By: Amara Thoronka

Making English efficiency a demigod

Speaking good English or being fluent in the international dialect, especially in anglophone African countries, is generally used to measure someone’s intelligence, ability and competence. Using English with a high degree of proficiency is perceived by many Africans as an attainment of high class and prestige in society.

In many English-speaking countries, elementary, high school and university learners who speak good English are mostly rated high and accommodated by tutors over average and poor speakers of the language.

More interestingly, many of those tutors usually order pupils to kneel for long, sweep the floor, stand on one leg, etc as forms of punishment for not being appropriate and proficient in speaking English. On the instruction of teachers, there are sometimes lists prepared by class monitors (class captains) containing the names of pupils who use their mother tongues (indigenous dialects) other than English to communicate in class or within the precincts of their schools.

The adverse effect of overemphasizing English proficiency over practical knowledge

To avoid being judged as not or less intelligent, many students put more attention in cramming grammatical rules and vocabularies to enable them speak well. Research has shown that students who learn a foreign language by only stuffing the rules tend to lack confidence. Instead of speaking freely and confidently, the focus will be on applying the correct rules and there is sometimes a debate in the head as to which expression, word or rule is correct in a given context.

This is also reflective in the labour market. Many employers have complained of hiring people due to their display of mastery in English, only to discover that they can’t deliver on what they claimed to have studied or trained for. Granted that there are deficiencies in practical learning in many developing anglophone African nations, but the overemphasis given to error-free English usage over practical and professional skills acquisition renders many graduate employees practically inefficient in their workplaces.

Intelligence and English proficiency dichotomy

Intelligence and proficiency in a language are two distinct things. English is just like any other language. The only difference is that it is an international language and the most spoken worldwide. It’s called the “queen’s language” because it is originally from The United Kingdom ruled by Queen Elizabeth II.

The intelligence of someone can be tested by his/her ability to do something with merit and excellence, solve complex problems or proffer solutions. Intelligence enables humans to experience and think. Though interrelated, intelligence is also different from learning. Learning refers to the act of retaining facts and information or abilities and being able to recall them for future use, while intelligence is the cognitive and/or ability to perform tasks, solve complex issues and think beyond the box.

The way forward

Teachers and school authorities should consider the English Language as a medium of communication and not a prerequisite of intelligence. Most young innovators and entrepreneurs in the continent are not fluent in English but have used their intellects to solve perennial socioeconomic problems in their communities. Instead of psychologically coercing learners to be efficient and fluent in using English, learning authorities should primarily focus on providing the enabling environments for learners to exhibit their inherent abilities.

The importance of the English Language, at elementary and high school levels, should be limited to communicating and not to prove intelligence. People who want to be specialists in the language should be encouraged to opt for English linguistics and related fields.
There are many great brains in science, innovation, information communication technology, entrepreneurship etc whose inherent dreams have been killed in schools all in the name of prioritizing English proficiency over their burning desires to be creative in solving the challenges of society.

Fields like journalism, teaching, linguistics/interpretation and a few more need mastery in the language. Other fields like engineering, applied science, entrepreneurship and more only need some level of proficiency in English to communicate and nothing else.

Note: This write-up is not in any way, expressly or impliedly, against the English Language. In fact, it is very important for learners to have some level of efficiency in it as it is the political language of the world. The point here is that learning English should not be prioritized over practical abilities.

By XINHUA

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday said that 466 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya in the past week.

“In the period of December 12-18, 466 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya,” IOM said.

So far in 2021, a total of 31,456 migrants, including women and children, have been rescued, while 509 died and 831 went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to the organization.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

River transport services by the Gambia Ports Authority Ferry Services have been restored following Monday’s stoppage.

Technical issues prompted authorities to temporarily halt services but they services are now back up.

The Fatu Network has confirmed the Kunta Kinteh ferry is now available to transport travelers between Banjul and Barra. Kanilai Ferry will be back up on Tuesday.

The Gambia Port Authority ferry Services has announced the temporary halting of ferry services in the country.

The ferry services said in a dispatch on Monday technical issues prompted the move.

The dispatch said: “The Ferry Service Management wishes to inform the general public and its esteemed customers that the service between Banjul and Barra is temporarily closed due to some technical issues.

“The technical staff are working to restore the service as soon as possible. During this period, there would be no ferry service on the Banjul Barra route.”

By: Christian Conteh

Few weeks after the 4th December 2021 presidential election, Gambians are already demanding their government take steps to halt the rising food commodity prices and ultimately improve the Gambian economy.

These concerns have come at a time when the country is experiencing a hike in the price of staple food, with the shortage of bread the most recent example. This is not unusual during the festive season.

Fatou Jobe is a petty trader who sells at the popular Serrekunda Market she says the wholesale cost of fish and meat has increased and that has naturally affected the retail cost. As for bread, some bakeries have inflated the price despite a government statement saying the prices remain the same. She called on the government to monitor and ensure traders comply with the state’s directive.

“The government should ensure they enforce their decision to maintain the price of a loaf of bread. As I speak some bakery owners do not adhere to the government instructions even though it is clearly stated in a statement by the government that all prices should remain the same,” Jobe said.

On the campaign trail, President Adama Barrow promised to make The Gambia better for Gambians by ensuring he tackles the high cost of food through investment in agricultural production. A promise Alhaji Sowe recalls.

“I know it is still too early, but we need results and we need them fast. This is the festive season and we do not expect the price of food commodities to shoot up like this,” Sowe lamented.

He urged the government to address this challenge with the urgency it deserves.
Mariama Baldeh is another petty trader who sells bread and other breakfast related items on Kairaba Avenue she says the news of the price increase and the subsequent government reversal of the price has affected her sales.

“I sell different types of stews to be eaten with bread and all my customers are used to the D7 price. The price was then increased and later decreased after government intervention, but the price has remained the same. Government must embark on monitoring its regulations to ensure compliance,” she said.

The Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday announced the arrest of a civilian support staff of the army for allegedly being in possession of prohibited substances.

Amie Ceesay, was apprehended at Banjul, Hald Die on the 17 December 2021 around 19:20 GMT onwards with 17 wraps, one stone and some quantities of suspected cocaine as well as four wraps of suspected heroine, according to DLEAG.

“The suspected cocaine were placed in a black purse while the suspected heroine were hidden in a black handbag,” DLEAG said in their statement.

They said elsewhere: “DLEAG’s Bakau field office also nabbed one Saikou Conteh, an adult male Gambian with two (2) bundles, sixteen (16) parcels and twenty eight (28) wraps of suspected cannabis sativa. He was arrested on the 17 December 2021 around 16:00 hours GMT onwards in Bakau.

“Elsewhere, one Modou Sinyan was clutched by DLEAG’s Serrekunda field office with five (5) parcels of suspected cannabis sativa. He was nabbed on the 16 December 2021 around 11:10 hours GMT onwards.”

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Gambia Taekwondo Association Masters on Friday 17th December held a press conference at Dady Jobe Comprehensive School in Kanifing where they rejected the recently concluded Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) Congress and said it was done in ‘greed’. The event brought together Master’s from different groups taking Taekwondo as a career.

Speaking at the conference Baba Sarr President of the Gambia Taekwondo Association said the recently concluded GNOC congress was done out of greed, whilst expressing his disappointment.

He said the association which was established in 2017 must ensure every leader who should take charge of Taekwondo must have the know-how and experience.
He expressed disappointment at the executive in charge indicating that they have overstayed their tenure.

“Their term in office has expired since November, and they have not brought any development to Taekwondo,” Sarr noted

Adding that, for the past years, “they have not shown any interest in taking Taekwondo to the next level.”

He further stated that the executives have violated the constitution that governs sports in the country.

“We have sent several letters to the executive but they never reply us. They have manipulated the Congress to remain in power. They denied others from participating in the process. We are calling on the National Sports Council to take proactive steps on this issue,” he said.

He further described their act as illegal stating that it has greatly affected Taekwondo in the country.

“After four years in office, they cannot organize even a single competition for the Taekwondo practitioners and they haven’t given certification to any. This is devastating. We want the affairs of Taekwondo to be taken to the next level where our youth will realize their potential. We are not training them to become criminals but to represent the country at the international level,” he said.

Sarr who is a master and instructor said before the establishment of the Association in 2017, the affairs of Taekwondo was handled by three men who were doing a good job.

“These interim executives have done better compared to these executives. They were able to provide 12 Balck Belt certificates to the practitioners. They also succeeded in taking some to represent The Gambia in Azerbaijan. This conference is to alert the executives about our next step if they fail to respect our call,” he said.

Baba Ceesay is Secretary-General of Gambia Taekwondo Association, he said sports is one of the fastest ways to mitigate youth unemployment in the country. He also joined the other speakers at the event to reject the GNOC Congress.

“This is what is affecting sports in the country. We have incompetent people who are running the affairs of sports especially The Gambia National Olympic Committee,” he said.

Mr. Ceesay added that they want the youth who are taking Taekwondo as a career to feel the improvement and its importance.
“We want these people to represent our country at the International level,” Baba Ceesay said.

Other speakers include Babucarr Bobb Taekwondo Instructor, Tijan Colley, President of Confu Federation in The Gambia. They both called on the executives occupying the GNOC to leave the office as their term has expired.

We have contacted the Secretary-General of Gambia National Olympic Council (GNOC), Mr. Babucarr Jallow who said he is no longer a member of the executive, pointing out that the said Congress was done in a free and fair manner.

Former Information Minister Demba Ali Jawo has given his view over UDP losing the 2021 presidential election.

In an OpEd on Sunday, DA Jawo wrote: “Even though there were five candidates who lost against Barrow, but the biggest losers were the UDP and their presidential candidate, Ousainou Darboe. No doubt most UDP supporters were quite devastated by the results because most of them were quite confident of victory.

“Therefore, for not only losing but Darboe scoring less than half of what Barrow scored, came as a big shock and disappointment for them. Most of them are no doubt still wondering what may have gone wrong with their campaign strategy.

“Of course, several things may have gone wrong with their campaign, which of course included over-confidence as well as failure to have an effective campaign strategy, as opposed to the NPP, who no doubt ran a very effective campaign, which eventually paid dividends for them.

“Where has the UDP strategy faltered, one may wonder. UDP is a well-structured party which was expected to perform much better in the elections. However, the very fact that they performed well below everyone’s expectations shows that something was fundamentally wrong with their approach to the elections.”

By Dawda Baldeh

Musa Trawally has arrived at the Denton after spending more than a week walking from Basse to Banjul to meet President Adama Barrow at the State House to congratulate him on his electoral victory.

“I promise myself during the election campaign that when president Barrow win the election, I will walk from Basse to Banjul to celebrate his victory,” Trawally, 30, from Sareh Pirasu told The Fatu Network as he arrived at the Denton Bridge.

According to him, the love he has for President Barrow kept him motivated during a week-long walk from his home in Basse.

“I am very happy that today I’m fulfilling my promise,” he said. Trawally has walked for more than 400 kilometers.

More follows…

The Ethiopian military has regained control of the historic town of Lalibela from Tigrayan rebels.

The move came amid an announcement by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) that it is withdrawing from all areas in the Amhara and Afar regions. The TPLF said it took the decision to clear the way for a peaceful resolution to its conflict with the government.
The conflict has caused a massive humanitarian crisis, with international mediation efforts having so far failed.

It is unclear when the military retook Lalibela, but Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen visited the town, in Amhara, on Sunday.

Lalibela, famous for its rock-hewn churches which date back to the 12th and 13th Centuries, was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1978. The town has changed hands several times since August.

On Saturday, the government said its troops had retaken several other towns as well, including Weldiya. The TPLF has been withdrawing its fighters to its stronghold of Tigray after being forced to abandon its plan to advance on the capital Addis Ababa.

It said the withdrawals were part of “essential modifications” that it was making, though it did not confirm that it had pulled out of Lalibela and Weldiya.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been to the frontlines to lead the fightback against the TPLF. The group had also been hit by airstrikes.
Thousands of people have been killed, millions have been left homeless and nearly 10 million need food aid.

Fighting broke out over a year ago between government troops and the TPLF following a massive fall-out over political reforms introduced by Mr Abiy when he took office in 2018.
The TPLF had dominated the federal government for more than 25 years, and now controls most of Tigray.

Credit: BBC

By Dawda Baldeh

A massive fire broke out at a Latrikunda German home on Saturday destroying four apartments and rendering families homeless.

The morning fire consumed everything and it occurred while the occupants were out on their daily work.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Musa A Trawally a victim of the fire outbreak said the fire has left him devastated.

“I am left with nothing apart from the cloths I wear. I was at the market when my wife called me and informed me that there is fire in the house. I just arrived and the fire was unstoppable,” he said.

He added: “I am a teacher and my salary is very small. All that I worked for in two decades has gone now. Am now a poor man. I am urging everyone who can help me and my family to come to our aid. We are really devastated at the moment.

Fatou Sanneh another victims said: “I have lost everything today and I don’t have anything now. If people do not help us, life will be extremely difficult for us.”

Aminata Jallow on her part said: “I can’t imagine all our struggles for a better living in many months has been destroyed here today. I lost all my teaching and other documents.”

The victims are in desperate need of urgent help. You can contact the following +2203341268/ +2207423035 for help.

Gambia For All has issued a statement over recent developments regarding the 2021 presidential election.

GFA backed UDP for the December 4 poll but the latter lost the election to incumbent President Adama Barrow.

In their statement dated December 18, GFA said: “The election has since come and gone with the official results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission, creating a new reality on the ground, which the Central Committee acknowledged. It congratulated the Gambian people on this one further step on the road to consolidating our democracy and wished President Adama Barrow well as he stands poised to take on his new lease of stewardship.

“Meanwhile, some candidates who had contested the same election, including Mr ANM Ousainu Darboe, have for their part raised concerns over the integrity of the process and warned that they might dispute the polls, a threat which the United Democratic Party for its part has since carried out by filing an action at the Supreme Court by seeking that the court rules on the validity or otherwise of the election.

“On this particular point, the meeting recalled that our party’s position has been that it was only right that, where they found ground for doing so, aggrieved parties sought redress by all lawful means. Flowing from our decision to endorse their candidate for the election, Gambia For All campaigned together, and worked closely, with the United Democratic Party. From that vantage point, we are better placed than most to understand the concerns being aired by that party in the matter; we now wish them good luck in their search for justice.”

Tapha Tine on Sunday won the mouthwatering wresting match with Boy Niang, the first of many heavyweight combats in Senegal in this year’s wrestling season.

Tine and Niang went up against each other but it’s the former who overcame his much smaller opponent.

Tine won by a referee’s decision after Niang was penalized four times for running out of the wrestling ring.

Police have announced the death of Deputy Commissioner Jabang Sonko of Police Finance Department.

A statement said: “The Office of the Inspector General of Police, the entire Management and staff of the Gambia Police Force, regret to announce the sudden demise of Deputy Commissioner Jabang Sonko of Police Finance Department, who passed away today Sunday 19th December 2021 at Brikama.

“This sad news is extended to The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed and Security Services, His Excellency Mr Adama Barrow, Vice President, Her Excellency Dr. Isatou Touray, the Minister of Interior Hon. Yankuba JN Sonko, Service Chiefs, friends and relatives in the Gambia and abroad.

“He will be laid to rest tomorrow Monday the 20th December 2021 at 10:00hrs at Brikama.”

Reuters

League clubs will meet on Monday to discuss disruptions caused by COVID-19, British media reported, after nine scheduled top-flight matches have been postponed due to outbreaks at various teams.

Chelsea and Liverpool had key players missing on Thursday while Tottenham Hotspur, who had 13 cases among players and staff, have not played since Dec. 5 and had three games postponed in all competitions.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard said managers and players will hold their meetings next week after several club bosses called for more clarity on the criteria for postponing games due to COVID-19.

“There are a lot of concerns and a lot of unanswered questions,” Gerrard said before Burnley visited Villa Park on Saturday, one of only five league games going ahead this weekend.

“That’s the reason why the Premier League, on Monday, have put in place an opportunity for the managers to get together. And I’m hoping there will be a lot of clarity that comes off the back of that meeting.

“There is also an opportunity for the captains to get together to speak and have a debate on what is the best thing to do in the current situation.”

The Premier League grants a postponement only if a club has fewer than 14 players available, with the board examining requests case by case.

The league has reintroduced emergency measures after a record 42 COVID-19 infections were recorded in the past week among players and staff.

Gambia’s Ministry of Environment Climatic Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR) has signed a $10M project Agreement that focuses on adaptation, climate risk management, and market access. Targeting the Central River and Upper River Regions of the country.
The five-year grand project is donated by the Adaptation Fund and the implementation will start in March 2022 and end in February 2027.

The objective of the project is to enhance the adaptive capacity of rural populations in The Gambia through support to climate-resilient and diversified livelihoods and the aim is to develop knowledge and awareness to underpin evidence-based resilience building and adaptation activities, particularly for women and youths among other things.

The signing was done at the Ministry’s Kairaba Avenue office. Yasuhiro Tsumura is the WFP Country Director. He expressed delight to be associated with the project saying the project presentation is quite interesting and well designed.

Tsumura indicated that among the components of the project is to strengthen the resilience of the communities and households improving infrastructures against climate shocks and increase the productive capacities despite these shocks.

“The project will also support the mechanism to transfer climate-related risks through weather insurance and it will also develop a knowledge management system and strengthen the evidence base to clearly show the impacts of resilience building and climate adaptation support.”

On his part, Momodou Mbye Jabang, Permanent Secretary at MECCNAR, welcomed what he called a huge development stride. He used the opportunity to thank WFP for the partnership.

The project was approved by the AF Board on 3rd May 2021 and the Board decided to grant WFP the authorisation to manage it and select the executing entities.

“The targeted groups are smallholders’ farmers and other vulnerable rural groups who are already at risk from climate variability and change, with an emphasis on women and youths,” Momodou Mbye Jabang said.

The project is expected to increase the adaptive capacity and resilience of targeted communities through concrete adaptation and diversified livelihoods of about 6,520,390.