By: Dawda Baldeh

In a quest to bring tailors under one umbrella, Gambian tailors has formed their first ever union, Gambian Tailors Union, a body that will be responsible for the affairs of tailors across the country. The union’s main objective is to unite tailors and advocate for their rights and welfare.

Sulayman Cham, President of the union said the initiative is timely, adding that it will help to make things easy for tailors. As a union, he said they will start knocking on doors for support. “This is the first tailors union in the country and we should work hard to make sure it succeeds. This union is purely for tailors and it is mainly to improve our welfare in the country,” he said.

Mr. Cham noted that without unity, the union will not succeed. He described the role of tailors as significant. “Anywhere you go you will find a tailor. Tailors are the ones who sew all the clothes people wear,” he added.

Mr. Cham noted that government can only help tailors through the union, noting that tailors play a significant role in creating jobs which minimizes unemployment.

Zainab Manjang, the secretary general of the union highlighted the importance of forming the union. “We want to be united. We are now in a fashion world where everyone wants to look good,” she said.

She called on tailors to register with the union so that they can benefit.

She also called on women to learn skills to reduce dependency, adding that skills will help them to be self-independent. “We face lot of challenges in the tailoring business, especially when festivals approach.”

Ebrima Gaye, CEO of AKA Creation also welcomed the initiative adding that it will help them in many ways. Like many others Gaye is also optimistic that the Union will represent Tailors to ensure their rights are well advocate for.

The tailors described the formation of the union as a step in the right direction. They tasked the union’s executive to work with other stakeholders and oganizations to enhance supports for tailors in the country.

However, the President of the Union is expected to serve for a period of one year before an election is held.

By Ms. Ndéye Rose Sarr

Pregnancy and childbirth are meant to be beautiful experiences filled with incomparable excitement and immense joy, for women who choose motherhood. Unfortunately, this journey is a source of horror, pain, and abandonment for some 500,000 women globally who live with Obstetric Fistula.  Obstetric Fistula is one of the most severe childbirth injuries often resulting from prolonged and obstructed labour, and lack of access to timely and quality emergency obstetric care services before and during delivery.

Despite the absence of nationally representative data on the prevalence of Fistula in The Gambia, a 2020 Situational Analysis showed an estimated prevalence rate of between 0.46 to 2.05 per 1000 women. Based on these figures, the current national burden is estimated to be between 335 to 1052. However, being a condition, which relegates women to social isolation, abandonment by their spouses and families, mental health and psychosocial conditions and poverty, we are positive that the available data does not portray the complete picture of Obstetric Fistula existence in our communities. To give us all some food for thought, I would like to borrow the words of the renowned Gambian Urological Surgeon Dr. Abubacarr Jah, “a woman living with Obstetric Fistula today, represents someone who narrowly escaped maternal death.”

So really, what can we do collectively to make the eradication of Obstetric Fistula a reality in The Gambia by 2030 and ensure that every woman who chooses pregnancy and motherhood, is assured a healthy and safe birth?

We must challenge men in our communities to be fully engaged in the health and wellbeing of their families. They must be involved in ensuring the sexual and reproductive health of their spouses and we must collectively champion efforts to end the social stigma and discrimination perpetrated against women living with Obstetric Fistula.

We need to coordinate national interventions and guide efforts leading to the complete eradication of Obstetric Fistula in accordance with the 2018 resolution adopted by the Ministers of Health from the ECOWAS region. There is a need to develop and commit to the implementation of a National Strategy to Eliminate Obstetric Fistula in The Gambia. This strategy will be the blueprint for sustainable interventions to accelerate the realization of zero fistula cases in the Gambia by 2030.

We must also strengthen The Gambia’s health system to first give access to quality antenatal care, family planning and deliver when necessary unlimited and uninterrupted Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC). This should be coupled with the availability of adequate maternal lifesaving drugs and equipment in health facilities across the country. There is also a need to build the human capacity of health care workers particularly by investing in the training of adequate midwives and improving on the quality of care everywhere.

Finally, given that Obstetric Fistula has been linked to harmful cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage, it is time to ask ourselves, why do we hold on to cultural practices which have proven to negatively impact the health and wellbeing of women and girls and set us back in our development endeavours? We must create an environment where the health, dignity and bodily autonomy of women and girls are guaranteed and where we nurture positive cultural practices and abandon what is deemed harmful.

One woman living with Obstetric Fistula is one woman too many. We can make The Gambia one of the first countries within the West and Central African Region to eradicate Obstetric Fistula, if we center the experiences and needs of women and girls in our interventions. It is possible!

UNFPA stands ready to support The Gambia in this endeavour. We are aiming for a Gambia, where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

About the author:

Ms. Ndéye Rose Sarr is UNFPA Country Representative in The Gambia

By: Jankey Touray

Nanneh Frade Gomez, country representative for Global Homes for Medical Mission (GHOMM), has threatened to sue the Gambian government for stepping into a land which the court had ruled to be hers.

“I don’t know what authority the president has to come and perform such an action, but let’s see if he himself will be in contempt because if the president without our invitation, he will be trespassing. We will make sure we take him to court and file contempt proceeding against him because nobody is above the law.”

Gomez in a press briefing held at the former Anti-Crime unite in Bijilo said that the government plans to lay a foundation for a said multimillion-dollar OIC Hotel in July 2022, which she claimed would be contempt of court.

She claimed that President Adama Barrow’s meeting with Dr Gabou Mendy at State House disclosed that $87,000,000.00 was received by the President from a foreign investor to build a 5 Star Hotel for the OIC three-day Conference after which the property would diminish to the said investor.

“Whoever they give it to let the person go and find out what to do. As I am talking to you, the land belongs to the organization (Global HOMM) and nobody has any right or anything to do on this land. Anything that is done here should be under our approval otherwise it is illegal, and you would be charged with contempt of court order.”

She outlined that the OIC Secretary in a press conference on Monday 20^th June 2022, the same day the high court dismissed the State application, responded to journalists that the land is fully owned by the state and has been given to a private investor whom they approved a purposed settlement agreement on Monday, April 12th 2021.

She added that the court has ruled in favour of Home of Medical Mission that they are the sole owners of the land and that they have won two court cases on the said ownership in which the state filed a case to terminate the judgement, that the court ruled out and reinforced the previous ruling that it belongs to them.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh 

Alhagie Mamadi Kurang, the founder and CEO of Jolof Tutors and former parliamentary candidate in Niamina East has said that the price of fertilizer in The Gambia will increase poverty levels in the country, decrease income, lower standards of living and hike food prices.

He said that fertilizer remains one of the key components in successful farming, noting that the price by the government to sell it is expensive and will yield bad results.

“For Farmers, 187% increase in fertilizer price will mean lower inputs, decreased in income, a lower standard of living and an increase in poverty levels. It will certainly lead to increasing in food prices in the coming year due to lower outputs.”

Last week, The Gambia government announced that it has reduced the price of fertilizer from D2500 to D2000. This came after farmers raised concerns over the cost of the price of fertilizer.

However, Kurang, who wanted to contest against President Adama Barrow in the run-up to 2021 presidential election before later backing PDOIS, told The Fatu Network that the government never reduced the price but said it was increased from D700 to D2000 from last year.

He narrated that the fertilizer price will remain inflated by 187% from last year.

According to him, The Gambia government should have done everything possible to offer fertilizer to farmers at affordable prices.

He said he visited Niamina Kudang almost every week after he lost in the April parliamentary elections, reiterating that farmers are faced with unprecedented challenges.  He outlined that aside from the price of fertilizer, farmers are having additional challenges.

“They are concerned about the cost of seedlings (peanut) which has also increased by 100% from last year. Another major challenge they are facing is a lack of mechanized equipment for ploughing such as tractors.”

According to him, the cost of ploughing has gone up so far by at least 50%, and even that, accessing tractors is still difficult.

Alhagie Mamadi Kurang further told TFN that farmers in Niamina East are worried about the future in terms of being able to achieve expected outcomes and being able to feed their families.

By Jankey Touray

The ongoing OIC Gambia road is alleged to have caused floods among natives of Bertil Harding highway in the coastal road locality.

The project which is expected to be completed in fourteen (14) months as the work is in progress has made life difficult for people around that area.

Mahmoud Kanteh, a tailor and an occupant, said they find it difficult as the water does not flow freely. Water from the market and other residents are settles at their gate, adding that this was the first rain and the whole area is covered with stagnant water.

“I also work at night and with the poor condition of the road, drivers increase fare from the coastal road to the turntable,” said Kandeh.

He claimed that drivers increase fare at night to Fifty Dalasis, an amount which he described as costly for some of them.

Ablie Sanneh, a car mechanic, said they are experiencing lots of drawbacks on the side road provided for drivers to pass through.

“If there is heavy rain, the whole place is filled with water. The cars find it difficult to pass,’ said Sanneh.

Sanneh said the cars they repair are mostly packed outside, and with the side road, all the cars get dirty after being washed and that some cars could spoil again.

Ousman Jarju, a passenger whose vehicle got stock, said the poor condition of the road makes traveling tough for them.

‘Our car got stuck in the mud because there were holes and thick water on the road and the driver tried to make a turn to the main highway,’ Jarju explained.

He pleaded with the government to fasten the work and urged citizens to exercise patience.

By: Sainabou Sambou 

Mamadou Bah, Director General (DG) of the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) has in an interview with West Coast Radio’s Coffee Time program on Wednesday 22 June 2022 said they received an information that some people were roasting cowhides, commonly known as “cow Canda” using waste or used car tires.

He added that they immediately went on a joint operation with the police and were able to apprehend the alleged perpetrators on the act, confirming that eight people were arrested, including six females and two males while one escaped.

The operation and arrest were carried out in Abuko, behind the abattoir in Kombo North.

He said they are still on a joint operation with the police, noting that the eight persons will be investigated and prosecuted.

“The suspects are under police custody and the police will charge them on Section 28 and Section 37 of our act [Food Safety and Quality Authority Act]. I hope that they will be charged and prosecuted,” he said.

Mr. Bah disclosed that car tires are very dangerous and that the smoke from burning tires is harmful to people’s health.

He further disclosed that they will take some samples and process them to know the level of toxic implications they have on smoked cowhides.

“Maybe it is not only happening in Abuko. It might be happening else where, so we will continue to be on the lookout as part of our surveillance system and we will find more information about the issue,” he said.

He reiterated that the eight people are under police custody, saying that they will help the police with more information to know the other people engaging in such act.

By Sanna Jallow

The Gambia Lawn Tennis Association has commenced a five-day training for tennis players and coaches. The training focuses on improving their participation at both national and international levels.

The five-day training is designed to give tennis players and coaches the opportunity to interact with Louis De Sousa who is a tennis consultant from the International Tennis Federation.

Saul Frazer, the President of the Gambia Lawn Tennis Association said when they took up the new board, they felt it was necessary to start from the ground as it came to their notice that the Gambia is banned from the international arena for almost 9 years, including the Confederation of African Tennis and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

“We cannot renew our International Tennis Federation membership if we Can’t renew the confederation for African tennis and we have a way forward to renew our membership,” he explained.

Mr Frazer stated that the main objective of bringing Mr De Sousa for the training is to help them assess the facilities on the ground and for him to give advice and guidance on the way forward.

“We want to build tennis in the Gambia from the grassroots level and get people to play tennis, especially the young ones because it will be an alternative for them, the Gambia is a nation of sport but not everybody can play football”, he said.

He assured the tennis players that this will not be the only training they will have but they will keep on bringing trainers that have more experience in tennis to help them develop their games.

Luis De Sousa, a Tennis Consultant at the International Tennis Federation said he was invited by the President of the Gambia Tennis Association for a five-day training to see how they can develop tennis in the Gambia.

“I am going to train the tennis players and coaches too to see how we can corporate. The players are improving,” he said.

Julius Freeman, Vice President of the Gambia Lawn Tennis Association said the training is to help them identify the best tennis players in the country and also guide the coaches to improve their performance.

“We will also train the tennis coaches to see how we can improve their knowledge of tennis and the skills they did not have before”, he mentioned.

Yankuba Dramneh, a tennis coach with over two decades of experience in playing tennis, said the training is significant as it will enhance their better performance in tennis.

“It has been a very long time since we have a session like this with a tennis consultant”, he said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Yankuba Dibba, Chief Executive Officer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Gambia Secretariat told journalists at a press briefing on Monday 20 June 2022 that the date and month for hosting of the biggest Islamic heads of state and government summit which is schedule for this year is yet to be confirmed, disclosing that the date can only come from all member states.

Mr. Dibba disclosed that three quarter of the OIC projects are funded by the Saudi government and also updated the public about the funding of the OIC Gambia projects.

“The fifty kilometer urban roads projects at a cost of $50m is entirely funded by Saudi. The $10.2m VVIP presidential lounge at the airport is 100% funded by Saudi. Water and electricity which is at a cost of $32.5m is totally t is funded by Saudi, but the Bertil Harding project of $79m is co-funded by the Arab Development Bank. There are also the equity funds, Islamic development fund and Gambia government,” he told journalists after having a close-door meeting with the new Saudi Ambassador.

Following the OIC Secretary General’s visit last week, Mr. Dibba said Gambia will undoubtedly host the summit. However, the OIC CEO referenced the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war as features that where never highlighted in any development plan but noted that they have badly delayed the progress in some of the OIC projects as the materials used are imported from those countries.

Asked about the date and month for the summit, he said, “Naturally, this is an issue for the entire member states. OIC is a structure comprising 57 countries that have to be part of any decision with regards to date,” he added.

Speaking further, the OIC CEO denied the ongoing rumor that Gambia will not host the Summit as proposed before. “What is no doubt is that Gambia will host the summit following the OIC Secretary General’s visit in the Gambia, adding that dates are flexible in the sense that they can be discussed. But we all know the world situation. Things can dramatically change for example, we were not expecting the Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war all these are possible factors that were not planned for,” he said.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is the world’s biggest Islamic summit with 57 member states, was postponed in the Gambia in 2019 due to delay in work progress.

By: Sarjo Brito

A joint operation by officials of the Food Safety and Quality Authority of The Gambia and the Police on Tuesday 21^st June 2022 has led to the arrest of eight individuals behind the central abattoir in Abuko for allegedly using waste car tires to smoke cowhides, locally known as ‘cowcanda’.

The Food Safety and Quality Authority said it acted on a tipoff after a concerned consumer reported the unhealthy food preparation method which allegedly has been ongoing for some time now, exposing consumers to toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems.

‘’Two men and six women are currently in police custody for allegedly using tires to smoke cowhides, otherwise called “cow canda” in our local dialects. The accused persons were arrested in an early morning raid while in the act at a deserted place behind the slaughterhouse in Abuko, on Tuesday 21st June 2022’’ – FSQA

Cow canda, as it is commonly called in the Gambia is used in the cooking of some Gambian delicacies like the famous okra and spinach stews. The processed cowhide is sold in local markets for onward distribution.

According to research, car tires contain numerous chemicals that are not only toxic but are also likely human carcinogens.

While the story is still developing, the Food Safety and Quality Authority says “efforts are already underway to issue corrective measures which will serve as a deterrent to the alleged offenders.”

FSQA in a statement reiterated the organization’s unalloyed resolve to clamp down on non-compliant food business operators in the country.

President Adama Barrow has today 21^st June 2022 received the Letters of Credence of three more ambassadors to The Gambia at various ceremonies held at the State House in Banjul.

The first to present his Letters of Credence to the President was the Ambassador from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Saad A. Alnofai. President Barrow welcomed the new Ambassador to The Gambia and extended his best wishes to the King and the People of Saudi Arabia. He acknowledged the strong ties and the support Saudi Arabia has accorded him and his Government such as the hosting of the OIC Summit in The Gambia.

“I thank the Government of Saudi Arabia and His Royal Highness, the King, for funding and supporting the fundraising for The Gambia to host the OIC Summit. We have the best collaboration for hosting the OIC, and I look forward to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia opening an embassy in The Gambia,” said President Barrow.

President Barrow cited the plan to have Gambian workers in Saudi Arabia as an opportunity to further strengthen the relation between the two countries. He also applauded the reopening of the Hajj this year following its halting during the COVID pandemic. Ambassador Alnofai said The Gambia and Saudi Arabia have a long-standing relation and partnership in the international arena. He added that the two countries share a similar vision for peace in the world.

The second ambassador to present her Letters of Credence to President Barrow is the representative of South Africa, Her Excellency, Ms. Bongiwe Qwabe. The President urged the Ambassador to utilise the values of “strong leadership, commitment, and solidarity” associated with women leaders to improve trade between South Africa and The Gambia, an opportunity the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has provided. He also extended salutations and special gratitude to President Ramaphosa and thanked him for the cordial relationship.

Ambassador Qwabe applauded The Gambia’s peaceful democratic transition since the election in 2016. She said the Gambian experience serves as an inspiration to other countries in Africa. Ambassador Qwabe said The Gambia and South Africa have an opportunity to build on their relation making use of the AfCFTA.

The final presentation for the day was by the Swiss Ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Andrea Semadeni, President Barrow was optimistic about the renewal of agreements between the two countries and urged the Ambassador to work on further strengthening the long-standing relations.  He expressed appreciation for having The Gambia on the Human Rights Council in Geneva and expects the support and collaboration to go to higher heights.

Ambassador Semadeni on his part said he hopes to strengthen the relation between the two countries during his tenure to a mutually beneficial one. He said Switzerland have had a long-standing relation with The Gambia, having recognised the country immediately after it became independent.

The President had earlier received other diplomats from some countries in the sub region and beyond.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The National Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health with support from partners and stakeholders held a day-long validation exercise for its National Medicine Policy 2022-2025 at Kairaba Hotel in Senegambia on Tuesday, 21st June 2022.

The policy document is expected serve as a basic for driving health sector priorities and planning as a good resource allocation process and all other related pharmaceutical policies among others.

According to the WHO, access to medical products and technologies is one of the six building blocks of a health system.

In his opening remarks, Babanding Sabally, Director of Pharmaceutical Service underscored the significance of the document, adding that its validation is timely. “Access to health is a fundamental human right. However, access to health cannot be fulfilled without the availability of essential medicines,” he emphasized. He further disclosed that medicines, health supplies and vaccines are often the second largest expenditure in public budget.

The National Medicines Policy (NMP) aims to contribute to the attainment of quality health services for the population of The Gambia through ensuring the continuous availability, accessibility and affordability to the essential medicines. “A weak Pharmaceutical sector cannot support quality health delivery system,” Mr. Sabally said.

He used the opportunity to thank their partners for the continuous support, adding that the ministry and partners are committed to providing quality health service delivery to the people.

Dr. Ahmed Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, said over the years the pharmaceutical sector has registered significant achievements, citing the enactment of Pharmacy Council Act 2014 and Medicines and Related Products Act 2014 as examples which led to the establishment and functioning of the Medicine Control Agency and The Pharmacy Council of The Gambia in 2016.

“A significant success also registered by the Ministry of Health through the Pharmaceutical sector is the shift in policy in the procurement of Pharmaceuticals from single sourcing to international competitive bidding,” he said. “The policy will provide a new direction for the Health sector development,” Dr. Samateh added.

The World Health Organization country representative, Dr. Desta Turineh, said they are pleased that the country has walked through the difficult moment of the pandemic in developing a robust National Medicine Policy.

He reiterated WHO’s continuous partnership with the Ministry of Health to provide efficient and quality health care service delivery to the people. “WHO has been supporting the process of the policy and we are planning to work with the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services in foreseeing the essential medicine list which will be use to guide the insurance scheme and benefit package,” he said.

The National Medicine Policy validation forum was attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh, WHO country representative Dr. Desta Turineh, senior officials at the ministry of Health and Partners who both expressed optimism that the document will assist the ministry and partners in ensuring quality health care service delivery which is expected to be reviewed and validated in 2025.

By: Hadram Hydara

Hon. Modou Lamin Bah, United Democratic Party’s National Assembly Member (NAM) for Banjul North has said his house was the target of an arson attack by an unknown individual in the early hours of Monday, June 20^th 2022.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network, the UDP NAM said someone had attempted to set ablaze his Tobacco Road residence in Banjul when his wife and children were fast asleep while he was “making the best use of his time reading.”

“Someone wanted to set my house on fire. This actually happened around the hours of 2 am to 3 am in the early hours of Monday the 20^th of June at my residence in Tobacco, Banjul North Constituency. What happened was I was in the other room making good use of my time in terms of reading some of the things I was researching when my wife was in the master bedroom and then suddenly knock on my door and said they are trying to set the house on fire and that is how I rushed to see what was going on but before I could get there the individual had already left.”

Speaking on what happened after the individual fled the scene, Hon. Bah said he and his wife decided not to go back to sleep and waited for daybreak.

“Because the electricity was going on and off my wife decided to open the windows so that they get access to fresh air. In the morning we saw that the individual was trying to burn the wire gauze on the windows.”

Pressed on whether he or his wife had seen the face of the individual or whether he might have any clue of who it was, Hon. Bah answered in the negative.

“To be honest, neither me nor my wife saw the face of the person because it was very dark. What my wife saw was a figure in the dark holding fire and attempting to set the house on fire. The person succeeded in burning parts of the wire gauze.”

Asked if he has reported the incidents to the police and whether he or his family were hurt and if the incident caused any property damages, the NAM said:

“Yes, we immediately did report the matter to the police in the morning. My wife went to the police and the police also gave us all the support we needed by coming over to the house to do their investigations, where they took pictures of the burnt wire gauze. Nobody was hurt and there were no property damages.”

Quizzed on whether as a National Assembly Member he was not given any personal security, Honourable Bah seized the opportunity to call on both the Standing Committee on Defense and Security and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Ethics at the National Assembly to work on providing NAMs with personal securities.

“We are not given personal security and I want to seize the important opportunity to urge the select Committee on Defense and Security and also the Standing Committee on Privileges and Ethics to work on providing security for all National Assembly Members because this is very important. As Honourable members of this country, it is high time for us to be very secure. After all, our security is the security of the people because we are here to represent and to add as oversight officials for the nation and this is fundamental as NAMs to be provided with security so that we can be able to do our work comfortably.”

By: Sanna Jallow

Residents of Sukuta-Salagie, over the weekend converged at a press briefing where they accused the Physical Planning Department of land grabbing and warned that any further attempt could cause instability.

Speaking at the briefing, Maimuna Bah, the President of Sukuta-Salagie United Association said there is a rumour that the Physical Planning Department wants to demolish the Salagie market, noting that the market will be constructed whether the Department likes it or not.

“We will never stop until we get what belongs to us, and that is the market that was allocated for the women of Sukuta-Salagie and it surrounding,” she stated.

Mrs. Bah accused Mamadi Manjang, the head of the Physical Planning Department and few individuals of Salagie Layout Community Association of illegal land dealing in the community, emphasising that they will never relent in fighting for what belongs to them.

She further alleged that a group of people who formed Salagie Layout Community Association have taken their lands and have sold them to other people.

“We are not blaming the government, but the Physical Planning Department and Salagie Layout Community Association. Let them allow us to build our market in peace,” she said.

Prior to the allocation of the market in Salagie, women in neighbouring communities travelled all the way to Serekunda, Bakoteh, Coastal Road Market, among others to either buy or sell commodities.

The residents urged the government to support women and petty traders who are struggling daily to make ends meet.

Lamin Jatta, the Public Relations Officer of Sukuta-Salagie United Association said the native of Salagie allocated land for the women of Salagie and its surrounding to earn their living from the market.

He stressed that women in the country continue to face challenges in terms of feeding their families and in other domestic work they do at home.

Abdoulie Cham, a resident of Sukuta Salagie, said that lot of senior government officials are occupying lands belonging to the people of Salagie while denying women the only place allocated for the market.

“We are not going to surrender to them because we are ready to fight back and we await anything that we come out of it,” he said.

He explained that before they started the market they wrote to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Interior informing them that the women of Sukuta-Salagie wanted the land to operate the market and we sent the letters with 300 signatures from the women.

Bintou B Colley, the Secretary of Sukuta Salagie United Association said one major problem they are facing is the construction of the market, not only for  women of sukuta-Salagie but also for other communities like Yuna, Jarbang and labakora.

“Women are suffering a lot in this area, and we demanded for the market during the presidential campaigns, and it was promised to us,” she stated.

Gibril Bojang, a resident of Sukuta Salajie and a construction engineer said they have issues with the Physical Planning Department which took their lands from them.

“They have given some of the land to their girlfriends and their relatives and we have evidence on that, and if they want they can come and prove themselves,” he said.

By Modou Touray

The Gambia Standards Bureau over the weekend engaged the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members of West Coast Region on the draft standard for vehicle emissions.

The forum was held at the Governor’s office in Brikama. The technical advisory committee is a body comprising heads of government institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in the region.

The meeting, which was marked by arguments and counter arguments by various participants, provided stakeholders the opportunity to get their inputs captured in the document.

Responding to concerns that it’s a custom to develop draft laws but implementation is normal the problem, Mr Ebrima Jallow, the Director of Standardization at the Gambia Standard Bureau, assured participants of the political commitment on the effective implementation of the vehicle’s standards regulations.

Madam Binta Sey Jadama, who represented the governor at the forum, spoke of his appreciation for allowing members of TAC to brainstorm on the draft standards document. “I urge you to provide hard copies of the final document to relevant stakeholders. It is often different if you ask people to access the document through online,” Binta Sey pleaded.

The National Environment Agency was the institution assigned to draft the document and where ably represented by Seedy Barrow who expressed the willingness of his institution to partner with Standards Bureau in the national task.

The document, if successfully implemented, is said to significantly contribute to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and respiratory illness as smoke from non-roadworthy vehicles pose a threat to the environment and people’s health.

Consultation on the draft document is ongoing but as it stands, the recommended emissions limits for all light-vehicles is 10 years and 15 years for heavy duty vehicles.

The forum for regional authorities in West Coast Region is part of their nationwide engagements prior to the gazetting of the document.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Four days since he was attacked by his student at Scan Aid Upper and Senior School in Brufut, Mr Amadou BB Jatta told the Fatu Network in an exclusive interview what actually happened and clarified that he was not stabbed and never being in a critical condition, contrary to the widespread rumour that he was stabbed.

“He hit me with an iron bar on my shoulder and face. He pulled out a knife and attempted to stabbed me, but I seized the hand where he held the knife,” he explained.

Mr. Jatta told TFN that immediately after being attacked and assaulted by his student, he rushed to the Brusubi Police Station and then to Sukuta Health Centre. After the arrest warrant for the student, he went to Medic Care. He confirmed that he sustained injuries in his eyes.

“When I went to Medic Care, the Doctor I found there said my vision is compromised and that I have internal wounds in my eyes, so they are affecting me, but I am better and taking treatment.”

Yesterday, Monday, June 20, Mr. Jatta confirmed that the student Abdoulie Manneh reported himself to the Brufut PIU and was later taken to the Brusibi Police station. This came after he was on the run since Thursday. The boy, he explained will be charged.

However, at the time of going to press, the police PRO, ASP Lamin Njie didn’t confirm the arrest of the student.

But what happened and how?

On Thursday, June 16, a 10th-grade student name Abdoulie Manneh assaulted his teacher, hit him with an iron bar on his soldier and face and attempted to stab him.

It all began when Mr Amadou BB Jatta (Amba) reported the student to the school principal’s office because the student missed going to school for a while.

According to Jatta, he talked to the student several times and one time invited the guidance to the school to address Abdoulie’s irregularity in school and his behaviour.

On this Thursday, when he reported him to the Principal, he could not explain why he was not going to school. He was then asked to surrender his bag. When a search was made, a pair of scissors was found in the bag plus a book that does not belong to him. He was then asked to go and call his parents.

The young teacher then escorted the student, but they had a push and pull. When the boy was leaving, according to Mr Jatta, he rained insults on him and the school administration.

“After that insult, he threatened to stab me to death when I leave the school campus,” Mr Jatta narrated.

According to him, the student then went home and then went back to the school, but he was denied access. When he was not allowed to enter, he went to the graveyard.

In a few minutes, Mr Jatta left the school campus to meet a staff who was supposed to hand over something to him but before he reaches the meeting point, the staff then called him and told him that a student was going to bring the materials to the school.

“When I was on my way back to school, I felt a hit from behind and I fell to the ground. Before I turned to know what was happening, I was hit with an iron bar in the face. As he tried to hit me with the iron bar for the third time, I held the iron in my hand and we had a push and pull. Then I also hit him with my hands.

“We fought there and he pulled out a knife. He attempted to stab me, then I moved backwards. When he attempted to stab me for the second time, I hit the hands and the knife fell to the ground. When it fell to the ground, he was the first to reach the knife as we both struggled to get the knife.  When he picked up the knife, I held his hand that was holding the knife with my both hands.”

“He then used his other hand to hit me on my face and eyes. I tried to fight back but he overpowered me and sat on me. As I was struggling to get the knife from his hand, he continued using the other hand to hit me.  When I managed to get the knife from his hands, people came and separated us. That is where he eventually ran away,” Jatta narrated to the Fatu Network.

By Modou Touray

The Association of Physically Challenged Persons has explained its successes and challenges in 2021 and its desires for persons with disability in The Gambia.

In an exclusive engagement with The Fatu Network, Eduward Preira, the chairperson, highlighted that within a year of existence, the group has succeeded in finalizing all due processes to stand as a viable association. Mr. Preira is also the nominated councilor for persons with disabilities at the Brikama Area Council.

“This association is registered under the umbrella of the Gambia Federation of the disables, which is responsible for all the differently disable persons in the country. Our Association is specifically looking at physically challenged persons, that is, those who have challenges with their legs, hands or on wheelchairs,” Mr Preira explained.

Disability he clarifies, has many types but he concentrating on the physically challenged. He said with virtually a year old, they were able to mobilize funds through local initiatives to assist themselves but however recognized the patronage of the government, civil society and the community at large.

On the difficulties, he admitted that lack of mobility for the association hampered the poor attendance of the monthly meetings of the association. “We have a membership of 73 and we have members from foni, Lamin, Kombo Darsilameh and other remote villages. Our people travel from far places. For those on wheelchairs and other conditions, it is not easy for them to attend meetings on time because they always need the company of other people.”

On their new year resolution, he said they intend to assist their membership with education and other socio-economic engagements.

The Association is glad to hear that the Disability Bill has been enacted by the National Assembly and looks forward to its implementation.

By Sanna Jallow

The Gambian chapter of Pan-African Network for Artistic Freedom (PANAF) was launched over the weekend to connect African artists and culture producers by defending artistic freedom through shared experiences.

The PANAF launch was spearheaded by SELAM and team GOMSA SA BOPA.

The main objective of PANAF is to build effectiveness in countries, regional and continental advocacy, and a sustainable network in music and film.

The network also aims at building knowledge among members on how to use international, regional and national human rights frameworks in advocacy for legal reforms, mechanisms protecting artists’ freedom and how to overcome structure, discrimination and barriers, especially for female artists.

Lucy Llado, the Regional Programme Director of SELAM, which is a pan-African cultural organization, said arts has always played a crucial role in the fight for freedom, human rights and democracy. But artists all over the world continue to come under attack.

“The pandemic period amplified this violation, from censorship to silence of criticism of not just art but also the media, and at most, when these violations occurred the victim will have little or no legal or paper support,” she explained.

She said the challenges being faced by women in the creative sector, which is heavily male-dominated, are the reason they will be launching a study which will focus on women’s empowerment to upskill their participation and longevity in the creative sector.

Sanna Jawara, a cultural lawyer talked about the legal perspective on artistic freedom in the Gambia and he has said copyrights law covered the right to performances, fashion and creative industries in general.

“There is no future without creativity and in the Gambia, we have creativity but what is lacking is protection of copyright”,

He stated that the first law created in the world is the Status of Arms which was legislated by the British parliament in 1709, saying that since then up to date, the Gambia copyright is not felt because people feel there is no copyright protecting intellectual properties.

Matty Jobe, performing Arts Officer at the National Center for Art and Culture talked about the role of stakeholders in progressing artistic freedom. She said there are stakeholders in the country that can support the interest of the artists which will help them express themselves.

“We are tired of dialogue and workshops. It is better we use the resources  to help our artists to be more creative along with freedom”, she mentioned.

Pa Momodou Sarr, President of the Musicians Union of the Gambia said artists have been battling with the problem of conducive ground to put across what they have.

“We have been having this problem where musicians talk about things happening in our communities which have been turning out to be violent. Example, Killa Ace’s artistic freedom was violated because of one of his songs”, he explained.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

As The Gambia Football Federation’s presidential elections loom on the horizon, Team Restore Confidence, a camp that is set to go against the incumbent Lamin Kaba Bajo has accused Kaba’s camp of breaching FIFA ethics as well as plans to amend the Federation’s constitution before voting starts.

Led by Sadibou Kamaso, a former Executive Member of the GFF and the current General Secretary of Hawks FC, Team restore Confidence accused the Kaba Bajo administration of paying allowances to members of the federation who chose not to attend the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon and stayed at home and get paid for their allowances.

“The GFF Executive have already breached the FIFA ethics code by paying allowances to GFF Exco members who chose not to travel to the AFCON but sat home and got allowances”.

The camp went further to accuse the federation of not selecting a second-place winner, Sanger in the GFF League last season by selecting PSV Wellingara to AFCON.

“It is the same GFF Executive who claimed to have chosen the winners of being 1st and 2nd Division leagues to take them to AFCON but chose PSV Wellingara instead of Samger FC. Everyone knows the Falcons win the league and Sanger came 2nd. We are all baffled as to how PSV got a ticket to go to AFCON.”, the camp claimed.

Although Lamin Kaba Bajo is yet to announce publicly his desire to run for the office in August, it is clear that the former minister is bracing up for another term.

According to Team Restore Confidence, Lamin Kaba Bajo and his team are planning to amend the Constitution shortly before the election to create a portfolio for the 4th and 5th Vice President positions.  This, according to the Kamaso’s camp through the campaign manager Baboucarr Sey, is part of Kamaso’s manifesto.

However,  he went on to claim that the Constitution can only be amended through an AGM or an extraordinary AGM and that cannot happen before the August election unless 40% of members make the request.

“Let it be known to everyone that the constituent Amendment can only be held within 2 months when 40% of members make the request.”

Kamaso’s team further stated that they have a lot of ethical issues against the Kaba Bajo administration to bring to the attention of football stakeholders.

“There are lots of FIFA Ethics issues that we have up our sleeves to bring to the attention of the stakeholders including certain individuals holding positions in two clubs playing in the same league and findings of reports that were to be sent but still kept”

Team Restore Confidence led by 42-year old Sadibou Kamaso is expected to bring out allegations against the Lamin Kaba Bajo-led executive but the August election.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

Gigo Construction Company Limited has over the weekend commenced construction of the four hundred kilometres Brikama Jambarr Sanneh road. This comes after years of complaints of residents on the poor condition of the road from the tenure of one Nyambai ward councilor to another.

The road is usually worse during the rainy season. Whenever it rains, the road will be tarred with water and the water will be stagnant for days. This will barricade vehicles from using the road while those on foot struggle to access the road. Many avoid, while those who use the road will either walk carefully on fall to the ground.

Bayaya Daffeh is a canteen owner on the roadside in Jambarr Sanneh. He does business in a small canteen as a source of income. According to the old man, he struggles to make a living during the rainy season, saying that his business is closed during such period. This is said because of the inaccessibility of his canteen due to flood and stagnant water.

“I close my canteen during the rainy season. It is my only source of earning, but I have no choice but to close it.  Who will come to buy from me? Nobody. There is no way that buyers will use it because here is constantly filled with stagnant water during this time”, the old man told TFN.

On the 15th of this month, the Brikama Area Council gave a contract to Gigo Construction to construct the road within four months. This will cost the Council Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-four thousand and Nine Hundred Dalasi. According to Chairman Sheriff Sonko of the Brikama Area, the project is devoid of external funding. He said it will be wholly funded by his council.

When TFN visited the site, Bayaya narrated that when the road is erected after over two decades of promises and failures, they will call for celebration and this will be marked by dancing even for the elderly men and women.

Lamin Darboe too is an old man who owns a canteen on the roadside. He told the Fatu Network that the road is bad and so many people be it residents and those that use the road to access the market or the vicinity suffer a lot. He said in the rainy season, so many people will fall on the road due to its slippery nature and that so many mobile phones will be lost.

“The number of mobile phones that are lost here is too much.  Here, you will fall if you don’t walk slowly and carefully. People cannot avoid this road because it links to the market and from the market to the vicinity.  We only hope this time around, it will not be an empty promise”.

To Lamin Darboe, after several years of promises and failures, he will not believe that the road will be constructed until he sees that it is done.

The Jambarr Sanneh road links the highway from the police station in Brikama to the Brikama-Gunjur highway.

After signing the contract on June 15, Amadou Gigo of Gigo Construction promised that he will deliver a first-class road at the end of the contract.

The Chairman of the Brikama Area Council also acknowledged the productivity of the construction company. He cast no doubt that Gigo construction will do the job well.

Residents around the Jambarr Sanneh road have now seen a glimmer of a better road over the weekend when the company started levelling and digging holes on the road.

The road, when done, is expected to decongest the already congested traffic in the Brikama Market.

By Ousman G Darboe

In a telephone interview with West Coast Radio’s Banna Sabally on Coffee Time, Suwaibu Touray, National Assembly Member for Wuli East said he has used his share of the hundred thousand Dalasi clothing allowance to support people in his constituency.

Hon. Touray said the money was spent in constructing boreholes with the support the people in his constituency. He said the move is to address the challenges his constituents face in accessing drinkable water.

The hundred thousand Dalasi clothing allowance that was given to the parliamentarians is first of its kind since independence.

Many people including some veteran lawmakers were against the hundred thousand clothing allowance for the Parliamentarians which they said has no genuine reasons.