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Petroleum students return from Taiwan

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:59:31 GMT

Monday, June 23, 2008

A group of 25 Gambian students, who left The Gambia for Taipei four years ago, touched down the tarmac of the Banjul International Airport, yesterday afternoon, after completing a forty-eight months long petroleum elite programme at the National Taipei University of Technology.

The graduates were received upon arrival by Mr Ousman Jammeh, the secretary of state for Energy, and Momodou Badjie, the acting mnaging director of the Gambia National Petroleum Company.

Shortly after their arrival, the students, who were all conferred with degrees, were hosted to a reception at the airport, where a press conference was convened.

Read more details in our next edition.

Author: by Ebrima Jaw Manneh

VP leaves for Taipei today

Thu, 15 May 2008 05:34:05 GMT

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The vice-president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, will leave Banjul for Taipei today to grace the inauguration of the newly elected President, Ma Ying-jeou and his vice-president, on behalf of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. The inauguration is scheduled for May 20.

Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy would be accompanied to the Asian-Pacific island state of Taiwan by Dr Omar Touray, the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, the permanent-secretary at the Office of the President and the protocol at the Office of the Vice-President, according to reports from the Taiwanese Embassy in Banjul.

The eight-member Gambian delegation is among more than 530 foreign dignitaries and guests confirmed to attend the inauguration ceremony. This is a new record for a presidential inauguration in Taiwan.

"There are over 530 foreign guests, including special envoys from 22 out of 23 diplomatic allies, to attend the inauguration ceremony," MOFA spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh said at a press briefing, according to reports monitored by the Daily Observer.

Record numbers of gold and silver coins have been issued to commemorate the May 20 inauguration of 12th President-elect, the Central Bank of the Republic of China said Monday. According to bank officials, in response to the public's enthusiastic inquiries, the central bank has issued a historical number of 50,000 gold and 100,000 silver coins to mark the occasion.

The vice-president and her delegation are expected home after about a week in Taipei.

Author: by Ebrima Jaw Manneh

Gambian students flying our flag high in Taiwan

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:30:03 GMT

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Editor,

Upon reading of purported poor performance of Gambian petroleum students in Taipei, I took it upon myself to put the records straight.

It is very unprofessional and unethical to report false information meant to tarnish the image of innocent people. As I interacted with these students for years, I think it will be unfair for me to sit down and watch people say things that are not true about them.

I came to know most of their parents and I am 100% convinced that they are a mixture of all tribes in The Gambia. If a daughter of the former PPP regime is among the students selected then that will be my first point of argument that it cut across party lines.

The niece of Omar Jallow (OJ) is also among the students, like wise the daughter of a carpentry workshop owner. One of the students mum is a petty trader while another’s father is a teacher. Some of them their parents are not even working with the government.

Their performance I can bet my life that all the students are performing to the best of their ability. In 2006 academic year, all the first 15 students at the National Taipei University of Science and Technology came from the Gambian petroleum students.

If they are not performing what miracle did they use to get such excellent results? This group of students were all awarded with certificates and cash prices, highest being NT50,000. Another Gambian student in a different university also got the best student award of NT10,000. I will not say that none of them has ever failed a course but I can safely say that all Gambian students are doing their best both academically and discipline wise to keep the Gambian flag high in Taiwan.

I would be very much happy if we can desist from making allegations that will only tarnish the image of our beloved country. We should not use politics as a yardstick to judge things but we have to be objective in whatever we say or write so that we will not mislead the people.

Ismaila Sanneh

ismuad15@hotmail.com

Author: DO

Opportunities for young artists

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:03:23 GMT

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Reports reaching the Daily Observer indicated that the Association for Education Through Art Republic of China in Taipei, Taiwan, has invited young Gambian artists to participate in its 39th World Schoolchildren’s Art Exhibition, slated for September 6 to 25, this year.

According to reports transmitted by the Taiwanese Embassy in Banjul, the participation of young artists from The Gambia and different parts of the world will enrich the exhibition and promote cross-cultural understanding among the young generation.

“The number of entries from each country should not exceed 60. Each art work should be within the size of 55cm x 40cm. ”

The organisers noted that the deadline for the submission of art works which should be sent through the Taiwanese Embassy in Banjul, is April 10.

“The children’s art work will be evaluated, and we will then send a catalogue containing the selected art work. Certificates or medals will be awarded to the winning artists,” said Long-Rong Wu, secretary general of Association for Education Through Art Republic of China.

Author: by Ebrima Jaw Manneh

Motech officials end visit

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:20:54 GMT

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Two top officials from Taiwan’s solar energy giant, Motech, left Banjul last night for Taipei after a four-day working visit to The Gambia.

The two officials, Luke Chang, president of Motech and Mr Tsai, general manager of the Taiwanese energy company, arrived in the country on the blessing of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, who expressed interest in electrifying provincial Gambia with solar systems, especially in areas where a conventional electricity network is not economically viable.

President Jammeh’s resolve in the drive to transform The Gambia into a city-state was pronounced after his visit to the Motech Company in Taipei during a recent state visit in December, last year.

Shortly after their arrival on Friday, the two officials were escorted to State House, Banjul by the Taiwanese plenipotentiary, Dr Patrick Chang, where they were received by President Jammeh himself, who took them on his dream to transform the country into a city-state with the power of solar energy.

The officials were later hosted to a dinner by Dr Chang at his ambassadorial residence, which was attended by Ousman Jammeh, secretary of state for Energy, Petroleum and Natural Resources, senior officials of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zone Agency, and the Gambia Renewable Energy Centre.

The two men had met several stakeholders in the country’s energy industry and plans are reportedly underway to install solar power in 50 villages in the country for a start, which is expected to be expanded to cover more areas.

Author: by Ebrima Jaw Manneh