True Ease in Writing comes from Art, not Chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. - Alexander Pope

President

Suñu Waxtaaneh Juboo: The Case for a Free Press in Gambia

By Amran Gaye in Essays, Dakar, Gambia, Senegal, Business, Earth, Economic Community of West African States, Edward Francis Small, Entertainment, Free Press, Human Interest, International relations, Mariama, the, Perfection, Political geography, President, reporter, Republics, The Gambia

 

ñu ni nee na / ñu ni nee na

ñore bokk rewe mi 

ñu ni nee na / ñu ni nee na
neh ñu yaatal geew bi
 
ootay man ta ñakk naam
y su ñu Waxtaaneh juboo…
 
Yaatal Gueew, Pape & Cheikh
 
 
 
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In May 1922, in Dakar, Edward Francis Small published the first issue of the *The Gambia Outlook and Senegambian Reporter*. This was after the so-called Balanghar incident, when Small had gotten into a physical altercation with a colleague, costing him his job. Small’s criticism of government policies at this point had already put him on the wrong side of the colonial administrators.

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Mar 08, 2013

IWD 2013: Take The Promise

Posted by Linguere | Tags: Linguere, Essays, New York, United States, International Women's Day, Culture, Feminism, forward, International Women's Day, Politics, President, Social philosophy, Sociology, UN Commission on the Status of Women, Violence, Women's rights | 0 Comments
It's March 8th again. It's International Women's Day; a day set aside to celebrate all women in the world, irrespective of their backgrounds and differences. We celebrate appreciation, respect, love and admiration towards women. We equally celebrate the numerous achievements registered in the social, political and economic spheres among others. "A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women" is the theme for this year's celebrations. Somewhere in New York, activists and supporters of women's rights are gathered for the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Discussions revolve around the priority theme: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Earlier this year, the world witnessed the greatest movement of feminists and supporters on February 14th, demanding an end to Violence against Women.

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On 4 days of official work - An Open Letter to The President

By Sana Sarr in Opinion, Contact Details, Earth, Economic Community of West African States, Human Interest, International relations, Political geography, President, Republics, The Gambia, Value added tax, Workweek and weekend

January 28, 2013

Your Excellency,

On 4 days of Official Work: An Open Letter to The President

Discussions among Gambians over the past week have been centered on the recent announcement that effective February 1st, 2013, the official workweek will be reduced from 5 days to 4 days. From elites and intellectuals in offices and online; home and abroad, to university and high school students in taxis, to the average man and woman on the streets and in market places, discussions have continued and I’ve heard many view points. There are many talking points, opinions and sentiments. However, the one common sentiment I have ascertained from all the discussions I’ve heard is UNCERTAINTY! Too many Gambians are unsure and afraid of what this change will mean to their daily lives and livelihood; social and economic.

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"To The Gambia Ever True"

By Amran Gaye in Essays, Banjul, Dubai, New York, YouTube, Gambia, McCarthy Square, Culture of Belize, Dubai, Economic Community of West African States, Entertainment, Film, International relations, Law, Political geography, President, Private, Republics, Suddenly, Technology, The Gambia, Walsh College of Accountancy and Business

Another winter, another trip to Gambia. I left in December, planning to take a month before school re-opens - just enough time to renew my love affair with the country, but not enough time to do anything about it. The countours of the trip are familiar now - the welcome home, the standard questions from people you meet on the street ("When did you come?", "How is it over there?", "When are you going back?"). It was the same everywhere I went. People looked at me like I was crazy when I announced that I didn't want to go back, that I in fact wanted to stay in Gambia and not leave again. Either that or like I was punking them, toying with them at their own expense. And then at the end leaving again, the looks of barely concealed envy in their eyes as they watch you get into the car headed for the airport.

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Aug 27, 2012

On Executions - My View before the GRTS announcement on the execution of 9 death row convicts

Posted by lat | Tags: Lat's Thoughts , Essays, Gambia, Conviction, Person Career, Person Location, Edward Anthony Gomez, Force, forward, Light value, Minister of Justice, Minister of Justice Edward Anthony Gomez, oil, Politics, President, Punctuation, Social Issues, Tabara Samba, tackle, Technology, The Printed Blog | 0 Comments

We are not in unprecedented territory for we have been here before even on the issue of the death penalty. Overtaken by numerous drug-related offences, the government of The Gambia through the powers of The National Assembly and under the office of then Minister of Justice Edward Anthony Gomez, amended the Drug Control Act in 2010 making it possible for persons found in the possession of over 250 grams of cocaine or heroin to receive the death penalty. This however received immediate condemnation from the Bar Association and various Human Rights groups citing its conflict with another clause in our constitution, 18(2), which stated clearly that only “offences involving violence or the administration of any toxic substance, resulting in the death of another person” could legally carry the death sentence.

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Open Letter to Freedom Newspaper

By Amran Gaye in Essays, Coventry, Gambia, Economic Community of West African States, Entertainment, Ferenc Gyurcsány's speech in Balatonőszöd in May, Freedom Newspaper, Geography, Human Interest, International relations, Political geography, Politics, President, Technology, The Gambia

When all its work is done, the lie shall rot;

The truth is great, and shall prevail,
When none cares whether it prevail or not.
 
~Coventry Patmore
 
Dear Freedom,
 
I have been reading you for the past month and a half, logging on every day to see the latest blaring headlines, and occasionally not turning off your online radio broadcast when it comes on automatically. Six weeks of giving you the benefit of the doubt, casting aside all my preconceived notions of you and trying to read you as you mean yourself to be read: as a newspaper out to achieve press freedom and keep an eye on the Government, in order to bring about change in Gambia. And the results are not very impressive. 
 
You never did learn diplomacy - this much was evident right from the beginning of my reading.

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May 29, 2012

Which Facebooker Are You Dealing With?

Posted by Linguere | Tags: Linguere, Entertainment, Facebook, Blog software, Business, Facebook, Human Interest, I DON, President, Social information processing, Social media, Web 2.0 | 0 Comments

 

NO! This is not one of those quizzes you always come across on your news feed.This is the truth, the whole truth and er, just the truth!

I’ve been on Facebook for 4 years now and have witnessed a sack-load of changes made in the layout, the different services etc. One thing that has not changed,however, is the people.

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May 10, 2012

Red Black Nonsense - 1.7 Million Apologies

Posted by lat | Tags: Lat's Thoughts , Essays, America, Person Career, Barack Obama, Bill, Business, Entertainment, Environment, Health, journalist, Monica Lewinsky, Politics, President, Punctuation, Technology, Typography, White House | 0 Comments

I’m really terribly sorry that I have to do this. Ironic isn’t it? The fact that countless times we hear these words is most disheartening. How quick we are to apologize for being jerks; for doing something stupid yet expecting quick forgiveness. It is a truth that is blatantly human yet also understandably unforgiveable. However nothing should be unforgiveable...no? I admire the guts in a man or woman who takes responsibility for his/her actions. You did it...it was stupid...but yes! You’re not bloody sorry.

I do not write for a living. I write because it has become a part of me and one I don’t see myself giving up for anything in the world. That aside, I don’t see my brain being moulded into that of a disciplined journalist. The noble profession is miles beyond my reach for I would always choose emotion over reason. That is my art and I fell in love with it after I found it hard to channel my anger as a child.

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The Way to Happiness - A Review

By Xmyls Francis Abdul Malik in Essays, Facebook, United States, Person Career, Abstraction, author, Barack Obama, CDATA, End, Entertainment, President, Punctuation, Religion, Structure, Typography, XML

 

Introduction

I first came across the book being advertised on Facebook social media. A photo of the cover artwork had just been tagged to me by the author and I must say the design simply exuded an aura of serenity. The book title spoke volumes too and I had an instant impulse to lay my hands on a copy. Needless to say how I got one but mine came autographed and I was good to go (Shout-outs to Mr Sabally).

 

Why am I doing this review? Well, I received a phone-call from the author asking if I could do a review of the book. In as much as I felt honored that he thought of me, I certainly felt that it was a task I was not prepared for. He sort of coaxed me into it, stating that he needed my written opinion nonetheless; so here we are, about to “get down with the program” as my hip-hop influenced cronies would say. So let’s get down with it.

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