Plea for reforms after migrant tragedy

UN aid agencies are suggesting wealthy industrialised nations should perhaps rethink their policies on immigration and asylum in the wake of the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean, writes the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva.

Reacting to the news that at least 200 migrants were feared dead off the coast of Libya, after the smugglers' boat which was supposed to take them to Italy capsized, the head of the UN refugee agency, Antonio Guterres, said the barriers to legal migration had become too high.

"This is a tragedy that is multiplying itself, in the Mediterranean, in the Gulf of Aden, in south-east Asia. More and more people are trying desperately to move," Mr Guterres told the BBC.

While the trend towards globalisation was encouraging free trade, there were still lethal barriers to people, he added.

"I think it's important to recognise that in today's world where as we have seen, money moves so freely, and goods tend to move also more and more freely, there are still tremendous obstacles for people."

"People need to move because they can no longer live in their countries of origin because of war, because of environmental degradation, because of poverty, there are many reasons that force people to move."

'Total disprespect'

The UN refugee agency estimates that more than 67,000 people undertook the dangerous voyage to Europe in smugglers' boats in 2008.

More than 1,700 are known to have died, but that figure could be far higher, because no-one really knows exactly how many people the smugglers cram onto their vessels.


What is clear, however, is that anyone choosing to try to get Europe on an illegal vessel is risking his or her life.

"Unfortunately it is something we see over and over again," said Jean-Philippe Chauzy of the International Organisation for Migration. "The total disrespect for the safety and dignity of those people."

"They are crammed below deck, the boats are filled three or four times above their capacity, they have no navigation equipment, no safety equipment.

"So, when the boats capsize there are obviously no lifejackets, no dinghies, because everything has been stripped from the boats to get as many people on board as possible."

UN aid agencies believe the strict asylum and immigration policies of many western industrialised countries are forcing migrants to turn to smugglers.

The UN refugee agency points out that of those who crossed illegally from Africa to Europe last year, a majority applied for asylum, and more than half of those were found to be in need of protection.

This proves, the agency says, that a significant number had legitimate reasons to come to Europe and should not have been forced to take the illegal smuggling route.

Growing fears

At the same time, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says that despite the current global financial crisis, falling birth rates across western Europe will cause a labour shortage over the next few years

It says Europe should think about making it easier for people from the developing world to come in and work.

"You have a strong demand for labour particularly in industrialised countries," explained Patrick Taran, a migrant labour specialist with the ILO.

"They need people to fill the low skilled jobs in agriculture and construction, manufacturing, domestic work, in health care, and you have a lot of people, including with skills, who need those jobs and are willing to come for them."

"Those people will take risks if the doors aren't open. They'll go in by the back window if the front door isn't open."

"When there's no job at all at home, when you have a family to feed, you will take risks to make sure that you and your family have food on the table."

So, as G20 countries, the world's richest nations, work on plans to rescue their own economies, the fear among aid agencies is that the solutions they come up with may close the door to legal migrants and refugees even more firmly.

And if that happens, the agencies warn, more people will turn to smugglers, and more will die as a result.

Dutchman arrested in Gambia for insulting Jammeh

BANJUL – Police in Gambia said Wednesday that a man arrested for allegedly insulting President Yahya Jammeh had lied about his nationality and is actually Dutch not British.

According to the charges the man, identified as Rene Beulen, complained on Saturday at a police post that Jammeh had increased taxi fares for white people and accused the Gambian leader of being "too greedy and corrupt".

Beulen pleaded not guilty to the charges on Tuesday but could not make bail and was detained, according to police sources at Banjul's notorious Mile Two prison, pending his trial date of 9 April.

Under Gambian law, sedition or the incitement of resistance to lawful authority is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine.

Police said Beulen had been questioned again on Wednesday following inquiries from British diplomats.

"He confessed that he was a Dutch national and not British. He also told the panel of investigators, including the British officials, that he stayed in Britain for the past 10 years but that he is not from that country," a senior police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The Dutch foreign ministry confirmed to AFP that a Dutch national had been arrested in the Gambia but declined to give a name or any information regarding the charges.

In December 2008, a British missionary couple became the first foreigners to be slapped with a jail sentence for sedition in the west African nation.

They were ordered to serve 12 months in prison with hard labour after pleading guilty to criticising the president.

Gambia, a tiny country inside Senegal, has one of the worst human rights records in west Africa. Jammeh, an outspoken military officer and former wrestler, has ruled the former British colony since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1994.

The country is a popular tourist destination with some 100,000 tourists visiting the Gambia each year.

AFP / Expatica

Inter duel with Tottenham for young Gambian star

According to the Daily Mirror, Tottenham are trying to beat Inter in the race for one of the stars of the Under 17 team in Gambia, Ebrima Bojang.

According to its report Bojang has already received a bid from Inter for a test, but is expected by Tottenham later this month,as soon as he is able to get a visa".

The young striker, who plays in Real de Banjul,is currently busy with the Under 17 national team for the African League category.

Bojang, 16, has scored the only goal by Gambia in the victorious match against Guinea, first in the competition. And in the third challenge of the group he scored the second goal in the 2-0 in Algeria.

After closing first in group A, the ‘Baby Scorpions’ have eliminated Malawi (4-0, a goal by Bojang) in the semifinal and he scored twice in Gambia's 3-1 win over Algeria in the final.

Gambia's consumer inflation remains unchange

The Gambia Bureau of Statistics has released the Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) for the month of February 09 at an unchanged rate of 7 per cent (y/y).

The price pointer was quoted at 7 per cent at the end of January 09. Could the stability in the index indicate a probable downward trend in the coming months given the 2009 Budget’s headline Inflationary target of 5 per cent?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Inflation for the sub-region to slow to a lesser 3.5 per cent at the end of 2009 from a higher 5.4 per cent at the end of 2008 as the Continent’s index is also estimated to be reversed downwards to 3.4 per cent at the end of 2008 from 5.2 per cent at the end of 2009.

Food prices inched up from 8.81 per cent at the end of Jan 09 to 8.89 per cent at the end of Feb 09 on a y/y basis. This still compares unfavourably with a marginal decline from 8.38 per cent in Jan 08 to 8.33 per cent at the end of Feb 08. On a month-on-month basis, food prices eased down from 0.24 per cent at the end of Jan 09 to 0.13 per cent in Feb 09. The non-food component of the basket also grew by 8.77 per cent at the end of Feb 09 from 8.70 per cent in Jan 09 (y/y).

This was in a sharp contrast with a decline of 1.20 per cent in Feb from 1.32 per cent a year ago. Month-on-month non-food prices shrank from 0.24 per cent in Jan 09 to 0.12 per cent at the end of Feb 09 weighing positively against an inch of 0.50 per cent at the end of Feb 2008. Electricity and housing led the charge in the increase in the non-food component of the national price basket; swelling by 6.8 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.

Analysis:
The pulse of the consumer price barometer continues to be dictated by food prices. Though downside risks to the global economic outlook remain unchanged, we expect upside risks to domestic inflationary pressures to subside in the coming months of 2009.

This is on the back of anticipated falling domestic export demand and financing, declining commodity prices and much tighter external financing constrains; especially considering a current budget deficit (D1.3bn) at the end 2008.

Essentially, these factors should result in declines in food prices as re-export trades slow down and imports contract due to falling demand on the local
market. Slowing demand should see drops in the food component
of the consumer price basket. Moreover, contractions in external
(donor) financing should see a surge in domestic borrowings and
reduce money supply. Consequently, the Dalasi’s steady
performance against its major trading counterparts should provide
signification insulation against import costs. In the light of these
factors, we forecast the CPI for the month of March 09 to decline
from its current 7 per cent recorded at the end of January 2009.

Analyst: Richmond Dela Cabral
Email: richmond.cabral@databankgroup.com

Gambia beat Algeria to lift CAF U-17 title

The Baby Scorpions claimed their second CAF U-17 title courtesy a 3-1 victory over hosts Algeria in the final match at the 8th CAF U-17 Championship on Thursday in Dar El Beida.

At a packed stadium, the Gambians defied the huge home crowd for the hosts to cling unto victory.

A brace from top marksman Ebrima Bojang and a goal from Alasana Camara powered the Gambia’s to the continental title since winning it on home soil four years ago.

Algerian striker Bendahmane Nadir scored for the hosts but it was not enough to change the tide in his side's favour.

The result saw the Gambians confirm their superiority over the hosts after beating them 2-0 in their earlier meeting at the group phase.

On 7 minutes, Ebrima broke the deadlock by heading home from close range before Alasana doubled the lead on 22 minutes.

Two minutes to half time, Bendahmane reduced the deficit for his side from the spot after Bezzaz Abdelhakim was fouled by Gambian goalie Musa Camara in the penalty area.

The goal restored the confidence of the hosts who launched consistent raids into the half of the Gambians in their quest to draw even.

Five minutes from time, Ebrima sealed victory for his side with his second of the day by slamming into the yawning net after rounding Algerian goalie Abdennour Merzouki.
CAFonline

Dalasi and Butut:Dalasi Posts Declines

The local currency posted declines against its major trading counterparts on both the interbank and the parallel markets this week. The Dalasi depreciated by 37 bututs against the dollar to close at D26.25 and lost D1.25 against the pound to close at D38 on the interbank market.

The Dalasi also depreciated by D1.99 against the Euro to D35.62 and was fixed at D257.50 against the CFA Francs. On the parallel market, the Dalasi lost 53 bututs against the Dollar and was quoted at D26.78 and depreciated by D1.25 against the pound and was quoted at D38. Against the Euro and the CFA Francs, the Dalasi shaved off D1.50 and D6.50 to close at D35.38 and D260 respectively.

On the international currency market, the Dollar marked gains against the Pound and the Euro but lost to the Japanese Yen. The greenback was upbeat against the Pound by 0.69 per cent to $1.44 and was up by 0.74 per cent against the Euro to $1.35 but posted a decline of 3.40 per cent against the Yen to close at $98.13. The dollar’s strength was influenced by a surge in currency transactions as a result of a lackluster in the equities market.

Yields Register Gains
Trading on the floor of the money market of the Central Bank of the Gambia saw gains in all traded instruments except the 91-Day Sukuk- Salam Bill which remains pegged at 11.26 per cent following the end of this week’s auction. The 91-Day Bill inched up by three basis points from 11.48 per cent and is currently quoted at 11.51 per cent.

The 182- Day Bill was up by 17 basis points and was quoted at 12.79 per cent. The Bill was previously quoted at 12.62 per cent. The longer-dated arm of the market witnessed a 7-basis point appreciation in the level of the 1-Year Note. The 1-Year Note is currently quoted at 14.42 per cent but was
quoted at a lower rate of 14.35 per cent last week.

Dalasi Inter-Bank Mid Exchange Rates

USD 26.25
UKP 38.00
Euro 35.62
CFA 257.50

Dalasi Forex Bureau Mid Exchange Rates

USD 26.78
UKP 38.00
Euro 35.38 -
CFA 260.00

TIC Now in Farafeni
Takaful Insurance Company has opened a new shop in Farafenni. Takaful Insurance has been committed to the promotion of Islamic financing following the successful establishment of Islamic Banking in The Gambia.

Open letter to Gambian Journalists

Dear friends,

Over the past few days, we have had a heated debate over the legitimacy of the Gambia Press Union and the extent to which it is representative of Gambian media and journalists in the United States. The debate has, naturally, led to some angry exchanges from both those who feel that the GPU-USA is okay as is, and those who feel that they are not fully represented. Indeed, each side is making claims to being in the right. Such is the nature of any conflict situation. Wars are fought because each party feels that they are in the right. And sometimes, it is the fact that both parties have legitimate reasons to take up arms against the other. Where compromise solutions that accomodate the parties to a conflict are worked out, a ceasefire ensues. Where compromise solutions are not found and each party sticks to its own version of right, the conflict drags interminably on, leading to severe losses on all sides. I pray that we should find a compromise solution and move on.

That said, I also thought to myself yesterday that Yahya Jammeh must be laughing happily in his sofa, tapping his belly, gleefully munching his dark cheeks, and saying loudly to his crooning cronies: 'You just wait and see what happens to them. They are calling for my destruction but now they will all be destroyed because I am not their equal. etc. etc.' He would be thinking that his marabouts or his demons have succeeded in smashing us all so hard that we are now madly knocking our heads together, exchanging angry words, and tearing each other's throats. He must be gloating over us. Our current discussion reminds me of some lines in a song by Ifang Bondi which says: Allah kanang faa njaw la lunnah. Ning Allah yeng faa njaw la lunnah njaw saa foleh nhang na wulo faa. The artist begs God not to kill him on his enemy's day. If God kills him on his enemy's day his enemy will say 'I have killed my dog.'

True, we do have some issues to iron out. And it is great that we are trying to iron them out. But in doing so, I beg you all not to lose sight of the bigger and more important picture. We all have a common enemy, a common task, a common goal whose achivement is a strong enough motive to help us all swallow our individual and collective grievances and pool our resources in the interests of our dear motherland. I therefore humbly appeal to all Gambian journalists to please let by-gones be by-gones, forgive each others trespasses, and forge a solid common front in the interest of our dear motherland.

To those of you who have felt that they were sidelined, please rest assured that whenever the GPU-USA acted, it acted in all good faith and in furtherance of the goals we all share. There has never been any calculated attempt to keep anyone out. We may have differing opinions, but I pray that we learn to agree to disagree. After all, that is all what the democratic culture we advocate is for.

Please let us pool our resources together, let our voices be heard in a civil manner, and let us set our sights firmly on ending the tyranny that is oppressing us and our innocent nation back home. We are all fighting the same war against impunity, against the violations of our God-given rights, against despotism. We are all in the trenches together, each doing their very best wherever they are, at every moment of day to help bring peace and freedom to our country. We are all fellow journalists, fellow victims of a despotic regime we will not let consficate our liberties. We are all Gambian brothers and sisters. And we are all practising Muslims and Christians. For all these reasons I appeal to us all: Please cease fire. Let us unite and move on, respecting our differences but keeping the prize squarely in our sights. God bless you all.

I thank you all.

Baba

Baba Galleh Jallow steps down

The secretary general of the Gambia Press Union USA Chapter last Sunday announced his immediate resignation from the union.

Baba Galleh a former editor -in-chief of the Daily Observer and CEO of The Independent Newspaper, said his decision to step down was in response to Mathew Jallow's proposal that the current (GPU) executive should step down in order to make room for a restructuring of the union.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Jallow wrote: " Earlier this week, Mathew Jallow sent out an email to me, a couple of other members of the GPU-USA executive, and to the editors of the online Gambian media houses - freedom, the echo, senegambianews, allgambian and gainako. Among other things, Mathew wrote that:

"After many discussions with a variety of journalists both active and inactive, the time has come for us to put heads together and recreate the Gambia Press Union (USA) into a more representative and active organ for the development of the Gambia media. I therefore call on the current executive to respond this calling in the interest of unity and progress of our media."

In subsequent emails to the same addressees, Mathew proposed that the current executive should step down in order to make room for a restructuring of the GPU-USA. He pointed out that some editors of the Gambian online media and other Gambian journalists he had spoken to are not happy about the constitution of the past and current executives. During the last executive elections, only about seven people responded to the call to vote, even though there are at least 15-20 names on the GPU-USA mailing list. Calls by the GPU-USA executive, both past and present, for Gambian journalists in the USA to actively participate in the union's activities have been unsuccessful and we have had to work with the very few active members to keep the body alive.

It is against the background of this scenario that I have decided to step down as Secretary General of the GPU-USA in order to allow the process of restructuring Mathew suggests, and that has received the support of some of the editors of the Gambian online media, to go smoothly ahead. In that regard, I wish to inform the Gambian online community that I have voluntarily resigned from my position as GPU-USA secretary general with immediate effect. I am hoping that Mathew Jallow and those who initiated this dialogue on restructuring the GPU-USA will continue to guide our efforts in this important direction. Below is a copy of the resignation letter I sent to editors of all online Gambian media, to the GPU-USA mailing list, and to Mathew himself. I am sending this to the Gambia Post and the Gambia-L to make sure that the online Gambian community knows exactly what is going on with the GPU-USA.

Upon careful reflection and in order to help move this union forward, I am happy to announce that I am stepping down from my position as Secretary General of GPU-USA with immediate effect. While it has been tough to have folks participate, it has been my pleasure to serve in this capacity and to work with those of you who have been active. I hope and pray that the current dialogue goes smoothly forward and that our union emerges from it all stronger and better organized.

I hope too, that those who have initiated this process of restructuring will continue to coordinate our efforts in that direction. Thank you all and God bless you all."