International Day of the African Child Observed

UNICEF Country REP Aichatou Diawara – Flambert

By Abdoulie Nget

Young People in the Media have on Saturday in partnership with UNICEF celebrated the 21^st anniversary of the Day of the African Child, with the theme: Altogether for Urgent Action in Favour of Street Children at the premises of Unique FM in Bakau New Town.

The celebration was to memorize 16 June 2011 - In 1976 when over hundred black school children  were killed and over thousand injured on the streets of Soweto, South Africa, during their half a mile long protest claiming their right to education using their own language.

To honour the memory of those killed and the courage of all those who marched, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on 16 June every year since 1991, initiated by the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union). The Day also draws attention to the lives of African children.

More Rain Than Normal Expected in Gambia

By Abdoulie Nget

Report from the Department of Water Resources and the National Meteorological Services of the Gambia have it that the 2011 rainfall onset which is expected to be between 23 June and 8 July, will be more than the normal rain, but lesser than last year’s massive rains.

Last year’s massive rains have led to the destruction of buildings among other damages across the length and breadth of the country, but Peter Gibba, a senior mythologist said that the 2011 rainfall season is expected to see more variability than the 2010 season with events like late onset, early withdrawals and wet/dry spells.

According to the forecast release by the Department of Water Resources and the National Meteorological Services, the coming July-August-September (JAS) period, the expected rainfall values would be Above Normal (most likely) to Near-normal (likely).

The Two Sides of Banjul

By Abdoulie Nget

O

n entry into Gambia’s capital city, Banjul, commuters are now greeted with elevated view of saluting golden lights, which reads: “Welcome to the City of Lights.”

Unveiled at President Jammeh’s well celebrated 46 birthday anniversary, the recent street lightening of Banjul - from the Denton Bridge through to the Arch 22 and McCarthy square now 22 July Square roundabout – is hailed by some people as a tremendous facelift to The Gambia’s largely underdeveloped capital city.

Built in 1996, the impressive 35m tall Arch 22, which offers expansive views over the city also have its elephant pillars wrapped in golden lights.

The Daily News finds out that, already, the place is attracting some business activities, especially for photographers who no longer have to move about in search of beautiful spots to take pictures of their clients.

Sey’s Effort Buries Alasan’s Mistake

SJAG Football Team

By Abdoulie Nget

Baboucarr Sey was the hero of the day for the Sports Journalists’ football team when his goal emerged as the equaliser as well as the savior that made spectators forget about Alasan Mballow’s goalkeeping error which led to the Sarahules goal in a friendly game at the Serrekunda East mini stadium.

The Sports Journalists football team managed to bounce back from their unconvincing run to seal a draw from the Sarahules selection team, but yet still some members of the Sports Journalists are demanding for improvement.

The first goal of the game came the way of the Sarahules in the mid-way of the first half when Alasan was unable to hold the ball from a long range free kick at once, instead dropped it for the Sarahules’ striker to score cheaply.

Njogu’s Strike Earns Gambia a Win

By Omar Bah 

The Gambia national team, darling Scorpions have finally broken their poor run of form on Tuesday with a 1 nil win over the 2012 CAN host Gabon in an international friendly played in France.

Njogu Demba’s only goal of the game come at a better time for the Scorpions who are preparing to face Namibia in the CAN qualifiers believing nothing less than a win in Namibia will see their hope of qualifying over with Burkina standing firm in the group with 9 points and played a game more than the Scorpions.   

Coming into the game Gambia played only seven international 'A' matches, all of them friendlies, since the previous edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Consequently, there has not been any change among the leading pack in the last ranking as Gambia remain in 103 position.

Zeinab Calls for Investment in Young People

Zainab

By Abdoulie Nget

The Gambian first lady, Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh has called on governments to increase investment in young people, saying that a nation’s future rests on the quality its human capital.

Madam Jammeh made this remark Thursday at the launch of the State of the World’s Children report 2011 held at Kairaba Beach Hotel. The event was held under the theme: Adolescence: an age of opportunity.

“The state of the world’s children report calls on all governments and partners to invest in young people, to give them Knowledge and skills in order to promote and sustain economic and social progress and eradicate poverty for good,” she said.

Madam Zeinab noted that Gambia government, under the leadership of her husband, Yahya Jammeh has made significant amount of investment in the promotion of health, nutrition, basic education and protection of younger children in recent years.

 “The Government of The Gambia continues to be committed to the right and welfare of children and young people,” she assured. “This commitment of the government in promoting and protecting the right of children and young people is well known in the sun-region.”

Also speaking at the event, Ms Fatou Lamin Faye, minister for Basic and Secondary Education buttressed that denying the younger age the rights heightens their risk of exploitation, social isolation associated with early marriage and mortality complications.

Gambia’s Roof-Top Debt Stock Troubles IMF

By Abdoulie Nget 

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has voiced-out concerns over Gambia’s roof-top debt stock, but failed to disclose the height of indebtedness, which on domestic front, alone, stood at over D20 billion as at Dec. 2010.  

The announcement follows the leading world financial body’s team of experts’ two-week long assessment of Gambia’s economy.  

Meshack Tunee Tjiringo, IMF resident representative Wednesday told a news conference held at UN House in Bakau, that Gambia government’s heavy debt burden poses significant challenges to the country’s anticipated growth.

“Financing of Gambia’s Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) will pose significant challenges in light of the country’s already heavy debt burden,” Meshack said.

Notwithstanding, he said, IMF will support Gambia’s vision of accelerated growth and employment creation under the new IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement, which Gambian authorities have requested.

He also pledged to assist Gambia government in reducing net domestic borrowing to about 2 percent of GDP in the current year and near zero debt by 2014.