By: Ousman Saidykhan

One Alpha Barry who is standing trial at the Kanifing Magistrate Court, having been allegedly found in possession of a stolen mobile phone, has finally opened his defence barely a week after he refused to do so.

On the 10th of August 2022, the accused refused to open his defence after the prosecution closed its case, saying “I will not do what you are asking me to do. I don’t do such things.”

His refusal to open his defence led to the adjournment of the case to the 18th of August 2022.

Just like the other day, the accused was told on Thursday, the 18th, that he has options before he began his defence.

He could choose to remain mute, take an oath and give his evidence after which he would be cross-examined, or give his evidence without taking an oath where he would not be cross-examined. He chose to take the oath and give evidence.

In his testimony, the accused said he was heading to Serekunda from Nema to buy dinner around 12 am to 1 am because he could not find dinner at Nema at that time of the morning.

“Then I found a phone on the ground and picked it. I went to the police station, there was an accident; then an officer came and told me he would need to search me.

“He searched me and found a phone with me and said he suspected the phone was stolen. I spent the night at the police station and I was taken to the CID the following day. They pushed my case to the prosecution. That is how they brought me to court,” Alpha Barry narrated.

The accused said after picking up the phone, he was expecting that if there was a sim card, the person would have called the phone and he would have returned it.

The said phone is marked “Winko” but the value is unknown.

The accused has no witness to call in his defence. The case was adjourned to the 31st of August 2022 for judgment.

By Alimatou S. Bajinka

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of TAF Africa Global, Mustapha Njie, has said the Gambia’s source of conflict in recent times has been “land issues.”

“The sources of conflict in this country in recent days is due to land issues. This is because the Gambia is ranked 8th as the most densely populated country in Africa at about 176 people per square kilometre compared to Senegal, which is 19^th; this is to show that we are very densely populated,” Njie said on The Fatu Network’s Giss Giss show.

Mr Njie said the Ministry of Local Government and Lands is responsible for housing in the country but has no time for housing. He urged the government to look into breaking down the Ministry into two.

The TAF Global CEO said the Lands Ministry is very technical as it includes housing, development control, lands etc. The real estate mogul said the other wings of the ministry, which include chiefs and ‘alkalos’ are political.

“So all these issues are a result of people not having where to live; that is why there is push and pulls about lands everywhere. This is because people no longer have a place to live.

“Let’s urged the government to look into splitting the Ministry of Local Governments, Lands and Religious Affairs into two and put competent people in the Lands Ministry who are technicians and people who know the job. So that those people can work with Social Security because we are the ones paying. They are investing in ventures that have nothing to do with their mandates,” Mr Njie said.

By: Hadram Hydara

Cadet ASP Binta Njie has confirmed her appointment as the new police PRO. She takes over from Lamin Njie.

The Fatu Network contacted Binta Njie with regard to her appointment, however, she said the office is yet to be formally handed over to her, but once that is sorted out, she will engage the media.

Meanwhile, former police PRO, Lamin Njie, has been redeployed to the Community Policing Unit. Lamin confirmed both his redeployment and Binta’s appointment as PRO.

“Yes, the news is true. Binta is taking over as PRO. I have been redeployed to the Community Policing Unit,” the former Police PRO told the Fatu Network.

The new police PRO, who becomes the first female to occupy the position, is the first cousin of the renowned broadcast journalist, Fatu Camara.

By: Haddy Ceesay

Recent flash floods, in many communities in The Gambia, destroyed several homes and rendered hundreds homeless and vulnerable. Since the occurrence, there has been stagnant water in the affected areas.

According to an inconclusive results of laboratory tests conducted by the Health Ministry, the stagnant flood waters are contaminated with bacteria which causes diarrhea in children.

Dr Mustapha Bittaye, Director of Health at the Ministry of Health, told this medium that the test is inconclusive, but disclosed that they have already found bacteria that causes diarrhea.

“We sent some samples to Dakar, Senegal for toxicological studies and other related matters. So far, we have got a lot of samples showing bacteria which causes diarrhea in children,” he said

Dr Bittaye explained some precautionary measures in preventing diarrhea.

“You should wash your hands before preparing meal or after using the rest room. Not washing your hands is unhealthy because bacteria are very small.”

Dr Bittaye advised parents to take their sick children, who show symptoms of diarrhea, to the nearest hospital without delay.

He reiterated that people should be washing their hands regularly with soap and water, especially before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet.

He noted that adhering to such hygiene practices can prevent someone from contracting many infections or diseases.

The Director of Health urged parents not to allow their children enter or play in stagnant waters, emphasizing that the waters are contaminated.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Gambian first Division League Champions, Hawks FC, are divided on which camp to support ahead of the Gambia Football Federation Presidential election as two executive members of the team are up for different positions in the two camps jostling for supremacy at the country’s football house on August 27th.

The club’s General Secretary Sadibou Kamaso is leading Team Restore Confidence as its presidential candidate whiles Vice President Momodou Musa Njie is a co-opted member of Team Kaba’s executive, a situation that created a fissure in the team and warranted a temporal partial suspension to both Sadibou Kamado and Modou Musa Njie from the administrative affairs of the club.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, the President of Hawks, James Gomez, confirmed that, as of now, both Kamaso and Njie are not playing a role in the executive functions of the club.

The former minister said that he is the only one doing all the official correspondence of the club because they didn’t want Sadibo Kamaso to sign anything that the club may not want.

When the retired politician was quizzed about why Sadibou Kamaso is not doing his work as the General Secretary of Hawks FC, he explained:

“Because when I have a divided house and I want to keep it in order, I as the President, I have to take certain decisions. That is why I suspended his signature because if he signs something for the club now, which we don’t know, it will create more problems. I have to be very careful now. I am the one signing every letter for Hawks”.

He confirmed to TFN that both Sadibou and Modou Musa Njie have no roles to play in the team.

“They both have no roles to play. I am the one doing all. When you go to my table now, you will find the files there. I am the one responsible for the club now until we put our house in order. This is not good for us to have one party here and the other there,” he pointed out.

The Hawks FC President, however, admitted that withholding Kamaso’s responsibilities from him at the club is bad for him in his bid to become the leader of the country’s football governing body, but maintained that he has to preserve what the club is built on since its inception.

According to him, Sadibou Kamaso announced his bid for the presidency to the public before informing the leadership of the club. He told TFN that he was the one who advised Sadibou to formally write to the club. However, he said Sadibou eventually did, but the timing was too late to prevent the division. He went further to assert that Hawks may not even vote in the August 27th GFF presidential election.

Gomez, the only living founding father of Hawks, said that there is room for the club to settle disputes and that he will not disclose their internal problems to the media.

Hawks FC is the champions of the Gambia Football Federation Division One League and they have registered to take part in the CAF Club Champions League preliminary rounds.

By: Modou Touray

Mixed-crop farmers in Bafuloto settlement in Kombo Central have cried out for help as livestock continuously intrude their porous farmlands and destroy their crops.

Mix-cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops on the same piece of land during one farming season. In other words, it is when multiple crops are grown simultaneously on the same farm. This cropping system is said to help farmers double their crop productivity and income.

Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain mostly grown during the rainy season in The Gambia.

In an exclusive interview on her farmland, Binta Sarjo highlighted to this medium the challenges she endures in cultivating and nurturing her crops to maturity. “I grow a variety of crops on my farmland. I cultivate casava, potatoes, okra, onion and maize.”

The farmland of Binta Sarjo is near a wetland area with other farmlands and vegetables gardens. The area is more than a kilometer. Much of the space is cultivated by women with vegetable gardens next to the crop fields.

“I need to fence the farmland because animals, especially goats and cattle, intrude our fields frequently. I earn about D20,000 yearly from my farm,” Sarjo disclosed.

According to her, pest and disease outbreaks occasionally affect their farms.

“I often buy pesticides and spray on the entire farm. We cannot buy fertilizer in large quantity due to its cost, we instead buy per kilo.”

Neneh Mendy is another farmer who cultivates potato in large scale. She however mixes the potato with other crops on her farm.

“I pay labourers always to clear my farmland. I use the proceeds of my harvest to take care of domestic expenses. I need assistance to be able to fence my farmland with wires. “It will be a great lost if animals continue to destroy our crops. We suffer here a lot with hard labour. Our husbands cannot do everything; therefore, we need to support especially when the family is large,” she explained.

Muhammad Kanyi is a male farmer who often helps women on the farm.

“Indeed, the women face serious problem with intruding animals. Fencing of the fields is crucial for protection of crops.

We use heavy sticks with local fencing system, but it never last longer. The best method is proper modern fencing with strong wires,” Kanyi voiced.

He spoke at length on the significance of farming for commercial and domestic use.

Reacting to the concerns of the farmers, Secretary General of the National Livestock Owners Association, Mr Modou Sowe pleaded with crop farmers not to physically harm animals but rather negotiate with them to provide compensation for damages.

“It’s important to take the animals to the village head who usually mediates between farmers and livestock owners. However, we always advise all livestock owners to control their animals, especially during farming season,” he said.

Mr Almameh Sanneh, a retired agricultural extension officer, shared his expertise on the importance of providing proper fencing for backyard farmlands.

“If there is no proper fence, animals will intrude thereby affecting yields. As long as they are mixing crops on the farm, water supply and fencing are basic necessities.”

By: Karimatou Jallow

Residents of Bakoteh have called on the government to relocate the Bakoteh dumpsite, saying the bad smell and smoke coming from the dumpsite is a risk to their health.

“We are being disturbed by the bad odour of the rubbish that is being dumped here every day, however, a fence has been built in the area but still we are not saved because whenever it starts smoking it pollutes the whole environment,” Ebrima Touray said.

Touray said efforts have been made to stop people from dumping in the area but to no avail as people still dump in the area. However, he encourages the residents of Bakoteh not to give up on stopping them from dumping rubbish in the area. He calls on the government to support them and relocate the dumpsite to another place.

“We are grateful for the fence that was built around the dumpsite because things have changed a little bit compared to years back when there was no fence. However, this place needs a lot of improvement and it’s only the government that can help us with it,” Tida Sillah said.

She said all her children are asthmatic patients and it is because of the smoke that is coming out of the dumpsite.

“In most cases, I have to send my children to my sister’s house until it stops smoking if not it will disturb them. I urge the government to relocate the dumpsite to another place because our health is more important,” Sillah lamented.

“The dumpsite should be relocated to somewhere else because residents of Bakoteh are being affected a lot. Most of our children are suffering from serious diseases and it’s as a result of the smoke that is coming out of this place. Moreover, when it starts to smoke we all have to drink milk in order to stay comfortable, “Ndey Ngum said.

According to her, the dumpsite has to be relocated to a place where it will not affect the people because their health is more important than anything.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

One Ebou Ceesay has been arraigned at the Kanifing Magistrate Court for allegedly breaking “wilfully” the front windscreen of a tricycle (tuk tuk) earlier this month in Bakoteh.

With the registration number BJL 1041C, the tricycle in question, being the property of one Kali Ceesay, is said to be valued at D7,500.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying he did not do it willfully as indicated in the charge sheet.

“I broke the windscreen because he (the owner of the tricycle) had trespassed. He crossed the no-parking area and was speeding. I had to stop him,” the accused said as the charge was read to him.

The accused, Ebou Ceesay, is charged with malicious injury to property which is an offence under section 312 of the Criminal Code of the Gambia.

If found guilty as charged, the accused person may be sentenced to up to 2 years in prison.

The case was adjourned to the 30th of August 2022. He is also granted bail of D10,000 and a Gambian surety.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The National Youth President of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), MC Cham Jr, has President Adama Barrow has now turned the country’s foreign service into a “dumping ground” for his political allies to reward their loyalty.

He made these claims while speaking to The Fatu Network on the appointment of over ten Gambians into the country’s diplomatic service.

Cham, who has been a vocal critic of Barrow’s government said the situation in the country is sad and that President Barrow cannot resist the pressure.

“It is so sad that now our foreign service is a dumping ground for the supporters of the President. Barrow has turned our foreign services into a dumping ground for any politician and I think is high time we minimise the numbers,” he asserted.

The GDC youth leader further alleged that the appointment of the former United Democratic Party’s (UDP) sacked Parliamentarians into the Gambia’s foreign service are as a result of the pressure on the government from President Barrow.

“This is pressure from the government particularly from the President that these people have risked their lives by contesting in the election to support his agenda. Now the pressure is too much on Barrow, so he has no choice but to offer them these foreign services positions.”

Three of the sacked UDP National Assembly Members who cross-carpeted to President Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) and failed to gain re-election to the parliament in the April elections have been sent to the foreign services.

Saikouba Jarjue, the former NAM for the Busumbala Constituency, has been assigned the first secretary at the Gambian Mission in Mauritania.  Saikou Marong, who was the NAM for Latrikunda and Alhagie Jawara of Lower Baddibu are appointed as Counsellor in Morroco and First Secretary at the Gambia Embassy in Saudi Arabia respectively.

Other appointments include the Alliance Patriotic Reorientation and Construction’s (APRC) Rambo Jatta and politician Sheikh Tijan Hydara of Gambia Alliance for National Unity.

According to MC Cham, the foreign service is now a dumping ground for any politician.

He argued that foreign service appointments cannot be any person but people with the right tools and diplomatic credentials to create something meaningful for Gambia and Gambians, instead of just being referred to as Gambians.

By: Modou Touray

Nomadic herdsmen move with their cattle from one place to another in search of food and water; also move away from areas of pests and disease infestation. This constant unsteadiness exposed them to the risk of being hit by a speeding car hence their movements often involve crossing a motor highway.

“The cattle don’t belong to us; we are hired to take care of them. They are under our care and we ensure that they get food by moving them to areas of greener pastures,” Cherno Kandeh a herdsman said.

He emphasized the need for drivers to watch out for crossing cattle, noting that domestic animals also have the right to movement and killing them by over-speeding is reckless. He said motorists do hit-and-run.

“I came from Basse to work for a cattle owner in Kitty, last year alone 3 of my cows were hit on the Gunjur highway. The motorists normally hit and never stop. It is difficult at that instant to identify the driver and the number of the vehicle,” Demba Bah said.

Cattle stand perpendicularly to the sun’s rays in the cool morning to absorb heat through their large flanks, or they stand in the direction of strong winds to avoid being unduly buffeted and chilled.

The cattle herdsmen struggle to feed their animals in a volatile environment. In addition to the lack of sufficient grazing land, water shortages and disease infection, killing them by a speeding vehicle is another emergency, ugly predicament for Their survival.

“The first time a vehicle knocked and killed a cow under my care, the cattle owner blamed me for carelessness. I had to terminate my contract with him and move to another area. I am now working with a different farmer. This can cause us joblessness and even pay compensation to the cattle owner because the drivers normally hit and disappear,” Decori Baldeh said.

Mbye Sowe is another herdsman who lost 5 cows within a year. He works for a renowned cattle farmer.

“If it’s a large animal, crouch down under your steering wheel in case the animal comes through the windshield. If you do hit the animal, pull over to the edge of the road safely,” Mbye Sowe advised.

Following claims by herdsmen, I spoke to a few drivers plying Gunjur highway to get their reactions.

Alagie Saidy and Lamin Bojang, both commercial drivers, confirmed the occasional killings of cattle by drivers.

“It happens by incident sometimes but it’s never our fault. They can’t scatter their cattle on the highway. I used to see cattle crossing but sometimes the herdsmen are not closer to them to ensure that they cross smoothly,” Abdoulie Njie said.

Samba Colley defended the drivers, arguing that they obstruct traffic. The drivers plying the Kombo South highway blame herdsmen for not controlling their cattle.

Loss of fertile grazing land for farming, loss of access to water sources for their herds, and lack of recognition of traditional territory and communal land holdings area are major challenges for herders.

Crossing through traffic is another challenge that could affect the growth of livestock farming.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Archbishop Professor Sam Zuga, a Nigerian business tycoon and founder of Zuga Coin Cryptocurrency, has said the only identity Europe has for Africa is poverty, adding that is why young Africans are dying in the desert trying to leave the continent in search of greener pasture. Professor Zuga made this remark during his visit to Banjul at the opening of the International Society of Diplomats’ chapter in Gambia.

The 51-year-old businessman said it is time for Africa to become re-independent, adding that the available opportunities in Africa are ignored.

“Some of us grew up to discover that we are being dictated to by the West on what we do. Everything we need must come from them. A lot of young Africans are dying in the deserts trying to leave the continent for Europe in search of greener pastures simply because of the wrong way Africa is portraited by the West.

We feel that the only way we can make it is when we leave Africa. We also underrate ourselves and believe that whatever is made in Africa is not of high standard,” he explained.

Professor Zuga disclosed that during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Africans were sold in exchange of gum-powder, mirrors among other items.

Speaking further, the business tycoon bemoaned the Africans mentality of believing that whatever is made in Africa is inferior while things made in Europe are superior.

“If people wear African dress, we look low upon them but if they wear European dress most of us will celebrate them because the dress is made in Europe.”

The Zuga Coin owner said Africa has gold, diamond and many other natural minerals that the continent can rely on to standout, but noted that the continent import almost everything and export little or nothing.

“Poverty is the only sickness that Africans are struggling with. Everyone considers us as poor people and they see us as good customers for their medicines.

They come to donate us medicines because they see us as sick and poor people. Anytime they are showing pictures of wealthy people they show the other parts of the world but anytime they are talking about poverty, pictures of African children and women begin to fly.”

He added that Africa needs to recover its lost dignity and becomes truly independent. “The problem is that we don’t believe in our potentials, and we believe black men and women cannot do anything of high standard.”

Sheriff Baldeh, a pan-African, spoke on opportunities in having African digital currencies.

“We have all the necessary minerals in Africa that will stand and lead the world by getting well-backed digital currencies that could be inter traded worldwide,” he said.

By: Haddy Ceesay

The Kanifing Municipal Council under the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Programme project has started a tree planting exercise which aims to plant 190,000 trees across the 19 wards within the municipality. The project is said to mitigate the impact of climate change in the country.

Representing the Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambian Armed Forces, Lieutenant Col Kuluteh Manneh said people living at Fajara Baracks are responsible for taking care of trees.

“It is our responsibility to make sure that taking care of the trees is not underrated. We must make sure that they stand alive,” he added

Tablib Ahmed Bansouda, the Major of Kanifing Municipality Council, disclosed that they will plant ten thousand trees in every ward to green their municipality.

Bansouda stated that the major considerations of the project are waste management, resource mobilization, wider environmental improvement, and technical and governance capacity building.

“We intend to plant over 190,000 trees within the municipality by using our ward system,” he added.

Aliue Njang, Director of KETP project, explains the significance of the project, addings that he believes the trees they are going to plant will be looked after.

He added that the tree planting exercise contributes to national development.

“We are trying to generate a sustainable city,” he said.

Tree planting is the process of transplanting tree seedlings, generally for forestry, land reclamation, or landscaping purposes.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Literary writing in the Gambia is a challenging adventure that many tried but failed to succeed in. It has led many into succumbing to sharing their literary works for free. For the few that ventured into it, they have shouldered some financial burden, especially beginners.

Young published authors, Ismaila Saidybah and Kebba S. Juwara have been struggling with the challenges Gambian writers face; high literary content, and low sales. In this exclusive, the two young writers bemoaned the low sale of their books after publication in The Gambia.

Mr Saidybah, the author of Sins Of A Father and Dreams of An Ophan, said The Gambian Literary market is very tough. The award-winning young writer and the founding coordinator of Writers Space outlined the high cost of publishing a book and the financial rewards after publication.

“It is extremely hard. The Sins of a Father took me almost two years to publish. I first reached out to Fulladu Publishers and the first quotation I got was D48,000. That was too expensive. I also reached out to Gambia Printing and Publishing Cooperation and the cost was almost the same,” Saidybah explained.

Sins of a Father was published in 2019. However, according to the young author, he printed six hundred copies but not more than one hundred copies have been sold.

The Gambia literary scene is inundated with a good number of unpublished writers. Publishing a book in the Gambia has been a nightmare for many due to the cost involved. With only a few publishing houses in the Gambia, many Gambian writers are left with no choice but to self-publish at their own cost.

Another young author, Kebba S. Juwara, who published The Spilled Beans this year, echoed similar frustrations to The Fatu Network. The zealot author said he preferred publishing his book abroad but finance hindered his dream. He had to self-publish in the country.

“Publication is generally cumbersome, both financially and effort-wise.

It took me so many consultations to compile and edit my work. I had to get a proofreader to do proofreading; I was lucky to get it from my mentor, however, it is most costly if charged.

Then I needed to contact publishers. It’s expensive both at home and abroad. I preferred abroad but the company I contacted took so much time to respond, so I published on Amazon, self-publishing style,” Juwara pointed out.

The 2020 Covid-19 Short Story Winner, Saidybah, who, despite the low sale of his debut novel Sins of A Father, has not given up on writing. In 2021, he published his second book, Dreams of the Ophan through Suba Kunda Publishing, which published the book for free.

He called on the government of The Gambia through the National Centre for Arts and Culture to create a special budget line for those in the creative industry so that young writers will be encouraged to write. He explained that many young writers are having complete manuscripts but could not go further due to enormous financial challenges in publishing a book in The Gambia.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Dam Gaye, a Senegalese has been arraigned at the Kanifing Magistrate Court for allegedly “willfully” breaking the windscreen of a motor vehicle owned by one Gibril Jaiteh. The windscreen is valued at D5,300.

The accused was charged with Malicious Injury to Property contrary to Section 312 of the Criminal Code Cap 10.01 Volume 3 Laws of The Gambia which attracts a punishment of up to two-year imprisonment term.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. “It was not done willfully. The car knocked me and my elbow hit the windscreen – then it got broken,” the accused, Dam Gaye said.

The Complaint and first prosecution witness, Gibril Jaiteh narrated that he was driving his Benz, whose registration numbers is BJL 3565 R, from Serekunda to Senegambia on the day of the incident.

“When I got to Tippa-garrage, I saw the accused person fighting with another boy. I decided to slow the vehicle for fear that I might hit someone.

The other one whom the accused was fighting with crossed the road while the accused jumped on my windscreen and broke it,” the witness told the court.

He continued that he stopped the vehicle and took the accused to the police station where complainant gave statement.

The accused person told court the witness hit him and fell in a stagnant water along the road. However, the witness said he hit the accused but he (the accused) did not fall.

As opposed to the D5,300 indicated in the particulars of offence being the value of the windscreen, the witness, in his evidence, said the windscreen is valued at D4,500.

The accused was granted bail on the sum of D10,000 with a Gambian surety.

The case was adjourned to the 25th August 2022.

By: Karimatou Jallow

Some Gambians within the Kanifing Municipality have expressed dissatisfaction over the prices of commodities in the market and called on the government to control the prices of basic commodities in the country.

“Commodities have become very expensive and these are commodities that we need in our daily life. I urge the government to take responsibility for controlling the prices of commodities in the country if not we will all be affected,” Mariama Joof said.

Joof said people are from different backgrounds and not everybody will be able to afford these expensive prices because for others no matter how expensive it becomes they will be able to survive while others will not survive. She called on the government to take responsibility for controlling prices in the country.

“Commodities are expensive in the market because the government is not doing their job as it should be, that is why everything in the market is expensive.

“Am not gaining much profit in this business. I am just selling because I have no other thing that I am engaged in. Moreover, my children are also helping me to solve some of my needs, but this business alone will not sustain my needs. I call on the government to build factories so that Gambian youths will be employed,” She added.

Things are becoming very hard in the country. Commodities are very expensive in the market and those expected to take control of the prices of commodities in the country are silent. Moreover, we have no choice but to buy them at any cost because they are needs that we cannot do away with but the authorities are fully aware of the price hikes in the market and are urged to come up with a solution if not this suffering will not end,” Mariama Colley said.

Colley said this problem is all over the world, however, she said that should not be an excuse from the government, saying that every problem has a solution. She called on the government to build factories so that goods or commodities can be manufactured in the country, instead of exporting them from the outside country and also employment will be available for the youth.

The rest also gave the same statement, saying that the government should address the situation instead of keeping silent because silence will not solve the problem.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

A young Senegalese man, Abubacarr Sillah is standing trial before Principal Magistrate Jabang for allegedly stealing two phones equivalent to D37,500.

The two allegedly stolen phones are; iPhone 11 Pro and Samsung A20 valued at D30,000 and D7,500 respectively; belonging to one Fatoumatta Erma Mook and Fatoumatta Jammeh.

Sillah was accused to have committed the act at the Senegambia Palma Beach on 11^th June 2022.

“We were at the beach playing football. A little while later, I went to where our bags were and found them open. I could not see our phones. Then I called Erma,” the 3rd prosecution witness, Fatoumatta Jammeh told the court.

She narrated that before the phones were stolen, the accused came and greeted her and Katty, her friend and sat opposite them but she (the witness) was not playing football at that time.

He told the court that the accused asked her to go join her other friends to play. “I told him I was tired,” she said.

The witness continued that the accused was wearing two trousers, one of which he forgets at the beach after stealing their phones.

“We found a number in a pocket of the trouser and called the number. A man answered and told us he was the accused’s friend,” the witness told the court.

On the contrary, the accused person told the court he never saw the witness, not to mention talking to them at the beach, apart from when she was giving her statement at the police station.

“How can someone who has never seen you tell you to go and play football?” the accused asked during cross-examination.

“Well, we have seen each other at the beach until you asked me to go and play football,” the witness replied.

Baboucarr Sillah is charged with stealing, contrary to Section 252 of the Criminal Code. If found guilty, the accused may be sentenced to up to a seven-year imprisonment term.

By: Modou Touray

Ousman Bah, students’ president of the Gambia College-Basse Campus, has disclosed to The Fatu Network challenges faced by students on campus.

He said some students on boarding at the Basse campus develop Ulcer due to insufficient diet. He added that no feeding program is available for students instead they contribute to feed themselves.

According to experts, getting the needed food and nourishment for health and growth is essential for effective learning. Without good nutrition, people grow weak and sick thereby hampering the required mental and physical strength for effective learning.

The Gambia College, Basse campus was built to enhance decentralization in higher education. The college is in Basse, 3-4 kilometers away from the town centre.

“Feeding is our main challenge at the campus. Students struggle to contribute to cook their daily meal. In fact, the contribution only caters for the breakfast and lunch,” Bah explained.

He added that the money students often collect is often insufficient to give them three square meal, noting that some even go to bed hungry while some work to the town centre in search of food.

Experts say insufficient or poor diet can affect one’s health, learning, and psychosocial behavior. Malnutrition can result in long-term neural issues in the brain, which can impact a person’s emotional responses or reactions to stress, learning disabilities, and other medical complications.

It is also said that such condition leads to a significant drop in energy, lack of focus and being able to perform well mentally.

“Some students can’t even afford the contribution because the campus comprises both in-service and pre-service students (i.e those in the teaching field and are receiving salaries and new in-take who have not yet graduate),” Bah said,

The students’ president further stated that the health conditions get severe due to lack of utility vehicles for students hence the distance from the campus and town centre is far.

“Sometimes, if a student is seriously sick, it’s challenging to take that person to the health facility. The only vehicle at the campus is the administrative car which is not always available.”

Having a comfortable physical space where students are able to sit comfortably, see and understand what their teacher says, as well as socialise with their fellow classmates, is a major component of a conducive learning environment.

According to Bah, students struggle to buy cash power and each student boarding on campus pay D300 per month as accommodation fee.

When contacted for his reaction, the coordinator of Basse campus Matarr Ceesay said the Gambia College is only running programs. He clarified that students are responsible for their own feeding and accommodations.

The establishment of the Basse campus was to make education accessible to the rural communities.

The Gambia College is a Gambian tertiary institution with campuses located in Banjul, Brikama, Bwiam and Basse. Its was formally called the Yundum Teachers Training College which was founded in 1952.

By: Modou Touray    

Dr Omar Bah, a former reporter for the defunct Daily Observer newspaper in the Gambia has expressed interest to contest for the United States lawmaking house, US Congress. If elected, Dr Bah says he intends to be a steady advocate for the working class thereby ensuring that their rights are protected and free from marginalization.

“I arrived in the US as a refugee in 2007 after being declared a wanted man in The Gambia for being a journalist who criticized the [Jammeh] government and advocated for human rights. Since then, I’ve helped refugees by founding the Refugee Dream Center. The Center has assisted thousands of people in finding jobs and advocated for refugees and survivors of torture. We need people in Congress who defend democracy, advocate for people, and help the community.”

Dr Bah seeks to represent Rhode Island’s second district. Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union and is one of the most densely populated and heavily industrialized. It is about 37 miles wide and 48 miles long and its shoreline on Narragansett Bay in the Atlantic Ocean runs 400 miles.

“I wish to contest for Congress to serve Rhode Island’s 2nd District. Our democracy is in peril and now more than ever we need leaders in Washington who have demonstrated courage to stand up for what they believe in and who understand the daily struggles of regular people. In this regard, I am uniquely qualified.”

Each congressman or congresswoman is elected for a two-year term to represent the people of a specific congressional district. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.

The United States law provides that a person may qualify as a Representative if he/she is at least 25 years old, has been a United States citizen for at least 7 years, and is an inhabitant at the time of the election of the state in which he/she seeks election.

In addition to his advocacy for refugees, Dr Bah sees climate change as a key priority on his agenda.

“Tackling the climate crisis is imperative to save our planet. Congress must act swiftly to pass a reconciliation bill to invest in renewable energy and jobs tackling climate crisis.”

Dr Bah believes in the principles of democracy good governance and the rule of law.

“Elect a leader who knows how to defend democracy. I stand up for what I believe in. We need in Congress more leaders who are willing to take a radical approach to defend American democracy and freedom as we have come to know it,” he emphasizes.

The former Gambian journalist and founder of Rhodes Island Refugee Dream is the first Gambian to express bid for the US lawmaking body.

Dr Omar Bah is a native of Mbolet village in the Lower Nuimi District, North Bank Region. In addition to his primary and secondary education, Dr Bah attended the media training center, GRTS complex and the African Virtual University among others.

By: Modou Touray

Sait Mbye, a 30-something-year-old Gambian who once harboured the desire to embark on an irregular migrant to Europe — a term known in The Gambia as the ‘Backway journey’ — but later on changed his mind and stayed back, has disclosed to the Fatu Network that he has ventured into rice cultivation to enable his extended family to store enough food for home consumption.

Mr Mbye is a youth farmer in his mid- 30s and is a native of Cherr-Madado village in the Central River Region (CRR).

“If all of us who should help the elderly in the fields left, it would be difficult to grow rice on a large scale. Elders struggle with work on farms but when youths are around, the work is faster and more efficient,” Mbye said.

Mr Mbye and his extended family now enjoy the fruits of their labour as rice cultivation has become very industrious for them. Irregular migration has a negative impact on the labour force of the country. The youthful population that provides the bulk of the labour has embarked on the risky journey, where they had to cross the Mediterranean Sea in desperate need of greener pastures in Europe.

“I initially got the zeal to go for greener pastures in Europe via the irregular migration route but I never regret abandoning the decision. I jointly grow on a few hectares of land with my family and the harvest is stored for home food and a portion is also taken to the market for sale.”

Food Security means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life

The Central River Region, where Mr Mbye’s village is located, normally grows rice in swampy areas and he said this allows them to cultivate constantly.

“The amount of money spent on imported rice is huge and is becoming unbearable for an ordinary rural household. Rural communities need to engage in aggressive farming of food crops to attain household food security. Retail prices of basic food commodities increase sharply daily and if alternative measures to feed ourselves are not put in place, a potential hunger will loom. The swampy areas retain water for a longer period which enables us to carry out our rice cultivation constantly.”

According to experts, the ideal harvest time for rice lies between 130 and 136 days after sowing it late, 113 and 125 for medium, and 110 days for early-maturing varieties. For dry season harvesting, an optimum time is 28 to 35 days after heading. In wet season harvest, the optimum time is 32 to 38 days after heading.

In 2020, rice paddy production for the Gambia was 28,000 tonnes. Though Gambia rice and paddy production fluctuated substantially in recent years.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

In what was supposed to be a fierce debate between the two Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Presidential candidates — and as anticipated of his opponent putting up a no-show — Sadibou Kamaso, last night, stood on the podium alone at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, and in his bid to convince the seated football stakeholders of why he is the right candidate for the GFF Presidential office, pledged to fix the perennial problems that have befallen Gambian football in recent years.

Regardless of the fact that the debate is unprecedented in the annals of the country’s football election, the incumbent Lamin Kaba Bajo, as communicated prior, did not show up and thus, gave his opponent an easy ride to tell football stakeholders what he will offer if elected as the head of the country’s football governing body.

“I am the future. I know what your problems are, and I know how to fix these problems.  When we go into the office, it will be a thing of the past for us to be crying about sub-standard pitches, lack of funding or players not having the necessary support,” the 42-year-old promised.

Answering a wide range of questions posed by the moderator of the event, Sadibou Kamaso repeatedly emphasised that, in a Kamaso-led executive, monies meant for football will be spent on football.

He further stated that infrastructural development in the Gambia under his reign as the President of the GFF will be of international standards, adding that he will invite ex-national team players aboard; promising to create funds for them.

Speaking on what he has in store for women’s football, the outspoken GFF presidential candidate promised centre stage and relevance to women’s football in his administration, noting that having Chero Mbenga as his 2nd Vice President clearly manifests his team’s willingness to give a new breed of life to women’s football.

“We are bringing the women to the decision-making table. We are going to increase the participation of women and we are going to advocate for women’s football clubs to have the same franchise when it comes to the general assembly because for far too long their votes have been confided to only three votes.”

According to Kamaso, it is the first time in the history of GFF elections that a women vice president is being presented.

The Commission on Political Debates (CPD) came into the nation’s football political frame for the first time to organise a debate between the two people vying for the utmost post at the football house.

However, incumbent Lamin Kaba Bajo declined to participate in the debate, thus turning it into a town hall meeting for Sadibou Kamaso as he mounted the podium alone to eloquently communicate what his team has for football stakeholders.

The GFF election is scheduled for the 27th of this August, 2022.