By Kebba Jeffang Youth delegates at the recently concluded 11th Edition of the National Youth Conference and Festival (NaYConF) 2014 at Mansa Konko in the Lower River Region (LRR) commented on the successes and shortcomings of the organisation of this major gathering of young people around the country which ended on Saturday, 20th Decemeber, 2014. According to Sherrifo Fofana, a 22 year old delegate from the Kanifing Municipality, the accommodation arrangement was very poor as they were sleeping in open classrooms in very cold conditions. He also alleged that the athletic officials were bias in their officiating of the games. As for Kalifa Sanneh, a basketball player representing West Coast Region also queried the accommodation arrangement which he described as unsatisfactory. He was however quick to add that everything cannot be like home. Sanneh also decried what he called ‘bias refereeing’ and accusing match officials of supporting the regions they came from. Fatou Bah, a delegate from Central River Region (CRR), expressed her excitement for attending NaYConF for the first time. She said other than the poor accommodation arrangement accorded to them, everything else went well for her and team mates. A WCR delegate, Mamadou A.M Bah, thanked the organisers for the event. However, he lamented the delay in the commencement of programmes and events which, he said, was a daily problem. He cited the late arrival of panelists at the sessions which should have been avoided for the conference. ]]>
