The political atmosphere at the University of The Gambia is at its peak, as the current executive council of the students union’s mandate draws to an end. Aspirants are busy preparing the grounds for the forthcoming polls.

The Daily Observer has been reliably informed that this year’s UTG students union election will be marked by a great difference.

As such, interest among students for unionism has greatly improved leading to the heavy contest of the various executive positions.  Sources further advanced that most of the aspirants are vying for the union’s top job, the presidency.

Reports from the UTGSU Independent Electoral Commission confirmed that the polls will be heavenly contested as more students are showing interest in unionism.  The university’s electoral body further disclosed that so far about 3 aspirants namely Modou Bah, Anthony Mendy and Ansumana Darboe are eyeing the presidency while three others, including for the first time a woman, namely Binta Sowe, Paul Correa and Phillip Jassey,  are aiming to contest for vice-presidency.

The UTGSU IEC has already received a series of applications for other portfolios such as secretary general and information director.

The commission added that they will subject all the aspirants to an interview where they will be scrutinized so as to prove their credibility and only those who are qualified will be endorsed to contest the election.

Campaign, as planned, will kick-off on Monday 17th November, 2008 while the presidential debate and convention night are scheduled for Wednesday, the 19th of November 2008.

With the presence of a large number of over eight million small arms in West Africa, as indicated in the ECOWAS report on small arms and light weapons, WANEP found it imperative for CSOs to engage policy makers for the ratification of the relevant conventions by their National Assemblies.

One of the issues covered was how to build networks to ensure that decision-makers are influenced towardspolicy change.

The aim of the course was to raise awareness on the relevant international instruments with particular focus on ECOWAS Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was recently negotiated and adopted in Dublin, Ireland.

In light of this, West African Network and PeaceBuilding group, together with Civil Society Organisations, were trained to lobby and acquire advocacy skills for the ultimate ratification of both conventions.

Foremost on the agenda was the building of capacities of civil societies in order to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. The training was also to enhance the understanding and knowledge of participants about issues and realities being advocated.

Overall, participants perused a range of issues such as peace building and conflict prevention and its background effects on development. Moreover, the training sought to cause people to change their perspectives about conflict, which can be both negative and positive. Although conflict is perceived in a bad light, according to Ms. Pamela Cole, National Co-ordinator WANEP, conflict is sometimes necessary. “It can be creative and bring justice where injustice exists,” she asserted.

Ms Sky Gallegos, the Deputy CEO for Intergovernmental Affairs for the Democratic National Convention who is a member of the US Department of State Speakers Program has arrived in The Gambia on Monday 13th October 2008. She is here on the invitation of the U.S Embassy (Banjul) as a speaker on US election.

With the upcoming historic elections fixed for November 4, 2008, the U.S Embassy is highlighting the democratic process of elections in the U.S by inviting Ms Gallegos to The Gambia, for expert exposition on the process.

An experienced campaign veteran, Ms Gallegos is the liaison to all of the elected officials, party officers and distinguished members of the Democratic family. Her work with state and locally elected officials spans the last 15 years and includes holding senior positions in government, corporate, non-profit and campaign arenas.

She first held a press conference at the YundumInternationalAirport upon arrival. She held her first and second lectures at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Wednesday where people from all walks of life, including politicians and senior government officials were in attendance. Yesterday she held one such lecture at the University of The Gambia.

Ms Gallegos during these public forums explained with examples the U.S electoral process and the current events happening in the U.S as well as give a brief background of past U.S elections of 2000, 2003 and 2006. She explained that the U.S system is based on an electoral vote, which requires one to win 51 per cent in order to get elected, but that a candidate can win the popular vote with 49 per cent. She also explained that the means of counting votes in the U.S is electronic in some states while some states use paper ballots.

 Ms Gallegos would be having her last meeting at the GambiaCollege today, and is expected to meet the U.S citizens residing in The Gambia before leaving.

US democrat Sky Gallegos arrives in The Gambia

Madam Sky Gallegos, the deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of the Intergovernmental Affairs for the Democratic National Convention, yesterday afternoon arrived in The Gambia for a three-day political visit.

The top US political officer, who is also a member of the United States Department of State Speakers Program was received on arrival at the foot of the aircraft at the Banjul International Airport by Ms Tashawna Beathea, political and economic officer of the US Embassy in Banjul, as well as other senior officials of the Banjul embassy. 

Madam Gallegos, whose visit is at the invitation of the United State Embassy in Banjul according to officials, will highlight the democratic process of elections in the United State, as well as to give the general public a broader picture of the whole election process.

Speaking to a group of waiting reporters at a press briefing, shortly after her arrival, Sky Gallegos, who made a similar visit to Sierra Leone, said the visit will provide an opportunity for the general public to know some pertinent issues regarding the US presidential election process.

Reacting to questions, the top US political officer noted that the American people have learnt a lot of lessons from the previous US elections.  She noted that the people of America have learnt about how they elect presidents in the United States, what kind of candidates they are looking for in their best interest, as well as the ability to believe that a candidate has the judgement to make decisions that will better protect the American people.

Commenting on some of the campaign strategies, Madam Gallegos indicated that the democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, has over the years used a strategy of organising campaigns at the grassroots level.

"He has given weight to that system by employing thousands of staff all around the country to really go into communities and organise them," the American campaign veteran said.

On the issue of whether a poor citizen can contest elections bearing in mind the expenses involved in American politics.  Gallegos noted that this is difficult for such a candidate to vie, but was quick to note that candidates sometimes don’t have that kind of money at the start of contesting. "But nonetheless, I just believe that if you have a vision, the desire and are ready to make something happen, it is possible for you to achieve what you want," Gallegos said. She further explained the rationale behind the two-party system in America, saying that the system has been able to play a great role in the aftermath of the  last elections. However, she indicated that despite the two-party system, independent fronts also took part in the election.

"About 25% of our total voting population are actually independent. These people who don’t belong to any political party play a critical role in the election process especially this very one," she said.

Currently serving as the deputy CEO for Intergovernmental Affairs for the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Sky Gallegos was the liaison to all of the elected officials, party officers and distinguished members of the Democratic family that attended last August’s Democratic convention.  She also worked in the last three presidential campaign cycles.

She is expected to dwell more on the democratic election process of America, today, Tuesday October 14, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel from 12pm to 2pm, and at 4pm.

Also present at the news conference where Mohamadou M Njie (Papa), Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs assistant and Ebrima Jaw Manneh, Political and Economic assistant, US Embassy in Banjul.

The forthcoming official visit to The Gambia of Ms Sky Gallegos, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Intergovernmental Affairs for the Democratic National Convention, promises to be an exciting one. Ms Gallegos’s background is rich and stout; she is steeped in American politics, having worked in the last three presidential elections, worked with state and local officials for the last 15 years, some of these being senior positions in government, corporate, non-profit and campaign areas. She was until recently, a partner with Hilltop Public Solutions, a public affair, strategic communications and campaign consulting firm in Washington, DC.

In inviting her over to The Gambia, the US Embassy in Banjul seeks to “highlight the democratic process of elections in the US”. We welcome this initiative.

This US presidential election is historic for more reasons than one. It is the first time in American history that a black person and a woman sought to be nominated as presidential candidate. Though the woman presidential hopeful lost, history was nonetheless made. Now, for the first time, a black man is on the verge of becoming the next president of America. And for the first time ever, there is a female vice presidential candidate in the United States.

One of the issues we would like Ms Gallegos to speak on is the gender dimension in the 2008 presidential election. Is it a one-off thing or is it a phenomenon that has come to stay?

We would also like her to speak impact of the Obama phenomenon on the future of American politics. Over four decades ago, a visionary dreamed that “one day the sons of slaves and sons of former slave owners will sit down on the table of brotherhood”. Is that dream being fulfilled in a significant way in the likely presidential victory of Mr Barack Obama on November 4?

The Gambian public would like to know what measures the American government has put in place to guard against the shame of the 2000 presidential election? We would also like to know why a winner of the popular vote is denied victory in the American electoral system? Is it that electoral system compatible with democracy, as we know it? These are some of the issues begging for clarification, explanation or analysis.

We also want to use this opportunity of Ms Gallegos’s visit to reaffirm our endorsement of Mr Barack Obama. We had earlier affirmed on this page that he would be America’s first black president. We believed then, as now, that he is the right person to sort out the mess that America is enmeshed in at the moment. He has the intelligence, the energy, and the charisma to undo the ill will and hostility that ill conceived foreign policies of the past eight years have unleashed on America and Americans. America needs a new direction - a new direction of peace and reconciliation all around the globe. And Mr Obama is the man to take them up that path.

We look forward to meeting Ms Sky Gallegos at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on 14 October.

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Sir Dawda, according to privileged information, left Banjul last Tuesday. The National Democratic Institute invited the former Gambian president to attend the Democratic Convention, where Mr Barack Obama will be officially declared as the standard-bearer for the Democratic Party in the 2008 presidential race.

According to our sources, Lady Njameh accompanied D.K Jawara, as the ex-Gambian leader is fondly called.

Since his return to The Gambia, after a short exile in the United Kingdom following the overthrow of his government in 1994, Sir Dawda has kept a low profile at his Faraja residence.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan), has denounced mainland China for “blatantly”, disregarding the health security of the 23 million people of Taiwan, according to reports transmitted by the Taiwanese Embassy in Banjul.

In an unprecedented break with convention, the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), did not contact Taiwan directly with information on epidemic prevention. Instead, INFOSAN on September 12 requested China to relay to Taiwan information on baby corn exported from Thailand, which was potentially contaminated with the Shigella sonnel pathogen.

However, Taiwan only received the information after 10 days later, which endangers the health of the democratic Taiwan.

Reacting to the incident, James CF Huang, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, said: “The same China that was caught lying to the world about the outbreak of SARS in 2003 continues to deceive the international community, by falsely claiming that Taiwan is one of its provinces, and as such, is included in its implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. This is dangerously far from the truth.”

“That such important information was intentionally and irresponsibly delayed for 10 days also exposes China’s claim that it would take care of Taiwanese people’s health as yet another lie. MOFA strongly condemns China for callously undermining the health security of the 23 million people of Taiwan.”

MOFA then appealed to the international community to take Taiwan’s exclusion from the IHR 2005 mechanism seriously by finding a proper solution to the gap that “Taiwan’s absence leaves in the international epidemic prevention system”. The ministry also urged the WHO to resume direct contact with Taiwan.

African elephant range countries attending a meeting of the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have agreed to a nine-year suspension of ivory trading.

The international wildlife convention also agreed to allow four southern African countries to sell stocks of their ivory.

“This consensus is a milestone in elephant history,” said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF Global Species Programme.

“This is the first time in more than 18 years that opposing factions are now speaking with one voice to move this debate forward."

The suspension will take effect after a previously approved "one-off" sale of ivory goes through.

Zambia and Chad presented a compromise document on behalf of all African countries with elephant populations, detailing an increase in the one-off sale of ivory to include ivory from stockpiles from Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe if registered by 31 January 2007.

Despite the controversy surrounding “one off” ivory sales and ivory trade suspensions, the real and substantive issues, according to WWF and TRAFFIC are illegal domestic ivory markets, both in Africa and Asia.

"Unfortunately, time ran out at the conference to effectively deal with the critical threat to elephants in the wild – poaching and illegal domestic ivory markets,” Dr Lieberman added.

The ETIS (Elephant Trade Information System) analysis reveals that key problem countries for illegal ivory are: Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Thailand and China.

“We are looking for real conservation achievement on the ground," said Tom Milliken, Director of TRAFFIC in South and East Africa.

"Let countries now take this spirit of goodwill and tackle the ivory that is being haemorrhaged illegally from West and Central Africa.”