Roads make a crucial contribution to the economic development and growth of a country and also bring important social benefits in which they are of vital importance to ensure the growth and development of a nation.

The OIC road projects which started in March 2021 have seen many people being asked to move and look for new settlements because of the expansion of these roads.

Some of the people who are affected along the Bertil Harding highway have laminated some of the challenges they are facing in finding new settlements.

“This is very hard on me because if I am to move to another settlement that is going to cost me. If this building has to be demolished, it will disturb me because I have spent a lot in building this shop,” Aret Jassy said.

Jassy told The Fatu Network she is used to the environment and she has many customers, so moving to another place will affect her business.

According to her, finding a new settlement is very difficult and she said the government should compensate her by giving her a new place to start her business because she has no other means to depend on apart from the business she does.

“I have been told to move to another location, however, I am yet to find a suitable place. These people should compensate us before relocating us; moving to a new place will have an impact on our businesses because we are going to lose many customers and finding a place is also a problem,” Jainaba Ceesay explained.

“We also want this country to develop because this country is ours but when trying to develop a country try to investigate what impact it will have on both parties (Government and its people) before taking any step because asking us to move to a new settlement without any compensation is hard,” She added.

Ceesay said the government should find another solution to ensure the roads are well constructed and their businesses are not affected also.

Ebrima Jallow, also affected, said the government should compensate them before moving them to another location. He said they have families to take care of. He said it will be very challenging for them if the government moves them without compensation.

“If they happen to move us, many of us will be affected, many buildings will be destroyed, however, the government should compensate us because we are finding it hard to find a new settlement and our family members are looking depending on us,” Ebrima said.

By: Modou Touray

Neighbourhoods in the vicinity of Brikama remain alert as thieves target overnight rainfalls to break into shops and homes to steal valuables. Several residents in Brikama who spoke to The Fatu Network in this interview have said that stealing is becoming rampant during night rains hence many people are usually indoors and often not alert to outside noise.

“I have a shop at the Brikama market, but I was unable to reach home at Jamisa due to heavy rains. At the time I arrived home I show someone wearing short trousers entering my house. But he ran away as I approached him,” Sheikh Mbye, a tailor said.

Many market vendors and shop owners, especially tailors close late from work and trek a distance to their residents.

“Sometimes if you don’t carry an umbrella, you have to stand somewhere otherwise your phone and other materials could be spoiled,” Sam Fatty told this medium.

Neighbourhoods such as Durumakolong are risky areas during nighttime. Incidents of attacks on people are common there, especially during night rains.

“I used the main Jalangbang highway to get to my house because I don’t trust using the road behind the Jambarr-Sanneh. It was raining heavily, and someone was following me,” Abdoulie Jabbi said.

Some neighbourhoods feel unsafe during the rains especially the Gidda and Sanchaba farokono areas where criminal hideouts are many. Alhagie Secka is a civil servant who revealed that he doesn’t sleep at night due to fear of thieves. “Last month they stole my bicycle which I park under my veranda. This happened during night rains. It’s difficult to notice movements and noise during rainfalls at night.”

Residents of Nyambai – puntalana and Santosu also raised concerns about burglary during the night, saying they are always on standby for the fact that thieves are very tactical in their manoeuvres.

“Our house in Santosu is close to the bush, it will be easier for someone to target us and flee to the bush,” Mustapha Nyassi said.

Lamin Sanyang and Edward Gomez, both residents of Nyambai- puntalana pointed out that residents must take precautions against burglars. He said they already formed a vigilante group to monitor late-night movements in their surroundings.

Apart from settlements, marketplaces and other business areas are also targeted.

“I close at night from my shop but always see young men around pretending they come to buy. They look smart and friendly, but I don’t entertain them,” Lamin Jaiteh revealed.

According to retired security officer Buba Njie, thieves always scout for possible targets before embarking on their operations.

“Most of the time they are people you know and are familiar with. Any noise you hear during rainfall at night you have to always check it. Sound of thunder is different from housebreaking.”

According to the weather forecast information from the Department of Water Resources, rainfall is expected to persist during most parts of the period over most places, particularly the western half of the country. Yet this continuous persistence of rains might generate flash flooding in areas prone to flooding, especially the western part.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Magistrate Colley of the Kanifing Magistrate Court has, during his sentencing, ordered two brothers who stabbed each other, Ousman Camara and Ismaila Camara, to pay twenty-five thousand dalasis (D25,000) after convicting them of assault causing actual bodily harm; the duo faces a three-year jail term in the instance that they could not pay.

Ousman and Ismaila, the first and second accused persons respectively, were arraigned at the Kanifing Magistrate Court having been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm by stabbing each other on the 28th of August 2022 at Dippa Kunda.

The first accused was said to have stabbed the second accused on his right hand and chest while the second accused was said to have stabbed the first accused on his left arm.

Their said offence is contrary to section 228 of the Criminal Code of the Gambia. They both pleaded guilty as were charged.

When presenting the “facts,” the prosecution told the court that the first accused person, Ousman found the second accused lying in his house and stabbed him with a broken bottle.

“The second accused person reported the matter to the police. The police went to arrest the first accused. But before the police could arrest the first accused, the second accused also stabbed him in the presence of the police,” narrated the prosecution.

The punishment for the offence the duo committed is five years imprisonment. However, after listening to the plea in mitigation of the convicts who pleaded for court’s mercy as they are regretful of the act and that they are brothers, the Magistrate handed them the monetary punishment in default of which they will serve a 3-year jail term.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

One Sanna Camara, 29, who was convicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison for shop breaking has appeared before Principal Magistrate, Jabang, as he faces the second count where he is accused of stealing items from a fashion shop of one Mariama Sanyang worth over D65, 000.

Sanna was arraigned earlier this month before Magistrate Jabang at the Kanifing Magistrate Court on two counts of Shop-breaking and stealing contrary to sections 283 and 252 respectively.

He pleaded guilty to count 1 (shop-breaking) but denied stealing some of the items on the charge sheet resulting in a “not guilty plea” being entered for him by the Magistrate. He was accordingly sentenced to 5 years in prison with hard labour.

The trial of the second count begins this morning and if the accused is found guilty, he may get another 5-year jail term, with the testimony of the 1st witness, Mariama Sanyang.

Mariama, who is the victim in this case was not present when the act was being committed as it was allegedly done in the early hours of the morning, testified that she was sleeping when armed PIU officers woke her early morning and broke the piece of news to her.

“I was terrified. My mum was terrified too when they knocked on our door. They told me my shop was broken,” the witness, who is also the victim, explained.

She continued that she left with the officers because her shop is not far from her residence: “When I reached the shop, I saw a crowd. I saw the accused person sitting opposite the shop with others. They asked me whether I know him, I said no,” she told the court.

The witness testified that she was shocked after entering her shop and finding out it was almost empty. “I was like wow,” she said, adding the PIU officers took the accused to Manjai police station where she gave a statement.

Some items amounting to D18, 520 were recovered, according to the prosecutor, Bojang. However, the rest, D46, 880 was still missing. The recovered items were tendered and marked as exhibit E series. They are 15 shirts, 7 pairs of trousers, 3 Haftans, 4 shampoos, two pairs of shoes and 2 intimate wash for women.

These items were shown to the witness for identification purposes. She told the court she recognized them. The prosecution applied for the items to be entrusted to the victim because they were “central” to her business.

Meanwhile, the accused who had no questions for cross-examination alleged that the PIU officers who arrested him must have taken some items recovered from him, confessing that the items presented before the court are less than what was recovered from him.

He said he overheard one officer tell the other that he needed some trousers. “I was cuffed on a pole at their guard post. They entered in a house with the items but came out with half of the bag they entered with, he alleged.

The case was adjourned to the 6th of September.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Sainey Sabally, twin brother of Sana Bairo Sabally, who has been in the centre of criticism over the Kassa Kunda Alkaloship row has broken his silence and denied any wrongdoing as alleged by the village residents that he was involved in the dismissal of then village Alkalo Cherno Siranding Sabally.

New Alkalo Sheriffo Ebrima Sabally’s appointment came barely a week after the Ministry of Local Government and Lands through the governor’s office in the West Coast Region dismissed the former Alkalo Cherno Siranding Sabally.

Speaking to this medium, Sainey admits that the villagers are entitled to their opinions and pointing fingers at him and Sanna. He (Sainey) denied claims that they (Sainey and Sanna) are engaged in land business in the community as alleged by some residents.

“This has never happened and I have never sold land in my life especially,” he dismisses the villagers’ claim, adding that his first encounter in the village after his return from the UK was against the then Alkalo Modou Siranding whom he (Sainey) alleged to have sold one of his gardens when Sana Sabally was in prison.

Mr Sabally accused the former leadership in the village of engaging in “dubious activities” during Jammeh’s regime.

“Whatever you see in this life will come to end and one day the truth must prevail, so, today Allah has come to our aid and the Alkalo is dismissed.

They (former leadership) were selling lands that belong to families at the time when we cannot do anything because I was in London and Sanna was in prison. There were many projects that came to the village but they never benefited the people,” he alleged.

Sainey further stated that the former village head and some of his enablers don’t want their “dubious activities” to stop but stressed that it must stop. We cut their irregularities and that’s why they are accusing and pointing fingers.

He alleged that the then leadership has sold many lands in the village and their family as the founders were never aware of it.

Mr Sabally recalled that he went with Sanna to the Alkalo for dialogue about the irregularities in the village but the Alkalo’s (Cherno Siranding Sabally) response was negative.

Sainey claimed that the Alkalo once confirmed to them that he was taken to court on different occasions for stamp issues.

He went on to say, Sanna asked why he said “I cannot see then Sanna told him (Alkalo) now that you cannot see why not you stop giving people the stamp and bring your brothers and work with them? His (Cherno Siranding) response was I will not do that today and tomorrow.

We realized that the Alkaloship was compromised by some groups in the village who were among the protesters for the dismissal of the former Alkalo because their dubious activities have come to an end,” he narrated.

The Gambia Sickle Cell Association will on the 3^rd of September 2022 commemorate what they call Sickle Cell Awareness Month in the country.

Speaking to this medium in an exclusive, Mr Alieu Sambou, the president of the Association said the first event is kicking off on the 3rd of September in a form of a symposium at the American Corner at Kairaba Avenue.

Mr Sambou said they didn’t celebrate June 19th this year as it is a day dedicated to sickle cell disease. This, he said, is due to so many deaths within the executive membership.

“Therefore as September is Sickle cell awareness month, we are taking the opportunity to raise awareness, this will be the first time since our inception to hold an awareness program at the sickle cell village in Tankularr, Keneba Kiang West.”

He continued to say that the association is formulated in August 2007 and has since signed a lot of MOUs with partners such as MOBse, GT bank, MOH, Ministry of Environment, Red Cross, and Africa Sickle cell foundation amongst others.

“Since inception SCAG reached out to people with sickle cell, creating awareness, providing moral and financial support was possible particularly when members are in the hospital.”

He said they have some working partnerships with MOBse using schools as SCD reading materials to schools. He said they initiated a working relationship with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to promote green communities.

“Extensive awareness creation in schools in region 1 and 2, mass media campaigns in radios, including community radios in region 1 and 2 using English and local languages.”

Mr Sambou said they have partnerships with a lot of NGOs and agencies in previous years and will like to show appreciation to all, especially Novartis who made Hydrox more accessible.

He said the main sponsor of world sickle cell day on June 19th from 2019 to date is GT bank. He concluded by saying that he is honoured to also partner with almost all the media houses within the Kombos.

People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems because they do not live as long as healthy blood cells and can block vessels.

The disease is a serious and lifelong health condition, although treatments can help manage many of the symptoms.

By: Modou Touray

Women rice farmers in Jahally, Pacharr and Sapu in the Central River Region of The Gambia have said there is huge fertile land for rice cultivation in their communities but lack the required modern agricultural tools or machinery for large scale cultivation of rice.

The women told The Fatu Network that manual labour is hectic and difficult, making rice yield low.

“Right now, most of the strong young men and women have moved to Greater Banjul Area while others have embarked on irregular migration in search of greener pastures. We the elderly struggle on the fields. Even our children at home are concentrating on their education; only few of them help us on the rice fields,” Sunkary Kandeh explained.

Technical innovations that helped improved rice productivity include irrigation, pest and disease management, fertilization, modern varieties, farm mechanization, improved rice milling, and crop rotation are challenging. These innovations increase productivity.

Jahally, Pacharr and Sapu were popular for their large-scale production in rice, but recently, their production level dropped drastically due to lack of proper equipment.

President of the joint rice fields, Awa Sama, highlighted to this medium the numerous challenges farmers continuously face.

“Irrigation machines are needed to pump fresh water from the river to the rice fields. This place used to harvest lots of rice but most of the equipment are damaged beyond repair,” Awa Sama disclosed.

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays. Irrigation is usually used in areas where rainfall is irregular or during drought. There are many types of irrigation systems in which water is supplied to a farm.

Speaking on behalf of their colleague farmers, President of the women rice farmers, Awa Sama and Vice President Suntu Sanneh highlighted lack of farming equipment, fertilizer, proper canals to access water from the river and the non-fencing of field perimeters as major challenges.

According to Kawsu Drammeh, a regular rice farmer, mechanization in rice cultivation is decreasing due to lack of implements such as tractors, power tillers, paddy transplanters, weeders, power sprayers, combine harvesters and threshers.

“Machines make work on the farm easier and more efficient. If rice farmers want to do their planting on time, they must use modern tools. Using manual labour is time consuming and less productive.”

Jahally Pacharr and Sapu once constituted major rice growing fields in The Gambia with their potential to feed the entire country at a time when they were being managed by the Chinese in the 90s and early 2000s.

Women farmers said the potential fields were ignored by the government, leaving them to individually cultivate with limited support.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

In the eyes of many teens, shisha smoking is portrayed as cool, sexy, independent, fun, attractive and living on the edge. As a result, they try smoking and do not understand the effects or dangers attached to it.

A hookah, shisha, or waterpipe is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for heating or vaporizing and then smoking either tobacco, flavoured tobacco, or sometimes cannabis, hashish, and opium. The smoke is passed through a water basin — often glass-based — before inhalation.

Research shows that Smoking shisha is associated with three main detrimental health effects: cardiovascular damage, infection and cancer formation.

Buba Fatty, a shisha user believes that shisha is used as fun and has few health implications compared to cigarettes.

“Shisha is fun and cool, it’s even civilised, it has little health complications compared to cigarettes, it doesn’t make my lips black or make me look rough, it’s just so cool.”

Contrary to Buba’s claims, research has proved that shisha is more detrimental to health than cigarettes. Stating that, in a single water pipe session (Shisha session), users are exposed to up to 9 times the carbon monoxide and 1.7 times the nicotine of a single cigarette.

The amount of smoke inhaled during a typical shisha session is about 90,000 millilitres (ml), compared with 500–600 ml inhaled when smoking a cigarette.

Most youths see smoking as a way of rebelling and showing independence. They think that everyone else is smoking and that they should, too.

In the same vein, Ansu Jabbi said, he does not smoke shisha and starts to misbehave.

“Shisha is not bad, I smoke shisha to calm myself and to escape reality, no one should have a problem with that because it’s my life and I should be in charge, I do not misbehave when I smoke.”

It is said that adolescence is a critical developmental stage when youth are under pressure to fit in socially.

Asha Ngome said she smokes shisha because her friends smoke.

“I do not want to be the odd one or be left out, all my friends smoke so I did as well to fit in.”

According to research, much of the morbidity and mortality associated with shisha smoking can be attributed to impairment of the cardiovascular system.

Globally tobacco use kills more than seven million people annually, a figure expected to rise to 8 million deaths every year by 2030.

By: Karimatou Jallow  

Residents of Ebo town have called on government to develop their community, saying that they have been lamenting for years but nobody has ever come to their aid.

“Ebou town is not hygienic, stangnant water is every. Nobody knows where this water is coming from and the sad thing is that children play in this stagnant water without knowing the negative impact of it. They are uncomfortable because they are children who don’t know the implications of such water on their health,” Shona Touray said.

“We have rights like any other person in the country because we pay tax and also participate in every election, but we are ignored. Promises made to us are hardly fulfilled. We are Gambians and we need to be considered all time,” Touray added.

Shona said the government should help them because they are living in very unhygienic environment which she said is not good for their health.

“During elections, most of these politicians came here and promised to help us but we have not received any help from them. Moreover, this is not what we are expecting from them. Let them fulfil their promises because we are the reason why they are in those positions. Not considering us is not a good idea because we voted them to bring development to our communities,” Sarjo Gaye explained.

“We are living in a very bad condition because the stagnant water can cause serious sickness. If politicians really care about our health, let them fine a solution and end this because we are also citizen of this country who pay tax like any other citizen in the country,” Gaye added.

“For more than fifteen years now we have been living in this nasty environment and nobody has ever come to our aid. However, that has never stopped us from voting during elections,” Gaye said.

Ebrima Jallow, a resident, said he has been living in Ebo town for years but said he has seen any development. He urged the government to help them develop the community.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The president of the Gambia Football Federation, Lamin Kaba Bajo, has admitted to gathering football delegates at a hotel a night before the election but denied inducing voters.

President Bajo was accused by his opponent Sadibou Kamaso, who alleged that Mister Bajo and his team induced and coerced delegates into voting for him in his re-election to continue serving as the head of the country’s football governing body for another four years. Kaba Bajo boldly told the press that it was not an allegation but a reality that he gathered delegates at a hotel. However, he dismissed the inducement claimed submitted by Sadibou Kamaso.

“It is not an allegation. It is a reality. We have two teams and every team, you go with your people and talk to them. The people who have identified themselves with me came together so that we can further organize ourselves and prepare for the election,” he voiced.

He went on further: “I will not tell you that we induce them. These people are highly respected. Some of them were there, but they came here and voted against us.”

Mister Sadibou Kamaso, who lost the election to his former boss said that President Bajo and his team connived with most of the delegates to sit together on the same side in the hall so that they can monitor what they will be doing, a sitting arrangement he questioned; blaming the electoral committee of working for Team Kaba.

In the run-up to the election, Mister Lamin Kaba Bajo told The Fatu Network that Sadibou is his special younger brother. However, yesterday, he expressed his disappointment with Sadibou, whom he was expecting a congratulatory remark from but never received.  He said that he is disappointed in Kamaso’s failure to congratulate him.

“I am disappointed because I knew how highly contested the election would be. I expect a form of congratulations from my opponent. It is a big disappointment,” he expressed.

However, Sadibou Kamaso, who questioned the whole process leading to the election, uttered that he cannot congratulate President Bajo because he flawed the Constitution.

“I don’t have to congratulate someone who flawed all the rules of the Constitution in terms of the electoral process,” Kamaso said.

He explained that Bajo amended the Constitution in his favour by bringing in the position of 4th Vice President. Kamaso argued that that could have been done earlier and not in the morning of the elections.

When Sadibou lost to Lamin Kaba Bajo by 25 votes to 51, his team members withdrew their candidatures in all other elected positions.

Lamin Kaba Bajo’s new executive team after the election includes Bakary Jammeh as vice President, Ebou Faye as second Vice President, Numukunda Kanyi as third Vice President, Imaila S. Ceesay, John Frank Mendy, Maimuna Kanteh and Arret Njie Jah as Executive Committee Members.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Musa Darboe alias Chief, Gambia’s only Nollywood actor who joined the Nigerian movie industry two years ago, is set to make history by releasing his movie titled “Life of Pain” on Friday 2^nd September 2022.

The Brufut born actor is the first Gambian to register his name in the Nollywood and has participated in several movies with top actors and actresses in Nigeria.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the 25-year-old Gambian Nollywood actor described the movie as a “special one” in his career.

Asked about what makes the movie special, Darboe said; “This is the first time I am playing the role of a protagonist (leading character) which means I am the main man.

This will expose me to a wider audience which is the wish of every actor and actress,” the young actor explained.

“When I was working on this movie, people were calling me Obinna as indicated in the movie. The movie means a lot to my career and it’s my movie. It is not easy to be a protagonist in a movie. The people that are featured in the movie are very popular and well experienced and having them in the movie is huge for me.”

He said the movie will go a long way in remembering the struggle he faced before reaching this stage.

“I can say this is a Gambian movie and it will raise the Gambian flag higher.”

He disclosed that the story of the movie is heart touching because it is the painful reality that many people are going through.

“The movie is a story of father who maltreats his wife and children. He tortures them and finally chases them out of his house, but their condition becomes worse when they move into their aunt’s house. Their father’s hatred for them is revealed after their aunt confessed that she is behind it,” the actor gave synopsis of the movie.

Musa Darboe (Obinna) is the leading character; legendary Emma Umeh plays  father, legendary Ngozi Evuka plays aunt, superstar Juliet Patrick plays cousin and Chioma plays sister.

The actor urged Gambians and other nationals to support him by subscribing to and liking his YouTube channel (Musa Chief Official) and follow his Facebook page (Musa Darboe Actor) as he is planning to monetize them.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The defeated Gambia Football Federation Presidential candidate, Sadibou Kamaso, has accused the elected President Lamin Kaba Bajo and his team of inducing voters in the run-up to the election held earlier today, August 27^th 2022.

Kamaso, who only received twenty-five votes to his name out of seventy-six valid votes, alleged that Team Kaba had gathered the football delegates in a hotel and coaxed them to vote for them.

“Yesterday, most of these delegates were taken into a hotel and there was an audio that leaked where they were being told what to do. They even connived with them to sit together.

We know there were some inducements, some coercion. We all know what happened. There is certain information that we cannot discuss here,” Sadibou said.

Mr. Kamaso told the press that the voting process in the hall was transparent, but questioned the processes leading to the voting.

“We know the incumbent, and we have heard what they told some of them. We will go as a team and sit back to discuss the next move,” he disclosed.

Speaking to the press, the defeated Kamaso back-up his inducement allegation using the invalid vote cast as an example. The vote was considered invalid by the chairman of the electoral committee for writing the name of the club on the voting paper.

“We have seen what they do. Given people the Quran to swear, so if a stakeholder can write the name of the club on a voting paper, it is like they have an agreement.”

According to him, his team will analyse the whole issue and do what is necessary, whether in an appeal form or a petition.

He further alleged that the electoral committee was not independent. He argued that he was barred from entering the place as a delegate for his new team, Young Africans because the chairman of the electoral committee instructed those at the gate. Furthermore, he noted that the chairman wrote letters about the Extraordinary Congress, which is outside his mandate.

Sadibou Kamaso, today, August 27, lost the GFF presidential election to president Lamin Kaba Bajo by 51 votes to 25.

By: Modou Touray

The Regional Community Development officer for the West Coast Region, Mr Njaga Khan, has clarified to the Village Development Committee (VDC) members of Sotokoi in Kombo east that Alkalo is the head of the village and he must be updated about the activities and projects undertaken by VDC to avoid conflict in the village.

The tension between the Alkalo and the Village Development Committee is alarming which prompted the Brikama Area Council (BAC) to clearly define their roles and responsibilities and how they could work amicably with the village heads.

“Alkalo (village head) is in charge of the village therefore any program being undertaken by the Village Development Committee, he must be consulted. That is why in the local government act, the Alkalo serves as an advisor,” Njaga Khan stated.

The fracas between the village head and the village development committee often hampers the development agenda of the village. Each of them with a faction to sabotage communal activities.

Mr Khan insisted that VDCs must be open to accountability and term limits in administration as stated in the Local Government Act 2002. According to the Local Government Act 2002, VDC executive members should be elected in which two members (male and female) from each clan (Kabilo) shall be entitled to vote and register at the Area Council.

“The Village Development Committee should be gender-sensitive, fairly elected and must be in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. If you do that, the conflict will be avoided. Your constitution must be clear on issues,” Mr Khan added.

He further asserted that the village consists of different political parties and therefore politics must be out of their activities.

Hadiatou Sarjo Jallow, a planning technician at the Brikama Area Council, highlighted that it is in the interest of the council to see that the village development committees know their mandate. “If villagers can initiate their own development projects, it will help communities,” She pointed out.

The chairman of the Sotokoi village development committee, Mr Gasper Gomez Said building their capacity will enhance their competence hence they are new in office.

“We had VDC before but they were not effective. We decided to restructure it to make it better. We are 29 members at the moment,” Mr Gomez said.

The village development committees work directly with the ward councillor who represents them at the Brikama Area Council. Honourable Bala Musa Darboe is the ward councillor for Kafuta ward in the Kombo east district and he said:

“The Alkalo consulted me two years ago to help in setting up a functional VDC because the former committee were not effective. The committee is set up now which is the development branch of the village. if there is a cordial relationship between the village head and the VDC, development with be smooth,” councillor Darboe stated.

It is a fact that for a village to realise sustainable and meaningful development, there must be a well-constituted VDC who are supposed to be watchdogs in terms of community development initiative and as such it must include people who have the charisma, transparency, impartiality and above all, represent the will of the people.

By: Hadram Hydara

The spokesperson of the Yahya Jammeh-recognised faction of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), Pa Modou Mbowe, has claimed that exiled former Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, had given Fabakary Tombong Jatta, interim leader of the APRC party at the time, three million and five hundred thousand dalasis (D3,500,000) to contest for the 2017 parliamentary seats.

Mr Mbowe claimed that Fabakary and co requested that amount from Jammeh on the basis that they were going to contest for 53 seats but ended up contesting far fewer seats. According to Mbowe, this is when Jammeh started to lose trust in Fabakary Tombong Jatta.

“You can trust me and I end up betraying you. This is exactly the case with Fabakary and President Jammeh. President Jammeh trusted Fabakary up to the time he adamantly refused to take his calls because of 3.5 million. The trust was all the way up there because he gave them 3.5 million for the National Assembly elections in 2017 for 53 seats; that is what they requested but they contested only 16 seats. So, obviously, there are 37 seats that need to be explained.

Where did you put the money? How did you spend my money? He had the right to ask Fabakary that and that question, up to today, is still not answered. So what do you expect? So that is where he started to break his trust; so the trust was broken by Fabakary, not by Yahya Jammeh because Yahya Jammeh is not here,” Mbowe said.

Speaking on the likelihood of either faction doing a revamp with a name and flag change instead of both carrying the APRC name and using its paraphernalia, the PRO challenged Fabakary and his camp to form their own party.

“We don’t have to change name, the people who went to NPP can change their name. They can even have their own political party if they are that famous; if they know that they are in control, let them have their own party. Well, Mamma Kandeh did. The late Sheriff Mustapha Dibba did with President Jawara. When they had the feud, he went and formed his NCP, GPP as well with Assan Musa Camara. Go and build your own party, you don’t have to use somebody’s details.

Go and create your own party. You are famous, you are a leader; you are dynamic, and you got the people behind you, go and join NPP for God’s sake and leave us alone,” he said.

He added that President Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) does not need the Fabakary-led APRC faction anymore, saying the only person they need is Fabakary “to reward him for what he did in 2017”.

By: Dawda Baldeh

On 9^th August 2022, Magistrate P.A Che of Brikama Magistrate Court issued a 30-day notice ordering people reported to have “trespassed” the fire belt area of the forest in Busura village to identify themselves and explain to the court why they have built or are building structures in the said area demarcated as fire belt to protect the forest from fire.

This order is part of a land suit involving the People of Busura Village (Plaintiff) against four defendants: Ebrima Jeng, Modou Sarr, Sulauman Camara and Aadama Sowe as first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

“In the interest of justice, I shall give one month notice from the date of this order to all those who have built or made blocks within the designated area to come and show cause why the structures or blocks shall not be demolished and taken away. Failure to report, this court shall make a demolition order without any other notice,” Magistrate P.A Che ordered.

According to the Magistrate, he had visited the site, as per the plaintiff’s request alongside the clerk, Alkalo of Busura village, members of the forest committee, youth representatives in the committee, amongst others. A roofed hut, three buildings and dug foundation were seen during the visit.

“I instructed the plaintiff to liaise with the Department of Forestry to provide me the map and a report with respect to the demarcation of the forest area,” the Magistrate wrote in the order.

The Magistrate continued that he received report from the Forestry Department with the headline: “Clarification on the 20-Meters Strip as Fire Belt as Forest Boundary Line” with a map of Badara Faye Community Forest, Western Division attached to it.

“I have looked at the praecipe, visited the locus (site) and carefully perused the report from the Regional Department of Forestry. It is my considered opinion that all the development falls within the 20-meter strip designated as fire belt. Any person who constructs within the 20 meters fire belt is considered as a trespasser. I was unable to hear from the alleged trespassers as no one owned up,” he added.

The plaintiff filed a praecipe claiming for the repossession of plot of land measuring 228M – 30M – 150M – 50M said to be part of the forest gazette area of the Local Government situated at Busura Village.

A restraining order was made against both parties from interfering with the plot of land in question by A.O Mendy of Brikama Magistrate Court. The first defendant was served but the other three could not be seen, according to Magistrate Che, adding that one Modou Jarju and Alagie Loum were found within the plot who said they were asked to work on the said plot by persons they don’t know. They were later arrested and interrogated.

The noticed was issued on the 9th of August 2022, meaning, by the 10th of next month, September the notice would have elapsed.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

A case involving three Gambian youths who are accused to have stolen items worth one million two hundred and forty-five thousand and seventy dalasis (1, 245, 070.00) was mentioned at the Kanifing Magistrate Court over the week.

The trio allegedly stole the said items which were mainly building materials from a shop at Jimpex called ARYAN TRADING in June.

Muhammed Dibba and Gibril Jammeh, the second and third accused persons respectively were present at the court during the mentioning of the case, however, the first accused, Alpha Omar Jallow was still at large at that time.

The Prosecution, led by sub-Inspector Kebbeh had to file a motion requesting the court’s order for the first accused to be tried in absentia. The application was granted.

Meanwhile, the second and third accused persons both pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and stealing contrary to 368 and 252 respectively of the Criminal Code levied against them.

The items that were allegedly stolen are; 237 packets of brown corrugate valued at D1, 066, 500; 33 gutters valued at D19, 800; 16 pairs of fencing wires valued at D36, 800; 10 squatting toilets valued at D6, 000; 4 packets of wall tile (104) valued at D1, 120; 10 wall tile (932) valued at D2, 800; 66 packets of floor tile (498) valued at D22, 050; 144 Rezar wire rolls valued at D1, 155, 07.

If found guilty, the accused persons may spend over 5 years in prison.

The case was adjourned to Tuesday, 30th August 2022. The bail for the accused persons was set at D1.3 million or a landed property valued at the said amount.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Omar Malmo Sambou, environmentalist and climate change activist, has commended sensational Gambian rapper Sanna Sighateh, who goes by the stage name ST, on his foundation’s free tree planting initiative which is meant to mitigate climate change in the country.

Omar told The Fatu Network that the tree planting initiative by the ST Foundation will increase environmental consciousness and environmental restoration. He explained that planting these trees in different parts of the country will assist in restoring devalued ecologies and biodiversity loss if the trees rooted reach their growth.

“The activities will help in restoring our degraded ecologies, increase our climate resilience capabilities, and reduce biodiversity loss in the long run if the planted trees grow,” he explained.

According to Omar, these activities will help in building a climate society in The Gambia.

He added that if the Gambia has more people doing what ST is doing, the Gambia’s greenery will be thoroughly restored. He also praised the artist and his foundation for involving in such an adventure that will boost the country’s ecosystem. He noted that the current approaches to solving environmental issues are not effective.

“Current approaches to solving our complex environmental problems are neither effective nor timely. However, the involvement of the biggest artist will give a greater impact on our quest for ecological restoration for improved ecosystem health and vitality,” he narrated.

ST Brikama Boyo, the multiple award-winning Gambian artist and his foundation launched a tree planting initiative across the country with a plan of planting one million trees in five years.

According to the Secretary General of the ST Foundation Environment Award, Ismaila Fadera, the foundation has planted over ten thousand trees from June 25 to date in fifteen different areas in the country and still counting.

Ismaila said that the biggest threat the country is faced with is climate change, thus the foundation deemed it salient to plant trees that will help reverse the impacts of climate change.

“In the long term, we hope the trees we are planting will help reverse the effects of climate change and help restore our lost forest cover. Part of our aims is to inspire more environmental conservationists,” the SG told TFN.

Fadera called on communities where these trees are planted to take ownership of them.

By: Modou Touray

Fire outbreak at the Brikama market in early hours of Friday 26^th August 2022 claimed cash and valuables in four shops at the Nana Junction.

The extent of the damage could not be immediately quantified but initial calculations by victims indicated that more than three million dalasis of stocks and cash perished.

The cause of the fire is being attributed to an electrical fault on a pole closed to the shops. An electrical fault can cause fire.

The victims are Ousman Jaiteh, Modou Sowe, Dawda Bah and Abubacarr Jallow. The victims spoke to The Fatu Network, appealing for emergency response.

According to the shop owners, the fire started around 3am. They confirmed that prior to arrival of the fire and rescue services, a lot had already perished in the fire.

Modou Sowe is a youth entrepreneur who established mobile retail and accessories shop to be self-reliant. He is supported through a youth project.

“My Shop which contains mobile phones, phone accessories, laptops and working tools got engulfed in the fire. Unfortunately, I lost a stock of more than D1,250,000.00 from my personal belongings and more than D1,000,000.00 belonging to my customers. I am therefore calling for your prayers and support to recover the lost,” Modou Sowe lamented.

Ousman Jaiteh is another victim who is engaged in the sale of soap, cleansing detergents and learning materials. He disclosed that he kept one thousand euros and more than forty-five thousand dalasis of his daily sales, which he said perished in the fire. “My business is at a standstill as you can see. People queue here daily to buy soap and other goods.”

Dawda Bah, who owns one of the burnt shops, said his money of fifty thousand dalasis which he kept in the shop to purchase more goods, was destroyed in the fire together with some goods belonging to other people. “I can say more than D250,000 worth of cash and valuables periaheed,” he disclosed.

Reacting to the incident, the president of the Brikama Market Committee, Foday Manjang, expressed sadness and empathized with the victims. He called for immediate support for the fire victims.

Secretary General of the Brikama Market Committee Mr Bolong Jabang appealed to the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) to carry out maintenance work on their electric poles around the market to avoid frequent fire outbreaks.

According to Lamin Cesay, an experienced electrician, electrical current mostly produces heat, and if it produces enough heat, it can ignite fire. “The best example of this is lightening. This too can start a fire. faults in appliance cords, receptacles and switches can lead to fire outbreak. If an appliance has a worn out or frayed cord, it can generate dangerous levels of heat, igniting surfaces like rugs and curtains, starting a fire,” he explained.