The workshop brought together the government, the electorate, civil society organisations, security services, the media, the judiciary, observers and development partners.

The workshop was held at the Tendaba Camp, Kiang, Lower River Region from 7thto the 8thAugust 2008.

The Independent Electoral Commission in October 2007, conducted a series of workshops in all the regions in the country for major stakeholders and partners to come together to contribute their various ideas. These included what is deemed fit to strengthen the electoral process in The Gambia. This validation workshop was to substantiate what was discussed and agreed upon from the regional workshops.

Speaking at the workshop, Mustapha Carayol, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, maintained that “although the IEC is the body that has the constitutional mandate for the conduct of all national elections in The Gambia, the commission is well attentive and sensitive to the fact that the electoral process does not only have to be concentrated on the functions of the commission.” He noted that it encompasses a wider range of involvement from the public sector.

He added that the participation of the above mentioned sectors in the country’s electoral process is highly treasured by the commission, noting that in the wider sense it safeguards the fundamental principle that elections are the business of all citizens.

For her part, Mrs. Sainabou Jaye of UNDP, who spoke on behalf of the donors, said, “it is unquestionable that such an initiative renders a significant service towards the efforts of consolidating the democratic process in The Gambia.”

She added, “these positive developments, we believe, should form the basis for renewed and constructive engagement between the IEC and all stakeholders on how the electoral process can further be enhanced to provide greater assurance for the realisation of effective and transparent processes as part of the national good governance goal.”

The Diocese of Banjul has embarked on the setting up of Family Support Groups to strengthen families and to create and foster unity between couples of the diocese just after the Diocesan Assembly.

According to Joseph Colley, the Family Support Group coordinator, a handful of the lay faithful within the Greater Banjul Area felt the need to mend the ailing marriages within their surroundings under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Antony Gabisi and Sr. Muriel PM, through who the group was born. “We have had several retreats at the Shalom Retreat Centre inviting would be and married people. The retreats proved worthwhile for they helped to cement and mend many marriages,” he said.

During the Self Reliance Assembly, it came out strongly that marriage was no longer a contract but a coveniant, in which men and women come together to express God’s great gift - love. “The Family Support Group was formed to help form it in all other parishes of the diocese. St. Therese’ parish, Blessed Sacrament and Stella Marist parishes make a cluster for this purpose like other parishes. Bishop Robert Ellison has given his blessing to the group.

The Taiwanese Diplomat made these remarks last Thursday at the State House where he presented to President Jammeh his letters of credentials.

Speaking to GTRS shortly after meeting President Jammeh, Ambassador Shih said, «based on this cordial relationship, it is my promise and honour to be the new Taiwanese ambassador, to not only maintain the relationship but deepen and extend it». He acknowledged that there are a lot of bilateral projects going in the country and pledged that he will do his best for the benefit of the two countries.

Ambassador Shih was accompaign to State House by his first secretary Mr.Lee.

Meanwhile, the two countries have bilateral cooperation in many areas of development including education, health and agriculture.

With his vast experience on the diplomatic front, a host of academic acheivements and a high profile leadership background there is no doubt that ambassador Shih will deliver up to expectations.

The WAMI Operations Director made these remarks recently at the Paradise Suites Hotel during the opening ceremony of a two-day technical meeting of the trade, investment and taxes committee of the West African Monetary Zone(WAMZ).

According to him, the main issues associated with road transportation as of today include delays not only at the border posts and official checkpoints, but delays and stopping of vehicles at informal and illegal checkpoints and lack of coherence in paperwork and its application. He added that administrative barriers for imports and exports are certainly not effective instruments of restrictive trade policy. He noted that excessive documentation requirements and outdated and slow procedures are crude, imprecise, and indiscriminate measures, which hinder all trade and create an overall negative trading environment.

Mr. C.O. Odiaka went further to say that studies in 8 West African countries, as reported by the ECOWAS Commission, showed net transport cost of US$30million due to multiplicity of barriers, bribery and corruption and harassment of travelers. “ Some studies have also shown that the cost of transporting a container by road from Lagos to Accra (400km) cost 3 times as much as transporting the same container from Europe to Lagos,” He said.

According to him, the meeting aimed to come up with concrete recommendations, that may include modalities for facilitating WAMZ intra-trade, reducing transport costs, time spent at borders and check points, and modalities for limiting bribery and corruption and ensuring a sense of transparency and common interest and purpose.

For his part, Mr. Yusupha A. Kah, Permanent Secretary Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment said that in The Gambia, efforts have been made to strengthen and improve the trading and investment environment. “We also made progress in the implementation of various trade and trade related protocols of ECOWAS. The volume of trade between The Gambia and ECOWAS member states he said is gradually improving.

He reiterated The Gambia’s firm support and commitment to regional integration, especially to WAMZ initiatives.