The Gambia Cellular Company Limited (GAMCEL), yesterday, donated a  thousand bags of sugar to the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, for onward distribution to Muslims countrywide.

As part of their grand promotions, Gamcel also presented five hajj tickets, 10 scholarship packages, and 100 bags of rice to a 125 lucky winners at a presentation held at its headquarters in Kanifing.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Almamy Gassama, Gamcel’s director of Customer Service said the donation to the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council is an annual tradition.

According to Mr Gassama, the Yaay Borom 4 raffle draw has been postponed until the end of the Ramadan. “We want to do the raffle during the feast so that the lucky winner can celebrate the feast with the car,” he noted.

For her part, Ramou Nyass Hydara, customer care manager, Gamcel, said Gamcel is doing a lot for the benefit of all Gambians. She explained that the bags of rice and sugar are Gamcel’s gift to the Muslim community.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Kebba Bojang, senior manager, sales and marketing, said Gamcel owes a lot to the Gambian people. “Without the Gambian people, Gamcel will not be where it is today,” he said.  

In receiving the gift on behalf of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council,  Alhaji Momodou Lamin Touray, president of the GSIC thanked Gamcel for the gesture.

The executive members of ‘Sopey’ City Limits Radio, on Tuesday, donated a cash amount of D5,000 to the Presidential Treatment Programme.

The amount was presented to Dr Tamsir Mbowe, the director general of the Presidential Treatment Programme, who also doubles as the director of Health Services, at a ceremony held at the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare in Banjul.

Speaking at the ceremony, Alhaji Mustapha Jah, the president of ‘Sopey’ City Limits Radio commended President Jammeh for his relentless efforts in the improvement of the health sector.

“We have seen President Jammeh’s efforts in improving the livelihood of Gambians and non-Gambians alike. He is treating people with different diseases free of charge. So we decided as Gambians, to contribute our quota to his treatment programme,” Mr Jah remarked.

He described health as important in human life, adding that one cannot do anything in the absence of health.

Aji Awa Cham, head of the women’s group of ‘Sopey’ City Limits Radio, who presented the cash to Dr Mbowe, also expressed similar sentiments.

Receiving the cash, Dr Mbowe thanked ‘Sopey’ City Limits Radio group for the gesture. He said the donation will greatly  boost the treatment programme.

Dr Mbowe also seized the opportunity to call on other organisations to emulate ‘Sopey’ City Limits Radio group.

Gamcel, one of the nation’s leading GSM operators, has recently donated sporting gear and a cheque for D5000 (five thousand dalasis) to the Pirang Youth and Sports Association.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the company’s head office on Mamadi Manjang Highway, Kebba Bojang, Gamcle’s senior marketing officer said, the donation was meant to share the little profit they have with the public, adding that  with Gamcel, “it is a win-win situation”.

Bojang said, sponsoring nawettan teams means giving back to the esteemed customers, adding that Gamcel has always contributed to the development of sports in the country.
Reacting to the gesture, Lamin Dibba, public relations officer of the Pirang Youth and Sports Association, hailed Gamcel for the kind and timely support.

According to Mr Dibba, the donation was a manifestation of Gamcel’s readiness to give a new look to grass root sports.

 “It’s worth subscribing to Gamcel network because they always give back to the people. They are the best  and the most celebrated GSM operator in the country,” he said.  Mr Dibba urged all and sundry to patronise Gamcel at all times.

The National Environment Agency (NEA), yesterday, donated cleansing materials worth over D70,000 to the KMC Youth Fans Club, a youth organisation based in the Kanifing Municipality, at a  ceremony held at the KMC grounds in Kanifing.

The donated items included 10 wheelbarrows, rakes, gloves, and spades among others and form part of the NEA drive to create a clean environment in the country.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Pierre Minteh, president of the KMC Youth Fan Club, said his organisation, since inception, has been in the forefront of environmental cleanliness.

According to him, through the Local Initiative Fund, LIF, his organisation has organised cleansing exercises (set settals) and also trained  youths in waste management and harzadous, collection, recycling.

He then commended  President Jammeh for his guidance, words of wisdom and exemplary leadership, noting that the declaration of the nationwide monthly set-settal will certainly help to reduce the alarming rate of malaria and other health related problems in the country.

“I wish to also thank KMC and NEA for their untiring efforts in helping us not only with material but financial resources as well,” he said.
According to him, the donation would go a long way in boosting the morale of his organisation.

For his part, Duwa Jatta, director of Administration, on behalf of the Lord Mayor of  KMC, said the cleaning of the municipality and it surrounding areas is the key function of the council noting that this kind of assistance to youths is important as they complement the government’s efforts in keeping the environment clean.

He stated his council’s continued support for the youth fans club.
HE thanked NEA for the noble initiative and called on other departments to emulate NEA. He urged youths to use the material for the intended purpose.
 
Mustapha Jallow, senior programme and environmental quality officer, NEA, commended the youths for their hardwork under the dynamic leadership of Pierre Minteh.

He further revealed that, his agency has a long standing working relation with the youth fans club as evident in the regular cleanliness programmes.
Other speakers at the ceremony included Ousman Fatty, councillor of Latri-kunda and Isatou Touray, who delivered the vote of thanks.

The Italian government, through the World Food Programme (WFP), on Tuesday, donated 475 metric tonnes of rice to the school feeding programme in The Gambia, at a ceremony held at the WFP main warehouse in Kanifing.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr Malcolm Duthie, WFP Representative in The Gambia, said “out of all the investments made by WFP in the areas of health and education of a country’s children, Banjul is one of the most vital”.  He added that the school feeding operation run by the Department of Education is one of the unsung great achievements of the country.

“People do not realise that every day at school, in most of the rural areas, covering 500, mainly primary schools and early childhood development centres and some madrassas, some 120,000 Gambia children receive a nutritious meal.  This is an extraordinary programme which has a multitude of benefits.  The department of education estimates that it encourages enrolments and could account for upto 40%.  It also ensures that children are able to concentrate well in school, for we know that better nutrition will enhance learning significantly,” Mr Duthie remarked.

“The WFP has been a partner with The Gambia for the long term since 1970, one of the earliest UN agencies to be here in The Gambia.  This Gambian school feeding programme has been particularly strongly supported and this was recently emphasised by both an approval last year for continued support of up to USD 13 million (covering the period 2007 to 2011) and also by the agreement with WFP to quickly allocate a further USD1.2 million of support for 2008 to ensure that the programme could continue to adequately feed the children while food prices rapidly escalated,” he revealed.

He said the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency and the UN’s frontline agency for hunger solutions, adding that the WFP plans to feed around 90 million people in 80 countries.

Baboucarr Boye, permanent secretary at the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, also spoke at the ceremony.

Susan Rowe, head teacher of the Coombes School in Wokingham, Berkshire, yesterday, donated medicament worth thousands of dalasis to the Tanji Health Centre.

Speaking at a presentation ceremony held at the health centre, Susan Rowe said the donation was the contribution of her school to help the needy in The Gambia. According to Susan, she has big interest in boosting the primary health care in The Gambia. “We first started helping the people of Kuntaur,” she said.

She added that she was introduced to Foday Darboe, the nurse in-charge at the Tanji health centre who was very reliable.

 “Our focus is to help women and children and we will continue to support Tanji health centre. We look forward to a happy and long relationship,” she concluded.The medicaments includes anti-biotics, analyesics, anti-malarias, antacids and anti-pyretics.

In receiving the items, Foday Darboe, the nurse in-charge at Tanji health centre thanked Susan and her school for the gesture. Mr Darboe assured her that the donation would be used as expected. According to Foday, the donation will save a lot of lives.

“Whoever is involved in donating this gifts, we are most grateful to them. Susan is a true friend of the Gambia. She has been donating a lot to the needy in The Gambia,” he concluded.

For his part, Almameh Jammeh, Tanji Village Development Committee chairman, commended Susan and her school for the gesture. He also assured Susan that the donation would be put to good use.

Javier Blanco, a Spanish national, has recently donated sporting gear to FC Canaries, a football academy in Brufut at a presentation ceremony held at the Brufut Lower Basic School.

The donated items worth over D35, 000 (thirty-five thousand dalasis) include footballs, Jerseys, boots, shocks among others.

Speaking to our reporter, the donor, who runs a football academy back-home in Spain, expressed his intention to link The Gambia with Europe in the area of sports development.

He said, he hopes to bring more materials for the academy in the near future so long they continue to delight hearts.

Lamin Manneh, the chairman of the academy hailed Mr Blanco for his kind and timely gesture, adding that the materials will go a long way in solving the problem of the lack of training gear for the academy interns.

Ba Jabbi, secretary general of Burufut Village Development Committed, expressed similar sentiments, assuring the Mr Blanco that the items would be put into good use.

Other speakers at the ceremony include Anthony Nana, head coach of the academy, Saikou Sanneh, team manager, Yahya Darboe, philip Sambou, secretary general and Alhagie Jarju assistant coach.

The charge d’affair of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in The Gambia, on Friday, celebrated the birthday of the country’s great liberator, Simon Bolivar, at a colourful ceremony held at the Old Jeshwang-Simon Bolivar’s Lower Basic School.

The day is celebrated every year by Venezuelans across the globe.
As part of the activities marking the day, the charge d’ affair donated over 1400 school bags and at least 4000 exercise books and pencils to Simon Bolivar’s Lower Basic School.

Speaking at the occasion, Lourdes E Pirez Martinez, the charge d’affair of the Venezuelan embassy in The Gambia, said Simon Bolivar earned himself the title of liberator due to the fact that he liberated Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, as well as Venezuela. She noted that his dream was to see the unity of the South American countries, but died in Colombia on December 17th, 1830, before it could be realised.

‘’But in reality, his dreams never died since political leaders in Latin America are now going by his dreams. His ideas are recalled through our actions, our struggle to gain unity and integration, as well as solidarity within our countries’’  she said. She underscored the realisation of the historic Bolivarian integration, which according to her is based on political compromise to eradicate poverty, guarantee the independence and sovereignty of their natural resources in their quest to achieve the developments that the Venezuelan people truly deserve.

Madam Martinez called on the citizens of Venezuela and The Gambia to cherish their freedom stressing that neo-colonialism should never be tolerated.

Commenting on the ongoing fruitful relationship between Venezuela and The Gambia, the charge d’affair pointed out that it is part of her government’s solidarity call aimed at promoting integration.

She recalled that in April, this year, 60 young Gambians started their undergraduate studies in Venezuela, noting that 100 more Gambians are currently learning Spanish and are set to travel to her country for similar studies under the FUNDAYACUCHO Program.

‘’In the same vein, 7 instructors and 3 women farmers are set to travel to Venezuela for training in the area of agricultural. We are also glad that 7 Gambian children have safely arrived in Venezuela for congenital cardiopaty operation,’’ she said.
The Venezuelan charge d’affair concluded by reaffirming her government’s commitment to boost ties with The Gambia.

For her part, Marta Mendy, headmistress of Old Jeswang-Simon Bolivar’s Lower Basic School, hailed the Venezuelan charge d’affair for such a laudable gesture, noting that her school continues to receive Venezuelan generosity. She indicated that the massive renovation of her school at a tune of D72,000 was funded by the Venezuelan charge d’affair. This, according to her, was as a result of the memorandum of understanding signed between her school and the donors.

While commending the bilateral ties between the two countries, Marta Mendy assured the gathering that the gifts will be put to good use.

Other speakers at the occasion included Alkalo Ba-Karamo Ceesay, Councillor Sheriff Sarr, and Sheik Secka, PTA chairman.

Friday’s celebration was attended by a host of dignitaries including the Iranian ambassador, as well as a cross-section of the community of Old Jeshwang.

Noor Ul-Islam Foundation, a registered charity based in The Gambia, yesterday, donated medical equipment worth over £50,000 to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in Banjul.

The donated items  included connection tubes, medical education books, surgical gowns, surgical gloves, patient drapes, aprons, sterile towels, lumen cathetes, drainage bottles, tracheal tubes, bandages, respiratory cathetes and ventloin connectors.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mrs Khadijah Abdullah, the organisation’s secretary general, said as a charitable organisation, they are committed to give support and encouragement to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in their endeavor to give excellent health service delivery to The Gambian people. She stated that her organisation, which comprises of a small group of Muslims, believes in the potential future of the continent, and the unchangeable truth that charity begins at home.

She expressed hope that the donation will be of great help to the RVTH’s day to day activities. She further assured the beneficiaries of her association’s continued support for the well-being of Gambians.

For her part, Mrs Khadijah Stapleton-Faceym, the founder of the charity, who is residing in the United Kingdom, expressed her profound gratitude to their sponsors, Mr Aziz Ben-Taleb and his wife Mrs Raji Tazi Mouthif, in the United Kingdom for their benevolent gesture. She stressed the need to have the required medical equipment in the RVTH to enable them execute their functions effectively for the service of the people.

Receiving the items, Alhagie Babucarr Ngum, public relations officer of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the donors for their gesture. He assured them of the proper utilisation of the items donated.

In yet another show of magnamity and in a bid to strengthen sub-regional institutions, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, on Friday night, donated a cheque in the sum of D4.5m to the West African Insurance Institute (WAII).

In addition, the president handed over the key of a 50-seater air-conditioned bus to the institute to ease its transportation.

The Gambia leader’s donations coincided with WAII’s 30th anniversary and Award Dinner Night held at the Jama Hall of the Kairaba Beach Hotel. At the ceremony, President Jammeh was  awarded as the Grand Patron of the institute together with President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, who was in Banjul to grace the occasion. The award is the highest given by the institute since its establishment.

In a brief but frank speech, President Jammeh said that as the Gambia is the host country of WAII, he will make sure all member states that established the institute take it upon themselves to make annual contributions to the institute which at present relies heavily on support from philanthropists to meet their operational costs.

He said such philanthropic support should be complimentary to the efforts of the respective governments as they made the commitments by establishing WAII. Dr Jammeh spoke of his desire to see the institute on a stronger footing for it could play a pivotal role in the human resources development of The Gambia’s growing economy.

Speaking earlier, Musa Gibril Bala-Gaye, secretary of state for Finance and Economic Affairs who doubles as the chairman of  WAII’s Governing Council, said the anniversary is meant to honour individuals who have contributed immensely to the development of the institute and insurance in member countries. He thanked President Jammeh for giving the institute the conducive environment to operate in The Gambia.

The ceremony also witnessed the issuance of awards to doyens of insurance and philanthropists from the member countries. Two Gambians, Alhagie Babu Ceesay and Saikou Camara received merit awards for being among the five signatories of the protocol establishing the institute.

The programme which progressed into the early hours of Saturday also included entertainment with songs and displays by cultural troupes.

Present at the occasion were the vice president, Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, Speaker Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, Chief Justice Abdou Karim Savage, secretaries of state, and service chiefs amongst others.