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ROSE HAWA MARAH WINS THE MAIDEN SALONE CULTURE ALIVE
Rose Hawa Marah won the first-ever Reality Tv Show “Salone Culture Alive” hosted in Makeni and went home with the Fifty Million Leones Star Prize for being the standard performer throughout the show.
F-PAG: Congress For Change With Essa Jallow, elected president of F-PAG for the next 3 years
Dozens of established filmmakers joined with the National Center for Arts and Culture on Saturday the 5th of November at the hotel school Congress organized by Film Producer’s Association Gambia “F-PAG” to address problems and election of new executives.
The Gambia’s Film Industry has not been evolving as it supposed to be since its inception in the 1960s with the establishment of The Gambia Film Unit in 1967. Film Producers Association of The Gambia, known as F-PAG, was created in 2014 with its primary objective to bring filmmakers together to foster collaboration and accelerate the growth and development of Film Industry in The Gambia.
While more than half of film producers in The Gambia are still striving to survive, Gambia movie industry continues to struggle and out of excitement, many film producers aren’t yet ready to give up.
The Congress was chaired by the Public relations and communications Manager Ousman Kebbeh who welcome everyone and make known of his support for F-PAG. Moment of silence was taken for the Fallen heroes of the organization, Isatou Jallow and Ebou Waggeh after which the floor was given to the outgoing President Zaidy Jallow.
“I am extraordinarily grateful for the unprecedented support from our industry partners and the talented and concerned members of the movie industry ,” FPAG outgoing president Zaidy Jallow said. “The value of their recognition of the unique importance of movie to our communities, culture, and their support before Congress of the unique needs of movie producers in this country cannot be underestimated. It was an honor for me to be given the position, am happy that I was able to extend what I can do for film producers through F-PAG.”
He further emphasize on how film are great unifiers where our nation’s most talented storytellers showcase their cinematic accomplishments. To Zaidy, every aspiring filmmaker, actor, and producer dreams of bringing their art to the silver screen, is an irreplaceable experience that represents the pinnacle of filmmaking achievement in The Gambia. These was later followed by the amendment of the constitution which will guide the actions of the new Executives and F-PAG members.
There was no bipartisan support for the new constitution, which had been set for a vote on Saturday before the Democratic election that follows while talks continue. In contrast there was broad support for the amended constitution that will unlocked alot of help for film makers to get through the 3 years until another amendment or change will be made.
There can be plenty more to come. So maybe it’s too soon to panic over what’s happening and the low ratings of struggles,since new executives are elected, the industry still hopes the leaders are right: The Gambia theater might still need more help.
Questions and answers were encouraged as well as opinions and contributions throughout the Congress. With the proliferation of streaming and other dark options, some have wondered about whether movie production as a will in The Gambia will survive. But proponents — and major contributors and their allies — also point to the profit motive of change and improvement as their main goal.
Nominations was made, and the Elected president Essay Jallow, behind a dozen microphones, he waved to the crowd and took a leap into history as he declared his bid for the Democratic nomination for presidency of the Film Producer’s Association Gambia.
Essa Jallow, the elected president of FPAG made known that, the dramatic language of the plea—“our movies cannot get to be played on TV stations without us being charge or asked to be in percentage” . He couldn’t help but recall a peculiar truth about the movie business. That is, it is usually dying of something. In fact, he made it clear that morbidity is an old habit in The Gambia Movie industry. The trick to get Gambia movies having their ways in the TV stations to him is to know what is really an existential threat and to have that way in all the way through without any hindrances or unnecessary charges will be his first goal.
Yamou Mbaye becoming the first woman to be elected as Vice President of F-PAG said, she feel happy and grateful for the position given and will try all that she can to serve the purpose. For the first time, a woman has been elected Vice President of FPAG, it is an history made and blazed a trail for future generations in the industry to follow.
By Amie T. Camara
Breaking: Afrinity connect live with Adams
On the 6th of July 2020 Mr Wilfried Adams will be doing a special coverage of the Malawi presidential inauguration of His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera president of the republic of Malawi via the platform of Afrinity connect live with Adams
‘Barrow’s government behaves like Jammeh’s
Lamin DF Manneh, a Brufut native living in the UK has indicted the Barrow administration of manipulating people’s properties like former president Yahya Jammeh used to do.
“Given the ‘professional’ background of the current head of state, it is not a surprise land thievery is now on steroids. A cadre of administrators is in great haste to accumulate as much wealth as possible, in as short a period as possible. This is resulting in a feast on Kombo lands – as they embark on ever-more creative ways to future-proof their ill-gotten wealth,” Manneh said in write-up shared with The Standard.
Manneh is in the forefront on the fight to recover several hectares of land allegedly secured by Taf Africa Global without due process in Brufut community ahead of the 2006 AU Summit in Banjul.
“…[T]he current administration displays unfettered materialism, lacks amoral compass, or a sense of care, duty, and responsibility is no longer in doubt. In effect, it is a recycle of the decaying remnants of Jammeh era personalities. Except for half-hearted attempts at cosmetic change, the core has remained intact. No surprises then that there is no difference in either essence or substance between the 2ndand 3rdRepublics [sic]. Thus, like its predecessor, this administration carefully uses a mendacious and cynical cost-benefit analysis on all its dealings with Gambians. This includes which communities to enrage with negligible political cost,” he claimed.
He said the proliferation rise in “estate developers”, the
Burgeoning of “estates”, and their enablement through “crooked administrators and misguided locals”, has bring forward a convergence of necessities for an all-out spanking on custodial lands.
Source___Standard Newspaper
CSO’s ask Barrow not to change the new draft constitution
The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in The Gambia threw their recommendations behind the country’s new draft constitution, saying it expresses the will of the Gambian people.
In a joint declaration, they called on President Adama Barrow to bring forward the draft constitution to lawmakers “unchanged”
“It is incumbent on the current government to take all urgent steps necessary to ensure that the draft Constitution is submitted unaltered to the National Assembly to respect the aspirations of the people,” said the activists in a statement read by John Charles Njie, the chairman of Tango, on behalf of civil society organisations in the country.
‘The Draft Constitution, which was submitted to President Adama Barrow on March 30 and made public a day later, is due to be published in the Gazette on May 30 and put before lawmakers in August before it is subject to a referendum.’
Its popular vote requires the support of 75% turnout of 50% of Gambian voters.
“Whilst not all opinions expressed in the consultative process have been incorporated in the final draft, the civil society believes that the CRC has managed to produce a draft constitution based on the views expressed by the majority of Gambians,” said Njie, chairman of Tango.
“The CRC also accommodated minority views in the interest of serving all citizens. The final draft constitution has appropriately taken on board very progressive provisions from different African Constitutions and has now obtained both local and international acclaim.”
Since the draft constitution was put forward, rumours were widespread that the Gambian leader, Adama Barrow does not support it.
Among the things Barrow is said to be against is that the draft counts his current term as part of the two terms he is permitted to serve as president.
His cabinet is also against the “too much powers” the draft has given the National Assembly and that they are also asking for it not to be mandatory for the president to be in parliament.
Source___The Point
Political Parties Declines Eu’s Call For Gay Rights in The Gambia
A current declaration by the European Union proposing its dedication to protect gay rights in The Gambia has instigated controversy and even critism from Gambians, among them are the political leaders.
The EU has been worried about the prohibition of same-sex marriage in The Gambia.
But last year, the Gambia government affirmedly stated in its submission to the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council Working Group that it has no plans to allow same-sex marriage.
Reacting to the recent EU comments, the Gambia Moral Congress leader, Mai Ahmad Fatty said: “I am aware that respect for fundamental rights constitutes an essential element for EU-Gambia relations. However, our relationship with the EU is first and foremost a partnership. I believe this is an enduring equal partnership founded on respect for each other’s values, not the contrary. It means a mutual relationship in which The Gambia respects European values and Europe also respects Gambian values”. He added
The United Democratic Party spokesperson, Almamy Fanding Taal, said the mindset that cultural values and rights of the people are something that they need to import from the West is a total ignorance.
“I think the EU is just trying to spread values that are completely alien to Gambian ways of doing things. If you look at our criminal code, it was enacted by a colonial parliament in 1933 and it is in that Act that they made homosexuality or what they call ‘sex against the order of nature’, an offense. Of course, our criminal justice system is based on jurisprudence of the United Kingdom who were a colonial master to many countries in Asia and Africa. He explained.
Other parties also refuses to accept Gay marriage in the Gambia, as it is against their culture and insult to their way of life.
Source___Standard Newspaper
Rice farmers impulse gov’t to rescue Jahally-Pacharr
Rice growers at the Jahally-Pacharr rice fields, the famous cultivating centre for rice in The Gambia have make known their sadness over the new government’s absence of interest in addressing the difficulty of Gambian farmers.
‘Jahally-Pacharr is an agricultural rice cultivation project designed for communities in the Central River Region south famous for its tons of output in rice production during the days of the PPP government. Its production sharply dropped under former President Yahya Jammeh who took ownership of the rice fields and brought it to its knees.
But the farmers who said they thought the new government would take the farm seriously felt disappointed becoming unrealistic.’
Ansumana Fatty, aone of the farmers who walked into The Standard offices on Tuesday urges the government to, as a matter of urgency, ‘help them with running water and tractors.’
“We are calling on the government to help us as Gambia cannot continue to live in dreams forever. Enough is enough,” he added.
Fatty said farmers at the Jahal pacharr rice field will execute an enormous campaign against Barrow in the 2021 presidential election if his government fails to address their urgent needs.
“As I speak to you, we don’t even have water to cultivate our rice. We also badly need tractors because we spend D1000 to plough each hectare which is very expensive,” he added.
He said since ex_president Jammeh left office their problems have even triple.
“We are confident that Jahally-Pacharr alone can feed the entire country if the needed capacity is there, but unfortunately this government has done nothing towards addressing the constraints of farmers. We don’t even have water to cultivate our crops talk less of farming materials.”
He said had the government concentrated on one of the country’s largest rice field, “Gambia will soon stop importing rice”.
“We have also written to the Office of the President last February for the Gambian leader to swiftly come to our aid but to avail,” he said.
Source___Standard Newspaper
Police Taken into Custody 52 Boys For Playing Football At Night
Personnel of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) cooperatively with other security operatives have lately arrested fifty-two boys in Banjul for playing football at night.
As said by Mr Sanjally Trawally, the Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health said these security operatives were alerted that there are boys in Banjul who always play football at night. He said when the security personnel went there; they arrested the fifty-two boys.
‘When asked about the whereabouts of these boys, Trawally said he cannot confirm their situation, adding he can’t tell.’
He said the Senegambia Tourist Security Unit (TSU) station personnel along the beachside to survey and mounted checkpoints around the Tourism Development Area to restraint access to only essential workers and also enforce safe distancing.
“Mansakonko Taskforce engaged on routine patrol at markets to ensure non-essential vendors are closed as per the stipulated opening and closure time and engaged them to observe safe spacing and abiding by the Public Emergency Regulations,” he said.
Trawally said the task force has also detained two motorists who were riding with unregistered motorcycles, that they are known to be Senegalese but when they attempted arresting them, both ran away and left their motorcycles at the spot.
“Three communities and eighty-nine households have been sensitized on COVID-19 preventive measures using existing community structures,” he said.
‘Regarding the next steps the Ministry of Health will embark on, Mr Trawally said they will orientate regional Governors and district chiefs on COVID-19.’
Source___Foroyaa
National Assembly Make Known Appointment of Ombudsman
In line with Section 164 (1) of the 1997 Constitution, the National Assembly Make Known the appointment of Mr. Bakary Sanyang as the new Ombudsman.
Putting forward the report of the Public Appointment Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Kebba K Barrow the Chairperson of the Committee said in accordance with Section 164 (1) of the 1997 Constitution, the president is decreed to appoint to the office of Ombudsman in discussion with the public service commission (PSC), subject to corroboration by the National Assembly; that the motion for authentication of the appointment of Mr. Sanyang was tabled by the Vice President on Monday 6th April 2020; that Mr. Sanyang’s appointment by the President is the second nominee for the position of Ombudsman after the Assembly earlier declined the first nominee in December 2019.
Chairperson Barrow said therefore the provision under Section 164 (1) of the 1997 Constitution, curtailed the National Assembly from declining the second nominee for the office of Ombudsman ‘‘subject to the full compliance to the provisions of the Constitution”; that the motion tabled by the Vice President, make it known that the nominee was serving as a public officer as Governor of West Coast Region and that Section 164 (4) provides that a person shall not be qualified to hold the office of Ombudsman or Deputy Ombudsman, if he is a Member of the National Assembly, a Minister or holds another public office.
Chairperson Barrow said on the ground provision, the motion to confirm Mr. Bakary Sanyang as Ombudsman was taken to the Public Appointments Standing Committee of the National Assembly, as per Section 114, for scrutiny and advice; that Standing Order 114 (2) mandates the Committee to see to it and advise or report on all appointments to public office, to be made by the Executive subject to the corroboration by the National Assembly and any other matter therewith.
Source___Foroyaa
‘APP calls for prosecution of corrupt officials’
All People’s Party (APP) has called for the taken into custody and punishment of officials involved in corrupt misconduct at the Ministry of Health.
“At a time of national emergency on covid-19, when every Gambian life is at stake, is it not criminal when some officials of government are engaged in thievery. We believe that those dishonest officials need to be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Health Minister Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh recently give a sparse awareness into the country’s Health Ministry, citing a string of atrocities haopening due to the bad system take back by the current government.
In a feedback sent to this medium and signed by the party interim leader, Alhagie Gumbo Ali Touray said “The APP has been following proceedings of the National Assembly sessions on the extension of the State of Public Emergency on the covid-19 pandemic held on Friday, 15 May 2020.”
The release further added: “Our party is particularly disturbed by revelation of the Minister of Health Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, accusing his own government of rampant malpractices in the usage of public funds meant for the corona pandemic rather than addressing the problem.”
Looking at it in a broder angle, the party said, the revelation is ‘damming, shameful and degrading’ for a government. “It clearly shows the type of wrong leadership, unpatriotic government and how ignorant cronies are derailing Gambia’s road to development.”
The party said: “It is our firm belief that the APP will do things differently and we will never tolerate any abuse of public funds especially in times of a crisis. The APP applauds the minister for bravely coming out to inform Gambian people and we encourage other Gambians to follow this example in order for this nation to root out this scourge of corruption affecting the country.”
Source___The Point
D5 Creation