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.

By: Ousman G Darboe 

Four officials who were dismissed at the Department of Agriculture have on Saturday 18^th June 2022 briefed the press about what they called an “unlawful dismissal”.

Musa Bojang, Senior Plant Protection Officer; Alhajie Gaye, Agricultural Assistant; Lamin Jaiteh, Plant Protection Officer; and Abubacarr Camara, Agricultural Officer were all dismissed on 10^th June 2022.

This came after a letter from the Personnel Management Office noted that the Public Service Commission had approved the dismissal of the four officials from the civil service with effect from 10^th June 2022 in accordance with Public Service Commission Regulation 57.

Speaking on behalf his colleagues, Musa Bojang, said the reason for their dismissal was as a result of revealing the “irregularities” that were going on at the Department of Agriculture.

“We found out that there were some irregularities in the office, the occupation of public offices by officials who are retired and are not on contract and are also out of public service.”

“For that reason, we felt that there was a need to raise the issue with the authorities so that they can do the right thing which eventually led to our dismissal from the public service,” Bojang explained.

By Hadram Hydara

Hon. Madi Ceesay, United Democratic Party (UDP) National Assembly Member (NAM) for Serrekunda West Constituency has said he has no “qualms” about the reported D1,000,000 vehicle loan that is set to be given to NAMs saying “loans are loans.”

The parliamentarian was reacting to the discontentment of some citizens regarding the one million Dalasis (D1,000,000) vehicle loan of which, fifty per cent is said to be paid by the Assembly and the other half from the salaries of the NAMs over their tenure in office.

He urged people to look beyond the National Assembly and compare it with other public institutions.

“Let’s take ministers for example who are almost serving in a similar capacity as the National Assembly. They are given an official vehicle at the cost of the State and their fuel, drivers, and maintenance are all taken care of by the government. As long as they remain ministers, they keep using those vehicles and at a certain point, they are giving other utility vehicles which the State also takes care of. But if people think it is okay for ministers to have official vehicles and everything is taken care of by the government, but a member of parliament cannot take a vehicle as a loan that he would be responsible for the fuel, maintenance and everything at his personal cost, then that is their opinion but I would beg to differ.”

He went further to shift his attention to the fleet of cars at the disposal of the President and how that costs the State.

“Let’s come to the President’s level. How many fleets of government vehicles are at the disposal of the President? The State takes care of the President’s drivers, maintenance and fuel. But you are saying a NAM should not take a vehicle on loan. Again, its people’s opinion and I have no problem with that but for me, I am fine with taking a vehicle on a loan that I am going to pay half and bear all the expenditure. I am helping the government,” he explained.

By: Hadram Hydara

Hon. Madi Ceesay and Hon. Alieu Baldeh, National Assembly Members of Serrekunda West and Jarra West respectively have reacted to recent claims that NAMs have only been enriching themselves in Parliament instead of passing relevant bills and checkmating the executive.

This comes after NAMs were allocated a one-off hundred thousand dalasis (D100,000) as clothing allowance for the next five years and a one million dalasis (D1,000,000) vehicle loan of which, fifty per cent would be paid by the Assembly and the other half from the salaries of the NAMs.

Speaking to the Fatu Network about these claims, Hon. Madi Ceesay, National Assembly Member for Serrekunda West Constituency said that other sectors of the government are receiving equivalent to, if not more than a D100,000.

“There are other sectors of government that are receiving equivalent to (D100,000) or even more but not many people are talking about that. The National Assembly is one institution that does not keep things to its chest. NAMs put everything on the table for everybody to see and form their opinions about it.”

Pressed on whether the amount is too little or too much as many citizens are saying, the second-termed parliamentarian would not be drawn on the right amount saying “it is neither too little nor too much.” However, responding to the debate on social media about the amount being too much for a clothing allowance for NAMs and instead focus should be on trying to improve the living conditions of citizens, Honourable Madi said even prior to NAMs being given these allowances, there has been skyrocketing of prices of goods for the last five years.

“This amount is part of a budget of an institution that is equally like any other institution in the country so unless if one wants to tell me that you want to slice all the budget lines and pumped it into other ministries’ budget lines. How could NAMs allowance take care of bringing down the cost of basic commodities? It could be possible but I don’t know how.  I think there are other means of doing that like there can be legislation to stabilise prices where the government can come in if the prices have gone up within a set period. But even prior to the D100,000 clothing allowances, has there not been a skyrocketing of basic commodities in the last five years when this allowance was not institutionalised?”

Speaking further on the D100,00 clothing allowance and the general earnings of the National Assembly Members, the Serrekunda West NAM urged people to look beyond the shores of the Gambia and make some comparisons with NAMs of neighbouring countries.

“If you go to other countries, especially our neighbours Senegal, are far more paid than us. Go to Kenya, they are the highest or among the highest-paid NAMs in the world and go to Guinea Bissau, so these are things that perhaps are new to Gambians but that is the beauty of democracy, people can always express their opinions and that is it.”

Also speaking to Fatu Network on the same issue, NPP’s National Assembly Member for Jarra West, Honourable Alieu Baldeh redirected the focus to breaking down the amount into a monthly payment.

“All I know is that it is for five years and not monthly or yearly so if you do the Maths properly you would see it is 1,666 Dalasis per month.”

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The head coach of the senior national football team of The Gambia, Tom Sainfeit has reacted to Assan Ceesay’s move to US Lecce in Italy, noting that it is a deserved move by the all-time Gambian top scorer, however, he warned Ceesay that Seria A is a higher league than Swiss league.

Tom, whose tenure as the head coach of the national team has seen Assan flourishing in the red, white and blue colour, said that the whole country should be proud of the former Gamtel striker.

“It is a fantastic and deserved move for him. This is a good move and I am proud of him. The whole Gambia should be proud of him for this move”, Tom told TFN.

Assan, earlier today penned a two-year contract with the Italian side with an option of a further year at end of his contract.

The tall and agile striker will not be the first Gambian and the only Gambian to play in the Italian Serie A  next season. His Gambian compatriot Musa Barrow, Omar Colley, Ebrima Colley and Ebrima Darboe are all playing in the Italian top league.

Assan was a crucial player for FC Zurich last season by scoring a massive 20 goals and 10 assists. His spectacular performances earned Zurich the Swiss league trophy.

While praising Assan for his deserved move to Italy, Coach Tom Sainfeit warned his national team’s prolific striker that the Italian league is higher than the Swiss league and that the striker should adapt to the situation.

“Seria A is one of the top leagues in Europe. Lots of Gambian players went to play in Italy but not many succeeded.  He should improve and become stronger again beck the Italian league is a step higher and more difficult than the Swiss league. But I am happy for him and I think he will adopt”.

After signing his contract with US Lecce, the striker went to his Facebook page and delivered a message to his former club.

“I can’t repay the courage, affection and amazing support during these 4 years. It’ll be unforgettable. I’m eternally grateful to play for this historic club and the memories we made together”.

U.S Lecce is a newly promoted team in the Italian Seria A.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Presenting the country’s report at the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament Ordinary Session in Abuja on Thursday 16 June 2022, Honorable Billay G. Tunkara, head of Gambian ECOWAS Delegates has said climate change constitutes one of the greatest burdens to national development efforts, poverty alleviation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, and the National Environment Agency continue to work with relevant stakeholders to formulate and implement environment and climate change policies.

Hon. Tunkara added that the agency coordinates and enforces environmental regulations to address the current and emerging environmental issues.

“Currently, there are lot of pressures facing the environment which have led to the alteration of ecosystem, change in water quality, coastal erosion, pollution, from fishing processing, tourism littering and sewage outfall,” he said.

He continued: “Land degradation, deforestation, land exchange and flow of second-have goods with high level of electronic waste and urbanization are issues of great concerns.”

Speaking further, the Kantora NAM said, measures have been put in place by the government to mitigate some of the environmental problems which include, the enforcement of the ban on plastic bags order in 2015, enforcement on environmental impact assessment regulations and guidelines, enforcement on anti-littering regulations, enforcement on National Environment Management act and strengthening the implementation and ratification of convention multilateral environment agreements.

The ECOWAS Parliament comprises members of different countries within West Africa which are currently presenting their countries report in Abuja.

By: Karimatou Jallow 

The Voice Achievers Awards, which usually takes place in Dubai, is said to be organized in the Gambia with the theme: Africa’s Future Through Participation.

Organizers of the awards yesterday held a press conference to inform the press about preparations ahead of the ceremony.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Sir Dawada Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo where the President of the Gambia Adama Barrow and the First Lady of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Bio will be awarded for their contributions to their countries.

It is scheduled to run for three days, starting on the 18th to 20th August 2022 where men, women, youths, businesses, and charity organizations would be recognized for their contributions toward the advancement of Africa.

The Awards Ceremony is to encourage and show appreciation for the work of the awardees.

Pastor Elvis Iruh spoke on the economic importance of the awards to the country.

“Over one hundred diasporans will be visiting the country. They will be staying in hotels and will come up with different ideas on possible business partnership with businesses in The Gambia. Gambians should prepare to welcome them. They might even want to invest in business opportunities in country or start  charitable organizations.”

Monika Bah emphasized on how the awards ceremony can benefit The Gambia.

“To travel to Dubai for business is not easy. So, this is a platform were Gambians will have the opportunity to discuss with people from different parts of the world and sell their businesses.”

In his statement, Lamin Njie explained the uniqueness of the awards ceremony in the Gambia, saying that the tourism and business sectors stand to benefit from it.

“For the first time people from the diaspora will be coming to the country and that is a great opportunity to use partner with them which will contribute to the economy development of the Gambia especially in terms of tourism and business in the country.”

The main objective of The Voice Achievers Awards is to promote and support the government of the Gambia and the wider African community.

Organizers of the awards ceremony called on Gambians to participate in the event and make it a success.

By Sanna Jallow

The Directorate of the National Pharmaceutical Service at the Ministry of Health has announced it would be digitalizing the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) into Electronic Logistics Management Information System to provide commodity logistics data for all levels of the healthcare system.

The project is funded by Global Fund and the World Bank.

The main objective of the Ellis project is to provide an integrated data repository system that will take health commodity logistic data to all levels of the care system.

It will also provide timely and accurate key performance indicators for all programs and stakeholders as well as serve as an analytical tool for use in supply chain decisions.

Babading Sabally, Director of National Pharmaceutical Service has said when the ministry introduced a computerised data management system later, they realised it needed more elaboration to the electronic version to collect data.

“Digitalizing the logistics management information system will help the day-to-day activities of the ministry of health within the country to collect data.”

Deborah Asante Luisier, Fund Portfolio Manager for the Global Fund said they are happy to be part of the project, nothing that an electronic logistics management information system will help the Ministry of Health to get quality data.

Dr Samvel Mills, Health Task Team Leader World Bank said the world Bank has been supporting several initiatives in the health sector.

He disclosed that in April 2022, the World Bank allocated one hundred and fifty-five million US dollars to initiate the projects for the health sector.

“There are several other electronic systems in the pipeline. We are just waiting for the ministry to pick up the date to begin the registration”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Momodou Lamin Jaiteh said the project is a very important step with great efficiency toward ensuring accountability and quality service delivery.

“The ministry has been maintaining its logistics information systems, manually”, he mentioned.

By: Modou Touray

One Alhagi Saikou Sisahor has on Tuesday June 14th testified against his biological son, Lawyer Abdoulai Sissokho, at the Banjul Magistrate Court.

According to the particulars of offence, the defendant Abdoulai Sissokho was allegedly collecting rent from his father’s tenants without his knowledge and the plaintiff is claiming an amount of D300,000. The case is being presided over by Justice Bakri.

“When I was 15 years old, I started travelling across Africa and Europe to acquire my wealth. I did not ask him to collect any money on my behalf. Abdoulai would always tell tenants in my houses that he is the family lawyer, which is not the case. He is my son before but not anymore.”

Ida Drammeh Esq, lawyer of the complainant objected to additional statements of the witness of the defendant’s legal team, arguing that it violates the court act. Following arguments and counterarguments from the legal teams of the plaintiff and defendant, Justice Bakri admitted the documents.

The legal team of defendant Abdoulai Sisahor insisted that their client has been disbursing money to his father, who is the plaintiff in this case, continuously based on his request.

The case has been adjourned to the 13^th October 2022.

By Sainabou Sambou

Riders of tricycles [locally known as tuktuk] have expressed dissatisfaction over the banning of tricycles effective 1^st January 2023.

Ba Musa Drammeh, President of tricycle riders told The Fatu Network that he is very disappointed in the government for giving them only six months to ply on the roads.

“We have spent over four million dalasis on our tricycles. The police officers initially told us that they want to help us by banning foreigners from plying. By December this year, we will stop plying on the roads. It means we only have six months left,” he explained.

Drammeh said tricycles have been in use in the Gambia for five years, adding that they pay tax to the Gambia Revenue Authority.

“We hope that our parliamentarians make a law allowing tricycle to be used in the Gambia,” he said.

Amadou Joof, a tricycle rider also expressed dissatisfaction over the government banning them from plying by 31st December 2022.

“The government has to help the youths because not everyone would work in the office. When the government bans us from plying by December, we wouldn’t have any other job to do. Some of the tricycle riders are migrant returnees; so if the government executes the ban, it will affect them a lot” he said.

Ismailia Chinti, a rider, emphasized that police officers told them that they would be banning only foreigners from riding tricycles in the Gambia and that, they would seize their tricycles if they break the law.

“I bought my tricycle for two hundred thousand dalasi and has plied for only three months. The six months given to us is not enough as we wouldn’t be able to have enough money to buy a tax.”

Momodou Jallow, another rider, said since their tricycles were seized, the police have not given them any reason for the seizure.

“We are very worried and don’t know what to do. I urge the government to help us with jobs if they ban us from plying by December.”

The new rule states that no tricycle will be allowed to ply the Westfield–Tabokoto, Westfield–Tippa Garage, to Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights Road from 7am to 7pm daily.

It could be recalled that on 21st May 2022, the Mobile Traffic Department of Gambia Police Force embarked on a nationwide operation, preventing the use of tricycles as commercial means of transportation.

Yankuba Touray has on Monday 13^th June 2022 appeared at the Court of Appeal in Banjulfor the second time after he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death on July 14 last year.

Touray was tried and convicted for the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former Finance Minister in The Gambia who was murdered in June 1995.

The case could not proceed after senior State Counsel Muhammed B Sowe, told the court that there were some missing pages in volume 2 of the records of proceedings from the high court.

Sowe said some pages in the judgement and the defense brief of argument were not part of the record of proceeding.

Abdoulai Sisahor, lawyer for Yankuba Touray, said he also noticed that some of the judgement pages were missing.

The judges ordered Lawyer Sisahor to provide supplementary copies of the judgement and his argument.

The former Minister of Local Government in the early days of Gambia’s military junta is the first former senior member of Yahya Jammeh’s regime to be tried since 2017.

His appeal’s case was adjourned to 27 June 2022.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The National Assembly Member (NAM) of Janjanbureh Constituency, Hon. Omar Jammeh has secured ten scholarships for ten teenagers in his constituency for studies in skills areas in Portugal for a period of one year.

The scholarships, which were awarded to only young people from 19 years below, are expected to be a yearly package in his constituency with each batch spending 12 months in skill areas.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, the young parliamentarian said that empowering young people was a top part of his campaign pledges.

“Youth Empowerment and life skills were a top priority on my campaign agenda. This scholarship package will now be an annual package purposely worked on to empower the young people on life skills,” he voiced.

Hon. Jammeh obtained the scholarship through a partnership with Roque Silva Morgado Foundation (RSMF).  The foundation, whose objective is helping youth and women in urban and rural development by creating educational opportunities for vulnerable youths, tasked the Janjanbureh NAM to identify these young people.

Jatto, as fondly called, exhorts the government of The Gambia to champion the programme for young people.

“Government must champion the course of young people to commit more on a productive sector, especially in the area of life skills,” he expressed as he reminds the government in helping the young people.

The ten teens have commenced their classes in the Portuguese language on Friday and will last till August.

They will be trained in the following areas in Portugal:  IT system management and programme Technician, Bar Restaurant Technician, Pastry Kitchen Technician, Tourism Technician and Assistant Health Technician.

By: Dawda Baldeh

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health and the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has kicked against the proposed mass burial of unidentified corpses at the morgue of EFSTH, the country’s main mortuary.

This comes after the hospital proposed a mass burial of unidentified corpses kept at its mortuary. The date for the mass burial of the said corpses was not specified.

The National Human Right Commission drew the attention of the hospital’s management to allegations of enforced disappearances and missing persons mentioned in the TRRC Report and the subsequent Government White Paper.

“The problem is that there are still missing persons (enforced disappearance) during the time of former President Yahya Jammeh. May be some of these unidentified bodies are victims of the killings of Jammeh,” NHRC mentioned in its letter.

“The State, as the primary duty bearer, is under obligation to protect the right to life, including, ensuring that all unlawful, sudden and unnatural death cases are thoroughly investigated and documented before dead bodies are buried.”

The Commission recommended for legal, medical and scientific protocols to be exhausted before the dead bodies are buried.

It further recommended for the keeping and maintaining of proper records of all unidentified dead bodies for future references and invite the public for viewing and identification of the bodies before burial.

NHRC noted that public announcements for viewing, identification and burial should be made in major local languages across the country.

The Commission also recommended for documentation and safe keeping of details and circumstances of how each body was deposited at the mortuary.

NHRC added that burials should comply with human dignity, values and norms of the wider Gambia society by ensuring that dead bodies are buried separately in marked graves, and not in a mass grave as proposed by the hospital.

It further stated that the records of each dead body and each marked grave be kept just in case the bodies are needed for future forensic and scientific identification and exhumation.

By Sainabou Sambou

Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQ) has announced that they are investigating the recent rumour of Sniper insecticide being used on smoked fish.

Muctarr Sonko, the Principal Food Inspector at the Food Safety and Quality Authority, said they received information on social media of the Sniper insecticide being used on smoked fish for preservation.

He confirmed that their Director General, during the weekend, went to GRTS to clarify claims of the recent rumor circulating on social media and assured the general public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated.

He added that on Monday they called on different departments responsible for food safety in the country, including the Ministry of Fisheries, the National Environmental Agency and the Ministry of Health to discuss the issue. He also said all the departments have a role to play in the food that we eat, especially fish.

Mr. Sonko also cited that they reached an agreement that they will investigate the issue or to set a taskforce where staff from the said public entities will work together to investigate the matter.

He affirmed that they want to give only accurate and reliable information to the general public.

He went on further to state that any food that enters the country is inspected first before reaching the people.

“We do daily inspection in the country and there are people who told us that they have seen smoked fish vendors using the Sniper chemical on their smoke fish” he said.

He noted that they don’t want to get only what was said to them but would investigate the matter and give accurate information to the public.

He confirmed that they have a taskforce in all the borders in the Gambia to inspect food coming into the country.

He added that if the smoked fish vendors used Sniper chemical on their fish, it means they lack the understanding of its implications on people’s health and wellbeing.

By: Hadram Hydara

Moroccan capital, Rabat has been the host of over 20 foreign ministers from across the continent for the 1st Ministerial Meeting of African Atlantic States.

The high-level conclave, which kicked off on June 8, 2022, at the invitation of the Kingdom of Morocco, is billed to make the African Atlantic area a pragmatic and relevant inter-African framework for cooperation.

The African foreign ministers hailed His Majesty’s “commitment to reactivating this geostrategic consultation framework between the African Atlantic States.”

A declaration from the high-profile convergence states: “The Ministers emphasized that this meeting is taking place in a very particular and challenging regional and international context for the States of the region” while reiterating their resolve to pursue the “dialogue around common principles, shared challenges and converging interests with a view to making the African Atlantic space a zone of peace, stability and shared prosperity.”

The rest of the declaration reads: “Recognizing the necessity to seek political convergence, the economic potential and the common security challenges within the African Atlantic space; the Ministers expressed their deep concern over the increasingly complex threats posed by terrorism, transnational organized crime and maritime piracy; the acuteness of environmental challenges and their consequences on food security and human flows; as well as the challenges of economic and human development, competitiveness and attractiveness.

Taking into account these challenges, the Ministers stressed the need to act collectively by coordinating actions on a set of strategic themes and structuring sectors, in order to meet the imperatives of security, sustainable development and prosperity of this common area.

The Ministers also stressed the importance of optimizing the African Atlantic space for more concerted and coordinated migration governance.

In this regard, the Ministers expressed their full support for the Conference of African Atlantic States as an appropriate framework for capitalizing on mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation, including with existing regional, subregional and inter-regional mechanisms, in order to generate synergies and produce effective and proactive responses to the challenges of this shared space, particularly through the designation of dedicated National Focal Points for the African Atlantic Process in the framework of this Conference.

They recalled, in this respect, the declarations resulting from the previous ministerial meetings, within the framework of the cooperation launched in 2009, in particular the Declaration of Rabat dated August 4, 2009, which constitutes a foundational document of the African Atlantic Process.

On the other hand, the Ministers of the African Atlantic States affirmed that the States of the region have the primary responsibility for strengthening the capacities of State structures and defending national unity and territorial integrity, in terms of international law.

The Ministers committed themselves to continue their cooperation and coordination calling for i) enhanced political and security dialogue around the areas of countering terrorism, transnational organized crime in all its forms, piracy, migrant trafficking and kidnapping for ransom at sea; ii) in-depth exchanges to seize opportunities in the blue economy, maritime connectivity, and energy sectors; iii) as well as continued consultations to address environmental challenges.

To this end, the Ministers of the African Atlantic States decided to establish 3 thematic groups, in charge of political and security dialogue; blue economy, maritime connectivity, and energy; and sustainable development and environment. To this end, 3 Lead Partners were designated to lead the 3 thematic groups: Nigeria, Gabon and Cape Verde.

The Ministers of the African Atlantic States also decided to institute the Rabat African Atlantic Process for strengthening cooperation between States.

In order to ensure the coordination of these groups and the implementation of the decisions adopted by the Conference, the Ministers agreed to reactivate the Permanent Secretariat of the Conference, based in Rabat Morocco, in charge of coordinating actions and preparing meetings. The Permanent Secretariat will also act as a platform for the exchange of information on challenges and opportunities in the African Atlantic space.

They also called for strengthening transatlantic cooperation, particularly with Latin American countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

At the end of their discussions, the Ministers of the African Atlantic States decided to hold a second Ministerial Meeting of the African Atlantic States, which will take place in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Similarly, the Ministers of the African Atlantic States decided to meet on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2022.”

By Karimatou Jallow

Over One Million Dalasis is reportedly stolen from Baja Kunda Financial Service at Bundung.

The Baja Kunda Financial Service, a Bureau De Change at Bundung, was reportedly broken into by thieves who stole all the money that was kept at the Bureau.

The incident is said to have happened on Wednesday during the rain and heavy wind, however, nobody noticed it until 4am when one of the staff who was traveling to Dubai passed by the office and saw the Bureau unlocked.

The said staff stopped the driver and went to check inside the office but unfortunately nobody was there, and the money kept inside the office was also gone.

Awa Marena, a staff at the operation unit, said the exact amount stolen is unknown but however said it is above 1.3 Million Dalasis.

The Managing Director of Baja Kunda Operation Finance, Kalilu Tarawally, said nothing was stolen apart from the money. Mr. Tarawally said it was in the morning when he was informed by one Ebrima Kebbeh that thieves had broken into their Bureau. He said that was the time he went to the Bureau and found out that what Ebrima told him was true.

“They went to my office, broke the serf and took the money they found inside. The total money they took from the bureau is huge. They took Three Million CFA, Four Thousand Dollars, Two Thousand Five Hundred Euro and One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dalasis,” he disclosed.

He added that the thieves broke into Ousainou’s office and took some monies. He said his money and Ousainou’s money if added together is One Million Three Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Dalasis. He said the thieves didn’t take the laptops, but they took all the money.

He said he later went to the police station to report the matter.

He cited that he was accompany by one police officer to their Bureau, adding that upon their arrival at the Bureau, the police officer inspected the offices and also checked the safe.

The incident has been reported at the Bundung Police Station and investigations are said to have begun.

By: Sarjo Brito

Famous human rights lawyer, Reed Brody, who helps victims pursue abusive leaders for atrocities, told reporters shortly after the Jammeh2Justice press conference yesterday that prosecuting former Gambian dictator, Jammeh, “will strongly depend on the political will of the Gambia government.”

Brody, who played a crucial role in the prosecution of Chad’s Hissene Habre and Chile’s Augusto Pinochet said testimonies at the Truth Commission linking Jammeh to gross human rights violations leave an expectation both in the Gambia and internationally that Jammeh and his accomplices will be brought to justice.

‘’I believe that there is a desire within the region. Let’s not forget that the worst massacre of the Yahya Jammeh period was the killing of approximately 59 West African migrants, including 44 from Ghana, 9 from Nigeria, and several from Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, etc. I think that if the Gambia takes an initiative and reaches out to those countries, there will be an appetite within the region for a regional tribunal, a hybrid tribunal between Gambia and ECOWAS, which will not only be an important justice mechanism but will make it difficult for Equatorial Guinea not to handover Yahya Jammeh to an African justice system in an African court’’

Responding to questions about victims having no faith in the execution of the government white paper, Mr Brody stated that it was strange that no mention of Jammeh was made during President Barrow’s recent visit to Equatorial Guinea.

“It is strange that one week after the Minister of Justice stated flatly that the former President will be brought to justice, the President conducted a state visit to Equatorial Guinea and according to his spokesman did not raise the issue, but I believe that there is such a strong appetite and such strong evidence frankly that the government will hopefully move forward, take concrete actions and set up a tribunal. There is still a lot of work to be done,” he concluded

By: Dawda Baldeh

Alieu Badara Joof, Vice President of The Gambia has told cabinet ministers that it is right to do what is right and get it right.

He was making a statement at a cabinet retreat held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.

“We have to speak the truth and implement what is right. You cannot make omelet without breaking eggs. I will talk the truth if you want, let the President get me out. I say it as it is and I will continue saying it in this cabinet,” VP Joof said.

If you want let the President get me out,” he said.

The second gentleman of The Gambia said the people of The Gambia have great expectations on the cabinet and they are ‘no longer at ease’ to wait. “To make them at ease, we (cabinet) must deliver the development agenda of this government.”

Speaking on a range of issues, VP told ministers that he doesn’t believe the country has foreign policies.

“Am not sure we have foreign policies and if we do, it’s dormant. We need to make sure that we have effective and well-signed foreign policies. A foreign policy that has differential targets, strategies, partnerships, a foreign policy that can bring a win-win situation for us.”

He said when partnering, the country should consider policies that can bring about developments. He went on to ask about the country’s foreign policy with Senegal, ECOWAS, China, United States and the European Union. “Our foreign policy with Senegal cannot be the same with China.”

“Foreign policy is not just traveling, attending meetings and you come back to say the meetings went very well. Hell no! There is much more than that. It is something that brings development into this country,” Joof emphasized.

He said the ministers are the face of the country and that they should market the country to other nations, adding that the The Gambia should partner with meaningful investors who can help the country and not those who exploitative and destructive.

He reiterated that the country needs strong and effective foreign policies that have strategic targets that will benefit the people.

With regards to tourism industry, he said the country needs serious tourists. “Do we need tourist who will come here buy a bottle of water and keep refiling it from one dispenser to another until they go home? High-spending tourists are what we need,” he said.

“Let’s look at how we can diversify products in terms of what tourists will be buying perhaps using local materials or be creative about it. We should be proactive and not reactive. We can develop our country if we get education, tourism, migration, employment, security, cost of living right,” Joof said.

The Vice President also pointed out that the attitudes of people need to change. “We can only move as a country if we focus on the truth. This country is small and let’s put politics aside and work towards developing it. We cannot focus on politics all the time. It takes us back. When it’s time for politic, we can do and allow the people to choose whom they want to lead the country.”

VP also delved into timber issue which he ask the minister of environment to do the needful. “How can trucks loaded with timber leave LRR, pass through all those security check points up to the ports when you have the security personnel and inspectors at the ports. Something is wrong somewhere and you need to fix it now,” he emphasized.

Joof reiterated that the government wants to see a positive change in all sectors within the next five years, noting that it will not be compromised.