Gambia joins global support for Haiti

As Jammeh gives 1m US dollars
By Kemo Cham
Gambia has towed the line of generosity, in response to the increasing global call for support to the people of earthquake ravaged Haiti. In a statement aired on the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), the Gambian government announced Friday evening that it had offered one million US dollars (D1M) in support of humanitarian efforts in the traumatized Caribbean Island. ‘‘Following the catastrophic disaster that claimed the lives of people in Haiti, the president, Yahya Jammeh, on behalf of the people of the Gambia, have donated the sum of 1m dollar to the people of Haiti,’’ the release, as read on GRTS, said. This follows the unveiling, earlier, of the ‘‘Gambia one million for Haiti’’ support project, a private sector led campaign seeking to raise one million dalasis towards supporting the needy victims of the 7.0 Richter scale Earthquake which struck the island over two weeks ago. A group representing the business sector in the country, last Wednesday called on Gambia’s vice president, Isatou Njie-Saidy, and officially presented the initiative, which move has been hailed as highly unique. Nana Grey-Johnson, the media consultant of the group, announced that the private sector led project is aimed at contributing their quota towards helping the people of Haiti. It takes the form of a series of panel discussions on both radio and TV, appealing for donation from the general public. Although they did not say how much money they have made so far, they promised that the amount generated from the week-long program will be channelled through the vice president’s office for official delivery to the UN body responsible for International Disaster Relief. With these developments, the Gambia becomes part of a few counties in Africa to have responded to the global for support. Africa itself has come under several attacks for it ‘‘slow’’ pace of response to the humanitarian catastrophe in a country whose people originated from the continent.
Jammeh leaves for AU summit
Meanwhile, according to another official press release, President Yahya Jammeh is set to leave Banjul, Saturday, 30th January, for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of States and Government Summit. As usual, the Gambian leader will be accompanied by a high powered delegation. He is scheduled to take off from the Banjul International Airport at 09.00am.