Women Empowerment Gains Momentum, as Gov allocates vast plot of land for a multi-purpose market
In its drive to reduce poverty by empowering women who are found to be the most vulnerable, the government of the Gambia has taken two major bold steps in recent years. first the launching of the National Federation of Gambian Women and the allocation of a multi-million plot of land at a strategic location at Bursubi around the police station for the purpose of a multi-purpose market, whose establishment would cost 250 million Gambian dalasi.
The land would be used as a multi-purpose centre dubbed ‘Lumo’, where people, particularly women from all walks of life including those from the sub-region meet to trade and show-case their produce. It creates a sort of a platform where wholesalers could buy large quantity of produce and sell them under retail at the mini-markets in the region.
In a bid to get the glimpse of the rationale behind the initiative, our reporter spoke with certain personae that are keyed in the National Federation of Gambian Women- the federation launched recently to oversee the affairs of Gambian women from both the formal and informal sectors of the country.
Ida Faye Hydara, the executive director of Women’s Bureau told this reporter that
products produced by various villages could be brought here as a wholesale, so those from the serrekunda market, Bundung market and other markets can come here and buy them. She said this create an “easy access to horticultural products for market sellers”.
“This is like creating a link between sellers and buyers, as well as producers.
Asked what about villages that produce the same products and wish to access the market, whether there would be no conflict of interest? She said they are laying much emphasis on a system of “one village one product”, by “organising and programming them [the producers].”
She harps on the high interest rate that banks give to women, saying this is why they are not reluctant to give them credit, so they would have finance to buy some of their needs. We are trying to create an avenue for business venture, that’s why we told them to pay five dalasi each [500,000 women targeted].”
However, she said even though this stipulated amount is paid, they are still unable to meet the necessary financing to build up the market. “That’s why we asked every woman to pay D500 each, so we meet the demand [D250 million] for a multi-purpose centre [lumo].” She adds that they should not be at a standstill as a result of donor funding gap, but rather use their own resources to implement programmes. “It has been a while women are oriented to sit and wait for donor funding, which is not sustainable. Vegetable growing or farming is different… you have to invest to really make money out of it.” Putting up effective water system and proper sanitation is part of the demand Ida made mentioned about. That is why the Federation has targeted 500, 000 women who are committed to paying D500 each in order to make a headway for the market.
She called on the women to manifested commitment, saying “the more women are committed, the more support we get from both government and development partners,” even though she described the latter as “not sustainable”.
She challenged the need for private sector involvement, saying “we are expecting them to support us in the area of creating more awareness,” adding: “they have brilliant ideas.”
“Financial institutions need people [business people] to save, so if people don’t have enough money, how do you expect them to save [or pay]?”
“That’s why they have to come closer to our federation and support our initiative.” She enjoined them to seek bilateral relationship with the federation, so both parties will brainstorm on great ideas.
At the heart of the initiative, she said, they are proposing 200 shops, food market, [lumo] and an area where they will sell country-made produce. We are also proposing to have storage facilities, skills training centre facilities, clinic, day care, beauty shop, wholesale stores, clothing etc. “We started selling rice in collaboration with KGI. Very soon we will start partnering with importers that sell oil.”
“All this is as a result of helping women and creating more profitable business avenue for women or improving what they are already engage in. The proceeds realised will be reinvested back to women programmes and empowerment that are aim at augmenting the social status of women and meeting the MDGs.
Asked if there is any interest rate attached to it, she said theirs is more of a “social collateral”, with little if any interest rate.
Fatoumatta Jah, President to the Federation said they want to have a “microcredit for women”, because of the high interest rate of banks. She adds that theirs is 7% interest rate. However, taking into consideration the large number of horticultural producers coming from the rural area, Mrs Jah pointed that they are devising ways and means of making the market accessible to rural women, saying they are strategizing how to transport them with their goods to the market on regular basis.
Ramou Cole-Ceesay Permanent secretary (2) office of the vice-president said they will start of with constructing a food production and processing plant. “Most produce are highly perishable and there is hardly any outlet for marketing, as a result women end up selling produce at a very risky price [low priced].”
The creation of a large market of this kind, as she puts it, will help mend the situation, as they will craft linkages between major buyers, such as the hotels and other industries.
Asked if she foresees a situation of oligopoly- where sellers outnumber buyers, she responded in the negative, saying “hotels want quantity, noting that quality is one key point, but quantity on a continuous daily basis is another. We have a market locally, and Senegal comes year-round with trucks to buy Gambian produce. They come and buy in bulk, because they [commodities] are cheaper here [in Gambia].
“As long as the astronauts remained in space, Gambian
Friday, 8 April 2011
The need for Inusrance brookers
Patriot Insurance Brokers: The need for one
Out to provide ‘professional’ insurance service
Patriot Insurance Brokers Company Ltd, the latest broker to enter the insurance market as intermediary between insurers and the insuring public, is poised to provide services and products that will meet policy holders’ satisfaction while serving insurance entities professionally.
While the company’s mission sets on building “an efficient insurance service delivery system based on professionalism and commitment to integrity, sincerity, honesty, prudence and an uncompromising quality service delivery,” its strategic focus is to be a very reliable insurance broker in The Gambia.
“We have been able to achieve sustained, fruitful and cordial relationship between us, our clients and the insurer, borne largely out of our professionalism and technical expertise in the service of efficient service delivery,” says Ebrima Ceesay, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.
Speaking to MarketPlace in his comfy head office at the Standard Chartered Building on 52 Kairaba Avenue, Mr Ceesay said: “The business of placing one’s insurance like any other organised commercial venture requires professionalism and the subject knowledge to gain the optimum there from.”
As the need for brokers to act as intermediaries between the policy holder and the insurer becomes more crucial, the patriotic brokers have came to roll out their professional service to all stakeholders.
Whilst the principal function of insurance is to give protection by making provision for loss of life and property as well as indemnify the policy holder in the event of a loss, the Patriot Brokers, as its name connotes, is out to ensure that claimants receive fair and appropriate settlement within the terms of the agreed policy.
“It is the duty of a broker to ensure that not only does he obtain the best terms for his clients but that in the event of a claim his client receives an equitable and satisfactory settlement within the terms of the policy has arranged,” Mr Ceesay, a seasoned insurance broker with over twenty-year experience, said.
Speaking on the importance of insurance in a country, Momodu Lamin S. Bah, Administrator and Finance Manager of the Patriot Brokers, said: “Insurance is said to be the handmaiden of commerce and industry and this is why it is described as a ‘business that exists to ensure the existence and survival of other businesses’.
“The insurance industry of any other country is closely tied up to the economy of that country. As it is widely believed and realised, no business can succeed without one form of insurance or another. By now we have all accepted that Insurance and business have co-existed since from time immemorial.”
He adds that as new insurance brokers, the Patriot functions as an “overseer” between the insurance companies and the insuring public, to ensure that both parties benefit on the ground of mutual understanding.
“The present large scale commercial and industrial activity in The Gambia has been made possible, to a large extent by the existence of an organised insurance system, by providing various classes of insurance such as fire insurance, motor insurance, etc.”
Products in the offing
The company has many products in the offing to cater for all categories of potential policy holders.
“We offer ‘Fire and allied perils’, which covers building, stock and content of offices against the risk of physical damage or destruction resulting from fire, lightening, explosion, flood, riot and strike, civil commotion, malicious damage etc,” Mr Bah said, adding: “We need the market value of the content to enable us provide quote and cover.”
The burglary insurance also indemnifies customers against the loss of properties as a result of theft, he says.
As cases of accident have become a common phenomenon, Patriot Brokers has designed ‘Personal Accident’ to provide capital sums for accidental death, injury, or disability including medical expenses.
The Insurance guru with a wealth of experience adds: “Weekly sums are payable for any period of up to 104 weeks in all when the insured is disabled from carrying on his usual business or occupation.”
The company’s All risk insurance covers practically every conceivable type of risk, which include such items as jewellery and gold., silver, watches, personal effects and other similar items or valuables.
He says the company also has products called Public Liability, Professional Indemnity.
Cash in transit/safe, and Fidelity Guaranty Insurance.
“Financial fraud or embezzlement by employee holding position of trust is on the increase,” Mr Bah said. “Fidelity Guaranty Insurance Policy is issued to employees guaranteeing the fidelity of his managers, secretary, collectors and other employees who are entrusted with the company’s money. The policy is to reimburse the employers against theft of their policy or stock by specified employee or employees if the policy is issued to cover them.”
The company also offers such policies as Motor Insurance, Consequential Loss, Driver’s Personal Accident, Bond, Contractor all Risk, Machinery Breakdown, Aviation, and Other Engineering Policies.
“With the experience we have with a range of insurance companies, we know some of their strengths and weaknesses and the best way to communicate with them,” he added.
Mr Bah commended the Insurance Association of The Gambia (IAG), for its just concluded week-long awareness campaign. He, however emphasised the need for an “Association of Insurance Brokers”, saying it will help to foster better understanding and cooperation among brokers in the country.
A well developed brokers’ association that works hand in glove with the IAG would help to foster a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the insurance industry, he says.
Out to provide ‘professional’ insurance service
Patriot Insurance Brokers Company Ltd, the latest broker to enter the insurance market as intermediary between insurers and the insuring public, is poised to provide services and products that will meet policy holders’ satisfaction while serving insurance entities professionally.
While the company’s mission sets on building “an efficient insurance service delivery system based on professionalism and commitment to integrity, sincerity, honesty, prudence and an uncompromising quality service delivery,” its strategic focus is to be a very reliable insurance broker in The Gambia.
“We have been able to achieve sustained, fruitful and cordial relationship between us, our clients and the insurer, borne largely out of our professionalism and technical expertise in the service of efficient service delivery,” says Ebrima Ceesay, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.
Speaking to MarketPlace in his comfy head office at the Standard Chartered Building on 52 Kairaba Avenue, Mr Ceesay said: “The business of placing one’s insurance like any other organised commercial venture requires professionalism and the subject knowledge to gain the optimum there from.”
As the need for brokers to act as intermediaries between the policy holder and the insurer becomes more crucial, the patriotic brokers have came to roll out their professional service to all stakeholders.
Whilst the principal function of insurance is to give protection by making provision for loss of life and property as well as indemnify the policy holder in the event of a loss, the Patriot Brokers, as its name connotes, is out to ensure that claimants receive fair and appropriate settlement within the terms of the agreed policy.
“It is the duty of a broker to ensure that not only does he obtain the best terms for his clients but that in the event of a claim his client receives an equitable and satisfactory settlement within the terms of the policy has arranged,” Mr Ceesay, a seasoned insurance broker with over twenty-year experience, said.
Speaking on the importance of insurance in a country, Momodu Lamin S. Bah, Administrator and Finance Manager of the Patriot Brokers, said: “Insurance is said to be the handmaiden of commerce and industry and this is why it is described as a ‘business that exists to ensure the existence and survival of other businesses’.
“The insurance industry of any other country is closely tied up to the economy of that country. As it is widely believed and realised, no business can succeed without one form of insurance or another. By now we have all accepted that Insurance and business have co-existed since from time immemorial.”
He adds that as new insurance brokers, the Patriot functions as an “overseer” between the insurance companies and the insuring public, to ensure that both parties benefit on the ground of mutual understanding.
“The present large scale commercial and industrial activity in The Gambia has been made possible, to a large extent by the existence of an organised insurance system, by providing various classes of insurance such as fire insurance, motor insurance, etc.”
Products in the offing
The company has many products in the offing to cater for all categories of potential policy holders.
“We offer ‘Fire and allied perils’, which covers building, stock and content of offices against the risk of physical damage or destruction resulting from fire, lightening, explosion, flood, riot and strike, civil commotion, malicious damage etc,” Mr Bah said, adding: “We need the market value of the content to enable us provide quote and cover.”
The burglary insurance also indemnifies customers against the loss of properties as a result of theft, he says.
As cases of accident have become a common phenomenon, Patriot Brokers has designed ‘Personal Accident’ to provide capital sums for accidental death, injury, or disability including medical expenses.
The Insurance guru with a wealth of experience adds: “Weekly sums are payable for any period of up to 104 weeks in all when the insured is disabled from carrying on his usual business or occupation.”
The company’s All risk insurance covers practically every conceivable type of risk, which include such items as jewellery and gold., silver, watches, personal effects and other similar items or valuables.
He says the company also has products called Public Liability, Professional Indemnity.
Cash in transit/safe, and Fidelity Guaranty Insurance.
“Financial fraud or embezzlement by employee holding position of trust is on the increase,” Mr Bah said. “Fidelity Guaranty Insurance Policy is issued to employees guaranteeing the fidelity of his managers, secretary, collectors and other employees who are entrusted with the company’s money. The policy is to reimburse the employers against theft of their policy or stock by specified employee or employees if the policy is issued to cover them.”
The company also offers such policies as Motor Insurance, Consequential Loss, Driver’s Personal Accident, Bond, Contractor all Risk, Machinery Breakdown, Aviation, and Other Engineering Policies.
“With the experience we have with a range of insurance companies, we know some of their strengths and weaknesses and the best way to communicate with them,” he added.
Mr Bah commended the Insurance Association of The Gambia (IAG), for its just concluded week-long awareness campaign. He, however emphasised the need for an “Association of Insurance Brokers”, saying it will help to foster better understanding and cooperation among brokers in the country.
A well developed brokers’ association that works hand in glove with the IAG would help to foster a level-playing field for all stakeholders in the insurance industry, he says.
Ex-Minister's proposal on the table, beside Jammeh opening fire on him
GRA TASKS GTBANK WITH TAX, DUTY COLLECTION
Amat JENG
Guarantee Trust Bank has been entrusted the role of a revenue collector by one of Gambia’s fastest growing institutions- the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). This is the first of its kind in the annals of the country’s public-private sector relations.
In a bid to boost its revenue collection activity more effectively with rapid response to the growing size of tax payers across the country, GRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GTbank, surfacing the way for tax payers to pay their taxes and duties payable to GRA at any of the GTbank’s 13 branches in the country.
Effective 3rd May, 2011taxpayers will be able to pay their taxes and duties at GTB’s branches through a GRA dedicated Teller Point manned by a GRA revenue collection process trained cashier.
Reacting to this giant development undertaken by the two institution, Bakary Sanyang, Commissioner General of GRA, said the process started three years ago, adding that the signing of the MoU marks the starting point of a six-week pilot project with the bank.
However, as the opportunities involved are vast, and that one bank alone would not be sufficient to man all GRA tax payers, the need for other banks to follow suit is in the offing, as he puts it “We have our taxpayers across the country and probably the expansion of one bank would not be sufficient to handle all GRA taxpayers, and we at GRA are calling on other banks in the country to come forward as early as possible to talk to the GRA IT [information technology] department on the matter [singing of an MoU].”
However, this development comes at a better time as much of growth in revenues has been on account of increase in duty and tax rates. As the former Finance minister puts it three months ago “since the establishment of the GRA, there has been a lot of emphasis on strengthening tax administration and improving tax collection.”
This shift is a boost for both institutions, as reforms at GRA are continuing with emphasis on improving its tax database, developing better internal controls, strengthening enforcement capacity and improving the utilisation of information and communication system.
This could be seen as part of the finance ministry’s commitment to tax administration measures to be implemented by GRA in the course of the year 2011. It is part of the commitment the ministry laid on the table during the start of this year. “[We are] exploring the possibilities of using commercial banks in tax collection with a view to facilitating faster collection and reconciliation of tax revenue collections.”
This kind of public-private sector collaboration in revenue collection has become the trend in most countries to improve their tax administration, especially the collection of the tax revenue,” Lekan Sanusi, MD GTB, said, before putting pen on paper.
He further described the signing as a key development in the history of public-private sector partnership, with a view to anbling the GRA to discharge its core mandate of revenue collection more effectively, while utilising a private sector channel to put convenience at the doorstep of taxpayers.
As bank, among the first banks to meet government requirements for banking, MD Sanusi said his bank is committed to make this scheme a success story for the country.
“GTB group has experience, as we have been collecting taxes and duties on behalf of the federal and state tax collection agencies in Nigeria for years.”
Amat JENG
Guarantee Trust Bank has been entrusted the role of a revenue collector by one of Gambia’s fastest growing institutions- the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA). This is the first of its kind in the annals of the country’s public-private sector relations.
In a bid to boost its revenue collection activity more effectively with rapid response to the growing size of tax payers across the country, GRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GTbank, surfacing the way for tax payers to pay their taxes and duties payable to GRA at any of the GTbank’s 13 branches in the country.
Effective 3rd May, 2011taxpayers will be able to pay their taxes and duties at GTB’s branches through a GRA dedicated Teller Point manned by a GRA revenue collection process trained cashier.
Reacting to this giant development undertaken by the two institution, Bakary Sanyang, Commissioner General of GRA, said the process started three years ago, adding that the signing of the MoU marks the starting point of a six-week pilot project with the bank.
However, as the opportunities involved are vast, and that one bank alone would not be sufficient to man all GRA tax payers, the need for other banks to follow suit is in the offing, as he puts it “We have our taxpayers across the country and probably the expansion of one bank would not be sufficient to handle all GRA taxpayers, and we at GRA are calling on other banks in the country to come forward as early as possible to talk to the GRA IT [information technology] department on the matter [singing of an MoU].”
However, this development comes at a better time as much of growth in revenues has been on account of increase in duty and tax rates. As the former Finance minister puts it three months ago “since the establishment of the GRA, there has been a lot of emphasis on strengthening tax administration and improving tax collection.”
This shift is a boost for both institutions, as reforms at GRA are continuing with emphasis on improving its tax database, developing better internal controls, strengthening enforcement capacity and improving the utilisation of information and communication system.
This could be seen as part of the finance ministry’s commitment to tax administration measures to be implemented by GRA in the course of the year 2011. It is part of the commitment the ministry laid on the table during the start of this year. “[We are] exploring the possibilities of using commercial banks in tax collection with a view to facilitating faster collection and reconciliation of tax revenue collections.”
This kind of public-private sector collaboration in revenue collection has become the trend in most countries to improve their tax administration, especially the collection of the tax revenue,” Lekan Sanusi, MD GTB, said, before putting pen on paper.
He further described the signing as a key development in the history of public-private sector partnership, with a view to anbling the GRA to discharge its core mandate of revenue collection more effectively, while utilising a private sector channel to put convenience at the doorstep of taxpayers.
As bank, among the first banks to meet government requirements for banking, MD Sanusi said his bank is committed to make this scheme a success story for the country.
“GTB group has experience, as we have been collecting taxes and duties on behalf of the federal and state tax collection agencies in Nigeria for years.”
EU GIVES GAMBIA
European Commission Extends Largesse to Fisheries Sector
As part of its funded programme for strengthening of fisheries products health conditions in ACP and OCT countries (SFP), the European Commission (EC) donated material assistance to the Ministry of fisheries to support activities of the competent authority inspection services on control of the health standards of fishery products.
The material assistance was formally handed over by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Gambia on behalf of EC to the Ministry of fisheries at a handing over ceremony on Wednesday 6 April, held at the fisheries department in Banjul.
Reacting to what he described as “a wonderful gesture, which symbolises the fruitful cooperation” that exists between the Gambia and EC, Nfamara Dampha, the Director of fisheries said: “The fisheries department is happy to receive these equipments and I will assure you that the materials will be used for the benefit of ensuring that fish and fishery products meet the required standards.”
The objective of providing the equipments is to support the Competent Authority (CA) in The Gambia in order to meet its activities and also addressing the issues of sanitary control of fish and fishery products. It will among other things, enable the CA to improve the control systems in the fish processing chain.
The items donated includes two vehicle, two motor bicycles, IT materials- 4 computers, 2 laptops, printers, fax machines, and some facilities to be worn for safety precaution at sea.
“There is no doubt that the intervention of the SFP programme to assist The Gambia fisheries sector has been very effective,” said Amadou Saine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of fisheries and water resources.
Whilst he assures of continued commitment to ensuring effective sanitary control of the fish and fishery products, he underlined that the materials donated will be put in good use.
World Bank Supports Job Creation Scheme for Gambia
The Gambian government has continued with its onward march of creating job opportunities through various schemes and programmes. Our Banjul correspondent reports the recent World Bank supported scheme launched by the government to create job opportunities for Gambians, especially for those in the agriculture and tourism sectors.
With unemployment being one of the headaches of all governments around the world as the number of the unemployed continues to soar, giving rise to many upheavals in many countries, the Gambian government continues to accelerate its efforts at creating job opportunities for its citizens to ensure a sustainable livelihood for the people.
One of the ways it wants to promote this goal is through the setting up of sectoral projects to strategically tackle the unemployment phenomenon, such as the Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project (GGCP) and the West Africa Agricultural Production Project (WAAPP) launched recently by the country’s president.
The GGCP, financed by the World Bank Group in the Agricultural sector to the tune of $12 million, is designed to promote the government’s growth and job creation agenda, especially in agribusiness and tourism.
The GGCP project seeks to address and contribute further to the development of agriculture through an out-grower scheme, whilst the WAAPP is principally intended to generate and accelerate the adoption of improved technologies in participating countries’ top agricultural commodity priority areas that are aligned with the sub-region’s top agricultural commodity priorities.
The total estimate for the two projects is in the region of US$24 million.
“I have noted with satisfaction, the increased visibility and scope of the [World] Bank Group operations in the country in terms of programming, portfolio size and resource envelop received within the last three years, and we welcome the positive reforms and development taking place at the Bank,” President Yahya Jammeh said at the recent launch of the projects.
In recent years, the World Bank has contributed significantly to building capacities of various institutions in The Gambia, as well as providing the necessary financial support to back up capacity and institutional strengthening.
The World Bank, together with government and key partners, is planning to bring to effectiveness the Budget support project, the Commercial and Agriculture and Value Chain, as well as the Energy Project and Telecom Project (ACE) which is at pre-appraisal stage and due to be implemented in three months’ time.
Agriculture has been the traditional pillar of the Gambian economy, contributing 26.2% of GDP in 2010 compares to 21.6% in 2007, and providing employment and income to the majority of Gambians.
The sector has witnessed a major transformation from traditional small holder subsistence farming to increasing levels of commercial green technology farming.”
However, since agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and having the greatest proportion of the country’s labour force, it needs adequate attention and support to tackle unemployment, food insecurity and poverty.
The GGCP and WAAPP are both timely, since they have been designed to respond and mitigate also the impact of food, fuel, and financial crises that have continued to hit world economies and livelihoods.
“The World Bank is expected to expeditiously finalise the pipeline projects, with full cooperation from government institutions and officials to work closely and actively with the Bank’s officials within the set timelines for the successful completion of the projects,” President Jammeh said.
The Africa Coast to Europe Project, the Budget Support Operations, the Energy Project and the Commercial Agriculture and Value Chain Projects form some of the pipeline projects to be implemented.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to private sector-led growth, President Jammeh says he recognizes the private sector’s role as an engine of growth and, therefore, will work closely with the sector operators through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Regional Integration, and the GCCI, to ensure the business environment is always conducive to facilitate private sector growth, employment creation and poverty reduction.
In many facets of the business corridor, government works closely with the GCCI by mandating it to act as intermediary between government and the private sector; thus creating the avenue for Gambian business operators to thrive at the national and international markets.
This was manifested recently when the GCCI convened a meeting with key business personnel to reach a food matrix point on prices, in order to ensure a level-playing field for consumers and producers.
“The project’s high level objective is to contribute towards sustaining the growth of The Gambian economy and enhancing poverty reduction through private sector-led growth,” Finance Minister Mamburay Njie said.
“Its key expected outcomes are investment climate reforms to reduce the entry barriers and operating costs of businesses, enhance access to finance and private investment flows, and improve business performance, especially for firms in the tourism and hospitality sectors and linkages between small producers and domestic and international market.”
Carlos Cavalcanti, World Bank’s senior economist in The Gambia, made these remarks as regards the project: “We have always said that the state is our biggest partner, and as such, it constitutes the focus of our development intervention, especially in the areas of its financial, social and productive sectors.
“It is therefore imperative that we invest in institutions, systems and sectors that move the development of the country, hence interventions such as the Growth and Competitiveness Project and the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Project.”
He added: “It is truism that agriculture is a dominant economic sector in ECOWAS, but its low productivity seriously erodes the competitiveness of African products on world and domestic markets.
“WAAPP may thus be viewed as part of a larger commitment by the World Bank to assist countries to enhance long-term food availability by providing mix of support for short-term supply responses and sustainable medium and longer-term investments for increased agricultural productivity.”
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Information for our age
The IT Sector in Gambia Experiences Impressive Development
The information technology sector in The Gambia has experienced spectacular and impressive developments during the past years, highlighted Madam Chinwe Dike, UNDP Resident Cordinator, yesterday during the opening of a two-day validation workshop of the ‘Full-blown E-Government Project’, held at the Paradise Suites Hotel.
However, she pointed that this was made possible by the implementation of various innovative initiatives and programs, such as “The enactment of the Information and Communication Act and the Public utilities and regulatory Act”.
She said: “The development and adoption of the National Information Communication Policy; the development of the e-government implementation strategy and Action plan, as well as the integrated financial management information system [IFMIs], and recently the launching of the official government web-portal,” also have been instrumental.
She said after realising the importance of ICT in the socio-economic of the country and the pivotal role E-governement plays in the attainment of the MDGs and PRSP 2, UNDP supported the information communication and technology ministry to implement a project with prioritised interventions in the areas of “the design and development of a government Web portal for the first time in The Gambia, and the upgrading of the ministry LAN [Local Area Network] infrastructure to enhance its leadership and coordinating role in the formulation and implementation of e-government initiatives.
Currently through this UNDP funded project, MOICI [ministry of information communication and infrastructure] staff on Microsoft technologies such as serve 2008, Email Exchange Server, security and sharepoint to enhance the skill sets of MOICI staff to support the Data Centre infrastructure.”
“This project has contributed in assisting government to improve efficiency in its internal government operations and public service delivery. It also allows government to provide for open and transparent processes as well as greater citizen participation and involvement,” she said.
However, the e-government implementation strategy and Action plan served as the basis for the development of the e-government program 2010-2015, and it aims to provide the basis for all government ICT related interventions, with the objective of achieving effectiveness, increased productivity and cost efficiency.
Yankuba Touray who represented the Minister of Information Communication and Infrastructure commended the UNDP for what he described as “paving the way to develop this critical project proposal”. He said under the assistance of the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa [UNECA] and through their active participation last year, they were able to complete the implementation strategy and action plan of the fourth pillar of the National Information and Communication Infrastructure [NICI].
“This document [NICI] discussed general and technical specification of all components that would make up the e-government programme [physical infrastructure and platform, software including applications, human resource and systems and procedures],” he said, but adding that this document ends only with a “shopping list of programs, projects and activities”, hence it could not be used to “sell” programs and projects to donor agencies, because it “lacks the budgetary component”.
The information technology sector in The Gambia has experienced spectacular and impressive developments during the past years, highlighted Madam Chinwe Dike, UNDP Resident Cordinator, yesterday during the opening of a two-day validation workshop of the ‘Full-blown E-Government Project’, held at the Paradise Suites Hotel.
However, she pointed that this was made possible by the implementation of various innovative initiatives and programs, such as “The enactment of the Information and Communication Act and the Public utilities and regulatory Act”.
She said: “The development and adoption of the National Information Communication Policy; the development of the e-government implementation strategy and Action plan, as well as the integrated financial management information system [IFMIs], and recently the launching of the official government web-portal,” also have been instrumental.
She said after realising the importance of ICT in the socio-economic of the country and the pivotal role E-governement plays in the attainment of the MDGs and PRSP 2, UNDP supported the information communication and technology ministry to implement a project with prioritised interventions in the areas of “the design and development of a government Web portal for the first time in The Gambia, and the upgrading of the ministry LAN [Local Area Network] infrastructure to enhance its leadership and coordinating role in the formulation and implementation of e-government initiatives.
Currently through this UNDP funded project, MOICI [ministry of information communication and infrastructure] staff on Microsoft technologies such as serve 2008, Email Exchange Server, security and sharepoint to enhance the skill sets of MOICI staff to support the Data Centre infrastructure.”
“This project has contributed in assisting government to improve efficiency in its internal government operations and public service delivery. It also allows government to provide for open and transparent processes as well as greater citizen participation and involvement,” she said.
However, the e-government implementation strategy and Action plan served as the basis for the development of the e-government program 2010-2015, and it aims to provide the basis for all government ICT related interventions, with the objective of achieving effectiveness, increased productivity and cost efficiency.
Yankuba Touray who represented the Minister of Information Communication and Infrastructure commended the UNDP for what he described as “paving the way to develop this critical project proposal”. He said under the assistance of the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa [UNECA] and through their active participation last year, they were able to complete the implementation strategy and action plan of the fourth pillar of the National Information and Communication Infrastructure [NICI].
“This document [NICI] discussed general and technical specification of all components that would make up the e-government programme [physical infrastructure and platform, software including applications, human resource and systems and procedures],” he said, but adding that this document ends only with a “shopping list of programs, projects and activities”, hence it could not be used to “sell” programs and projects to donor agencies, because it “lacks the budgetary component”.
Empowering our Mothers [women]
EGDC Empowers Women Through Economic Opportunities
The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), through its activities in the region has been empowering women by providing technical and financial support to them to start and manage their own business.
“The Gender Centre [EGDC] also provided technical and financial support to women engaged in processing of agriculture products and also facilitated the social and economic integration of the girls and women cured from fistula through the provision of technical and financial support to them to start and manage small businesses,” said, the Director of the Centre, Mrs Aminata Dibba, during an encounter with this reporter.
“But the year was also fulfilling because, in spite of the staffing constraints, the Gender Centre succeeded in strengthening the foundations of achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ECOWAS region. The Centre [ECDC] was able to consolidate its Scholarship of Excellence for Girls programme in all but three member states as well as its programme of support to girls and women suffering from obstetrics fistula.”
According to her, the institution also provides technical support and advisory services to national gender machineries of ECOWAS member states.
“It also assisted some ECOWAS member states with regards to the harmonization of their national gender policies, strategies and programmes and provides support to civil society organisations working in the area of gender development.”
She highlights that her institution also succeeded in providing financial and technical support to other Networks in the Sub-region with the view of these stakeholders setting up their regional secretariats and to begin functioning effectively.
Speaking further on how her institution is empowering women in meeting their goals, she said: “We do a lot of activities with strategic partners in ensuring the advancement of economic advancement of women in the sub-region and the adoption of the ECOWAS Plan of Action on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 in the ECOWAS region.”
“We provide technical advice and support to women entrepreneur programmes. We had an intervention in the area of cross-boarder trade, because women are more involve than men in this act [cross-boarder trade].”
Nafffie Barry, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, also highlights the need for women to renew their impetus in ensuring that their dream for empowerment is realized. “In the sub-region, the constraints affecting our women to gain their rightful positions or enhance their economic empowerment, have now injected a renewed impetus and an opportunity for us to revisit our position, thus ensuring that our collective interest to empower women are vigorously pursued.”
She noted that the complete implementation of EGDC’s activities would provide economic opportunities and assist women and girls to meet their developmental aspiration.
She added that the establishment of a Committee to assist the Centre on its work to advocate and lobby on issues that affect women and children, peace and security in the sub-region per se would enable women to participate in development activities and to meet their economic and social objectives.
The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), through its activities in the region has been empowering women by providing technical and financial support to them to start and manage their own business.
“The Gender Centre [EGDC] also provided technical and financial support to women engaged in processing of agriculture products and also facilitated the social and economic integration of the girls and women cured from fistula through the provision of technical and financial support to them to start and manage small businesses,” said, the Director of the Centre, Mrs Aminata Dibba, during an encounter with this reporter.
“But the year was also fulfilling because, in spite of the staffing constraints, the Gender Centre succeeded in strengthening the foundations of achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ECOWAS region. The Centre [ECDC] was able to consolidate its Scholarship of Excellence for Girls programme in all but three member states as well as its programme of support to girls and women suffering from obstetrics fistula.”
According to her, the institution also provides technical support and advisory services to national gender machineries of ECOWAS member states.
“It also assisted some ECOWAS member states with regards to the harmonization of their national gender policies, strategies and programmes and provides support to civil society organisations working in the area of gender development.”
She highlights that her institution also succeeded in providing financial and technical support to other Networks in the Sub-region with the view of these stakeholders setting up their regional secretariats and to begin functioning effectively.
Speaking further on how her institution is empowering women in meeting their goals, she said: “We do a lot of activities with strategic partners in ensuring the advancement of economic advancement of women in the sub-region and the adoption of the ECOWAS Plan of Action on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 in the ECOWAS region.”
“We provide technical advice and support to women entrepreneur programmes. We had an intervention in the area of cross-boarder trade, because women are more involve than men in this act [cross-boarder trade].”
Nafffie Barry, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, also highlights the need for women to renew their impetus in ensuring that their dream for empowerment is realized. “In the sub-region, the constraints affecting our women to gain their rightful positions or enhance their economic empowerment, have now injected a renewed impetus and an opportunity for us to revisit our position, thus ensuring that our collective interest to empower women are vigorously pursued.”
She noted that the complete implementation of EGDC’s activities would provide economic opportunities and assist women and girls to meet their developmental aspiration.
She added that the establishment of a Committee to assist the Centre on its work to advocate and lobby on issues that affect women and children, peace and security in the sub-region per se would enable women to participate in development activities and to meet their economic and social objectives.
$24 million- Project to Heighten Gambia's Economy
After the launching of the GGCP and WAAPP by the Head of State, Amat JENG looks back at how the projects will provide the necessary financing for change management in key public sector institutions, as well as the advantages the projects have on the socio-economic development of the country.
The launching of the Gambia Growth and Competiveness Project (GGCP) at a tone of US$12 million, and the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme also at the tone of US$12 million respectively, could not have come a better time than now, considering that they both have been designed to respond and mitigate the impact on the fuel, food and financial crises, particularly for small economies like The Gambia.
Already, the fuel and financial crises have remained unabated and, in addition to the challenges of climate change, they present a strong case for increased attention to these economies in order to build the required capacities to contain them and weather the storm.
GGCP seeks among other things to address and contribute further to the development of agriculture through and out-grower scheme. This scheme will be in two phases, the first, which spans year one to four, is to test and develop the establishment of a “commercial mango farming system in partnership with one or more private investor in order to produce a consistent volume and quality of new and existing mango varieties targeted for fresh fruit export market”. As well as supporting private investments in processing secondary and tertiary quality produce for domestic and export markets. Phase 2, which will run from year four to five, would competently strengthen the capacity of small holder farmers and link them to the international market supply chain, particularly for exporting premium grade mangoes.
“That Phase two will also support the establishment of a primary and secondary processing facilities for pulping, freezing and drying and that the pulping and freezing processes will result in the much needed production of high quality ingredients for the year round generation of fresh juices, concentrates and other products for both the international and local market, the project justifiably raises expectations very high,” said President Jammeh, adding that the drying component will happily enable the supply of dried mangoes for production of confectionery and other food products. “Indeed, we welcome the development of the processing facilities for not only the enhancement of adding value to our products, but also increasing further employment opportunities.”
However, there is cause for optimism, as the WAAPP is principally intended to generate and accelerate the adoption of improved technologies in the participating countries’ top agricultural commodity priority areas that are aligned with the sub-region’s top agricultural commodity priorities, as outlined in the ECOWAP.
President Jammeh, in his remarks also challenges that it is intriguing to note that this project constitutes part of the 1st Phase of the program, and therefore consist of “enabling conditions for sub-regional cooperation in generation, dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies; strengthening of the agricultural research system in West Africa; funding of demand-driven technology generation and adoption; facilitating access to improved genetic material; and project coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.” WAAP is a substantial project, as it will attract an investment of US$13 million to be funded through the International Development Associate (IDA) grant of US$7.0 million and a Food Crisis Response Core Trust Grant of US$5.0 million.
WAAP is viewed as part of a larger commitment by the WB to assist countries to enhance long-term food availability by providing a mix of support for short-term supply responses and sustainable medium and long-term investments for increased agricultural productivity.
As regards his initiative for women empowerment, President challenged the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to focus more attention on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs), saying “particularly women entrepreneurs who are undeniably major players in the informal economy”.
Through private sector-led growth, the project would contribute towards sustaining the growth of the country’s economy. The project interventions have the potential for very favorable social outcomes including employment generation and poverty reduction.
The Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Mamburay Njie explains how it will contribute to significant achievements of key national development and programme: “The matching grant scheme will enhance business productivity and growth leading to increased jobs, skills and incomes for workers. The horticulture out-growers scheme is expected to have a direct impact on farming household incomes and poverty levels, shifting farmers from subsistence agriculture to more market-oriented farming through which social and economic opportunities can be expanded. The pilot tourism investment projects planned, designed and implemented through good practice models of public-private partnership could also lead to direct socio-economic benefit for adjacent communities and minimize environmental impacts and disruption of communities.”
javascript:void(0)
“Under the project [GGCP], we expect The Gambia to, amongst other initiatives, further develop, add value, and expand its seed improvement, certification, and multiplication programs, as its comparative advantage, so that it will emerge as the certified seeds supplier of the region, which has a large market,” Carlos Cavar Canti, World Bank senior economist on Gambia, said.
The launching of the Gambia Growth and Competiveness Project (GGCP) at a tone of US$12 million, and the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme also at the tone of US$12 million respectively, could not have come a better time than now, considering that they both have been designed to respond and mitigate the impact on the fuel, food and financial crises, particularly for small economies like The Gambia.
Already, the fuel and financial crises have remained unabated and, in addition to the challenges of climate change, they present a strong case for increased attention to these economies in order to build the required capacities to contain them and weather the storm.
GGCP seeks among other things to address and contribute further to the development of agriculture through and out-grower scheme. This scheme will be in two phases, the first, which spans year one to four, is to test and develop the establishment of a “commercial mango farming system in partnership with one or more private investor in order to produce a consistent volume and quality of new and existing mango varieties targeted for fresh fruit export market”. As well as supporting private investments in processing secondary and tertiary quality produce for domestic and export markets. Phase 2, which will run from year four to five, would competently strengthen the capacity of small holder farmers and link them to the international market supply chain, particularly for exporting premium grade mangoes.
“That Phase two will also support the establishment of a primary and secondary processing facilities for pulping, freezing and drying and that the pulping and freezing processes will result in the much needed production of high quality ingredients for the year round generation of fresh juices, concentrates and other products for both the international and local market, the project justifiably raises expectations very high,” said President Jammeh, adding that the drying component will happily enable the supply of dried mangoes for production of confectionery and other food products. “Indeed, we welcome the development of the processing facilities for not only the enhancement of adding value to our products, but also increasing further employment opportunities.”
However, there is cause for optimism, as the WAAPP is principally intended to generate and accelerate the adoption of improved technologies in the participating countries’ top agricultural commodity priority areas that are aligned with the sub-region’s top agricultural commodity priorities, as outlined in the ECOWAP.
President Jammeh, in his remarks also challenges that it is intriguing to note that this project constitutes part of the 1st Phase of the program, and therefore consist of “enabling conditions for sub-regional cooperation in generation, dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies; strengthening of the agricultural research system in West Africa; funding of demand-driven technology generation and adoption; facilitating access to improved genetic material; and project coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.” WAAP is a substantial project, as it will attract an investment of US$13 million to be funded through the International Development Associate (IDA) grant of US$7.0 million and a Food Crisis Response Core Trust Grant of US$5.0 million.
WAAP is viewed as part of a larger commitment by the WB to assist countries to enhance long-term food availability by providing a mix of support for short-term supply responses and sustainable medium and long-term investments for increased agricultural productivity.
As regards his initiative for women empowerment, President challenged the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to focus more attention on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs), saying “particularly women entrepreneurs who are undeniably major players in the informal economy”.
Through private sector-led growth, the project would contribute towards sustaining the growth of the country’s economy. The project interventions have the potential for very favorable social outcomes including employment generation and poverty reduction.
The Minister for Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Mamburay Njie explains how it will contribute to significant achievements of key national development and programme: “The matching grant scheme will enhance business productivity and growth leading to increased jobs, skills and incomes for workers. The horticulture out-growers scheme is expected to have a direct impact on farming household incomes and poverty levels, shifting farmers from subsistence agriculture to more market-oriented farming through which social and economic opportunities can be expanded. The pilot tourism investment projects planned, designed and implemented through good practice models of public-private partnership could also lead to direct socio-economic benefit for adjacent communities and minimize environmental impacts and disruption of communities.”
javascript:void(0)
“Under the project [GGCP], we expect The Gambia to, amongst other initiatives, further develop, add value, and expand its seed improvement, certification, and multiplication programs, as its comparative advantage, so that it will emerge as the certified seeds supplier of the region, which has a large market,” Carlos Cavar Canti, World Bank senior economist on Gambia, said.
Friday, 4 March 2011
What Next: Democracy or Anarchy?
What Next: Democracy or Anarchy?
As I grew up in inter-states and inter-culture, I nurtured the spirit of curiosity and knowing what is in the basket of an elderly woman. This could not be seen in me with absentia of my interest of the wind of changing blowing across the Middle East that is aimed at bringing cosmetic changes in the political economy of neo-liberal states.
As an observer of events of change, I was not surprise of the event that led to the Tunisian revolution. The Egyptian revolution more akin the Tunisian revolution could not have come a better time than now when the application of neo-liberalism doctrines has failed, paving way for the coming of a blunt force, under the pretentious system of handling power to the ‘Supreme Military Council’.
At this juncture, I must underline my agreement with Dr. Walter Armbrust, a Hourani Fellow and University Lecturer in Modern Middle East Studies at Oxford University, who said: “Social media may have helped organize the kernel of a movement that eventually overthrew Mubarak, but a large element of what got enough people into the streets to finally overwhelm the state security forces was economic grievances that are intrinsic to neo-liberalism.”
Like Dr. Armbrust, I will also observe that these grievances cannot be reduced to grinding poverty, for revolutions are never carried out by the poorest of the poor. It was rather the erosion of a sense that some human spheres should be outside the logic of markets. Mubarak’s Egypt degraded schools and hospitals, and guaranteed grossly inadequate wages, particularly in the ever-expanding private sector. This was what turned hundreds of dedicated activists into millions of determined protestors.
Armbrust observed that if the spell does not work, it is not the fault of the magic, but rather the fault of the shaman who performed the spell. In other words, the logic could be that “it was not neoliberalism that ruined Mubarak’s Egypt, but the faulty application of neoliberalism”. The concept as defined by David Harvey, a social geographer "Is a theory of political economic practices that proposes that human well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms and skills within an institutional framework characterized by strong private property rights, free markets, and free trade." On the sides of Egyptian failed Mubarak, the application of the doctrines of neo-liberalism failed, resulting in ruining the economy, tourist staying away, redundancy increasing, and 30-year angry men breaking the york of the egg that was rotting in the egg’s shell.
Now that Mubarak’s gone, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is no more, Botelfleka nerves are burning, defiant Gaddafi’sregime is in the brink of abating, what will become of the angry mob in the streets of the Arab-World?
What will become of the future of these young reformists? This sent a crystal message to totalitarian rulers around the world that education and awareness couple with the economic factors have contributed to changing the political and social thinking of the youth.
I once heard Brig. General Yakubu Drammeh, former Deputy Chief of defense staff of The Gambia says: “Democracy without development is meaningless, development without democracy is unsustainable”.
On the Doha debate on Aljazeera, I listened to one political commentator who said: “What the people need is not assets or monies, but freedom [freedom of speech and freedom of expression].”
For decades intellectuals in the Middle East and the Africa have been whitewashed by the so-called democrats, who only painted the Greek word with inks on papers.
Bob Marley says: “You can fool some people, but you cannot fool everybody at once.” What we have been seeing in the Middle East, I repeated saying every day, ‘is a paradigm of political changes that swept the whole of Africa when the movement to emancipate African intellects from intellectual slavery was fiercely burning. That crusade could be viewed by many as a microcosm of hope that came to liberate masses.
It’s high time for young African intellects living in grinding poverty, amid rabid governments who practice not what they preach, to say ‘liberate us from intellectual slavery or we liberate you from the wheel chair’. BUT, whenever my mind conceives this, I used to remind myself of my grandmother’s adage that ‘the hare you live with is better than the one that lives miles away from you.’ She qualifies this saying by adding that: “If the one you live with wants to devour you, it never goes directly, rather it takes hesitant steps before doing that; but the one that doesn’t know you, lambastes you and wait for your grandma.”
Now coming back to my heading; democracy or anarchy? What I am trying to say here is, if people should depose {overthrow} their leaders and expect a democratic one; and on the contrary, the coming ones become worst as in ‘Animal Farm’ by George Owell, what would become of the future. Egypt is faced with leadership problem for now, so is Tunisia. The road to democracy is either obvious or anarchy will rule.
End
As I grew up in inter-states and inter-culture, I nurtured the spirit of curiosity and knowing what is in the basket of an elderly woman. This could not be seen in me with absentia of my interest of the wind of changing blowing across the Middle East that is aimed at bringing cosmetic changes in the political economy of neo-liberal states.
As an observer of events of change, I was not surprise of the event that led to the Tunisian revolution. The Egyptian revolution more akin the Tunisian revolution could not have come a better time than now when the application of neo-liberalism doctrines has failed, paving way for the coming of a blunt force, under the pretentious system of handling power to the ‘Supreme Military Council’.
At this juncture, I must underline my agreement with Dr. Walter Armbrust, a Hourani Fellow and University Lecturer in Modern Middle East Studies at Oxford University, who said: “Social media may have helped organize the kernel of a movement that eventually overthrew Mubarak, but a large element of what got enough people into the streets to finally overwhelm the state security forces was economic grievances that are intrinsic to neo-liberalism.”
Like Dr. Armbrust, I will also observe that these grievances cannot be reduced to grinding poverty, for revolutions are never carried out by the poorest of the poor. It was rather the erosion of a sense that some human spheres should be outside the logic of markets. Mubarak’s Egypt degraded schools and hospitals, and guaranteed grossly inadequate wages, particularly in the ever-expanding private sector. This was what turned hundreds of dedicated activists into millions of determined protestors.
Armbrust observed that if the spell does not work, it is not the fault of the magic, but rather the fault of the shaman who performed the spell. In other words, the logic could be that “it was not neoliberalism that ruined Mubarak’s Egypt, but the faulty application of neoliberalism”. The concept as defined by David Harvey, a social geographer "Is a theory of political economic practices that proposes that human well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms and skills within an institutional framework characterized by strong private property rights, free markets, and free trade." On the sides of Egyptian failed Mubarak, the application of the doctrines of neo-liberalism failed, resulting in ruining the economy, tourist staying away, redundancy increasing, and 30-year angry men breaking the york of the egg that was rotting in the egg’s shell.
Now that Mubarak’s gone, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is no more, Botelfleka nerves are burning, defiant Gaddafi’sregime is in the brink of abating, what will become of the angry mob in the streets of the Arab-World?
What will become of the future of these young reformists? This sent a crystal message to totalitarian rulers around the world that education and awareness couple with the economic factors have contributed to changing the political and social thinking of the youth.
I once heard Brig. General Yakubu Drammeh, former Deputy Chief of defense staff of The Gambia says: “Democracy without development is meaningless, development without democracy is unsustainable”.
On the Doha debate on Aljazeera, I listened to one political commentator who said: “What the people need is not assets or monies, but freedom [freedom of speech and freedom of expression].”
For decades intellectuals in the Middle East and the Africa have been whitewashed by the so-called democrats, who only painted the Greek word with inks on papers.
Bob Marley says: “You can fool some people, but you cannot fool everybody at once.” What we have been seeing in the Middle East, I repeated saying every day, ‘is a paradigm of political changes that swept the whole of Africa when the movement to emancipate African intellects from intellectual slavery was fiercely burning. That crusade could be viewed by many as a microcosm of hope that came to liberate masses.
It’s high time for young African intellects living in grinding poverty, amid rabid governments who practice not what they preach, to say ‘liberate us from intellectual slavery or we liberate you from the wheel chair’. BUT, whenever my mind conceives this, I used to remind myself of my grandmother’s adage that ‘the hare you live with is better than the one that lives miles away from you.’ She qualifies this saying by adding that: “If the one you live with wants to devour you, it never goes directly, rather it takes hesitant steps before doing that; but the one that doesn’t know you, lambastes you and wait for your grandma.”
Now coming back to my heading; democracy or anarchy? What I am trying to say here is, if people should depose {overthrow} their leaders and expect a democratic one; and on the contrary, the coming ones become worst as in ‘Animal Farm’ by George Owell, what would become of the future. Egypt is faced with leadership problem for now, so is Tunisia. The road to democracy is either obvious or anarchy will rule.
End
Friday, 25 February 2011
A defiant Mafia
Ivory Coast Gbagbo Seizes four international Banks
A spokesman for Ivory Coast's incumbent leader who refuses to cede power says Laurent Gbagbo's government has seized four major international banks that had shut down operations in the West African country.
Gbagbo government spokesman Ahoua Don Mello read a decree on state TV late Thursday saying that the banks did not respect the law and closed without proper notice. According to Ivorian law banks have to give three months’ notice.
He said they had seized Britain's Standard Chartered, France's BNP-Paribas and Societe Generale along with U.S. bank Citibank. These banks hold a majority of the bank accounts for civil servants.
Don Mello said that Gbagbo's government would nationalize the banks and would pay February salaries. The banks closed because of financial sanctions from the international community intended to force Gbagbo out.
In another development it is reported that Laurent Gbagbo’s government in Ivory Coast continues to take money from the country’s central bank account, more than three weeks after the bank said it would only recognize requests from the rival administration of Alassane Ouattara.
Our government is withdrawing money on a daily basis,” Ahoua Don Mello, an adviser to Gbagbo, said by phone today.
The withdrawals have frustrated Ouattara, who was hoping that Gbagbo would lose the support of the military if he was no longer able to pay their wages. Ouattara, the internationally- recognized winner of the Nov. 28 election, remains holed up in the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, protected by United Nations peacekeepers and surrounded by soldiers.
Ouattara called for a national strike tomorrow to force 65- year-old Gbagbo, who has ruled the world’s top cocoa producer for a decade, to step down.
Ouattara, 69, was declared winner of November’s vote by the electoral commission. The victory was overturned by Ivory Coast’s Constitutional Council, with cited fraud in parts of the country’s north, and gave victory to Gbagbo.
The call for strike action comes as Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga plans to meet with Ouattara and Gbagbo in Abidjan, the commercial capital, today, according to a statement from his office in Nairobi.
‘Will of Ivorians’
“The only way forward to a peaceful Cote d’Ivoire lies in respecting the will of Ivorians as expressed in the outcome of the November elections which were certified as free and fair by the United Nations and other independent organizations,” said Odinga, the African Union’s envoy in the conflict. It will be his second attempt to find a resolution to the standoff.
The Senegal-based regional central bank said on Dec. 23 that it recognized Ouattara as president elect and that only people authorized by him would be allowed to make withdrawals.
Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara, said “non- authorized representatives” have withdrawn money amounting to 70 billion CFA francs ($141.8 million) since then, according to an e-mailed statement Jan. 14. Don Mello declined to confirm the figure.
Marie-Laure Digbe, spokeswoman for the bank, was not immediately available to comment, according to a person who answered the phone at her office and declined to give her name.
Eurobond
While Gbagbo continues to defy the central bank ruling, he doesn’t plan to use the funds to make a missed interest payment on Ivory Coast’s Eurobonds until creditors recognize him as winner of the election, Don Mello said.
“We did our part of the job, and pledged to pay” the $29 million payment that was due on Dec. 31, Don Mello said. “It is now the turn of the lenders to do theirs.”
The bonds declined 0.3 percent to 37.625 cents on the dollar as of 2:56 p.m. in Abidjan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That drove the yield on the 2.5 percent debt due 2032 up 4.9 basis points to 16.893 percent. Gbagbo will invite creditors to the nation to discuss the terms of the coupon payment, Don Mello said.
Cocoa prices climbed for the fifth day in six, adding $67, or 2.3 percent, to $3,019 per metric ton at 2:47 p.m. in London trading today, the highest since Dec. 31.
A 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the Abidjan districts of Abobo and Anyama was extended to Jan. 22, according to a decree read on state television on Jan. 15. Clashes between pro-Gbagbo security forces and residents of the areas, which voted in favor of Ouattara, have left 11 people dead, including seven policemen, the UN said last week.
A spokesman for Ivory Coast's incumbent leader who refuses to cede power says Laurent Gbagbo's government has seized four major international banks that had shut down operations in the West African country.
Gbagbo government spokesman Ahoua Don Mello read a decree on state TV late Thursday saying that the banks did not respect the law and closed without proper notice. According to Ivorian law banks have to give three months’ notice.
He said they had seized Britain's Standard Chartered, France's BNP-Paribas and Societe Generale along with U.S. bank Citibank. These banks hold a majority of the bank accounts for civil servants.
Don Mello said that Gbagbo's government would nationalize the banks and would pay February salaries. The banks closed because of financial sanctions from the international community intended to force Gbagbo out.
In another development it is reported that Laurent Gbagbo’s government in Ivory Coast continues to take money from the country’s central bank account, more than three weeks after the bank said it would only recognize requests from the rival administration of Alassane Ouattara.
Our government is withdrawing money on a daily basis,” Ahoua Don Mello, an adviser to Gbagbo, said by phone today.
The withdrawals have frustrated Ouattara, who was hoping that Gbagbo would lose the support of the military if he was no longer able to pay their wages. Ouattara, the internationally- recognized winner of the Nov. 28 election, remains holed up in the Golf Hotel in Abidjan, protected by United Nations peacekeepers and surrounded by soldiers.
Ouattara called for a national strike tomorrow to force 65- year-old Gbagbo, who has ruled the world’s top cocoa producer for a decade, to step down.
Ouattara, 69, was declared winner of November’s vote by the electoral commission. The victory was overturned by Ivory Coast’s Constitutional Council, with cited fraud in parts of the country’s north, and gave victory to Gbagbo.
The call for strike action comes as Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga plans to meet with Ouattara and Gbagbo in Abidjan, the commercial capital, today, according to a statement from his office in Nairobi.
‘Will of Ivorians’
“The only way forward to a peaceful Cote d’Ivoire lies in respecting the will of Ivorians as expressed in the outcome of the November elections which were certified as free and fair by the United Nations and other independent organizations,” said Odinga, the African Union’s envoy in the conflict. It will be his second attempt to find a resolution to the standoff.
The Senegal-based regional central bank said on Dec. 23 that it recognized Ouattara as president elect and that only people authorized by him would be allowed to make withdrawals.
Patrick Achi, a spokesman for Ouattara, said “non- authorized representatives” have withdrawn money amounting to 70 billion CFA francs ($141.8 million) since then, according to an e-mailed statement Jan. 14. Don Mello declined to confirm the figure.
Marie-Laure Digbe, spokeswoman for the bank, was not immediately available to comment, according to a person who answered the phone at her office and declined to give her name.
Eurobond
While Gbagbo continues to defy the central bank ruling, he doesn’t plan to use the funds to make a missed interest payment on Ivory Coast’s Eurobonds until creditors recognize him as winner of the election, Don Mello said.
“We did our part of the job, and pledged to pay” the $29 million payment that was due on Dec. 31, Don Mello said. “It is now the turn of the lenders to do theirs.”
The bonds declined 0.3 percent to 37.625 cents on the dollar as of 2:56 p.m. in Abidjan, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That drove the yield on the 2.5 percent debt due 2032 up 4.9 basis points to 16.893 percent. Gbagbo will invite creditors to the nation to discuss the terms of the coupon payment, Don Mello said.
Cocoa prices climbed for the fifth day in six, adding $67, or 2.3 percent, to $3,019 per metric ton at 2:47 p.m. in London trading today, the highest since Dec. 31.
A 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the Abidjan districts of Abobo and Anyama was extended to Jan. 22, according to a decree read on state television on Jan. 15. Clashes between pro-Gbagbo security forces and residents of the areas, which voted in favor of Ouattara, have left 11 people dead, including seven policemen, the UN said last week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)