Scientists at the University of Manchester dispelled the myth on Thursday that people with black skin are largely protected from sun damage.

The skin of white people caused by repeated exposure to the sun also occurs in black skin, though about 50 years later, according to new research.

It has long been known that prolonged exposure to the sun causes premature ageing in the skin of white people, but it has been thought black skinned people are largely protected from sun damage because of a high content of pigment.

The study of people in their early 20s, 60s and 70s is the first to analyse how skin structure and elasticity changes with age in black people.

Lead researcher, Dr Abigail Langton from The University of Manchester, said: “we know repeated exposure to the sun can age white skin, but very little research has been carried out on black people.

“This research shows that black skin is indeed affected by the sun, though it takes far longer for that effect to be felt,’’ she said.

The research was carried out in partnership with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

The team analysed two skin sites: the buttock, which is protected from sun damage and the forearm, which receives regular exposure to the sun.

They used special equipment to test the elasticity of skin and measured key proteins that help skin health, fibrillin and collagen.

Protected black buttock skin performed similarly in both young and old people; the older cohort showed only small differences in elasticity.

However, the sun-exposed forearm skin showed significant changes in older black volunteers; it was much less elastic and fibrillin and collagen were reduced.
Prof. Rachel Watson, from the University of Manchester, said: “our previous work has shown that there are differences in how the skin is organised in black and white skin; clinicians are often unaware of this difference.

“There is certainly a need to take this into account when considering treatment options for all patients.

“Most research is carried out in places where there are fewer people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, which might explain the lack of data on black skin.’’
Watson said the study highlights the need for improved public health advice, regarding the consequences of prolonged sun-exposure and the importance of using sun protection for all skin types.

The study is published in the latest edition of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (Xinhua/NAN)

By Lamin Njie

Madi Jobarteh on Thursday lashed out at the leader of the National Reconciliation Party over his action against a Kerr Fatou journalist.

Hamat Bah during a press conference on Monday delivered an astonishing tirade at Mustapha Darboe after the journalist asked him if it was appropriate for an elected public official to be taking money from people “he is not disclosing who may in fact be terrorists”. Darboe was referencing President Adama Barrow who Hamat Bah works for as tourism minister.

“My friend, my friend Mustapha I think to be honest you have an agenda. And I know you very well more than anybody here. You have an agenda. You want to insinuate that the monies that are given to the President are from terrorists? You have an agenda because what you are saying is bogus, it’s not based on anything. You are just saying your own wish,” Bah, known for his childish histrionics, had said.

Polemical political commentator Madi Jobarteh reacting to Bah’s actions in a Facebook post on Thursday said “the attempt by Hamat Bah to harangue Journalist Mustapha Darboe for merely asking a question constitutes press intimidation that must be condemned.”

“As a Minister, Hamat must be seen defending press freedom & upholding the rule of law & not attack the media for merely doing their job!” Jobarteh said.

World food prices rose in January, buoyed by a rebound in dairy prices and stronger showings for vegetable oils and sugar, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 164.8 points last month against 161.8 in December.

In spite of the rise, the index was still 2.2 per cent below its January 2018 level. The FAO dairy price index jumped 7.2 per cent from December’s value, ending seven months of declines.

FAO said limited export supplies from Europe, caused by strong internal demand, was the main driving force behind the increase.

FAO’s vegetable oil price index rose 4.3 per cent from the previous month, while its sugar index rose 1.3 per cent and its cereal index made marginal gains in December.

The meat price index was largely unchanged. FAO lifted its latest world cereal production forecast for 2018 to 2.611 billion tonnes, slightly higher than the December reading, reflecting upward revisions for maize, wheat and rice.

“Much of the projected growth is associated with expected increases in Europe, where beneficial weather has so far shored up yield prospects while also sowings are forecast to expand, largely driven by attractive prices,” FAO said.

Regardless of the rise in the latest projections, global cereal production is still expected to remain 1.8 per cent below the record high of 2017.(Reuters/NAN)

By Lamin Njie

Gambia government permanent secretaries and planners will on Friday participate in a high level retreat at Sindola Lodge in Foni.

The three-day retreat will discuss a category of issues including the need to build stronger and more strategic working relationships within the senior leadership of the civil service, the Office of the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, ministries, departments and agencies will use the exercise “to present on their activities from 2018, as well as their plans for the current year, 2019.”

“Accordingly, the Permanent Secretaries and Planners’ Retreat is designed to provide a platform for MDA to report on their progress towards the NDP as well as the challenges. Furthermore, it will also be an opportunity to discuss and reflect on important policy and institutional developments which will be taking place this year, and also to take stock of some key challenges facing the government,”

The Office of the President has said that it is perfecting plans to create a new department.

The Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery would support in defining and implementing the president’s strategic vision by working with ministries, departments and agences, a statement from the presidency on Thursday said.

The already existing Policy Analysis Unit will form part of the new department, the statement added.

By Lamin Njie

The leader of the Gambia Action Party has been slammed for saying that homosexuality should not be allowed in The Gambia.

Political newcomer Musa Batchilly during a press conference held over the weekend said “gays and lesbianism are now rampant in the world and even in the Gambia.”

“A GAP government cannot tolerate gays, [in] the territorial jurisdiction of the nation, in this part of the world, Gambia. It is considered inhuman and unreligious,” Mr Batchilly had told journalists. 

A US-based Gambian Momodou Ndow reacting to the GAP leader’s comments asked in a Facebook post that “how long is Gambia going to tolerate idiots who think they have the right to decide how others live their lives?”

By Lamin Njie

Groundnut farmers across the country have called on the government to give them their their money.

Groundnut farmers in The Gambia say the government has procured thousands of tons of their harvest but money is yet to be delivered to them.

“Farmers are still waiting to be paid after their groundnut have already been weighed. It’s really sad to see that the only time farmers can get something to lift themselves with is right now and they still continue to worry about not getting what they worked hard for on time,” Madi Ceesay the President of Mamut Fana Secco (procurement centre) told The Fatu Network.

According to Ceesay, agriculture minister Lamin Dibba last year promised farmers that cash would always be available for farmers whose harvests would be procured by the government.

“He promised us that such a problem of farmers not getting their money won’t happen this year, that the money is already in place to buy our groundnut on time. Hundreds of tons of groundnut has been procured and taken to the different depots across the country. We have not seen any money since mid-January and it’s frustrating” Ceesay said.

Meanwhile a government official told The Fatu Network on Wednesday that the government has poured at least 250 million into the procurement of groundnut so far this year.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow has gone viral on social media after his hat was at the weekend blown off by the wind.

The incident happened on Saturday while the President was reading a statement at the 11th convocation ceremony of the University of The Gambia.

Many Gambians reacting to a 20-second video footage of the wardrobe malfunction on Facebook said it is a bad sign.

Damphodio Dampha, commenting on the video on Facebook, said: “Is an indication that his time is up the same thing that happened to former president jammeh during the campaign is clear indication.”

Abubacarr Ibun Bamba Jobarteh said: “That hat flying from his head was not a good sign, if you know you know.”

Another Facebook user Mavin Barra said: “Well this is not a good sign and according to elders if it happens to president he won’t last long at his position.”

Muhammed L Darboe said: “Jammeh will be the best person to explain the meaning..”

Another Facebook user, Abu Bacarr Daramy, said: “I have never seen a hat protesting against any president in the history of the Gambia it happened in front of the camera because the hat wants us to see the reality.”

Baxzaya D Dazza said: “Even this cap is disappointed about this man, please next time let the innocent cap fly away is not easy.”

Fatimah Bint Mustapha said: “Hat’s are on protests 3yrs is enough.”

By Lamin Njie

Fabakary Tombong Jatta has said that truth commissions anywhere in the world are established out of mass murder and wholesale killing.

The APRC interim leader made this submission on Tuesday during a press conference held by the party in Tallinding.

“What we know of TRRC, Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission is not the first in The Gambia. It had happened in Ghana, it had happened in South Africa, it had happened in Rwanda and many other places. But mostly, first of all, it’s borne out of genocide, mass slaughter of people,” Jatta said.

According to the APRC interim leader, “fortunately, Gambia is a knitted country, a small country.”

“I was telling somebody if you were to knock somebody don’t knock hard because it will go round and come and affect you. For me, our reconciliation should not take the form of a truth and reconciliation style that is punishable because even in South Africa they were not punishing people,” he said.

Jatta said The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission has turned out to be a place “where anybody goes to and say what you like.”

“No challenges and it’s all against one area that’s the APRC and Yahya Jammeh,” Jatta added.

Speaking further, the APRC leader said “if you are to establish the truth, Gambia underwent a lot of challenges.”

“The number of people that died in 1981 is unprecedented – in thousands, mass graves. So what we are saying is, we want Gambia to reconcile. The things that happened cannot be undone. It’s for us to learn lessons and move forward in a positive way,” he said.

By Lamin Njie

Interim leader of opposition APRC Fabakary Tombong Jatta has said The Gambia has moved from the frying pan to the fire by electing to sack the APRC administration and replacing it with the President Adama Barrow government.

Mr Jatta stated this on Tuesday during a press conference held by the party in Tallinding.

He said: “We no longer hear about Barrow’s Jato, Barrow’s pepper, Barrow’s this. We no longer hear about those things. People are now thinking about their heads, thinking about what to consume. These are the facts of life.

“Criminality is rampant. Burglary, killings at all levels of our society. Go to the provinces, herds of cattle are just moved out [sic]. That’s The Gambia we are in today. And we as a party, is only Allah who assigns leadership. We agree but we believe that we as a country we are from the frying pan to the fire.”

Jatta also said that there is a campaign of witch hunt that has been perfected against APRC and former president Yahya Jammeh.

“President Jammeh’s herds of cattle were sold here. We don’t know what happened to it. Nobody is questioning it. I understand people were here, selling his properties to business tycoons from Egypt and other places,” he said.

“Look, governments come and go. If the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were fair enough, why from 1994? Why not the 1981 coup? There was an attempted coup here in 1981 and so many Gambians lost their lives. So many was in detention and even some died. Is it a witch hunt for the APRC?

Seedy Njie has called for the resignation of the president of the Gambia Bar Association.

The Gambia Bar Association president Rachael Mendy on Sunday sparked off controversy over her statement that President Barrow Youths for National Development was set up on one person’s agenda.

Former information minister Seedy Njie on Tuesday joined at least one senior Gambia government official Hamat Bah who have frowned at the Bar Association.

Njie said in a statement made available to The Fatu Network: “The statement of the Gambia Bar Association President on the occasion of the legal year with regard to President Barrow Youth for National Development, a registered organisation operating and exercising their fundamental rights guaranteed under a democratic and constitutional dispensation is ill-advised, politically motivated and a direct affront to the presidency of the Republic. Mrs Racheal Mendy’s statement is political and premeditated to settle a political score with the organisation on behalf of a political party and a total disregard to the fundamental law of the land enshrined in Section 25 subsection 1 a, b, c, d and e of the 1997 constitution which guaranteed citizens of their rights to association including political party and of religion as well as her disrespect and lack of regard for human rights, freedom of association and expression needed in a democratic society.

“The Gambia Bar Association was expected to reassure Gambian that it will always protect their liberties and democratic rights in accordance with the constitution but not to clamp down on rights of citizenry, dictatorial and anti human rights. Her argument that it can divide the youths is absurd and bogus as there are thousands of youth organisation including charitable, non political like the one she mentioned , political etc. in the country since creation and do not right her position.

“Racheal Mendy who can best be described as holding brief for a political party and of recent we heard a political party singing same statement which she echoed indeed brought embarrassment to the reputable Bar and raised lot of questions about her person which put the Gambia Bar Association in disrepute and a cause for concern especially her attempt to denied Gambians of their fundamental rights to belong and or association.

“Gambians awaits the resignation of Mrs Mendy from the Bar Association as she clearly put the body in disrepute . All Gambians acknowledged the gains on democracy and good governance accorded to citizenry by the current government and President Barrow’s personal resolved and commitment to rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and the independent of the judiciary.

“The very cloud of freedom of expression platform she stood, in the present of the Chief Protector of citizens right which is the president and to attack him directly without any fear of any actions even whereas her actions contradicted the values and principles of her organisation clearly demonstrate the gains on rule of law by the current government. That statement I’m sure do not represent the views of most members if not all of the bar. It is worth noting that people should make good use of the freedom and liberties guaranteed by the constitution without dishonesty and biassness.

“The TRRC, the commission of inquiry as established by law and constituted by the president is ongoing and as president of the Bar Association, she is expected to advocate for the observance of due process not to recommend for action against people who may have been mentioned disregarding the principle of innocent until proven guilty doctrine and conclusion of findings and recommendation to the president as per the provisions of section 203 and 204 of the 1997 constitution .”

By Mammy Saidykhan

Tourism Minister Hamat Bah has lashed out at the Gambia Bar Association over recent remarks the legal practitioners’ group made against President Barrow Youths for National Development.

Gambia Bar Association president Rachael Mendy at the weekend said the movement was set up to drive one person’s agenda, President Barrow.

Mr Bah, speaking at a press conference held by his National Reconciliation Party on Tuesday, wondered why an association that is formed to defend the constitution was engaging in self-contradiction.

Bah said: “Disappointingly enough we heard from the President of the Bar Association on Sunday raising about the creation of youth movements in the country, knowing fully well [what] the constitution spelled out in chapter 4, Section 25.

“We bring the following questions to the Bar association, are they neglecting their responsibilities as provided in the constitution that as a body they are expected to defend and protect the provisions of the supreme law of the land as judiciary officers…?

“Are they neglecting that responsibility and now being partisan for the simple reason that a political party or a member of a political party has raised concerns about the Barrow Youth Movement?

“We want answers from the Bar association. We are concerned as citizens of this country, to tell the Gambian people if they are partisan, if they now decided to be a part of the political divide. We need to know.”

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Bar Association has said that President Barrow Youth for National Development was set up based on personal agenda.

PBYND was set up in 2018 in controversial circumstances to promote the agenda of President Barrow. The group continues to be frowned at particularly from within political quarters.

The president of the Gambia Bar Association Rachael Mendy speaking at the official opening of the 2019 legal year said the association has “to remain strong and must continue to serve the judiciary in particular and the public in general faithfully.”

“As an instrument within the judicial system, the association will step up its contribution towards the country’s growth and development that will engender peace and national unity,” she said

“It is for this reason that we are opposed to the action taken recently to resuscitate the establishment of a youth movement based on a personal agenda.  Such action can only result in the perpetuation of disunity among the youth who should now be encouraged to work in harmony in credible social activities.”

According to the GBA president, the opening of the legal year does not only afford Gambians an opportunity to review the situation of their judiciary and judicial system during the past years, but “also to chart the way forward for this year; for the legal profession and the administration of justice in the country.”

“The paramount quest of the Bar Association has been, and will always be, for the Constitution and its provisions in regard to the rights and freedom of the citizen to be upheld and be regarded by all authority as sacrosanct; for the rule of law to be observed by all, and the independence of the Judiciary respected. In our opinion, the independence of the Judiciary is an issue, which is so important and critical to our progress as a nation that it requires to be given constant attention,” she said.

By Lamin Njie

Hamat Bah during a press conference on Tuesday accused a Kerr Fatou journalist of asking a ‘bogus’ question about President Adama Barrow’s financial dealings.

Coalition stakeholder National Reconciliation Party on Tuesday held a press conference at its bureau in Westfield, the first time since its congress last year.

And the theatrical NRP leader who is also President Barrow’s tourism minister was in combative mood after Mustapha Darboe asked if it was appropriate for an elected public official to be taking money from people “he is not disclosing who may in fact be terrorists”.

“My friend, my friend Mustapha I think to be honest you have an agenda. And I know you very well more than anybody here. You have an agenda. You want to insinuate that the monies that are given to the President are from terrorists? You have an agenda because what you are saying is bogus, it’s not based on anything. You are just saying your own wish,” Bah, interrupting the reporter, said.

By Lamin Njie

The leader of Gambia Action Party has said that homosexuality contradicts both religion and humanity.

Musa Yali Batchilly stated this at the weekend during a press conference held by the party.

“Gays and lesbianism are now rampant in the world and even in the Gambia. A GAP government cannot tolerate gays, [in] the territorial jurisdiction of the nation, in this part of the world, Gambia. It is considered inhuman and unreligious,”

The Gambia is part of countries in Africa where same-sex relationships are not allowed.

The country passed a new law in August 2014 imposing harsher sentences which include life sentences for some homosexual acts. It marked a departure from a previous law which made homosexual acts already punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Former President Yahya Jammeh had called homosexuals vermins and had called for their complete extermination.

By Omar Bah, Standard Newspaper

The United Democratic Party’s deputy administrative secretary, Alhagie S. Darboe has said that the National Development Plan NDP is not the only agenda of President Barrow adding that Barrow has his own political agenda. Speaking at a rally in Gunjur Saturday, Darboe who is also the national assembly member for Brikama North said:

“There is too much noise in this country about the UDP and the person who caused all these unnecessary noise is our own son President Adama Barrow and it is only him who can end this distraction by doing what he is supposed to do. I told him that he is a transitional president and that he should remove himself from politics and focus on the issues that brought him to office”.

The NAM for Brikama North called on all UDP supporters to attend meetings that are meant only for national development and not meetings that are political. ”We have been seeing meetings here and there which are political. We know what is a developmental and a political agenda. We want to tell the president to carry on with his development plan and drop his political ambition,” he warned.

Alhagie Darboe also warned that his party will consider President Barrow an ‘enemy’ if he continues to back his Youth Movement because that group sees the UDP as an enemy and as such anyone who supports it including Barrow will be considered as an enemy of the UDP.

He went on to reveal that although the president has always said that his relationship with the vice president and leader of the UDP Ousainu Darboe is good, it is clear that his relations with the UDP is not good because there is a group associated with him who sees the UDP as their worst enemy and he is fully supporting it. Today even the APRC is not seen as much of our enemy as that group and if Barrow continues to be behind that group then we will begin to see him too as our enemy,” he warned.

Alhagie Darbo advised Barrow to recognise the fact that he comes from the UDP and should not allow anything to come between him and the party. ”He should be mindful of those who are telling him the UDP is this and that,” he added. Mr Darboe said those who are between the UDP and Barrow trying to separate them should keep their mouths shut because they cannot teach the UDP how to help Barrow. “We know the power we hold in the government and nobody can tell us what to do”, he said.

He said the UDP can never hate Barrow adding that nobody can take ownership of the Coalition government and those who hold positions in the UDP should know that they are operating under the party’s principles.

However the party leader, Ousainu Darboe took a rather more conciliatory tone. “I will want to promise President Barrow that the UDP is behind him to ensure that the national development plan is achieved. We are behind him inch and inch and anybody who wants to be an obstacle to the progress of the NDP will be dealt with because the UDP will not sit and watch his intentions for this country go in vain”, he said.

The UDP leader further stressed that nothing can stop the party from forming the next government or at least influenc it. ”There may be new parties coming and it is possible that there will be a coalition but I want to call on the young people of the party to ensure that the UDP have more than 52% of the votes in 2021. That should be our target and we should start working towards that now so that the issue of a coalition don’t arise”, he said.

Without giving names the UDP leader said there are parties whose congresses lasted barely one hour adding that a party whose membership is not even more than the Gambia Red Cross Society is not a serious political party. “Let us tell one another the truth. The UDP does not underrate any political party but no political party should underrate us,” he concluded. (Standard newspaper)