By Patience Loum The President of the ECOWAS Commission says that national power utilities continue to be under-utilized frustrating efforts to access financial markets required for maintenance and expansion projects. The challenges continue to exist despite implementing power sector reforms aimed at stimulating private sector participation and liberalization. The statement was delivered by Sediko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission at the 7th ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory forum. The theme of the forum held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference in Banjul on 9th November 2022 was “Energy Security…
Author: Gainako
By Patience Loum The Women’s Association for Victims’ Empowerment (WAVE) held a screening of their Witch Hunt documentary for the South Sudanese delegates at one of the victim’s homes in Jambur on Wednesday 9th November 2022. The delegation was composed of the Minister of Justice for South Sudan, Hon Madol Arol, Human Rights Officers, legal councillors, and other stakeholders working in the legal department in South Sudan. The purpose of the visit and screening was to improve the understanding of delegates from South Sudan on the Gambia’s Transitional Justice process to assist them to implement a smooth Transitional Justice process in…
BANJUL, November 9, 2022 – The Gambia’s poverty rate has climbed to 53.4 percent largely due to COVID-19 according to The Gambia Poverty and Gender Assessment 2022 report. The report states that before the COVID-19 induced crisis the national poverty rate declined from 48.6 percent in 2015 to 45.8 percent in 2019. Poverty rates remains more of a rural phenomenon – 7 out of every 10 rural dwellers are poor; compared to 3 out of every 10 urban dwellers. However, the larger share of poor people live in urban areas in the more populous Southwest, mainly in Brikama. The report shows…
By Kalipha MM Mbye[1]* Introduction One of the cornerstones of parliamentary procedure is that proceedings in the Assembly are conducted in a free and civil manner. To facilitate this recognised principle, the Assembly adopted rules of procedures [2] for the maintenance of order and decorum for the conduct of members and to regulate its own proceedings. Considering the sacred nature of the institution of parliament, members are expected to show respect for one another, and the competing different viewpoints. Therefore, offensive or discourteous behaviour or language is intolerable. The Sixth Legislature of the National Assembly (the parliament) of The Gambia…
By Uthman Jeng In fulfilment of Article 14 of the party’s Constitution, The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) constituted the legislative arm of the party, The National Executive Committee (NEC) on Saturday 29th October 2022 at Jarra Soma Lower River Region (LRR). under the leadership of the party Secretary General Hon Kebba E Jallow, and the National President Hon Duta Kamaso who serves as the chairperson of the NEC, the party finally constituted the NEC ahead of its midterm congress scheduled for the 26th November 2022 at the Mansakonko Area Council hall. In a very colourful event in Jara Soma attended…
This is a research paper written by the Director of Library and Research Services at the National Assembly of the Gambia on unparliamentary language in the context of the National Assembly of the Gambia. This became a talking point in the Sixth Legislature following a series of altercations between the Speaker and some National Assembly members. In most cases, Parliamentarians who have been cautioned on the usage of unparliamentary language have withdrawn their statements and continued in the debate. However, in some rare instances, Parliamentarians have been ejected by the Speaker or chosen to evacuate the Chambers. This publication features…
The Gambia’s Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations has written a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly to hold an extraordinary session to discuss the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) Report and the Government White Paper. The letter dated 2nd November 2022 was also copied to the Clark of the National Assembly, the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Commission (NHRC) and the Chairperson of The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO). Here is the letter from the Victims Center. Hon. Speaker, Gambia National Assembly, Banjul, 2nd November…
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists Fajara, Gambia, November 2, 2022: Today, we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes committed against Journalists. The Gambia Press Union join calls by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries worldwide, for governments, journalists and media groups to support the adoption of a UN Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionals. In order to “Break the Cycle of Impunity”, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) agrees that more safeguards and guarantees…
By Team Gom Sa Bopa Media Team After almost two years of fierce competition, the Cypher Champion for the 2021/2022 Street Rap Battles has finally concluded with Zuel Doff coming out victorious over seasoned rap battler Kandalit at Alliance Franco on 29th October 2022. The finals of the Cypher 2021/2022 competition featured four rappers battling it out in the semi-finals and final round. The competition which is organised by Team Gom Sa Bopa is refereed by three independent, well respected and accomplished personalities in the Gambian music industry that are not members of Team Gom Sa Bopa. The three independent…
By Patience Loum Barely a day after the Speaker of the Sixth Legislature, Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta, ejected Hon Fatoumatta Njie of Banjul South out of Parliament’s Chambers, the two Politicians were pictured sitting next to each other on the High Table for a training for women Parliamentarians. The aim of the two-day training organised by the International Republican Institute (IRI) is to enhance women’s political participation to bridge gender inequalities and stereotypes in the political sector. There are a total of 5 female Parliamentarians and they are; three elected members in Hon Fatou Cham of Sanneh Mentereng (UDP), Hon…