The theme of this year’s conference is Biography of the late Sheikh Ahmad Tijan Dem of Kaolack.

It will be characterised by a recitation of the holy Quran and prayers for the Gambia and Senegal.

According to Serign Kabir Dem, the conference will start in the morning with a recitation of the holy Quran at Jawara Kunda in Dippa Kunda which, will be followed by the conference during the afternoon at Sheraton Hotel.

Serign Dem added that the conference is dedicated to His Excellency the President of the Republic Alhagie Yahya Jammeh whiles the Vice President, Speaker of the National Assembly, Secy. Ismaila Sambou, Secy. Fatou Lamin Faye, Mr. Baboucarr Boye of Education Department and Mam Saihou Mbye of SSHFC who is also the father of Dairatul Jokaleh.

Born in the village of Kubuneh, Kombo North in the year 1918, Sheikh Amdad Tijan Dem, son of the late Momodou Ceesay Dem is a well-recognised Islamic scholar whose contributions to national development and the development of Islam cannot be over emphasised.

“He was a member of two families in the Gambia and was born at a time when his late father left Senegal and came to the Gambia”, Serign Dem said.

He added, “His father was called Momodou Ceesay Dem and was well recognised for his invaluable contribution in Islam most especially in his village of Kubuneh”.

Serign Dem went further to invite all lovers of Serign Ahmad Tijan Dem to come forward and attend the conference at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday as a detail information about his background will be said on the occasion.

The Catholic Education Secretariat Co-operative Credit Union (CESCU) recently held its annual general meeting with almost 300 members attending the Fr Farell Memorial Hall in Kanifing.

CESCU, which has grown in membership from 570 to 700, is now worth D5.4 million compared to D5 million last year.
According to Anna Sally Badjie, the treasurer, during the 12 months since the last meeting people have retained a lot of hope and trust in CESCU. Reporting on their assets she said, “our total assets are calculated to be D5,012,317.” This, she said, was due to the efforts of the board of directors and individual members from schools across the country.

She said the loans committee continues to issue loans to qualified members of CESCU on a weekly basis. “The five-man committee appraises loan applications and have issued total loans amounting to D1,453,934 and the balance outstanding is D2,453,934. This has yielded interest of D308,010 within 12 months,” she told the meeting.

Anna Sally Badjie further said they invest not only in loans but with commercial banks and the central financial facility with NACCUG amounting to D215,878 and shareholding investment of D10,964. The reserve fund stands at D351,729 as of the 31st of December 2007 and has yielded interest of D32,956.

Mrs. Badjie further said that their gross interest stands at D532,088 compared to D501,964 in the previous year. Expenditure stands at D202,969 compared with D330,913 the previous year. This, she explained, was because “we cut down on travel expenses and other things.”

The treasurer revealed that the board decided to pay 3% and 5% for 2006 and 2007 as individual savings after the deduction of administration costs of D202,969. “CESCU’s work has been successful with many achievements recorded,” she said in conclusion.

According to Yayah Colley, analyzing CESCU’s performance said not much was achieved. He said the police and GTU are ahead. “CESCU should do more,” he stated. Many distinguished persons were present and new members were elected to office.

As PAC/ PEC Prepares to Receive Annual Reports

In what could be described as an ultimatum to all public enterprises and agencies, Hon. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, Speaker of the National Assembly, has warned that by 8thSeptember the joint committee of Finance and Public Enterprises of the National Assembly will proceed to take appropriate legal measures against defaulting agencies and enterprises that fail to submit their annual reports, accounts and financial statements by 2ndSeptember 2008.

Speaker Jahumpa Ceesay’s caution came as the National Assembly committees prepare to receive and consider annual reports and financial statements of all Public Enterprises/Agencies of the government of The Gambia.

The month-long exercise expected to be convened from Monday, 25thAugust 2008 to September 2008, will give the law-makers the opportunity to receive and consider annual reports and financial statements of all Public Enterprises/Agencies of the government of The Gambia.

So far only 20 Public Institutions and Enterprises are said to have complied with the constitution by submitting their reports, accounts and financial statements to the National Assembly on time for statutory considerations and scrutiny by law-makers, while about 22 are yet to do so.

This exercise is in pursuance of the powers bestowed on Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) of the National Assembly by the provisions of section 102, 109 and 110 of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, which require that the annual reports, accounts and financial statements of all Public Enterprises and Agencies that are funded wholly and partly by taxes from the people of The Gambia are jointly received and considered.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, 18thAugust 2008 at the National Assembly Chambers, the Speaker of the National Assembly noted that “the principal objective of this statutory exercise is to perform lawful checks, scrutiny and oversight over Public Enterprises and Agencies and the public service delivery systems with a view to ensuring that the Government of The Gambia and its public service delivery systems, institutions, enterprises and agencies are all accountable to the Gambian people.”

She however highlighted that the meeting is not out to witch-hunt anybody but designed rather to fully discharge the statutory duties entrusted to the National Assembly by the constitution and other laws of the country.

“It is our collective resolve and mandate to make sure that the loans we ratified here in this Assembly or grants secured on behalf of the Gambian people are properly accounted for,” she explained. “This we would all agree will boost donor confidence,” she added.

The annual Nawettan tournament is a well-contested and competitive championship featuring teams from around the communities staging the event.

Being so far the only tournament that gives members of the community a sense of belonging and zeal to troop in numbers to Nawettan playing grounds to support their teams, it is always much awaited by commuters as in the case of Serrkunda West. This is one of the major Nawettan centres in the country.

The Serrkunda West championship which kicked off over the week and looks like the place to be over the weekend as very interesting and appetising matches are expected to take place.

As part of the group matches of the weekend encounters of the  Serrekunda West  Nawettan, Saalbi will meet Gamstar on Friday.

Other interesting encounters will include Pipeline against Ajax Saturday morning.  Super cup champions, Tigers will meet Ngoyan in the mid afternoon encounter.  Kanifing United, defending champions of the League, will clash with the Ebo-town side, Unicorns, later in the evening.

On Sunday, Jollof will meet Old Hand at 9am and newcomer’s Cambell town will meet the formidable Gintos FC at 3pm.  Gintos grabbed a 2-1 victory over Luzan in the opening of the group matches.

Kanifing Estate will take on Jeshwang United at 5pm.

The annual Njawara Marathon, organised by the Njawara Youth Development Society, is slated for this weekend 

Speaking in an interview with Pointsports yesterday, a member of the organising committee of this years event, Mr. Ebou Faye Njie, said the theme for this marathon is “Run for School Library”, noting that the proceeds received from the run will be used for the development of the school library.

He disclosed that they have good prizes for the participants, adding that the 10km male race will go from Kerewan to Njawara while the 5km race will start from Dare Salaam and go to Njawara. The 3km race for children is expected to begin from Turo Ba and finish in Njawara.

Mr. Faye stated that the winner of the 10km race will receive a cash prize of D1000, a trophy, gold medal and a certificate while the runner up will also receive a cash prize of D800, silver medal and a certificate.

He added that for the 5km race the winner is expected to receive a cash prize of D1,000, a gold medal and certificate and the winner of the second prize will receive D800, silver medal and certificate. The 3km for children winner will go home with a handsome prize of Stationary worth D500 and the second prize winner will also receive stationary worth D300. The third will receive D200 worth of stationary.

He has also called on athletes from the Greater Banjul Area who intend to participate to register with Mr. Arthor Jackson of GAA noting that the registration fee is D20.

Kaur Senior Secondary School recently held their annual speech and prize giving ceremony at the school hall.

Speaking at the occasion, the Principal of the school, Mr. Alasan Jobe, commended the level of commitment and dedication shown by the staff of the school in their pursuit of the goal of quality, relevant education for all.

According to Mr. Jobe, at the beginning of the academic year there was a shortage of staff at the school. The intervention of Mr. Momodou Baba Jallow, the former Principal and the board of governors the school were able to secure three extra teachers.

Speaking on the academic performance of the students, Mr. Jobe said that they have been performing remarkably well. The school presented 97 certificates in the 2007 May/June WASSE. He said that out of the candidates presented, 75% of the students passed. This, he said, was an “utter reduction in the number of failures.”

Principal Jobe further asserted that the school is a unique institution saying, “the workers in this school are the most diligent, persevering and versatile around.”

For his part, the guest speaker, Mr. Momodou Baba Jallow, spoke on the importance of discipline saying that it is fundamental to any success in life. He cautioned the graduands that as they join the world to remember that they are ambassadors for the noble institution of Kaur Senior Secondary School.

In conclusion, he said that school-going students should always be prepared to work hard and maintain discipline and respect for their elders, parents and teachers.

The first annual disability sports event, which will feature Basketball, Volleyball, Goalball, football matches and Wheelchair road races, is billed for this weekend at the Serrekunda West Mini Stadium.

The event, organised by The Gambia Paralympic Association, is meant to promote disability sports across the country and will be a two day affair and will kick off on Saturday July 19th to the 20th.  It is supported by the National lottery through the Big Lottery fund.

Speaking to Pointsports Sulayman Colley, President of The Gambia Paralympic Association stated that as part of that activities marking the event, there will be wheelchair basketball and goal ball competitions on Saturday.

He added that Sunday will feature football and Volleyball matches and a Marathon race from Tabokoto to Serrekunda West mini Stadium.

Colley said the event will give them the opportunity to showcase the different disciplines for a start and hope to increase the number of events adding that trophies will be awarded to winners and runners p

“Disabled people have a role to play in nation building. All we need is support, encouragement and sponsors for our activities at national, regional and international levels.

“Sports for Disabled people is crucial because it helps the disabled persons; to be free from vulnerability in the society as people with disabilities are often isolated and seen as beggars in the streets. There is a lack of awareness of any role they play in national building and they are marginalised,” he pointed out.

He stated that if every support and encouragement is given to disabled people in all fields of life, there will be a lot of changes and development for people with disabilities in the entire country.

He seized the opportunity to appeal to the general public to come out in numbers to grace the event as it is free of charge.

He commended sponsors of the event and expressed hope that other institutions will emulate the National Lottery and New World for Youth in London for disability participation in sporting events.

The annual Ziyareh and the Islamic conference of the late Islamic scholar Omar Bunjeng is slate to take place this Sunday the 29th of June at his school in Gunjur in Kombo South Western Region.

The annual event attracts Muslims from across The Gambia and beyond. The first part of the event will witness the recitation of the Holy Quran by talibes and other Muslims residing in Gunjur and surrounding villages.

The second part of the event will witness the Islamic conference in which Islamic preachers will preach to Muslims about how to convince others to come to Islam.

In this regard the organising committee is calling on all people residing in The Gambia and the sub region to attend the event.   

The vice president of The Gambia Cricket Association, Johnny Gomez, will leave Banjul today for South Africa to attend the annual general meeting of the International Cricket Council/Africa Cricket Association in Johannesburg.

According to Johnny, during the AGM, a report of the Cricket Association’s past activities will be presented as well as development plans for the year 2008.

“We will also apply for support for a secretariat and look forward for the approval of the bid for the hosting of the U-15 cricket championship in Banjul scheduled to run from the 31st October to November 8th,” he added.

He seized the opportunity, to inform Pointsports that The Gambia Cricket Association will hold its primary school cricket competition on the 6th of June. The competition will be a knockout tournament that will feature 8 teams from Banjul.

The Gambia National Federation is organising its annual National Congress at the Conference hall at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Saturday 24th May 2008 at 10.00 am prompt.

All Vous/Clubs registered and affiliated with the federation are requested to send two delegates to attend the congress. Matters affecting the federation, namely the presentation of the financial report, activity report and the election of the executive will be reviewed and decided upon.

Your attendance is very significant and crucial within the time frame specified.

Yours faithful

Lassana Touray

Secretary General

(GNDF)

Meanwhile The Gambia National Draughts Federation has informed Pointsports that the Dodou Secka Memorial Championship will take place at Latrikunda Yiringanya from Friday the 16th of May to Sunday the 18th of May. The competition will commence at 4pm on Friday.