The rehabilitation of the new passenger terminal building of the Banjul International Airport is in the offing, the minister of Finance, Hon. Abdou Kolley has revealed. The Banjul airport is the country’s main gateway to the outside world. It is also the main entrance to many tourists who year in year out spend their holidays in The Gambia, thus a rehabilitation of its facilities is important in cementing the country’s position as the destination of choice in West Africa.
According to Hon. Kolley, it is expected that work would begin in the first quarter of 2011, that is, between January and March. He made these disclosures during last month’s budget speech, at the National Assembly complex in Banjul.
Mr. Kolley indicated that work for the provision of a new instrument landing system, the building of a new fire station, and the acquisition of equipment for a new control tower is expected to start in the first quarter of 2011, being part of what he called the second phase of the airport improvement project.
Already the resurfacing of the entire 3.6 kilometre of the runway and the installation of a new airfield grounding lighting system have been completed. The second phase of the project comprises the expansion of the parking apron and lighting system.
Jet lag found to hinder malaria parasite reports BBC
Some of the mice were awake in the daytime and others active at night.
They found malaria was only half as effective at causing infection and spreading disease in mice which had a different routine to the parasite.
The study gives scientists a greater understanding of when malaria parasites are at their most harmful and when they are vulnerable.
via bbc.co.uk
BBC News - Malaria risk warning to last-minute holidaymakers
Travel websites offering late deals to destinations where malaria is a risk should carry clear warnings, say experts.The call comes from doctors who had to treat three patients in a week, all of them UK citizens who had returned from "winter sun" holidays to The Gambia.
All three patients, in their 40s and 50s, had booked their holidays with the same travel website.
None had sought proper medical advice before travelling.
If they had, they would have been told that malaria is endemic in the Western African country they were travelling to and advised of the need to take appropriate precautions.
Simple measures like covering up the skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers and using insect repellent, as well as taking malaria prevention tablets, can help avoid infection with the parasite that causes the disease that is transmitted by mosquito bites.
The three patients that the doctors at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough treated all had the most serious form of malaria - falciparum malaria.
"And as well as doing your own research about the area you will be travelling to, make sure you leave yourself enough time to see a doctor, either your own GP or one at a travel clinic, for advice," he said.
A spokeswoman from Abta said most travel websites did carry information about the risks of malaria, but that this was not always "upfront".
She said there was also an onus on the consumer to check properly for advice.
"When people are in a hurry not everybody will look in true depth and do all the research they need to.
"We recommend travellers follow Foreign Office advice," she said.
via bbc.co.uk
Gambian eco holiday news, eco tourism and ethical holiday news in Gambia
Eco tourism and ethical holidays in Gambia
Our reputation with visiting eco-tour operators is unsurpassed and we have instigated a programe of 'eco tourist best practice' which is mirrored and respected throughout the region.
- Conservation
- Minimal Environmental Impact
- Sustainability
- Meaningful Community Involvement
- Environmental Education
In general, ecotourism is an insightful, mindful and participatory travel experience to natural and cultural environments, assisting the well-being of the local cultures and environments for future generations. At the same time ecotourism produces viable economic opportunities for the local areas.
Originally, ecotourism was defined as purely nature based, forgetting the impact tourism had on the local villages and culture. However, it quickly became apparent in the Gambia that trying to create a new type of tourism, which only focused on wildlife and the environment, while excluding the local villages, simply did not work.
We involve the local communities in the ecotourism decision-making process and has a high success rate in creating and sustaining profitable ecotourism projects that benefit the tourist, the local villages and the environment. We strive to bring the tourist in direct contact with the local people to experience their culture and sample their friendliness and hospitality. In addition to the main excursions on our programme, we have several special trips for the individual traveler and small groups.
We are very sensitive about the environment and many of our tours are designed to give our visitors another experience of The Gambia - different from what is generally offered to tourists. We are very flexible and we can help you design your own itinerary to suit your needs. We also organize airport transfers, hotel bookings, incentive tours and conferences.
We provide accommodation of all standards to visiting individuals, specialist groups and major international retail travel agents. Our continued success in the West African region is built on our close relationships with the owners or operators of local hotels and resorts, coupled with a thorough understanding of air, land or sea transportation arrangements and requirements.
We offer the Gambian Alternatives! Try us and see the difference!
Ghana News :: Nyantakyi is popular to win Caf election- Gambia FA boss ::: Breaking News | News in Ghana | sports
Gambia Football Association president Seedy Kinteh says Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi is popular at Caf to win next month’s Executive Committee elections.Nyantakyi will be competing against representatives from Benin, Niger and Togo for a single slot.
The elections will take place at the Caf 33rd Ordinary General Assembly on 23 February, 2011 in Khartoum, Sudan, prior to CHAN final.
Kinteh, a member of Kwesi Nyantakyi’s campaigning team, claims the Ghana FA boss has paid his dues in football administration to be awarded by the delegates.
“He is very popular at Caf and Ghanaians will know that by what happens in Khartoum. I have known him since 2005 and this man (Nyantakyi) deserves whatever he wishes on the continent, Kinteh said on a local radio station on Tuesday.
“Kwesi has been successful by qualifying the country to two successive World Cup finals and worked very hard for it so we need to encourage this humble and down-to-earth man in football.”
Kinteh is one of 20 African Football Association heads expected to grace the commissioning of a Fifa Goal project on Wednesday in Ghana.
The arrival of the various Football Association presidents is huge endorsement of Kwesi Nyantakyi as they are said to be huge supporters of the Ghanaian administrator.
Gambia Olympic News -IOC member charged with theft but denies allegations
January 25 - Beatrice Allen, the Acting President of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) and a member of the International Olympic Committee, has been arrested and charged with theft.
The 60-year-old is one of three GNOC officials, along with treasurer Ousman Wadda and accounting officer Muhammed Janneh, who have been accused of embezzling $1,500 (£950) from the organisation.
All three were arrested last Friday (January 21) and held in custody until they were bailed last night.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
Allen is due to appear in court again in the Gambian capital Banjul on February 2, just ten days before controversial elections are due to be held to pick a new President for the GNOC.
Duty Free Trade Zones in Africa, Duty Free Trade Zones in West Africa
Investing inside the Free Zones in The Gambia: Accessing the Incentives
Eligible investors shall be eligible for investment incentives which shall be accessed as follows:
- A list of all materials required during the construction and setting-up phases of a venture shall be pre-determined and approve upon the issue of a licence. This shall be sent to the Customs and Excise Department with instructions to waive customs entry duties and taxes upon the presentation of customs entry forms by licence holders accompanied by invoices, original bills of lading and packing lists;
- Similar notification shall be sent to the Income Tax authorities to exempt such taxes at the time of assessment;
- Goods ordered by Zone Enterprises shall be granted temporary admission by The Customs authorities on arrival to enable such imports to circulate freely within the Free Zones, and shall be eventually exonerated from the levy of customs duties and taxes upon the presentation of evidence that such goods have been exported to foreign markets. The modus operandi of the movement of goods in and out of the Free Zones and the rules governing the conduct of business within the Zones have been established by GIPFZA and contained in the "The Free Zones Regulation 2001".
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