Pupils send cash and love to Malawi

TULLIBODY Primary school, St Bernadette’s RC, handed over a cheque for £1,100 to former First Minister Jack McConnell to donate to a school in Malawi.

Over three years pupils have now raised around £2,600 for Nankwala Catholic School in Malawi by doing sponsored obstacle races and through selling healthy food in the tuck shop. Image
Links were formed with their Malawian peers after Father Titus Bayani came to visit St Bernadette’s and tell them about the school in Africa which has over 1,000 pupils and only 11 members of staff.

Headteacher, Mr McMonagle, said: “I was very pleased when we raised £750, so to have raised £1,100 this year is fantastic.

“Father Bayani’s visit has helped to increase the children’s awareness of the poverty in Malawi and they have been able to see how their fundraising efforts can make a huge difference.

“It has also made us all realise how fortunate we are. I am delighted by our pupils effort.”

Before turning to politics Jack McConnell was a maths teacher at Lornshill Academy in Tullibody and said: “I am delighted to return to the place I know well.”

He is set to become the next British High Commissioner to Malawi in 2009 and first started trying to establish links between Scotland and the African country during his term as First Minister.

He said: “My first priority as first minister was to look after the interests of Scotland and inspire lives, but I believed we should give to the rest of the world as well.

“Given how small a school this is it is quite some achievement what these pupils have done and we can see from photos of the school in Malawi how it has blossomed.

“If Children in Need could get the everybody to raise the same amount as each child in
St Bernadette’s has then they would make over £750 million.”

Guitarist Thibault Cauvin dates Malawi

French guitarist Thibault Cauvin is expected in Malawi's commercial capital Blantyre the coming weekend. The talented guitarist who has travelled extensively is on a world tour sponsored by French Cultures. His first performance in due on Saturday.

On Tuesday the artist who will be curtain raised by Malawi’s Jazz band Kaligo Melodies led by guitarists Collen Ali and Peter Likhomo perform in the country’s capital of Lilongwe at Umunthu Theatre.

The show which will see people paying Malawi Kwacha 1500(US$ 17) adults and Malawi Kwacha 500(US$ 3.4) promises thrills.

Malawi’s FCC official Nadine Ndabemeye said this was a must not miss show for Malawians adding that the French artist was bringing out good music.

“I call upon all people to come with their families and enjoy music and they will come out of FCC satisfied. We also have the best from Kaligo Melodies so it will be a special night,” said Ndabemeye.

The French guitarist was born on July 16th 1984 and began learning classical guitar at the age of 6 years with his father Philip, the guitarist and composer.

Cauvin has played with some famous orchestra like the string orchestra Montana (USA), the chamber orchestra of Coahulia (Mexico), the Philippines National Orchestra (Philippines), the Bernard Thomas orchestra (France) or the orchestra of the National Conservatory of Bordeaux (France).

The French artist has received several awards among them “The prize of the Arts” from the Rotary Club of Bordeaux which he received in 2003.

He also has played for different TV programs in France, Spain, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Algeria, Morocco, Antilles Island, radio stations in France and USA among others.

The artist who has collaborated with several famous composers recorded his first CD when he was 16 for the Independent French label KI Record.

Malawi to issue $36 million 3-year bond - c.bank

Malawi will issue a three-year bond worth 5 billion Malawi kwacha on June 25, Reserve Bank of Malawi said on Wednesday, six months after parliament forced government to withdraw its a 5-year bond.

The central bank said in a statement the bond would have a fixed rate of 10 percent, with interest payable twice a year. The proceeds would be used to fund development projects, it said.

In January, the bank withdrew a five-year bond after legislators demanded that government explain the purpose of the bond.

Currently, the government raises money from 30 days, 181 days and 272 day-Treasury Bills.

GRP TO OPEN NEW BANKS IN LAOS & MALAWI BY YEAR END

Financial Group Holdings AG, the holding company for ICB Banking Group, has obtained approval to open new commercial banks in Laos and Malawi by end of this year.

Group chief executive officer Harith Harun said Wednesday the bank planned to open two branches in each country initially, adding that the new banks would be 100 percent owned by the group.

Harith said the move was in line with the bank's strategy to expand its network in emerging economies, where it currently has two banks in Asia and eight in Africa.

He said from the management office based in Malaysia, the group was currently managing banks in 11 countries, namely Indonesia, Bangladesh, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Djibouti and Albania, with about 130 branches.

He was speaking to reporters after a signing ceremony between the group and SAS Malaysia here to implement the SAS banking intelligence solutions to better streamline and manage banking operations.

On the investment required for the new banks, Harith said: "In terms of capital requirement, Laos required us to invest more." However, he did not disclose any figures.

Asked whether this was right time to open new banks amid uncertainties in the global market, Harith said: "We are still continuing with our plan. We do a thorough study before we invest in any country. Looking at all the fundamentals before we decide whether to enter the country or not. It's not something that we decide in a short time basis."

"We still in the expansion mood. We are also looking at opportunities to expand in neighbouring countries in Asia," he said.

The group, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange, has allocated US$2 million to implement the SAS solutions in the region, Harith said.

"This is the first phase, with a duration of six to nine months," he said, adding that other countries would be covered in the next phase.

The group is starting with the use of the SAS financial management and management information systems solutions to help it report, manage and improve financial performance.

"With the management office located in Kuala Lumpur, partnering and tying up with SAS Malaysia will bring about about positive synergies and cost effectiveness benefits," Harith said.