NEWS
March 2000 - We have had some thought provoking discussions about trying to get CHARITY status for GTS, but also fun thinking about who we can ask to be our Patrons.
Other things are moving on slowly & Foday gave us a few worries
News page
What I thought was a major tragedy was the cutting down of this beautiful tree. It is difficult to appreciate its scale but the wall to its right was nearly 2 m high
If there are such things as preservation orders, organisations like GTS will have to ensure they are obeyed. There are however more pressing issues to deal with first.
Njundu's visa interview approaches, if successful he will visit the UK in mid June for 3 months to learn computing and improve his conversational English.
His visit will include taking in the sights and scenes of the UK
_______________
A recent TV programme featured a visit from a Caribbean African called 'Oneoff' to Norwich, to visit an lady who had fallen for him while on holiday.
Predictably it ended in tears, but unfortunately 'rich' European ladies by their actions encourage these situations and then feel that they have been exploited.
Who is exploiting who?
There are a number of issues about being a charity, one of course is its good work, which is the main purpose, but also the respectability of the cause and its recognition by the authorities. The airlines are very much more generous with extra baggage weight if you are a charity. And people are less likely to think you are just plain 'barking' mad.
We have had enormous pleasure out of suggesting who we will ask to be patrons and why. It started after my parents announced that we should be a registered charity and wrote a letter to the commissioners for practical details.
I would love to write out the full list and our reasons for wanting them, but eventually some will refuse, never reply and we would not want their names to be associated with their refusal.
However, if having looked at this site you can think of a really obvious patron, please email us with your suggestion and reasons, we might have already included them, but the more suggestions we have the better.
India is desperate to go out at Easter, with a bag of collected items for the people out there. Flights jump in price by over £100 at the school holidays, and she can't take the time off from her A level course to go outside those dates. She keeps looking for cheap late flights but is now beginning to despair.
The saga of Njundu's Visa application (Not yet reported here) will soon be over (we hope) This is his second application hearing - on the 21st of this month - more in the April News on that one.
The purchase of the land is still waiting for all the right paperwork, so nothing more to report in that area.
As yet we only have supporters of GTS, but we have raised nearly £100 in supporter donations, enough to start a GTS bank account. We always expected this to take off for the start of next season. November this year, BUT we had hoped that we might have a few Members travelling before the end of May. There's still time.
Foday frightened us with a day in hospital earlier this month, with a bad stomach, but after medicine and injections he's on the mend and looking forward to getting a helmet and jacket for his bike. He'll send a photo as soon as possible.
Work continues on the website and we are now trying to publicise it with the major search engines - BUT please pass on the new address to as many people as you can think of, you will be doing a big favour to anyone visiting The Gambia and of course helping the local people.
www.GambiaTouristSupport.com
"Do Good, Save Money & Time and Have a Better Holiday"
5
Top