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Startling revelations at Kuntaur Wharf Town

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:48:36 GMT

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Kuntaur Wharf Town in the Central River Region of The Gambia was on Thursday the scene for startling revelations as proceedings gets underway in an alleged rape case.

Travelling Magistrate Amadou Baldeh on Thursday of last week began hearing testimonies in the case of a 37-year-old Guinean national on suspicion of raping a 10-year-old girl.

The suspect, Augustine Biyofa, had denied the allegations.

Giving evidence in the case at a well-attended court session in Kuntaur Wharf Town, the first prosecution witness, Momodou Jallow, cast his mind back to August of last year.

“It was in the afternoon and I was just from the riverside. As I undressed and tried to wash my clothes, I heard a little girl crying. As the cries intensified, I went to Augustus’ house only to see him on top of the little girl,” said the witness. Said he: “It was then that I chased the girl out and I then proceeded to mosque. Upon my return, I was informed that the accused was threatening to take my life by letting the girl off him. He rained insults on me and even intended to engage me in a fight. It was later that he was arrested and taken to the police station.”

Also testifying in the case, the father to the little child recounted that it was on a St. Mary’s Day when he encountered the suspect whilst going home with his daughter.

“When we encountered him, Augustus gave the child D5, saying that Assumption Day is a holy day.

“On our way home, the child told me that she had forgotten her comb at where she was braiding her hair and I therefore asked her to go for it. After sometime, news came that an attempt of rape was made to my daughter by the accused.”

The case resumes on 10 July 2008 to enable prosecutor Cpl 1260 Colley call in more prosecution witnesses.

Author: By Abdou Rahman Sallah

Coach Robbinaci to Name Squad Today as Senegal U-20’s Storm Town

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:04 GMT

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Head Coach of The Gambia’s U-20 team will name his 18-man squad today ahead of the weekend friendly game against Senegal sponsored by Africell.

Coach Lorenzo Robbinaci, speaking to Pointsports, yesterday, at their training ground, said his selection process would depend on players’ performance.

He stated that the team is well prepared for the friendly game as part of their preparation for the African Youth Championship in 2009.

He called on all Gambians to come out massively and cheer on the boys on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the U-20 team of Senegal is expected to arrive in Banjul on Fridayto take on The Gambia’s U-20 side in the Africell sponsored international friendly match at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The team is expected to be camped at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

The match will prepare The Gambia’s U-20 team who will be locking horns with Mauritania in Banjul on June 28, 2008, as part of the African Youth Championship qualifiers.

Ahead of the encounter, foreign-based Gambian players have been invited by the FA.

The tickets for the match are as follows; VIP D300, Covered and Uncovered pavilions are pegged at D50 and D25 respectively

Author: By Lamin Darboe

Source: Picture: Coach Robbinaci

Briefs

Fri, 23 May 2008 04:52:11 GMT

Friday, May 23, 2008

Night clubs around town are expected to get busy with weekenders revelling all weekend long.

The Alsamadeh just at the entrance of Abuko is expected to overflow with party-people whilst Cotton Club in Fajara is this weekend expected to play host to a mature crowd.

Elsewhere along the busy Kairaba Avenue, the classy but inexpensive 4 Seasons will be once again alive as a contingent of chefs continue to match the exceptional location of the place with breath-taking foods.

Are you lover of wildlife, then head for the Kanilai Game Park in Kanilai where you are sure to come face to face with species which are scarcely found in our climate.

Looking for a romantic and magical weekend in which you will be close to a river and hear the heartbeat of nature, you can’t do worse by not hightailing it to Jombong Bantang Cultural Camp in Foni Berefet.

How about spending the weekend on the beach and by the sea? The coastal resorts of Jungle Beach in Sanyang and Boboy Lodge in Kartong could not do better.

Elsewhere, Churchill’s pub just behind Palma Rima Hotel will come alive as it hosts Karaoki dance this weekend. This will be one of the exciting events that will complement the food and drinks activities taking place at the gardens of the pub.

Top Seven from Kerewan Sounds

Artistes—————————Album title

Jaliba Kuyateh————Semboo

Luciano—————————Natural Love

Yousou Ndour—————Rocca

Pa Joof—————————-Jotna

Mbye Nder———————Confience

Sambou Suso——————Mooyaa Gelema

Pa Omar Jack—————— Love Metre

Author: By Justice Darboe

Baba Mall in town for weekend celebration

Fri, 09 May 2008 07:46:37 GMT

Friday, May 09, 2008

After long wait, the Senegalese Mbalax celebrity, Baba Mall, has already jetted into the country for a weekend celebration of music.

Baba Mall, whose sonorous voice helped bring Mbalax music to international ears, will be performing live alongside the famous Gambian koraist, Jaliba Kuyateh, Pa Omar Jack of Fish & Chips fame and Afro Manding Queen, Sambou Suso.

The show will jump-start today at Brikama Jokor and then Paradise Suites Hotel on Saturday. On Sunday, Jokor at Westfield intersection is expected to be virtually bursting at its seams as Baba Mall concludes the weekend celebration of music.

Author: By Momodou Justice Darboe & Njie Baldeh

Mr. Secka to Launch Six Books . . . Calls for Sponsors

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:49:15 GMT

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Mr. Michael Secka was born on 12th December 1963 in the town of Basse in the Upper River Region (URR). He attended St. George’s Primary School and later Armitage High School. Then he went to the Gambia College for his Primary Teaching Certificate (PTC) and his Higher Teaching Certificate (HTC) and now he is studying at the University of The Gambia while heading the Jangjangbureh Upper Basic School.

In an interview recently Mr. Secka told The Point that he loves the art of writing and ever since he was young he has been dreaming of becoming a writer. Now he thanks God that he has successfully launched four books that are widely read. The books are “Love Impersonation and Breaking Hearts”, “Education in Tears and Women in Distress”, “Literacy for Gambian Upper Basic Schools” and “Shock”.

He is launching a further six books in two months time which are called; “Face to Face with African Tradition”, “Management in Gambian Schools”, “Critical Essay in Education”, “Preserving Customs”, “Africa Robbed it’s History, Dignity and Culture Along the Paths of History” and “Concern That Matters But No System”.

He is appealing to the Government, NGOs, Philanthropists and well wishers for sponsorship to launch these books.

Author: By Abdou Rahman Sallah in CRR

Mbye Gaye to Launch Fifth Album Today

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:54:59 GMT

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Gambian Mbalax experience, Mbye Gaye will release his fifth album today Thursday, 27thMarch 2008. The name of the album is Santa Yalla and it will be on sale in Kerewan Sound recording studio in Banjul, Bambo recording studio in Serekunda, VP recording studio and other recording studios in the country.

In an interview with The Point, the Banjul based Musician described the album as the number one talk in town, noting that the album will available in many formats including CD, DVD and Cassette.

According to him, the launch of the album is scheduled to take place on the 26thApril 2008 at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

Touching on the sponsorship of his album, Mbye Gaye thanked President Jammeh for sponsoring the album. He described President Jammeh as somebody who always takes the responsibility of promoting The Gambia’s musicians. He calls on every Gambian to visit the studios.

SOMALIA: IDPs cause overcrowding in Galgadud towns

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:56:21 GMT

Sunday, October 14, 2007

An estimated 50,000 people who fled violence in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, are living in difficult conditions, with inadequate food, shelter and sanitation in two towns in Galgadud region of central Somalia, local officials said on 10 October.

The displaced are in the Galgadud regional capital, Dusa Mareb, 500km north of Mogadishu, and in the nearby town of Guri-Eil.

"Our estimate is that since the end of April, between 4,000 and 5,000 families [24,000 to 30,000 people] have arrived in Dusa Mareb," Mohamed Madobe, the district commissioner, told IRIN.

Households in the town, with a population of at least 30,000, are hosting three to four displaced families each, he said. Some of the displaced have sought shelter in abandoned government buildings, while others have set up makeshift shelters, he added.

Madobe said a small number of the displaced returned to Mogadishu in late August, "but since the end of September we are seeing new arrivals. In the last week alone we had a number of buses and trucks bringing in new people".

The influx has not only doubled the town's population but contributed to high price rises of most essential commodities, he said.

An aid worker in Dusa Mareb, who requested anonymity, told IRIN that in the past four months, food prices had more than doubled. As an example, "a 50kg bag of flour has risen to 650,000 Somali shillings [about US$30] from 300,000 shillings [about $14] four months ago."

The price of sugar and rice has doubled over the same period, he added.

A similar situation prevailed in neighbouring Guri-Eil district, 60km to the south.

"Our estimate is that we are hosting about 4,800 families [28,000 people]," Ali Sheikh Mahamud, the district commissioner, said.

He said Guri-Eil has a population of about 25,000 people, and each family was hosting a large number of displaced people. "The population is at breaking point. They were poor to begin with and now they have to help relatives and friends. It is really hard."

Ahmed Moalim, a community leader, told IRIN that his family was hosting four families, "and it is like that in almost all homes".

The aid worker said the International Committee of the Red Cross had distributed food, utensils and clothes to the IDPs in August but "nothing has been distributed since". He said the rations were supposed to last for three months "but the displaced sold some of the food to buy other essential things".

The two district commissioners said the IDPs were facing food shortages, lack of shelter and medicines.

"They are not starving but they are not very far from it," Mahamud said.

He appealed to the government and the international community to assist both the host community and the displaced.

Abas Hassan Warsame, a doctor in Guri-Eil, said that the displaced were getting weaker, and diseases were likely to spread due to overcrowding and lack of proper sanitation facilities.

"If the sanitation conditions do not improve soon, there is a possibility of disease outbreaks, which affect not only the IDPs but the host community as well," said Warsame.

He said most patients were children and pregnant women, suffering from "nutrition-related diseases. Most suffer from poor nutrition, pneumonia, anaemia and diarrhoea."

Since intense fighting between Ethiopian-backed government troops and insurgents began in February, at least 1,000 people reportedly have been killed and more than 400,000 displaced.

Source: IRIN

Banjul

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 09:09:30 GMT

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Banjul (formerly Bathurst) is the capital of The Gambia. The population of the city proper is only 34,828 but the total urban area is many times larger with a population of 523,589 (2003 census). It is located on St Mary's Island (or Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean. The island is connected to the mainland by passenger and vehicle ferries to the north and bridges to the south. Banjul is located at 13°28' North, 16°36' West (13.4667, -16.60).

History

In 1816, the British founded Banjul as a trading post and base for suppressing the slave trade. It was first named Bathurst after Henry Bathurst, the secretary of the British Colonial Office, but was changed to Banjul in 1973.
On July 22, 1994, Banjul was the scene of a bloodless military coup d'etat in which President Dawda Jawara was overthrown and replaced by the country's current (and twice reelected) President Yahya Jammeh. To commemorate this event, Arch 22 was built as an entrance portal to the capital. The gate is 35 meters tall and the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum.
Attractions in the city include the Gambian National Museum, the Albert Market, Banjul State House, Banjul Court House, two cathedrals and several major mosques.

Economy

Banjul is the main urban area of The Gambia and holds the country's economic and administrative center including the Central Bank of The Gambia. As the fourth most densely populated country in Africa, The Gambia has more than one urban area. Peanut processing is the country's principal industry, but bee's wax, palm wood, palm oil, and skins and hides are also shipped from its port.

Source: Wikipedia