The vice president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, yesterday afternoon, on behalf of the regional disaster victims, received in her office some cheques amounting to D135,000 from the United Nations Development Programme country office.

The gesture, which is part of the UNDP’s response to the plight of disaster victims in the country, was presented to Dr Njie-Saidy by Mr Essa Khan, National Coordinator of Disaster Management at the UNDP. All the five regions in the country received D25,000, whilst Banjul City Council received the amount of D10,000.

Speaking to reporters, Essa Khan, national coordinator of disaster management at the UNDP country office, said the gesture is a supplement of what they have donated earlier to the  disaster victims. He disclosed that in the late 2008, his country office had donated an amount of D315,000 to regional governors and mayors for disaster victims, noting that just in December 2008, they donated D79,000 to KMC for Ebo Town disaster victims.

In a separate engagement at State House, the vice president also received in audience members of the Association of Indigenous Economic Operators in her office. Accompanied by Beatrice Prom, communication manager of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the association’s mission to the vice president’s office was meant to highlight the issues affecting the growth of indigenous economic trading in the country.

Speaking to reporters, shortly after their audience with VP Njie-Saidy, Ms Prom told journalists that they had the opportunity to discuss the issue of alien cards, noting that there are some instances when people coming to do business in the country get problems with the security officers with regard to it.

According to her, they had also put forward the issue of too many check points in the country, notably between Banjul and Basse.  She said that this  is considered by business operators as discomforting, saying that they had appealed for reduction of the number of checkpoints in a bid to ensure smooth and easy business economic activities for the growth of the sector.  

Ms Prom also told reporters that they had raised concern about annual fire outbreak at Serrekunda Market, an issue she said had generated a lot of concern on the business operators who are mostly the victims.

“It is a concern for everybody as it happens at around the same time every year. People are interested to know the cause of Serrekunda market fire disaster  and how to put a lasting solution to this recurrent problem,” she told reporters. She expressed hope that more concerted efforts would be done as to avert future fire outbreak since the livelihood of many people depends on the market.

Alhagie Sankung Jaiteh, president of the association, and Madam Fatoumatta Jah, proprietor of Lala’s Cleansing and a member of the association, all echoed similar sentiments.

Both members saluted The Gambia government for creating a conducive business environment for both the citizens and foreigners. Last but not the least, members of The Gambia Teacher’s Union Women’s Wing were  also received  by Vice President Njie-Saidy. Their mission to the vice president’s office was meant to highlight their achievements and constraints, according to them.

Speaking to reporters shortly after meeting with VP Njie-Saidy, Madam Rohey Sillah, the first vice president of The Gambia Teachers Union, told journalists that they had briefed the vice president about their achievements, noting that they also handed over to her some of these in the form  of posters, depicting various development undertaken by  the women’s wing of GTU.

Madam Sillah spoke at length about the achievements of their union, citing its credit union which she said contributed a lot in the socio-economic development factor for teachers. Meanwhile the members pinned the Gambia’s vice president with the Teacher’s Union batch, confering a  honourary membership on her.
Present at all engagements were  members of the National Security Council.