The eagerly awaited
AU-Summit has just started and our country, The Gambia, is buzzing with
optimism. Just a couple of weeks ago Gambia witnessed a great roots
festival with international artists like Buju Banton, Beres Hammond and
the Marley Family, this festival generates lots of tourism and increases
the popularity of our small nation. The AU-SUMMIT however is predicted
to generate greater penetration on the world map and a wonderful
opportunity to market our developing nation.
Alex da Costa-
Head, of Media Information & Technology Division
In the heat of the
preparations for a successful event UkGambians.com managed to speak to
the Head of Media Information & Technology Division, Mr Alex da Costa,
about the key challenges and prospects of the Banjul AU-SUMMIT. Alex, a
former London resident, now resides in the Gambia. Having studied abroad
and work in various African countries and England, Alex is now in charge of the Media & Information Technology Division
for the AU - SUMMIT
Challenges
I started our
conversation by trying to find out key challenges they faced during the
preparation to the AU-SUMMIT. “One of the biggest challenges we faced
was to find suitable accommodation for the 52 head of states and also a
suitable venue to host the conference.” Thanks to Taf Constructions the
accommodation issue has now been solved”. Taf has done a wonderful job
in building 52 presidential villas within six months”. “These villas
come with full equipment to make the visitors stay as comfortable as
possible, there is also high speed internet access in each villa” said
the Head of Media Information & Technology Division.
Just a stone cast
from the presidential villas, Kharafi is building a five star
Sheraton Hotel which is due to be opened for the 2006/07 tourist
season. These kinds of projects will pave the way for further
investments which will speed up the development of our beloved Gambia.
“Although this hotel was not built for the purpose of hosting the
AU-SUMMIT conference we managed to get Kharifi’s men to modify their
building plans to accommodate a first class conference venue, they have
been great working together with”, said Alex.
Benefits
What benefits will
this summit bring? “We have already seen the street lights from the
shell petrol station in Kairaba Avenue leading all the way to the
airport, 6 new mega watts generators have been acquired to help
stabilize the electricity issue and we believe this solution will work”.
“Instead of relying on one main generator to supply the whole country,
we have now got 6 smaller once to divide that huge responsibility
within; we believe this will increase the electricity uptime”
Gambia is a country on the up unlike most other African countries and the
evidence is there to be seen. A third telecom service provider is due to
start, this will give a healthy competition to already established
Africel & Gamcel. This is a welcomed news within the Gambian community
with the prospect of price wars and service improvements. New air lines
offering direct flights from America and Spain have been initiated, yet another sign international
interest and investments that will enhance the prosperity of our nation.
Saul
Frazer
sfrazer@ukgambians.com
Date and Venue
At its Sixth Ordinary Session held in Khartoum, the Republic of Sudan, the Assembly of African
Union Heads of State & Government reconfirmed its decision to hold its
Seventh Ordinary Session in Banjul, the Republic of The Gambia.
Accordingly the Seventh Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African
Union Heads of State & Government will be held from 1st
to 2nd July 2006 at the Sheraton Gambia Hotel, and
will be preceded by the following meetings:-
a. The 12th Ordinary Session of the Permanent
Representatives (PRC)
b. The 9th Ordinary Session of Council of Ministers
(Executive Council).
Summit
Programme
25 – 26 June 2006: 12th Ordinary Session of the
Permanent Representative Committee
28 – 29 June 2006: 9th Ordinary Session of the
Executive Council
1—2 July 2006: 7th Ordinary Session of the Assembly
of African Union Heads of State & Government
Meetings:
Advance Party
Meetings
The AU Banjul Summit Coordinating
Secretariat will hold by mid-May 2006 Protocol and Security Advance
Party meetings to brief them about the AU Banjul Summit Programme.
