Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, who is also the chairperson of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), yesterday presided over the official inauguration of the Food Control Advisory Board, held at her office in State House, Banjul.

In delivering her inaugural speech, Vice President Njie-Saidy expressed delight at the inauguration of "this very important board," citing its anticipated role in ensuring that all foods (imported and exported), available and accessible to consumers in The Gambia, are of acceptable standards and are safe.

Prior to the Food Act 2005, she recalled, there was no specific overarching legislation that addressed food standards and safety.  This, she added, resulted in the uncoordinated sectoral approaches and interventions that did not yield the desired results.

She went on to say: "Given the current approaches, facing all food producing, importing and exporting countries, in terms of food safety and bio security threats (let me give you a few examples. I.e., Avian Influenza or bird flu, the dioxin problem and the current ongoing concern of the melanin contaminated milk product from China) the need for The Gambia to put in place strong institutional, structural and accompanying legislation and a regulatory framework to provide full proof safety nets, against such threats has been greater," VP Njie-Saidy noted.

According to her, it is against this background that the Government of The Gambia, under the leadership of His Excellency Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, is deploying the necessary resources and, where necessary, with its development partners, is building the national capacities for the implementation of the Food Act 2005. She reminded the gathering of President Jammeh’s deep concern about issues related to food standards and safety, as demonstrated by his consistent pronouncement in this direction.

"Today we are witnessing the formation of the third structure to be established under the provision of the Food Act 2005.  The other two structures, namely the National Codex Committee (NCC), responsible for the setting up of National Food Standards and the Compliance Committee, have already been established. I am also aware of the excellent work that the National Codex Committee has been doing so far.  The NCC has recently developed a five-year Food Control and SPS Strategic Plan for 2009 - 2013 and is working on developing standards for edible fats and oils and poultry products," she remarked.

The vice president also reiterated the functions of this newly inaugurated board under Section 13, Subsection (1) of the Food Act 2005. She thanked all those who attended the inauguration and expressed hope that the new board would live up to expectation, collaborate with their relevant partners as well as implement activities as expected.

Speaking earlier, Dr Alieu Gaye, the chairperson of the newly inaugurated board, said the Food Act was passed by the National Assembly in 2005, which led to the creation of the agency which he now chairs. He revealed that one of their functions as a board is to provide policy guidance to the National Nutrition Council.

Dr Gaye described food as a global agenda and added that the inauguration was timely. He promised that his Board will live up to expectations.

Ansaar, a Muslim youth agency located along the coastal road, will, on Saturday, August 16th, have its office complex officially inaugurated.

Since its establishment, the agency has been actively engaged in four main projects; education, social service, arts and culture and income generating.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Abu’bakr Jeng, president (Amir) of Ansaar Agency, said his agency intends to promote peace, harmony, unity, understanding, and good practices among others.

He added that his agency also wants to improve the moral aspect of peace and create awareness in all the government departments for rapid development.

Commenting on education, Amir Jeng disclosed that his  agency wants to establish its own school, beginning from nursery to the tertiary level, through which children can learn moral lessons in Islam, to change their attitudes and improve on their living standards.

Amir Jeng added that his agency will collaborate with the Department of State for Interior, to promote community policing, peace, unity, understanding, as well as to sensitise prison officers on how to handle the juvenile.

“When the mind and the heart are set properly, then it is easy for the human being to become a human being, because with the absence of this, the human being becomes animalistic and can do anything inhuman,” Mr. Jeng remarked.

He disclosed that the Ansaar Agency wants to conduct IT classes for juvenile offenders and provide them with careers which they will embark on after serving their terms to prevent them from repeating the crimes that landed them in prison.

On arts and culture, Mr Jeng said his agency intends to revise Islamic arts and culture, which is the Prophetic way of living, adding that Allah has clearly stated in the Holy Quran that if we neglect the prophet’s way of living, we are surely going to face difficulties.

To facilitate this, he went on, the agency will set up a modern Islamic library, where the general public can have access to read, listen to audios, watch video and other facilities, which will clearly give them a view of what Islamic arts and culture is all about.

He also commented on their income generating activities, which comprised of a fast food restaurant and Ndouga services, among others.

Alieu Addo, an executive member of Ansaar agency, said: “As we are already in the summer time, most youths are engaged in camping, going to the beach sides, clubs etc”.  He said Ansaar has a lot of useful activities through which they can engage themselves freely

Mr Addo revealed that his agency is currently organising free Quranic lessons and is planning to conduct free IT course for the ghetto youths.
He called on all Muslim youths to visit the Ansaar office.

Commuters and schoolchildren will have been delighted to read about the inauguration of the new bus company Unique Transport Company (UTSCO). Transport has long been a serious problem for many people travelling to and from work and school with dreadful stories of crushes at garages and minor injuries. According to information gathered, school children can pay as low as D185 as their monthly fares. Other commuters will pay less than what the normal taxi charge. This kind of competition in the market will be music to the ears of commuters who have also long complained about the cost of transport. When commuters and schoolchildren board these new buses they must ensure that they endeavour to keep them clean and tidy to ensure the longevity of the fleet. On this issue the government must address the issue of poor road surfaces. Many drivers have suffered damage to their vehicles because of bad roads and a poor surface adversely affects the vehicle and the amount of time that it can serve its owner or the public.

During his address President Jammeh Commented on the price hike of transport fares in the country. He made it clear that he would not tolerate anybody who takes Gambians for granted. He also used the opportunity to warn the business community to be reasonable in the prices of basic commodities or otherwise he would very soon intervene in that sector in the interests of the Gambian people. What this intervention would be he did not specify but it is good to know that the government is aware of the extreme pressure that many people are under at the moment because of the spiralling costs of basic commodities.

We sincerely hope that the new company is a success and that the commuters and schoolchildren of The Gambia benefit from the service. It will at least be one less worry for people as they struggle to make ends meet. If this business is viable for a private company to run then it must beg the question as to why it would not be the same for The Gambia Public Transport Corporation?

“To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

The ambassador of the United States of America Mr. Barry L Wells on Tuesday presided over the inauguration of a milling machine and an Early Childhood Development Centre at the villages of Shom and Julanfari respectively.

The two projects were part of many community projects funded by the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Shom in Kombo East District, Ambassador Wells expressed his delight at visiting the village as it was his first visit out side the Greater Banjul Area since assuming office in January. “ I am happy that the machine is here for the women to help you with your daily chores of milling your cereals. The people of United States and the US Embassy in Banjul believe in working to help rural Gambians improve their welfare”. According to him, they do this through collaborating with communities in solving their problems. He advised the women to take proper care of the machine.

The father of the Carawas Kafo, the beneficiary group, Dawda Jarju appealed for water in the women’s garden.

Honourable Lamin Bojang, national assembly member for the area, thanked the US embassy for complementing government’s efforts in empowering women.

Chief of Kombo East Alhagie Basiru Jarju expressed similar sentiments. He assured the Ambassador that the machine will be properly taken care of. The machine, according to official sources, was sponsored to the sum of D117, 000.00.

From Shom, ambassador Wells and delegation also visited Julkanfari a border village with Casamase. The village also hosts to some Casamase refugees.

There, ambassador Wells and delegation received a rousing welcome. In his inaugural statement, US diplomat thanked the community for the contribution in the construction of the classrooms. He thanked all those who contributed to the success of the project. He commend the villagers for being so hospitable to the refugees.”This is highly appreciated as we all know that refugees do not leave their country by choice” he said.

Marcel Badgie Director St.Joseph’s Family Farm revealed that about D200,000.00 was spend on the centre by the US embassy, Concern Universal, his NGO and the community.

Other speakers include, the chief of Foni, Bintang Karani Mustapha Camara, Hon. Ebrima Solo Jammeh PM for the area and Mrs Guju Badgie a refugee.

Alkalo Alhagie Kawsu Badgie of Julanfari thanked the donors for the gesture.