President Yahya Jammeh and delegation flew from Banjul, late Monday evening, and had a brief stop in Algeria, where he was given a surprising welcome at the Waribomedene International Airport in Algiers.

 He was received at the foot of the aircraft, early Tuesday morning, by the president of Algerian Senate, Abdoulah bin Salih and a Guard of Honour mounted in his honour by elite forces of the Algerian army.

Speaking to a waiting press crew, the Gambian leader expressed his delight for the welcome accorded him and his delegation, attributing it to the years of cordial relationship between the people and government of the two countries.

President Jammeh, accompanied by the First Lady, Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh, their two children, and a team of religious leaders, arrived at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Here they were received at the Royal Terminal Building by Prince Misel bin Abdul Aziz – the governor of Jeddah, and the Gambian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Alhajie Lamin Kiti Jabang, and a cross section of Gambians living in the Kingdom. The presidential entourage was finally installed at the Jeddah Conference Palace after the usual airport ceremonies.

His first meeting there was with the Gambian community in the Kingdom, where Mustapha Bojang, the Gambian Consul General in Jeddah, told the gathering that audience with the Gambian leader had become a tradition and a forum to discuss issues impacting positively or otherwise on Gambians in the Holy Kingdom. Bass Ceesay, president of Gambian women association in Saudi, pointed out issues she said were affecting their general welfare, while Ebrima Kambi described the massive infrastructural development and continuous upgrading of the social set up back home as impressive.  

Ambassador Jabang on the other hand, spoke of President Jammeh’s ability to foster unity and competence in governance.  He recalled his appointment time when he was still a member of the opposition, describing the gesture of the president then as a judgement that calls for closer collaboration amongst the nation’s political parties to achieve uniformity in development.  Ambassador Jabang described his first audience with the Gambian leader as a moral booster and a reminder to his office that there is a greater force behind Gambia’s success story.

President Jammeh, for his part, spoke highly of the Gambia’s Ambassador and Consul General in the Holy Land.  The two, he said, had handled the affairs of Gambians in Saudi competently.  He referred to the appointment of Ambassador Jabang as a call for concerted effort to develop the nation, noting that politics ends when a winner has been declared in an election.

 The President provided an immediate solution to problems highlighted by the Gambian women in Saudi, offering them a chance to handle cooking he personally caters for for Gambian pilgrims.  

He also donated to the group a sum of $10,000 and a separate equivalent to their male counterpart. The president also briefed the gathering on undertakings aimed at controlling prices of basic commodities and to ensure sustainable economic growth, stressing however that the bottom line to achieving sustainable development lies on the willingness of Gambians to assume responsibility and to take up major ventures now in the hands of foreign individuals.  He also advised Gambians in Saudi Arabia to respect and adhere to the laid down laws and regulations of the Holy Land.

The first family and delegation flew to Medina on Wednesday morning, to commence their religious undertaking proper, preceding the Umra at the prophet’s mosque, which also house his remains, that of Abubakar Sidiq and Umar bun Khatab. President Jammeh was provided with an escort to perform the required prayers beside the prophet’s shrine, which was reportedly a house belonging to his wife, Aisha, where he passed away almost 1419 years ago.

He performed Zuhr, Asr, Maggrib, Isha; as well as Nafila and, together with the First Lady, Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh, he paid homage to the Holy Prophet of Islam, Mohammed (PBU) and his two companions. President Jammeh also had the privilege to perform prayers at the "Piawdu" – part of the original mosque built by Prophet Mohammed, after his migration from Mecca.

It was a rare opportunity; an opportunity billions sought for; and as President Jammeh walked into the second mosque built by the prophet, after Quba – swelling with emotion and passion:  A cultivation of reasons dignify the shadow of emotion – prayers at the Holy Mosque in Medina is equivalent to 1000 prayers at any other ordinary place of worship – said Imam Abdoulie Fatty .

The early morning rush to perform Fajr was the beginning of Thursday activities.  The First family and delegation were led to series of sites in Medina being history of the struggle to institute Islam as a religion.

At Mount Uhud – a shrine commemorating the 70 lives lost, when the Muslim army experienced its first defeat during the jihad of the Prophet.  Prominent among the fallen heroes was Hamza, a warrior who sacrificed his life and fought along side the Holy Prophet.

At this shrine the First Family and delegation paid their respect before proceeding to Masjid Qiblatain – which had its Qibla at Jerusalem, before Prophet Mohammad was ordered to redirect it towards the Kaabah in Mecca. At Quba – the first mosque built in Islam by Prophet Mohammed, survived almost two thousand years standing.  

The Prophet had reportedly said – anyone who visits Islam’s first place of worship and perform two rakaats within its premises, they would receive reward equivalent to that of Umra. President Jammeh did exactly that.

The Presidential delegation also paid its respect to the millions buried at Janatal Bequiya – Medina’s main burial ground – which is also said to contain the bodies of the Prophet’s wife, Aisha, and many of his followers.

At the end of the visit, President Jammeh returned to his hotel where he would leave, later that afternoon, for Mecca, where he would perform the rites of the Umrah.
Courtesy of GRTS’ Abdou Njie

Oley Dibba-Jagne, the general manager of the Gambia Women’s Finance Association (Gawfa), has said that her association will sue women’s  groups that fail to pay back their loans on time,  as required by the association.

She made this remark, on Friday, when the Daily Observer sought her opinion on the allegedly missing amount of money involving the Fawe  Mothers Club of Sanchaba Sulay Jobe and a former employee of Gawfa, Sohna Jeng, who was said to have travelled to UK, last year.

According to her, all the defaulters of Gawfa will appear in court before the end of this week.

"We have done enough sensitisation on the issuing of receipts, and other necessities with regards to taking loans. This is the seventh time that the Fawe Mothers Club are taking loans from Gawfa and such a thing has never happened.

We told them that if they give their monies to anyone without being issued a receipt from Gawfa, then it means they are giving out their monies freely because that money might not reach Gawfa," she remarked.

"We have had incidents where people altered Gawfa receipts, not knowing that we have copies of the receipts in the office. Some people are using Sohna Jeng’s disappearance to play games but they can’t escape Gawfa, the monies were taken on loan and they must be paid back so that other business women can also acquire loans on time," Gawfa’s general manager told the Daily Observer.

She confirmed that Sohna Jeng, an ex-employee of Gawfa, left the office unceremoniously and travelled  abroad in March 2007, without submitting any resignation letter.

Mrs Dibba-Jagne also informed the Daily Observer that the Fawe Mothers were given a loan of D100,000 and it was to be paid back within a period of 10 months.
"They have paid some amount and presently, they owe Gawfa D53,853.87, which should have been paid before September 5, and that is why Gawfa is taking them to court this week," she revealed.

On the other hand, the Fawe Mothers Club claimed that they gave D93,559 to Sohna Jeng, as part of their loan repayment within six months. The women’s group also alleged that Sohna Jeng collected their monies from their president, Ndey Jobe, and travelled to UK last year, without giving them any receipt.

Ndey Jobe, the president of the women’s group said her association paid another D9,825 to Gawfa after Sohna Jeng’s disappearance but was quick to say that they got a receipt for that repayment.

In fulfillment of their constitutional mandate, the Gambia Professionals Photographers Association (GPPA) will, Friday, September 26, hold its first ever congress.

During the congress, delegates are expected to scrutinise various reports of the association, formulate a plan of action, as well as elect new executive members to serve for five years.

According to the association’s constitution, all executives members should be elected by a secret ballot system, and those to be elected must be registered with the association and also pay their dues.

According to reports emanating from the association, those who wish to apply for a post in the executive should submit their names to all photo laboratories in the Greater Banjul Area and those in the provinces can send their names to photo collection centers in the regions, particularly in Basse.

The speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, on Thursday, received the executive members of the Public Relations Association of The Gambia (PRAG), in her office at the National Assembly building in Banjul.

Speaking at the meeting, Alex DaCosta, the senior communication officer of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (Pura), who is also the secretary general of PRAG, said the purpose of the meeting was to  officially inform the speaker of the association’s decision to adopt her as their honorary president and adviser, and President Jammeh as their chief patron for their annual continental association conference to be held in The Gambia in 2009.

For his part, Raymond AK Njai, the president of PRAG, congratulated the speaker on her new appointment as the president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region and told her of their desire to revitalise the association.

“PRAG is a member of the Africa Public Relations Association (APRA), a continental association which is composed of national associations or individual practitioners. Every year, APRA organises conferences on topical public relations issues. The paper presentations and exchanges at these conferences provide a learning platform and an opportunity for networking among public relations groups. APRA is currently studying the South African model of accreditation with a view to adopt it for its members,” Mr Njai explained.

The PRAG boss also informed the speaker that the annual continental association conference will be held in The Gambia in 2009, precisely around 25th May 2009, which would coincide with President Jammeh’s birthday.

Mr Njai also highlighted some of the objectives of his association, saying that PRAG has a lot of ideas to share with the tourism sector to ensure vibrant tourism, among other issues.
He called on the government, NGOs, the media and the general public to support the association in order to successfully host the 2009 annual continental association conference.

In her response, Hon Jahumpa-Ceesay expressed delight to receive the executive and assured them of her full support at all times.

“I will support you morally and financially. I will tell all the National Assembly members to contribute towards the success of the 2009 annual continental conference scheduled to take place in this country,” Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay told the PRAG executive members.
As a pioneer member of PRAG, the speaker advised the PRAG executive to network among themselves and also cooperate with the press, adding that the National Assembly is press-friendly.

Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East and Hon Netty Baldeh, NAM for Tumana, told the PRAG executive that they have done the right thing by choosing the speaker as their honorary president and adviser, considering her leadership qualities, among other issues. They also assured the PRAG executive of the National Assembly’s support at all times.

As part of its tour of schools across the country, the executive members of the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG), on Tuesday, held a meeting with the Young Writers Club of Armitage Senior Secondary School at St Thereses Lower Basic School in Kanifing.

The YJAG executive used the opportunity to meet the students who are currently on summer classes at St Thereses LBS, to introduce YJAG to the students and also to invite them to become members of the association.

Speaking at the meeting ground, Musa Ndow, the 1st vice-president of YJAG, gave a brief history of the association, its aims and objectives, among other issues. He also outlined some of the upcoming activities of YJAG.

For her part, Isatou Baldeh, the 2nd vice-president of YJAG, advised the students especially girls, to take their academic work seriously. She encouraged the girls to choose journalism as their career after graduation.

Nfamara Jawneh, the president of YJAG expressed delight at meeting Armitage students.
He encouraged the Young Writers Club of Armitage to become members of YJAG, in order to benefit from the training packages, and other incentives.

Mr Jawneh also used the opportunity to invite the Armitage students to YJAG’s 1st anniversary celebration, slated for September 16.  

Rohey K. Ceesay, the head of the Young Writers Club of Armitage Senior Secondary School delivered the vote of thanks.

Buba Ceesay and Momodou Jallow, all teachers at Armitage SSS, assured YJAG of their press club’s readiness to partner with the young journalists association.

On Friday August 22nd2008, members of The Gambia Cricket Association will converge at the Independence Stadium in Bakau for the election of a new executive that will run the affairs of cricket for the coming years.

The AGM will also hear reports from the president, development officer and treasurer among others.

According to The Gambia Cricket Association members are expected to settle a registration fee of D10.00 before being eligible to take part in the process.

The positions to be elected include president, vice president, secretary general and assistant with five elected members.