Grants to Gambia reduce by more than half in a year

Thumbs Down: For the first nine months of 2016, grant disbursement to the government stands at D242 million, much lower than D565 million it was in the same period of 2015. (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/FPI)

The Gambia unveils 2014 national budget of D8.6 billion

It included a budget support of D313 million from World and African Development banks. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Modou S. Joof

The Government of The Gambia has on Thursday unveiled the national budget for 2014 which is an estimated D8.6 billion to be derived from domestic revenue and grants – representing an increase of 1 billion on the 2013 budget of D7.6 billion.

According to the country’s minister of finance and economic affairs, Kebba Touray, the budget represents a growth of 13.5 per cent principally due to a 20.5 per cent expected rise in tax revenue and a 32.0 per cent projected increase in non-tax revenue.

He told the National Assembly on December 19 that these forecasts assume that there will be improvements in compliance levels as well as the implementation of new revenue measures. It included a budget support of D313 million from World and African Development banks.

The Gambia Government say to levy heavy tax on tobacco

The new measures came 17 days after an anti-drugs and tobacco activist hints at stiffer tobacco control measures (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Modou S. Joof

The Gambia Government has announced it will impose high taxes on tobacco in 2014.

This new policy was revealed by the minister of finance and economic affairs, Mr Kebba S. Touray on Thursday when he unveiledthe 2014  budget estimates of D8.6 billion for revenue, expenditure and development to the national assembly.

Government’s revenue measures for 2014 will rise with specific excise on tobacco products – from D5 per pack to D9 per pack with an environmental tax rate on tobacco products from 0.20 [bututs] per pack to D2.10 per pack, he said on December 19, 2013.

According to Touray, the Jammeh-led government will further increase the specific excise on other tobacco products from D37.50 per kilogram to D150 per kilogram – with an environmental tax rate from D75 per kilogram to D100 per kilogram.

China and Gambia had ‘no contact’ over Taiwan ties cut

甘比亞總統賈梅（Yahya. J. J. Jammeh）致贈楊部長甘國傳統樂器 (Photo credit: 中華民國外交部 MOFA, R.O.C. (Taiwan) – Gambia President Jammeh (Yahya. JJ Jammeh) presented a Minister Yang Gan traditional instruments (Photo credit: Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By Modou S. Joof

Reoprts in Beijing have indicated that China had “no contact” with The Gambia prior to the severing of ties with Taiwan on Thursday.

Xinhua news agency quoted China’s Foreign Mninistry spokesman Hong Lei as saying: “We learned the news from foreign media reports. There was no contact between China and Gambia.”

China’s reaction comes at the back of foreign media reports suggesting Gambia may have been pressured by China to break off ties with Taiwan.

Gambia ends ties with ‘shocked’ Taiwan after 18 years

Taiwan regrets President Jammeh’s ‘personal style’

President Yahya Jammeh (in white) says Gambia will “remain friends” with Taiwanese people [EPA]

By Modou S. Joof

The Republic of China (Taiwan) has expressed shock and regret at Gambia’s decision on Thursday to sever ties with the country over “strategic national interest”.

President Jammeh’s Office, State House, said: “This decision has been taken in our strategic national interest.” Diplomatic relations with Taiwan began in July 1995, and had span for a little over 18 years.

“Despite the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, we will still remain friends with the people of Taiwan,” Jammeh said, citing the severing of ties takes immediate effect as of November 14, 2013.

Goodluck Jonathan due in Banjul Wednesday

President Jonathan (in black) is visiting Gambia on November 6, 2013 (Photo credit: IITA Image Library)

By Modou S. Joof 

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan is due in Banjul, The Gambian capital on Wednesday for a two-day visit which officials say is intended “to strengthen cooperation” between Abuja and Banjul.

Gambia’s President Jammeh revoke licences of all forex bureaus

Now, the Jammeh-led Government said all Forex bureaus that operated in the foreign exchange market, are to apply afresh for licences. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Modou S. Joof

All 56 registered forex bureaus in The Gambia have had their licences revoked with immediate effect by the country’s President, Yahya Jammeh on Tuesday, August 13.

“All licences of foreign exchange bureaus issued by the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) has been declared null and void with immediate effect by the Government of The Gambia,” Jammeh said in a press statement.

The 1 minute 30 seconds despatch from Jammeh’s Office, State House, claims “the cancellation of the licences has been necessitated by the failure of operators in the foreign exchange market to comply with the advice and warning given to them by the Government”.

The Gambia secured over D557M to complete construction of NA building

Construction of the NA Complex began in 2011. Situated in Banjul, it was initially planned for official opening in 2012. (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Globe/FPI/2013)

By Modou S. Joof

The Gambia Government on Monday announced it has secured an additional funding of $16.88 million (over D557 million) for the completion of the National Assembly (NA) building which is currently under construction.

The building, which is been referred to as “state-of-the-earth” by the Government in Banjul, will accommodate 400 guest, an auditorium for 150 people, offices, committee rooms and a canteen.

The Gambia’s Parliament throw-outs US deal against ‘illegal maritime activities’

Article 6 of the agreement give the US the right to conduct operations to suppress illicit transnational maritime activity in Gambia’s territorial waters – and as an old Gambian fisherman looks out to sea – lawmakers in Banjul say the deal is “one-sided”. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Lamin Jahateh

The Gambia’s Parliament Wednesday threw-out a motion to ratify an Agreement between the Government and the United States cooperation meant to suppress illicit transnational maritime activity.

Parliament said the deal is “one-sided and does not favour” the tiny West African country.

The Gambia and Sierra Leone: Two parliaments to sign MoU

A Gambian delegation was in Freetown (Sierra Leona) on a study visit to avail them the opportunity to exchange best practices in use of research evidence in policy review and monitoring implementation of policies and strategies in combating challenges in public health (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Lamin Jahateh

The parliament of The Gambia and that of Sierra Leone have held a discussion that could culminate into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – to cover different areas of mutual interests.

A report presented to the Parliament in Banjul on Wednesday, stated that the discussion was held during a study visit by a delegation from The Gambia’s Parliament to their counterparts in Freetown, Sierra Leone from March 18-21.