On Sunday Mr. Alhagi Mbye of The Point newspaper and Mr. Abdoulie Gassama of GRTS Radio left Banjul for a three-week program in the United States dedicated to the US presidential primaries. 

The trip is sponsored and funded by the United States Embassy under the International Visitor Leadership Program.  The program Mr. Mbye and Mr. Gassama are participating in is a multi-regional project that attracts political party leaders, business and civic leaders, academics and journalists worldwide to examine the issues and activities surrounding the 2008 presidential primaries.

According to the U.S. embassy they will gain an understanding of the processes and traditions of campaigns and elections and observe U.S. democracy in action. The goals of the trip are varied but include; observing the political environment in the U.S. during the first two months of the presidential primaries; exploring the roles of political parties, the media, state caucuses and conventions, and grassroots political organizations on the U.S. presidential electoral process and the strengthening of participants’ understanding of the structure, processes and financing of political campaigns and presidential primary process of the U.S. Participants will also examine the domestic and international issues influencing the positions of candidates for the presidency.