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Showing posts from October, 2023

Prestigious American Weekly The Nation publishes interview with Cuban President

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  "The whole world knows about Cuba's humanist vocation and how we contribute to peace. We do not send soldiers anywhere, we send doctors,” said President Miguel Díaz-Canel in an interview published by the prestigious American weekly The Nation.   Díaz-Canel pointed out, however, that Washington included Cuba on a false list of countries that support terrorism, which has further worsened the blockade that we have experienced since we were born, he assured.   The Nation, founded in 1865, spoke exclusively with the Cuban president during his recent visit to New York, on the occasion of the High-Level segment of the 78th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly.   I thank you for allowing me to address the US public, especially the millions of Latinos and Cubans who live in this country, said Díaz-Canel, who also spoke about the future of socialism, economic difficulties and commitment to his people.   “For example, my generation, that of the 60s,

African Solidarity Fund vows to support Gambia's economic transformation

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Author: Pa Modou Cham Following the Gambia's accession to the African Solidarity Fund (ASF) in June 2023, the mission is currently in the country for a seven-day visit to interact with different stakeholders in the private and government sectors on how to provide various financial guarantee products to enable access to finance. The African Solidarity Fund (ASF) is a multilateral, financial guarantee institution and its purpose is to contribute to the economic and social development of its regional member states by facilitating access to credit for states and public and private enterprises in its area of operation, to finance productive investment projects, and to mobilize local and external savings, in particular by providing loan guarantees on the financial markets. In a briefing held at the Ministry of Finance at Banjul, Abdoulie Jallow, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance told journalists that ASF visits to support both sovereign and nonsovereign operations while addi

Cuba proposes actions to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Havana- (Agencias) - The Foreign Minister of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez, reiterated his country's invariable solidarity with the Palestinian cause and proposed several actions for a broad, fair and lasting solution to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. In a press conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that this solution requires, inexorably the exercise of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to build their own independent and sovereign State within the pre-1967 borders and with its capital in East Jerusalem. He stressed that this position has been the historical one within the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China, a bloc of which the Caribbean nation holds the pro-tempo presidency. " Every moment of impunity, inaction, passivity, double standards or silence will cost more innocent lives. We must act immediately,” stressed the head of Cuban diplomacy. In this context, he pointed out that the Cuban Ministry of

Vice Chancellor Fanneh calls on Minister Gomez

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New Euclid University Vice Chancellor Pr. Momodou Mustapha Fanneh, on Monday 23rd October 2023, paid a courtesy call to Prof. Pierre Gomez, the Minister of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology (MoHERST)  and its Permanent Secretary Dr. Yusupha Touray.  During the meeting, Pr. Fanneh briefed Minister Gomez about Euclid University's planned graduation event slated to take place in The Gambia on Wednesday, 29th November 2023 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. He noted that students and diplomats from various countries around the world will be travelling to The Gambia to attend and graduate in different fields. The graduation is part of events to celebrate 10 years of Euclid University in The Gambia.  Pr. Fanneh and his team from Euclid University were warmly welcomed by the MoHERST Minister who expressed his delight and readiness to warmly welcome and host the Euclid University visiting delegation to The Gambia.    

NACCUG holds 2023 conference for credit union managers, volunteers

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  Author: Pa Modou Cham The National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of The Gambia (NACCUG), over the weekend, held its third edition of the Credit Union Managers’ and Volunteers’ conference to raise awareness about NACCUG and the credit union movement in the country. The conference held at the NACCUG conference hall in Kanifing was been facilitated by industry experts and graced by partners, central bank representatives and other high-profile dignitaries. The theme for the year’s conference focuses on “Financial Cooperative Harnessing Resources to Promote Economic Resilience in Communities”.   Foday Sanyang, General Manager of NACCUG told this medium that they had over 32 credit unions who participated with 114 participants all across the country. He added that before the conference, the participants underwent a two-day workshop to discuss pertinent topics in risk management, Data Management, privacy, and security.   “These are issues that credit unions felt impor

MCC partners with Gambia on electricity improvement, river & education

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Author: Pa Modou Cham The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has partnered with the Government of The Gambia to improve the unreliable and inadequate supply of energy and improve the investment opportunities to reduce poverty through the areas of education, transport and eco-tourism along the river Gambia. The MCC is an independent United States (US) government development agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth. MCC was created in 2004 to provide time-limited grants that pair investments in infrastructure with policy and institutional reforms to countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance, fighting corruption and respecting democratic rights. In November 2021, MCC and the Gambia government signed a threshold program which provides 25 million US dollars to address the country’s biggest challenge to economic growth. In December 2022, the MCC board of directors selected The Gambia as eligible to also develop a compact, MCC’s five-year grant prog

Dr. Badjie launches ‘Life as a Hyphen’ book

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  Author: Pa Modou Cham As there are numerous ways that books influence our lives and give us insight into how other people live, Dr. Ismail D. Badjie, recently launched his new book titled ‘Life as a Hyphen’, a book that influences our thoughts on social issues. Dr. Badjie, an influential writer graduated his high school at The Gambia Senior Secondary in 2003 before vacating for his medical undergraduate studies at Tennessee State University in the United States of America is a medical expert and entrepreneur who is currently investing in the country’s health sector.   Dwelling on his impulse to write this book, Dr. Badjie explained that as a grown-up, he acknowledged the journey of self-exploration that happened in his late 20s ranging from spirituality, health, relationships, and lots of dogmas that he thinks individuals need to have a prospect to challenge lots of beliefs what were installed in them at a very young age. He said: “Once my daughter, Isha Haddy was born, I

Over 43 Senegambian stakeholders meet on sole tongue fisheries

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Author: Pa Modou Cham Over 43 fisheries stakeholders from The Gambia and Senegal are currently undergoing training on the terms of reference for the bilateral scientific and technical discussion on sole tongue fisheries. The four-day convergent held at the NaNA conference hall is to improve scientific and local knowledge on sole tongue fisheries in Senegambia in order to sustainably and jointly manage sole resources as per MSC standards. At the end of the convergent, the participants are expected to produce a report on the capitalisation of knowledge and initiatives on the management of sole tongue fisheries, inform participants about the MSC and its reference system for assessing artisanal fisheries and produce recommendations for the sustainable management of sole fisheries. Momodou Sidibeh, deputy director of fisheries who represented his director stated that the fisheries sector has a significant pivotal role in the livelihood and prosperity of our coastal communities and t

Gambian eye expert celebrated on World Sight Day

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Author: Pa Modou Cham As the world celebrates World Sight Day under the theme ‘love your eyes at work’, Muhammeh Lamin F Kinteh, operations coordinator at Onsight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (OSELF) celebrated Mustapha A Njie as one of the most brilliant and gifted sons of the Gambia. Njie is one of the few Gambians who are doing amazingly well in the field of eye care internationally and is the Head of OSELF Africa Chapter, a global non-profit making organization which has offices in 27 countries and is bent on eradicating refractive error in our lifetime. “Mustapha`s story of ascending to the highest level of leadership is so inspiring as he is the first and only African to occupy such a position and oversee 12 African countries. Mustapha who graduated from the University of the Gambia led Onesight`s pilot project of sustainable vision care in the Gambia and he succeeded in opening seven vision centers across the Gambia and expanded the project to other African countries like R

Cuba elected member of the UN Human Rights Council

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Cuba will once again join the UN Human Rights Council after obtaining 146 votes in favour in the election this Wednesday called by the 78th General Assembly. After the election of Cuba in that important United Nations body, its Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla affirmed that this constitutes recognition from the world of the humanist work of the Revolution of the Caribbean island. In his account on X (formerly Twitter), he assured us that we will continue on our path towards building a more just society for all. For his part, the general director of Multilateral Affairs and International Law of the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Rodolfo Benítez, expressed the desire to defend within the Council the interests of alliances such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the G77 and China, as well as those of other nations of the Global South. The largest of the Antilles will become a member of that organization for the period 2024-2026 for the sixth time after waiting two years i

Gambia commits to implementing best practices in refugee integration

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  Author: Pa Modou Cham  M r. Seyaka Sonko, Minister of Interior, during the ongoing 74th executive committee (EXCOM) meeting of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, revealed that the Gambia continue to learn and implement best practices in refugee integration in our region. Speaking at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland during the occasion from 9-13october 2023, the minister added that t his was the impetus for their study tour to Guinea Bissau in May 2023, with a view to understand and replicate their commendable integration of former Senegalese refugees. “It is pivotal to underscore the heightened vulnerabilities experienced by specific demographic cohorts, such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, during episodes of forced displacement. In this regard, The Gambia calls for increased support and technical assistance from the UNHCR and its partners for Member States with limited resources, who continue to host these vulnerable groups,

GPU says Gambian President Threatens Press Freedom, Freedom of Expression & Democracy

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Gambia’s President, Adama Barrow, has made a series of remarks that directly threaten the state of press freedom, freedom of expression and the country’s fledgling democracy. On 29 September, while opening his National People’s Party (NPP) bureau in Bansang, Gambia’s Central River Region, South, President Barrow  said:  “If there was no democracy,   Kerr Fatou  wouldn’t have existed. If there was no democracy,  Mengbe Kering  ‘Radio’ would not exist in The Gambia. And all radio stations that criticize the government would not exist either.” Mengbe Kering is not a radio station, it is an online TV platform which hosts a special current affairs talk show by the same name and other programmes. It now forms part of the Home Digital FM and is regularly broadcast on  Facebook . The two media platforms have since condemned the president’s remarks as a  “dangerous attack” . “The president’s intention was to assault our integrity, demonise our professionalism and use that vitriolic rhetoric to

Gambia-Cuba Legislative Friendship Committee rejects terrorist attack, calls for end to US blockade

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The Gambia-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Committee condemned the attack perpetrated on September 24 against the Cuban embassy in Washington and urged the United States to lift the blockade it imposes on the Caribbean island.   In a note sent to the embassy of the largest of the Antilles here, the aforementioned group in the National Assembly of this African country expresses its total rejection of the violent aggression with Molotov cocktails that the diplomatic headquarters of Havana in the capital was targeted.   The text, signed by the president of the Gambian Legislative Friendship Committee, Madi Ceesay, also calls on all peace-loving nations to vote again in favour of the island at the UN so that the US ends the blockade that has maintained it for Six decades.   He adds that Cuba is a peaceful country, rich in human resources, and does everything possible to fully support the least developed in the world.   It concludes that The Gambia has greatly benefited from