Christian community in the Gambia namely;Catholic Cathedraland Anglican Cathedral has frown at Gambian leader Adama Barrow for failure to declared the day a public holiday in observance of the Catholic feast of Saint Mary (Sang Marie).throughout the country.
Some came to your defence on Facebook saying that it was unnecessary as Saturday was not a statutory workday, Philip Saine in an open letter to Mr. President Adama Barrow.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary August 15th (Saint Mary or Sang Marie)the Mother of Jesus is considered one of the most significant Gambian Catholic feast days. The feast commemorates the assumption of Mary body and soul into heaven. The Island of St. Mary, the Catholic Cathedral, the Anglican Cathedral and the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace at Kunkujang are all named after Mary the mother of Jesus. Indeed this date has been a public holiday in the Gambia since 1954.
“Tamhrit 2020 fell on Saturday 29th August and you declared it a public holiday, three days prior, in observance of the Muslim New Year. Christians were flabbergasted to hear this, especially those who came to your defence when you failed to declare August 15; the traditional feast of Sang Marie, a public holiday though it fell on a Saturday too,” he said.
“Mr. President, your predecessor Ex-President YahyaJammeh tried to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims, and between ethnic groups, and he paid dearly for it. This is not the time to be indifferent or oblivious to religious sensitivities. Strengthening your relationship with the Christian minority is what you should be pursuing vigorously at this time in our political transformation, so as to secure its support for you in the future.
Mr. President, the Christian community eagerly waits to hear from you on the matter,” he said. Read the full text of Mr. Saine letter ion page 9
Economic Growth Projected At Negative 1.2 Percent in 2020 – Governor Jammeh
Bakary K. Jammeh, governor of Central Bank of The Gambia has revealed that economic growth is projected at negative 1.2 percentin 2020, reflectingthe impact of COVID 19 pandemic.
“The Central Bank’s Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA), which is a statistical measure of aggregate economic activity,shows a marked slowdown in economic activity in thesecond quarterof 2020, reflecting weaker demand.
The indicatorsfor both foreign and domestic demand weakened due to the impactof the pandemic,” he said at briefing of commercial bank managers at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting August 27, 2020
He added: “According to the business sentiment survey conducted by the Bank in the second quarter of 2020, majority of respondents reported that risks to the outlook remain elevated across all sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Majority of the firms also reported lower capital expenditure, sales and employment.”
He pointed out that the preliminary balance of payments estimatesfor the first six months of 2020indicate that the current account balance worsened to a deficit of US$62.9 million (3.5 percent of GDP) from a deficit of US$23.9 million (1.4 percent of GDP) in the corresponding period of 2019.
He said “This reflects wider trade deficit and a decline in the service account balance.”
Governor Jammeh also the goods account balance is estimated at a deficit of US$278.5 million (16.2 percent of GDP) in the first six months of 2020 compared to a deficit of US$194.4 million (11.0 percent of GDP) in the corresponding period in 2019.
He stated that the widening of the deficit in the goods account mainly reflectsthe increase in importsand afall in exports, especially re-exports in the second quarter of 2020
“From January to June 2020, imports amounted to US$336.4 million, higher than US$275.5 million in the same period in 2019. Exports decreased to US$52.1 million in the first six months of 2020 from US$70.1 million in the corresponding period of 2019.The surplus in the services account declined to US$38.3 million, or by 31.5 percent in the first six months of 2020 from US$55.9 million in the same period a year ago,” he told commercial bank mangers.
Governor Jammeh further revealed that the gross international reserves stood at US$306million, equivalent toover 5months of next year’s imports of goods and services, adding that the total foreign assets of the Bank amounted to US$325.4 million in August 2020.
“The supply conditions in the foreign exchange market continue to be favourable and the dalasi remains stable, supported by the higher-than-expected increase in private remittances and the steady inflow of official transfers.
The volume of transactionsin the foreign exchange market increasedto US$2.14 billion in the12-monthsto end-July2020 from US$2.12 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year,” he said.
According to him, purchases of foreign currency (indicating supply) increased by 0.1percent to US$1.06billion during the period, saying that similarly, sales of foreign currency, which indicates demand, alsoincreased by 1.5percent to US$1.07billion in the review period.
Governor Jammeh stated that the exchange rateremainsstable during the review period.
“The dalasi has benefited fromthe implementation of prudent policies, higherinflows of private remittancesand official inflows from our development partners. Remittances totaledUS$307 million from January to July2020.
This trend is expected to continuefor the remainder of 2020.12.From January to July 2020, the dalasi depreciated against the US dollar by 1.4percent and euro by 4.6 percent but appreciated against the pound sterling by 1.1percent).
4Fiscal Operations,” he announced.