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FCI gets new Executive

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:27:12 GMT

Friday, November 21, 2008

Freedom Camp International (FCI) have a new executive. The handing over of the new executive was recently held at the Kanifing Municipal Council.

The Association, which started almost seven years ago, had been run by the first executive for that time.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony, the outgoing executive chairman, Mr. Modou Lamin Manneh, briefly told the gathering that Freedom Camp International was initiated on the 11thof June 2001 and founded in February 2004 by experienced professionals in human resources.

The first name given to it was integrates movie industry (IMI).

The outgoing executive revealed that the association worked to elevate the concept of cinema from simple entertainment to a prestigious art form. According to him, in 2001, the association produced its first movie entitled “association too late to realized.” Mr. Manneh explained that in 2006, the association worked with numerous groups in the area of film production in order to accomplish its aims and objectives of exposing talent in the film industry.

Author: Njie Baldeh

Re: The young warriors - the Scorpions

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:26:45 GMT

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Editor,

Allow me space to comment on the article written by Magaye Baye Ceesay namely "The young warriors - the Scorpions" On my opinion the boys have themselves to blame for their very poor performance really. As professionals, they should know that they should play the ball and focus on the ball only and not what the referee is doing.

Their performance that night was very poor compared to their performance against Algeria and Senegal in Gambia. We watched the whole match. How can they beat Algeria when every second pass they made goes to the opponent? Yes, the referee was a disaster so was their performance that night. Watch the match a second time, you will see.

Omar Gibba

Author: DO

Re: Two Gambians appointed judges

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:46:47 GMT

Friday, June 13, 2008

Editor,

May I first and foremost take this opportunity to commend the Daily Observer’s management for the revamp in style of reporting. Those two newly appointed Judges BY Camara esquire and Moses Johnson Richards esquire are my mentors. I worked with both of them and as well was taught by them.

Their appointment is timely and their presence will surely help the Judiciary. They both are professionals and true sons of the Gambia. Most of their Judgments are at times turned to lectures...full of case laws and firm authorities both from the GLRs and those abroad. Once again I congratulate them for this honourable appointment and would crave on them to redouble their efforts so that with time we will have all from our own soil.

Momodou Mballow

Author: DO

Time for a Credit Union

Fri, 30 May 2008 05:07:56 GMT

Friday, May 30, 2008

The time has come for journalists to come together and support each other. Many other professionals, most notably teachers, have credit unions that members of the profession can approach and get loans from as well as save wit Journalists should follow this example. Of course the seed capitol for such a venture will not be easy to come by and it is for this reason that embassies, banks and other institutions should lend their financial support to this project in order to get it off the ground.

As we have said many times freedom of the press is vital to any democracy and so all democracy loving countries should invest in the journalists of The Gambia by supporting this initiative.

While journalism is a noble profession it tends in many countries to be a low paid one. This is especially true in The Gambia where heavy taxation leaves many publishers struggling to meet their costs let alone pay decent wages. In many cases this leaves working journalists struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. If a credit union were to be established then journalists, like so many other professions, could have access to cheap credit and improve their lives and the lives of their extended families.

The credit union would also serve as a focal point in the journalistic community in The Gambia and increase unity as a result. This is vital for our profession. There is strength in numbers and in every profession this kind of supportive unity is needed.

Much has been written about the spiraling costs of basic commodities in recent times but wages have not increased in tandem. The result is that journalists, like many other professionals, are beginning to feel the financial pinch. The establishment of a credit union would go some way towards alleviating this. For this reason The Gambia Press Union should take up the torch and spearhead the project. In this the union would fulfil its duty to look after the interests of journalists.

If the kind of financial support a credit union would bring were to be in place it would also make the profession more attractive to the next generation. There is no doubt that many young people who would have made excellent journalists have chosen not to follow that career route simply because the remuneration is not large enough.

For all these reasons a credit union must be established so that journalists can be supported. The time has come for freedom and democracy loving institutions to invest some capitol in those whose profession and duty it is to uphold the ideals of freedom of speech, truth, freedom of expression and democracy.

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Scorpions in camp -As more professionals jet in

Mon, 26 May 2008 04:27:26 GMT

Monday, May 26, 2008

The Scorpions went to camp last night, at the Paradise Suites Hotel, as preparations intensify for Gambia’s Group Six opener against Liberia in the 2010 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier campaign.

The Scorpions will face the Lone Stars on Sunday, June 1, in Monrovia, in a crucial opener that will also mark their first assignment with the Belgian coach Paul Put, who recently inked a one-year deal with The Gambia Football Association.

The European has, since last week, commenced training with the team that comprise of the first contingent of professionals blended with some home-based players.

Goalkeeper Musa Bajaha and Azziz Corr Nyan were expected to arrive last night to join in camp the likes of Mustapha Jarju, Ebrima Sawaneh, Kamal Ndow, Pa Saikou Kujabi, Mathew Mendy and Ebou Sillah who have arrived since last week.

The last contingent of professional players which are expected to arrive in the next few days, will include the Norwegian FC Brann duo, Njogu Demba and Tijan Jaiteh, Russian-based defender, Abdou Jammeh, Dawda Bah, Demba Savage, Yankuba Ceesay, Edrissa Sonko and Ebrima Sohna.

Author: by Nanama Keita

Don’t rely on China’s goodwill - Health professionals warn

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:01:50 GMT

Monday, May 12, 2008

Taiwan must not rely on China’s so-called goodwill for its WHO bid, officials, academics and social advocates said on Saturday in Taipei, urging president-elect Ma Ying-jeou to avoid looking for a compromise with Beijing before moving on important issues such as public health.

At a forum held by the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan on the challenges the country will face this year in its attempt to join the world health body, panelists panned Ma’s policy of "cross-strait affairs first, foreign affairs second" as "detrimental" to healthcare in the nation.

"In an international setting, Taiwan and China should enjoy equal footing when engaging in negotiations. However, if the negotiations are held behind closed doors, Taiwan will undoubtedly be negotiating at a disadvantage," said Jiang Huang-zhi, associate professor of law at National Taiwan University.

He said negotiations with China should be conducted on an open international platform to ensure that the nation’s rights were not being compromised.

Even following Ma’s election victory, China would still bar the nation’s WHO bid unless Taiwan was willing to relent by becoming part of the Chinese delegation or be an "associate member" to China, Jiang said.

Since the Taiwanese people would never agree to the options offered by China, the issue would continue to remain unresolved, he said.

In 2005, China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the WHO to restrict Taiwan’s involvement in the health body. In the MOU, China agreed Taiwanese medical experts could enjoy "meaningful participation" in WHO-related events.

However, the Department of Health said the nation’s access to those events had not seen any significant improvement since the MOU.

"This is why we are saying meaningful participation is meaningless unless Taiwan can become an observer at the World Health Assembly (WHA)," said Lin Yong-le, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of International Organisation.

The WHA is the decision-making body of the WHO and it meets annually to discuss pertinent issues. Since 1997, Taiwan has sought to become an assembly observer, but all attempts have been rejected by Beijing.

Department of Health Deputy Director-General Chen Tzay-jinn said Beijing has repeatedly failed to make good on its pledge to pass WHO information on to Taiwan in a timely fashion, as indicated in the MOU.

For example, in the case of the recent entrovirus outbreak in China, although the story hit the international media in the middle of last month, China did not officially notify Taiwan of the fatal disease outbreak until four days ago, he said.

Foundation president Wu Shu-ming, who has been championing Taiwan’s WHO membership since 1996, urged Ma to work closely with lobbying groups and heed their suggestions.

"We are able to provide him with valuable suggestions since we have been working on it for over a decade," he said.

Author: DO

Travel and the roads Continued from last week Tuesday

Tue, 06 May 2008 05:39:30 GMT

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

I wish to recap that in this small section of Travels we wish to bring to you first hand eye witness information on travelling on our roads (land), sea and air as journeyed by Market Beat anchorman. Our intention here is, we tasked ourselves in helping report breaches in health and safety rules, conditions of our carriers be it ferries, cars or otherwise, fare variations, anti social behaviours among others. In that same vein, we wish to educate, inform and entertain our priceless readers whose satisfaction and wellbeing is paramount to our existence.

Professionalism

There is a high percentage of service satisfaction on behalf of the commuters who uses this Banjul-Barra Ferry Route. The staff on show and those hidden who are all contributing a part to a whole are absolute professionals. The ferries are quick and they at minimum carry 10 cars and 400 people in every single journey be it from Banjul or Barra end.

On board is saw and spoke to young Gambian professionals doing their very best to get the ferries on time, within budget and above all safely. Sea journeys are like no other means of travel because if anything goes wrong the result is catastrophe of gigantic proportions, so God forbids. The professionals on board the ferries working are in the business of getting it right the very first time. Bravo you brave hearts and please keep the spirits high, we are proud of you. The Banjul- Barra ferries are very assuring as the young professionals at the hem are unsung heroes of this nation as they guide us to and fro Banjul without any sign of amateurish performances.

The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) is doing very well in training its staff in Ghana and overseas to be masters in their respective fields of operations and they are doing a very good job. I met the likes of Dawda Sanyang, who was on the ground to get answers why the Kanilai Ferry was delayed/late for twenty-five minutes and his insistence to get to the Captain and get to the root of the matter ensured that the flow of service was back to normal.

He is a real people’s leader and I hope he keeps doing what he is doing now with his staff meaning, disagree to agree and agree top disagree as it is the job and nothing personal. I also manage to catch up with one of the engineers in Gumbo Sallah who throughout our journey was busy refilling engine oil in the engine room. He and his colleagues were doing a brilliant job and their professionalism was exemplary. Keep it up and I hope your contributions are rewarded someday, bravo.

Author: DO

WHAT’S ON-Maslaa-bi bounces back

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:30:20 GMT

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Maslaa –bi a four mbalax group currently living in Europe are now back into the music scene after five years of silence. Currently they are busy working on their third CD album which is expected to be soon. However the group have released one of the tracks to be part of their much awaited album entiled “Alel” meaning “Wealth’ is already out and can be found at www.myspace.com/maslaabigambia.

The young Gambian mbalax singers who hailed from the city of Banjul left home soil some years ago and are working tirelessly to reach international stardom.

Maslaa bi was one time a household name in The Gambia with the released of a popular album called “Bu Nui Merro” which stormed the music market.

Maslaa bi strong captivating stage performances and common uniform oufits appearance admired music lovers that earned them to gain more music fans among the youth folks.They comprises stars like Nas, Tonton Bala El Pacco, among others.

Basically, this new album will be their first art work while in Europe.

“We know it has took a bit longer than the fans expected but the we are working to be more professionals in the music scene .This tie round we are coming in a more maturer way,” Said Touray one of the newest member of the group.

Nevertheless, this upcoming album is going to be a mixed flavour as it was superbly crafted and tailored by renowned professionals in the music industry namely Mustapha Faye, a member of the Super Etoile .Mr Faye has been contributing to our works technically during our first two albums and also this coming third album .However, in these newly recorded album arrangement was done few other individuals like like ,EL Pacco and DJ Gunman , Korist Jali-Kebba Suso and percussionist Karim Mbaye (Cho Mbaye's brother). As of now, the group is still with same members that shows that the members are highly committed to their music owed to their fans .

“The final message we got for our fans and the entire music industry is great.We assured them that we are out here for them ,trying to give them the very best of our musici.Let them et ready for this upcoming album..We hope our stuffs will be better this time as usual ,” said Gadaffi Touray.

Watch out for Maslaa Bi newest album soon.

Author: by Sheriff Janko

UTG: a national triumph

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:12:11 GMT

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The idea to create the University of the Gambia is perhaps one of the most significant decisions to have been undertaken in this country this century.

As an educational institution, UTG has the greatest bearing, potentially, on the development of this country. If the universally acclaimed adage that ‘education is the key to success’ is anything to go by, then the above mentioned statement is indisputably established.

Therefore, efforts for the realisation of maximum benefit from it calls for a focused nationalistic approach. And this must be embedded in the foundation we are now putting together, a foundation that will shape the long term outlook of the institution, and, to quite a great extent, determine the kind of professionals the institution produces in the long term, and the future of our Gambia.

With the successes being registered by this institution since its inception, we have been emphasising and re-emphasising a fact that people tend to overlook: that if you let the outsider feel they know your needs better than yourself, and you ignoramously go further to give them that privilege, you shall remain the most demoralised people of your time. Unfortunately, this was the privilege our colonial master enjoyed for over 430 years.

And the price we paid so dearly quite commensurated our unintentional blunder.

When the talk of the establishment of UTG first surfaced, it met with unequivocal voices of damnation. But by the grace of Allah, we had just been blessed with a leadership that was genuinely true to the realities of this unfair world, and was committed to its course. The plan would go ahead anyway.

Years later, after adventurous manoeuverings, we are basking under the sun of a national triumph. Any move from whosoever, for whatsoever reason, with a bit of semblance of an attempt to set adrift this national triumph, is sure to be met with a response that is guided by the spirit of the truest form of nationalism.

The nation first before anything. This is in line with the ‘Gambian dream.’ It is in this spirit that we concur with President Jammeh that this citadel of learning should not be used to launch clandestine counter-productive missiles in the guise of academia. The civilised world has since come to terms with the fact that radicalism, most often that not, derails genuine courses.

In fact, one of the reasons behind the successes of UTG is its ever rising popularity among neighbouring countries in the region and beyond, and this is largely because of one thing: peace. If this peace is disturbed, we are bound to join other countries where universities have been reduced to mere rubbles that serve as springboards for destruction rather construction. No way! UTG is here to inculcate positive thinking rather than instigating ideas that breed fascists and destabilizing ideologies.

To the graduating students, our heartfelt congratulations. Be proud of yourselves for having carved a place for yourselves in the proud history of this nation. Always remember that you owe this nation something. You must use your hard earned knowledge in the most noble of manners; give to others as has been given to you!

To the continuing and prospective students, your destiny is in your own hands.

Author: DO

“Proud of my baby”

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:05:25 GMT

Friday, January 25, 2008

Says President Jammeh as he donates 1/2 million plus for UTG Convocation

His Excellency, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh has made it clear that the University of the Gambia will always be his number one priority, as education and the training of competent professionals is crucial to development.

The General Convocation Committee of The University of The Gambia (UTG) called on President Jammeh, the founder and Chancellor, at State House, on Wednesday.

The purpose of the high-powered delegation was to inform His Excellency, the president of the plans for the Convocation to be held on Saturday, the 26th of January, 2008. The UTG delegation was led by the SoS, Higher Education, Abdoulie Sallah; Chairman of the UTG Board, Mr Abdoulie Touray and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Andreas Steigen.

Also in attendance were Mr Lamin Sam Jaiteh, the Registrar; Senior Lecturer Jenung Manneh, chairman of the General Convocation Committee; PS Higher Education, Dr Saidou Jallow; the star-graduate of UTG, SoS Tourism, Ms Angela Colley; the Attorney General Marie Saine-Firdaus and SoS Local Gov’t, Lands & Religious Affairs, Mr Ismaila Sambou.

Generosity

A happy and jocular President Jammeh expressed his pride in the existence of The University of The Gambia and the fact that so many Gambians are graduating from the UTG to serve the nation.

"Many were sceptical and many thought we could not do it," said President Jammeh, adding "I am proud of our University. I will always support it and I will safeguard it jealously. It is my baby and I will look after its well-being." As Mr. Jenung Manneh presented his budget for the Convocation, the president offered to pick up the bill for the reception at D227,200.00 and then went further and agreed to pick up the bill for the Convocation Dinner at D350,000.00. The gathered audience, including this reporter, were overwhelmed by the president’s generosity, but the president went further still and raised prizes for star-students from as low as 2,000 dalasis to 10,000 and raised other prizes from 5,000 to 20,000.

Warning

Moving on to a more serious message, the President warned university teachers to stick to teaching and to avoid political demagoguery. "I want my university to have high academic standards and I will not tolerate mediocrity or political demagoguery", said the President. The president advised malcontent lecturers to look elsewhere. "Students of my university are dedicated to good academic achievements and development of the country" said the president. "Non-performing teachers have no place at the university," stressed the president.

For his part, the Board chairman, Mr. Abdoulie Touray, eloquently described the president’s commitment and support of the UTG, stressing that this is not the first time the President has supported the University.

"Your Excellency, you have supported us generously for all the past convocations and we are grateful," said Mr. Touray. The Vice-Chanclellor also thanked the President and emphasised that standards will be maintained and the warning about sub-standard teachers will be addressed.

Author: DO