Some government health employees returned to work on 18 September after the Federation of Health Workers Union announced the temporary suspension of its most recent 10-day strike.

The union's secretary general, Pierrette Tolno, told IRIN that though President Lansana Conte agreed to union demands on 17 September, the suspension is only temporary as the union waits to see if the government will give the country's more than 7,000 public health employees a bigger share of the 2009 budget, "A signature is one thing and the application of the statute is another."

According to the government's Guinean Press Agency, there were 10 deaths at Conakry's Donka Hospital during the most recent 10-day strike, which followed an earlier strike August 2008 that had been temporarily called off.

Some of the union's demands include salary increases, school stipends, 18-months' back pay that the union says the government owes 625 workers, and uniforms.

Tolno told IRIN the union is carefully watching government budget talks. "The real work starts now to respect deadlines." Tolno says the government is expected to back up its promises with money in the 2009 budget, which is to be decided during budget talks scheduled to begin 25 September.

Health workers reporting back to the country's largest hospital, Ignace Deen Hospital, found mostly empty waiting rooms.

A doctor in the hospital's neurology department, Oumar Sylla, said his first day back at work was mostly quiet, "This morning, we donned our white coats again. But as this was the first day following our strike, I only had three consultations during the eight-hour workday. Normally, we have about 20 per day."

An anaesthesiologist at the capital's Donka Hospital, Toure Aminata, said she and her colleagues also returned to their jobs, "We arrived early this morning and reported to our departments. Right now I am preparing a patient for a surgical procedure."

Soriba Bangoura, the parent of a hospital patient, said the President's signing was overdue.
 
"It was time for him to sign the [contested] statute because if not, we were going to have more deaths in our hospital. Poor patients who were not cared for, who could not go to private clinics because they did not have the money, were forced to go home to die in their homes." said Bangoura
Union-led strikes during early 2007 in Guinea shuttered businesses and claimed more than 100 lives. Protesters’ demands included relief from rising food and fuel prices, better work conditions and the departure of the ailing President Lansana Conte, who has ruled for 24 years since seizing power militarily in 1984.

Recently, youths on the outskirts of the capital took to the streets to protest months-long electricity blackouts, which was a main grievance during the deadly 2007 strikes.

IRIN 

Following a fine imposed on The Gambia resulting in the suspension of its key player during the Gambia/ Algeria game last year, the President of the Gambia Football Association Seedy MB Kinteh has made a strong appeal to fans to comfort themselves and avoid a repeat of the same incident between the two sides. The Scorpions take on Algeria in group 6 of the World and African Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

The Gambia was subject to a financial sanction of USD 10,000.00  by the CAF Disciplinary Board for the unsporting behaviour of  supporters, as well as the offensive behaviour of some of our players, during preliminaries of the 26th African Cup of Nations, Ghana 2008  qualifiers against Algeria played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

He said, “This is going to be a watch match for both CAF and FIFA and if the same incident occurs during Saturday’s game we have to dance to the tune of the football authorities”

He added that as part of the Sunday’s match the Referee will arrive from Mali and his assistants will come from Morocco, Angola and Mali. The Referee Inspector will come from Benin. These officials will start arriving in Banjul on Friday for the game.

The GFA prexy welcomed the return of the players who were facing suspension from CAF describing their presence as a plus to the team in terms of scoring goals .

 “ I think we need more goals and the teams are ready for the match and will rectify their mistakes from the last games. We expect to see more goals this time around as I know how important the is to us,” he pointed.

He informed Pointsports that Musa Bajaha and Abdoulie Corr were expected yesterday in Banjul and will be joining

Concerns have been raised on the case of Gambian defender Ken MaLamin Jammeh, who plays his football with Gambia’s first division side Hawks FC. He received an indefinite suspension from The Gambia Football Association when he slapped a Referee in Week three of The Gambia Football Association league matches.

Ken received an indefinite suspension from the FA when his side met Armed Forces on Thursday the 6th of March 2008. This preventing him from playing football at both club and national level.

Fans and football pundits stormed the premises of The Point yesterday to express their dissatisfaction and called on the FA to revisit the decision of suspending Ken indefinitely as his services are deeply needed at the national side.

According to Ebrima Conteh, alias Valdo, Ken’s absence has been clearly manifested during the Scorpions outing last weekend. “He is a very disciplined footballer and I have watched him play for many years. I think his action in attacking the referee were a mistake and the GFA should now consider revising the suspension,” he explained.

“Ken is a very respectful player and I believe because of this he has been team captain for The Gambia numerous occasions. I was a football player and know how players lose their temper in a game but we all believe that it was a mistake”, he added.

Pointsports contacted Gambian coaches to shed light to the issue and this was what they said.

In this comments Peter Bonu Johnson, Ken’s former Coach at U-20 level, said he knew Ken as a calm player, with respect. He said, “I don’t know what happened to him on the day of the incident, but he is not that type of player. He is aggressive in the field of play but not this type”.

He said Ken played during the qualifying round of the U-20’s and did not get a single card. “The FA should help him and look into his records and forgive him for the betterment of our football.

Coach Alhagie Sarr of Sea View described the player as one with a bright future ahead of him. “We know he made a mistake, but he should not be banned indefinitely, because it could deprive him of football,” he added.

He said he used to communicate with the player and has all the proof that he regrets what he has done. “ I hope he will send a letter of apology to the FA for them to also look into it in order to lift the ban”

Ken’s team Coach Sang Ndong said since the player was banned he has been missed both at National and Club level. “He is a highly disciplined player, he made a mistake. He is not that type of player, we spoke to him and told him that what he did was a great mistake, which he accepted”, he pointed

He said, “But we are appealing to the FA to reconsider the move as he is calm and quiet in nature and not the type of player that attacks match officials”.

Coach Ebou Faye also said that what Ken had done is totally wrong as he was the captain of the U20 team. I think the FA should look into it and forgive him. He is a disciplined player and very calm. This is just a mistake he made and he realised the mistake he made and appologised to the FA, the referees and the general public at large. The FA should revise this decision and forgive him.

The coach of Interior FC, Ebrima Manneh, has also expressed his view on the issue. He said that the FA have done what is supposed to be done to tell the public that no body is above the law. He added however, “we all know Ken he is very disciplined and comes from the most disciplined team; Hawks.  I think the FA should look into the dedication of the boy and forgive him. He is young and has only football in future if he is banned indefinitely, it would disturb him. I think he has done a great thing for the nation too, he was injured and had sacrificed himself for his country and he has regrets for what he has done”. He said he will be the first person to support the idea of forgiving the boy.

Honourable Coach Alhagie Sillah congratulated the FA for the decision taken. He said this shows that discipline will be exercised in the field of football.

“Though it is very hard to change the decision, I am appealing to the FA to pardon him as we are all one family and human beings are bound to make mistakes,” he added.

The Managing Director of The Point Newspaper and Veteran Sports Journalist Pap Saine said football is all about discipline and players should exercise discipline on the field of play. He called on the FA to exercise flexibility to the player since he has apologised to the FA and the nation at large.

 When Ken Ma Lamin Jammeh was contacted, he said he is fully aware of the need for a player to have maximum respect in the field of play.

“I have deeply regretted my actions and am calling on The Gambia Football Association, The Gambia Football Referees Association and all Gambians especially football fans for forgiveness,” he narrated.