the Inspector General of Police, said there has been a significant increase in the number of personnel of the GPF in peacekeeping missions throughout the world.

“We all know that it is very difficult to serve in some of the missions but I am very proud to mention that Gambian peacekeepers have already been exceptionally outstanding in all the countries that they have been present. The evaluations and feedbacks we normally receive from all the missions are very pleasant and encouraging,” IGP Badjie said.

Turning to the officers, the IGP challenged them all to keep up the good momentum and maintain the standards set. “Therefore, I will urge you to try and protect the good reputation The Gambia is enjoying when it comes to international operations.

We expect you to continue flying the Gambian flag very high. When you are there, respect the culture and traditions of your host country. Try to recognise their social norms and values, and respect their religion. If you do [that], I can assure you that you will never have any problem with them,” the police boss added.

Lt Col Yakuba Drammeh, the chief of Army Staff, described the mission as a noble one and urged them to work as a team.

FRI Jammeh, the adviser of GPF, told the officers to protect life and property, as well as the ways of the East Timorese.

Ansumana Sanyang, the contingent commander, asserted that the contingent will live up to expectation.

The vice-president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, on Wednesday, officially opened the new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Secretariat at the OAU Boulevard, Banjul, on behalf of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.

The ADR system, adopted in The Gambia in 2003 with the promulgation of an ADR Law, is an important mechanism for dealing with matters of dispute outside the usual conventional modern-type justice delivery and judicial system.

The new secretariat is expected to provide critical backstopping to ADR initiatives, as well as provide strategic guidance towards deepening the impact of such initiatives.

Commissioning the secretariat, Vice President Njie-Saidy described the office as another landmark development in The Gambia, as it deepens the process of institutionalizing the ADR system in the country.

She added that the establishment of an ADR Secretariat is not only timely, but also represents a clear and glaring testimony of government’s resolve to maximise justice delivery in The Gambia, by promoting access to justice for every Gambian and non-Gambian residents alike.

She further observed that the ADR is not a new phenomenon, particularly in The Gambia, where conflicts and disputes involving families, communities, and even organisations are often subject to close-door mediation and settlement by third parties.  

“In Africa, alternative means to conflict resolution have been part and parcel of our traditional justice delivery system for generations. So too in Asia, particularly China and Japan that are known to have made tremendous strides and achievements in providing alternative means of solving disputes in varied cultural and traditional contexts. These include commercial disputes, and disputes over property inheritance by families and communities. Consequently, the ADR is firmly rooted in cultures and traditions,” the vice-president elaborated.

According to her, the ADR endears itself distinctively as a system that can be administered to deliver justice and judgement without parties going through costly and lengthy litigation proceedings, often associated with the conventional system of justice delivery.

“The system also endears itself by being inherently flexible in its approach and dealings, an attribute that not only makes it a unique, fast, easy-to-administer, and cost-effective system, but also, an important tool for promoting understanding and tolerance between and among parties in disputes. The system is founded on the principles of mediation, conciliation, reconciliation and arbitration,” she highlighted.

She further observed that the ADR mechanism also provides an important complement to the more formal justice delivery system, which is plagued by numerous cases whose handling take longer than normal and at great cost to litigants. As a result, the vice-president hoped that the system will contribute meaningfully to reducing caseloads and turnaround time for judgement in the conventional courts.

She then revealed that no country can achieve and maintain peace and stability without a sound, fair, and responsive judicial and justice system. “In the absence of such a system, not only would the environment become violent and unsafe, and lives and properties at serious risks, but also it serves as a total disincentive for foreign investment that is so vitally important for sustainable economic growth and development,” she added.

Vice President Njie-Saidy then urged all and sundry to collaborate and give maximal support to facilitate the work of the secretariat. She disclosed that the government would do everything possible to support the office, including meeting its training and manpower development in the areas of arbitration, reconciliation and mediation. Notwithstanding, the vice-president added that government would also build the capacity of the formal judicial system, since both systems are crucial.

She observed that the ADR should not be mistaken as a stand-alone substitute system, but simply an added option made available to help people and institutions to choose between two delivery systems to seek justice.

She thanked DFID and the World Bank for providing strategic support and urged the referral of matters such as commercial, land, family, industrial and employment related cases to the ADR Secretariat, for settlement as required under the ADR Act.

For her part, Mrs Marie Saine-Firdaus, the attorney general and secretary of state for Justice, described the event as a significant milestone in transforming The Gambia, since there can be no development without settling disputes.

She noted that the establishment of the ADR Secretariat has ever been her priority since her assumption of office. She lauded the tremendous support gained from President Jammeh and the secretary of state for Finance and Economic Affairs to meet the goals.

SoS Saine-Firdaus stated that the ADR is mandated to handle all types of cases of civil nature and encouraged the conventional courts to forward cases, such as those involving land disputes, to the secretariat to facilitate the resolution of the matters.

She also urged the staff of the secretariat to enhance quick dispensation of justice by making best use of the ADR, assuring them that the Office of the Attorney General will provide the maximum support in the discharge of such a constitutional requirement.

Abdou Karim Savage, the chief justice, thanked President Jammeh for yet another milestone in the development of the country. He also thanked the Office of the Attorney General for accomplishing such a positive initiative, noting that the ADR will greatly help to ensure win-win situations in cases to ensure a peaceful society, rather than the litigation system, which takes people apart.

Chief Justice Savage then expressed his office’s support and called for the proper sensitisation of the public about the ADR.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Dr Ebrima Lowe, the chief executive secretary of the ADR, who gave an overview of the establishment of the ADR, Alhagie Sawaneh of the CBEMP, Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs and Mrs Penda Gibril, who gave the vote of thanks.

In attendance were the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, secretaries of state, and members of
the Judiciary, among other personalities.

Jah Bless, a solo Gambian artist, on Friday, presented copies of her debut album called ‘Joup’ meaning Honesty to Mr Abdoulie Sallah, secretary to the Cabinet for the Gambian leader President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh at a presentation held at the secretary to the Cabinet’s office at State House.

The gesture contained 40 compact discs containing 9 titles and 60 audio tapes containing 8 tracks, as well as a DVD compilation of 7 disks.

Presenting the album, Amie Jah Bless, expressed gratitude to the President Jammeh for funding the production of the debut album.

According to her, the President’s gesture came at a time when she doubted if the album would come out. Jah Bless added that Dr Jammeh is a source of inspiration for Gambian musicians.

Receiving the album on behalf of President Jammeh, Abdoulie Sallah, secretary to the Cabinet, hailed the young musician for turning the president’s gesture into such a worthy venture.  He noted that Amie is the fifth Gambian musician to benefit from the Gambian leader’s generosity. “The choice is yours.  The President has given you the financial support to improve your talent.  You should use the opportunity to explore your talent in a bid to become a prolific musician,’’ he said.

According to the cabinet secretary, the album “joup” is in line with the president’s principles of probity, transparency and honesty. Abdoulie Sallah urged Gambian musicians to be innovative and explore their talents in a bid to become successful musicians.

Momodou Joof, director general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, recalled that the young musician received a handsome amount of money from the president to produce her debut album.

According to Mr Joof, the president’s donation was a manifestation of his commitment to the development of Gambia’s music industry.

Bai Jack, Jah Bless’s manager said that the young musician is very ambitious and she is ever ready to explore her talent.  He thanked President Jammeh for his donation as it led to the production of the album.

Hassoum Ceesay, deputy permanent secretary, Office of the President, who is also the director of Press and Public Relations chaired the occasion.

Three new ambassadors accredited to The Gambia and based in Dakar, Senegal, yesterday, presented their letters of credentials to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh at State House, Banjul, to formally start their diplomatic assignments in the country.

The three envoys namely Dr Sukarni Siker of Indonesia, Jean-Francois Paroz of Switzerland and Auguste Richard Paracin of the Island Republic of Madagascar, have resolved to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between their respective countries and The Gambia.

The first to present his credentials to the Gambian leader was Dr Sukarni Siker of  Indonesia. He told waiting journalists shortly after the ceremony that he will work to consolidate agricultural cooperation and provide scholarship for Gambian students to study in Indonesian institutions of higher learning.

For his part, Jean-Francois Paroz of Switzerland said his discussion with President Jammeh centred mainly on migration and measures needed to curb the illegal aspect of it.

According to him, his government will create more training opportunities for Gambians study at learning institutions in Swiss, as a ways of tackling illegal migration. He was quick to add that the phenomenon is a global problem, but both countries need more time to study the issue and come up with coherent mechanisms to curb the phenomenon.
 
He then disclosed that his government has procured new uniforms for the Gambia Immigration Department, which will soon arrive in the country.

The Malagasy envoy, Auguste Richard Paracin, said his discussion with Dr Jammeh centred on cooperation in the areas of tourism, environment and culture, amongst others.  

He disclosed that he also conveyed a special invitation from President Marc Ravalomanana to Dr Jammeh to attend the next year’s AU Summit, which will be hosted by his country.

On Wednesday, July 16,  President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh concluded a three-day state visit to Guinea-Conakry. During his stay in Conakry, the Gambian leader held extensive discussions with his Guinean counterpart. They seized the opportunity to review the principles guiding the bilateral relationship between Banjul and Conakry.

Prompted by their common desire to further strengthening their traditional friendship and cooperation, the visit saw the two countries renewing their commitment to strengnten the cooperation.  

Aware that the bilateral cooperation meets the long-term interests of the two peoples and desirous of promoting international peace and security, and determined to intentify the positive achievements recorded in bilateral relations, the two laeders reiterated in a joint communiqué, their strong will to expand ties.

According to the joint communiqué, the two sides affirmed that they will pursue the cooperation existing in the areas of fisheries (the 2002 agreement), water ressources, commerce, transport, civil service and tourism.

Agreement was not only reached on deepening the  Gambia-Guinea Conakry cooperation, but also to have a firm stand on international and regional issues of common interest.

In the sector of water ressources, the two sides agreed to work on a common programme within the framework of the OMVG. Consequently, they will promote the OMVG energy projects at the Kaléla and Samagouly dams.
 
At the regional level, the two countries resolutely decided to promote inter-regional commerce and re-affirmed their desire to encourage negociations within the ECOWAS Commission so as to reach a balanced agreement on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

As a result, the Gambian side invited Guinea to participate in the forthcoming ECOWAS Banjul Inter-ministerial Meeting on EPAs.

Lamin Kanji, Africell’s second millionaire of the year, last Friday, donated over D40,000 worth of items to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital.

The items including 40 pieces of bed sheets, refrigerator, two dozens chairs, television sets and videos for the mortuary and Accident and Emergency Ward were presented at a ceremony held at the hospital grounds in Banjul .

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Mr Kanji, a native of Baddibu Njaba Kunda expressed his profound gratitude to Africell for the million he won. He also thanked them for what he called the ‘wonderful’ services that they offer to the Gambian people.

He further disclosed that he had never imagined winning such an amount of money and thanked God for making him one of Africell’s millionaires.

Mr Kanji also stated that the only way to help the general public is to use the money where everybody can benefit such as in hospitals and schools.

Mr Kanji seized the opportunity to implore his fellow millionaires to emulate his magnanimity, noting that as Gambians, it is obligatory to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

Receiving the donated items on behalf of the management and staff of the RVTH, Alhagie Babucarr Ngum, the public relations officer of the RVTH, thanked Mr Kanji for spending part of his million as a token of solidarity and humanitarian gesture towards the hospital. He also called on other Africell millionaires to emulate Mr.

Dr Mariatou Jallow, chief medical director of the RVTH, also expressed similar sentiments and thanked Mr Kanji and family for the gesture. She assured them that the items will be put into good use.