NIA beat gatekeeper, ransack Fatou Touray’s house as she escapes from Gambia

Fatou Touray

Agents of the lethal National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Thursday, December 05, 2013, reported stormed and ransacked the house of Fatou Touray, a socialite who hosted a television show on Gambian television, while at the same time serving as marketing manager of Gambia’s Telecommunications Company (Gamtel).

U.K Government Warns Against Visiting The Gambia Reads

There is a potential Political unrest in the Gambia. The British Government warns her citizens not to travel to the West African country. The statement release today also warns British nationals against using the Gambian ferry service

Following political disagreement between the government of The Gambia and the European Union about the deterioration of human rights in The Gambia there has been an increase in political tension which may lead to unannounced demonstrations in Banjul and other parts of the country. You should avoid all demonstrations.

National Sports Council React to GNOC Election

Read below the reaction of the National Sports Council to the recent election of the Gambia National Olympic Committee:

NEA HANDS OVER ECO-TOURISM CAMP TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES

By:- Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang (NEA)

The Adaptation to Coastal & Climate Change (ACCC) Project is a UNDP Global Environment Facility (GEF) sponsored project acquired and implemented by the National Environment Agency on behalf of the Government of the Gambia. This sub regional project is responding to shoreline change and its human dimensions in West Africa with the ultimate objective to develop and pilot a range of effective coping mechanisms for reducing the impact of climate change induced coastal erosion in vulnerable regions in the five participating countries.

New Senegal PM represents power consolidation by president

Senegalese President Macky Sall's sacking of his prime minister to make way for a new government will shore up his power base as the west African nation prepares for local elections amid widespread discontent, say analysts.

Mr Sall appointed former justice minister Aminata Toure to replace Abdoul Mbaye after dismissing the government, which had been in office for 17 months, without explanation on Sunday.

"The reshuffle is a refocusing. The epicentre of power is no longer scattered but is in the APR", said Dakar-based analyst Babacar Justin Ndiaye, referring to Sall's Alliance for the Republic party.

BB Dabo Paints Picture of Gambia’s Sick Economy

BB Darboe

The Gambia’s former Finance Minister has painted a gloomy picture of the country’s sick economy, arguing that the government could no longer “disguise the phenomenal increase” of the country’s “domestic and external debt over the past two decades.”
“We all know that the Yahya Jammeh government is notorious for deceitfulness, and for the opacity, or total lack of transparency, of its governance practices,” said Bakebba Camara, the Vice President of the Campaign for Democratic Change Gambia (CDCG) who deputized for the CDCG Chairman Mr. Bakary Bunja Dabo.
“But the truth can no longer be hidden behind a mask. Over the past few years, on each occasion of presenting the annual budget, successive Finance Ministers have been forced to groan under the burden of debt servicing as well as to admit to growing concern over the size of the debt stock,” he said.

Venezuela Weightlifting Federation Elections

http://www.iwf.net/2013/08/30/venezuela-weightlifting-federation-elections/

Pedro León Torres was re-elected President of the Venezuela Weightlifting Federation on 20 August 2013 at a ceremony held in the headquarters of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee.
Twenty associations affiliated to the Venezuela Weightlifting Federation participated in the Elections and elected Pedro León Torres with 74 votes out the 79.

Gambia’s Former Military Officers Missing In Action

Col Ndure Cham

Where is the expert security analysis of former serving officers of the Gambia National Army (GNA) in events of abductions and executions of their colleagues by President Jammeh? The fact of the matter is that there is no credible security expert on the Gambia. Where is Lt. Col. Sam Sarr; where is Lt. Binneh Minteh;  where is Lt Kejau Touray;  where is Major Pa Modou Ann; where is Major Momodou Bojang; where is Col. Baboucar Jatta; where is Col. Sainey Bayo and many other former high-ranking military officers roaming the streets of United States, UK and elsewhere?

Minister’s Statement Shatters Journalists’ Hopes

Minister Nana Grey Johnson

By Abdoulie Nget

After yeas of unconvincing environment for Journalists and journalism in the Gambia, journalists were hopeful that the appointment of the new information minister Nana Grey Johnson, a veteran journalist will smoothen the media environment but his words during the press freedom day were more of a caution than encouragement for journalists.

His appointment came at a time when the Gambian media is faced with marathon challenges, with three media houses (Teranga FM, The Daily News and Daily Standard) arbitrarily closed, arrests and detentions of Journalists and GPU vice president Baboucarr Ceesay, Abubacarr Sadykhan and Alagie Jobe of Daily Observer. Grey-Johnson’s appointment as a long serving writer and journalist in the Gambian media has injected new hope in the hearts of media practitioners, thinking he will make a different. Contrarily, the way and manner he delivered his statement at TANGO shattered hopes of the hall well parked with journalists, diplomats and media sympathisers.

Minister’s Statement Shatters Journalists’ Hopes

By Abdoulie Nget

After yeas of unconvincing environment for Journalists and journalism in the Gambia, journalists were hopeful that the appointment of the new information minister Nana Grey Johnson, a veteran journalist will smoothen the media environment but his words during the press freedom day were more of a caution than encouragement for journalists.

Kasa Renews Call for Baba Leigh’s Release

Dudu Kasa Jaata- Gambian Politician

Dudu Kasa Jaata, a vocal opposition in the Gambian has on Monday renewed his calls fro the Gambia government to release the detained Imam Baba Leigh after months of detention with out trial.

It could be recalled that Imam Leigh whisked away from his family since 3 December, 2012, by the plain cloths suspiciously the Gambia’s spy agency and since then his family are left in limbo as they are yet to know his whereabouts talk less of seeing him.

The out spoken politician label the Gambia’s human right record as among the worst due to what he call bad governance that the current regime is manipulating and handling the affairs of the state, adding that people are tired of witnessing bad news day-in-day-out.

Kasa Jaata- Gambia needs Political, Media Reform

Regardless of international intervention, the Gambia needs a reform in the way and manner in which politics and politicians as well as the media situation are been handled in the country, said Dudu Kasa Jaata, a vocal political activist in The Gambia.
The verbal politician made these remarks in a three paper statement reacting to the Gambia government’s refusal to accept the EU’s 17-Points Dossier earlier this year, which touched on media and political reforms amongst others.

Gambia Government Closes St. Augustine School

By Demba Kandeh and Lamin Jahateh 

The Gambia government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has issued a directive ordering the closure of St. Augustine Senior Secondary School in Banjul as a result of an upheaval that broke out in the school on Tuesday 26th February 2013.
In a news release aired over the state TV, Gambia Radio and Television Services, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education said students of St. Augustine school are asked to stay away from the school premises until such a time that the school is re-opened.

Journalists Under Pressure in the Gambia Turn to Blogs

The hostile media landscape in the Gambia, marred by aggressive laws and regulatory measures that have almost crippled mainstream outlets, has some journalists in the country turning to blogs to report the news.
Advocacy groups have long criticized the Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh for his dismal record on press freedom. A self-proclaimed healer who says he has found cures to AIDS, obesity, and erectile dysfunction, Jammeh is on the 2012 list of predators to press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.
With the emergence of social media, many observers worry that Jammeh's brutal restrictions on mainstream journalists are likely to be transferred to netizens.

PYDA holds AGM, opened a four block classroom

Chairman Demba Kujabi

The Patriotic Youth Association for development (PYDA) in Kanwally, Foni Bondali District west coast region held their third annual general meeting on February, 2nd 2013 with the theme, “Unity is Strength.”
According to the reports from the chairman Demba Kujabi, said the 2012 activity has gone successful despite facing some challenges.
“The commitment and dedication of the executive committee, and members of PYDA and other promotion activities has contributed immensely to the membership growth, which was increase to 75% from 2011-2013,” said Demba.

Presidential Honour For African Sports Journalists in Dakar

By Abdoulie Bah, Secretary General Sports Journalists Association, Gambia

 

DAKAR, February 2013 - For the first time, in its 78-year history AIPS, International Sports Press Association, (AIPS­),  delegates from  its African branch AIPS Africa received a presidential welcome and honour right in the city of black consciousness.

After a brief opening ceremony attended by top Senegalese government representatives for the delegates from 15 African countries for the extra-ordinary AIPS Africa congress, the journalists were guests at the presidential palace.

COAST project capacitizes stakeholders on Responsible Tourism

By: Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang (NEA)

The principal of the Institute of Travel and Tourism in the Gambia (ITTOG) has defined tourism as activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. He called on communities who are blessed with eco-tourism facilities to professionally harness them and promote tourism while creating employment, improving livelihoods and thus fostering unity amongst the community.

The Week Slice: Will the Teachers Get Their Piece

By Abdoulie Nget

It was recently published that the week working days which starts from Monday to Friday is to be trimmed to four come February first, meaning Friday will be included in the weekend.

The trimming down of the week to four days is marking a big question as of whether the teachers too are to benefit from the less work package, as civil servants too.

Paul Putt Proves Gambia Wrong

By Abdoulie Nget

The Current Burkina Faso football coach, Paul Putt who struggled to qualify the Gambia to the African Cup of Nation for the first time in the country’s football history, have proved Gambia wrong by leading B. Faso to a victory against Ethiopia.

 Paul was sacked amidst failure to take Gambia through to AFCON, but now he demonstrates that the failure was not on his side… who knows who to blame, is it the Footballers, the Ministry or administrators, the answer will unveil itself in the near future.

Sang Mendy Lectures Journalism

Below is a commentary short of writing by Sang Mendy, Journalist working with the Gambia Press Union

Lately there’ve been lots of discussion both online and offline regarding our failures in sports. Finger pointing, accusations and counter accusations filled the airwaves. Some believed it is the administrators fault, others laid the blame on incompetent workforce while few put it down to infighting within sports officials- each trying to show what they know and can do.

Sainabou Kujabi-Njie Nominated as AIPS Executive Member

By Abdoulie Nget

The president of Sport Journalists Association the Gambia, Sainobou Kujaby-Njie, who was elected by Gambian sport writers, has been nominated along 49 members from different countries in the world to be in the next AIPS executive.

The news of Sainabou's Nomination will surely be welcomed by Gambian sports writers, as their association member is boldly listed among the world.

NISA to host delegates from Senegal

The National Inter-departmental Sports Association (NISA) will finally host a 5-man delegation from Senegal for a championship dedicated for the working class.

The delegates, who are part of the Federation of the Senegalese Workers’ Sports, will be guest of their Gambian counterparts who are twice champions.

The guests are expected in Banjul on Thursday 24 January before the starting of the event on January 25.

It is The Gambia’s turn to host event of this magnitude, and this time for three days.

Journalist John Heaves a Sigh of Relief, But...

Press freedom continues to elude journalists in Gambia. Currently under fire is Mr Abdoulie John, a stringer with the US-based Associated Press (AP) news agency. More than one month today, John who doubles as an editor of a Gambian online news agency, JollofNews, is still battling for his freedom.

From Dec.9, 2012 to date, the journalist had been arrested and detained on two separate occasions by the country's intelligence agency, NIA. Interestingly, all this while, he is yet to know his crime, if any.

“I did nothing wrong," he says with a unique emphasis. "It is sad to know that such things are happening in a country that is supposed to operate democratically. This is part of harassment and intimidation by the state to deny independent journalists to operate freely."