Thursday, March 28, 2024

President Barrow signs five UN Treaties during UNGA

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New York, 21 September 2017  His Excellency, Adama Barrow made history by being the first Gambian President to sign five United Nations Treaties at once, while attending the 72nd United Nations General Assembly yesterday.       The signed treaties are the, Abolition of the Death Penalty as part of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International Convention on The Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families; the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-Based Investor-State Arbitration and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.    By signing of the Treaties, the New Gambia continues to promote democracy and show the commitment of the state to protect lives of political activists.   This will remove fear and promote rule of law for citizens to express their civil and political rights.  The signing is a commitment of member states of the United Nations to prohibit execution and totally abolish the Death Penalty.     The Gambia is one of the countries with high migration rate but also receives immigrants from other African countries, thus the importance of protecting the dignity of all migrants. It agrees to protect  the human rights of migrant workers and families.      Citizens have been subjected to forced disappearance. It is commendable for The Gambia to agree to prevent forced disappearance defined in international law not only at home but throughout the UN  member states.    Setting international rules for investor-state arbitration is strategic as the world is increasingly dependent on investment for development of communities. Consent to apply the sets of Rules on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration will be is provide mechanism for recording such agreement and shall come into force as of 18th October this year. It intends to minimize criminal acts and economic exploitation.      The Gambia intends to prevent mass destruction of human life and property to promote peaceful co-existence in the world. The signing of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty will strengthen that commitment.       The Gambia will now work to move from signing, to ratification and domestication of the signed treaties, to make them effectively in the country.    Meanwhile, in separate engagements, President Barrow continued to hold meetings and network with his colleagues and the businesses. Wednesday morning along with other invited Heads of States attended a business meeting with Bloomberg at the Plaza Hotel in New York.     President Barrow held a private meeting with the Prime Minister of Belgium, and shook hands with many of his fellow Heads of States attending the UNGA.    In the afternoon, President. Barrow met International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda and team for a briefing on the organization’s work.  She called for support from African countries to understand the Rome Statues as their as member. Madam Bensouda welcomed The Gambia’s withdrawal of its withdrawal from the ICC, which she said was not effective due to the time required for it to come into effect.    On the side lines of the UNGA, the Gambian leader attended the African Union meeting held at the Economic and Social Council hall at the UN.   The theme: Global partnership towards Harnessing the Demographic Dividend in Africa, focus on education and skills development, employment and empowerment of the youth.  He was accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign     The President met several delegates, potential investors and philanthropists who expressed interest to explore the potentials The Gambia offers.      Ms Isatou Jallow, a Gambian lawyer fighting for the rights of disabled people also presented her work to President Barrow. She volunteered to contribute to the review of the bill on people with disabilities and expressed her interest to support the education of children with disabilities.   Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou informed Ms Mallow that proposed bill would be tabled at the National Assembly for enactment. The Minister Ousainou Darboe and Ambassador Momodou Tangara attended the meeting.           In her separate engagement, the First Lady, Fatou Bah-Barrow attended a luncheon and reception held in honour of First Ladies attending the UNGA hosted by America’s First Lady, Mrs Melania Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Ms Sophie Gregory Trudeau respectively.   

Gambia Medical Tourism: A Blessing in Disguise?

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By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Gambian President Adama Barrow announced earlier this week that his government has entered into an agreement with Israeli company International Medical Services to build a €220...

HELLO MR PRESIDENT…Has GPA Decided?

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Development is like a chain. Every link is important; and when one link is weak, it weakens the entire chain. If there is one broken link in...

Gambia: President Barrow Delivers Sunshine and Peaceful Diplomacy at the UN

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In one of the most anticipated speeches of his political career amidst fellow world leaders and a public tuned-in-wait, the Gambian leader delivered a flawless masterclass to...

“I Was Dismissed As MP”– Former NAM Borry Colley

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The former National Assembly Member NAM for Foni Jarrol, Borry Colley has said that he was dismissed as National Assembly member (NAM) by the former President Yahya...

HELLO MR PRESIDENT..I Felt Like Someone Over The Moon

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It will be an understatement to say that I was proud of being a Gambian while I watched you deliver a most brilliant speech at the United...

2 Former State House Commanders, 1 SIS Officer Testify Before The Commission Of Inquiry

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Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Lamin Mendy, former Assistant State Guard Commander and Lieutenant Nuha William Jammeh, former Military Police Commander both testify before the commission of inquiry probing...

Real De Banjul President Sets the Record Straight

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by Alieu Ceesay The president of Real De Banjul Football Club has in the strongest terms refuted claims made by some 'football stakeholders' that The Gambia Football Federation...

“We Were Dealing With A President Who Does Not Reason Like Normal Human Beings”–Former...

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The former Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Mr Amadou Colley has said that the former President Yahya Jammeh who ruled the country with an...

PRESS RELEASE: STATEMENT REGARDING THE NON-ISSUANCE OF ID CARDS

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For Immediate Release    The Minister of the Interior notes the concerns raised by the citizens with  regard to the suspension of the issuance of national ID card documents. The Ministry of Interior has taken a position on these vital national documents that every citizen is entitled to by law, for identification and other important purposes.   The Ministry has concurred with the conclusions and recommendations of the Ministerial Task Force and the Technical Committee to award the contract for the production of biometric national ID cards to an identified competent company and has since informed Cabinet through a cabinet paper.  This Ministry will resume issuing national ID cards as soon as there is a cabinet conclusion on the issue.   Signed  Lamin Njie 

Moroccan envoy meets President Barrow alongside the UNGA

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New York, 18 September 2017      President Adama Barrow said The Gambia’s support to Morocco is to promote African solidarity and to improve relations with The Gambia. He made these remarks during a courtesy call by the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, an envoy of His Majesty, King Muhammad IV, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.      President Barrow recognized the Moroccan support during the political impasse in The Gambia, which he said was an African problem, addressed using an African solution.  He told the diplomat that The Gambia has turned a new page in its history to bring in new laws that would promote  equality and justice. Their discussion also emphasized the importance of security in achieving other development goals.     The Gambian leader congratulated the Moroccan Foreign Minister for his appointment and extended his gratitude to the King of Morocco for building a new office complex for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Gambia, contributing to the infrastructural development of the country.  He called on Morocco to invest in other areas and concluded that through integration they could understand their mutual concerns and work together to further strengthen their cooperation. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita thanked President Barrow for the support The Gambia accorded to Morocco in ECOWAS and at other regional and international forums. He also spoke of the deeply rooted relations between the two countries, saying they wish to take it to a higher level at a time when The Gambia is entering a new phase in its political life.    He promised to expand technical and economic cooperation between Morocco and The Gambia. Minister Bourita informed President Barrow that Morocco would continue to provide support and will increase scholarships from its current figure of 40 to 70 in 2018.      The Gambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Honourable Ousainou Darboe said in an interview that the bilateral and multilateral cooperation span various fields.  Minister Darbo elaborated on how Morocco could support the development process currently ongoing in The Gambia particularly  security reforms, scholarships for training of diplomats and investment opportunities for Moroccan businesses. He emphasised that through robust investments The Gambia could reduce its dependence on aid. Mr. Darboe also revealed that President Barrow will visit the Kingdom of Morocco to further cement ties between the two countries.    End 

Former Tourism Minister Testifies Before Commission Of Inquiry

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The former Minister of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Fatou Mass Jobe Njie, has appeared before the commission of inquiry set up to look into the financial activities...

“I Was Very Helpless”– Former Petroleum Minister

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Mrs Sira Wally Ndow Njie, former Minister of Petroleum has said that she was helpless towards directives given to her by former President Yahya Jammeh. The former Petroleum...

Jaliba Kuyateh Missed Out On Hajj

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By Omar Wally Jaliba Kuyateh, one of Gambia’s greatest musicians couldn’t perform hajj this year .The king of Kora left The Gambia for Germany in August for his...

Pres. Adama Barrow be aware of sycophants and lobbyists and surrogates and selfish supporters

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They delayed and derailed and fooled Jawara only to destroy him! They exalted him like a god and claimed a Gambia without Jawara was inconceivable. In the...

Stakeholders Disgruntled Over Low Tourist Season In Gambia

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By Yunus S Saliu In spite of arguments that the political impasse hampered the last 2016/2017 winter tourism season in destination Gambia, some stakeholders in the industry still...

‘Bleeding Blade’ to premiere September 30

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By Omar Wally BLEEDING BLADE a new Gambian feature film on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) written, produced and distributed by Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu, will premiere in The...

President Barrow Departs Banjul Sunday To Attend The 72nd Session Of The United Nations...

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Fajara, 16 September 2017    His Excellency, Mr. Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The  Gambia will travel to New York to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.    This will be the first time that President Barrow will be participating in the UNGA Summit since coming into office.  This would accord him the opportunity to address the General Assembly and participate in the general debates, while members of his delegation attend other high level sessions.   President Barrow will also meet with Gambians during his visit.     The President and delegation will depart Banjul International Airport tomorrow, Sunday, 17 September 2017 at 10:00 am.  Those invited to see him off are requested to be at the airport half an hour before departure for the usual ceremonies.   

Inconsolable Tallinding Kunjang Road Is an Eyesore

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By Yunus S Saliu One of the places in Greater Banjul Area where people cannot access the road freely to their houses when it rain is Tallinding Kunjang...

Police Officer (Chief Inspector Fakebba Colley) Commits Suicide

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By Omar Wally Chief Inspector Fakebba Colley, attached to Kotu Police Station Mobile Traffic Unite, on Sunday 10 September committed suicide in Kanbenda village in Casamance, Southern Senegal. Inspector...