Imam Tafsir Gaye of Banjul on Tuesday distributed bags of sugar and rice to needy Muslims in the country.

The gesture is part of Imam Gaye’s annual Ramadan gift to Muslims. Speaking at a presentation ceremony held at his residence in Gloucester Street in Banjul, the venerable religious Imam reiterated his resolve in assisting the needy.

The beneficiaries include students of Dara Alfa of King Fahad Mosque and Dara Saho of 46 Lancaster Street. Elders of the Independence Drive

He prayed for peace and stability to continue to prevail in The Gambia.

The items distributed were from president Jammeh through the Supreme Islamic Council, George Madi and family, Salman and Brothers, the Lebanese Consulate  Hasib Massry, WICS, Serigne Modou Bawo, Alh. Camara of Banjul Muslim Hands The Gambia.

Imam Tafsir Gaye used the opportunity to thank the donors especially president Jammeh for helping Muslims. He appealed to wealthy Muslims to always help those in need.

Meanwhile, the Point also yesterday received a bag of sugar from Imam Gaye.

According to a government press release, the rice will be distributed to mayors, governors and chiefs who are requested to collect their allocations as from tomorrow Wednesday, 10 September 2008. The release says the rice will be sold to only inhabitants of their own districts and municipalities.

“No buyer would be allowed to buy more than one bag and buyers must be household heads. Those wishing to buy must do so in person and deposit the money with the mayor, governor, or district chief who will make a list of the number of buyers after which the rice will be delivered,” the release stated.

This, the release added, would ensure verification of the actual buyer.

This system that the government is operating seems fair and well organised and we hope that it will have the desired effect and improve people’s lives during this holy time.

We also urge the public to heed well the advice of the government and guard against those who would try to abuse the facility for their own selfish interests. During this time all of us should watch out for each other and protect against those who would seek to exploit us or our neighbours.

While this help will greatly help people during Ramadan, the cost of rice continues to rise so we may soon be a in a situation where this kind of government help will be required all the time. This time is fast approaching and we hope that when the time comes the government will show the same resolve it has in recent days to alleviate the burden on Gambian consumers.

Action Aid Kudang office recently donated 50 bags of rice to the victims of the windstorm at Sotokoi, Mamut Fana and Bamba Kolong in Niamina East district in Central River Region South. The relief assistance is worth about D45,000.

Presenting the donated items on behalf of the development area manager, the programme officer, Mr. Raymond Jatta, expressed sympathy to the victims about the damages caused by the storm. He pointed out that the assistance will not only help restore conditions in the affected areas but also reverse some of the damage caused by the windstorm.

For his part, the Head Chief, Alh. Kebba Touray, commended Action Aid for their kind gesture in giving humanitarian aid to the needy. According to him, the donated items will not only improve conditions but will go a long way in complimenting government efforts in assisting the needy.

The APEX treasurer, Mr. Saikuba Ceesay, thanked Action Aid for the benevolent support and assured them that the donated items will be put to good use.

The Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Richard Shih, on Tuesday donated 100 tons of rice seed to the Department of State for Agriculture (DOSA) at a ceremony held in Banjul.

The gesture is aimed at complementing government efforts in attaining food self-sufficiency in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Bakary Trawally permanent secretary for DOSA called on Gambians to answer to the call made by President Jammeh for people to go back to the land. He assured the Ambassador that the seeds would be put to good use. PS Trawally thanked the Taiwanese mission for the kind gesture.

For his part, Ambassador Richard emphasised the need for concerted efforts and combined resources in order to achieve food sufficiency. He reiterated his office’s commitment in supporting agriculture in the country.

Other Speakers included, Mr. James Tsay, head of the Taiwanese technical mission.

Well done to the Janor Group and particularly Sulayman Joof, the CEO and his business partner, Ebrima Faal. Yesterday they donated a large consignment of assorted fire fighting items to the Fire Service at their office at Bundung.

They gave eighty cartons of protective clothing, including boots, gloves, helmets, fireproof jackets and trousers to the Fire Service at Churchill’s Town.

This is a gesture that is truly worthy of emulation and a shining example to all Gambians of the finer aspects of human kind. Our fire service provides a vital service in our community and should be helped at all times by all who can afford to do so.

Sulayman Joof said that the business sector has the corporate responsibility to give back part of their proceeds to their communities. His business partner, Ebrima Faal, said they are duty-bound to give part of their profit to the country to supplement government’s efforts.

It was however very disheartening to hear Mr. Faal say, “We face difficulties in clearing these items even when they know they are for gifts to serve our community. At times we face real difficulties at the customs, they don’t care what and for who one is bringing in these things.”

This situation must come to an end immediately as there is no doubt it is hampering many people and organisations from bringing much need help into The Gambia. People coming to give aid to The Gambia should be exempted from duties and import taxes. Hopefully this situation will change in the very near future so that people like those in the Janor Group who wish to contribute to our national development can do so without suffering financial hiccups at customs.

Forex Bureau Rates:

M J Finance 9965635

Buying

GBP  =        D40.00

US    =        D20.00

5000CFA =  D240.00

EURO =      D31.00

Swedish Kroner= D320

Danish Kroner= D370

Selling

GBP   =       D41.50

 US     =       D21.50

5000CFA      D 250.00

EURO          D33.50

Kroner           D350.00

Danish Kroner = D425

On a regular basis in these pages we call on the private sector to step up to the plate and invest in Gambian sport. That is why it is so heartening to see that Africell have indeed risen to that challenge with great aplomb and in the process set the minds of Scorpion’s fans everywhere at ease. We are referring of course to the generous sponsorship deal which saw the Belgian Coach Paul Put appointed Head Coach of the Gambian International soccer team. Coach Put has had a one-year contract paid for by Africell and has received two months wages up front. This kind of direct support from the private sector is vital if we are to build a strong team to represent The Gambia at international level. There is a very big game coming up this weekend for Coach Put as The Gambia take on the Lone Stars of Liberia in Monrovia in the first of the qualifiers for the World and African Cup of Nations 2010. The coach has expressed confidence that he can lead The Gambia to their first ever appearance in these competitions and we all hope he is correct. As has been said many times for better or for worse the more money that is invested in sport the greater the return that will be enjoyed. For this reason we hope that Africell will continue their efforts to support the Scorpions and that others in the private sector will emulate them.

Of course the government must also live up to its role. As we said in these pages yesterday the National Sports Policy and Programme of Action 1999 – 2008 is coming to an end and lessons must be learned from it. Budgetary adjustments are vital if we are to continue to grow all of the sports in The Gambia and enjoy success on the international scene.

President Jammeh must also be commended for his continuing support of Gambian football. He provided a significant contribution to the support of the new coach. He provided accommodation for Coach Put at AU Villa’s and also provided generously for the coach’s transport needs. These gestures are very generous but President Jammeh is only one man, with finite resources, and so cannot be expected to put up this kind of support all the time. This is why private sector investment, incentives for footballers and long term budgetary planning are the way forward for Gambian football and sports in general. We wish our new coach and our boys well at the weekend and look forward to a period of great success ahead for Gambian football.

“Football? It’s the beautiful game”.

Pelé

The President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, recently donated 20 school buses to various Senior Secondary Schools around the country at a ceremony held at the July 22Square.

Expressing his appreciation to the gesture from President Jammeh, Mr Sheriffo Sanneh, a senior teacher at Siffoe Senior Secondary School, one of the beneficiaries, expressed appreciation on behalf of his principal to President Jammeh for what he described as a laudable gesture.

According to Mr Sanneh, the gesture will go a long way in contributing towards ameliorating the transportation constraints being faced by students in his area.

He also gave the assurance that the donated items will be put to good use.

Also speaking to these reporters, Mr Lamin S.M. Bojang, a History and Government teacher at Siffoe Senior Secondary School, appealed to the President to improve the welfare of Gambian teachers.

He also hailed President Jammeh for his ‘immense’ contribution towards the development of the education sector.

Ousman Jobe, an Agricultural Science teacher, said the gesture could not have come at a better time than now when students are in ‘dire’ need of such.

Soroptimist International, a worldwide organisation for women in management and professions, on Wednesday donated medical equipment to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).

The equipement, a blood pressure machine, diabetes monitoring system, mosquito nets and bed sheets are meant for use at the female surgical ward better known as Soroptimist ward of the RVTH.

Being a global voice for women through awareness, advocacy and action, Soroptimist International has the objective of helping the advancement of women, maintenance of high ethical standards and human rights for all.

Having been formed in the year 1986 and chartered the following year, Soroptimist has been sponsoring girls in schools, donating bed nets to rural communities to fight against malaria and sponsoring women in vegetable gardening schemes among other activities.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mrs. Beatrice Prom, President of Soroptimist International club of Banjul highlighted some of the achievements registered by the club for the past years.

This, she said, has not been easy to get all at once but with the support of others, their dreams will surely be achieved.

“This is not the first time and it will not be the last. We want to support this ward as much as we can”, she said.

Mrs. Prom expressed hope that the collaboration between the club and the Royal Victoria Victoria Teaching Hospital will grow from strength to strength.

She however commended the management of the Hospital for giving them the opportunity to help empower Gambian women by immensely donating to the female surgical ward.

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Jean Clement, Public Relations Officer of Soroptimist Banjul club, commended the management of the hospital for keeping the ward clean. She also expressed hope that the relationship between the two will grow from strength to strength.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Hospital management, Mrs. Rafat Adeku Akaje (TAC) thanked Soroptimist for what she describe as a timely gesture. “This could not have come at a better time than now when we are in need of such equipment”, she added.