By: Dawda Baldeh
Shine Light in Girls Education (SLIGE), a non-profitable organization helping girls academically, donated school materials to sixty-seven (67) girls with support from their German partners.

The materials donated include shoes, bags, books, set-boxes, pens, pencils, calculators, and uniforms among other school items. The beneficiaries are 67 girls in the Lower River Region, West Coast Region and Central River Region. The gesture is geared towards empowering girls in education by reducing the burden on their parents.

According to the officials, the organization began by supporting 6 girls in 2020, 44 in 2021, and now 67 in 2022 to empower them in their academic careers.

Ebrima Fadera, the President of the organization, is concerned about the importance of educating a girl child.

“Educating a girl child is like educating the whole nation because they play a crucial role in the development of every sector in our societies. It is not easy because we live in a world where girls are struggling to have their voices heard, and we want to achieve that goal to ensure girls’ voices are heard,” he reiterated.

Mr. Fadera emphasized the need for the importance of girls’ education and the cultural norms and practices that hindered girls from equal opportunities like a boy child to be addressed. This, he added, is silencing girls and limiting their goals.

He noted that Shine Light in Girls’ Education (SLIGE) aimed at creating a conducive environment in which girls can explore their potential ranging from academic and other forms of social, economic, political and decision-making processes.

Njie further called on people to give equal learning opportunities to girls and also allow them to participate in social and political activities.

He recalled that they have been working tirelessly to support parents to ensure their girls go to school and supported them with school materials and cash as well to facilitate their smooth academic performances.

According to him, girls and women are given fewer opportunities in accessing education in many communities as well as participating in decision-making.

Tijan Fadera, the Regional Coordinator, said the concept of not registering girls in schools in many regions has been declining since their intervention over the years.

He added that they have been supporting girls and also monitoring their academic performances to ensure they participate well in school.

Mr. Fadera urged parents to allow their girl child to be educated, noting that the importance is huge. “Girls should not be marginalized, and the narrative needs to change,” he emphasized.

Amie Manga, a beneficiary since the inception of the organization, said the donation will go a long way in helping them.

She expressed her profound gratitude to the organization for the gesture. Described by many as a brilliant girl, Amie confirmed that they have received school materials and cash over the years from the organization, which she attributed to her growing academic excellence over the years.

“These materials will definitely help us, and I am pleased to be part of the beneficiaries again,” Amie said.

According to UNICEF, girls who receive education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families. Girls’ education strengthens the economy and reduces inequalities.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Political commentator and social activist, Coach-Pasamba Jow, has argued that Citizens’ Alliance (CA) Doctor Ismaila Ceesay’s claim that the CA’s alliance with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is done out of national interest is deceitful.

Coach-Pasamba explained that CA as a party and Dr. Ismaila Ceesay have the right to associate themselves with any group or party but argued that CA’s alliance with NPP is misleading.

“CA as a party and Dr. Ceesay as a private citizen have the right to associate themselves with any group or organisation but arguing that it is done purposely in the ‘national interest’ is to my estimation, disingenuous. The question remains, does being in the opposition in a democratic country against the national interest?” he quizzed.

Coach-Pasamba, who referred to the NPP-CA Alliance as so-called, pointed out that only a few Gambians will be surprised by the alliance. According to him, President Barrow and Dr. Ceesay have been playing footsies for a while.

Yesterday, October 1, the Citizens’ Alliance political party leaders visited the President at the State House, after which the party leader announced they are in for an alliance with the ruling party. However, Coach-Pasamba questioned why CA should ally with NPP without a memorandum of understanding.

“Ironically, how can CA, a party that is supposed to be of the new breed of Gambian politicians, ally with another political party without a Memorandum of Understanding signed? I guess Dr. Ceesay and CA will have to reconcile their past utterance against Barrow and their recent actions,” he said.

Speaking on the future of CA as a political party after forming this alliance, the resignation of a founding member and chairman Dominic Mendy and the suspension of former spokesperson Neneh Freda Gomez, Jow said he doesn’t see CA recovering from this.

“There is a great chance that CA will suffer the same fate as the other parties that joined Barrow. The CA may very well be consuming the NPP,” he said.

At the beginning of Adama Barrow’s presidency, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay was a vocal critic of his government. Together with others, being unsatisfied with the government, formed a political party to unseat Adama Barrow. However, when Dr. Ismaila Ceesay was rejected to run for the presidency and later successfully appealed, he was given a vehicle to campaign for NPP, a claim that was confirmed by his party after an investigation.

CA, for the past months, have been hit with the resignation of the founding chairman, Dominic Mendy, citing deviation of the party leadership from its founding principles.

By: Modou Touray

As indiscriminate cutting down of trees in the Kombo Darsilameh community forest and its surroundings has prompted the village Alkalo Musa Balla Tabally Bojang to task his villagers with scouting for illegal logging and offenders of deforestation and all forms of destruction to their community forest park.

In an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network during a tree planting activity, Mr Bojang warned that anyone captured will be prosecuted accordingly.

Kombo Darsilameh settlement borders the southern Senegalese region of Casamance which makes it more challenging to protect the environment.

“When a forest is cut down, there is no place left for the creatures that once lived there, and they die off. Biodiversity is decreased accordingly. The more forests that are cut down, the more associated organisms have no place to live, and the more biodiversity decreases,” Alkalo Bojang revealed

“Since most of our valuable forest trees have been cut down and the animals’ species also aren’t visible anymore. I beef up vigilantism in our endangered forest park to avert deforestation,” he continued.

Although the charges attached to forestry offences are minimal, but the Darsilameh village Alkalo is not relenting on his quest to bring offenders before the law. For example, section 109 of the forestry offences Act, fines up to D3000 for charcoal burning, failure in which the offender will serve a sentence of up to 6 months.

“Trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals,” Alkalo Bojang said.

Vigilante groups in the environment are people keeping a watchful or close eye on activities in the forest. Sometimes a vigilante will make news for catching a criminal, and sometimes vigilante groups form to target criminal activity.

Mr Bojang further asserted that trees provide many benefits to our cities, towns, and villages. Trees benefit communities by improving air quality, mitigating stormwater, providing shade and enhancing aesthetic beauty, providing wildlife habitat, and increasing property value.

“The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for human beings,” he added

Experts believe deforestation causes habitat destruction, increased risk of predation, reduced food availability, and much more. As a result, some animals lose their homes, others lose food sources – and finally, many lose their lives. Deforestation is one of the main causes of extinction.

In the Community forestry concept, communities have the right to manage the forest resources upon which they depend, with a view to improving their living conditions. Recognising, securing, and enforcing forest communities’ rights is the most effective and inclusive way to preserve, restore and enhance forests.

The Community Forest management approach helps to mitigate increasing deforestation and forest degradation to address the negative impacts on rural livelihoods.

By: Sarjo Brito

Political Science professor and leader of the Citizens’ Alliance (CA) party made headlines today October 1st after announcing his party’s coalition with President Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP). Dr. Ceesay, who has been known as a staunch critic of the Gambian president has told local media that the Citizens’ Alliance party has decided at the executive level to coalesce with the ruling party to support the government’s agenda.

“It is a partnership and an alliance with the NPP to work for the interest of this country. And let me emphasize that we see the Gambia first. It is not about Dr. Ismaila Ceesay; it is not about President Barrow; it is about The Gambia.’’

While supporters of Barrow’s NPP bask in their newfound ally, Citizens’ alliance members and the general public share their thoughts on the newfound political romance involving the Gambian President and the Citizens’ party leader. Dawda Ceesay, who has been a member of CA since its launching said he is disappointed about Dr’s alliance with President Barrow, especially at a time when the Gambian leader’s popularity is declining and the country grappling with many other issues including crime surge, and corruption among others. Dawda Ceesay confirmed to this network that he is giving up his party’s membership effective immediately as a result of the alliance.

“I’m just disappointed with everything that’s going on. With Barrow losing popularity regarding the high crime rate, corruption, and high influx of potent drugs, the least CA could do is to form an Alliance with NPP who are in bed with APRC and are planning to find a way to bring Jammeh back. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. How can CA convince Barrow to tackle corruption and the high mortality rate of women in hospitals? I wish them all the best.’’

Asked about his future in the party after it decides to go into a political marriage with Barrow, and whether this is the end for him, Ceesay said: “Yes, I am out.”

National People’s Party’s spokesperson and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Honourable Seedy Njie said the new alliance has been months in the making. Njie said the alliance is in the greater interest of the Gambia and her people.

“The President has asked all NPP supporters in the country and the diaspora to welcome and work with CA in all structures and levels.”

Meanwhile, the new NPP-CA alliance has also raised eyebrows in the context of the forthcoming local government elections. Some observers offer this explanation: They believe Dr. Ceesay might be selected by the NPP to contest the Brikama Area Council Chairmanship, a position that is already being sought by one of the founding members of the NPP, Ahmad Gitteh.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, leader and 2021 presidential candidate of the opposition Citizens’ Alliance (CA) party, has officially announced a formation of alliance with the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP) after a close-door meeting with President Adama Barrow at State House, Banjul on Saturday 1^st October 2022.

Speaking to journalists after his meeting with the President, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay said the purpose of the alliance is in the interest of the country and not on personal interest.

“We wanted to contest for the 2021 presidential election with our ten-point manifesto, but we were not able to do so. President Adama Barrow won the election and has called on Gambians to work with him. This is the called we answered to for the best interest of the country.”

He said they want to share their manifesto with the President to help in developing the country. He added that they don’t want to sit on their manifesto and not share it with the President.

“We reflected at party level on why we should not seat on our manifesto, so we deemed it necessary to share with the President who is entrusted to lead the country. The President has called on people to work together, and the party thought it wise to answer to the call,” he stated.

Dr. Ceesay, a critic of President Barrow in the 2021 presidential campaign, said part of the alliance is for them to work with the NPP for the upcoming local government election.

“We see Gambia first; it is not about Dr. Ismaila Ceesay neither is it about President Barrow. It is about the country. The country is facing challenges. Some challenges are inherited since colonial times while some are globally induced because we know what is happening globally because of the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war,” he explained.

He said the President Barrow led government trying in addressing the challenges in the country but noted that the government cannot do it alone.

“We find ourselves in very challenging times. We want to move from the old politic which is based on tension, insults and so on. We intend to bring a new type of politics. We believe the opposition and the government can work together for the interest of the country. If NPP and CA are fighting on social media and if CA is going out to protest every day, the poor farmer in Foni, Badibou, the child who doesn’t have access to education, the woman dying at the hospital lacking proper healthcare will suffer.

Our problems are bigger than our personal interests. We are calling on all Gambians to come together as this is a time for national convergence of ideas and resources to build this country,” Dr. Ceesay narrated.

Asked about the party’s future, Dr. Ceesay said the party is owned by its members. He highlighted that politics has different interests: national, partisan and individual, emphasizing that the alliance is for national interest.

For Dr. Cessay they will share development ideas with the President for the advancement of the country, saying both parties have strong support based which can change the political dynamics in the country where young people can learn that politic is not about protest, insult or barrage but a competition of ideas.

However, Dr. Ceesay confirmed to journalists that they have not reached a state of signing agreement with the NPP, but they have declared their intention to work together.

Mambanyick Njie, NPP administrative secretary, said the move by CA is a welcoming initiative that can help in the development of the country.

“Development or nation building is an ongoing process. It is a process that needs redefining and rethinking. This is a welcoming move, and we are pleased. CA has recognized the efforts of the President, and they believe to share their ten-point manifesto with the President for our development.

We will seat with them and look at their manifesto and see how it will be operationalizing,” Mr. Njie noted.

By: Sarjo Brito  

Political scientist and social commentator Essa Njie has in an exclusive with The Fatu Network described the country’s opposition as election-oriented political parties. His statement comes at the hills of recent scandals that have rocked the country, saying opposition and civil society are doing little in pressuring and holding the government into account. Njie said holding the government accountable has been left in the hands of party militants whom he said sometimes divert people’s attention from more pressing issues.

“With all the scandals that we have seen on the papers since last week, no opposition or civil society is coming to talk about these things. There is a scandal in this country every day. The National Assembly debate that is going on just told us that they have discovered over 20 million dalasis that was unaccounted for according to the National Audit Report, but nobody shows concern. It is sad to say but we have election-oriented political parties. Opposition parties that will just come and contest elections and when they are over, they go back to their political bureaus.’’

The Political Science Lecturer also described the country’s civil society organizations as project-oriented whom he also said do not seem to understand their role in a democratic society. Njie further explained how civil society has played an instrumental role in removing longstanding dictators in other countries like Zambia’s Kenneth David Kaunda, adding that having a less vibrant civil society is bad for Gambia’s democratic dispensation.

“We have a civil society that is just project oriented, sad to say. They are only focused on winning projects and when it is time for elections, they go and observe elections, monitor, prepare their reports, and preliminary statements and tell people that the election is free and fair. They don’t even understand their role in a democratic society. It is very unfortunate and if you look at the history of the democratization process in Africa after the cold war, civil society was instrumental.’’

Last week, Essa Njie made headlines after he described the country’s opposition parties as dormant. Some political parties reacted to his statement describing it as misleading and unfair.

By: Modou Touray

In a decisive administrative move, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the entire local government area across the length and breadth of the country was united under a single network with the principal focus on timely service delivery to the taxpayers they serve. An initiative they believe could accelerate the routine functions of local governments.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Brikama Area Council and chairman of the Network of City Managers – the Gambia, Mr Modou Jonga his counterpart’s Chief executive officers will benefit from a variety of methods and tools to boost their professionalism, acquire a people-centred service and results-oriented culture and behaviour.

“We shall adopt the culture of benchmarking as well, policies evaluation and performances comparison in terms of service delivery and local administration management. Equally, we shall also participate in peer review and peer learning activities and be exposed to best practices and sharing of experiences.

The CEOs of various local government areas are the administrative heads of their councils and are also considered to be the closest advisors to the local government’s political leaders (Council chairpersons and Mayors).

“I am indeed grateful for the mantle of leadership bestowed on me as head of the network of city managers. I hereby assured you that my team and I will do our best to meet the expectations. I am Determined to change the status-quo to make councils more responsive to the needs of tax-payers.”

Mr Jonga further highlighted that realizations of local government development targets squarely lies on the chief executive officers and their staff who are the technicians implementing the policy decision of politicians.

“The mayors and chairperson, as well as the elected ward councillors, make decisions on development priorities but its effective implementation is our role. We are optimistic that with consultations with colleagues and chief executive officers we will be able to move with the same development pace to ensure that the tasks ahead of us are implemented”

The local government authorities have been facing numerous challenging in fulfilling the development needs of their people which they say is largely due to insufficient revenue and a rapid increase in urbanisation (in the case of the greater Banjul area).

Chief Executive Officers of the eight Local Government Authorities in The Gambia recently elected Modou Jonga, chief executive officer of Brikama Area Council, as President of the Network of City Managers – the Gambia chapter which is affiliated to Africa network of city managers (Africa Magnet)

The Gambia association of local government authorities (GALGA) is proactively committing itself to respond to the needs of the people. The regularization of the structures under GALGA which have international affiliation will expose Gambia’s local government Authorities to global platforms.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

The Gambia’s Interior Minister, Seyaka Sonko has called on people to be mindful of painting the country “so red” as he believes doing such would only give tourists the impression that the Gambia is not a good destination; an impression he believes would not favour the tourism industry which employs “a lot” [of people].

“Yes, what happened was unfortunate. We don’t really think we should brush that under the carpet, but we should be mindful of how we say it. So that we don’t paint our country so red that no one wants to come here. A lot [of people] depend on the tourism industry,” Honourable Seyaka Sonko told journalists.

Mr Sonko was speaking in his first press conference about the security of the Gambia which has been the talk of the town over the past weeks. The current security situation in the Gambia has been described by some Gambians as unprecedented having witnessed six homicides in a month, a figure that surprises some, yet the Ministry reported a decrease in crime rate.

“I think we should be mindful also that this is the only country we can call home. It is a destination for tourists – it is a destination for our people in Diaspora who want to come here and enjoy their holidays. So, if we depict it as such a horrible place; who wants to come to a horrible place where every minute someone is killed?” the Interior Minister said.

He continued, “that is why when we are talking about these things, we also point out that, yes, these are happening, but comparatively, the trend is not as high as people say.”

By: Sarjo Brito

The Ministry of Health has said it is embarking on a paracetamol recall exercise nationwide together with the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), starting October 5th. This came following the suspension of the drug in August after the death of 28 children who died of acute kidney injury. The Ministry, after its findings last month, said the mass deaths were possibly caused by E. coli and the toxicity of paracetamol syrup.

“After observing some clinical events, it gave rise to the suspicion that contaminated paracetamol syrup, promethazine, and cough syrups might be the potential contributors to the Acute Kidney Injury or might have worsened initial diarrhoea affecting the children. For this reason, effective October 5th, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Medicines Control Agency will be conducting medicines recall exercise of all Paracetamol syrups, Promethazine, and cough syrups in circulation nationwide,’’ Health Ministry announced.

The Health Ministry’s decision to suspend all paracetamol syrup earlier this month was met with mixed reactions. While some members of the public were happy that measures were being taken by health officials, Economist and Political Pundit Momodou Sabally described the Ministry’s conclusions as mere speculations, especially after stating that their investigations into the AKI outbreak are still ongoing, thus creating panic in the country.

Momodou Sabally also argued that it will be incorrect for the Ministry of Health to generally infer that paracetamol syrup is the cause of the disease, without making it clear which brand is responsible, arguing that there are many brands and importers.

“Certainly, there is more than one brand and one importer of paracetamol. Which of the many is the suspected one making our children sick? One can infer that they have found paracetamol, a very common drug prescribed by almost all doctors, in samples; but does correlation necessarily mean causality in their world?” Sabally asked.

By: Hadram Hydara

The Office of the Chief Justice has denied earlier reports of an alleged defrauding of D11 million within the Judiciary, saying only a mere attempt was made to defraud the Judiciary which was quickly detected and thwarted.

“These reports are of great concern to the Judiciary as they create the impression that the Judiciary has been defrauded of the sum of D11 million or that the said amount has been stolen from the funds of the Judiciary,” a release reads from the Office of the Chief Justice.

The Standard newspaper broke news of the alleged fraud within the Judiciary in their 12th September issue and reported that Police were on verge of launching an investigation into the alleged corruption scandal, however, in their press release issued today September 30th, the Office of the Chief Justice said:

“That is not the case. The Judiciary has not lost any such funds. No such amount has been stolen from the Judiciary’s funds,” the release continues.

The Office of the Chief Justice in an attempt to clarify further confirmed that there was in fact an attempt to defraud the Judiciary, but it proved unsuccessful as the Central Bank of the Gambia extended a helping hand.

“What appeared to be an attempt to defraud the Judiciary was instead discovered by the Judiciary in 2021. The intervention of the Central Bank and Senior Management of the Judiciary thwarted the attempted fraud.

The Judiciary reported the matter to the Police on 15th December 2021. The staff member concerned was sent home pending the conclusion of the Police investigations.”

The release further emphasized that there are no missing funds whatsoever and regarding the alleged culprit involved in the “attempted fraud”, the Chief Justice’s office said:

“The Judiciary wishes to reiterate that no such funds are missing and wishes to assure the general public that it has strong financial control systems and measures in place to safeguard public funds.

In September, 2022, the concerned staff was taken to court and convicted and sentenced,” the release ends.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Girls in Gambian upper basic schools that registered for the 2022 Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination (GABECE) have outperformed their male counterparts in the examination, per the analysis presented by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education at a press conference held today, September 29.

According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Luis Moses Gomez, the West African Examination Council (WAEC), released the results on the 24th of September.

The PS said the result analysis by the ministry does not only look at the number of aggregate 6 students but, moreover, the regional dynamics to know regions doing well as the gender side of it.

The analysis showed that 27,783 registered for the examination but only 27,018 sat for the examination, at least for one subject.

Out of the 27,018 reported to have sat for the examination, 13,424 students scored an aggregate of 6 to 42. Of the 13,424 with an aggregate of six to forty-two, 5,567 are boys while girls have a margin of 1501 above boys with a total number of 7068 passes.

West Coast Region (Region 2) has more students with a pass at the regional level with 6,760, followed by Region 1 with 3,684 passes.

Reacting to the results, Kalifa Jabbie, a teacher who has taught almost all levels of the country’s basic education sector, outlined that he is not startled by the increase in the performance of girls in GABECE.  Mr. Jabbie claimed that there has been a dramatic reversal in the rendition and inclusion of girl education.

“There has been a dramatic paradigm shift in the performance and inclusion of girls in education. Since the introduction of platforms for girls’ education, there have been a lot of advocacy groups within and outside the country which leads to the results we are seeing today,” he commented.

Number of Students With A Pass in Core Subjects

There has been a decrease in the number of students with a pass in the English Language and Science compared to 2021, while an increase in passes in Math and SES has been registered.

Out of the 27018 students who sat for the examination, 13,662 have passed in English, 10, 239 in Math, 13614 in Science and 16,556 in SES.

Aggregate 6 By Gender

The number of students with aggregate six has increased from 19 in 2021 to 31 in 2022. Out of the 31 students reported to have aggregate six, 18 are girls and 13 are boys. Compared to 2021, the number of girls with aggregate six has jumped from 7 to 18 while boys moved from 12 in 2021 to 13 in 2022.

A total of 19 schools produced aggregate six. Ten are private schools and nine are public schools. Gambia Methodist Academy and Don Mcmath Foundation Upper Basic School have four students each with aggregate six.

According to Kalifa Jabbie, the performance of the students is commendable, but questioned the post-grade performance of the students with good results.

“This is commendable, but how many of those that produce these remarkable results come from the rural areas will remain the million-dollar question. There’s clearly still a disparity between the rural areas and those in the urban areas in terms of performance as a result of lack of enough resources in the rural areas,” he asserted.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Environmentalist, Omar Malmo has told The Fatu Network that Climate Change has been a problem in The Gambia for a while and that it needs to be at the top of the agenda as a result of the negative impact it poses on the country.

“It is significant of a crisis because it is impacting negatively on the major drivers of our economy. Our societies are very vulnerable; our health status is highly affected; our water ecologies are affected; our farms are affected; our agriculture is affected, and our food basket is affected. Therefore, it is really impacting negatively on the major sector of our economy so climate change for us in The Gambia is significant of a crisis and it requires urgent action to mitigate its impact,” said the environmentalist.

According to the PhD holder in Environmental Studies, the Gambia bears the biggest burden in terms of the impact of Climate Change even though it contributes insignificantly to global emissions. And for him, this can be mitigated through prioritisation among other things.

“To build a climate-resilient society would include having climate change as a top priority in our government and our governance system to ensure climate change issues are factored in our infrastructural developments; that is why in recent times we have seen a lot of floods in certain parts of the Gambia. So, to fight climate change is beyond just planting trees on the ground but of course, factoring climate change issues into our development planning which is very essential,” Malmo added.

He continued that building a climate-resilient society will require “significant” capacity building as he believes the Gambia has a huge capacity deficiency when it comes to climate change education and expertise, mitigation and adaptation measures that are required to build the resilience.

Still, on the mitigating measures, he suggests the development of policies that will see the Gambia migrate from being a receiver of old electronic material.

“It is a necessity for the Gambia to begin life circle analysis of some of these electronic materials or materials that basically can increase greenhouse emissions in our communities. This includes second-hand cars that are exported into the Gambia, most of these cars are not useable in other countries, but when they come to the Gambia, we are using them. Therefore, it is important that we have strict vehicle policies so that we do not increase our pollution potential in our society,” he said.

By: Hadram Hydara

Coming against the backdrop of unsatisfactory public reactions and staunch criticism of the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Adama Barrow and the continuous timid inaction of the National Assembly in acting and addressing perennial social and political issues affecting ordinary Gambians, Political Science lecturer, analyst, and outspoken social commentator, Essa Njie, has said the country’s current crop of lawmakers is very likely the worst in the nation’s history.

Mr Njie, who was speaking on a wide range of issues, including the recent political climate and the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the National Assembly, did not bite his tongue in his assessment.

“We saw in 2017 when the fifth legislature came, the first thing they did was to change the age limit for both the president and the vice-president and also what they did was to change the law which says that if you are removed from your party as a parliamentarian, you automatically lose your seat because that suits them.

We also saw a D54 million loan and then what we saw recently was when they allocated themselves D100,000 each for clothing allowances when a lot of people they represent don’t even have access to clean drinking water.

People are paying you from the taxpayers’ money. Do people have to provide the money for you to buy clothes to wear when going to Parliament? You get that from your salary. So, it is unfortunate, but I have to say that this might be the worst Parliament that the Gambia ever have because we have parliamentarians that don’t really understand their function, their role, or they don’t care about the welfare and wellbeing of the people that they represent,” the political scientist noted.

Njie further said the current crop of National Assembly Members does not even crosscheck or critically weigh what is being fed to them at Parliament.

“What we are seeing in Parliament is those people who contribute don’t even critically…look at the statement revealed by the President in his State of the Nation Address. He made mention of something which I think every Gambian should go and fact-check. The man said since the beginning of the 2021-2022 tourist season, the Gambia received 53 flights a week: an average of 8 flights a day, where? And nobody seems to care. Parliamentarians should have asked this man, the Minister of Tourism should have been there and when he was there, he should have been asked: The President said 53 flights come per week, where are all those tourists when hotels and restaurants and bars are closed? Where is the money going to? We want to see that money coming but nobody is asking those relevant questions, instead what we are seeing is that people praising the President for delivering what I call a mere activity report,” Njie said.

Reacting to Essa Njie’s claims, United Democratic Party’s (UDP) NAM for Serrekunda West, Madi Ceesay said Gambians have gone past opinions like Essa’s while foretelling the political scientist would be proven wrong soon.

“That is Njie’s opinion, but I can tell you for certain that the Gambia and Gambians have gone past that. When we came into the National Assembly, what we had found was quite different. We tried as much as we can to look inward and make some very good legislation, trying to make the National Assembly as an institution that can be autonomous and can function because it is one thing to have a National Assembly and members and another thing to have a tool that they will use to execute their duties.

Lest he forgets, Members of the National Assembly have three key roles: law-making, oversight functions, and representation. So, I don’t know in what context he is predicting that this will be the worst National Assembly but time will tell and at the end of the five-year term, he will be proven very wrong because I see this National Assembly to be unique in the sense that since Independence to date, for the first time in the history of the Gambia we have a balanced National Assembly; a National Assembly that no individual has dominance. We’ve seen in the first Republic when the PPP was the dominant party in the Parliament and whatever the executive says that is what happens. We’ve seen the era of the second Republic where the APRC was the dominant party in the National Assembly, and they go by the predicts of the executive.

This National Assembly is different because there is no dominant party. The party that has the majority has only 18 seats followed by the second party with 15 seats and 12 independents with other parties with 2,4 and so. This is the best composition of Parliament that Gambia ever has, so therefore it will be really not in proper context if anybody should just look at the National Assembly and say this will be the worst National Assembly. But what I can assure Gambians and the political scientist is that he will be proven wrong at the end of this sixth legislature because the achievements will be enormous, no doubt about that,” he claimed.

Speaking on Njie’s claims that this current batch of NAMs barely know their functions and roles and that they seem not to care about the people they represent, the seasoned NAM dismissed those claims as just an open criticism which is not based on any tangible facts.

“Again, that I take as just an open criticism which is not based on any tangible facts. Each of the Members of the National Assembly is elected by a group of people in a particular constituency and I cannot understand how that National Assembly Member can give his/her back to those who have elected them so that one is just a baseless argument.

To say these current National Assembly Members don’t know their roles, we have 20 Members of the National Assembly who have been re-elected; they were there five years ago, and they are back again,” NAM, Serrekunda West, said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) attached to the Kanifing Municipal Command, have confirmed the seizure of seven hundred and thirty-four (734) blocks of a substance believed to be Cocaine on 28 September 2022.

In a statement obtained by this medium, Ousman Saidybah, the Public Relations Officer of the Drug Law Enforcement, said preliminary test conducted by their forensic experts suggests that the blocks are cocaine positive.

“The seizure is the result of a well-coordinated high-profile intelligence-led tactical operation starting with an initial seizure of one block at West Field Junction, followed by the seizure of forty-four blocks and subsequently, six hundred and eighty-nine blocks were discovered in a store inside a private residence located near Paradise View in Salagi, Kombo North District, West Coast region,” he explained.

He confirmed that six people have been arrested, including one Gambian (Omar Fofana) and five Sierra Leoneans namely (Junior Vandy, Jeremia Thomas, Alex Thomas, Alagie Suwareh and Joy Bangura a lady).

Mr. Saidybah further disclosed that the three of the Sierra Leoneans are staying in one compound which is responsible for Omar Fofana, but he does not live there.

“The Director General immediately commissioned a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the case with due compliance with rule of law and human rights standards,” he added.

Officials of the agency said they will continue to work closely with all national stakeholders and international partners to consolidate this achievement and hold perpetrators to criminal accountability.

“Amidst a desperate disinformation campaign against the Agency by groups and individuals who are serving nothing but the interest of criminals and criminal organizations, the Agency remained focused and resolute in discharging our mandate.

This seizure is yet another demonstration of our capacity, resolve, and commitment to the fight against transnational drug trafficking. We are untethered in ensuring that The Gambia remain a hostile ground for drug traffickers, and no amount of intentional distraction will wither us from this path.”

The agency called on people to cooperate and support their investigation, and further invite residents of the Gambia to share with the Agency any information that may come their way regarding drug trafficking activities in the country.

“We acknowledge that the fight against drugs is a shared and collective responsibility, and no amount of law enforcement effectiveness can deliver the desired goal without community cooperation and support,” the agency noted.

Meanwhile, the Board, Management and Staff commend have congratulated the officers of the KM Command for this remarkable performance and reiterate their commitment to fighting the use and sells of illicit drugs.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Hagi Suwaneh, main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) second National Youth President has attributed the increase in homicide cases to youth unemployment and non-prosecution of high-profile drug cases.

He said the government is to be blamed for its “lack of political will” to prosecute high-profile drug cases, citing the 3 tons of ‘cocaine’ that was discovered at the ports last year.

“The government is not showing any political will to prosecute these high-profile drug cases. As I keep appealing to my fellow youths to refrain from all forms of drugs, in the same vein, I also blame the government for not showing commitment in combating drugs.”

Mr. Suwaneh called on President Adama Barrow, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Justice to update the public on the delay in bringing the culprits to justice.

“Our youths are exposed to dangerous hard drugs which are destroying their future. Within the past three years, numerous hard drugs have entered the country, but little is being done about prosecuting those responsible,” he said.

“Now, you rarely sit a week without hearing of or seeing young people being involved in killings. The failure by government in creating employment opportunities for youths is leading them to drug consumption and therefore increasing daily crime rate,” he asserted.

Mr. Suwaneh added that the closure of Julbrew (company manufacturing drinks) has caused many young people to be jobless.

“These people are now suffering and they have families to take care of. Julbrew was closed [unable to settle] 75% tax imposed on it by governmenton. If such high tax continues, many other businesses will close.”

He noted that immediate viable solutions should be proffered and implemented to address the country’s economic, security and hardship challenges, saying that “the situation is getting out of hands.”

President Barrow received a briefing on a report on a survey of potential rice cultivation sites, and the Acquisition of land for investments at his office on Wednesday 28^th September 2022. The presentation was in line with his government’s drive to enhance productivity and food security, and opportunities for job creation for Gambians.

President Barrow expressed appreciation of the update and advised the Taskforce to expand the survey to a national scale that will provide bankable data for future and potential investors.  He urged the working group to also work on a standard template to harmonize the leasing of land for investment purposes as well as ensure the legal acquisition of landed property.

Following the presentations by Gambian Businessman and CEO of the Q Group, Mr. Muhammed Jah and his team, and CEO of GIEPA, Mr. Ousianou Senghore, a discussion followed with Government Technocrats and Officials from the Ministries of Lands, Agriculture, and Trade, as well as the Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Mr. Mod Ceesay.

The discussions led by the Minister of Lands, Hon. Abba Sanyang, centered on the processes for acquisition and allocation of land for agri-business, potential land for investment purposes in areas of agriculture, as well as industrial development.

Rice production was one of the priority areas President Barrow discussed with the Korean Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. Kim Ji-Joon, when he presented his Letter of Credence to the President earlier in June. The President was pleased to get updates on the fruitful partnership between the Q Group and the Korea International Cooperation Agency – KOICA.

Mr. Jah reported that they have already identified 1000 hectares of land for piloting, on which they will start rice production for all-year-round farming.   The identification was based on the technical advice regarding the topology, structures and access to utilities that are suitable for mechanised farming, and he is optimistic to expand it to 10,000 hectares within four years.  The goal is for the country to feed itself from locally produced rice in the shortest possible time.

On the GIEPA presentation, Mr. Senghore emphasised the need for coherence and zonal allocation of land for industries and other investments nationwide.

The Lands Ministry guided the discussion on the legal acquisition of land and updated the meeting that it is working on harmonizing its land criteria systems to combat double ownership, land usage, and related challenges.

Media advisory

Office of the President, State House, Banjul

29th September 2022

The hardship felt in our nation cuts across party lines and across all spheres of life. Everyday Gambians are struggling to feed their families. We have more unemployed youth than skilled ones. Violent crime is on the rise; our health facilities, which were once the envy of our neighbors, are now death traps, under-equipped and unfit for purpose; there is rampant corruption at every level of the government. Cronyism, ineptitude, incompetence, and lackadaisical attitude has taken firm root in society.

The hardship in The Gambia is acutely felt by Gambians in the diaspora, who shoulder the burden for several families. This makes them no stranger or innocent bystanders to the hardship in the country, despite their distance. Out of concern for such unacceptable and deplorable situation and immersed in the democratic culture of their adopted home of the United States, some Gambians mobilized to bring attention to the plight of their countrymen, just as they have done countless times in the Jammeh era in their determination to end tyranny and build a Gambia every selfless Gambian wants.

Instead of acknowledging the grievances felt by the majority of our people, and making sincere efforts to address them, the president has yet again shown his callous disregard for the struggling Gambians and determined to cause further divisions by dismissing, diminishing, and deflecting their desperate cries for genuine help, as partisan propaganda by what he referred to as “UDP Gambians”.

The President further falsely alleged that the UDP was behind the 3 Years Jotna protests of 2019 and 2020 as well as the planned peaceful demonstration scheduled for November this year by a group of people calling themselves “Concerned Gambians” against his government.

UDP cannot fathom the reason, Adama Barrow, the President of The Gambia would be that dishonest, untruthful, and misleading about the United Democratic Party, the party he once served as an executive member and familiar with its modus operandi.

President Adama Barrow knows very well that if the UDP supports any form of political action, it does not take shelter behind any individual or group of individuals to conceal its identity or run away from its responsibility.

The United Democratic Party wishes to make it abundantly clear that it has never had, nor does it have and will never have reason to hide behind other groups or names. The UDP has every right to demonstrate peacefully and will do so whenever there is legitimate cause for it.

Therefore, it is false to claim that UDP is behind any protest/demonstrations that is not officially endorsed or called for by the party.

We believe that the President’s rhetoric is not only false and baseless but also dangerous and divisive as history teaches us that such rhetoric has always been the precursor to justifying the abuse and persecution of a segment of society by first labeling them as undesirables, unpatriotic and troublesome. This is the first step to widespread abuse of citizens’ rights and should be concerning to all freedom and peace-loving citizens.

Our assessment is not mere speculation; we witnessed it when a key adviser to the president unashamedly went on camera rejoicing at the callous disregard for human life and the life of children, when members of The Gambia Police Force fired teargas into the home of the leader and secretary general of the UDP.

The untrained and unprofessional police officers were gleefully celebrating their disgraceful conduct and bragging that they could not wait for the next opportunity to unleash their barbarity on fellow citizens for the crime of daring to exercise their rights to political association.

Our assessments are further confirmed by recent statements made by President Barrow’s Deputy Political Adviser that if the November 11, 2022, protesters do not want to go through the same ordeal and share the ultimate the fate of Solo Sandeng – a patriot who was murdered for simply exercising his constitutional rights to manifest – they should desist from protesting in the country against this government.

We are witnessing a trend and would like to put all concerned entities on notice starting with the National Human Rights Commission, ECOWAS, African Union, and the United Nations, to keep an eye on the issues ongoing in The Gambia, as the United Democratic Party will not stand for nor condone the abuse of our party supporters for merely exercising their constitutional rights.

UDP will further hold President Barrow and his government responsible for any harm suffered by any Gambian for simply exercising their constitutional rights. This is because, as his deputy political adviser threatened, this government has every intention of inflicting harm on innocent Gambians for daring to express their constitutional rights to protest in this country.

The Gambia is a country of laws and expressing one’s political opinion is not a crime in any civilized society and The Gambia should be no exception.  The president’s focus should be on consolidating our democratic gains and not to squander them. Consolidating our democratic gains will provide the élan for our economic take off and progress.

We believe, as a party, that our cause is righteous and when we have cause to speak up, we will do so loud, clear and without equivocation. The Gambia deserves better, and we will not relent in our quest to demand for better. Our conviction and commitment for a better Gambia will remain unshakable and cannot be extinguished.

UDP nurses the belief that the country is crying for reconciliation but the attitude and unguarded statements coming from the chief executive and his party-political shenanigans will not promote reconciliation.

Maybe President Adama Barrow should take a leaf from his brother and neighbor President Macky Sall who faced similar demonstrations in New York but handled the situation with maturity as evidenced by his meeting, a few days ago, with a cross section of Senegalese society at the presidential palace in an effort to address the pressing problems facing Senegal.

In the service of The Gambia.

A.N.M. OUSAINU DARBOE

FOR UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY

28 SEPTEMBER 2022

By: Modou Touray

In an effort to curb rampant shop breakings at the Jarra Soma market and to extend the business hours of the vendors, bright solar lights have been installed which the vendors say will catapult business activities.

In an interview to ascertain the impact of the lights on business at the Jarra Soma market, vendors pointed out that the market environment used to be dark when the main electricity supply goes off exposing their goods to theft and physical attacks by criminals. With the provision of solar streetlights by the Mansakonko Area Council, the environment is safe and better secured now.

“It’s a relief for us, many of us close very early to go home because the market used to be dark when electricity is off. Now we can close by midnight,” Fadel, an electronic shop vendor told TFN.

“I sell cafe-touba which is normally marketable in the evening and early morning. Some vehicle drivers and morning vegetable vendors use it for breakfast. I will not fear closing late and also coming early to serve my customers,” Medun Faal said.

“This is a positive move because for us the fish vendors, we get to the market very early in the morning and we close late as well,” Meta Sonko a fish vendor revealed.

Today, solar streetlights have become the lighting source being mostly used for outdoor lighting. Solar energy is the solar streetlights’ primary energy source. Photovoltaic panels, which are always placed on the integrated poles, power the streetlights. Since the demand for continuous power and lighting has increased in urban and rural areas.

Jama Sowe, the deputy imam of the Jarra Soma Market, spoke at length on the significance of solar lights.

“We can now pray at the mosque at night. It’s also beneficial to people whose compounds are near the market.”

A market is a place where buyers and sellers can meet to facilitate the exchange or transaction of goods and services. Markets can be physical like a retail outlet, or virtual like an e-retailer.

Marie Gikineh, the vice-chairman of the market committee said the streetlights are essential to enhance security at the market.

“The market is a source of revenue for the council therefore they need to provide for our needs.”

Jarra Soma is a vibrant cross-border market town and an economic hub of the Gambia, for his reaction, the chairman of the Mansakonko Area Council Mr Landing B Sanneh asserted that the solar lights project at the Jarra Soma Market is to reduce crime and bolster business activities.

“We need to create a conducive environment so that vendors can stay longer at the market. Soma is a growing city, and we envisage Jarra Soma to be the next city. It is the main transit city linking different countries. We need to make the market environment safe for the taxpayers. The lighting systems are of very high quality.”

Chairman Sanneh further pointed out that the duration of the lights is five years but gives assurance of its sustainability.

“As a Council, we are committed to providing basic services and facilities to the people we are serving and that is ongoing.”