The acting British High Commissioner Birse Graham yesterday presented the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council Certificate to seven award participants of the Presidents International Award of The Gambia who participated in the 2006-07 in Scotland at his office in Fajara.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Graham said the program will enable young people to contribute towards the socio-economic development of their country.

He advised the youth to serve as role models and to continue the partnership between the two countries.

For his part, the permanent secretary youth and sports, Mamanyick Njie, stated that the young people of the two countries, through the exchange program, have learn a lot about each others culture and tradition.

Ps Njie said the president of the republic, because of his passion for the youth, set up the NYSS and the PIA.

He said the Gamscot project is helping the youths of The Gambia.

The chief executive of PIA, Abdoulie Bah, said PIA is tasked with creating opportunities for the youth of the world.

Lawyer Edu Gomez on 9th April 2008 underscored his disapproval with the manners of a defendant in a 1,705,000 CFA case at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, telling him to shut up when he speaks.

The defendant, Abdoulie Faye, told the court that the plaintiff, who was represented by Lawyer Gomez, failed to appear in court because he was one of the accused persons in the Gam petroleum theft case and had absconded. He went on to say that the case in which he was a defendant was being dragged on the instance of the plaintiff who had failed to appear in court four times.

These comments did not go down well with Lawyer Gomez, who told the court that the defendant had no right to tarnish the image of his client. He countered that his client, Nachar Datef, was in the jurisdiction but could not appear in court because he was sick. He dismissed the defendant’s claim that the case dragged in the instance of his client, adding that it was not true that his client was absent four times. He thus urged the court to warn the defendant to behave well.

Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbackeh, who was presiding over the case, told the defendant that there are rules and procedures in court. The defendant then apologised.

Lawyer Gomez thereupon applied to the court to adjourn the case on the understanding that in the event his client does not recover in time to appear in court on the adjourned date, he (Gomez’s client) would have to bring a power of attorney.

Magistrate Mbackeh granted the application and asked Lawyer Gomez to provide the court with a medical certificate on the adjourned date, 23rd April 2008.

Mr. Michael Secka was born on 12th December 1963 in the town of Basse in the Upper River Region (URR). He attended St. George’s Primary School and later Armitage High School. Then he went to the Gambia College for his Primary Teaching Certificate (PTC) and his Higher Teaching Certificate (HTC) and now he is studying at the University of The Gambia while heading the Jangjangbureh Upper Basic School.

In an interview recently Mr. Secka told The Point that he loves the art of writing and ever since he was young he has been dreaming of becoming a writer. Now he thanks God that he has successfully launched four books that are widely read. The books are  “Love Impersonation and Breaking Hearts”, “Education in Tears and Women in Distress”, “Literacy for Gambian Upper Basic Schools” and “Shock”.

He is launching a further six books in two months time which are called; “Face to Face with African Tradition”, “Management in Gambian Schools”, “Critical Essay in Education”, “Preserving Customs”, “Africa Robbed it’s History, Dignity and Culture Along the Paths of History” and “Concern That Matters But No System”.

He is appealing to the Government, NGOs, Philanthropists and well wishers for sponsorship to launch these books.

According to the boy’s father, Mr. Nema Ceesay, Ousman was born sick. Since that time he has been taken to the Medical Research Council (MRC) and admitted on three occasions. He was later referred to RVTH where he was admitted for five weeks.

Upon his discharge, it was confirmed that he was suffering from pneumonia and heart failure. The certificate further revealed that the boy has a systolic murmur and that the LSE had picked out a dilated left atrium and ventricle which needs surgical treatment. The required procedure is only available overseas.

Ousman’s parents are now seeking assistance from Government, NGO’s and individuals to help the boy get the life-saving treatment. The father (Nema Ceesay) can be contacted on 7021553.

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Africa, a pro-advocacy network that promotes and supports optimal infant and young child-feeding practicies (IYCF), has awarded a  certificate of  appreciation to the  National Nutrition Agency (NaNa).

This is due to the recognition of the outstanding contrbutions of NaNa in the activities of IBFAN in the promotion of the rights of women and children.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Malang Fofana of NaNa, who doubles as   the National Co-ordinator of IBFAN, said the award is in recognition of Nana’s significant achievements in the area of Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI).

According to him, BCFI’s programme inspired countries like Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, thus prompting them to visit The Gambia, in oder to exchange and study how the programme   was implemented in the   country.

He said the action plan developed by The Gambia is geared towards the designation of six health facilities, including   Bansang, Basse, Essau, Soma, Farrafenni and the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital as   ‘baby friendly’ by the year 2010.

This is all geared towards   focusing on national scaling of Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) and Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) to ensure improved cordination among network members .

First among African Countries

The Point has gathered from unimpeachable sources that The Gambia on Wednesday, 26th September 2007, became the first African country to be granted Foreign Operator Certificate by the Saudi authorities. This certificate is a mandatory requirement to uplift pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The acquisition of the invaluable certificate, granted following a long and rigorous audit process conducted by the Saudi authorities, is believed to be a giant and timely leap in The Gambia’s 2007 Hajj operation bid.

Our sources further intimated that a whopping sum of US$1.5 million required as a guarantee for the charter of the appropriate aircraft for this year’s hajj has already been paid by Gambia International Airlines (GIA) on behalf of The Gambia.

Our sources added that this achievement is attributable to the relentless efforts of the GIA Management under the leadership of the Management Contractor, Jacques Zghinou.

Twenty officers from the Gambia Fire and Ambulance Services were on Monday awarded certificates after completing a two-week intensive training.

The training, held in Bakau, was organized by Rotary Club of British Aztec Mame Le Valle.

In his speech at a ceremony to award the certificates to participants, Head of Life Guard trainers from UK, Mr. Cliff Nelson, explained that the training was aimed at training members of the fire service in rescue techniques in saving lives at the beaches.

He pointed out that this particular training was hailed as excellent and pledged that more training programmes of such nature would be provided to the personnel of Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service.

In extending gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Nelson and his team, Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Roger Bakurin, said the training was not a welcoming programme to the member of fire service but the Gambian nation as a whole.

He encouraged the participants to put the techniques gained in the training to good use.