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UN Secretary General's Statement on World Aids Day

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:32:04 GMT

Monday, December 01, 2008

The United Nations system in The Gambia will be commemorating World Aids Day today Monday 1st December 2008. As part of the celebrations, the UN resident Co-ordinator in the Gambia will deliver a statement on behalf of the Secretary General of the United Nations.

We here under reproduce the full and unedited statement of the Secretary General of the United Nations on the occassion of World Aids Day.

On this, twentieth World AIDS Day, we are at the dawn of a new era.

Fewer people are being infected with HIV. Fewer people are dying of AIDS.

This success owes itself to people all over the world who are taking the lead to stop AIDS. Governments are delivering on their promises to scale up universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

But this is just the beginning. There is no room for complacency.

AIDS will not go away any time soon. People are still being infected with HIV faster than we can get them on treatment. AIDS is still one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, and it is the number one killer in Africa.

The challenge now is to sustain leadership. We have to build on what we have started. And we have to maintain this momentum.

We have to end the stigma and discrimination that still stop so many people from learning how to prevent HIV and get treatment. And we need resources -- enough to provide services that will have a real impact in communities and on entire nations.

The need to lead, empower and deliver on AIDS is as real and urgent as ever.

Recently I read about a Congolese woman living with HIV who received medicine through the United Nations. She is now part of a group called the "hope-givers team", which helps other families dealing with HIV.

On this World AIDS Day, let us all pledge to be "hope-givers" who offer encouragement and take action to create a future without AIDS.

Thank you very much.

As New UK Immigration Minister Clarifies Statement

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:01:16 GMT

Friday, October 31, 2008

Good News for Gambian Migrants Reported

The controversial statements attributed to the UK’s new immigration minister, Phil Woolas, regarding reducing the number of migrants coming into the country has been clarified. The immigration minister denied that his statement amounted to a ‘‘numerical cap on immigration’’ but that it was instead a reassurance to the public that ‘‘the government’s new points-based system would ensure that the upward trend in population would be kept under control.’’

The new minister, who in the past stood up for minority groups and other migrants in the country especially those living in his constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth, has hit the headlines several times regarding the statement described by the press as a ‘gaffe’. Nonetheless he came out and flatly denied he had been ‘‘gagged’’ especially when he failed to turn up during the famous Question Time on BBC 1 where politicians, regardless of their status, are put on the ‘hot seat’ to answer questions not only from the panel but also from members of the public.

The new immigration minister said he was glad to be allowed the opportunity to explain exactly what he meant. Some of his colleagues agreed that his comment was ‘‘blown out of proportion’’ by some sections of the media. They defended him saying the minister was merely speaking ‘‘in line with his party’s new points-based system’’. The government always gives the rational argument of pursuing a firm but fair and impartial immigration policy.

Whatever the case, the immigration minister’s clarification is being welcomed by civil liberty groups and human rights associations but in spite of such rectification, some of his fellow colleagues are still unhappy about the whole situation and some of them have quickly reacted.

For example Diana Abbot, member of Parliament in Hackney, wrote that the minister’s statements might cause misunderstanding within the general public as, according to her, ‘‘some people do not distinguish between asylum seekers, economic migrants, the dependents of people lawfully settled in the country including bonafide citizens.’’ Diana said: ‘‘no one has the power or right to avoid those who legally settled to bring their wives and children in, whatever their colour.’’ The female MP, who is also a television star, stressed that ‘‘a cap on immigration is not the answer.’’

On their part, the church of England and bishops has called wealthier EU countries to create a culture of acceptance for migrants from poorer countries. The bishops noted that, ‘‘willingness to welcome migrants and asylum seekers and their gifts remains an essential element of any civilised policy.’’

Furthermore directors in various business industries have disclosed that most of its members believe that ‘‘foreign born workers make a big positive contribution to the economy and rules should be more flexible for them.”

It is essential to note that independent immigration experts, commentators and pundits across all spectrum unanimously accepted that the United Kingdom is perhaps the most tolerant country in Europe and the country has been recently commended by the European Union for respecting both European and International Law. The EU praises the UK for not only opening its doors for migrant workers but also assisting others to settle down and be full members of the society.

The good news for Gambians is that following series of immigration articles by this correspondent urging fellow Gambians to consult solicitors in order to seek legal advice, thereby helping them to avoid any conflict with the new UK immigration rules, solicitors said ‘‘Gambians are now benefiting from such advice by frequently consulting immigration lawyers for guidance and assistance.’’

A solicitor close to the Gambian community commended The Point Newspaper for such coverage and stressed a proper comprehension of the new immigration rules. He noted: ‘‘These new rules are so technical that it sometimes confuses us as solicitors therefore that alone may be sufficient for people to seek advice. As a matter of fact The Point newspaper must be commended for using all its efforts to enlighten their fellow countrymen about such issues that is an immense and exceptional contribution.”

A senior government official, who spoke to The Point last Friday said: ‘‘Gambians deserve the best. They are hardworking and respected group of people known to be law abiding. So they must take advantage of all the good things offered to them and seek advice whenever necessary.”

Meanwhile the number of Eastern European nationals coming into Britain has reduced dramatically according to official sources. Between April and June of 2008, there were 40,000 applications under the UK’s Worker Registration Scheme for EU nationals, the lowest figure since the A8 countries joined in 2004. During the same period the year before, the number of applications was 14,000 higher. Once again the report commended the UK government for allowing such migrants the opportunity to enter and work in the country in accordance with EU law.

For those who contacted The Point in The Gambia indicating their gratefulness regarding the immigration coverage, such goodwill message are appreciated, it is also vital to inform everyone that there is a press code of conduct under which this correspondent operates. Both the National Union of Journalists (which this correspondent has belonged to for five years) and the PCC properly monitors such media attention.

Furthermore, the immigration debate is appreciated by the government including the Home Office and immigration as well as all political parties. These institutions are fully aware of its importance and are very happy to discuss the issue with the press. We assure our readers that with the assistance of these stakeholders, who fully respect such rights, our correspondent have access to the information required and will report such vital news without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

Author: Alhagie Mbye, The Point’s UK Correspondent

APRC NAM Hits Back at NRP, Brands Dullo Bah’s Statement Misleading

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:07:10 GMT

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Hon. Seedy Njie, nominated member of the National Assembly, has reacted to comments by Mr. Dullo Bah, Campaign Manager of the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP) that his party has already identified a winning candidate to contest in the forthcoming by- election in Nianija constituency.

In an exclusive interview with The Point yesterday, the confident looking Hon. Njie, who himself hailed from Nianija, said such comments that the opposition NRP has a winning candidate are misleading because, as he puts it, the APRC as a party has done all the necessary preparations and are now waiting for the IEC to blow the whistle.

According to Hon. Njie, Nianija has been an APRC stronghold since the coming of the party in 1996. “As we speak now, the strength of the party is getting stronger and stronger. The APRC party is in full control of Nianija and come December 18th, APRC will emerge victorious,” he said.

In Hon. Seedy Njie’s view, no opposition party can challenge the ruling APRC in Nianija as the people of the constituency are so impressed with the level of development in their region that they will forever rally behind President Jammeh and the APRC party.

“It is going to be very difficult for the opposition to resurface in Nianija. Any opposition that wants to be humiliated or lose its deposit, may challenge the APRC because the people of Nianija like any other patriotic Gambians, are not fools,” Hon. Njie noted.

He added that the total number of people that applied to contest under the APRC ticket in the forthcoming by- election is a clear indication of the growing strength of the party.

“The opposition are just shouting but when it comes to reality, they will even be short of candidates because the people of Nianija don’t want to be disgraced,” Hon. Njie stated.

It will be recalled that the opposition National Reconciliation Party (NRP), through its Campaign Manager, Dullo Bah, revealed that they will be taking part in the by-elections.

The election, slated for Thursday 18th December 2008, follows the expulsion of Mr. Dawda Manneh, the erstwhile National Assembly Member for the said constituency, from the ruling APRC party on whose ticket he was elected to the National Assembly.

According to Mr. Bah, the NRP party has already identified a candidate to contest the seat. He was however quick to add that it is too early to make known who that person is.

Author: Baboucarr Senghore

Source: Picture: Hon. Seedy Njie

NIA Respond to Court Order

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:35:37 GMT

Thursday, October 09, 2008

The National Intelligence Agency has responded to an order issued to them by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court for the production of Oley Sey’s statement she made to them.

According to the NIA the statement produced and tendered in court by the prosecution was the only statement she made to them.

Continuing her testimony under cross-examination by the police prosecutor Cadet Inspector Keita, the 1st accused Oley Sey, said she got to know the 2nd accused Abdou Rahman Bah three weeks prior to the presentation of the D500,000 and that she was together with him during the presentation of the said D500,000. She said the D200,000 that was recovered from her was given to her by the Abdou Rahman Bah for safe keeping. She agreed under cross examination that the D200,000 that was recovered from her was part of the D500,000 donated to SulaymanJunkungJammehMemorialNursery School. She further agreed that the D500,000 presented belongs to the Nursery School and not Abdou Rahman Bah, adding that she kept the D200,000 for a week.

Further testifying under cross-examination Oley Sey admitted that she presented the D200,000 at the NIA and not at KMC Mayor’s Office and prior to her presenting the D200, 000 at the NIA she only attended one meeting at the KMC Mayor’s office with the community of Abuko. She added that prior to that meeting she had already had the D200,000 in her custody. She said at the Basic and Secondary Education office, Abdou Rahman was confronted with the D500,000 but denied she was confronted by the KMC Mayor about the D500,000. She also agreed that at the presentation it was instructed for the D500,000 to be deposited the same day with three signatories and that she was not part of the three signatories. She said she left with Abdou Rahman Bah after the presentation because he begged for a ride in her car. She also agreed that the Nursery School belongs to the community of Abuko and that she did not belong to that community. She denied conspiring with Abdou Rahman Bah to steal the sum of D500,000 the property of SulaymanJunkungJammehMemorialNursery School.

The case was adjourned to 10th October 2008.

Author: Modou Sanyang

In Oley Sey‘s Case, Court Order Not Served to NIA

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:00:23 GMT

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

In connection with court order made on the 24thAugust 2008 for the production of Oley Sey’s own written statement she made to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on 7thAugust 2008 service was not effected.

When the case resumed yesterday, the court was made to understand that the order it made on the last adjourned date for the NIA to produce the 1staccused Oley Sey’sown written statementwas not effected.

The case which was scheduled for continuation of evidence of the 1staccused testimony could not proceed as the court order was not served to the NIA. The court however renewed the order by ordering the NIA to produce the 1staccused written statement.

This development came when defence counsel Lamin Camara earliermade the application for the court to order the NIA to produce the 1staccused Oley Sey’s statement.

The prosecution for its part maintained that such a statement never existed and that the 1staccused Oley Sey only made a cautionary statement to the NIA and nothing more. Sub-Inspector Keita further stated that the very officer who obtained the statement from the 1staccused had given evidence before the court and he did not make mention of such a statement throughout his testimony.

It could be recalled that the two accused persons Oley Sey and Abdou Rahman Bah are standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Lamin George for allegedly conspiring and stealing the sum of D500,000 being money meant for SulaymanJunkungJammehMemorialNursery School in Abuko.

The case was adjourned to 8thOctober 2008.

Author: Modou Sanyang

Source: Picture: Oley Sey

Court Orders NIA to Produce Oley Sey Statement

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:57:26 GMT

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered the National Intelligence Agency to produce the cautionary statement of the 1staccused Oley Sey on the next adjourned date.

The order was made following the defence counsel Lamin Camara’s application for the court to make an order for the production of the 1staccused cautionary statement she made to the NIA.

Continuing her testimony before Magistrate Lamin George, Oley Sey stated that on 7thAugust 2008 she called a meeting with the community of Abuko including the 2ndaccused Abdou Rahman Bah as she wanted to know what happened between the Community of Abuko and the 2ndaccused Abdou Rahman Bah. She said while on that meeting the KMC Mayor received a call from the SOS for Basic and Secondary Education to go with the 2ndaccused, the Alkalo of Abuko and the headmistress of AbukoLowerBasicSchool to her office. “ I was later called to join them,” she stated. She said at the Basic and Secondary Education Department, she was told by Madi Jatta that they asked the 2ndaccused to bring the money but he told them that the money was in safe hands. She added that there was a confrontation between the 2ndaccused and those at the meeting, adding that the 2ndaccused later told those at the SOS’s office that he was having D80, 000 in hand as he had already used the D20, 000 and that the D400, 000 was given to her by the 1staccused. “ I did not agree to the 2ndaccused persons statement. I told them at the meeting that the 2ndaccused gave me only D200, 000 for safe keeping” she added.

Further testifying, Oley Sey told the court that later a personnel from the NIA came in and took the 2ndaccused, the Abuko Alkalo, and the headmistress of AbukoLowerBasicSchool. “ I later went to the NIA to clarify myself regarding the statement of the 2ndaccused that he gave me D400, 000, she revealed. “ At the NIA I was interviewed orally and I wrote my own statement before I was asked to look for a surety, but I was later detained,” she adduced. “ I was later released on bail after spending the weekend at the NIA,” she adduced. “ The statement tendered in court was a summary of the one I wrote myself at the NIA,” she added.

It was at that juncture that the defence counsel Lamin Camara applied for the court to order the NIA to produce the statement written by the 1staccused at their office.

The case was adjourned to 6thOctober 2008.

Author: Modou Sanyang

Source: Picture: Oley Sey

A Worrying Statement

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:15:09 GMT

Monday, September 22, 2008

Let’s say it right away that we deplore any form of statement such as the one made by Yankuba Colley that he will send any butcher to Mile 2 if he or he/she fails to comply with President Jammeh’s ultimatum for the price of meat to go down. Of course many would not be happy with the statement of Mayor Colley because his statement is enough of a worry to make one sit up with profound concern.

According to Mayor Colley, he will ensure zero tolerance on the butchers in his municipality so as to see to it that they comply with the ultimatum. This can be simply understood.

But, be as it is, many would expect Mayor Colley and all Local authorities to give a lot of thought to the matter of engaging in negotiations with the butchers in their respective councils rather than threatening them as if the country is not governed by a constitution.

The fact that President Jammeh has warned that any local authority who fails to ensure that meat sold in his region reflects these prices will be dealt with accordingly should not be seen as an excuse of threatening people with sending them to jail. Such are statements that nobody should joke with.

As the ultimatum was just an ultimatum and has not been passed into law then it will be impossible for people to be sent to jail for non-compliance.

There is no doubt an issue that needs to be addressed with regard to the price of meat and indeed food generally.

If we bring all people with an interest in this together and sit down with one another to discuss then we may find a more suitable solution than merely jail or the threat of it. The rising cost of food means times are hard for everyone.

This ultimatum has meant that life is now even tougher for butchers who also have families to feed. A solution based on discussion and examination of facts and figures must now be held so that no one group of stakeholders in this trade must bear the full brunt of changes to the prices of products.

We applaud government for addressing this important issue but would strongly urge for a change of approach in terms of finding a solution. Nothing can generate more fruitful solutions than engaging in negotiations with all stakeholders. We should therefore put those statements aside and find a way out.

“The Vilest deeds like poison weeds bloom well in prison air; it is only what is good in man that waste and withers there”.

Oscar Wilde

Fresh Charges Loom for Babylon 94

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:26:36 GMT

Thursday, August 14, 2008

If the recent statement by the state counsel, Maley Wood, is anything to go by, there are fresh charges awaiting the 94 accused persons in ongoing case on the Babylon saga.

State Counsel Wood last Tuesday hinted at this possibility before Magistrate Edrisa Mbai of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on the resumption of the case. “The state is preparing new charges against the accused persons and therefore needed ample time to prepare or complete the said charges,” said state counsel Wood, requesting that the state be given three weeks to finalise the fresh charge sheet.

The accused persons, who were absent, had their case adjourned to August 26th 2008.

Author: By Abdoulie Nyockeh

Statement of The Chief Executive Secretary During the Inauguration Period of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Secretariat on the 23/07/2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:24:35 GMT

Monday, August 11, 2008

Statement of The Chief Executive Secretary During the Inauguration Period of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Secretariat on the 23/07/2008

Your Excellency the Vice President

Secretaries of State

Speaker of the National Assembly

My Lord Chief Justice

Members of the Diplomatic corps

Representatives of International Organisations

Senior Government Officials

This day is another magnanimous day simply because it turns us back to our roots. Therefore, we can say without an iota of doubt that it will go down well in the annals of Gambian history.

Alternative Dispute Resolution or African Dispute Resolution is indeed not new to our culture simply because its roots started here in African soil and its social mechanisms are alive and well entrenched in our culture and are still used in settling disputes among parties.

Nevertheless, it will be fair to say that the world in which we live is getting more and more complex because of rapid pace of development; but more complicated particularly when disputes occur. As disputes are really inevitable because nobody wants his or her interest to be threatened, we are all duty bound to jealously protect our interest. Under such circumstances inevitably, disputes will always occur but then pragmatic mechanisms must be in place in order to amicably settle these disputes. This is fundamentally one of the factors why ADR has been created and experimented particularly in the United

States and the UK and indeed is now becoming world widely utilized by most countries of which The Gambia is not an exception.

The reasons for establishing the ADR Secretariat in The Gambia are based on a combination of factors which are self explanatory within our justice system. The Gambian people have attained a stage where they have simply opted to go back to their own ways of settling disputes rather than going through the litigation process which more often than not consumes time, generates hate and is not as cost effective.

Alternative Dispute Resolution, otherwise called by the Acronym “ADR” refers to a broad range of mechanisms, methods and processes designed to assist disputing parties in resolving their disputes. In an ascending order, they include processes such as Negotiation, Conciliation, Mini Trial, early neutral evaluation, summary jury trial, Mediation and Arbitration. These alternative mechanisms are true to litigation as they are not intended to supplant court adjudication but to supplement it. These alternatives can be categorized into two broad types. The adjudicatory category where intervening third parties make the decision, and the participatory category where the parties to a dispute decide on an acceptable solution. So the Gambia Government has prominently taken the right decision in establishing the ADR Secretariat at a crucial time to help decongest the court system in seeing that justice is seen done because the advantages are unquantifiable.

The foundation of this noble initiative was laid down when one of the former Attorney General was envisioned with bringing Alternative Dispute Resolution into the frame work of our judicial reform. Consequently a committee was formed comprising experts from the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman, to look into ways of developing strategies that would create a mechanism for conflict resolution and peaceful settlement of disputes.

Following the constitution of this committee, meetings were held on a series of occasions in 2004 and participants were able to identify and contact sister institutions using Alternative Dispute Resolution as a means of conflict resolution. Research into the feasibility of incorporating ADR into The Gambia legal system was also conducted by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

As a member of the committee I also gave vivid insights in to how ADR could be utilized to decongest the courts by using arbitration, mediation, conciliation and negotiation to settle disputes tapping from my experience in the UK and USA.

The ADR Act was subsequently passed and Gambians trained abroad to develop the human resource base.

Since studies have indicated enormously high satisfaction that ADR has an rate amongst its beneficiaries - in part, because they have the power to shape the proceedings and determine the outcome, It is hoped and believed that it will help immensely in decongesting the courts with cases that have been awaiting trial.

Additionally, litigants, members of the civil society and people within the commercial sector, land, employment and families will benefit from expeditious and satisfactory redress to conflicts administered by ADR. I am pleased, to stand here today and inform you that the Secretariat has successfully been set up.

To conclude, I would like to seize this opportunity once again to extend our sincere gratitude to The President of The Republic, the entire Cabinet and our development partners for their untiring and invaluable support to our development and the judicial reform process. Allow me also, to commend the efforts of our abled Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice, Mrs. Marie Saine-Firdaus who has been instrumental in establishing the Secretariat and has continuously struggled in an effective manner to mobilize support for the institution, which is a clear testimony of her unflinching commitment to the .Judicial Reform in the country. Our profound thanks also goes to Mrs. Awa Bah, Mrs Mowoe, Mrs Jainaba Bah-Sambou and Mr. Fansu Jatta who have worked tirelessly in the process of establishing the ADR Secretariat particularly during the recruitment process of our staff and all those members of staff of the Department of State for Justice who have, in one way of the other, contributed to the establishment of the new Secretariat.

Thank you all for your kind attention.

Panel discussion on FOI at the UNCTAD Civil Society Forum

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:43:52 GMT

Monday, April 21, 2008

The Ghana Coalition on the Right to Information will on Thursday, April 17, 2008 host a panel discussion on Access to Information as a Cornerstone for Development during the UNCTAD Civil Society Forum in Accra.

The event is scheduled to take place at the National Theatre (Room DH2) from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. It is expected that speakers will include: Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr. Korsah Brown of CELD, Dr Steve Manteaw of the ISODEC and a Representative from NETRIGHT.

The speakers will raise issues related to Freedom of Information (FOI) from various perspectives in light of the Civil Society Forum’s general theme: Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization for Development.

Various contributions will be made on the critical question of access to information against the background of Ghana’s search for a comprehensive FOI legislation, highlighting its value to the development aspirations of the nation as well as developing countries as a whole and specifically analysing how FOI, as an instrument for the empowerment of the people, contributes to sustainable development.

The outcome of the discussions will be contained in a statement on FOI which will be incorporated into the Civil Society Organisations’ Declaration to be presented for the UNCTAD Conference.

All interested stakeholders are invited to attend.

Issued by Ghana Coalition on Right to Information, April 16, 2008.

Source: Media Foundation for West Africa http://www.mediafound.org