 |
Its your world. See it, read it, discuss it. |
World News - .geographical media - RSSSyndicated content powered by .geographical mediaRSS syndication makes it easy to receive content updates in My Yahoo!, Newsgator, Bloglines, and other news readers. |
Current Feed ContentTwo Armitage teachers get the boot Wednesday, November 05, 2008 Reports reaching the Daily Observer have revealed that the Board of Governors of Armitage Senior Secondary School on Tuesday, October 28, terminated the services of two teachers namely Waka Touray, a Geography teacher and Ebrima Jarra, a Computer Science (IT) teacher. The decision was taken during a board meeting on 28 October in Janjanbureh. The sacking of these teachers, according to our sources, came after accusations against them were reported to the Board by Grade 12 students of the school. “The school councillors are not respected by the teachers. They introduced new rules which are not part of the school rules and regulations,” our sources revealed. Kaunding Tambedou, the chairman of the Board of Governors of Armitage SSS, advised the sacked teachers, during a meeting held at the governor’s residence in Janjangbureh, to keep the peace and respect the decision taken by the Board. He further disclosed that after receiving the complains of the students, the Board established a task force which investigated the matter and submitted a report to the Board. It was upon receiving that report that the Board took its decision. He said six students would also be suspended by the Board for a period of one week. He added that if anyone of the suspended students is found to be on scholarship, he/she would have to forfeit the said scholarship. He also revealed that some councillors have returned their badges to the school and that their resignation has been accepted by the Board. The deputy governor of CRR, Lamin Darboe also spoke at length on the importance of discipline. He advised the students to concentrate on their academic work in order to have good results. Author: by Lamin SM Jawo in Janjanbureh Renew your loyality to APRC Kombo Central chief urges women Friday, August 01, 2008 Alhagie Bakary DS Bojang, the chief of Kombo Central has called on the women of his district to renew their loyality to President Yahya Jammeh and the ruling APRC party for the socio-economic development of the country. The Kombo Central chief made this remark, on Wednesday, while addressing a group of APRC women at his compound at a ceremony organised in honour of the incoming lady councillor for Kombo Central Ward, Siffai Hydara, who will assume office in December, when the current councillor’s term will end. Chief Bojang told Siffai Hydara that women of the area need her services and urged her to do her utmost for the women of Kombo Central by uniting them together. He described the meeting as yet another milestone in the development of the APRC party. "I urge you all to continue the cooperation and unity that has already existed amongst you for the development of the APRC party. You have a crucial role to play in the socio-economic development of this nation. You form the root organs of the party," he said. Chief Bojang reminded the women that President Jammeh always seeks to empower women adding that their support to the APRC party in the recent years has been overwhelming. "I thank you, the women of Kombo Central, for your support to the party as you always rally behind any APRC candidate in the constituency," he said. He advised the women to work with lady councillors for the development of the constituency as their unity, collective work and partnership, can yield something positive dividend for the people. He then urged them not to take engage in angry politics saying: “Remember that our president always calls for partnership and cooperation for the development of our dear country, as the development of any country lies in the hands of its citizens," he remarked. Dembo Kaleng Bojang, the APRC constituency chairman for Kombo Central, said the occasion marks another milestone in the development of the APRC party in the area. Accordig to him, attitudinal and behavioural change is very important in a person’s life noting that Siffai Hydara is a disciplinde lady who worked hand in glove with elders of the constituency. He commended the women for their hardwork and urged them to keep up the momentum. He then called on them to put aside their differences and work towards the development of the constituency. For her part, Siffai Hydara, the incoming councillor, thanked the women for the trust and confidence bestowed on her to serve the residents of the area in the upcoming term. She described President Jammeh as a visionary who is doing everything possible to uplift the living standards of Gambians. "Councillors play a crucial role in the development of our constituency. So electing lady councillors for the coming term is another milestone and indeed a clear manifestation of your loyality to the party. However, I will urge you to always inculcate love, unity and cooperation among yourselves. Only with collective efforts and partnership that we can yield something positive. So let us not take politics with anger,” she remarked. Author: by Sheriff Janko Boost for councillorsThursday, July 31, 2008 Sunkary Badjie, chairman of Brikama Area Council (BAC) disclosed that the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) has agreed to aid The Gambia Local Government Authorities to upgrade salaries of councillors. According to him, the UCLGA) has also agreed to provide training programmes for local government authorities. Chairman Badjie made this revelation during an interview with the Daily Observer in his office in Brikama, Western Region following his return from the UCLGA meeting in Ghana recently. He stated that The Gambian delegation was headed by Samba Faal, the Mayor of Banjul who also doubled as the president of The Gambia Association of Local Government Authority (GALGA) and Mustapha Njie, GALGA’s secretary general. Mr Badjie said, the meeting centred on a wide range of issues, more importantly on local government leadership in conjunction with peace in Africa. “We also discussed governments’ interference with local government authorities” he said. As a country, he added, The Gambia cannot live in isolation, thus, becoming a member of UCLGA. On the general observation of the meeting, Chairman Badjie revealed that participants observed that councillors are under-paid and there is urgent need to solve the issue. “It was therefore recommended that we create salaries and allowances for councillors which if implemented,would enable them( councillors) to work harder” he said. Chairman Badjie then stated that at the conference, The Gambia was fortunate to be nominated in the United Cities and Local Government of Africa World Executive (UCLGA-W). Author: by Sheriff Barry & Bekai Njie Bakau Sports Committee meets KMC Mayor Wednesday, July 30, 2008 The newly elected members of the Bakau Sports Committee yesterday, paid a courtesy call to the Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, Yankuba Colley, at his office in Kanifing. The committee used the gathering to brief Mayor Colley on the dilapidated state of the Bakau Mini-stadium and the facilities within it, and sought the council’s immediate assistance to reverse the strained situation. Hadda Bangura, President of the Bakau Sports Committee informed Mayor Colley that the state of the Bakau football pitch which is the committee’s main concern right now has left much to be desired. He also spoke of the need to have a pavilion in the mini-stadium, noting that Bakau remains the only town that lacks pavilion. Bangura also used the occasion to appeal to the embassies and hotels within the town to come and help the committee in its bid to develop sports. Alagie Bahoum, Councillor of Bakau New Town Ward expressed similar sentiments, adding that Bakau being a tourism centre with a population of over 35,000 people, should have had a much better mini-stadium. In his reaction, Mayor Colley, expressed his concern over the current state of the pitch and promised that the council will do all it could to put things in order. He hailed the sports committee for working hand in glove with the two councillors in the town in its bid to develop the community. Other speaker at the gathering was Kemo Ceesay, committee adviser who doubles as account of The Gambia Football Association. Author: by Nanama Keita Kombo North moves for food-security Monday, July 14, 2008 The people of Kombo North, led by the paramount chief, Alhaji Demba Sanyang, on Saturday, gathered at the district farm located at the outskirts of Brufut Village, to continue the work that began a few weeks ago. More than 230 people, mainly youth and women, took part in tilling a portion of the farm, which has a total area of 500m X 400m. At least 150 people came from Bijilo alone, under the patronage of Pa Ousman Bojang, a nephew to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. The farmers were drawn from all the four wards in Kombo North, including Yai Compins (women’s groups), accompanied by their councillors and Alkalolu The farm is being used exclusively for the cultivation of the Nerika rice, which has multiple comparative advantages over other varieties – such as drought resistance, high yield, early maturity and high quality. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer at the farm, the Kombo North Chief, Demba Sanyang, who is the paramount chief of The Gambia, said the initiative was pioneered by President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, who gave the directive for the creation of district farms for this year’s cropping season. Paramount Chief Sanyang said this directive is being pursued in each of the districts in the country, adding that the ‘back to the land’ call has been sung by the president since he took over the reins of power 13 years ago. "He wants us to take our destiny into our own hands. Throughout the length and breadth of the country, the entire chiefdom is doing something. Some are growing maize, millet, etc. We are determined to attain food self-sufficiency," the paramount chief said. He told the Daily Observer that the post-harvest proceeds from the farm would go back to the people for their own development. He then thanked Pa Ousman Bojang and Amadou Samba, a renowned Gambian businessman, for their support to the cause. Ebrima Cham, the manager of the farm, paid tribute to the president for his visionary leadership. According to Cham, the president saw the necessity for people to go back to the land many years ago, before the world was entangled with the scarcity in food supplies and a seemingly unending surge in global food prices. Mr Cham disclosed that they would harvest the rice in the next three months and assured the president that by Allah’s will, they would emerge as the most outstanding district during the harvesting season. Ebra Faal, the councillor for Sukuta Ward, stressed the importance of the farm to the socio-economic development of the country, adding that both the produce and the proceeds would go back to the people. Both Yankuba Jatta, the Alkalo of Bijilo and Aji Ya Awa Jallow, welcomed the move, saying that "we are not doing this for anyone, because the benefits come to the people themselves at the end of the day". Other speakers included Modou Jah, a youth mobiliser from Bijilo, Aji Rohey Touray, chairperson for Kombo North and Aji Binta Sanneh, women mobiliser for the district. Author: by Ebrima Jaw Manneh TRIUMPHS AT BAC - Waa Juwara reveals Monday, May 05, 2008 The leader of the opposition National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM), a nominated councillor of the Brikama Area Council (BAC), has disclosed that his council has registered with tangible improvements in both the revenue collection and social service delivery. Lamin Waa Juwara made these remarks in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at his Brikama residence. Juwara also acknowledged the commitment of the councillors to dealing with the welfare of the people. However, he stressed that there should be no room for complacency in managing public affairs. Mr Juwara outlined that the performances of the current administration headed by Sunkari Badjie, chairman of BAC and the councillor for Somita Ward are incomparable to the previous councils in the history of BAC. According to him, the BAC chief executive officer, Momodou Jallow and his team of councillors are preparing to operate more transparently. He recalled that in November, 2007, when the interim management committee led by governor Abdou FM Badjie was appointed, they found out that the council cannot not even pay its staff salaries, despite the rates and taxes collected by 50 collectors and an additional 35 commission collectors. Juwara, who was also a member of the interim committee, recalled that the 35 commission collectors were terminated because they were serving as "disincentives" for the involvement of the chiefs and Alkalolu in the collection of rates and taxes. "Today, rates and tax collection are being vigorously pursued and the council’s revenue base is getting healthier day by day," he confirmed. He further underscored that the other impressive performance of the council is the regularisation of its staff appointments, which was preceded by a staff audit by the Personnel Management Office. He said the exercise was carried out because the current administration felt that there were excess ‘baggages’ and lot of irregularities in appointments. "There were a lot of mess in the operation of the Brikama Market also, which are now being put under control", he asserted, adding that positive moves have been taken, which will usher the proper operation. The plain-speaking veteran politician went on to further add that the council’s recent involvement in the Welingara Market Project in which BAC had pumped in over D560, 000. "This was possible because the sensitisation of the people on the importance of rates and tax payment was a continuous process at the council," he noted. According to Juwara, BAC is currently having a budget that could meet the needs of the people. However, he observed that the council is currently facing some constraints, as there are areas where the council in its capacity cannot deliver the services as efficiently as intended. He noted that such are the areas of electricity supply, which is extremely expensive. Mr Juwara further mentioned that the royalty payment from the sand mining has also ceased due to the public controversies surrounding the management of the sand industry. He stressed that these are important resources of the Gambian people that need to be effectively managed. "If BAC could not manage them, it would be prudent to allocate them to a sector that can get the better of it. But of course, BAC can ensure appropriate management of these resources," he noted. Juwara then assured the rate and tax payers that the new estimates of the council will cover the maintenance of roads, as well as the education sector through the provision of scholarships the most needy students. Author: by Amadou Jallow Ward councillors on local government actThursday, March 13, 2008 A two day capacity building training workshop for ward councillors in North Bank Region on the amended 2002 local government act has recently concluded in Kerewan, North Bank Region. The objective of the training is to empower the newly sworn-in ward councillors on the content of the local government act, in order to enable them know their roles and responsibilities in the development process of their wards. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Edward Seckan, governor North Bank Region, underscored the importance government attaches to the establishment of National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), adding that it was established to educate citizens on their civil and constitutional rights. Governor Seckan further went on to describe the training as timely, saying that the outcome of the workshop would help newly sworn-in ward councillors to build their capacity to contribute towards the attainment of the council’s development aspiration. Alhagie Tamba S. Kinteh, CEO, Kerewan Area Council, applauded the National Council for Civic Education for their timely intervention in educating ward councillors on the local government act. Mr Kinteh tasked councillors to advocate and nurture the cordial relationship that exist between the council, development partner’s and the tax payers. According to him, the rational to open ward accounts by the council was geared towards empowering ward development committees to embark on resource mobilization and to kick start development projects at ward level. He further stated that the role of WDC is to co-ordinate development assistance, review and prioritise developmental plans. He urged councillors to ensure the proper utilization of the fund in the interest of the ward. Mr Kinteh finally concluded by using the occasion to commend the outgoing councillors for their dedication, commitment and steadfastness in the execution of their functions. Sainey Saho, civic education officer at the National Council for Civic Education, underscored the importance his offices attached to raise awareness of ward councillors on local government act. For his part, the chairman of Kerewan Area Council, Lamin Ceesay, commended the government for the establishment of National Council for Civic Education, in raising awareness and educating the councillors on the local government act. Mr Ceesay finally assured the electorates of the council’s continued commitment to their welfare. Author: by Salifu M.Touray MAC Councillors sworn inThursday, February 21, 2008 The Governor, Lower River Region, Momodou Soma Jobe on Wednesday presided over the swearing-in-ceremony of the newly elected councillors of Mansakonko Area Council in Soma. In his keynote address, Governor Jobe reminded the elected councillors of their responsibilities. He urged sworn-in councillors to redouble their efforts in improving the image of the council. He also thanked the councillors for electing a woman as the Vice Chairperson of the council which according to him is in response to a global call for the promotion of gender equity in all national development endeavours. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the newly elected chairman, Mansakonko Area Council, Mr Foday Camara assured that no stone will be left unturned and vowed that they will deliver to the core. Other speakers at the ceremony included a lady councillor, Aja Fatou Njie Jarjusey, and youth representative Mr Balla Camara. The 12 elected and 6 nominated councillors took the oath of office administered by the chairman of the occasion Mr Bakary Dembo Dampha (JP).In attendance were district and service chiefs. Author: by Ebou Sambou CRR councillors sworn in JAC, KAC elect chairmen Wednesday, February 20, 2008 The 22 newly elected councillors of the Janjanbureh Area Council (JAC) and Kuntaur Area Council (KAC) in the Central River Region (CRR), were on Thursday, February 13, sworn into office at Kuntaur and Janjanbureh respectively. Both ceremonies, which were presided over by Ganyie Touray, governor of CRR also witnessed the election of chairmen and the nomination of three other persons as councillors for each of the two councils. Mamat Mbye, councillor for Kaur Ward, was elected as the chairman of Kuntaur Area Council while Musa Samura, councillor for Banni Ward, was elected the vice-chairman. At the Janjangbureh Area Council, Maku Ceesay, councillor for Kudang Ward, was elected chairman and Alhaji Kekuta Ceesay, councillor for Brikamaba Ward, was also elected vice-chairman. At Janjanbureh Area Council, Momodou Lamin Baldeh, chief of Lower Fulladou, Aja Fatou Sama and Bala Musa Sawaneh, were also nominated as councillors. In his inaugural statement, Governor Touray told the councillors that they have a big task ahead to bring development to the doorsteps of their electorates and therefore, urged them to deliver as expected. He stressed on the important roles of councillors in the socio-economic development of the country at the grass-root level. He then advised them to unite and work in the interest of development. Mamat Mbye and Maku Ceesay, the new chairmen of Kuntaur and Janjanbureh Area Councils respectively, called on their councillors to join hands and work hard to attain the desired goals. Both ceremonies were attended by the NAM for CRR, APRC desk officer for the region and NAM for Upper Saloum, Sainey Mbye, as well as party militants. Author: by Lamin S.M Jawo APRC deserves victory - NAM Haddy Nyang-Jagne Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Haddy Nyang-Jagne, National Assembly Member for Jeshwang Constituency, has described the ruling APRC’s overwhelming victory in last Thursday’s municpal elections as a clear manifestation of the confidence Gambian voters have for the party . Mrs Nyang-Jagne made these remarks, last Thursday, at the IEC regional office in Kanifing, shortly after the announcement of election results for the wards in her constituency. According to her, the result shows that Gambians are yearning for more development and it is only the APRC that can make them realise this objective. “No sector of The Gambia is left out in President Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh’s development trend. So I am happy to see that all the wards in my constituency have once again gone back to the APRC. I will be joining hands with my new councillors to provide pipe-borne water and acess roads, just to name few, for the people of Jeshwang,” she said Mrs Nyang-Jagne, who was visible at all polling stations within her constituency, transporting voters in her vehicle, thanked President Jammeh for being the architect of the APRC’s overwhelming victory. For his part, Sheriff Sarr, councillor-elect for Old Jeshwang Ward spoke of his desire to deliver all the promises he made during the campaign period. According to him, youths and women empowerment, sanitation, street taps and electricity top his priorities. Author: by Assan Sallah |
