Mr Paul Hagan, the West Africa regional director of Concern Universal, yesterday, called on Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the vice president and secretary of state for women’s affairs, at her office in Banjul. He was accompanied to the State House by Madam Patricih, the new country director of Concern Universal. The visit of the top brass officials was meant to showcase the achievements and to brief Vice President Njie-Saidy of the intended programmes of the organization.

Speaking during an interview with reporters, shortly after their audience with the vice president, Mr Hagan expressed his organisation’s resolve to expand their programmes in the country and to consolidate the achievements gained.

Madam Patricih, the new country director, noted that they were working with development partners around the world to respond to climate change, as well as to ensure that there is a concerted effort to climb ahead. According to her, Concern Universal is currently working with at least thirteen local organisations in the country, noting that they help these local organisations to intervene in whatever kind of development appropriate to their area.

The Concern Universal country director went on to say that they also, as part of their programmes, endeavour in helping local farmers. She then described her assignment as timely, noting that she arrived in The Gambia at a time when a lot of achievements had been registered by Concern Universal. She went on to add that her organisation had recently received three different international award, notably in the area of tourism, good business practices, as well as the 2008 International Charity of the year Award.

Our environment is precious and vital to the existence of plants and animals, including human beings.  

Therefore, the aim of this article is to raise the awareness of the public including young Gambians, future leaders in the school system, on the importance of conserving our fragile environment, while performing our most needed agricultural and other activities in the country.

The Environment and Agriculture
Concept Chart
It is also essential for teachers to make students and parents recognise the achievements made on the educational, political and economic sectors of the country.  Students should be motivated to admire and imitate some members of the community, especially, the media sector, for the contribution they are making as creative thinkers in our environment on information sharing to make The Gambia a well informed society.

The information to be given on the environment and agricultural activities might be helpful but it is not complete and perfect in itself.  It is likely that some information is subject to being obsolete especially in the field of agriculture which is subject to extensive research and experimental work.

The author therefore wishes to appeal to his fellow teachers to improve on teaching techniques that are environmentally friendly for the benefit of the whole country.  Needless to say, some information might not apply in certain places and circumstances, especially in a country like The Gambia with its numerous ecological zones.  Therefore, teachers are called upon to use their initiative and to improvise the information of this subject and other subjects so that they fit their situations.

The social and economic development of our environment is also important for our survival.  What is this environment?  It is the land in which we live, consisting of things all around us, the soil, the air, residential, farming and industrial areas; we can smell, feel and observe them.  Therefore we should understand them and must be motivated to conserve them if we want to live in peace and in harmony with our environment.

Since the 22nd July 1994 Revolution, The Gambian environment has witnessed the beginning of enormous changes in gains and developments registered in our society, in education, health, agriculture and sports/football as well as other sectors in government machinery.  We have seen many talents in our society or environment proving themselves without doubt that they are indeed a force to be reckoned with in the media and academic fields.

The author is encouraged by the many books written by other Gambians which are of very high standard and are relevant for use in our schools and communities.  Some of the authors have addressed areas which serve as reference material for prosperity.  Never before has there been a proliferation of authors coming coming forward to contribute to the academic development of the media and education in The Gambia.  The government headed by President Jammeh, a visionary leader, hard-working and committed, has encouraged all sectors of the environment to participate on their own to the development of our motherland.

A decade of socio - economic achievements of the APRC within the past fourteen years is indisputable in Gambian history and government is poised to do more to empower its citizens.  Therefore, teachers should be commended for informing students and their parents on the concern and contributions that  government and its partners are making in the conservation of our beautiful physical features and wild life.  The Gambia has a perfect climate with beaches on the coastline.  The blue Atlantic Ocean along the coast is mild and calm. Swimming, sailing and fishing are interesting in The Gambia and perfectly safe.  The many hotels stretching along the whole length of the Gambian coastline are luxurious and friendly.

Photography, bird watching and fishing in the River Gambia and stream areas are hobbies which can be enjoyed by all Gambians, tourists, and other visitors.  Game parks and reserves like Abuko Nature Reserve are vast areas that have been allocated to animals for people to see the greatest variety of wild life.  Many of these reserves are situated in different ecologies of the country, so that all creatures, big and small, are given a safe home.

Teachers should appeal to students to be partners in development to help in the conservation of our wild life and physical features of the natural beauty in the environment, not only for future Gambians but for other people visiting the country.
The teaching in schools to conserve the beautiful country sides and the practices of practical agriculture that is environmentally friendly is essential and therefore should be given high priority in government policy directives, making sure that the environment which contains the air we breathe, the soil plants grow and the animals depend on proper conservation for the survival of these plants and animals in which we also depend.

To be able to measure farm land areas and calculate farm production on profit and losses, students should be taught agricultural tables on weights and measures, formulae of areas, volume and temperature conversion for profitable agricultural practices on food production from crops and animals in the field.

Nevertheless, the establishment of a farm in the environment means to many people in the Gambia the complete removal of all the existing plant and animal life and the misuse of other natural resources found in the farming environment.  In many developing countries, many people suffer from the effects of over doses of harmful chemicals, fertilisers, insecticides and some herbicide which usually eliminate beneficial insects and soil organisms such as honey bees and earth worms.  Teachers should therefore raise the awareness of pupils and parents to recognise these environmental problems.

Gambians should avoid making the same mistake that highly industrialised countries have made, that is polluting the environment by the industrial wastes of factories and by their highly mechanised agricultural practices with heavy machines that can upset the eco-system.  The world attention is on The Ivory Coast where harmful chemical waste dumping was done. Gambians should therefore be watchful and avoid the same to happen in our own environment.  These awful activities endanger the lives of plants and animals.

Students should be taught that biological control methods of plant diseases/pests are now replacing the use of harmful chemicals in our environment for the control of diseases.
Insects such as the ladybird beetle feeds on aphid which are carriers of a plant disease on groundnuts known as Bacteria Wilt.  The provision of composts and animal dung as a form of organic manure which are environmentally friendly should be applied by the farmers to replace the dangerous and expensive chemical fertilisers when producing food so as to avoid destroying the environment.  

This will produce chemical fertilisers when producing food so as to avoid destroying the environment. We can clean our nation with our limited resources and collective efforts.  Thanks to President Jammeh for encouraging and motivating Gambians to clean their environment by introducing “Operation Clean the Nation”, a monthly exercise and campaign in which people from all works of life voluntarily and actively participate in order to live in a healthy environment.

Due to the farming and commercial activities that people perform in our environment, we cannot stop riding cars, trucks or use heavy machinery in farming which are not environmentally friendly but where possible, we can minimise the use of these machines and ride more of bicycles or even walk when the destination is not too far.  This is environmentally friendly and good for our health.  To conserve our rich soil we must avoid exposing our rich top soil to be eroded by running water or strong wind. Soil erosion by water or wind reduces the soil fertility and therefore reduces crop yields.
Hoeing can be done between the rows of growing crops in the farm to prevent grass or weeds competing with crop plants for plant nutrients.  This practice of hoeing in the farm also aerates the soil for the benefit of useful bacterial in the soil.

In the countryside, outside the farm, particularly in residential areas, the grass should be cut short and not hoeing in order to prevent top soil erosion.  Ornamental flowers and fruit trees should be planted around farms to serve as windbreaks and around residential and commercial areas as landscaping for beauty.  Flowering trees in the environment are good for honey bees which are partners in crop production, with other beneficial insects and birds.  Trees also help to moderate environmental temperature, provide shelter, shade, medicine and food for animals and human beings.

During the author’s teaching career he interacted with young Gambians in primary and secondary schools, demonstrating agricultural knowledge and skills that are environmentally friendly, improvising and using available local material in school for agricultural practices for food production in schools.

Among these skills were home made liquid organic fertiliser from dry cow dung and water and the other one was on he control of bacteria wilt on tomatoes using collected dry grass and fire by sterilising the soil around the bed.

Teachers should make students aware of the fact that the environment to be conserved belongs to them and therefore, it is the responsibility of all to take part in the protection and conservation of our environment in order to reverse the current trend of land degradation in the Gambia. The people should never fail in their obligation to conserve the environment for our benefit and survival and for generations yet unborn.

 Human activities that are not environmentally friendly beyond our Gambian borders are also causing environmental disasters like global warming, flooding and other world natural disasters which spread diseases and inflict human suffering to many communities.  The author hopes that Gambians will learn from these calamities and try to seek a long lasting solution to the problem of sustaining our fragile environment.

The Executive members of the National Union of Gambia Students (NUGS), on Saturday, handed over authority to the incoming executive at a ceremony held at the Joint Officers Mess in Kotu.

NUGS was formed in 2005, with the mandate to cater for the welfare of the students in The Gambia and to maintain all students under an umbrella of unionism with total commitment towards national developments.

In his remarks, Ebrima Sanneh, UTG’s outgoing president of NUGS, outlined the vitality of the role of NUGS in national development and urges the incoming executive to keep up the momentum as NUGS cannot work alone and that it must find its potentials to the final destination, with hardwork, dedication and respect.

He highlighted some of the significant achievements undertaken by NUGS under his leadership such as the award presented by NUGS to President Jammeh. “We cannot stand alone, we need partnership but we must thank the department of state for education and the national training authority for their support to NUGS since its inception in 2005,” he said.        
                                                  
Speaking on behalf of the outgoing secretary general of NUGS, Bakary Badjie of Gambia College, commended the outgoing executive for the tireless efforts they rendered during their tenure.  He urged the new executive body to maintain the good relation with the National Patriotic Students Association NAPSA. “We are not at loggerheads with NAPSA, we are enjoying a fruitful relationship with NAPSA as partners in nation building and we must remain partners for the welfare of the entire Gambian students,” he disclosed.  

Deputising for the secretary of state for Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Musa I Touray also commended NUGS for its outstanding contribution to the development of the educational sector. He then urged the incoming executive to emulate their predecessors. He further advised them to desist from vandalism as this may deter their participation to national development.

For his part, Seedy S Njie, the nominated National Assembly member, also seized the opportunity to call on NUGS to remain diligent and hardworking. He implored the incoming executive to serve with intellectual diligence for the interest of the nation, noting that this could be more meaningful than personal interest.

Other speakers included Janko Kurubally, the former President of the Gambia Students Union (GAMSU), Lamin S Bah, outgoing financial secretary, Saloum Ceesay the outgoing auditor general and Ousman Badjie, who delivered the vote of thanks.
The included the award of certificates to the outgoing members and handing over of files to the incoming executive.

King’s Kid Academy International School, on Saturday, certificated 31 outstanding graduates during the school’s end of term party held at the school grounds at Lamin Village in the Kombo North District.

King’s Kid Academy was founded in 1997 by a missionary, Reverend E Dennis Ejila, with the aim of providing affordable and quality early childhood education to children from the ages of three years and above.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rev E Dennis Ejila underscored some of the achievements the school has registered, pointing out the qualified teachers from the university whose techniques and experience have enabled the school to give quality and standard education to the children.

According to him, the school’s main source of income comes from the school fees paid by parents and other petty levies.  

He further went on to praise good Samaritans, who have contributed immensely by providing sponsorship to the most needy students, as well as providing cash donations and educational materials.  

He also used the opportunity to appeal to the donors to give more support to complete the construction of classrooms.

For his part, Mbemba Bojang, the Alkalo of Lamin Village said he was impressed by the speeches delivered by the students, adding that, it gives a clear testimony of the quality of education the school provides.  

He thanked the school administrator for the dedication and hardwork and finally urged the parents and guardians to support the school in their drive to improve the welfare of the school,. He also thanked The Gambia government for providing a conducive environment for learning.
The occasion was attended by a good number of parents and well wishers.

The Sudanese  minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Joseph Alkelo, flew into Banjul, yesterday, as a special envoy of President Al-Bashir to deliver a written message to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, which was received on his behalf by the vice-president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy at State House, Banjul.

The government of Sudan is seeking the support of The Gambia against the extradition request issued by the Hague-based International  Criminal Court, ICC, against President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes committed in Sudan’s war-torn region of Darfur. The extradition request was issued by the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, on July 14, 2008.

Speaking to journalists shortly after delivering the message to Dr Njie-Saidy, Mr Akelo said the content centred on the Darfur crisis which resulted to the ICC’s request for the extradition of President Bashir. To him, the allegations are “false” prompting them to seek the support of The Gambia.

“Because we thought if the indictment is carried out, it will wreck all the achievements we [Sudanese] registered in the Darfur crisis,” he said.

The way forward

According to the Sudanese envoy, his country is of the firm belief that suspending the indictment request and allowing the case to be argued by African lawyers is the best way forward.

In addition, he went on, Sudan will continue to pursue the path of peace with groups still reluctant to sign a peace accord with the government.

“We are telling our brothers,  let us suspend the indictment and give us [Sudanese people] the time to pursue the path to peace,” he stressed.

Assurance

Mr Akelo who concluded his sixth country tour in Banjul said, “I had strong assurance from all the countries I visited that they would stand by Sudan. This is because it is an African initiative and they say they would support the initiative.”

As the swirly dust surrounding the week-long July 22 activities settles, more congratulatory messages on the 14th anniversary of the July 22 Revolution has continued to reach President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh at State House, Banjul.

Gambian Consulate in Berlin

Andreas-Jorg Bartel and Dieter Weber of the Gambian consulate in Berlin, Germany, have congratulated President Jammeh, who led the revolution on 22nd July 1994, on this year’s anniversary.

They acknowledged numerous achievements under Dr Jammeh’s leadership.

“Not only the visible success in infrastructure like telecommunication, highways and air transportation, but more [so] your efforts in health, education and democracy,” they stated.Both of them expressed their resolve to join the president in his efforts to further develope The Gambia and extended their best wishes to him and his family.

Gambia Police Force

Ensa Badjie, the Inspector General of Police, has also congratulated the president on behalf of the entire members of the Gambia Police Force.
“It has been a wonderful, gracious and magnificent period for the security services especially the Gambia police force. We thank Your Excellency for the support, contribution, encouragement and motivation you have been giving and continue to give us that have greatly facilitated our entire operations,” he stated.

He then added: “Your Excellency, may I seize this opportunity to pray for your good health, long life and strength to enable you to sail this beloved nation to your most desired destination. This, I am sure will benefit the entire Gambian and even non-Gambian people. I pray for your family’s good health and long life so that they can continue to support your endeavours to make this country the Silicon Valley of Africa.”

“May God the Almighty shower his blessings unto you, your family and government so that we will continue to enjoy the fruits of your vision, hard-work and development for this beloved nation. Long live your Excellency, long live The Gambia, and long live the Gambian people,” the IGP concluded, and then extended the assurances of his highest considerations.

AAPG

In a similar message, the Aid Agency for Gambian People (AAPG) at Churchill’s Town, also congratulated President Jammeh on the 14h anniversary of the July 22nd celebrations.“May Allah the Almighty grant you long life, peace and prosperity in all your endeavours. May Allah the Almighty guide and protect you and your family and the entire Gambian people,” stated Mrs Mariama Janneh, the president of the association.

Association d’aide de Peuple

Malaim Biyai, the president of the Association d’aide de Peuple, has also joined others to congratulate Dr Jammeh on behalf of his organisation.
“All Gambians know the essence of this day which was the day your Excellency salvaged The Gambia from the difficult times of the former regime. We are all so grateful and thus join the APRC and Your Excellency in celebrating this great day,” Malaim Biyai stated.

“As your Excellency is always grateful to Allah, we are in turn asking Allah to bless and provide you with all the strength and will in your capacity as our president. Please accept Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration,” the association’s president concluded.

Mrs Gimbi Cham

Mrs Gimbi Cham of Banjul also joined others in felicitating President Jammeh on the occasion. Mrs Cham lauded Dr Jammeh’s numerous undertakings, including the HIV/AIDS breakthrough and its impact on the lives of patients and health sector.

“I have to tell you how much I admire you. Your work for Gambian unity, your achievements, your altruism and your concern for all are but uncommon. I am very proud that you continue to show how a leader brings his people together and solves problems they are facing to advance a nation. You are a real light to many of us if not all Gambians,” Mrs Cham stated.

She then added: “Your Excellency, you are a remarkable president who, after having assumed the mantle of power, stood for social justice and fairness throughout a hard and difficult time. The Gambia knows it has a great leader who is revered [by] people of all dimensions and origins. You are an inspiration, a man of extraordinary generosity, dignity and courage. You have typified this in your tenure to date and you never wavered; never flinched in the struggle for what you believe and thought was good and right for the country. In doing this, you never lost faith in your spirit and its ultimate capacity to do good.”

“I have never had time with you, but to anyone fortunate enough to meet you, as I see with those [who] do so in the nightly news on GRTS which I always follow closely; you radiate such warmth and kindness that such meetings and sessions become unforgettable.

You are always in my thoughts and prayers with profound respect and great admiration because of the nature of person you are. There is and shall be such an outpouring of good feelings for you always because of what people can see and sense in you - Mr President. You are a man of true and profound heroism, a shining example of what a teacher and a courageous leader should be,” she acknowledged.

“In history, you will and shall be a hero for ages because you stood for us at a time when the future of The Gambia was deeply bleak,” she observed.

Editor,

Please, allow me space to express my views on the current state of affairs in the communication sector in The Gambia, in this widely read media of yours.

There is no doubt that the coming of GSM companies in the country has registered a lot of remarkable achievements and that they are also contributing immensely in the socio-economic development of the people.

Already there are numerous indications that thanks to this development, the living standards of number of families have been uplifted, and the impact has been felt even beyond, into other sectors such as health, education, etc.

Gambians readers can attest to the fact that even a poor man in the street is seen with a mobile communicating to friends and families.

The current marketing trend of communication is so competitive that it has made communication easier; we need not mention the unlimited offers they are rendering to their customers.

Imagine how many people have become millionaires, how many poor men are driving home luxurious cars and how many people are enjoying free scholarships to degree levels, just to name a few.

I want to extend my message to Gambians to appreciate this mammoth development within this short period of time. The coming of these three GSM operators has really changed the lives of many.

There are other business companies who are making millions of dalasis every day yet they never want to invest it in the country but they rather take all that money and save it in their foreign accounts.

I think the current state of the GSM communication market is a good strategy, since the money is spent on their customers.

The GSM companies need support, especially since all the employees of these companies are predominantly youths who are the number one priority of the Gambian leader.

Jainaba Wilson

New Yundum

The University of The Gambia Medical Students Association (UNIGAMSA) on Saturday sworn in during a colourful ceremony held at the School of Medicine in Banjul. The new executive council, which is tasked with the responsibility of presiding over the destiny of the association, is the fourth of its kind.

In his remarks, Mr Gibril Ndow, the outgoing Secretary General, said that their tenure was a moment of great challenges. They were fortunate to live up with expectations, as UNIGAMSA continues to always stand up in order to fulfill its responsibility.

According to him, their first task was to identify the needs of students and put up strategies capable of helping to remedy to these problems. Mr Ndow further outlined some of the achievements which included two trophies won by the UNIGAMSA  football team.

Acknowledging the large support demonstrated by various institutions, he called on them keep on providing such an assistance. In fact, he noted, Paradise Suite Hotel has recntly provided a grant of 8,000 dalasis to the association so as to enable the publication of UNIGAMSA newsletter.

In a similar vein, the outgoing president Bully Camara recognised and expressed his appreciation of the great support they have been getting especially from the President of the Republic, Dr Yahya Jammeh. He therefore advised the new executive to deploy the necessary efforts in order to maintain the association on the right track.

Mr Ousman Nyan, the provest and deputy vice chancellor thanked all those who have been supporting the students in their activities either morally or financially. He also advised to always open their mind to the sense of duty and responsibility.  Other speackers incliuded Dr Mariatou Jallow, Chief Medical Director ; Carlos Salsamendes, the Cuban plenipotentiary in The Gambia.

In the new executive, Mr Peter Mendy steps in as the new president, flanked by Mr Momodou Tekanyi, as vice president. While Abdul Hamid Kanteh took over the post of Secretary General from Gibril Ndow.