Hon. Bekai’s body laid to rest at Baja Kunda in URR

The late lawmaker was accorded a State Burial

Parliamentarians paying last respect (Pix by statehouse.gm)

The remains of the late Hon. Bekai Camara, National Assembly Member for Wuli East Constituency has been laid to rest on Tuesday March 8, 2011 at his home village Baja Kunda, Wuli East District, the Upper River Region (URR) of The Gambia.

The late Hon died on Sunday March 6, 2011, at the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in Banjul were he was admitted and receiving treatment after what has been described as “a brief” illness.

The decease was laid-in-state on Monday before his colleagues at National Assembly Building in Banjul, the Vice President, Cabinet Minister, a host of Seniors Government officials and sympathizers were present to pay their last respect to their fallen colleague.

Hon. Camara was reported to have suffered from illness and got admitted at the RVTH on February 27, 2011 before his untimely death. He is survived by three wives and children, his mother and a brother.

CAF postpones Libya U20 Championship

As the uprising in Libya seems never to wind down, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) announces that it has postponed the Orange African Youth Championship 2011 indefinitely.

The Championship was scheduled for Tripoli from March 18 to April 1, 2011. However, the Region’s Football Governing Body said its move is due to security concerns, since the current political situation in Libya is unstable.

“The competition has been postponed to a later date and within a location to be confirmed by CAF in the next few days,” CAF said on its official website – cafonline.com on March 3, 2011.
”CAF will inform all parties of the new confirmed dates of the event, which shall be held in the first half of this year. The semi finalists will represent the continent at the FIFA U-20 World Cup slated for 29 July - 20 August, 2011 in Colombia.”

GIABA Organises Open House Forum on role of youth in ML/TF

DG GIABA Dr Abdoullahi Shehu

Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will hold a day open house forum on “The Role of Youth in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) in West Africa” on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the Teachers’ Hall Complex, Accra, Ghana.

A media dispatch emailed to our reporter, said “the event is the fourth edition in the series of GIABA Open House Forum serves as a platform to educate stakeholders from ECOWAS member States on the deleterious effects and debilitating impact of money laundering and financing of terrorism on peace, security and sustainable development in West Africa”.

The Anti-Money Laundering Watchdog said the forum that involved about 100 participants comprises students of tertiary institutions, civil society organizations and the media including top government officials and regulatory agencies involved in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing are expected to take part in the event.

Women Rights Activist Appeal to President Jammeh for Audience

President Jammeh

Dr. Touray

The Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP Dr. Isatou Touray has appealed to The Gambian President Professor Dr. Alhagie Yaya Jammeh to grant them an audience to explain their side of the story on Yolocamba agreement.

She was speaking to The Voice in an interview at GAMCOTRAP Head Office at Kanifing on March 8, 2011 marking the hundred year anniversary of International Women Day.

Survey on journalism training needs in South Mediterranean countries released

The Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM) has released the results of the survey on journalism training needs among the South Mediterranean broadcasters, which was conducted within the framework of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).

The survey was conducted in collaboration with the French National Association for the Professional Training of Adults (AFPA) with a view to improving the journalism training supply in the South Mediterranean region.

“115 responses to the questionnaires were received from the radio and TV broadcasters of seven countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia) and were analysed statistically,” UNESCO said in February.