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Ghaddafi Chanting With African Muslim Women At The Jerma Beach
29 July 2009
The Libyan leader, Brother Muarmar Al Gadhafi, in the evening of Tuesday, hours after arriving in the country, convened a meeting with Gambian women, at the Jerma Beach Hotel in Kololi. Described as a boost for women's empowerment, that meeting was graced by the Gambian vice president amd minister of Women's Affairs - Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the speaker of The Gambia's National Assembly, ministers, National Assembly members, senior government officials as well as members of the visiting Libyan leader's delegation. Tuesday's meeting, which is said to be in line with the Libyan leader's program and projects for women and children in Africa, availed the women of The Gambia the opportunity to highlight achievements registered by the Government of The Gambia in relation to women's empowerment and advancement as well as challenges facing the course. Addressing the meeting, Vice President Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy hailed the Libyan leader for according them the opportunity to dialogue with him despite his busy schedule. She told the visiting head of state that the women folk of this country, who form approximately 52 percent of the population, are active participants in all endeavours of national development, in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. In the formal sector, she told the Libyan leader, women constitute 25 percent of the workforce, noting that in recent years many have occupied top decision making positions in both government and the private sector. In the informal sector, Dr Njie-Saidy went on, women actively participate in horticultural production, the fisheries sector, export of goods and services, amongst a host of others. "Since the coming into effect of the July 22nd Revolution, the situation of Gambian women has experienced an unprecedented development, ranging from free education for girls, to free maternal and antenatal care," she stated. "For instance, women constitute 33.33 percent of the Cabinet, which exceeds the 30 percent recommendation of the African Union," she added, while commending the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for his unwavering efforts toward the course of women empowerment. The Gambia, VP Njie-Saidy went on to tell the Libyan leader, has fully ratified the protocol on the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, and she expressed government's commitment to the African Union Solemn Declaration. "In order to harmonize and domesticate all gender related protocols, The Gambia is in the process of enacting a Women's Bill," she revealed. However, despite the achievements, the vice president told the 'King of Kings' of African traditional leaders, there are some challenges involved. Key among these, she pointed out, include the lack of proper markets and marketing facilities for the women's farming products, particularly vegetable products. This concern, she noted, is one of the reasons why her ministry wishes to embark on a project that aims at constructing a modern marketing and processing facility for women. She observed that support will be appreciated in the areas of farming and domestic implements which will help the government in its drive towards food security. "We are aware of your support to women in Africa, and hope that women in The Gambia will equally benefit from such philanthropic gestures that you extend to other nations," she concluded. For his part, His Excellency Colonel Brother Moamar Gadhafi told the meeting that he was moved by the warm and hospitable reception accorded him and his delegation. Such a reception, he said, manifests the fact that the people in this country are happy and contented with the social, political, economic and security situation of The Gambia. Brother Gadhafi said that the meeting is in line with the fact that he always holds meetings with women and gets to know their concerns anytime there is an opportunity. He said that women should be equal in rights but not in duties. At this juncture, he stressed that African women should be educated and take the positions they deserve. In his view, a woman should be educated to the extent that her services are needed by the government, the society, and the people in general. To this end, the Libyan leader hailed President Jammeh for his women's empowerment initiative, making reference to his appointment of women to top government decision-making positions such as the vice presidency. He noted that it is fortunate to have a leader in The Gambia like President Jammeh. "As a matter of fact, women should think above the men about the future of Africa," he told the meeting. The Libyan leader also spoke at length about the future of the children, noting that as future leaders, the youth should be given attention. This, he noted, warranted him to propose a draft law to the African Union geared towards advancing the cause of children. Being a strong advocate for African unity, President Gadhafi used the opportunity to stress the need for continental unification, maintaining that there is no future for the continent without unity. He spoke about the fact that the continent can achieve its desired objectives only when it is unified and speaks with one voice. Africa, he said, is the richest continent, having all the resources in its possession. But he noted with regret the fact that the people of the continent are incapacitated to utilize those resources. The unity of the continent, he added, guarantees it ability to avoid colonialism and slavery, saying "we do not want to be colonized and enslaved again." The continent, Ghadafi added, should have its own single currency, market, security, amongst others. But this, he said, will be hard to achieve in the absence of unity. To this end, the African Union chairman praised The Gambia for been one of the countries that stand for African unity. Reiterating the need for unification, the Libyan leader, who is also the current African Union chairman, expressed optimism that they shall be victorious in their efforts for continental unity
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