By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Chairman of the Victim Centre, Sheriff Kijera, has said that President Adama Barrow is inconsiderate, insensitive, and does not care or have any interest in the victims of former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year brutal rule.

Speaking to The Fatu Network as he assesses President Barrow’s first year into his second term, Kijera told TFN that President Barrow only used the plight of the victims to garner votes but doesn’t care about them.

He added that President Barrow is insensitive and isn’t even concerned about the good of this country since his election in December 2016.

“He has been quite inconsiderate and insensitive to the plight of the many victims that were affected by the Jammeh regimes. The President isn’t concerned with the plight of the victims. The President does not even care about the welfare or good of this nation,” Kijera stressed.

According to Kijera, President Barrow has never visited the Victim Centre since its formation in April 2018 and has never visited a family of any victim. He said the coalition and President Barrow used the plight of the Jammeh victims as propaganda during the campaign but has no interest.

“President Barrow has shown no interest whatsoever to the Victim’s Centre. He has never visited a single victim or talked about us. The TRRC report was out, but have you heard the president making a press conference? We have not heard anything. So, the President has shown no interest in the victims.”

Established in 2018 to serve as a liaison among victims of human rights violations under the former President, the chairman of the Victim Centre said they have tried many times to meet President Barrow, but it never worked. He revealed that they were close to meeting him in March, but since the victims of the human rights violations protested against the nomination of Fabakary Tombong Jatta and Seedy Njie as a speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, the chances of them meeting the President were brushed off.

He said the nomination of the speaker and deputy speaker was sabotaged to the transitional justice projects launched by President Barrow. Mr Kijera added that the government of The Gambia cannot run away from reparations to the victims through the recommendations from the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) because there are lots of pressure on the government.

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from an insightful documentary focused on President Adama Barrow’s first year in office since winning the 2021 presidential election. The documentary airs on December 5, 2022.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The inaugural meeting of Stakeholder-Monitoring Committee (SMC) on the implementation of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was convened at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to discuss the rationale for the establishment of the Committee, strategies for the effective implementation of the Committee’s mandate, amongst others.

“Monitoring the implementation of the recommendations is key. The TRRC was not an event, it is a process; and this process will go on for a long time. We have been mandated to do this [monitoring] and we want to do it very well with your support,” said the NHRC Chair, Mr Emmanuel D Joof said at the opening on Thursday, 1st December 2022.

The TRRC recommended for the NHRC to be given the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of its recommendations and give annual report to the National Assembly on the status of implementation.

The government, in its white paper that accepted almost all the TRRC recommendations, approved that the NHRC is “well placed” not only to monitor the implementation process, but to also make recommendations to the government on better implementation.

“It is important to ensure that the monitoring process is as inclusive as possible and involves a wide range of stakeholders including the victims and their families. We must not underestimate the monitoring phase,” said Ms Seraphine Wakana, the UN Resident Coordinator in the Gambia.

The representative from the Justice Ministry, Mr Kimbeng Tah said: “This Committee will be a very key tool, a resource and a reservoir for obtaining information. But I also urge NHRC to go beyond the committee and go out into the field design innovative framework to obtaining information because the monitoring has to meet three key criteria; it has to be credible; it has to be actionable; and it has to have quality indicators.”

The NHRC is an independent body with the statutory mandate to promote and protect human rights in the Gambia.

The NHRC boss said they have conducted some study tour to South Africa, together with some CSOs to learn what worked for the African country during the implementation of their truth commissions for them to guide themselves.

“In the South African system, there was no one body that was given the mandate to monitor. So, what you have were different stakeholders monitoring different parts,” the Mr Joof said.

By: Sarjo Brito

Economist Momodou Sabally has said top government officials, including the minister in charge of the digital economy, should either resign or be fired following what he describes as a major breach of economic and financial security amid the central bank cyberattack.

While the government has not issued any statement over the massive overpayment of salaries, observers like Sabally believe it is linked to the November hacking incident.

“I think this government should come out clean and admit that the central bank was hacked, the extent was pervasive, and that government cannot fully control the situation. I believe some top government officials including the minister in charge of the digital economy should either resign or be fired because this is a major breach of economic and financial security. Its implications will be pervasive,’’ he said.

Momodou Sabally said the unprecedented cyberattack did not come as a surprise, accusing top government officials of using free email services to conduct official government business. He further stated that the data hack and overpayment of salaries must not be brushed aside, adding that government must come out and tell Gambians the full extent of what has happened.

“The government is still mute about how far the system is affected. All they are talking about is the overpayment of salaries of public servants. But my question is, were vendors and other suppliers to the government paid? I believe they have been paid but there is no statement to that effect. Have these monies been recovered? We don’t know,’’ Sabally added.

In early November, reports of hackers infiltrating the Central Bank of The Gambia surfaced online. The hackers claimed to have stolen two terabytes of sensitive data. The Gambia government quickly issued a press release asking Gambians not to panic.

By: Modou Touray

Dozens of commercial drivers who ply the Banjul-Soma, Bansang, and Basse-Farafenni have justified that they over-speed on the highway due to pressure from some passengers onboard.

The drivers, who use special vans locally called “sprinters”, said most of the provincial travellers who board their vehicles are always in a hurry to reach early.

“Our sprinter vans don’t waste time on the road. Travellers feel they cannot patiently wait for the buses that frequently stop on the way. They want to get home as soon as possible,” said Ello Bah, a Basse sprinter van driver.

Lamin Jobe, another driver who plies Brikama to Soma added:

“Nobody drives, with the intention to commit an accident but driving at a chameleon pace, consumes more fuel and it affects our daily income.”

Sprinter vans plying from Soma to Brikama normally make many trips daily. Businessmen and women who transport their goods to the Greater Banjul areas from the provinces prefer hiring the sprinter van so that they could sell on time.

“Some vendors will buy fish and use our vehicle to transport it from Brikama to Jarra Soma. They put the fish in a simple bucket with a few blocks of ice. They want to reach early because otherwise, their fish might be spoiled,” Omar Koteh said.

Yusupha Bojang said: “We know the risks, but we are also careful because they pay to arrive early for their interest, and we are also concerned about the life of people.”

Dembo Njie is a sprinter van driver from Jarra Soma. He transports women vendors to the Brikama market from Jarra Soma daily. He departs as early as 3 a.m. and reaches Brikama in less than 2 hours.

From Kiang Tankular to Brikama, Jarra Soma to Basse, and Farafenni to Barra, Sprinter vans are the most popular commercial commuting vehicles. They are often used by business travellers with goods and passengers on emergency trips.

“Sometimes if you slow down, the passengers will shout at you to drive fast. We are under pressure but some of them when they complained that we are over-speeding, we reduce our speed too,”
Sulayman Jah explained.

It’s a choice between reaching their destinations on schedule and the risk of being a victim of a serious accident. Over-speeding drivers struggle a lot to avoid animals and people crossing the highway. If they do not concentrate fully, they are likely to cause incidents. Lamin Manjang is a retired driver who told The Fatu Network that passengers forcing drivers to add speed is risky and drivers must not accept that.

The president of the Gambia transport union, Omar
Ceesay advised to carefully observe the authorised traffic signs on the road and drive according to ethics.

“Driving is a professional job, you as a driver, are responsible for driving your vehicle. No passenger should pressure you to over-speed, driving is a professional job. If you cause an accident, that is your fault,” he stated.

The Police Public Relations Officer ASP Binta Njie pointed out that if drivers over-speed, they are not only endangering the lives of passengers on board but other road users as well.

“If you have the right as a passenger to arrive early, the driver equally has the responsibility of driving safely to protect lives.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Ousman Badjie, the Director of the National AIDs Secretariat has called for reform of laws, policies and practices to address the challenges faced by people living with HIV/AIDs in the country.

He made these remarks at a press conference held at the National AIDs Secretariat office to update journalists on their activities ahead of the commemoration of the 2022 World AIDS day.

This year’s theme is “equality” which highlights several ways in ending inequality faced by persons with HIV/AIDs.

The Day is commemorated annually on 1st December to honor the millions of people who lost their lives due to HIV/AIDs and recommit countries’ efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDs in 2030.

Mr. Badjie highlighted some of the major challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDs.

“We are not able to test every Gambian. Even those whom we have tested and indicated positive; we’ve not been able to make sure they get all the treatment.

This remains a formidable challenge for us in our response to ending HIV/AIDs,” he said.

He told journalists that persons living with HIV continue to face stigma, discrimination and inequality due to the disease which is a global health problem.

He revealed that they intend to create more awareness campaigns to end discrimination through community outreach.

“We will continue to work with partners towards ending HIV/AIDs and expand the treatment services to various communities.

People living with the disease are facing stigma and discrimination. We want this to stop and we encourage people to go for testing. We will further sensitize the public on the importance of the test and treatment which is free.

We must intensify efforts to increase the availability of quality and sustainability of services for HIV treatment, testing and prevention,” he added.

Officials urged journalists to champion the fight to end the stigma facing people living with the disease by giving out relevant information.

Mr. Badjie, added that there are communities that are under privilege when it comes to the treatment of HIV diseases.

Stigma, discrimination, and inequality are the key areas that the theme emphasizes and calls for collective efforts in attaining the goal of ending HIV by 2030.

Meanwhile, Sirra Horeja Ndow, UNAIDs Country Director, and Mam Kumba Sise, Global Fund Project Manager ActionAid the Gambia, both said the day is worth commemorating to reflect on the achievements and renew commitments to ending the deadly disease.

“The current challenge we are facing in the world to ending the sexually transmitted disease is disunity which is holding back the ending of HIV/AIDs. Others include; access to the right services for adolescent girls and young women and inequality against children living with the disease,” Mrs. Sirra Horeja Ndow said.

“We have said we will stop new infections, secure the rights for people living with the disease. We will continue to fight to ensure that those who don’t have the disease remain free from it,” Mam Kumba Sise assured.

The National Aids Secretariat outlines several challenges facing the institution in combating AIDS; one of which they claimed is people’s refusal to voluntarily go for the free HIV/AIDS testing and treatment.

By: Modou Touray

Some weekly market vendors who usually converge in Farafenni on Sundays for open market day, locally known as Lumo, said they have been pushed by prevailing circumstances at the market to cross the border and relocate to Senegal as property developers erect structures which narrow the market space.

Part of the space being used by vendors is private land and the owners have started erecting structures, making it challenging to accommodate a good number of vendors.

“Right now, it is difficult for us. The owners of part of the market space are erecting structures. We are thinking of relocating to Senegal because the narrow space cannot accommodate hundreds of people who converge here on Sundays,” Kumba Leigh, a vendor explained.

Hundreds of vendors, mostly farmers across the Senegambia border, flooded the border town of Farafenni weekly to sell their agricultural produce and other values.

However, the availability of market space is a major predicament facing the traders. According to the cross-border traders, the weekly market (LUMO) needs to be expanded to allow them to place their goods on sale.

“I came all the way from Karang in Senegal to sell here. I bring watermelon weekly and I have many customers. The main problem with me is space to my watermelon. I think Senegal has more free space to cater for the growing demand,” Badou Boye stated.

“Anytime I place my vegetables, the canteen owner will ask me to move. It’s not good for the business because I come from Nioro in Senegal to sell here. I pay huge amount to transport goods,” Choro Joof lamented.

The chairman of the Farafenni market committee, Mr Sheriffo Sankareh admitted that space difficulties after the rainy season, a time cross-border farmers bring their agricultural produce to the weekly market.

“The Council should expand the market. Most ruminate dealers have already moved to Senegal due to lack of space,” said the market committee chairman.

Mr. Sankareh is concerned that if the trend continues, more vendors cannot sell at the weekly market but would eventually move to Senegal.

“My task is to forward the concerns of the market vendors to the Kerewan Area Council officials for possible remedy.”

Mr Sheikh Ndure, a revenue collector assigned by the Kerewan Area Council  at the weekly market venue, told this medium that vendors need to make prior booking of a canteen before transporting their goods to the “LUMO.”

“Those vendors who normally come in the morning to display their goods in other people’s canteens have no right to complain if they are kicked out, noting that there is no free space at the open market.

The Fatu Network contacted the ward councillor for the Farafenni ward, Papa Tunkara who represents the settlement at the Kerewan Area Council.

Reacting to the concerns of traders, Mr Tunkara alluded that the weekly market venue is not spacious as expected because of rapid development.

“Farafenni is a fast-growing town. Some part of the market belongs to the Dibba Kunda family. I believe when the new market is open, it will help us to allocate market spaces traders.”

By: Ousman Saidykhan

A climate activist, Omar Malmo has told this medium that the decision on “lost and damage” fund that was reached at the recently concluded COP27 could be the beginning of deviation from the battle against climate change, adding that the impacts of the phenomenon is not singular to developing countries.

“I think we are beginning to lose the fight against climate change; the focus has shifted from emission reduction to not just adaptation and resilience building but loss and damage funding,” Mr Malmo Sambou said, adding that “its implementation will be problematic.”

Parties agreed to establish what they call “loss and damage” fund for developing countries to deal with the impacts of climate change at the end of UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) on November 20th 2022 at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

However, the climate activist is not a fan of the initiative that is designed only for developing countries.

The PhD holder said: “I hold the view that ‘loss & damage’ is important and there should be support to nations who face climate induced disasters but these disasters are not unique to developing countries. I am an advocate for an all-inclusive text that does not disadvantage any member state.”

The Paris Agreement that was adopted by Parties at COP21 in Paris on 12 December 2015 seeks to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to below 2 or preferably 1.5 degrees celsius. Mr Sambou’s concern is that emission reduction is being abandoned which “outraged” him.

“I am outraged by the shift from emission reduction to making the phenomenon a money-seeking and making venture,” he told this reporter.

The environmental activist holds that “loss and damage” fund is not the right financial mechanism to respond to climate stressors.

“However, ‘loss & damage’ is necessary only as a part of the general funding mechanisms and shouldn’t be specific to jurisdictions but countries that may face climate calamities and need urgent response to recover,” said Omar Malmo Jr.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Alhagie Mamadi Kurang, an economist-cum-politician, has predicted a rough and hard economic difficulty for the Gambia under the Barrow administration in the next four years amid the rising economic challenges many Gambians are faced with.

Kurang, a stalwart member of the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), explained this to The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview.

“The four years that is left, he (Barrow) cannot survive it with political promises. The reality is going to hit on the people much more because some major decisions that his government needs to take, the government is still dodging them with political statements,” Kurang pointed out.

According to Kurang, President Barrow’s past years as the head of the government were full of unfulfilled promises and failed projects with loans that have started reflecting in the living standards of Gambians.

“He is borrowing more money than Jawara and Jammeh combined. The loan he’s accumulating on us and future generations, he has no project to show for it. So much money invested in OIC and donors, and we have not seen him take any actions after he was disappointed by the work after his visit, so inefficiency is within his government and everywhere,” he stressed.

The outspoken PDOIS member emphasised to TFN that the government under Barrow has little or no interest in ameliorating the economic hardship that many people are going through recently. Kurang only partly blamed the Russia-Ukraine War but put a chunk of the blame on bad domestic policies by the government of the Gambia.

The former presidential aspirant noted that the huge number of loans and bad projects as well as the depreciation of the Gambian Dalasi is affecting the ordinary Gambians.

“The inefficiency of his government is reflected in the standard of our living because the markets and the dalasi are depreciating, and the market is in trouble and these four years under Barrow, he cannot survive it. He is organizing rallies at the state house thinking if politics is booming, the economy will, which is not true. The next four years will be a very rough economic journey for Gambians,”
Kurang explained.

By: Sarjo Brito
Opposition United Democratic Party’s National Assembly Member (NAM) for Serrekunda West, Madi Ceesay, has refuted Upper Saloum’s NAM Alagie Mbowe’s allegations that his colleagues were initially against the proposed salary increment in the 2023 budget estimate.

Madi, who has been widely praised by dozens of his colleagues for opposing the budget estimate for the year 2023, said his stance is mainly based on the current situation of the country’s economy.

“I don’t think that is the truth because anyone who follows my debates in the Parliament, I have pointed out to the office of the Speaker and the Members of Parliament, and I have categorically said the annual increment of salaries is not good. I vehemently opposed the salary increment. To say that nobody opposed the salary increment is incorrect,’’ Madi Ceesay said.

Honourable Madi Ceesay described the country’s current economy as sick, admitting that he is ashamed to be part of a parliament where some of its members are only interested in enriching themselves at the expense of the Gambian people. Ceesay reiterated the role of parliament, saying it is about time the focus shifted to development.

Madi Ceesay further stated that he strongly opposes the proposal in the budget to not only expand the already bloated foreign service but also increase the number of Presidential Advisers.

“We expanded our cabinet to 21 ministers. Now we are extending our President’s political advisers to 8. These are unnecessary expenditures. It is only creating positions for Barrow and his cohorts, and it is not helping the economy in any way. You have 21 ministers. They are all experts in their ministries. Nobody can advise the President on economic affairs more than the finance minister. Let the party take care of them, not the State. 21 ministers are enough to advise the President.’’

Questioned about whether he will accept his increased pay at the end of the month despite opposing it, Honorable Madi Ceesay said returning his salary will not fix the problem. Madi insisted that the system that is making room for the increments is what needs to be addressed.

“We have to look at the system. Let’s have a moratorium. I will push this agenda during the adjournment debate to come up with a motion to say a moratorium for salary increments for the cabinet, parliament, and high-ranking officials for five years and also ask for a salary restructuring. We need to restructure the salaries if we want to save this country,’’ Madi added.

The 2023 budget estimate currently stands at a whopping 35 billion dalasi. The budget proposal if approved by Parliament, will see an increase in the pay and allowances of the legislature.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Last Friday 25^th November 2022, the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) with its implementing partners gave cash support of six hundred and thirty-three thousand dalasis (D633,000) to vulnerable households in a project meant to alleviate poverty in the Gambia.

The US$31 million project was largely funded by the World Bank who gave US$30 million while the remaining US$1 million was support from the Gambian government. 211 households are benefiting from this project for the third time.

“Selections were based on the answers provided by the people within the community,” Mbombeh Ceesay, a representative from the Department of Community Development at Bajana said.

One of the beneficiaries from Luluchorr, Musukebba Badjie said, “We are taught on how to provide proper home teaching for our children and engage our family heads on issues. This is my third time receiving the cash and I have been saving some cash for my business.”

The beneficiaries include 117 from Bullock; 39 from Bajana and 55 from Sutu Sunjung. The exercise is carried out in one point, Kappa, where all three communities meet to receive their monies.

Each beneficiary gets D3,000 in every two months.

“I bought many chickens for business purposes because I realized that spending all my money is not the solution because the project will fade one day,” a beneficiary from Bullock, Ida Darboe said.

Another beneficiary from Bullock, Ansumana Badjie said, “we were advised on how to utilize the cash and I will adhere to that advice. I will not use the entire money for feeding but rather give some to my women to venture into business.”

The Director of Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), Abdou Aziz Ceesay described the project as “a very important” project that has been successfully implemented in Foni Bintang, Nianija, and Wulli West.

“The most important thing is to build the resilience of the extremely poor households because we just don’t want to give them money and turn our backs. We want to build their resilience so that after the project, they can have other sources of income and improve the health and nutrition of their families. At the beginning of the programme, we in-built the Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) in order to train the beneficiaries on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and how to take care of their households,” said Mr Ceesay.

The SBCC Director said the selection for those qualified to benefit from the project as the most vulnerable households was done by the government through The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) which collected data from districts benefiting from the project.

This a an 18-month project and beneficiaries will receive the cash every two months. Last Friday was when they received the money for the third time.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The opposition Gambia Democratic Party (GDC) has condemned claims in a viral video saying Senegalese President Macky Sall constructed a bridge between Soma and Farafenni and that it is easy to get voter’s ID in the Gambia, among other claims.

The claims were made by Hon. Oumar Cisse, a Senegalese parliamentarian. He claimed that all the Senegalese residing on the border have acquired Gambian voter’s ID.

“Thank you, President Macky Sall. You didn’t stop at promoting peace within the region, but you constructed a bridge in Farafenni,” Hon. Oumar Cisse claimed.

He alleged that Gambian voter’s ID cards are easy to get. “During the election, you could get it through the provision of two witnesses. I am afraid we might be Gambians one day,” Hon. Cisse claimed.

In a statement signed by the GDC leader Mamma Kandeh, the party debunked the claims, describing them as misleading and embarrassing.

“These remarks cannot go unchallenged. The Farafenni bridge was built by the Gambian taxpayers. No other nationality or government should take pride or ownership,” the party said.

The party statement emphasized that the Gambia is a sovereign State that has the mandate to internally dictate its affairs.

“Our sovereignty has been insulted on numerous occasions. No strong stance has been taken. The route is now taking the strongest shape.”

The GDC called on the government to recognize that the country is “confronted with a sovereign problem and actions are needed to regain the lost trust.”

“Our relationship with every country is important so long as it is based on respect for sovereign and mutual interest,” the party said.

According to the GDC, the country’s sovereignty is under threat. The party warned that the worst will persist if authorities fail to do what is right for The Gambia and her people.

“The right to vote is generally limited to citizens of The Gambia,” adding that the party is worried about the high intrusion of other nationalities in the affairs of The Gambia, saying it is not setting good precedence.

“Our sovereign wealth and territorial integrity have been on a one-way relationship which contributed to our growth in poverty. These should have no room for penetration or negotiation as our supreme authority lies in our people,” the statement noted.

By: Sarjo Brito

Gambian Economist Momodou Sabally has described the country’s Parliament as a crime amid the budget process. The 2023 budget if passed, will see a massive increase in the salaries and allowances of the Assembly’s Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and National Assembly Members. The proposed increment has received intense criticism from both financial experts and ordinary Gambians, accusing parliamentarians of enriching themselves while ignoring the plight of their constituents and the status quo.

Sabally, who was at one point the head of the Civil Service under the Jammeh regime, said the proposed budget is a clear-cut indication that economic principles were not duly followed, adding that the economic ramifications cannot be overlooked. The one-time budget Director at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs accused the people responsible for the draft budget, including the legislature which has the power to either pass or reject it, of looting the country’s coffers, at the expense of the Gambian people.

“The people trying to get this budget approved only care about their pockets. It’s all about what is in it for them. I will not stop calling out Adama Barrow and his ministers. Anyone trying to destroy this country’s economy will be equally called out. What is happening at the National Assembly is nothing but theft between Parliament and Barrow and his gang. So, what Touma Njie said is exactly what am going to reiterate. Parliamentarians have no business dipping their hands in our coffers,’’ Sabally said.

He further said it is unfortunate that the salaries of cabinet ministers were increased without going through National Assembly scrutiny. He also alleged that the proposed salary increment of the legislature is an attempt by the Barrow government to make the National Assembly a rubber-stamp Parliament.

“Speaker of the House doubled his pay by 100 per cent. During Jammeh’s days, he would not dare to even ask for a 30% increment. A parliament where a driver and messenger earn more than a graduate civil servant and an army sergeant. A country that operates like this, how do you expect that kind of country to move forward?’’ he quizzed.

The Gambia has been facing a tough economic situation in recent years as inflation continues to rise. Observers believe the approval of pay and allowance increments will be the ultimate betrayal for Gambians, especially at a time of dire economic struggles.

By: Modou Touray

Mr Alhagie Jarju, The National Youth Council Executive Director has told participants at a job fair that youth without jobs is a recipe for radicalization and violence in society. He said the country has huge unemployed youths who are often engaged in crimes, posing security challenges for the country.

“With a youthful population, it poses both challenges and opportunities for the country. Opportunity in the sense that when the talents and potentials of these youths are fully utilized, we will reap the demographic dividend that we yearn for in the country. Yet when we have a lot of youths with unrefined skills and without jobs, such can be a recipe for radicalization and violence,” he pointed out.

Mr Jarju was delivering a statement at a job fair in Bakau which aimed at increasing access to labour market information, education and networking opportunities, as well as knowledge about companies. It further unveils available job opportunities, business advisory services, technical and vocational education institutions and career guidance services for employment creation, linking job seekers to employers, job matching, skills development and business start-ups in the country.

“We are not obvious of the numerous challenges and demands confronting Gambian youths such as the rising poverty rate at 53.4%, the high youth unemployment rate at 41% making it difficult to curb youth irregular migration. The job fair is a great initiative that will help greatly in providing a platform for job seekers and employers to interface and network,” Mr Jarju revealed.

He also stated that the National Youth Council which is the apex body of the country’s youths welcome the job fair with open arms which he stressed will be a great benefit for the teaming number of young people that continue to join the list of unemployed on an annual basis.

“To the young people, please make use of the great opportunity provided for you and ask as many questions as possible when you have opportunities today. The answers will be very useful to you tomorrow,” he said.

Mr Jarju also calls on organizers to hold such events frequently and ensure it is decentralised for the benefit of every young person in the country and said youth structures are existing in all regions for such events.

“The government of the Gambia with its development partners will continue to nurture the enabling environment to help harness the potentials of youth. Our collaborative efforts will make more impact and reach more people than when we decided to work as an individual organisation,” Mr Jarju assured.

Meanwhiles, the NYC executive director lamented the other challenges affecting youth entrepreneurs, such as the lack of access to finance for start-ups coupled with unpredictable energy supply.

By: Dawda Baldeh

MC Cham Junior, national youths’ president of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has called on National Assembly Members to unanimously reject the proposed salary increment, saying the country faces an economic crisis and that people are suffering.

“Parliament should reject the proposed salary increment for the Speaker and Members. The speaker is well-paid. The NAMs should instead consider teachers, nurses, police and military officers and others who are struggling. I think parliamentarians should set a good example as the country faces economic hardship,” he explained.

For Mc Cham, the President, cabinet members and lawmakers should instead consider a cut in their salaries and allowances.

“People are suffering. This year’s budget should focus more on minimizing expenditure. Taxpayers are suffering,” he emphasized.

The GDC national youths’ president further stated that hospitals are without medicines and proper laboratories.

“Even the Food Safety Authority does not have equipment for testing. They have to take samples to Senegal for testing. The NAMs should be at the forefront in addressing these issues.

Any proposed budget needs to be discussed at the constituency level. They should hold the government accountable,” he noted.

Mc Cham Jr was reacting to the proposed salary increment which Hon. Touma Njie was unhappy with as she walked out of Parliament during a heated debate.

The 2023 estimated budget indicates a total of D36,715,057. 95 for national assembly services as against D27,788,736.00 approved in 2022. This means the estimate is seeking an addition of D8,926,321 on the 2022 excluding allowances.

By: Ousman Saidykhan 

Hon. Fatoumatta Touma Njie, the national assembly member for Banjul South, on Thursday 24th November 2022 asked her colleague parliamentarians to reject 2023 budget estimate which indicates salaries increase for lawmakers.

The 2023 estimated budget indicates a total of D36,715,057. 95 from D27,788,736.00 approved in 2022 budget for National Assembly Services. This means the estimate is seeking an addition of D8,926,321 on the 2022 approved one and this amount excludes their allowances.

“I feel ashamed to call myself an honourable member. I gave myself for service. I did not give myself for poor people to feed me and my family. When I saw this, I felt embarrassed. I did not want to come to this budget session because I said to myself there is no need – because we are just sharing the cake in our pocket, going home feeding ourselves.”

“Even if I go to the Constitution, it says that; we shouldn’t deliberately enrich ourselves. And increasing our salaries is deliberately enriching ourselves and that is an embarrassment. I think as a National Assembly, we should not accept any salary increment,” Hon. Fatoumatta Touma Njie said at the budget session.

The 2023 estimated budget gives the Speaker D1,560,000 from D658,534.00 in 2022 (D901,466 addition); the Deputy Speaker D716,430 from D551,100 in 2022 (D165,330 addition) and the National Assembly Members D32,448,000 from D24,960,000 in 2022 (D7,448,000 addition), excluding the majority and minority leaders whose annual salaries as indicated by the estimate would be D702, 718 from D540,552 and D510,000 in 2023 respectively.

“Not only that, but to see the responsibility allowance, residential allowance, the robbing allowance and all those for the representatives of the people. It is embarrassing, for me to go back to my poor constituency and tell them that the meagre resources of this country – I’m paid that much at your expense. I took an oath to serve and to give back to my society – not to enrich myself,” Hon. Njie said.

By: Hadram Hydara

Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service and now a prominent member of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), has filed his defence against businessman Abubakary Jawara, following the latter’s D8 million suit against him.
Mr Sabally has, in his Statement of Defence, denied in its entirety the claims of the plaintiff (Abubakary Jawara) and the reparations he seeks.

“The entirety of the Plaintiff’s pleadings, claims and assertions, are simply false innuendo and even where the statements conveyed a certain meaning, such a meaning was incapable of being defamatory as alleged by the Plaintiff.”

“The Plaintiff did not suffer any reputational or financial harm as a result of the Defendant’s statements and/or actions and it is further denied that any loss that the Plaintiff is able to prove was caused by the Defendant as alleged or at all.

“The Defendant invokes the defences of truth or justification, honest opinion or fair comments and that the various statements were made pursuant to public interest,” he stated in his Defence.

Sabally, who is a fierce critic of the current administration, said the letters the Plaintiff relied on are afterthought fabrications, adding that the Plaintiff would not have waited this long if he was indeed defamed.

“Even if the Plaintiff is able to show harm, this cannot be attributed to the Defendant [Sabally] as alleged or at all. This action is premised on defamation, yet the Plaintiff waited 22 months, almost two years before instituting this action.

“If the statements of the Defendant had indeed defamed the Plaintiff and there was a defamatory cause of action against the Defendant, the Plaintiff would not have waited until almost two years to bring this action.

“The substantial delay in bringing this action shows that this suit lacks merit,” Sabally noted in his Statement of Defence.

Mr Jawara filed an 8 million civil suit against Sabally back in October for defamation and slander and asked for an unreserved apology. The defendant appeared before High Court in Banjul in November to respond to the suit filed against him, before the case was adjourned to January next year pending the filing of defence by the defendant.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The United Nations Assistant Secretary General has told journalists that the Gambia has ideas and solutions and could be unstoppable in terms of development; but only if it includes the youths in decision making processes and takes out shackles of bad governance and low confidence.

“…Because young people understand technology; they understand digital transformation and that is the future of development. We can get there faster with the new technologies and the new digital tools. And this is the realm of youth,” Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa said.

She was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, 23rd November 2022 at the UN project office shortly after her engagement with youths of the Gambia.

“…And a Gambia that understands the worth of young people because it is a very young country with more than 60% under the age of 30. That is a huge asset that this country could unleash and give it a competitive edge,” Ms Ahunna, who is also the UNDP Regional Director for Africa said.

The UN Assistant SG is on a three-day visit to the small West African Country. She had visited a number of sites that are being supported by the UNDP, including a solar-powered cooling facility at a fish landing site in Kartong, water supply project in Bonsa, among others.

“The older generation will take a much longer time to get it; so, why don’t we understand the centrality of investing in young people to be able to transform our countries and accelerate development?” Ms Eziakonwa noted.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Momodou Bah, a one-time independent presidential aspirant in the 2021 presidential election has told The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview that the Gambia and Senegal need to collaborate to curb cross-border criminalities.

Mr Bah, who is the leader of the African Federalism and Republican Orientation (AFRO), a movement he intended to register last year as a political party, said the Gambia is surrounded by Senegal and that the two countries are the same.

“I don’t believe one country should dominate the other. Gambia and Senegal should collaborate to address cross-border criminalities.

It should be a win-win collaboration where each people will see the others as their helpers,” Bah told TFN.

He further stated that there is a need for digitization at the border to monitor criminal activities.

The AFRO movement leader added that President Barrow and President Sall should work together to address issues affecting the two countries.

Mr Bah added that the Casamance region has two major economic activities: timber and drugs. “So, these have become a huge concern in the region,” he noted.

According to him, Senegal has all the right to protect their forest, adding that the timber coming into the country is from Casamance and the drugs.

However, he recalled that since the conflict occurred in Casamance around January and March, some people who fled for their lives are yet to return.

“There should be a dialogue between the governments, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations to ensure the return of those families.

“If their way of earning income is not no longer available, there should be other means they should be engaged to earn a living,” he asserted.

Mr Bah further urged the two governments to look into the issue and provide youth jobs so they will not be engaged in such activities.

“The drugs that are coming into our country are not helping our youths at all.

“We have poor-roads borders and there is a need for re-enforcement of the major borders.

“We are surrounded by Senegal and that is good for us because before any terrorist group could enter the country they must be detected by Senegal. We are the same and we need to support each other,” he ended.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Gambia is expected to soon give its back to shortage of oxygen as the Ministry of Health and partners work towards increasing oxygen plants that will supply “enough” of what was once a nightmare for the country, director of health services Dr Bitteye said.

“This is going to help us provide the oxygen that we need, and it will be free to the patients. It is a big boost for our health sector,” Dr Bitteye told journalists at Ndmban Clinic Oxygen Plant which was visited by the UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director, Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa.

The containerized plant is said to cost over a million dollars with support from UNDP coordination, WHO and World Bank. It is yet to be fully functional. Once it starts operation, it is expected to fill at least one hundred and thirty-six (136) oxygen cylinders a day. There is another plant at Ndmban that produces about 50 cylinders daily.

“If you look at EFSTH alone, they used to spend almost one million dalasis per month. So that is now savings. So, think of what other hospitals used to pay for Oxygen,” Mustapha Bitteye told journalists.

An estimate of 400 oxygen cylinders is required daily, throughout the country. With the two Plants in Ndmban and the other two in EFSTH, Banjul and Bansang, which are yet to be installed, the authorities project production of more than what the Gambia will need.

“During Covid when we went outside [of the country] to buy, they refused because they needed it the most. So, now when something like that happens; we won’t have to go out – we have enough and we can even supply outside,” the director of Health services said.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Gambia will get access to a “loss and damage” fund that will be established for developing countries as one of the decisions made at the end of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) on November 20th, 2022, at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

“Gambia will now be one of those countries that can access our climate financing to deal with these kinds of issues,” the UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa said shortly after her visit to the State House where she met the President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow on Monday, November 21st, 2022.

Ms MAhunna Eziakonwa, who also serves as the UNDP Assistant Administrator is in the Gambia for a three-day working visit to interact with partners on UNDP Renewed Strategic Vision in Africa including its youth and women, climate change amongst others.

“Gambia is one of those countries that are vulnerable to the effect of climate change.”

“He [Barrow] said, for instance, not just the flood, but also the impact climate change has had on land and the capacity of land for productivity. All of these are damages that have been occasioned by climate change,” Ms Eziakonwa, told journalists at State House.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General also discussed a couple of issues with the President including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which she believes is an ambitious plan.

“To show how Gambia as a country will contribute to reducing emissions to 1.5 C, but also adapting to a greener pathway of development,” the UNDP Regional Director said.