Last month, Nigeria completed its election process in a peaceful and transparent manner. While the U.S. applauded this positive feat, our involvement cannot conclude just yet. In fact, in some ways, it is only just beginning — which is why I strongly urge President Barack Obama to attend the inauguration of President-Elect Mohammadu Buhari on May 29. President Obama’s presence at this historic inauguration would send the right signal at the right time. This election was a landmark victory for democracy in Africa and for struggling people elsewhere around the…
Author: Gainako
Former Navy Chief Rear Admiral Fofana By Demba Baldeh Barely one year after his surprised appointment as Chief Justice of the Gambia, Pakistani born Chief Justice Eli Nawaz Chowha has been abruptly fired by the country’s erratic dictator and asked to leave the country within 72 hours. The news of the Chief Justice’s firing came few days after a former Navy Chief Admiral Sarjo Fofana was acquitted and freed from earlier conviction and sentence of 20 years for allegedly participating in the 2009 failed coup. The five-member panel of judges of the…
Ebola virus transmission ends in Liberia – UN health agency 9 May 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Liberia free of Ebola virus transmission as forty-two days have passed since the last laboratory-confirmed case was buried on 28 March, a “monumental achievement” for a country that reported the highest number of deaths in the largest, longest, and most complex outbreak since Ebola first emerged in 1976. Liberia’s last case was a woman in the greater Monrovia area who developed symptoms on 20 March and died on 27 March, WHO confirmed in…
By Maimuna Ceesay- Darboe Former President, UDP Female Youth Wing When the Senior Administrative Secretary called me and said “I have bad news about your friend and sister”, I knew he was referring to Anta Samba. We had spoken about her health condition just a few days before. The shock and dismay that I felt cannot be described. I knew she was very sick but I expected she would die in such an untimely way. I am totally devastated. I have lost somebody who was very close to me and who meant a lot to me. My relationship…
Once again, Gambians are greeted with dumbfounded news that major currency values will be pegged and depreciated against the Dalasi through a directive from the Office of the President. The directive, as usual, came-in without warning or engagement with the business sector as expected of any responsible government. The shock on both businesses and the Gambian diaspora is unimaginably devastating with all the dare consequences on the economy. As of Friday, 1st May, banks were selling £1 at D80, the US1 at D52 and 1Euro at D60. But since the untimely decision by the Office of the President,…
A Poem: Mother’s Day Love By Yero Jallow All the memories to write Mother’s day is right With its blessings to recount When the blissful sun mounts All the love to remember From January to December Can’t fill the spherical earth From the time of umbilical birth Mother, longing for your lovely cuddles The warmth of my missing troubles And now I say thank you living love For all the memories above
It wasn’t long ago that we lost Alh. S.M.B.Faye ( or Daa Faye to many) only to be greeted with yet another devastating news of the sudden passing of Alh. Sulayman Masanneh Ceesay, Whereas they both served in both the First Republic and he present Republic, it is their meritorious and distinguished service to the First Republic that they will be remembered, and their legacies rest. I was privileged to have served with Sulayman at the then Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources before he was promoted Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. It was only a few weeks ago…
By Demba Baldeh, Commentary President Jammeh and his badge of Security personnel on meet the farmers tour The political obituary of the regime in the small West African state of the Gambia has begun. Gambians have all but officially rejected their President Yahya Jammeh and his failed regime. For 20 years Gambians have witnessed the musical chairs that has entertained and accommodated only one person and his gang of insecure security personnel. They have patiently endured the lies and deceptions of a leader who has nothing to offer but empty rhetoric, threat and brutality on his…
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh Link to Petition Gambians do not want a bailout that would strengthen Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship and misrule. On April 2, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) in the amount equivalent to SDR7.775 million (about US$10.8 million) for The Gambia for what the institute said is “to enable the authorities to meet their urgent balance of payment and fiscal needs”. This followed recommendations by an earlier mission led by Mr. Bhaswar Mukhopadhyay January 8-14, 2015. The Executive Board went on…
A press release issued by the United States Embassy in the Gambia has announced a high level visit by US representative to the African Union due in Banjul from May 7 – 8th 2015. Ambassador Reuben Brigety will visit the Gambia and meet with civil society groups and representatives of the African Union. The main purpose of Mr. Brigety’s visit to Banjul has not been revealed except a meeting venue at American Corner on Kairaba Avenue. It is hope that the media will be present to ask questions especially around all the political uncertainties going on in Banjul. Many…