World News - .geographical media - RSS

UNDP report calls for more attention to Upper Egypt

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Monday, December 01, 2008

CAIRO: Upper Egypt needs more attention, more developmental projects and more investments, said the latest United Nations Development Project (UNDP) report on human development covering eight Egyptian governorates. Although the provinces surveyed spanned Egypt as a whole, equally highlighting setbacks and improvements, Upper Egypt was found to be the most lacking.The call for women’s social and political empowerment was a recurrent element throughout the report, which also tackled health,...

Source: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=18181

FAO director general arrives in The Gambia

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:07:25 GMT

Monday, November 10, 2008

Dr Jacques Diouf, the Director General of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), yesterday morning, arrived in The Gambia to pay a courtesy call on Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, president of the Republic of The Gambia.

The UNFAO director general’s two day official visit will be centered on strengthening the bilateral cooperation and programmes, among others, between The Gambia and UNFAO.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his arrival at the Banjul International Airport, Dr. Diouf said he was on an official visit to meet with President Jammeh, to review the situation of Agriculture in The Gambia, in Africa and in the world at large.

He said the visit would give him the opportunity to strengthen their programmes and bilateral cooperation, as well as to strengthen the south-south cooperation.

Dr Diouf noted that his discussion with President Jammeh would also touch key areas on the global food crisis, animal production, fisheries, aquaculture, among others, all in an effort to avert the food crisis. "The global food crisis has affected Africa greatly because we do not have the elasticity supply of food in response to the soaring food prices contrary to developed countries in other parts of the world", he told reporters.

"Africa deserves a special attention and special support to avert the global food crisis.

The prices are still 50% of what they were in 2005", the FAO boss remarked. He commended President Jammeh for his commitment to Agriculture coupled with his vast-experience in farming activities. Dr Diouf described the gambian leader as a “farmer-in-chief” and expressed hope that their discussion would be fruitful.

Dr Diouf was welcomed at the foot of the aircraft by the Permanent Secretary at the department of state for Agriculture, Seedy Jarjue, secretaries of state for Foreign Affairs, and Forestry and the Environment, Dr Omar Touray, and Momodou Kotu Cham respectively, representatives the UNDP and WHO in The Gambia, as well as staff of the department of state for agriculture.

Author: by Assan Sallah

FISHERIES: Trends in the Gambia fisheries & its statistics

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:34:04 GMT

« previous

1 of 2

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The fisheries resources of the Waters of the Gambia are believed to be rich in terms of species abundance and diversity. The first survey of its fisheries potentials was carried out with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 1964 and 1965.

This survey had recorded positive results that could be attributed to the flow of nutrients from the River Gambia (serving as fish nursery and feeding ground) and the fortunate location of the Gambia in an area where an up welling system prevails.

Establishment of a fisheries management institution
In 1966, actions were taken to implement the Recommendations made in the report of the first survey. In 1967, just after the Gambia attained its independence from England (1965), the Government of The Gambia established a Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Agriculture.

This Division was headed by a Technical Assistant and was assigned by a Gambian (Senior Fisheries Officer). The Fisheries Division was responsible for managing all aspects of fisheries Policy including organisation of fishers and other people dealing in fish for their socio -economic conditions through mechanisation and development of fishing crafts, gears and equipments as well as fishing techniques, fish distribution and procurement of supplies, training and the development of industrial fishing and Research collection and analysis of statistics as well as conservation and control.

Towards the end of 1967,the Gambian Cabinet approved the sum of £4,000 from the General Revolving Fund of Government for the formation of a Credit Facilities Scheme for artisan fishers and cooperatives. In order to promote industrial fisheries, the Fisheries Division negotiated with a British fishing company (British Kindred Marine Products Company) for the implementation of a pilot project costing $40,000.

Starting in 1968, the Atlantic Marine Products Company was registered and was granted the following Government concessions: an exclusive industrial fishing franchise for six months, the right to sell marine products in local and export markets, to purchase duty free fuel, work permits for expatriate staff and electrical and other services necessary for plant operation.

The activities of the Fisheries Division during the 1970s were focused primarily on the development of artisan fisheries, on experimental trawl fishing and on stock assessment of the River Gambia and Marine waters.

With the enactment of a Fisheries Act in 1977, it has bring to light a broader scope for the management of fisheries resources when it was adopted in the form of concerted public sector involvement in the management of the fisheries and the development of a fishing industry.

Thus in 1978, the Government of the Gambia established a technical Department of Fisheries and a set of regulations (Fisheries Regulations) to govern the Fisheries Act of 1977.

The Government of the Gambia also ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1978 claiming an Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 Nautical Miles.

Also in 1978, The Government established a Surveillance team and equipped it with a patrol vessel in an effort to control and monitor the exploitation of the fisheries resources.

The industrial fishery is characterised as a high capital investment and mainly concentrated in the Greater Banjul area, while the artisan fishery is dispersed, and consists of isolated with low-cost, labour- intensive activities.

Author: by Amadou Jallow

Another Observer deputy editor-in-chief leaves for Ghana

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:05:47 GMT

Monday, November 03, 2008

Alhagie Jobe, a deputy editor-in-chief at the Daily Observer, last Saturday,left Banjul for Accra, Ghana. Mr Jobe is among five journalists who will undergo a three-week training course on Parliamentary Reporting, at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).

Facilitated by the National Assembly of The Gambia and funded by the UNDP under its governance program, the program is seen as a requirement necessary to enhance effective and accurate reporting of Assembly proceedings.

Among the various courses the five journalists will be undergoing during the training are; over view of the parliamentary system; the 2nd estate under constitutional rule; the role of parliamentary reporting in the parliamentary system; the role of the parliamentary press Corp; general principles of reporting; and legal and ethical implications of media coverage of parliament.

The course also includes reporting from parliament for state print media, radio and television reporting from parliament for private print media, radio, television, and taking own pictures for TV. They will engage on story writing based on parliamentary sessions and field trips to witness parliamentary sessions. Their study tour will also take the five journalists to the famous Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam, among other important places.

Speaking to this reporter before his departure, Mr Jobe saluted the National Assembly under the visionary leadership of Speaker Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay for her ‘passion, foresight and established credential with the media,’ leading to such a capacity training.

"Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay has yet again manifested her love for the media in this country.

The funds could have been requested for and diverted for another purpose, but she said no to that and acquired it to train journalists. So this, being the first of its kind in the history of The Gambia’s National Assembly, is quite a laudable initiative, Mr Jobe said.

And he went: "The Speaker has therefore manifested her patriotism and open door policy established in the Assembly since her assumption of office. In fact, since she assumed leadership of the National Assembly, there has been greater collaboration between the Assembly and the media in the country."

Alagie Jobe also thanked the UNDP for funding the training, describing the move as a milestone in the history of the Gambian media fraternity. He further assured them that they would be worthy ambassadors of the country during their stay in Ghana, promising to ‘break records after the training.’

He also thanked the management of the Observer Company for its support and cooperation and for accepting his nomination to attend the training. Mr Jobe concluded by commended his colleagues at the Observer editorial department for their cooperation, and implored them for their prayers.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

Assembly sends journalists for training abroad

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:05:35 GMT

« previous

1 of 2

Friday, October 31, 2008

The National Assembly of The Gambia, through its United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Capacity Building Development Project, is sponsoring five journalists, from both the print and electronic media, to undertake a three-week training course on parliamentary reporting, at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, in Ghana.

The group of lucky Journalists, which includes Alhagie Jobe, a deputy editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer; Abba Gibba, a sub- editor at The Point Newspaper; Famara Fofana, Mama Jaye and Nuha Badjie of GRTS radio and television, are expected to leave Banjul for Ghana on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

Among the subjects of their course would be legal and ethical implications of media coverage, investigative reporting, techniques of interviews, amongst others.

This Assembly-UNDP facilitated training was the first of it’s kind in the history of The Gambia’s legislature, and it greatly symbolises the importance the National Assembly, under the present government, attaches to the immense role of the media in its socio-economic development strives.

In a farewell speech to the departing journalists, yesterday, at the National Assembly Chambers in Banjul, Hon. Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, speaker of the National Assembly, expressed delight over the fruitful partnership between the Assembly and the UNDP country office. She noted the provision of this training would avail the National Assembly correspondents the skills to report effectively and accurately, not only during parliamentary proceedings but also on various assignments of their respective media houses.

According to the speaker, training National Assembly Correspondents had been a priority; otherwise, she said, the resources could have been diverted to other ventures. She however noted that the move would go a long way in maintaining the good governance process The Gambia continue to cherished.

Speaker Jahumpa also told the departing journalists that they were expected to serve as worthy ambassadors of The Gambia, noting that the institution chosen for them in Ghana was one of the best in the sub-region.

"Ghana Institute of Journalism has ever been graduating the best journalists in the world. So I will strongly urge you to make the best use of this opportunity," Speaker Jahumpa urged journalists, while warning them that the three-week course would be very intensive.

She challenged media outfits in the country to ensure that their journalists specialized in various fields of reporting, emphasizing that one needed to be a specialist in any field of profession if they were to succeed. While commending the UNDP for a fruitful partnership with the Assembly, which has resulted to this significant development, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay expressed hope that upon return of the journalists, they would continue to report for the National Assembly.

Sira Ndow, program analyst of the UNDP Country Office, noted that their partnership with the Assembly dated back to last year, when they felt the need to cooperate with the new Assembly members, who were more than 50% new comers.

According to Ms Ndow, the UNDP felt the need to build capacity in the country’s media, to enable them effectively disseminate National Assembly proceedings to the masses. She expressed gratitude to the Ghana Institute of Journalism for accepting the five journalists, further expressing hope that the move was the start of a partnership with the said institution.

"As we plan for the follow-up project, we envisaged that we will be doing more training for the media practitioners and the National Assembly Members," she assured the journalists, while challenging them to live up to expectations.

The National Assembly member for Basse Constituency, Hon. Sellu Bah, said that the media fraternity should be sincerely thankful for the simple fact that they were been shown the light to the Assembly.

While emphasising the need for the media fraternity to work hand in glove with the Assembly, the Basse NAM used the opportunity to salute Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay for her foresight and passion for the initiative. He then challenged the journalists to be worthy ambassadors of The Gambia during their stay in Ghana.

Kebba Dibba, senior television manager at the Gambia Radio and Television Services, who spoke on behalf of the awarded journalists, hailed the steadfastness of the Speaker and the UNDP in championing a cause vital to the enhancement of journalism in the country.

He noted that for journalists to report accurately and effectively, the need for capacity building such as this could not be questioned. Mr Dibba then challenged the UNDP to offer more training of this nature to Gambian journalists.

At the end of the historic farewell ceremony, the more-than-delightful and grateful journalists spoke to the Daily Observer about how they feel about this rare opportunity.

Alhagie Jobe: A deputy editor-in-chief at Daily Observer
This training is yet another plus for the entire media fraternity. As a reporter attached to the National Assembly for a good number of years now, it will greatly boost my morale and avail me the opportunity to report more effectively and accurately, not only National Assembly affairs, but other issues as well, as indicated in the course itinerary. Hopefully, we will live up to expectations.

At this point, I will like to thank the National Assembly under the visionary leadership of Speaker Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay for this laudable move.

I also salute the UNDP for funding the training and I wish to assure both institutions that we will excel. I am also appreciative of the management of the Daily Observer, for giving me the opportunity to take part in the program.

Abba AS Gibba: A sub-editor at The Point newspaper
This is a rare opportunity to me as a journalist, which in turn is a major boost to The Gambia’s media fraternity. Like any other field, journalists also deserve to have the vital ingredients in a bid to enable us do our work easily and effectively. I thank the National Assembly and the UNDP for such a timely training, and I therefore urge other public and private institutions to emulate the Assembly.

Ms Mama Jaye: GRTS
This training means a lot for me as a journalist. This is a step in my career, which would go a long way in further developing my capacity. For the fact that I am a National Assembly reporter, it will enable me to ensure effective parliamentary reporting.

So I am appealing to stakeholders to emulate the National Assembly and the UNDP so as to boost the capacity of journalists.

Nuha Badjie: Radio Gambia
This is an opportunity that will enable me to further develop my capacity as a journalist. It is necessary for us to be trained in a bid to enable us do our work effectively.

So I want to use this opportunity to call on other institutions to emulate the move and venture into training of journalists. So, training us means a lot since we are the 4th estate of government.

Famara Fofana: GRTS
This training is indeed laudable and a very important step in the right direction, giving the fact that Assembly reporting is such a challenging one. It will go a long way in developing and enhancing our skills to ensure effective and efficient Assembly reporting, as well as other media reporting in general.

So I am appealing to both public and private institutions to emulate the National Assembly and the UNDP to ensure vibrant journalism. I therefore commend the sponsors for such a timely and needed training.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

Taiwanese foreign minister, others meet VP

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:28:24 GMT

« previous

1 of 2

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, last Friday, received in her office the visiting Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Francisco HL - Ou who was on a three day official visit to The Gambia.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his audience with the vice-president, the Taiwanese Foreign Affairs Minister said his visit to State House was meant to convey his President’s special greetings to President Jammeh, the vice president and the entire Gambian population.

He recalled that the vice president’s visit to Taiwan, to grace the inauguration ceremony of the Taiwanese President, stressing that the relationship between The Gambia and Taiwan was stronger than ever before. While reiterating his country’s committment towards consolidating the relationship and cooperation between the two countries, Mr Ou further disclosed that more development projects were in the offing.

Mrs Limya Eltayeh, the UNDP deputy country representative in The Gambia, said her discussion with the Vice-President evolved around ways and means of strengthening the cooperation between The Gambia and the UNDP. She told reporters that she also discussed with the vice president issues surrounding world affairs, especially the financial crisis, among others. Mr Eltayeh described the relationship between The Gambia and UNDP as strong.

A group of Senegambian modelists also called on the vice president at her office. Fatou Camara, a media consultant, who headed the delegation, told Vice President Njie Saidy that the modelists were at State House to commend her for her support and encouragement towards women. She thanked her for her efforts towards the advancement of women, especially in national development.

In response, Vice President Njie Saidy also thanked the modelists for their cooperation and reminded them about the need for the strengthening of the already existing relationship between The Gambia and Senegal. She however expressed delight at the group’s efforts in promoting African culture.

Author: by Assan Sallah

UN Day inter-schools quiz competition today

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:06:47 GMT

Friday, October 24, 2008

As part of activities to commemorate United Nations Day, the UN system in The Gambia, in partnership with the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education will organize a national inter-schools quiz competition today, Friday 24th October 2008 at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

According to a press release from the Office of the Resident Coordinator, UN system in The Gambia, the theme for this years celebration is ‘UN4U’.

Competitors at the level of Senior Secondary School according to the release, will be drawn from six High Schools from from region one Regional Education Centre.

“The secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Fatou Lamin Faye and Ms. Chinwe Dike, UN resident coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in The Gambia, dignitaries, government and UN officials and students will grace the occasion” the release concluded.

Author: DO

Journalists urged to be more committed

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:09:02 GMT

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Madam Hannah Forster, executive Director of African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights studies has urged journalists and Civil service organisations to be extra committed with their work and to distance themselves from giving information that might incure public anger.

Madam Forster had also commended the journalists for their pragmatic stands in disseminating factual information to the general public.

Madam Forster made these remarks last Friday, at the end of three day sensitisation training for civil society organisations and media personnel organised by Action aid the Gambia and UNDP in collaboration with African centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

According to her, it is the journalists and the civil society organisations that have direct communication with the communities thus they should have a good way of approach to the people.

She told participants that her centre and its relevant stakeholders have a special concern for the enhancement of the capacity of the two important institutions not only the in The Gambia, but also the African sub-region as a whole.

“The fact that the media and the Civil Society organisations play pivotal roles in national development, they need to be well trained to enhance their capacities in giving balance reporting to the people.” Madam Forster said.

She then thanked the participants for taking part in the training. She also commended the funding partners, action aid and UNDP for funding the training.

Other speakers included mayor Samba Faal of Banjul City Council who also reiterated on the importance attached to journalism.

Author: by Amadou Jallow

FISHERIES: Changes in Gambia’s fishing sector and the causes

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:56:21 GMT

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In the Gambia, the activities of fishermen and those engaging in fisheries business do experience some changes (both negative and positive) when carrying out their activities. These include the drop down of fish availability, market price and even fishing polices. Changes in the fisheries sector are no much difference with many other economies in the sub-region. The Gambia economy is gradually emerging from a period of slow growth.

These changes are associated with the structural reforms, which were focused trade liberalisation, exchange rate adjustment, fiscal and monetary controls and increased emphasis on private sector involvement in direct production and distribution of goods and services.

The economy’s performance is influenced by the price of the Gambia’s main exports of groundnut and tourism. The country’s economy is not strong and this coupled with low incomes and market constraints, meaning the opportunity to attain a descent quality of life for many in the Gambia is limited. However, poverty reduction becomes the government’s main agenda and co-operation.

The fisheries sector contributes a lot to the Gambia’s food security, employment and revenue generation, which constitute the basis for development. The government therefore collaborate with various partners in development of artisanal fisheries.

The increasing externalization of the fisheries sector is also largely linked to the trade mechanisms aimed at boosting adjustment context. Such is the cases, for example, the Lome convention, linking Europe and African, Caribbean and pacific countries. The convention concluded in 1982 instituted a customs duties exemption regime applicable to most products. Being covered by this regime, fisheries products become clearly more competitive. Like other African, Caribbean and pacific countries, such as Senegal, the Gambia’s fisheries products also benefited from the customs duties, exemption regime of the European market. Between 1988 to 1997, exported volumes of fish rose from 1,068 tons to about 2,063 tons (a 100% increase in one decade).

Therefore, the Lome agreement has immensely contributed to the Gambian fisheries exports. But however, It also created a dependency on the European market. The system of trade performances reinforced the significance of the European market in the absorption of Gambian fisheries exports. Today, Europe remains by far, the main destination for the Gambia’s fisheries exports, receiving 1.063 tons out of the 1,330 tons exported in 1999- that is about 80 per cent of the total. Markets in the sub-region and the rest of Africa received less than 300 tons and the Asian and US markets remain marginal even today.

Trade statistical data collected by the Gambia’s fisheries department’s statistic unit for 2003 indicated the same trend, for example out of 286.6 tons of fisheries products exported, 245.6 tons (86%) went to European markets. The fisheries products destined for European markets comprise almost exclusively of the fresh frozen fish, cephalopods and crustaceans (mainly shrimps). While primarily smoked and dried fish including dried shark meat are sent to African countries.

Now, the new Lome convention will erode or eliminate those advantages because it provide for phasing out of African, Caribbean and Spacific countries trade advantages. Moreover, the process towards custom tariff reduction initiated under the aegis of the World trade Organisation (WTO) could speed up erosion o those advantages.

And, trade liberalisation could also pose a threat to the Gambia’s export of fisheries products, considering that these exports are destined almost exclusively to the European markets.

In both the artisanal and industrial sectors, domestic fish supply in general is showing a downward trend, both in terms of volume and catch-per-unit.

The theoretical assumption for the general decline is thought to be poor resource management, increased competition (so many uneconomical canoes), rising input costs, such as fuel and ice block and the depletion of resources as well as loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction and pollution. Coastal erosion due to sand mining and acquisition of beaches and land for tourism developments has contributing threats to the stability of coastal communities. These have lead to a decline in the income of the artisanal fishermen as a result of increased cost of fishing materials and inputs.

The reasons for the general decline, according to the UNDP 2001 research result are said to be poor resource management, increased competition, rising input costs, the depletion of resources and the loss of bio-diversity and habitat destruction and pollution.

Author: by Amadou Jallow

ACDHR trains journalists, CSOs

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:28:31 GMT

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The Gambia office and ActonAid The Gambia, has organised a three-day capacity building training workshop for journalists and civil society organisations in The Gambia at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.

The three-day training, which kicked-off yesterday, was meant to enhance popular civic participation of citizens in all decision making processes, especially in matters affecting their lives.

The forum is expected to showcase presentations of different papers covering a wide range of human rights and human development issues, especially on women, children, political and economic developments.

Mrs Hannah Forster, executive director of The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), speaking at the opening ceremony, expressed a deep sense of gratitude to the UNDP for sponsoring the training workshop. She equally thanked the media practitioners and civil society organisations for responding to their call.

The ACDHRS boss spoke at length on the role of media practitioners, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisation (NGOs. She emphasised the need for people to acquaint themselves with laws, treaties, conventions and declarations, especially the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Protocol on Women Rights.

Alhagie Cham, permanent secretary at the Department of State for Communication, Information and Information Technology, who deputised for SoS Fatim Badjie-Janneh, described the role of the media and civil society organisations as very crucial to national development. He emphasised the need for capacity building of media practitioners and civil society organisations.

The PS, on behalf of the SoS for Communication, Information and Information Technology, assured the gathering of his office’s open door policies and readiness to work with the media and the civil society organisations.

For his part, Basiru Jahumpa, head of the Capacity Building Project at the UNDP - The Gambia office, on behalf of the UNDP resident representative in The Gambia, expressed his office’s readiness to build the capacities of civil society organisations, especially media practitioners.

"We want to ensure that every media house in the country is well capacitated even in the absence of the conventional journalism school. We want them to be equipped and trained to perform their roles effectively," he said .

Pa Modou Faal, who stood in for Ndey Tapha Sosseh, president of The Gambia Press Union (GPU), assured organisers and participants of the GPU’s resolve to work with partners in national development. He also gave a brief overview of the role of journalists in any give society.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Musu Sonko, who represented the director general of TANGO, Ousman Yabo.

Mariatou Ngum & Amadou Jallow contributed to this story.

Author: by Sanna Jawara