In a few days’ time, The Gambia will be playing host to stakeholders in the tourism industry across the West Africa sub region. Tagged MBOKA 2008, it will be held on 18-22 October 2008.

The strategic objective of the initiative is “to support West African governments and tourism in a manner that contributes to both local development and to poverty alleviation, community empowerment and the protection of the environment”.

And it is open to a wide range of participants. These include: European tour operators searching for new and sustainable tourism products; sustainable products looking for market access; hotels and destinations interested in becoming more sustainable; governments looking for exchange of experiences and success stories. Others include promotion agencies searching for partnerships; development agencies identifying new approaches and promising initiatives; and private investors looking for opportunities and inspiration.

So there is something for anybody and everybody at Mboka 2008. All you need do is participate and contribute to improved living standards in the sub region.

We need such initiatives in our quest to alleviate poverty, to promote peace and stability, and to ensure a better life for everyone in the sub region.

But we are disturbed that given the international character of the event, enough publicity has not been done yet. We expect that by now, Mboka 2008 should be the talk of the town. Apart from the newspaper advert very little publicity has been given to this event. There should be billboards at the airport, seaport and major car parks across the country to create awareness about the forthcoming event. There should be sustained radio and TV commercials about the event. The more people get to know and talk about the event, the more successful it will be. The Gambia foreign missions abroad should also be involved in publicising Mboka 2008. It is a big public relations event for the country.

Key stakeholders such as the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) should be making press appearances now to talk more about the event. This is a big event, so we must talk about it again and again.

The recent announcement by the Executive Director of the National Environment Agency (NEA) that his office, in partnership with the municipal councils, public health authorities, and Department of physical planning will embark on a massive enforcement campaign on the Anti-Littering Regulation immediately after the rainy season particularly in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) and other major growth centres throughout the country is very welcome indeed.

Momodou B. Sarr made this declaration at the opening ceremony of a two-day sensitisation training workshop for the KMC Fans Club recently held at the President’s International Award Scheme in Bakau.

We see great work done once a month with regard to cleaning the environment during Set-Setal but to gain any real foothold in the fight against litter we must enforce these laws. The government was obviously well aware that the best way to combat litter is to prevent it being thrown in the first place and introduced this legislation to address the issue. It must be ensured that this excellent legislation is used to the fullest degree so we can keep our streets clean and beautiful. Our tourist industry will inevitably suffer if people travel from Europe on to find litter all over our streets here in The Gambia.

Another excellent aspect of the legislation is the fines that are imposed. These will prove to be an additional boost to the coffers of the various area councils.

The NEA boss also said another serious public nuisance is the discharge of wastewater from compounds into the public street. This practice is against the law and is now punishable with fines of up to D5000. Furthermore he said litter is also much more expensive to manage because each piece of litter is generally hand-picked, which is time-consuming and unnecessarily expensive of tax-payers. “In The Gambia, the complaint from the general public has been that there aren’t enough dustbins in the streets for the public to throw their litter. That problem is gradually being addressed with the placement of more dustbins at strategic locations within the KMC. But it should not be used as an excuse for littering as all of us have a moral obligation to keep our environment clean and green,” he said. These are extremely wise words. Perhaps there is a role for the private sector in this crusade. If business owners place dustbins outside their premises it would greatly reduce the instance of litter on our streets.

To fully tackle this issue we must all work together and take collective responsibility. The environment belongs to us all and we should help each other to protect it.

The first ever wind energy project was recently inaugurated in Batokunku in Kombo South. The initiative which brought this project to fruition should serve as a lesson not only to other communities in the country but to the government as well. Alternative sources of energy are vital to the future prosperity of The Gambia. We have abundant sunlight and should be making far greater use of it. We heard a statement earlier this year from President Jammeh saying that the future of Gambian electricity lay in solar power. At the time we praised the statement and urged the government to move swiftly to implement a plan of action with regard to this worthy idea. There has however been little heard on the topic of late so we renew our plea to those in power to press ahead with a comprehensive plan to make The Gambia more energy self-sufficient by implementing a full solar power initiative with all possible haste.

The example of Batokunku is also a very interesting one. While wind is less abundant than solar power it is clear from this example that it can be used to sustain smaller communities. The project consists of a single turbine capable of generating 150K VA for villagers. 80 compounds have been connected to the distribution grid and will be supplied by the single turbine. Another hugely positive aspect of the project is that any excess energy will be sold to NAWEC and perhaps even lead to cheaper prices for consumers if enough projects of this kind exist.

Many people in the field of sustainable energy are new placing huge hope for energy production in the technology developing around wave energy. As we have long stretches of coastline at our disposal we must consider this to be a very real option for our future energy needs. While there is real hope for us in all these sources perhaps our greatest potential lies in the mighty River Gambia. This vast body of water has the potential to unleash vast quantities of energy which could supply not only The Gambia but perhaps even some of the needs of our neighbours. This would not only reduce our dependence on external energy sources but would generate much needed revenue for the government to invest in worthy projects to promote national development.

We have enormous potential all around us in The Gambia to help us attain energy self-sufficiency, what is need now is the political will and initiative to seize these opportunities for the betterment of the lives of all Gambians.

“In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments – there are consequences.”

Robert Greene Ingersoll

The Sport Journalist Association of The Gambia and the Senegalese Sports Journalist Association will engage in a partnership geared towards  cementing the relationship between the two sides.

This initiative came about following the arrival of a Senegalese sports journalist delegation who attended The Gambia and Senegal match last weekend.

According to Mamodou Diouf, President of the Senegalese journalist Association, as part of facilitating the formation of the twining programme, his committee will come to Banjul on the 26th of July to work on the modalities of the twining.

Diouf seized the opportunity to inform SJAG members, at a meeting held between the two bodies, that every year the Association National de la Press Sportive du Senegal benefit from an amount of two million CFA (close to D100,000) from their national Olympic committee as part of their contribution towards developing sports in Senegal.

“We also have a permanent sponsorship from our national GSM operator Orange, who also assist in funding our activities,” he explained.

The Senegalese Journalist association will also be heading for congress on July 28th 2008 in Dakar.

The twining programme if formed will set the plate form for both parties to exchange experiences and learn more lessons for the advancement of the two associations. 

It is with great delight that we welcome the governments initiative in leasing a plot of land measuring 265 hectares to the Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zone Agency (GIPFZA) for investment opportunities.

Of the total number of 265 hectares situated between Pirang and Kuloro, 200 has been allocated to makfood company, a joint venture between M.A Kharafi and Farm fruits of the Netherlands to embark on agricultural projects specifically in onion and Irish potato cultivation.

This is an example of forward planning and shows there is some attempt at least to tackle the issue of food self sufficiency. Many in the country are desperately worried about the rising cost of rice so a move towards potato cultivation is the way forward. Unlike rice, potatoes have in the past been described as natures perfect food. It is possible for a person to survive on potatoes alone as they provide all the vitamins and minerals needed for a human being to survive. While this wonder food will no doubt prove to be an answer to many of our food problems, if the current plan is followed and extended in time, we must be careful not to allow the population to become overly dependant on one food source. This has happened with rice and look at the situation we now find ourselves in.

Along with land allocation of the kind mentioned above we must be careful to ensure that farmers are protected against pests. The biggest crop in the world can be decimated if it is not properly protected against pests. We read of the plight of women farmers in Sanyang who have suffered a major loss of onion output simply because they were not properly protected against pests.  An holistic approach is what will save our people. This has been shown with this latest project. Along with producing food it is expected that the project will create employment opportunities for the youths within the communities of Pirang and Kuloro. This is certainly a much-needed boost to the area and one that should be welcomed by all. What is imperative now is that the government doesn’t lose focus. This type of initiative must be continued all over the country and scientific knowledge must be put to good use to see what crops will best benefit the people in any given area. This is a good start but it is still only the starting point on the long hard road to self-sufficiency.

“Food is an important part of a balanced diet.”

- Fran Lebowitz

Unique Dutch Strategy Improves lives of African Orphans

World Initiative for Orphans (WIO), headquarters in The Netherlands, is an independent, non- profit human rights organisation for orphaned and abandoned children worldwide. WIO strives to guard the fundamental needs of these children with a sense of urgency.

In a few African countries World Initiative for Orphans Foundation has already signed operational agreements with the leading ministries to become partners in adding new ideas and pragmatic solutions for children without parental care. Kenya, The Gambia and The Democratic Republic of Congo are the first countries determined to reform their policy in full cooperation with WIO.

To this effect, WIO last week opened its regional office for West Africa in The Gambia.

According to Mr. Morris I.O Anyim, the WIO country Manager, The Gambia office will co-ordinate WIO affairs and activities in the West African sub region.

“Progress in the development of appropriate alternative care for orphaned and abandoned children and the reduction of institutionalisation is too limited. More must be done. Most countries do not have a comprehensive and effective national policy plan or action plan for orphaned and abandoned children. Such a plan should include the necessary measures to provide all children without parental care with alternative care in a family type setting, base on international best practices,” he said.

Mr. Morris revealed all these things in an exclusive interview at The Point offices recently. He said that prior to the opening of the Gambian office, the WIO international CEO, Mr. Maarten G.H. Brekelmans, visited the country on two auspicious occasions. During these visits he met with various stakeholders.

The WIO country Manager further revealed that the organisation has so far received commendations from several human rights organisations and individuals including Jakob Egbert Doek Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Meanwhile, worldwide there are 150 million orphaned and abandoned children (growing to 250 million in 2012). These vulnerable children need special protection, but that is hardly dealt with in a strategic manner. WIO plan to unite and co-ordinate countries, universities and involve leaders in a strong coalition of alternative care experts. The WIO-Triangle of stakeholders will focus on the best available child placement option for children without parental care. It will also serve as a global knowledge network on behalf of the development of child welfare policies and legislation for these children and enforce their rights.

In a bid to boost the education and health sector, Dot Priestley, a British philanthropist on Monday distributed stationary, furniture, footballs and football gears, bicycles, tables, chairs, video, computers, photocopiers, 12 large television screens and other valuable items to The Gambia College, Bullock, Farraba, Bakadaji, Bakau, Janet International schools as well as medical items to Wellinghara Clinic.

Other household items where also distributed to the people of Bakau, Brikama, Sabba and Serrekunda.

Speaking to the Daily Observer shortly after the distribution exercise, Dot Priestley from Derbyshire in the UK, gave a brief history of how the gesture came about. She noted that she has been visiting The Gambia since the year 2000 and through such visits that she became increasingly aware of the importance of supporting the people of The Gambia in the education, health and other sectors for the development of the country. “I love The Gambia. The people are friendly and I wish them all the best and ready to share with them all what I have” she said.

Madam Priestley then emphasised the importance of the items donated noting that it will benefit beneficiaries and increase their level of achievements as well as enabling the Gambia College trainees to benefit and thus, the children they eventually teach.

“The items distributed to the various villages will as well not only be of benefit to the children but also to their families. This will help increase the resources of the villages and improve the well-being of the families” she said.

She then commended Ann Poole, a teacher at Knivebon Primary School in the UK for assisting her in the distribution exercise and Lynn Board, a daughter and head teacher and Sue Cartlidge, an infant teacher for their immense support in ensuring the success of the initiative.