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SA team evacuate 120 guests from Mumbai Hotel

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:49:38 GMT

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Gunshots broke out and the crowd in the famed Taj Mahal hotel panicked,but five excruciating hours later, a private South African securityguard said his team succeeded in evacuating about 120 guests. We heard some gun shots. We barricaded the restaurant and we movedeverybody into the kitchen, recalled Faisul Nagel, who happened to beon the 25th floor of the hotel tower when the attack began.

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SAGoodNews/~3/468196728/sa_team_evacuate_120_guests_from_mumbai_hotel.html

MDI, GIMPA hold public lecture

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:27:34 GMT

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Management Development Institute (MDI) in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) last Tuesday organized a public lecture during their public sector management training of trainers program held at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

Over 40 participants from the public and private sectors attended the lecture on “Leadership: a factor in national development.” According to Professor Stephen Adei, rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), who delivered the over 2-hour lecture, “leaders manage significant changes and paradigm shifts while managers focus on systems, efficiency, marginal changes and doing things right.”

According to the professor “leadership is cause, everything is effect.” Professor Stephen Adei thus: “The responsibility of leadership is enormous. It is however the responsibility of all, especially the middle class, academia, media, development partners, to work to increase the capacity of existing leaders and to enhance the supply and demand of quality leadership in Africa in future.

Author: by Yunus S Saliu

Sh5 million reward to end impunity

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:40:36 GMT

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A cash reward of Sh5 million will be given to anyone who conducts a successful private prosecution on corruption and economic crimes.

Source: http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144000018&cid=4&

20 new vehicles for security forces

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:53:53 GMT

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The country’s security forces, yesterday, received a boost in the form of 20 brand new vehicles, courtesy of their commander-in-chief, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.

The presentation of the vehicles was done at a ceremony held at State House grounds in Banjul.

14 Greatwall Wingle Pick-up’s, two Benz military jeeps, a Toyota van and three Toyota Land Cruisers ambulances, the vehicles would contribute immensely in the enhancement of the work of the country’s security establishment by easing their mobility. The bulk of the vehicles went to The Gambia Police Force.

In a frank and uncompromising speech, President Jammeh pointed to the recent increase in violent crimes, which he said necessitates for the procurement of the necessary equipments and logistics to the security forces to effectively enhance their performance in executing their duties.

But he wasted no time in informing the security chiefs present that the vehicles were meant purposely for officials use, and that they should not be used for any private purpose.

Those who want vehicles for private purposes, the president said, can apply for a loan to that effect.

To him, gone are the days when vehicles get abandoned due to lack of proper care, vowing to deal with any station officer and driver who would be the first to wreck their vehicles.

He indicated that there was nothing like a good or bad vehicle, insisting that a vehicle’s life span depended on its handling.

He said that vehicles were being provided but that proper care was not being taken of them, thus leading to them been wrecked before their actual life span. He advised police chiefs to ensure that only designated police drivers be assigned to drive the new vehicles and not just any police officer in a particular station.

He further vowed to deal with any station officer who was found wanting in his job for a flimsy excuse of lack of fuel, maintaining that all vehicles would be provided with enough fuel strictly for official use.

He then urged the police chiefs to introduce the vehicle log books, and to label all their vehicles with the GPF logo and the name of the appropriate station "for proper accountability." Dr Jammeh also urged them to ensure that vehicles were properly and regularly maintenance for longevity.

The Gambian leader then warned the police to desist from over-speeding, except for reasons of emergency. To this end, he implored the general public for their full support in reporting any unwarranted action by police officers across the country.

The ceremony was witnessed by the vice president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie -Saidy, secretaries of state, the secretary general and Head of the Civil Service, services chiefs, APRC Yai Compins, amongst others. Joseph P Jassey, permanent secretary, department of state for Defence, chaired the ceremony.

Author: by Pa Malick Faye

Players Need Public and Private Sector Support

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:10:38 GMT

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

It was very sad to see a national team playing again with in empty Stadium on Sunday during the brilliant performance from our darling U17 team against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone. But the main question is what is stopping people to come out and giving support to the boys? The players need the support of the public and private sector.

Pointsports went around to seek the views of people on this matter.

Speaking to one Nigerian, Stanley, who is a football fan he said, “Gambia is the only country where I see football tickets cheap and still when their national team is playing you see empty stadium.” He said, “the only way that Gambia can make a name in the international world when the private sector supports to the players. This will motivate and give them courage. It is very simple, all they need to do is to buy tickets during international matches and give them to their staff to go and support. It is also publicity for them,” he explained.

In his reaction Momodou Bah, a Senegalese man residing in The Gambia for more than 23 years, told Pointsports that, “The Gambia has a good, very young team and I believe that with the help of the public and the private sector we will see The Gambia not only in the African Cup of Nations but the World cup as well,” he explained.

It will be recalled that in an interview with Pointsports the Senegalese legend Juan Franco Bocanday said that The Gambia have a very young team as he used to watch them playing during the Youth tournaments. “They have good and intelligent players and all that they need is the support from the general public and the private sector,” he said. That’s the voice of the Senegalese legend so what is stopping the general public and the private sector from coming out?

The Gambia will be hosting Liberia in the joint World and African Cup on Saturday 6th of September 2008. We hope and urge the private sector to do the same as they used to do before during the U-17 tournament. At that time they gave the fans with T-shirts and drums to see who is the best supporting company. They should restart this excellent practice for the upcoming games too. The general public should also come out in force. We hope that we will see the same on Saturday and always.

Author: By Ebou Manneh

Source: Picture: Fans at the Match

GFA VP Calls for Public and Private Sector Participation

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:13:52 GMT

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

The first vice –president of The Gambia Football Association (GFA), Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, in an interview with journalists shortly after The Gambia and Sierre Leone U-17 match has called on the public and private sector to fully participate for the development of football in the country.

General Tamba expressed his total disappointment about the low turnout of fans during the match noting that Gambians should take ownership of their football. “The gate collection today cannot even cover the air tickets, accommodation and pardiums of the referees and match commissioner,” he said.

He stated that the GFA alone cannot do it, noting that the national teams are the cream of the nation. He urged Gambians to be proud of their football and added that the money they spend in the video clubs would be far better if spent on the national teams.

General Tamba also called on the private sector to emulate the efforts of Africell in supporting the GFA towards the promotion of Gambian football.

Author: By Pa Modou Faal

Source: Picture: Lang Tombong Tamba

Private Investment Critical for Economic Growth - Secy Colley

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:16:21 GMT

Monday, September 01, 2008

The Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Employment Mr Abdou Colley has described the private sector as an important partner in the economic growth of the country.

He made these remarks last Thursday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel at the review of the draft Investment Promotion and Free Zones Act.

According to him, investment promotion involves a wide range of stakeholders; government institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society, and other development partners.

“Seven years ago, the government decided to enact the Investment Promotion and free Zones Acts to promote private investment in the economy and to allow private sector to play a lead role in the management of the economic resources,” he said.

The enactment of the two Acts, and their subsequent review, he said, indicates government’s strong conviction that promotion of private sector investment, particularly foreign direct investment (FDI), is central to the country’s development process.

He said that the contribution that the FDI could make towards the country’s economic development and integration into the global economy is widely recognized. He urged the participants to make particular reference to the issue of investment incentives. “In as much as we recognize that our country is essentially tax-based economy, we should not lose sight of the fact that we live in a very competitive world where every country, developed or developing, is devising their strategies to attract strategic investors. In this regard let us agree on promises that we can keep and speak with one voice as a government,” he said.

Mr Don Lecrew, an international consultant, said that the purpose of the investment Act is to make The Gambia more attractive to investors, adding that tax incentives are very important for both domestic and foreign investors.

Author: By Nfamara Jawneh

Source: Picture: Abdou Colley (Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Employment)

Enough Is Enough!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:46:07 GMT

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Of course, we have many times in the past expressed our total disappointment with the way in which some public offices and officials in this country treat the private media regarding the dissemination of information to the general public.

What we must not accept is segregation of any kind, at any level of government or the public service in dealing with the media in general. The private media have in the recent past been subjected to some sort of discrimination as against the public media.

Most public institutions seem to be in the habit of putting the private media last in all their dealings. As we see it, most public institutions regard the public media as the only medium through which information can be disseminated. Is this an avoidance of the private media or is it that the private media have done something wrong?

Every now and then, public officers walk into our offices with press releases relating to programmes that the private media should have been invited to cover. And what next do we see or hear? Invitations for coverage are extended to the public media only. In some instances, they give us a last minute call. What public offices should understand is that we in the media report factual information to keep the general public abreast of all that is happening in the public and the private domains. As journalists we should be allowed and indeed encouraged to perform our duties as the nation’s watchdogs. It is not at all fair to organise conferences and omitting, whether inadvertently or deliberately, to invite the private media. Public officials are paid with taxpayers’ money and they should therefore be held publicly accountable. Keeping the private media from events and from relevant information may not be the best way of shirking that public accountability. Such an approach merely arouses suspicion and speculation.

There is no denying the fact that it is through our activities that the world gets to know what is happening, where, why and by whom. This can however be only possible with the full collaboration of all public and private institutions in this country.

These people are in their positions to serve the public and not their own selfish interests. They should not see journalists as enemies when they are engaged in dubious deals and as friends when they have promotions or other reasons for celebration. Recent indications from some public officers suggest that public institutions only approach the private media when they have information that will please some people in some way. A stop should be put to this lob-sided practice. We as journalists are not here to please any particular person. We believe in neutrality, objectivity and impartiality, and as such we cannot be in a position to countenance media discrimination in any manner or form. It is our position, which all lovers of democracy and fairness would support.

“Everything secret degenerates … nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.”

Lord Acton

Ivorian President on Private Visit in Town

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:08:53 GMT

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The President of the Republic of Ivory Coast, His Excellency Lorent Gbagbo, is currently in The Gambia on a private visit, reports monitored over GRTS revealed.

President Gbago was received upon arrival at Banjul International Airport yesterday by the Vice President of the republic of The Gambia, Madam Isatou Njie Saidy, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chief Justice and Secretaries of States.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival, President Gbagbo said that he is in the country for vacation, citing the sunshine and hospitality of the Gambian people as the elements of attraction.

Source: Picture: His Excellency Lorent Gbagbo (Ivorian President)

Private Contributions Rightly Honoured

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:15:37 GMT

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

We congratulate all those honoured by The Gambia Police Force for their contributions to the force in recent times. They are to be lauded for their efforts in supporting the force in its efforts to protect the people of The Gambia and their property. The four men honoured were Momodou Turo Darboe, Hon. Suku Signateh, Majority leader Fabakary T. Jatta and KMC Mayor Yankuba Colley. Among the accomplishments for which the men were honoured was a donation of D25,000 towards the construction of the new police station at Talinding by Momodou Turo Darboe and this was praised by IGP Badjie at the occasion.
There was also high praise for Fabakary Tombong Jatta for providing the police with fuel during their times of need. Meanwhile, at the same ceremony, Hon. Abdoulie Suku Signateh gave a whopping donation of 250 raincoats and boots to The Gambia Police Force as part of his contribution to national development. These are all indeed great contributions to national development and those making them should be commended. Given that the private citizens of The Gambia are presenting The Gambia Police Force with their hard earned money the police must ensure that the best possible use is made of the money.