Bare Minimum Wage!

Well hello! It's so nice to be back with you and I thank you for hanging in here with me! 

I'm going to make some changes in the days that I post to the blog. Before I was posting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but now it will be on Mondays and Fridays only. My Wednesdays have become very busy and my day is not usually finished to well after 10:00PM GMT after my Rotarian meeting. I'll still be posting on what's going on with me and also giving you some history and information on The Gambia. 

Today's post is focused on the now situation of Gambia's people. Enjoy and don't forget you're free to comment or ask questions. So let's get started.....

  

The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources besides its people. There have been rumors of oil being found, but to date no benefits from these rumors have been observed.

Approximately 60% of Gambians live in rural villages, although more and more young people come to the capital in search of work, education and a chance to leave Africa. Provisional figures from the 2003 census show that the gap between the urban and rural populations is narrowing as more areas are declared urban. While urban migration, development projects, and modernization are bringing more Gambians into contact with Western habits and values, indigenous forms of dress and celebration and the traditional emphasis on the extended family remain integral parts of everyday life.

Average wages in 2007 hover around $1-2 per day. Agriculture accounts for roughly 30% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs about 70% of the labor force. Within agriculture, peanut production accounts for 6.9% of GDP, other crops 8.3%, livestock 5.3%, fishing 1.8%, and forestry 0.5%. Industry accounts for approximately 8% of GDP and services approximately 58%. The limited amount of manufacturing is primarily agricultural-based.

The tourism industry is significant part of Gambia’s economy. Tourism in this country has three major strands. There is the traditional "sun, sea and sex" holiday making use of the hot climate and wonderful beaches although the government strives to increase cultural tourism. The Gambia is also usually the first African destination for many European bird watchers in view of its easily accessed and spectacular avian fauna. Most tourism is from the UK and European countries due to their close proximity and discounted tour packages.

Islam constitutes more than 90 percent of the religious population. An estimated 9 percent of the population is Christian and 1 percent practice indigenous animist religious beliefs. There is a small group of followers of the Baha’i Faith a small community of Hindus among South Asian immigrants ( a fast growing group). It is said that both Islam and Christianity are synchronized with Old Traditional African Religion.

                                                                Jola People