Bar week to be held annually

The members of the Gambia Bar Association, has unanimously agreed to hold Bar Week as an annual event due to the importance of such legal gathering, where ideas and experiences are shared.

This was disclosed at the just concluded Bar Week that brought together legal practitioners, legal expert, and a cross section of community from different walks of life.

This development follows a contribution by the President of the Gambia Female Lawyers Association, Lawyer Janet Sallah-Njie for the event to be held annually.

FLAG President urged her fellow lawyers to support the move as it's another milestone and the beginning of a new face of the Gambia Bar Association.

For his part, Surahata BS Janneh, the doyen of the Bar also supported the suggestion made by her colleagues, saying that "it's time to think ways and means of self-funding of this Bar Week as it is paramount to the legal profession where legal experts sit and exchanges ideas."

The doyen of the Bar, however, thanked the legal capacity-building programme phase II for funding this important event that will go a long way towards improving the profession of the legal industry.

According to him, they have learnt a lot from each other, thus up-scaling their intellectual capacity.

The President of the Bar Association Amie Bensouda disclosed that members have now agreed to annually hold the Bar Week, starting 2011.

Pap Cheyassin Secka and Sheriff Marie Tambedou, both senior counsel expressed similar sentiments, while emphasizing the need for the formation of a committee to look into the issue.

Lawyer Lamin LK Mboge also recommend for the senior category of lawyers to be honoured for their commitment and hard work towards the profession.

State counsel Ebrima Sanneh, at the Attorney General Chamber also made a good suggestion about helping at least the best student of the University of the Gambia Law faculty each year, through raising funds to support them in their education.

In response to his suggestions, Amie Bensuoda, GBA prexy said the association is confronted with a series of challenges, notably the lack of resources.

Robert Hutley, the Project Manger of the LCPB project said the occasion marks the beginning of a new face for the Bar.