DEMOCRACY IN RETREAT

President Jammeh

Taranga FM to obey new order: No newspaper review

The Sinchu Alagie-based community radio, Taranga FM on August 11 announced that it will comply with the new order “to stop reviewing independent publications” reportedly issued to it by state security, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The NIA gave “a clear-cut warning” to the management of Taranga FM to stop broadcasting independent newspaper publications, else the radio station will be closed-down, this time, for good, according to The Daily News.

Gambia to Receive ‘Silver’ at 2011 Future Policy Awards

The Gambia-Government will receive a “silver award” during a ceremony which celebrates the most inspiring, innovative and influential forest policies worldwide on September 21 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Minister of Forestry said on Wednesday.

APRC supporters optimistic of victory in November poll

Jammeh displaying his voter card - Pix: statehouse

Who Is Telling The Truth: Editor Jobe or You Nanama’s lawyer grills Editor Sallah

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Mr Assan Sallah, news editor of The Daily Observer newspaper was offered to referee which one is the truth: his side of the story or the dissimilar version of his immediate boss, Mr Alagie Jobe, the deputy editor- in- chief. And he decided in his favour, but did not make mention of his boss.’
The young editor, who doubles as the president of young journalists in The Gambia was giving testimony on Tuesday against fired co-worker, Mr Nanama Keita, who is facing false information trial at the magistrates’ court in Banjul.

Facebook to revamp privacy controls

* Users can customize privacy settings with every post

* Facebook will let users share more location data

* Changes to become available on Thursday

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Facebook is making it easier for users to control who sees their information, and to have more say over the photographs they appear in, as the world's No. 1 social networking service seeks to assuage privacy concerns.

Google Supports the Citizen Media Global Innovation Competition

Media is an integral part of how people understand, access, and share information about the world around them. Communication channels including newspapers, television, blogs, and online videos have tremendous potential to empower and influence individuals across the globe. Yet, millions of people still face barriers that limit them from tapping into these resources.

Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

© UNESCO/Ania Freindorf
Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

“The transatlantic slave trade is one of the most extreme violations of human rights in history. The duration, extent and magnitude of this dehumanizing enterprise have led to its universal condemnation. The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition – 23 August – is an opportunity to reflect once again on this tragedy and to pay tribute to those who struggled for its abolition in the light of the universal recognition of human rights. (…) 2011 is also International Year for People of African Descent. This is a chance to examine the effects of the slave trade, whose ignominious practice has in part shaped the face of modern society, across all regions of the world. This history can also nourish our thinking about our multicultural and multiethnic societies today,” stated Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on her message for the occasion.

The Gambia open to debate on media reform – ministers

1 August 2011

Commonwealth convenes landmark media forum in Gambian capital Banjul

The Gambia is open to debate on media reform, which it recognises as critical to economic and political development, Gambian ministers said on 1 August 2011.

Foreign Affairs Minister Momodou Tangara and Information and Communication Infrastructure Minister Alhagie Cham told local and international media, Gambian civil society, diplomats and communication scholars, that their government recognised media as important agents of development and were prepared to do their part in promoting that notion.

LICENCE REVOKED!

CBG Claims Bank PHB (Gambia) Ltd Is On Sound Footing

Bank PHB (Gambia) Limited

Sooner had the Nigerian-owned Platinum Habib Bank (Bank PHB) taken over by Keystone Bank Nigeria Limited on August 6, 2011 than the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) announced the change would have no bearing on the operations of its subsidiary in Banjul.

Bank PHB Nigeria Limited and two others (Afribank and Spring Bank) in Nigeria had their licenses seized, nationalized and taken over by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a fortnight ago, after it ruled that they were unable to raise the new capital requirement.

$8.7M to finance three environment priority areas under GEF

Biodiversity

The Gambia has been allocated US$8.7 million to spend on land degradation, biodiversity and climate change between now until 2014.

The funding, generated through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 5 STAR Allocation, will devout $4.57 million to the management of land degradation, under the United Nations Climate Change Desertification Convention (UNCCD); $2 million on biodiversity, under the auspices of the UN Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD); and $1.5 million on climate change mitigation, within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Report: High Food Prices Keeping Poorest People on the Edge

Pix: World Bank

A World Bank Group Food Price Watch released on Tuesday said Global food prices are at high levels and when combined with continued volatility, it put the poorest people in the developing world at continued risk.

With the emergency in the Horn of Africa triggered by prolonged droughts, especially in places like Somalia which is struggling with conflict and internal displacement, food prices that are near the “record high levels” seen in 2008 also contributed to the situation, the report published on August 16 said.

ECOWAS warns against unconstitutional ascension to power

ECOWAS Chair - Jonathan

Desmond Tutu ‘Shattered’ to meet women and girls married at 8

Archbishop Desmond Tutu - South Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city played host to one of the world’s topical issues on June 7-8, 2011: Strategic planning meeting of the civil society alliance to end child marriage.

The meeting, attended by 70 women and men from more than 55 grassroots and global organisations working to end child marriage around the world, said child marriage is a fundamental breach of human rights and affects an estimated 10 million girls per year.

The Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray was among renowned world advocates on child and women rights, among them Dr. Gro Brundtland, Mrs. Graça Machel, Mrs. Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The Elders initiated the formation of an ‘Alliance to end child marriage, saying it curtails their education, endangers their health and impedes efforts to fight poverty. It hinders the achievement of six of the eight Millennium Development Goals.

Health Minister Admits Gambia Lack Enough Midwives

Health Minister, Fatim Badjie (Pix: Daily Observer)

Billion Dollar Cocaine Trial Reaches Climax

Over $1 billion cocaine seized in Gambia in June 2010

Checkout for more…

• ·         Step-back in erstwhile GRTS reporter trial

• ·        ASP King Colley and two others granted bail 

• ·         President Jammeh ordered for withdrawal of NAPSA charges 

Billion Dollar Cocaine Trial Reaches Climax

The trial of nine foreign nationals accused of being in possession of prohibited drugs and drug trafficking related offences has reach a high point, with the prosecution and the defence preparing to submit their final addresses.

Gambia ALERT: Dismissed sports editor receives death threats

August 5, 2011

Former Nanama Keita, Daily Observer Sports Editor

Nanama Keita, a dismissed  Deputy – Editor-in Chief  of the pro-government Banjul-based  Daily Observer newspaper, on July 27, 2011 filed a complaint at the Kairaba Police Station in Banjul about consistent threats to his life by unknown persons.

Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) sources reported that Keita has been receiving life threatening SMS texts since July 5.  The sources said the latest threats came to him on July 15. In the last threat Keita was allegedly warned to either leave the country, if he values his life, or be taught a lesson that he will never forget.

UN Women Calls for an end to injustices against women worldwide

Millions of women worldwide continue to experience injustice, violence and inequality in their homes, the workplace and public life, says a 6 July 2011 United Nations Report which calls on governments to take urgent action to ensure real equality between the sexes.

Jarra West Chief Confident Circumcisers ‘Will Stick By Their Decision’

The Chief of Jarra West Alhagie Yahya Jarjusey says he is doubtless the 20 Female Circumcisers who agreed to stop the act of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) will stand by their words.

On July 9, 20 women from Six districts, namely: the three Kiangs, West, East and Central and the three Jarras, West, East and Central of the Lower River Region (LRR) declared publicly that they have put an end to the practice of FGM.

The event, dubbed the “3^rd Dropping of the Knife”, followed numerous efforts by the Gambia Committee Against Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP), to convince the women that FGM was harmful to the health of women and children.

Speaking to The Voice in Soma, where the event was held, Mr Jarjusey said: “I believe in women because whatever they say they’ll do, they will do it.” 

Dictatorship Is Incompatible With Free Expression

Mr Cue

Lookout for more…

Ø  Unplanned settlement, poor drainage system, the main causes of flooding in Kanifing Municipality

Ø  CDS Kinteh says good communications safe lives sometimes

Ø  Make hay while the sun shines, President Jammeh tells Gambian youths

Ø  Greenie Environmental Education project gauges feedback

Ø  Gambian to host Youth Crime Watch’s West Africa Office

Ø  NEA nurturing the young to take ownership of the environment 

Farafenni Military Camp Attacker Joins Death Row

Lookout for more…

ü  Ensa Badjie to spend life behind bars

x State exhorts for trial in absentia in Government-Pristine Suit

      King Colley, seven others charged with economic crime, remanded

v  D20 million bail bond for local Businessman

• Court slam 10 years imprisonment on ex-soldier 
•  Erstwhile GRTS-reporter to open defence: July 28

2010 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ABOUT THE GAMBIA

President Jammeh

The Gambia is a multiparty democratic republic with an estimated population of 1.7 million. In 2006 President Alhaji Yahya Jammeh was reelected for a third five- year term in an election considered partially free and fair. President Jammeh's party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), continued to dominate the National Assembly after its 2007 elections, which were also considered partially free and fair. 

IFJ-FAJ ABUJA DECLARATION

WE, the leaders of journalists trade unions of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 20-21 July, 2011 at the Pan African Conference to improve the working conditions of journalists in Africa under the theme “The Fruit of our Labour: A New Agenda for Improving Conditions of Journalists in Africa”,;

GFA Appoints BB Baldeh As Media Officer

BB Baldeh was exonerated of criminal charges in May

The erstwhile Sports Producer and Presenter for West Coast Radio (WCR), Bakary B. Baldeh has been appointed Media Officer for the Gambia Football Association (GFA) last week.

Mr. Baldeh told a local newspaper, The Daily News, on Friday that “he is honoured by the appointment, which came as a surprise to him”.

Earlier this year, Mr Baldeh suspended his usual radio programme (sports report) for WCR in order to fully defend himself on charges of “conspiracy to commit felony” and “Incitement to Violence” brought against him by the police.

ACA Annual Conference in Banjul slated for September 19-22

ACA Ag President, Mr. Kilangi

Over the years, the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) conference has become one of the most renowned cashew conferences in the world, with more than 200 participants from 24 countries attending the 2010 event.

This year, the organisers have chosen The Gambian capital, Banjul to host the 6^th Annual African Cashew Alliance Conference from September 19-22.

The conference is said to offer a unique chance to cashew actors to understand local processing and to get a foot into the door of local sourcing, getting access to other market players and bringing the cashew world together.

The Gambia is regarded a “relative newcomer” in the cashew world, however, it has been tipped to become a center of the cashew trade in the African region. The Gambia and her neighbors Guinea-Bissau and Senegal together produces nine (9) percent of the world crop, that is, approximately 180, 000 metric tonnes.

Experts to validate report of study on equivalence of certificates in ECOWAS region

Regional Conference On Migration In Africa Promotes Circular Labour Migration 

• World Bank Plans more than $500 million in Rapid Response to Drought  

IFJ and FAJ Hold Conference on the Welfare of African Journalists in Nigeria

(Fr. L-R (1) Gabriel Baglo - FAJ Director; (2) Omar Faruk Osman Nur - FAJ President; (3) Owei Lakemfa - NLC General Secretary; (4) Thomas Maettig FES Resident Rep.; (5) Mohamed Garba NUJ President) - pix by FES

• Somalia: Al-Shabaab imposes severe restrictions over private radio station 
• NUSOJ Calls on the new government to remove media restrictions 
• Ethiopia: Two journalists freed on bail, two others in separate case remain in detention 
• Malawi: Journalists beaten and detained to prevent them covering protests 
• Sudan: Another woman journalist jailed for reporting rape allegations 
• Drop 'Bogus Charges' against Gambian Journalists' Leader, Says IFJ

No Medal for Gambia Armed Forces Athletes in Rio World Games

Gold, Silver and Bronze medal to be awarded in the Peace Games The

The three Gambian Armed Forces Athletes that left Banjul two weeks ago for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to take part in the 5th World Military Games (5MWG) will return home on Tuesday without a single medal.

The athletes that competed in the championship are Suleyman Njie (100 and 200m runner), Dawda ML Ceesay (1500 and 5000m runner) and Lamin Darboe  (100 and 200m).

IN THE 100M RACE

Lamin Darboe was eliminated in the semi finals of the 100m after finishing 4^th position in the heat 3 with time of 10.98 seconds on Wednesday.