Dear Colleagues,
The Gambia, will today, Wednesday July 2, 2008, join the rest of the World to commemorate the International Sports Journalists’ day.

It is indeed my great honour and pleasure to wish you all the best for this important day in the annals of sports journalism worldwide.
July 2 was earmarked by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) as the official day of celebration because of its significance as the date when the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) was established at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
This July 2, 2008 will mark the 84th anniversary of the founding of AIPS.

I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all members of The Gambia Sports Journalists Association for a job well done in recent years

We have indeed witnessed great development and expansion of our Association from its foundation in November 10, 1998 with only eight journalists, into vibrant national and international organisation it is today representing more than 45 members.

The Day will be commemorated in The Gambia for the first time in a form of a March past and open forum at the Youth Monument at West Field.

The forum is expected to be attended by sports authorities, sports associations and stakeholders in the development of sports and journalism.

The theme of the celebration is” Role of Sports Journalists in Sports Development”

I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of each and every one of you specially the new generation of committed and professional journalists that took over the mantle of leadership of the association from the old guard.

The 24th March 2004 revolution in the Association which has brought my tenure as President could not have come at a better time as the then leadership was falling short in principally guide the association after six years into office.

I urge you as colleagues to further strengthen our co-operation which has served as the main force through our tenure.

I call on you to strive for greatness, not only professionally, but by representing the ideals of our association and by setting a good example as global citizens. It is now more important than ever to consolidate our traditions.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations on this festive occasion. Enjoy celebrating International Sports Journalists’ Day, 2008.

Yours sincerely,
Namory Trawally

President SJAG

The Gambia U 20 team claimed victory in their first international engagement in the 16th edition of the African Youth Championship qualifiers to be held in Rwanda next year.

The Under 20’s snatched a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in Banjul last Sunday.

The match was well contested by the two sides. The Gambian team created lot of chances but finishing was the problem for the team, equally the Mauritanian side also made several attempts to enter the Gambian box but the Gambian defenders did not allow them to penetrate. In the 35th, 39th, and 40th minutes of the first half Cherno Njie, Aruna Jammeh and Pa Modou Jagne missed lot of goal opportunities.

The boys, during the coarse of the game were playing a lot of aerial balls which was not favourable to the Gambians the Mauritanian were capitalising on the situation. Luckily for The Gambia during injury time the team captain Pa Modou Jagne relieved the Gambian fans the pressure by scoring the wining goal for The Gambia.

The winners between The Gambia and Mauritania are expected to meet Ghana or Libya in the final stages of the Qualifiers.

In its relentless efforts to meet the banking needs of its regional customers, Guaranty Trust Bank, has gone a step further to introduce GT Bank International Money Transfer (GTMT) service.

The service, which is expected to initially start within the West African sub-region, will now enable customers as well as non-customers of the bank to receive and send money with ease and speed. With the presence of GT Bank in four countries across West Africa, the GTMT service would squarely solve the perennial problem associated with money transfer within the sub-region.

In essence, this new product will also enable customers and non-customers of the bank in Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone to walk into any of the various branches of the bank in any of these countries to receive and send money.

The product has a number of advantages and benefits over existing modes of money transfer. Firstly, it is instant and secured. A customer only needs to walk into any of GT Bank branches with cash and within minutes, the sender would be given a pin code for the receiver to use in collecting the transferred funds.

Secondly, it is relatively cheaper than other existing modes of transfer as its charges a flat rate of 3% on amounts above $300, while a flat sum of $10 is charged for amounts below $300.

Interestingly also, the service is available to both account and non-account holders of all Guaranty Trust Banks in Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Ghana.

There is also a fixed exchange rate as the payment and receipt of funds is in US dollars unless the recipient requests for the local currency. Users could also make a huge transfer of up to a limit of $10,000 per transaction.

According to the Managing Director of GT Bank (Gambia) Ltd Mr. Lekan Sanusi, “The fixed exchange rate would eliminate the high risk of customers getting huge losses as the exchange rate of the US Dollar changes on daily basis.

“At GT Bank, customer satisfaction is second to none in anything we do,” he added.

He pointed out that with the large presence of Nigerian, Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian populations in The Gambia, GTMT would be highly welcomed.

Commenting on the reliability of the GTMT service, Mr Bolaji Ayodele, GTB (Gambia) General Manager who also heads the operations division, said the reliability of the new service is devoid of any short coming as it immediately notifies the sender of the transaction by email message.

Mr. Ayodele went on to say that when the receiver finally receives the money, an email message is automatically sent to the sender for notification of receipt of the money.

National U-20 Coach Lorenzo Rubbinacci will test the strength of his side in a friendly international to be stage between The Gambia U-20 team with that of Senegal on the 21st of June in Banjul.

The match will be part of the FA’s preparatory efforts for the team’s match against Mauritania on June 28 in Banjul in the qualifying rounds of the 16th African Youth Championship in 2009 in Rwanda.

The winner between The Gambia and Mauritania are expected to meet Ghana or Libya in the final stages of the Qualifiers.

The Gambia youth team put up a very good performance during the last African and World Youth championships and were the African bronze medalists in Congo.

In what is seen as the saddest news dogging the 9thedition of International Roots Festival, an accident on Monday, 2ndJune 2008 resulted in the death of Musa Krubally, a staff of Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA), while Assan Cham and Sulayman Baldeh, Red Cross volunteers, suffered injuries.

The accident is reported to have happened around Njaba Kunda, North Bank Region (NBR) while the International Roots Homecoming Festival entourage was heading to Janjanbureh where a related occasion was scheduled to take place.

According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle that the late Musa Krubally was using somersaulted due to faulty wheels, causing his death on the spot as a result of head injuries.

The International Federation of Journalists in their executive meeting in Brussels on 1 of June 2008, decided to expel Force Ouvriere ( France) and Thailand with immediate effects. This came as a result of the lack of compliance of the two members regarding membership fees. In the same line it was an executive decision for Georgia to be warned. The Nigerian Union is also to be written regarding their debts

It was agreed to endorse the application of DJV in Germany for part exoneration of fees for 2008 with an undertaking to pay fees in full from 1 January 2009.  Another application from the Dominican Republics seeking an exoneration of 360 Euros was agreed.

The executive committee agreed to a proposal from the general Secretary to prepare a report on the development of the IFJ press card for the next meeting. He said it would be important to think of strengthening the security and to modernize the format in order to ensure bits place as the only credible international accreditation of journalists

On new membership, the EC committee admitted the The first Trade Union of public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of Azerbaijan  as full member,Brundi Association of journalists, accepted as associated member, Afghan Independent journalists Association was also admitted as an associate member of the IFJ, the Rwanda Journalists association was also admitted as an associated member

There were rejections to an immediate admission of the Libyan Journalists Association into IFJ. The matter was deferred to the next meeting where a decision will be taken. The Nation Press union of Congo also falls under the same category.

The meeting ended and the next meeting will be hosted by French Union of journalists in Paris November 14-15 2008.

The former Wasall player and Gambian international Edirisa Sonko has told journalists that when the time is up he will let them know about his decision as to where he will be heading because currently a lot of clubs are looking for his signature.

“I don’t need to rush that’s why I arrived late. I have a lot of offers in England and am looking at it seriously, they are good teams,” he said.

He revealed that Southampton is one of the teams that wants his signature and at the end of the day all things will be done.

“It is good to play in England, as it is different from other countries. I played in Holland for over six years and I could term England as the best place for me. It was quite tough for me in the beginning as it took me three months before I adapted to their style of play,” he narrated.

Edi said, “it is every players wish to play to the highest level were the standard of play is so advanced like the Premiership. It is very fortunate for me that I started from league one and am looking forward to the Premiership,” he stated.

It will be recalled that the Gambian international Edirisa Sonko was released by his former league one side Walsall FC at the end of his one-year contract and a lot of offers started showering in on and waiting on the Gambian International in the UK.

A Gambian, international businessman recently donated over 3,000 bags of rice to the vulnerable and poor of The Gambia.

Alieu Conteh grew up in The Gambia but is now an international businessman based in South Africa. He donated these bags of rice in mourning of his beloved mother.

He gave this charity out to a large crowd of people at his home town of Gunjur. Mr. Conteh was very pleased that the people had listened his charitable call and had come to accept it. He thanked those who read the holy Quran for his late mother.

Alhagie Kebba Conteh, Alieu’s brother said that they take great pleasure from helping and giving charity to those who need it. He promised that the sky is the limit to his brother’s generous help.

The crowd thanked the Conteh family for their wonderful gesture. They said that the charity has come in a time of great need when the whole world is suffering from food shortages and rising food prices caused by the rising cost of fuel. “It is brilliant that this man has given up a little of his wealth to provide for those who are in great need,” one beneficiary told The Point.

On top of this Alieu Conteh distributed an extra bag of rice to every compound in Gunjur

No fewer that 81 nurses and midwives from both the state and private health sectors in the Western Region last Saturday converged in their large numbers to celebrate International Nurses and Midwives Day at the Gambia College, Brikama Campus.

The event, funded by UNFPA, was equally celebrated by all the Regional Health Teams across the country.

Deputising for the Interim President of the Nursing Association, Mrs Ramou Cole Ceesay, Mr Cherno Camara Principal Nursing Officer at Jammeh Foundation for Peace, said “The International Day of the Midwives is an occasion for every midwife, to think about the others in the profession, to make new contacts within and outside midwifery and widen the knowledge of what midwives do for the world.”

He noted that the aim of the day was to celebrate midwifery and also to bring awareness of the importance of midwives’ work to as many people as possible.

He indicated that this year, the special focus of the celebration is on “Healthy Families: the key to the future.”

He said: “Midwives help to build healthy families. Everywhere across the world, midwives work to build better health and stronger structures within families and communities,” and the International Nurses Day theme for 2008 is: “Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care.”

He maintained that midwifery care for women and their babies is an investment that promotes healthy growth and well being for the present and future generations of our countries.

According to him, today the African continent is challenged by paucity of midwives, especially in the rural areas among others to effectively reduce maternal, new born, and child morbidity and mortality, to which The Gambia is no exception.

He however revealed that in The Gambia, the number of intakes into nursing and midwifery training institutions have been increased by 100%.

He added that midwives’ commitment to families, within a functioning health system and supportive environment is also a core element is challenged of Primary Health Care.

He explained that health care is back on the global health agenda and nursing is leading the way in ensuring the active participation of citizens and communities in addressing health issues and accessing appropriate health services round the clock.

He said: “Nurses work in an emergency room, health Centre, outpatient department, nursing home, school, refugee camp, STI’s clinic, nursing school, research or any of the myriad settings, nurses are helping communities and individuals deal with health challenges.

“Nurses talk to people about lifestyle issues, how to avoid illness, how to ensure their water supply is safe, about their immunisation, etc.

“Nurses work with pregnant women, the elderly, or other special needs groups to identify service needs and solutions.

“Nurses supervise or deliver home-based care.

“Nurses work with a faith-based or non- governmental organisation that focuses on development or global health.

“Nurses bring services to marginalized communities such as street people or sex workers.

“Nurses work in all settings-as clinicians, planners, policy makers, educators, managers, regulators, researchers, some of whom are WHO Representative, Health Minister, director, Professor, Cataract Surgeon and Anaesthetist.”

In conclusion, Mr. Camara called on all nurses and midwives to actively participate in the Gambia’s Nurses and Midwives Association in its efforts to uphold the dignity of the profession and complement the Government in ensuring that quality health care reaches the door steps of everybody in the country.

The Western Region event was facilitated by Mr. Juma Jallow.

GCAA Reassures General Public

Barely a week before the deadline set by International Air Transport Association (IATA) for all certified air travel agencies to introduce Electronic Ticketing (E-Ticketing), Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has assured the general public that there is no cause for alarm.

Electronic Ticketing, a system recommended by IATA, is believed to be one of the most significant opportunities to reduce cost and improve passenger convenience. It reduces ticket processing charges, eliminates the need for paper and allows greater flexibility to passengers and travel agencies to make changes to itineraries.

According to recent reports, air travel from The Gambia would soon be at the mercy of current regulation as the IATA deadline for countries to introduce electronic ticketing was set to mature on May 31st.

In this interview with The Point, Mr. Fansu Bojang, Director General of Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, said that air travel to and from The Gambia would and could not be interrupted as was reported since most airlines and travel agencies have already complied with the IATA decision.

“There are quite a few who are still not compliant but this is in the interest of their own convenience, cost reduction and affordable service to their own customers”, he clarified.

According to the GCAA boss, with effect from June 1st 2008, all IATA-certified travel agencies working with airlines supporting electronic ticketing functions in all countries that are on the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) would no longer be able to issue automated tickets. “In countries with BSP,” he went on, “most airlines have chosen to allow travel agents to issue e-ticketing using the Amadeus system to use the Amadeus e-ticket direct product”.

According to Mr. Bojang, the Amadeus Electronic Ticketing Direct represents the only one way for airlines and travel agencies to issue Electronic Tickets in those countries.

“However, due to high demand of this product, Amadeus has been unable to be implemented at most of the countries some of which are in the region [including] Angola, Burundi, The Gambia, Guinea, Rwanda and Sierra-Leone. It is hoped that within the next few months, this product will be fully implemented in The Gambia,” he affirmed.

GCAA boss added that until this product is implemented for travel agencies who can use the Amadeus system in The Gambia, airlines would either continue providing concerned travel agencies with their own manual paper ticket stock until they have been implemented or could issue the e-tickets on their behalf.

“As of now, Brussels Airlines is the only airline that is issuing e-Tickets in The Gambia. Air Senegal International, Bellview Airline and Slok Airline Gambia Limited are all working very hard on the final stages of the implementation process”, Mr. Bojang revealed.

Mr. Abdoulie E. Jammeh, Deputy Director General, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, underlined GCAA’s dissociation from the opinion that air travel from the Gambia would become extremely difficult. “There are processes, deadlines are set. But there are logistical implications for all those things. It has to take its full course for implementation to be complete,” Mr Jammeh elucidated.