By Fatou Camara II and Mudiwa Ngum

News of QTV staff testing positive for coronavirus has been on the lip of many Gambians for a while now amid suggestions the privately run TV station needs to shut its offices over the development.

However speaking to The Fatu Network, QTV Head of News and Current Affairs Ade Daramy said the institution has a duty to keep the public informed but an ‘even’ greater duty to keep the staff and public safe .

“Like the rest of the society, we have been affected, we have a duty to keep the public inform but even a greater duty to keep our staff and the public safe,” the QTV editor said.

He added: “Only those that have tested and returned negative results have been allowed to work . Colleagues who have not tested have not been allowed into the building until they have tested and received the all-clear . This is 2020, many people can do work from home myself included.

“Our premises are now now fumigated on a daily basis. Our duty to inform and educate , includes telling the public that even an institution such as ours which put in place precaution measures can still be affected. We have a very staff some of whom tested negative and came back from leave to work. We will never compromise and put the health of our staff or members of the community at risk , we follow the advise and guidelines of the WHO and the Health Ministry “.

Babucarr Sey staff of QTV said: “My co-workers are positive, yes but that should not stop us from feeding or informing our viewership. It is difficult things are not as it used to be.

“We are doing our outmost best to make sure that we make satisfy the needs of our listeners or viewership . The management is doing everything possible to make sure that we are protected while we are in the office.

“They are doing their best by providing us with all the materials needed as far as the WHO and Ministry of Health had advise in putting place the precaution measures, the place is been fumigated, protective gears are been to us. So working from home and here is all the same because the office is safe for us to come back and continue doing our work “

Four more people have died of coronavirus while a massive 173 new cases have been registered, according to multiple reports.

Reports emerged at the weekend more people have died from the deadly disease, as photos of Red Cross officials busy at cemeteries emerged online.

It has now been gathered from government sources four people have died taking the nation’s total of those that died from the virus to 13, as the nation awaits the publication of the ministry of health’s situation report.

It comes as President Barrow’s government got shook by the disease with his vice president and three ministers testing positive for the disease.

Alieu Momar Njie is not dead contrary to reports suggesting the octogenarian IEC chairman has died.

Unconfirmed reports suggesting Mr Njie died emerged Monday evening.

The Fatu Network has gathered he is in fact alive, as his US-based son Momodou posted to his Facebook page his father is alive and well.

Mamour Jobe has been awarded a two-year deal which will see him continue as the nation’s top law enforcement officer.

Jobe is retiring this month from the Gambia Police Force but the president has handed him a two-year contract which will now keep him at the helm till 2022.

The longtime police officer said ‘it’s true, I got my letter today’ when The Fatu Network contacted him about the reports.

Jobe became the head of the police in July 2018 following the Faraba Banta incident-enforced resignation of Landing Kinteh.

Newly established Gambia For All said on Monday President Adama Barrow must come forward and ‘fully’ assume responsibility for steering the ship of state to safety, as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the nation.

The party in a statement said: “Gambia For ALL (GFA) from the onset had strongly advocated for a strong and capable leadership, and warned against the risk of reducing the crisis to its simplest dimension as just a public health issue.

“While we respect and recognize the professionalism of the Minister of Health, we believe that the full extent of the threat facing the nation is beyond the invocation of an obscure Dangerous Infectious Disease Act that appears to leave the responsibility of managing the crisis within the domain of the Ministry of Health.

“The focus has to be on how to decisively implement medically advised measures that will lead to limiting the spread of this menacing threat, and at the same time ensure that the institutions of state do not collapse, leaving behind a paralyzed nation.”

Colonel Yahya Drammeh has left his role as ADC to President Adama Barrow to engage in a ‘senior division’ course, sources have said.

Drammeh had been President Barrow’s ADC since 2017; but has now left the role to answer to fresh pursuits.

A source said Major Muhammed Jatta alias Francis Jatta is the president’s new man, starting work mid-last week.

There are however reports Drammeh had already taken the course.

State House has been rattled by coronavirus following confirmation on Sunday that three cabinet ministers tested positive for the disease – days after Vice President Dr Isatou Touray tested positive for the virus.

Rumours are now rife President Barrow has undergone Covid-19 test and his results have returned positive, amid suggestions State House is being tight-lipped about the extent of the situation. Other rumours are that there’s a special doctor monitoring the president.

The rumours come amid an announcement by State House the president was self-isolating following the vice president testing positive.

Dozens of security officers at the presidency have reportedly undergone Covid-19 test with at least ’28’ testing positive. Health Promotion director Modou Njai could not confirm these reports on Sunday.

However on the president testing positive for the disease, director of press and public relations at the Office of the President Amie Bojang Sissoho said on Monday she had spoken with both the president and the secretary general on Monday and that there was nothing to suggest the president has the virus. She added they would have announced it if the president has the virus, just like in the case of the vice president.

The Kanifing Magistrates Court has ordered the remand in police custody of Abdoulie Gaye who allegedly lost control of his car during an auto-racing leaving three people dead, police spokesman Lamin Njie has confirmed to The Fatu Network.

Three people were killed on Saturday while many others injured after the 21-year-old allegedly lost control of his car during a race that pitted him against another car.

The incident happened around 02:30 hrs on Saturday on the Senegambia highway.

The man has now been taken to court and remanded in police custody.

“He has been arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates Court this morning on three counts, dangerous driving, careless driving and reckless driving and has been remanded under custody and case adjourned to 6th August for hearing,” the police spokesman said.

By Lamin Njie

Yahya Jammeh (not the former president) who is serving a nine-year jail term over his role in a 2017 coup plot is not dead, sources have told The Fatu Network.

Reports on Monday said the former army captain has died in prison prompting his family to scramble over their loved one.

A top prison source has however told The Fatu Network Mr Jammeh is ‘alive’ and ‘well’ and that the reports are ‘mere’ rumours.

A military panel in May last year found Jammeh, a former aide to former President Yahya Jammeh and seven others guilty of plotting to overthrow President Adama Barrow’s government.

In 2017, twelves GAF soldiers including Mr Jammeh were arrested and charged before a military court for being part of a WhatsApp group which they created in a poor cobbled bid to topple President Barrow’s government.

By Reuters

The World Health Organization warned on Monday that, despite strong hopes for a vaccine, there might never be a “silver bullet” for COVID-19, and the road to normality would be long.

More than 18.14 million people around the world are reported to have been infected with the disease and 688,080​ have died, according to a Reuters tally, with some nations that thought they were over the worst experiencing a resurgence.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO emergencies head Mike Ryan exhorted all nations to rigorously enforce health measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, hand-washing and testing.

“The message to people and governments is clear: ‘Do it all’,” Tedros told a virtual news briefing from the U.N. body’s headquarters in Geneva. He said face masks should become a symbol of solidarity round the world.

“A number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection. However, there’s no silver bullet at the moment – and there might never be.”

Ryan said countries with high transmission rates, including Brazil and India, needed to brace for a big battle: “The way out is long and requires a sustained commitment.”

Police have said they will carry out an operation on Monday in ensuring people have their faces covered, as the government struggles in stopping a spread of coronavirus.

Police said on their official Poliso Magazine Facebook page Sunday: “The general public is reminded that, the Gambia Police Force will enforce the use of Facemask tomorrow morning at all strategic areas.

“Persons travelling within the country are advised to have a facemask before joining any vehicle or entering Banks , Offices and other service areas.

“The cooperation and support of the public is highly solicited.”

Three people have been killed after a 21-year-old man lost control of his car during a race that pitted him against another car.

The incident happened on Saturday around 02:30 hrs.

Police said in a statement: “The accident which took place between Senegambia and kotu on Saturday 1st August 2020 at around 02:30 hrs resulted to the death of three persons leaving others seriously injured.

“Preliminary investigations into the accident revealed that, motor vehicle with registration number BJL 3639 R driven by 21 year old Abdoulie Gaye was racing against another vehicle at such high speed that he lost control of the vehicle running into people alongside the road.

“The bodies of the deceased have been moved to the mortuary at EFSTH for further examination while the other injured persons including the driver are admitted at The Serrekunda General Hospital.

“The Inspector General’s Office strongly advises the public particularly parents, car rental services and vehicle owners to be vigilant and never allow access to their vehicles by youngsters for the purpose of car racing.

“Individuals found wanting will be strictly dealt with according to law.”

Alieu Mboge, a prominent leader among Banjul Muslim Elders has died after contracting coronavirus, sources have told The Fatu Network.

Mboge died at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul ‘few hours ago’. He was in his 80s.

More follows…

PDOIS leader Halifa Sallah has asked those wondering what his party has achieved in its longtime existence to revert to 2016.

In 2016, seven opposition political parties including PDOIS stunningly sunk incumbent Yahya Jammeh, marking the birth of the so-called New Gambia.

Halifa Sallah speaking along his party’s 34th anniversary said his party played a big role in the 2016 change, as he asked critics to revert to it.

Mr Sallah said: “All of you should now be clear that those who say that PDOIS has been here for too long, what has it achieved. We say, ‘look at 2016’. The change that never happened in the history of the country.

“Before that change, for 55 years, the people had no means of changinv their manner of government through the ballot box because of their mindset. PDOIS embraced a change that will enable the people to have confidence in themselves, to know that power belongs to them and that with that power, they can be the architects of their own destiny.

“People did not believe in that. They did not believe in that in 1987, they did not believe in that 1992, they did not believe in that in 1997, they did not believe in that until 2016 when the change was effected. But throughout, people felt that the ballot can never change the power that be, because governments are powerful and unchangeable. That was the mindset.

“But PDOIS managed year in, year out, to establish all forms of strategies, coalitions, have input in all these coalitions. Instead of just building a party, we were building a force for change.”

Fire erupted at the Brikama market early Sunday ravaging dozens of shops at the busy market.

The incident is reportedly caused by an electrical spark – as state TV GRTS reported almost 35 shops and canteens have been destroyed.

Fire spokesman Pateh Gibba did not pick a call for comment.

It is the second time in under four months that Brikama market is struck by fire.

In May, parts of the market were destroyed after an early morning fire broke out at the market.

A ninth person has died after contracting coronavirus, the ministry of health confirmed on Friday as it said a staggering 95 new cases have been discovered.

“One new death registered, bringing to 9 the total number of documented COVID-19 related deaths in the country – a crude case-fatality ratio of 1.8%,” the ministry said.

It comes a day after the minister of health unleashed his powers by banning public gatherings and making the wearing of face masks compulsory.

A Covid-19 patient being treated at MRC alongside 31 others has absconded, the ministry of health said on Friday as it confirmed the discovery of 95 new cases of coronavirus.

The ministry said in its 109th national situation report: “Ninety-five new cases registered, the highest reported thus far in a single day, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 498 cases.

“A significant proportion of these resulted from the mass institutional tests conducted on staff of MRC and Sharab Medical Center

“Only a soupçon of the new cases were imported – the bulk of the cases were locally transmitted

“One COVID-19 patient, out of the 32 active cases being managed at MRC’s (Fajara) isolation center, has absconded.”