By: Dawda Baldeh

The National Assembly Member for Old Yundum Constituency, Abdoulie Ceesay, has accused the government of persistently neglecting the deteriorating situation of the Coastal Road Highway, describing it as a form of betrayal.

Abdoulie Ceesay, who spoke to The Fatu Network, said he has tried everything possible to address the plight of his constituents, citing the road as a major problem.

The Coastal Road Highway serves as a lifeline, connecting countless communities and facilitating the movement of goods and services.

“I have advocated to the extent of sending parliamentary questions to the minister and asking about the plans set aside for the Coastal Road Highway construction. The answer I got was that there are tangible plans for its construction, but we haven’t seen any meaningful steps taken,” he said.

The Old Yundum lawmaker described the current state of the Coastal Road Highway as an “embarrassment.”

“I feel embarrassed as a representative of Old Yundum because seeing them in this condition is heartbreaking,” he added. “Currently, the potholes, cracks, and crumbling shoulders have posed a constant hazard to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.”

Abdoulie Ceesay asserted that the lack of proper maintenance has rendered this once-important thoroughfare virtually impassable, causing delays and economic losses to the people using it.

“The government’s indifference to this critical infrastructure is a betrayal of its duty to the people it represents,” he lamented, adding that this is further making it more difficult for him as a representative to make people believe what plans are ahead for the road.

He argued that the Minister of Works and Infrastructure has failed to prioritize the safety and well-being of his constituents.

Ceesay stressed the need for the works minister to take immediate action and remedy this “unacceptable” situation.

“The people of Old Yundum constituency deserve better. We will not tolerate the continued neglect of the Coastal Road Highway,” he emphasized.

Disappointed with the current state of the road in his constituency, Ceesay wants the government to act and demonstrate its commitment to the well-being of its citizens.

The Coastal Road Highway is among many within the Greater Banjul Area that are becoming inaccessible, leading to traffic chaos and increased fares as drivers often fear delays and damage to their vehicles due to the rough conditions of the road.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has deported at least fifty-nine (59) convicted undocumented migrants of various nationalities.

These migrants, who were arraigned at Brikama Magistrates Court a few weeks ago, were convicted after failing to regularize their status in the country, the GID said.

The Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Mamanding S. Dibba, described the deportation of the convicted undocumented migrants as a means to mitigate crimes and ensure the safety of all.

He attributed this development to ongoing GID efforts to curb crimes and address the issues of undocumented migrants.

A few weeks ago, Dibba also urged Gambians to obtain documents and carry them along, warning that people who refuse to obtain documents after reaching the legal age could face prosecution.

According to GID, the affected individuals, all male, were prosecuted and convicted for immigration offenses punishable under Section 31 of the Immigration Act.

It could be recalled that the GID conducted a nine-day enforcement exercise that culminated in the arrest and prosecution of the 59 non-Gambians.

The said exercise sought to curb irregular migration and further regulate matters connected to entry, residence, and establishment in The Gambia by the laws of the land.

While reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a safe and tolerant Gambian society for all, the Gambia Immigration Department urges citizens and residents to be responsible and law-abiding at all times.

By: Alieu Jallow

A two-day tension that erupted between the Senegalese Transport Union and The Gambia, starting Wednesday night, left multiple trucks stranded along the Kerr Ayub border with Senegal. The tension was triggered by the newly initiated Gambia Revenue Authority E-tracking system that imposed a D1600 tax levied on each truck crossing the Gambian borders.

Since the inauguration of the Senegambia Bridge, a large number of trucks, especially Senegalese, transport their goods from Senegal to The Gambia or the southern Senegalese region of Cassamance, thus helping ease movement and minimize long queues of trucks at the Banjul-Barra ferry crossing points. It is reported that due to the lack of a proper tracking system, Senegalese trucks were transporting goods to the south without any customs levy.

In a telephone interview, Omar Ceesay, President of the Gambia Transport Union, told The Fatu Network that the Senegalese drivers started protesting against the GRA tracking system as they transported goods from the northern to the southern side of their country. The tracking system aimed to monitor those goods to ensure they did not end up in Gambian markets. Amidst this, GRA imposed a tax of D1600 for using the borders. Mr. Ceesay mentioned that his counterparts called him decrying the levied duties, with Ceesay narrating how Senegalese authorities mistreated his colleagues.

“We Gambians are facing similar challenges and paying 10 times what they are paying because their police, gendarmerie, and customs officers are harassing our people, collecting money from us unlawfully. So we see it should be a win-win situation. Also, we, the union, support the E-tracking system because we know its importance, so we agreed with them that when they go back, they will stand down on their protest,” he outlined.

Mr. Ceesay asserted that following their conversation to end the unrest, the Senegalese Transport Union failed to honor their agreement and went ahead with the protest by parking all Gambian vehicles either entering or leaving the country, which prompted a reaction from the Transport Union. He underscored the significance of the E-tracking system in boosting The Gambia’s economy and helping to address tax leakages. This tension sparked widespread attention from the head of state, who held a brief telephone call to discuss ways forward in resolving the matter between the two states.

Mr. Ceesay vowed that as long as Senegalese brutality continues, they will resolve matters with tit-for-tat methods.

“We believe in eye for an eye, tit for tat, foot for foot, if they fail to understand. If they respect us, we respect them. If they stop us, we stop them. If they allow us, we allow them too, period,” he emphasized.

The GTU President alleged that the Senegalese authorities brutalized his people and spent a minimum of D10,000 on their security personnel. He called on the two heads of state to fast-track the bilateral agreements to smoothen the transport system, foster unity, and enhance trade and socioeconomic growth.