By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

In an effort to learn the historical connections and relationships among countries within the sub-region, about one hundred students from the University of the Gambia (UTG) have embarked on a 5-day research trip to Southern Casamance in Senegal and Guinea Bissau to inspect the historical sites that have influenced the history of The Gambia. The six-day research trip started on July 28th and ended on 2^nd August 2022.

The 2022 UTG Historical Fact Finders team, which was led by Dr Ensa Touray, the head of the History department at UTG and his assistant Baboucarr Mboob, inspected Ossiou Monarchy in Cassamance. They were put through by the king who govern 17 villages in the area through the traditional system of ruling as well as the traditional religious way of life.

From there, the student researchers then drove to Bissau where they visited Checau and then the Bissau Military Museum.

Checau is a historical museum that houses paintings, records of slavery; historical artefacts about how the people of the former Portuguese colony were enslaved. The Museum allowed the students to be exposed to the tales of the inhuman treatments meted by the Europeans during the slave trade in Guinea-Bissau and how Bissau natives were captured.

Additionally, the research team also visited the Military Museum in Bissau where tombs of independence hero Amilcar Cabral and former military presidents, including Nino Veira and Malang Bekai Sanyang, the first Muslim president in Bissau are decorated. They were enlightened by the Bissau path to independence chronicling the 11 years of war against the Portuguese which led to their independence.

Dr Ensa Touray, lecturer and the head of the University of The Gambia History department told The Fatu Network that the research trip is enormously important as it exposed the students to the historical connection between the Gambia and Bissau.

“West Africa was an independent zone before the coming of Europeans. We are all connected culturally and in every aspect of human existence. Gambia, Bissau and Casamance were all under Mali Empire but the colonial demarcation separated people. So, this research trip helps us to discover the relationship between the two countries in terms of culture and identity”.

He emphasised that the teaching and learning of history cannot be limited only to the classrooms.

Research trip participant, Fatoumatta Krubally, told The Fatu Network that the trip has exposed her to the historical site and narration of the history of Bissau, which she said is cardinal.

“I was able to learn the history of Bissau and their struggle for independence as well as exposed to the fact that certain people are practising traditional religion and cultures, which is very important to my intellectual pursuit.”  She pointed out.

The students also visited the new Gambia Embassy building in Bissau. They were cordially received by the deputy head of mission in Bissau, Lamin Camara who praised them for embarking on such research. The deputy ambassador exhorted the students to continue their intellectual pursuits as the future of the country rest in the hands of the budding intellectuals.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The national treasurer of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Lamin KB Bojang, has called on the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Local Government and Lands to demarcate the Brikama Area Council into two councils, noting that West Coast Region is too wide to be effectively governed by a single area council.

The erstwhile GDC candidate for the Brikama North Constituency in April Parliamentary elections argued that the current Brikama Area Council is inefficient because of the vast areas it covers.

“Brikama Area Council covers a vast area and so they cannot serve us effectively. It is high time the government looked into creating a new municipality that will be called Brikama Municipality and creating another area council that will be called Sibanor Area Council. West Coast Region is the biggest region and the most densely populated in the country. Demarcating the region into two will help in managing the revenue generated by the councils”, he pointed out.

According to Bojang, the Brikama Municipality should comprise Kombo East, Kombo South, Kombo Central and Kombo North. The other council, which he suggested to be Sibanor or Bwiam Area Council, said that council territory can start from Mandinaba in Kombo East to Kalagi in Foni.

He submitted that the Minister of Local Government and Lands should propose a cabinet paper and submit it to Parliament for approval.  He said if that is approved, the West Coast will generate huge revenue and will help find solutions to the current issues affecting the West Coast Region dwellers.

While suggesting the demarcation of the Area Council into two, Bojang claimed that the current Brikama Area Council is not serving the people of West Coast, accusing them of neglecting Brikama.

“It is disheartening that Brikama Area Council has neglected even Brikama town for far too long. Looking at our streets, we suffer a lot, especially in the rainy season. It’s sad that year in and year out, we will be affected by severe floods. It is like we don’t even have a council in the first place”, he claimed.

The Brikama Area Council is the local government council responsible for tax collection in the West Coast Region. The region is vast and has an area of about 1764.3 km2

By: Ousman Saidykan

Economic Expert Nyang Njie has said government should have embarked on a comprehensive civil service reform before leaping for a salary increment; an increment he referred to as “inequitable”.

“We have ghost workers on the payroll. We haven’t tidy-up our civil service. Once there is a civil service reform, we can now pay people properly,” Njie told The Fatu Network on The News Review programme.

The economist continued that if the government was “hell-bent” on increasing the salaries of civil servants, they should have first looked at equity.

“What is equity? Not everyone should get 30%. Because if you look at the total payroll of the government, it is fat up top and, on the bottom, it is empty. And 75% – 80% of government workers fall below the D7, 000 thresholds.

“So, what did the government do? Something that is not equitable, and government should ensure an equitable social contract – and first and foremost, it should start with the civil service,” Nyang said.

The increment was a promise made by the government but would only materialise if the review budget was passed, which was done by the parliament on the 28th of July 2021.

The increment received criticisms from some quarters who believe it is discriminatory. They say it enriches the rich and impoverishes the poor.

“This was a political promise. And this political promise is now costing lives and livelihoods of Gambians and that is why political expedience – this is where our technocrats should always not be willing to be strange bedfellows with politicians,” economist Njie added.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court has disregarded the defence counsel’s oral application for the accused persons to be granted bail in a case involving Sainabou Mbaye and two others.

The defence applied for the court to grant the accused persons bail after the state applies for a short adjournment as they wait for an autopsy on Baby Muhammed to file an indictment.

“We will need a week or two,” prosecution counsel, P Gomez told the court.

The judge said the defence counsel’s application was not proper. He said the defence should have written a motion on notice and served the prosecution because oral applications can be heard after indictments are filed.

“I will suggest that you come with your application, formally,” Justice Jaiteh said, adding that “even if you serve the state, they will have up to 48 hours to respond to your motion.”

However, defence counsel C Gaye, argued that nothing is stopping the court from granting the accused person bail because there is nothing before the court besides the transferred files.

“The accused persons cannot continue to suffer because they [the state] are putting their house in order,” counsel C Gaye argued.

On the other hand, the prosecution counsel argued that it would be misinformation for the defence to say there was nothing before the court.

“We are strongly opposing that application because Manslaughter is not bailable,” says Counsel P Gomez.

The case was adjourned to Friday, 5th August for further mentioning.

Sainabou Mbaye, alongside her brother, Cherno Mbaye and Kibilly Dembally were all arraigned before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of Banjul High Court for mentioning of their case.

They are charged with Manslaughter which is a capital offence and attracts life imprisonment as per the laws of the country.

The accused persons were first arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrate Court on the 26th of July 2022. However, the Magistrate transferred the case to High Court because he lacks the power to try capital offences.

The trio are charged for their alleged involvement in the incident that led to the death of Muhammed, the child at the heart of the Bob Keita rape trial.

Muhammed Mbaye was allegedly left in a hot vehicle with all doors and windows locked.

He passed out in the vehicle and was rushed to Afrimed Clinic, then to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and subsequently flown to Dakar on Monday 4th July 2022 With his Aunty, Sainabou Mbye.

He passed away in Dakar on the 10 of July 2022.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

In spite of being notified that Lamin Kaba Bajo, the incumbent and the Gambia Football Federation Presidential Candidate for Team Kaba will not be available for the proposed presidential debate, the Commission on Political Debate (CPD) is still positive that Lamin Kaba Bajo will honour the August 13 GFF Presidential debate request.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the programme manager of CPD, Muctar Jallow, said that the commission is still optimistic that the GFF President Lamin Kaba Bajo will show up for the debate despite the rejection from the incumbent GFF president to debate with opponent Sadibou Kamaso. However, he said that his non-participation will not discontinue the debate preparation.

“We are still optimistic that Mr. Bajo and his team will reconsider their position. We remain optimistic”.

According to Mr. Jallow, notification of unavailability from Kaba Bajo’s team is a setback but has not affected anything about the debate.

“It is a setback but that will not affect anything we wanted this debate to be.   We do not build expectations around candidates’ participation in our debates”, Jallow told The Fatu Network.

Lamin Kaba Bajo’s former ally and now running mate, Sadibou Kamaso, has since accepted to go on the podium for the debate. According to team Kaba, they have a line-up of the campaign schedule which didn’t include this debate.

The incumbent Lamin kaba Bajo, last month told the Fatu Network that he is ready for a debate with Kamaso. He told this medium that he has much to say compared to Sadibou Kamaso, noting that he has been at the helm of affairs for eight years.  However, he said that he will only honour debate requests that will help in winning the election and not just any debate.

The proposed debate, according to Muctar Jallow, is the perfect campaign platform for Lamin Kaba Bajo.

Jallow further told the Fatu Network that the debate will still go on with or without Lamin Kaba Bajo’s appearance.

The GFF Presidential debate is scheduled to take place on the 13th of August.  Lamin Kaba Bajo will be battling it out with Sadibou Kamaso for the top office at the football house.

By: Sarjo Brito

President Adama Barrow during his assessment tour of the Greater Banjul Area on Monday 1st August 2022 disclosed that his government is set to embark on whopping 70-million-dollar project to address the drainage problem in the greater Banjul area. He says the project is geared toward addressing disasters like the recent flash floods across the country.

“We have a lot of projects that are coming. One of the projects is the drainage for the greater Banjul area. It is costed about 70 million dollars. Already we have the project and we have submitted it to the Indian government because we have a line of credit with the Indian government that is about 200 million dollars’’.

The Gambian leader says while the country’s poor drainage systems continue to be a major problem, the impacts of climate change must also be accepted. President Barrow further stated that the Gambia must adapt to climate change, emphasizing that his government is drafting the right policies to address issues of such nature.

Meanwhile, President Barrow says he will be meeting with his Cabinet Ministers to start working on relief packages to support affected families.

Saturday’s heavy downpour has displaced many families and reportedly claimed four lives in the country’s North Bank Region.

The Department of Water Resources has confirmed the almost 24-hour rain as the highest rainfall recorded in 34 years. According to their forecast, flash flooding is imminent in August and September as heavy rains are anticipated during these periods.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Economic expert, Nyang Njie, has said the economy of The Gambia is doomed and that the recently passed revised budget by the National Assembly Members which sought a 30% increment of salaries in the Civil Service will only worsen the already ailing economy.

“This economy is doomed as we speak. The economy is on vacation and the country is not growing. If the country is not growing, we don’t have revenues, if we don’t have revenues it means for the rest of the year, we will resort to public borrowing, which is called deficit financing to pay salaries,” Mr Njie said.

The National Assembly Members passed the Revised Estimated Budget tabled by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Seedy Keita in the first Extra-Ordinary Session in the 2022 Legislative Year seeing a 30% salary increment in the Civil Service.

“That is consequential to our domestic debt that is already bloating. So, any way you look at it, is a cost to society and it is taking the economy and Gambians backwards,” the economic expert told the Fatu Network on its News Review programme.

The finance minister told lawmakers the basic salary increment was meant to improve the lives and livelihood of Gambians but of Civil Servants specifically, as this is the reflection of the Gambia’s current economic realities. It applies to civil servants; including ministries and departments likewise subvented hospitals and schools under the Ministries of Health and Basic and Secondary Education.

For economic experts like Nyang, the increment is detrimental to the economy.

“So, no one has won. But it was a politically expedient move and politicians have scored a point to the detriment of the economy and livelihood of Gambians,” he said.

By: Jankey Touray

Musa Yali Batchilly leader of Gambia Action Party sympathizing with the flood victims of 30th to 31st of July 2020 expressed his dismay in some government officials.

Speaking to the Fatu Network Mr. Batchilly said the flood is a Nation disaster, it is not about politics, and the people prefer preventive methods and cures.

He said the National Disaster Management Agency should have put in measures to prevent the flood before it’s coming, stressing that going round to people affected by the flood, he fears that some children might drown in the flooded water or be infected by dirty water where he saw children swimming in and other children might even drink those water during swimming.

He calls on the President to call for an emergency meeting with the vice president, NDMA, minister of works, minister of lands, and physical planning to find solutions to the problem at hand.

Demonstrating that some houses are also the causes of flood, as they are built on the runways for water, Batchilly says those houses need to be demolished and owners are compensated to prevent future floods.

He urges the government that if the contract for road construction is to be given, the contractor should have a blueprint of the drainage system and if they can not provide it let the contract not be given to them, also to those contractors that say they can do it and fail to do the drainage system should be taken to Janjanbureh prison.

Batchilly also recommends that the government to used the NDMA to build emergency homes in all the 53 constituencies in case situations like this emerge they can be evacuated and compensated on few, as the government can not compensate them with all damages, but with that victims can sustain and grow from there, affirming that the government has money and should do it.

He accuses some government officials they are not doing their work and all they do is eat and embezzled describing them as “Suluh Mbalkh” slippery people who fit themselves in every great situation and that the government should bring an independent team who will investigate the whole Lands Ministry and those who are not ready to work be dismissed.

He said it is sad for the people of eleven thousand two hundred and ninety-nine(11,299) square meters to suffer for fifty-seven (57) years of floods and urges political leaders to join hands with the government to support the flooded victims and learned to love each other, as this is a wake up called from Allah for people to learn and love one another.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Principal Magistrate, Omar Jabang said on Monday, 1 August 2022 that his court would not be used as a “sanctuary for breaking, entering and stealing from people,” which he hinted as a fuel of mob justice.

Magistrate Jabang was delivering a judgment where he sentenced one Sanna Camara, 29, who was accused of breaking into a shop of one Mariama Sanyang with a spanner, screwdriver, pliers and a torchlight which were entered as exhibits A, B, C and D.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Thievery is taking a deep root in our society. It is callous and heartless to break into the shops of people and steal therein and even more heartless to break into the shop of a lady. From Exhibits A, B and C; which are the spanner, screwdriver and the torch, I believe the convict is an expert in the trade of breaking,” Jabang said.

The Principal Magistrate said the society needs protection from the likes of Sanna who, even though, is a first-time offender, adding that mob justice is “unprecedented” in the country as a result of the loss of hope in the justice system.

“We need to take charge and correct the situation. By this, we can settle for a civilized society and men of law and not otherwise,” the Magistrate said.

The convict was handed a 5-year term instead of a 7-year jail term after he asked for the court’s mercy in his plea in mitigation as he said his father was sick and he is his father’s only son.

However, Principal Magistrate Jabang said stealing would not have been Sanna’s option had he considered his condition and that of his father.

By: Karimatou Jallow

Vendors at the Serekunda ‘Sandika’ market have said the size of the ‘Sandika’ is not favourable to them as the place is too small to occupy all the vendors. Moreover, they complained about the big trucks that park in the ‘Sandika’ space as this also affects their businesses.

Babucarr Ceesay, a vendor at the Serekunda ‘Sandika’ said the ‘Sandika’ is very tight and small and that being the case, they do not make many sales, especially “if these big trucks occupied the place.”

“Because of the size of the ‘Sandika’, we have no choice but to sell on the highway, however, we are also deprived of that as well because whenever we display our goods to sell we are being stopped by the police and told that it is not a selling point while we are paying taxes every day but we are not giving the opportunity to sell comfortably as we wish,” he told The Fatu Network.

Ceesay said they have been facing such challenges since the era of Yaya Jammeh but no one has ever come to their help. Moreover, he urged the current government to help them increase the size of the ‘Sandika’ market so that everybody will have the opportunity to sell their goods without many challenges.

Nedy Njie, also a vendor, said because of the small size of the place, many of them have no choice but to go around and sell their products because they don’t have permanent seats in the ‘Sandika’. She also lamented that it is from the small businesses they feed their families, which is why they have no choice but to sell in such a condition.

“The only reason we go around in the market and sell our goods is that we don’t have a permanent seat in the ‘Sandika’ and that is a result of the small size of the place. It is always not easy with us because the sun is always hot which can cause us serious sickness,” she said.

Njie also called on the government to intervene and address these issues because they are paying taxes like any other vendors in the ‘Sandika’ and have also the right as anyone of them.

“Sometimes we will be here from morning to afternoon but will not make any sell which is not good for us as business people and that is as a result of the trucks that park in front of our shop from morning to afternoon and no one will say anything because they are permitted by the police to park in front of our shops,” a source told the Fatu Network.

Moreover, the source said to ensure the ‘Sandika’ is free and comfortable for all the vendors, the source suggests the government look for a special place where these trucks will park and display their goods while the ‘Sandika’ be made a place to sell goods only.

Salimatou Foundation for Education (SaFE) is on preparation to organize first-ever Regional and National Spelling Bee competition in the Gambia.

SaFE is a charity foundation in The Gambia established in November 2015. The foundation, over the years, has initiated and implemented a series of educational activities and programs.

This year, for the first time in The Gambia, the country will have its truest form of Regional and National Spelling Bee Competition for Primary and Junior School students. The Bee will reach out and be accessible to students in The Gambia with zero regard to their locality.

This initiative will avail its beneficiaries of a competitive learning environment through the deep culture of reading, critical thinking and spontaneous response to issues.

The winners of the National Spelling Bee competition will have the opportunity to represent the Gambia at this year’s African Spelling Bee Competition in Malawi.

This timely initiative will be implemented through partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and KarPowership.

Our doors are still open to more partners and sponsors.

Follow our social media at Salimatou Foundation for Education on Facebook and Instagram. Or contact us at our official email: [email protected]

By: Dawda Baldeh

Fakebba Susso a 33-year-old Gambian professional barber residing in Basse has called on youths to acquire skills to make them self-dependent and reduce the rate of dependency on others, unemployment and crime. The 33-old barber said he chose not to further his education because of the passion he has for barbing.

The Basse born barber said he wants to be a role model to many young people in his community through his barbing skills.

“I wanted to become either a doctor or lawyer as it is mostly the dream young persons in school, but I have a great passion for barbing which motivated me to challenge myself to venture into the profession. I was the only Gambian barber in my area while the rest were non-Gambians,” he said.

He said many people perceive skills as something meant for school dropouts, this he added is hindering many young people to acquire skills.

“I am calling on young people to acquire skills to reduce dependency and avoid engaging in crimes. Sometimes, many Gambian youths want to venture into skills but the societal perspective is hindered them to do so.

If other people can leave their countries to come here and make lot of money from barbing, why not Gambians? It is very difficult because Gambians mentality and attitude towards skills is different,” Fakebba Susso explained.

“It was very frustrating when I started barbing after my graduation because many people were thinking I was a failure. My colleagues were furthering their studies in different institutions, but today I am happy and self-dependent while my family depends on me. I learnt from those non-Gambians before establishing my shop. Many of my customers encouraged me to take barbing very seriously after they realized my potentials.”

Mr. Susso said his mother was not supporting him when he informed her that he wanted to pursue barbing as a career but noted that his brother has always believed in his ability and supported him.

“I was psychologically traumatized by what people normally said about me, especially when I met with my classmates. This was really challenging to me, but now I have conquered the negative criticisms made against me. It was very discouraging whenever I saw my colleagues going to Universities while others travelling to different countries, but I choose barbing which I have always strongly believed will change my life,” he explained.

He told this medium that he was lucky to undergo GIZ training program after which he was certified and given a sum of D50,000 which he used to set up his business.

“Now, I don’t depend on anybody for help and my family is really benefiting from me. I need support because I want to expand my business and train more young people in barbing so that they can be self-reliant and independent.”

The young barber stated that not everyone should work in office while encouraging other young people to learn skills that will benefit them.

“Gambians need to be serious about skills because every year thousands of students are graduating from universities and other institutions and government cannot employ all of them. If you have quality skills, you cannot be jobless if you have useful skills and you will make money. We need to change the narrative now and learn skills to contribute to the development of the country. We cannot blame the government always. I urge the government to provide more skill centers for the young people. If youths from other countries are making it here, why not us?”

He said if Gambian youths acquire skills, the money they earn remains in the country rather than allowing it to go to other countries.

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers of the Gambia (APEHOG) are said to resume work today 1st August 2022 as the Health Ministry lifts the suspension a month after it was imposed on them.

In July 2022, the Ministry suspended three hundred and seventy-one (371) health workers who were on a sit-down strike. The suspension was supposed to last for two months but after serving a month, the decision has been rescinded in a document seen by The Fatu Network.

“This office would like you to convey to all the affected staff that in connection to the decision of the Public Service Commission lifting the suspension, the Ministry of Health wishes to call on all concerned Public and Environmental Health Officers affected by the suspension to return to their duty post with effect from 1st August 2022.”

“It’s true, the suspension has been reduced to 1 month instead of 2,” the President of APEOGH Nuha Fofana confirmed to this media via WhatsApp.

APEHOG embarked on a sit-down strike in June over demands that the Health Ministry include them in the new allowance scheme. The Ministry proposed a specific allowance for medical doctors and others, which the association deemed discriminatory to other cadres within the health sector. They demanded this be suspended.

“Once again, this office wishes to reiterate that it is open to dialogue and believes it is the only way to resolving issues of personal and national concern or interest,” the Ministry added in a statement.

After the suspension was imposed on them, the association set up a task force to dialogue with the authorities over a possible reconsideration of their decision on the suspension as well as their demands. They are still holding fast to their demands.

“Yeah, it [the allowance scheme] has been approved at the cabinet level and it is now left with the approval of the National Assembly,” Mr Fofana said.

By: Modou Touray

Passengers who routinely travel from Serekunda to Banjul and other urban settlements have frowned at the behaviour of commercial drivers towards the country’s legal tender. Both the old and new denominations are currently in circulation.

In a random interview with this medium, passengers complained about commercial drivers preferring them to pay their fares with new banknotes.

“I gave D50 dalasi to the driver but he refused to accept it, saying it was damaged. My note was mutilated in the middle and because of that he couldn’t accept it. They need to understand that the same mutilated or damaged banknotes are given to us by other business people,” Kekuta Sarjo, a commuter said.

Most of the banknotes in circulation easily gets rough. Commuters said it’s not their poor handling of the currency causing such.

“I bought a kilo of meat at Serekunda market, and the butcher gave me a rough banknote as change. That was the money I used as fare from Serekunda market to Westfield. If drivers are not accepting damaged Gambian dalasi, that is surprising to me,” Ndey Cham, a housewife from Ebo town expressed.

Saikou Njie is a businessman who owns a fashion shop at Serekunda. He told this medium that the dalasi is the country’s legal tender and that he never rejects it from customers.

“People come to buy with rough and damaged banknotes, but I however accept them. If the business people are not rejecting the money from customers; why then are drivers doing that?” he questioned.

Westfield junction in Serekunda is a busy commercial area where vehicles plying Manjai, Banjul, Tabokoto and other urban destinations stop over to pick up passengers.

The Fatu Network engaged a number of drivers at Westfield junction. They defended their action, blaming commuters for what some described as “reckless attitude in keeping banknotes”.

“Many of them do not use wallet; they just fold the banknotes and put them inside their pocket. If they keep doing that, the money can easily get torn and some important features on the legal tender could be affected,” said Demba Bah, a commercial driver.

Lamin Joof and Dam Gaye are also commercial drivers plying Westfield to Bakau. The urged commuters to pay them with clean notes.

“They have good money, but it is the rough money they deliberately give us” Gaye claimed.

“Anytime I get a lot of these notes from commuters, I take them to the gas station to exchange them with clean ones,” Joof noted.

In his reaction, The President of Gambia Transport Union, Omar Ceesay, reiterated that dalasi is the legal tender. He however clarified that drivers don’t deliberately refuse damaged banknotes.

He said people should not give drivers damaged or torn notes, saying that such is of no use to drivers because they wouldn’t be able to spend it.

When contacted for his response, Mr Ebrima Ceesay – communication officer of the Central Bank of the Gambia, warned that rejecting the country’s money is an offence and anyone found wanting will face the law. “Unless the serial numbers and the figures are no more visible, but to say the middle is torn or old doesn’t warrant any rejection,” he said.

The responses from interviewees were similar, all calling for positive handling of the Gambian currency.

Damaged banknote usually causes fracas between passengers and drivers.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Mr Ismaila Badjie, Program Manager at the National Youth Council, while speaking at the launch of the first She-Climate Leadership fellowship on Friday 29th July 2022 at the National Youth Council, talked about the need for climate change to be incorporated into the country’s educational Systems.

“The Gambia’s formal education is directed by the 2016-2030 education sector policy which acknowledges that environmental issues such as climate change needs to be incorporated into our educational systems including curriculum and trainings,” he said.

Mr Badjie further spoke on the timelines of the event, saying “this launching is a very timely step in the right direction; it is in alignment with the government’s vision for climate action. We therefore commend and as well as encourage you to continue doing this in the best interest of national development.”

The She-Climate Change fellowship is aim at training 1000 eco-feminists in the country by 2030.

While there is no sovereign climate change communication and education strategy in the Gambian, a number of education policies and plans integrate climate concerns.

Miss Amie Fye, the fellowship coordinator said they believe that the fellowship would close the gender gap in climate adaptation and climate policies.

She added that, at the end of the fellowship, participants will be connected with mentors who will coach them as they embark on their climate activism journey and community projects.

25 fellows were selected out of 161 applications from young women across the country to be part of the fellowship.

Mrs Fatou Ndey Gaye, lead negotiator on climate change, advises participants of the fellowship to read so to better enhance their understanding on issues regarding climate change.

“Read any document you come across on climate change because the more you read the more you understand and the more you are aware of what is going on in the world as far as climate change is concerned.”

The fellowship will last for 5 months with fellows trained by professionals/experts in the climate change space.

According to the world Bank, The Gambia is vulnerable in variations of weather, river flooding, water scarcity and coastal flooding, which constrain agricultural production.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Hon. Omar Ceesay, former opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) National Assembly Member for Niamina East has reacted to the 30% salary increment approved recently by the country’s lawmaking body.

In his overall assessment of the approved salary increase, the former lawmaker said the move is to make the rich become richer while the poor become poorer.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the former GDC NAM said the government has betrayed the civil servants at the highest level.

“This government will continue to fail us. They announced restructuring salary pay scale, but they have failed in delivering that promise,” he claimed.

Hon. Ceesay said the 30% salary increment will only favour the officials who are already receiving good salaries.

He said the 30% salary increment is not a good method, saying it is a way of enriching top officials while the poor continue suffering.

“The rich will get richer, and the poor will get poorer,” he noted.

Hon. Ceesay further stated that some people have already started increasing their house rent, noting that it will affect the low-income earners.

“Now, fuel price will be increased; transportation will increase; vendors at the market will also increase the prices of commodities and the poor will continue suffering. This will not benefit the low-income earners at all,” he narrated.

He added that government should have come up with a proper method by restructuring the pay scale to upgrade the low-income earners.

The former Niamina East representative said those getting small salaries will not have any means to save money because they will have to spend all their monies on rent and basic commodities.

“I don’t see any benefits in this 30% salary increment but many people will thing otherwise. This government is here to manipulate citizens and enrich themselves. They have failed the citizens drastically. They will never fulfill any promise they made.”

He added that the strategy is to play with the minds of citizens to believe the government is doing well.

“They should have done a proper assessment of the country’s economy before announcing the salary increment to see if the economy is sustainable to cover the cost, but they failed in that. I know this is a failed government.

They failed to do their homework very well. This is a total betrayal and dishonesty to the highest level from this government,” he explained.

By: Jankey Touray

The African Leading Women Conference and Awards (ALWCA) on Friday 29th June 2022 in Nigeria awarded two Gambian women, among other African women, for their contribution in politics and standing as strong voices for other women. They were the only nominated members to represent the Gambia.

The awardees are activist, politician and social worker, Nenneh Freda Gomez, country representative of Global Hearts of Medical Mission (Global HOMM) and not until recently spokesperson of Citizens Alliance party and Fanta Ceesay, protocol officer at the Gambia National Assembly and CEO of Fanta’s Healing Foundation.

The 6th International Women Power Conference and Awards is a corporate unit activity of the African Leading Women Magazine. It is an annual event packaged by Goodwill Ambassador Events Agency to bring together women of substance in the continent and beyond to share their testimonies, experiences, advice, challenges, problem-solving skills, and contribute to the process of recruiting more successful women that will add to the productivity and social-economic and political advancement of the continent.

The event is themed: Revisiting Global Agenda 1995 for Gender Equality. It is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the exploits of leading women who have broken through the glass ceilings and taken their seats at the tables of authority in all sectors. It also recognizes the efforts of the HEs for SHEs in advancing gender parity in every sector of life. The IWPC also aims at empowering other women and upcoming generation to aspire to and achieve greatness.

The International Woman Leadership Conference and Awards is an initiative of Ibukun Awosika Leadership that brings together women across Africa and the diaspora in a place of knowledge, empowerment and entertainment.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Representing the Gambia government in Guinea Bissau, the Deputy Gambian Ambassador to Bissau, Lamin Camara, has said the embassy is currently faced with transportation challenges in executing their functions in addressing and finding solutions to a mixture of challenges Gambians are faced with in Bissau.

The former Permanent Secretary in the ministries of Finance and Agriculture, told The Fatu Network that the embassy has been helping Gambians in Bisaau on a variety of issues. However, he bemoaned the shortage of vehicles that hampers their functions as representative of the government of the Gambia in Bissau.

“Our main challenge here is transportation.  We are short of vehicles. Most of the time, we will be top busy with our vehicles moving to Banjul. We have been having that challenge here. Last year we bought a vehicle but that is not enough. This year, we have put two in the budge. I hope that government approves that”, he stated.

Been serving for close to two years as the Gambia’s deputy head of mission in Bissau and briefly as the head of mission until Wednesday July 2, Mr. Camara asserted that the  Gambia and Bissau has a smooth and cordial bilateral relationship which he said will be strengthened in due course.  He explained that the two countries relationship in diplomatic tie will continue to be strong.

He further told the Fatu Network that the embassy has been supporting Gambians ranging from accommodation to health issues and financial services in Bissau.

“We have issues where Gambians will be hired to work here but they will not be paid. We would intervene and solve it. We have been helping Gambians here to get treatment at home and many others”, he said.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Amie Fabureh, is the new Gambian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau. She presented her certificate of credence in Bissau to President Omar Sisohore Mballow on Wednesday, July 27 to begin her work as the Gambia’s head of mission. She is expected to fulfil the two countries’ mission in creating partnerships.