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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Apr 2014 : 08:19:14
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1. RELATED BANTABA TOPICS:
Its reported unofficially that President Jammeh opens border again, having been snub by Senegal President Macky Sallah on the border closure in protest by Senegal transport union, left between the transport unions of two countries trying to settle it. Latest updates on opening and closing of borders:
2.Foroya Burning Issue News reports GAMBIA- SENEGAL BORDER OPENS
Published on Monday, 21 April 2014 | By Mustapha Jallow
The Gambia-Senegal borders which have been closed to commercial vehicles for over 4 months are now reopened. This has come as a sigh of relief to many people, including business persons, who mainly depend on cross border trade to make better livelihood. The much talked-about Senegal-Gambia border closure and restriction came to an abrupt end with the reopening of the Senegal-Gambia borders.
This latest development came after top officials of the Gambia Port Authority (GPA) met with the members of the Senegalese Transport Union, over the weekend, at the Kerr Ayib Border crossing point where the case of the reopening of the borders was the subject of an intensive discussion.
During the first stages of their meeting, this paper reported that there was no formal agreement, but as discussion advanced, both parties agreed to continue with consultation. On Tuesday morning of April 16, 2014, the Senegalese Transport Union that blockaded the border, announced the re-opening of the border. Confirming the developments to this reporter, Elhajj Ndao, a Representative of the Senegalese Transport Union at the Kerr Ayib border crossing point, said the reopening of the borders was effected since Tuesday 16th April, 2014. He also added that the decision to reopen the borders was a consequence of the fruitful discussion between the GPA and Senegalese Transport Unionists during a meeting in Kerr Ayib.
Mr. Ousman Drammeh of the Gambia Transport Union also confirmed the border reopening. He said today April 16 was the official opening,but the agreement that was reached between the GPA and Senegalese Transport Union, is yet to be signed. He said it would take time before the new agreement is implemented. He said he was informed that the reopening had been announced over Senegalese radio yesterday April 15th.
The Senegalese transport unionists had been protesting against the GPA’s ferry tariff increase for vehicles coming from across the border, to pay extra amounts and in CFA currency which they said was unreasonable.
They then closed the borders and restricted commercial vehicles from either country to enter the Gambia or Senegal, which took 4 months to resolve.
3. Related Foroyaa Burning Issue News Border Closure still a mystery Interior PS declines to comment
Published on Sunday, 27 April 2014 | Written by Mustapha Jallow
Since the closure of the Gambia/Senegal borders to all traffic on 19 April, no statement has been issued by any government authority to explain why the border is closed. This closure came just five days after it was re-opened, to relieve people on both sides of the border. When Foroyaa got in touch with the permanent secretary ministry of the interior on Wednesday, to seek an explanation, he directed that we should write a letter requesting for an interview which was done immediately.
But when the letter was delivered, there was no response and on the following day (Thursday), the permanent secretary declined to comment on the matter saying that he was not aware of what was happening.
The Senegal/Gambia borders were closed to commercial traffic by members of the Senegalese Road and Transport Union from January 2014 till 14 April, when an agreement between the union and the GPA was concluded.
The Union was protesting against payment of higher ferry tariff in foreign currency. During that period, many businesses were affected and only one ferry instead of two had been operating at Bamba Tenda Yelli Tender crossing point, which was a loss of revenue to the GPA.
4. Foroyaa Editorial OPEN THE BORDER TO SAVE THE RE-EXPORT TRADE
Published on Friday, 25 April 2014| Written by Ousman Njie
Neither the Gambian nor the Senegalese people could gain any benefit from border closure. The informal trade in the Sub-region is not well documented but analysts could read in between the lines to know that the re- export trade alone earns The Gambia more than Three billion dalasis per annum.
That is equivalent to one third of the National budget. The borders are the gate way for the re-export trade of the Gambia and the pathway for the movement of people, goods and services between Northern and southern Senegal and beyond.
Foroyaa has closely monitored the impact of the closure of the border and has reported on the contraction of business activity that it has engendered Therefore, after four months of closure, People on all sides of the border has welcomed the opening of the border.
The issuing of an executive directive to close it again is at best worrisome and at worst counterproductive. This action is most unexpected of the government which needs to boost earnings from import duties to increase revenue for public expenditure. Once the re-export trade is allowed to contract, government revenue will also follow. On the other hand, many people who are benefitting from the cross border trade are Senegalese entrepreneurs who repatriate their earnings to Senegal. Hence any contraction of the cross border trade would impact on their earnings.
The contradiction between the GPA and the Senegalese transport union led to a negotiation between the stakeholders which provided a unique opportunity to handle disputes without inter-state negotiation. Executive decisions however would move the contradiction to the rank of an inter-state dispute. The Early warning directorate of ECOWAS should take note.
Foroyaa will now follow the developments and keep the stakeholders and the general public informed.
 5. THE POINT NEWS REPORTS Gambia-Senegal frontier re-opens
Noted according to The Point; "No official announcement or reason was given then for closing the borders, and again there is no official announcement or reason given for the decision to re-open the frontiers on Friday 25 April."
 6. THE POINT NEWS REPORTS Jammeh and Macky Sall must sit and talk, says Ousainou Darboe
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Edited by - kobo on 29 Apr 2014 16:09:37 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2014 : 17:57:12
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 1. THE POINT EDITORIAL A call to pull down regional borders
Quoted from Editorial;
"The new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for dismantling hurdles frustrating free movement among member states.
“We need to push the initiative of the single border crossing point, because our people face a lot of hurdles when they travel from one country to another,” Ghana’s president said."
2. KAIRO NEWS TO FLASHBACK ON ECOWAS CHAIRMAN President Mahama’s Acceptance Speech |
Edited by - kobo on 30 Apr 2014 18:02:02 |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2014 : 04:26:36
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Great sensible idea not going to happen though !!!!
THE POINT EDITORIAL A call to pull down regional borders
[/quote] |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 01 May 2014 04:28:22 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2014 : 19:13:46
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FOROYAA BURNING ISSUES NEWS GAMBIA-SENEGAL BORDERS RE-OPENS AGAIN
Published on Friday, 02 May 2014 | Written by Mustapha Jallow
Reports have it that the Gambia-Senegal land borders have been reopened on Friday, 25th April 2014, upon another executive directive reversing the previous executive directive of Saturday 19 April. The re-opening of the border now allows the free flow of all sorts of vehicles.
According to Mr Gibi Ngum, Vice President of the Senegalese Transport Union (CNTS) at Karang, “the Gambian authorities who closed the borders have finally reopened the borders on Friday 25th, allowing the normal free flow of all types of vehicles.”
The border was first closed by the CNTS on 1 January 2014 in protest against the introduction of increased tariffs for ferry services to be paid in foreign currency by foreign registered vehicles which took effect on 1 January 2014.
The CNTS allowed government vehicles and private vehicles to pass through but not commercial vehicles. Related businesses were adversely affected. This continued until April when an agreement was struck between the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) and the CNTS and the border was re-opened to all vehicles.
But this was short lived as within five days The Gambia government again closed the borders to all vehicles without explanation.
When the Deputy Managing Director was contacted yesterday he explained that he was in a meeting and asked Foroyaa to get back to him today. We will inform our readers of developments accordingly. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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