Monday, December 31, 2012

Jammeh’s APRC supporters outraged by rumours of torture and murder: Halifa Sallah

National Assembly leader claims bloggers ‘insulted’ Gambia’s leadership


A majority leader of Gambia’s National Assembly has accused bloggers of putting stories online that “insulted” the country’s leadership.
 
“Some people are blogging and putting stories on the internet and other websites insulting the leadership of this country,” Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta claims while speaking during an adjournment debate of the Assembly on Dec. 19, 2012.


This angle of the news is given little prominence by local media and can only be found embedded in stories on the papers it appeared. Instead the local media focused on the issues of mainstream media that we’ve heard over and over, a local journalist and blogger told The North Bank Evening Standard.

Who secured the release of Senegalese prisoners from MFDC rebels?



Untying the hostages/prisoners (photo credit: Saikou Jammeh)

2012 is deadliest year for journalists: RSF



Friday, December 21, 2012

The Gambia: Forward With Taiwan Aid And Advocacy

Media watchdog suggest Taiwan can and should do more than just aid 

Button-like image of country described in filename
Button-like image of country described in file name (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Indications are that The Gambia is far from letting her bilateral relations with Taiwan strained. Looking forward to ties regarded as "cordial and beneficial" the tiny West African country of less than 2 million people on Tuesday gave assurances of "continued bilateral cooperation and partnership." 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

CBG must play role on exchange rate policy

Cropped version of :Image:Gambia President Yah...
In October 2012, President Yahya Jammeh forced exchange rate down in a directive against "hoarding" but the IMF did not recognise such mandate as the Central Bank of The Gambia is responsible of regulating the financial market (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
For full confidence to return to the financial market of The Gambia, the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), which is responsible for exchange rate policy, must continues to implement this policy framework, according to the IMF.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission to the country led by Mr. David Dunn revealed that the recent directive by the Office of President Yahya Jammeh on the exchange rate and shipments of U.S. dollars led to some “disruptions” in the foreign exchange market and created “uncertainty” about The Gambia’s exchange rate policy.

Gambia: Economic activity improving


Gambian Women at Serrekunda Market (Photo Credit: Access Gambia)
After a year enmesh in drought, very poor harvest, and hunger, think-tanks have announced economic activity is improving in the West African nation of The Gambia.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Gambia spy agency arrests online editor

Gambia: Politician wants activist Imam released immediately

Gambia ‘drowning’ in global corruption poll



Gambia's president Yahya Jammeh is presiding over an increasingly corrupt country/here he speaks to journalists in Nov 2011/PHOTO/AFP

MIGRANT REMITTANCES!




Central Bank Governor, Mr. Amadou Colley
Migrant remittances are recognised to be a significant channel through which Gambians in the Diaspora contribute to local development and poverty alleviation. Prior to the global economic crisis in 2007 remittance surpassed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), as the biggest source of financial inflow.
The increase in remittances is basically a continuation of the recent trends with significant improvements in 2011 as it forms up to 10 percent (%) of The Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP (the total value of goods and services that the country produces in a year).

Gambia: Energy Consumption ‘Increases Dramatically’



Njogu Bah
Gambia’s Minister for Presidential Affairs Dr. Njogu Bah has said that energy consumption in the Gambia has been increasing at a relatively fast rate due to population growth and economic development, even thought the base rate maybe to somewhat low.

His claim came amid increased electricity tariff and a power-supply social service experts said is unreliable, inefficient and unaffordable.

 He said the country’s energy use has increased dramatically, but was quick to admit that the country has also suffers from significant energy deficits, while speaking during a December 6, 2012 stakeholder’s validation forum on the “Development of Electricity Action Plan and Renewable Energy Law in The Gambia”, held at the Kairaba Beach hotel.

Friday, December 7, 2012

CPJ's new digital campaign demands justice in journalist killings

CPJ - New York, December 6, 2012--An average of 30 journalists are murdered each year in direct reprisal for their work, and the perpetrators are almost never brought to justice. To fight impunity in press killings, the Committee to Protect Journalists has launched Speak Justice: Voices Against Impunity, a new digital platform to help break the cycle of fear and censorship.