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As WB, IMF meeting wraps up

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:32:45 GMT

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

SoS Bala Gaye to chair Africa Group

Mousa Gibril Bala Gaye, the secretary of state for Finance and Economic Affairs, has been appointed Chairman of the African Group One Constituency, which comprises 22 African countries, mainly English-speaking, at the World Bank and IMF.

The countries concerned includes, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Lesotha, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria , Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

According to a press release from the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, this constituency elects one Executive Director and an Alternate Executive Director to represent all constituency members in the Board of Directors of the World Bank Group (IBRD), IFC, MIGA, and IDA) and the IMF.

SoS Bala Gaye, the release noted, is also the Chairman of the Africa Group One Constituency Panel. "The composition of the constituency panel for the period 2008 to 2010 is as follows: The Gambia (chair), Uganda (vice chair), and other members include South Africa, Burundi, Malawi and Sierra Leone," the release concluded.

Author: DO

Illiassa constituency assisted

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:50:55 GMT

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Honourable Lamin Kebba Jammeh, the National Assembly member for Illiassa constituency, last Saturday presented 12 computers, Science text books for Primary and Nursery schools, second hand clothings and a set of football vests to the people of his constituency, at a ceremony held at the Farafenni Primary School.

In an interview with the Daily Observer after the presentation, Honourable Jammeh said the donation came following his return from the UK, where a philanthropist made the donation possible. According to him, each primary school within the constituency will get a 100 textbooks.

“The second hand clothes were handed over to the people of Bellingo village. The Farafenni Second Infantry Battallion, the Police, Immigration post, Farafenni Community FM radio station and the youth centre, each received one computer,” he concluded.

Author: by Omar Wally

Lower Fulladu West Gets New Lady Councilor

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:09:49 GMT

Monday, September 15, 2008

Reports reaching this paper have it that Mrs. Fatou Trawally of Brikamaba has been appointed as the new lady councilor for Lower Fulladou West District in Central River Region by the National Women’s Council.

An appointment letter was sent to Mrs. Fatou Trawally last week from Governor Ganyie Touray’s office in CRR and her appointment took effect on the 8thof September 2008, following her selection by the women of said district.

For seven years prior to her appointment Mrs. Fatou Trawally was the APRC Assistant Secretary General for Lower Fulladou West Constituency.

She was reportedly selected at district level after which it was forwarded to Governor Touray who submitted her name to the office of the vice president for onward dispatch to the president for approval.

Meanwhile the office of the Governor CRR congratulates Mrs. Trawally for her dedication and loyalty and prayed for the Almighty God to provide her with the needed strength and aptitude to carry out her functions.

Author: By Lamin B. Darboe

Source: Picture: Mrs Fatou Trawally

Sidia Jatta Objects to New Security Bill

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:52:29 GMT

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Hon. Sidia Jatta, National Assembly Member for Wuli west Constituency and one of the leading lights of the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development, has expressed strong opposition to the recently amended National Security Agency bill establishing four new security agencies in addition to the National Intelligence Agency.

The new security agency bill, which among others aims to strengthen national security against military and other related threats, was passed by the National Assembly on Monday.

In his contribution to the motion for the amendment of the bill, Hon. Sidia Jatta conceded that The Gambia might be under threat of some kind, the real threat facing the country is poverty of the people.

In Hon. Jatta’s view, the money that should have gone into supplementing efforts into alleviating poverty in the country is going to be pumped into creating four new intelligence agencies in addition to the National Intelligence Agency.

“This is what I call bureacratisation coming down to totalitarisation of our country. A small country like The Gambia, little tiny Gambia, five intelligence agencies in addition to the CID. What is going to happen to the CID? Is the CID going to be integrated into what we called the Criminal Intelligence Agency or what?,” he enquired.

According to the Wuli West parliamentarian, the move is in fact going to increase the threat to the sovereignty of this country because, as he put it, money that should have been used to alleviate poverty, to help develop this country, is going to be invested into bureaucratising intelligence education in this country.

“Such a situation does not help the growth of democracy and freedom in this country. We have fought to become free from colonialism because we want to be ourselves, have a voice and be individuals with dignity to contribute meaningfully towards the development of our country but this cannot be done in fear,” Hon. Jatta noted.

For the Wuli West parliamentarian, The Gambia could become a model in spite of everything but only if such is done away with. “Where ever you turn your back in this country there is somebody watching at you, which is not helpful”.

He went further to express concern about the disappearance of individuals despite the numerous security agencies in the country. “Individuals disappear and nobody knows their whereabouts. People are killed, nobody knows who the killers are and yet we have intelligence agencies or whatever you call it in this country.”

Hon. Sidia Jatta went on to lament: “How many people were killed at gun point and up to date, we don’t know who the culprits are? We have the NIA, the police, paramilitary among others but some four to five years now, individuals have disappeared, others killed and nothing has been said about it”.

Author: By Baboucarr Senghore & Abba Gibba

Source: Picture: Sidia Jatta (National Assembly Member for Wuli)

Minority Leader Denies Intending to Join APRC

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:01:54 GMT

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The National Assembly Member (NAM) for Kiang West constituency, Alhagie Momodou Sanneh, has dismissed widespread rumours that he is planning to switch allegiance to APRC, saying that it is not in his plan to join APRC party. Responding to rumours making rounds in town that he was about to join APRC, as indicated by his frequent appearance on GRTS TV, the Kiang West NAM said that he considers it an obligation on him as a National Assembly Member and also as Minority Leader in the National Assembly to attend national functions if invited officially.

He expressed his belief in the principles of the UDP party, saying that viewing him on GRTS TV should not be the determinant of favour. According to Hon. Sanneh, all Gambians are equally concerned in national issues, noting that attending national functions has nothing to do with his political support or belief. “Being an opposition member in the National Assembly does not mean you should be critical of government. You can only be critical of government on issues which are not in the interest of Gambians,” he stressed. He reassured voters that as a patriotic citizen and politician he would always be part of anything that is good for The Gambia.

He hailed the Speaker of the National Assembly as one who always makes sure that both the Majority and Minority Leaders are not left out in the administration of National Assembly matters.

He observed that if there is any political university in The Gambia, it is Kiang West Constituency, whose constituents he described as politically mature. He added that as a representative of the masses his priority is to put the interests of his constituency and The Gambia at large on the top.

The Kiang West NAM concluded by describing himself as a National Assembly Member who is not looking for cheap popularity but that his is a development-oriented mission.

Author: By Lamin B. Darboe