By H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

On the evening of July 15, 2016, the “Fethullahist Terrorist Organization” (FETO) launched a bloody coup attempt against the people and the government of my country. Their aim was to establish a radical, fundamentalist regime, loyal only to their ringleader Fetullah Gülen.

As FETO affiliated army units left their barracks to occupy key locations, such as the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul and fighter jets and attack helicopters bombed strategic targets including the Parliament, Presidential compound, army and police headquarters; thousands of civilians took to the streets to stop this unprecedented heinous coup attempt. The plotters killed 251 innocent civilians and left thousands injured. On that night the Turkish people defended democracy with their lives. This heroic response was something the conspirators did not foresee.

To understand what transpired, one has to understand the true nature of FETO. FETO was established in the late 1960’s as a so-called “religious movement”. In the guise of promoting education and inter-religious dialogue, it managed to cover its malign intentions.

The well-planned and wide-spread infiltration by FETO members and converts into the army, law enforcement, judiciary and numerous government institutions, including my Ministry, was carried out for decades clandestinely for an overarching plan, of which the final phase was unleashed on July 15, 2016.

Had the coup attempt succeeded, there would have been a very different Türkiye today. Democracy would not have existed and fundamental rights and freedoms would have been suspended indefinitely. The nation would have fallen in the hands of an extremist government.

FETO not only controlled a significant portion of educational institutions, but also owned numerous financial institutions. Their bank accounts were fed by prominent FETO members in industry and commerce, as well as by officials and members of the public. Many innocent civilians were also lured into contributing to FETO’s finances as their piety was manipulated. The enormous income driven from their schools around the globe was channeled into these accounts clandestinely waiting for their ultimate move.

Following the bloody coup attempt of July 15, 2016, a resolute cleansing of the public sector, including government institutions and the military, as well as of the private sector from all FETO affiliated persons and companies was initiated.  Some prominent conspirators have been apprehended. Others escaped justice and found refuge in foreign countries. The head of the FETO terrorist organization, Fethullah Gülen, still resides in the United States. Our government has been requesting the extradition of Gülen to Türkiye from the United States as well as that of FETO members from European countries for years. Unfortunately, these requests have not been fulfilled yet.

On the other hand, elsewhere in the world, an increasing number of governments understand the danger this terrorist organization also poses to them and are taking the necessary steps. FETO is also engaged in illegal activities such as visa fraud, money laundering and arms trafficking. Consequently, FETO members are being cleared from public and private sectors in many countries. Many schools affiliated with this terrorist organization abroad have been transferred to the Turkish Maarif Foundation after 2016. Today, Maarif Schools are functioning in many countries and are providing excellent education worldwide.

The nature and scope of Türkiye’s fight against FETO is no different than that exercised by other countries against organizations which had terrorized officials and civilians alike, and endangered democratic values, fundamental rights and freedoms. Türkiye is doing what the respective countries in their fight against terrorism have done in the past. All procedures are in compliance with law.

Terrorism does not have a nationality, ethnicity or religion. This menace threatens humanity as a whole. Therefore, the response to this threat must be united and determined. No state has the luxury to differentiate between terrorists and no terrorist organization can be classified as “useful” according to preferences. FETO is responsible for the loss of hundreds of lives as well as other grave crimes against the Turkish people. Six years after July 15, 2016, Türkiye continues its resolute fight against FETO, just as it continues its fight against other terrorist organizations such as the PKK, PYD-YPG, DHKP-C and DAESH.

We expect the international community to stand in solidarity with Türkiye in the fight against terrorism.

By H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

Residents of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) together with the waste management janitors of KMC have expressed fears and disappointment over the recent faltering nature of the widely hailed waste management initiative of the municipality.

Residents of Tallinding Kunjang have said that the waste collection trucks are no longer punctual and that they do not show up for several weeks at a stretch.

Babucarr Mansally, Councillor of Tallinding North, explained that the age of the trucks is one of the main reasons the KMC waste collection efforts are no longer as it was. He also said the trucks have run for over two years and are now old and experiencing frequent breakdowns.

“The unpunctuality of the waste collectors is because the trucks have served for more than two years and that they are getting old, so they face a lot of breakdowns and during that period they cannot function as they should”.

He also noted that the poor working attitude of the janitors is another problem hindering the progress of the waste management initiative.

“Most of the time, the janitors are also a major problem. They were so active and punctual at the beginning of the initiative, but now only a few would show up. They always come up with excuses for not coming to work, yet they are all being paid at the end of every month. Waste collection requires a lot of hands and cannot be done successfully by the few that turn up for work”.

Meanwhile, a janitor who asked for anonymity said the poor treatment of janitors and other waste management workers by the KMC was the reason for the demotivation.

“We are not being treated as we should be treated. We are being paid a poor salary that should not be given to anyone, especially to us considering the kind of work we do. Collecting waste exposes us to various health risks and we do it every single day in order to keep Municipality clean. However, the attitude of our leaders is not good towards us and that is why most of us have become reluctant.”

The KMC’s waste management initiative is one of the hallmarks of Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda’s administration, which ensured that almost every ward was provided with a truck to collect waste from homes every week and reduce littering. The initiative was well received and commended by residents.

Mariama Leigh, a resident of Tallinding North commended the initiative, saying it brought The Gambia closer to the clean country the citizens dreamt of.

The KMC waste collection is also more affordable for residents who pay D10 per bag, compared to about D50 being charged by private waste collectors.

“The KMC weekly waste collection from homes is really helpful. Before, we used to keep our waste in our homes for weeks before we could dispose of them through the private waste collectors who charge D50 per sack. If you have a struggling family like mine, you will not afford to dispose of your waste every week, but the KMC made it easier and cheaper for us,” Mariama Leigh said.

Leigh went on further to say the Municipality has been regressing in their waste collection efforts in recent times and falling back to the old days. This, she said, is one of the reasons for their unpunctuality compared to the beginning of the initiative.

Omar Colley, Project Manager for the KMC waste collection project, which is also known as the ‘MBALIT PROJECT’ said the Municipality is doing everything in its power to make sure there is a clean environment.

“Some trucks are getting old and under maintenance, their inconsistency is not deliberate.” Said Mr Colley.

In its efforts to stop littering and dumping in the streets, the KMC has also placed trash bins at busy places like Westfield, Traffic Lights, junctions along the Brikama Highway and so on.

About 20 waste collection trucks were unveiled at a ceremony presided by the Lord Mayor of KMC on 24th June 2019.

The KMC Mayor, Talib Hamed Bensouda was quoted saying, as part of the ‘Mbalit Project’, the Municipality has allocated D100M that belongs directly to the community of 19 wards in the Municipality. The project was a partnership between The KMC and QGroup.

According to a source, waste collection and disposal is one of the most expensive challenges faced by the Municipality and council authorities as waste disposal continue to account for a significant part of their daily financial expenditure. The waste collection helps to keep communities and nations clean and can also guarantee peoples’ health and the conservation of resources for development.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Head Coach of the Gambia’s male Senior National Football Team, Tom Sainfeit, has said that he is happy to make it to the final list of nominees for the African Coach of the Year Awards but disappointed that players Musa Barrow and James Gomez, as well as the Gambia National team, missed out on the final cut.

After guiding the scorpions to their maiden continental football competition in the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon earlier this year, the Belgian tactician was nominated for the continent’s Coach of the Year Awards and subsequently made the cut for the final list alongside Aliou Cisse of Senegal, Carlos Queiroz, Pitso Mosimane, and Walid Regragui.

“I am very honoured and happy to be on the list with several top coaches in African football. It is fantastic. This is a result of the whole technical team, the players and the GFF. I have to be very grateful to them”, he said.

However, the coach expressed disappointment over his star players Musa Barrow and James Gomez missing out on the final list of nominees for the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year Awards respectively, as well as the team missing out on the National Team of the Year award.

“I am very disappointed that as a team, we didn’t make it to the Team of the Year and also Musa Barrow and James Gomez deserved to be on the final list and even more players from our national team deserved to be there. I am disappointed that they didn’t make it to the final list.”

Speaking further on his chances of winning the award that is set to be held in Rabat, Morocco on July 21, the Scorpion’s gaffer said he is expecting Aliou Cisse to be the top candidate for the trophy. He outlined that being in the top five is a great thing for him.

The 2022 CAF Awards will be held on July 21 in Rabat, Morocco, where the final winners of all the categories will be announced.

It is the first time in the history of the Gambia that the players, coach and the National Team are nominated for the CAF awards.

By: Modou Touray

Residents of Brikama have told The Fatu Network that the number of garages is increasing and scattered everywhere, thereby causing obstruction to traffic among other things.

“They park the cars they are repairing on the highway and streets. If you want to operate a mechanic workshop, you need to look for a land with enough space. Most of the garages do not have enough space to accommodate the number of vehicles they service so they use the highway and streets to park the cars,” says Lamin Federa, a resident of Brikama Nemataba.

Yusupha Dumbuya said he once knocked own a pedestrian while driving near an automechanic workshop.

“I was driving. When I reached the workshop, I was obstructed by packed vehicles at the highway around Newtown. So, I decided to deviate but unfortunately knocked a woman who was passing by.”

The garage he said is located few meters away from the Brikama Newtown mosque.

Bubacar Bojang shared his experience and highlighted that streets and highways must be free from obstruction hence they are meant for free flow of movement.

Making his point to this medium, Zakaria Joof blamed government for not regulating the auto mechanic industry

“They have right as citizens to operate their business but they should not only follow their interests. These unnecessary incidents could have been avoided.”

Saikou Njie and Rabiatou Mbye both students of the Gambia College made similar sentiments, pointing out that even the auto mechanic garage near the College is causing obstruction.

“We have to use the main highway to get to the College because the footpath near our fence, where people use to access the College, is currently occupied by auto mechanics.”

At least 2 mechanic workshops are located near the College premises and students have expressed concerne about that.

Fita Garage could be seen around Brikama in an unorganized matter which does not only obstruct traffic but also has poor hygiene conditions.

Allhage Sillah and Morr jagne both auto mechanics attributed the problem to lack of space.

“It is definitely not easy. The number of cars in country is too many now so we have to service them daily. We are appealing to the Brikama Area Council to help us with space which can accommodate more vehicles.”

The Public Relations Office of the Brikama Area council, Mr. Lamin Singhateh was quick to react and clarified that the council is not a custodian of lands.

When contacted for his reaction to the story, the Director General of the National Roads Authority Mr. Momodou Senghor, said all stakeholders involved should play their part.

“Our responsibility is to construct road infrastructure. Enforcement is for the uniform men.”

The police spokesperson, Lamin Njie, disclosed that the police will soon announce a special operations to clear the highway, noting that that will include abandoned vehicles, garages, shops and canteens obstructing movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the highway and streets.

Reports indicated that the total number of accidents cases recorded in the Gambia by last April was 11,995 whilst the death toll accelerated to 365.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

A business development specialist, Malang K.K Bojang has called on relevant authorities in the Gambia government to punish civil and public servants who fail to willingly report for work today as civil servants resume work after the observance of the Islamic event of Eid-ul-Adha, locally known as “Tobaski.”

He added that the government should either reduce the salary of those employees or not pay them salary for the month of July.

Different areas observed Tobaski on different days in the country. However, the government of The Gambia declared only Yesterday, July 11th as a Public Holiday.

With the attitude of civil and public servants in the country by adding an extra day, Malang K.K Bojang pointed out that those civil and public servants should be punished for not reporting for work today.

“Anyone who did not report to work willingly should be punished.  None of them should be paid the July salary or be paid 50% of the entire take home,”, she asserted.

Doubled as the Secretary-General of the New Yundum Village Development Committee (VDC), Malang added that Gambians work harder daily to pay public servants in the country and further asserted that there should not be any excuse from any public servant who fails to report to work today.

“We toil and moil daily to pay every public servant in this country. A day off should be enough”, Mr Bojang pointed out.

According to him, many public servants did not report for work last Friday and worked for a few hours on Thursday. He defended that the working hours lost on Thursday and Friday are huge and it cannot be compromised by adding another unofficial day.

“They should not go unpunished if we are a serious country”, Malang claimed.

The Gambia is divided on Tobaski day.  The Supreme Islamic Council announced the 9th July as Tobaski day in The Gambia. However, many areas in rural Gambia observed the day on the 10th of July, which was on Sunday. It is a tradition in the Gambia that many people based in the urban areas will go back to the rural areas to spend Tobaski with their families.

By: Hadram Hydara & Jankey Touray

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Freedom Properties Housing Estate, Alieu Njie, has refuted accusations of ‘419’ and fraud levelled against him and his company by two clients, who are also brothers.

Mr Njie was reacting to accusations made against him last week by Omar Jallow and Amadou Jallow, two brothers who have been engaged in business with Njie’s real estate company regarding a piece of land since 2018.

The brothers said they have paid a total of D210,000 to Freedom Properties Housing Estate for a piece of land, which dated back to 2018, however, according to them they have still not been given the documents for the land.

However, CEO Alieu Njie said these claims are misleading and defamatory while arguing that the company has explained six months, which can go up to a year, leasing duration for the land to the brothers and also opened avenues for them to be refunded if they wished.

“We told them initially that all our estates are going to be a lease and the leasing process takes time. It takes almost 6 months or a year. So while that process is ongoing, we have not received the full documentation of the lease from the lawyer who does documentation for us, but because Mr Jallow is impatient, he has been requesting his money back. Since he began asking for his money, we have asked him to come to our offices so that we can start refunding the same way he paid us. That has been our stand and since then, we have not seen or heard from him. He has always been telling us his brother will come but when the brother gets in touch with us, he will never turn up for the settlement of their funds.”

Speaking further on the false impression the story of the brothers has created, Mr Njie defended the credibility of his company while admitting that the brothers have neither been denied access to the land nor their money.

“Amadou and Omar Jallow’s story is a misleading story towards a reliable company like Freedom and that being said, Mr Jallow has never been denied access to either the land or their money. So hearing this story from The Fatu Network was very surprising and we found it to be misleading information.”

The CEO of Freedom Housing Estate added that his company always operates within the rule of law, and because of that, the company had asked Mr Jallow to give his brother, who has been representing him while he is away in Germany, the power of attorney which, Njie said, he refused.

“For the past 6 months, we have been asking Mr Jallow to give his brother, who is also his representative here, the power of attorney because in our company we always follow the rule of law and also due process in our every transaction. So as a client, since he is not here in the country, we asked him to provide a power of attorney to his brother so that he can tell us exactly what his demands are but he refused to do such. Also, we told him if he could not do that then he is also obliged to come to the office legally in order to get access to his refund, but again, we have not heard from them until this publication.”

Regarding the duration and mode of payment by the Jallow brothers, Mr Njie said the brothers paid in instalments, taking them a year and a half to complete the entire payment.

“They were paying in instalments which took almost a year and a half to complete. We started the documentation for the lease in 2018 until 2020 and during the process, we were trying to accomplish everything that has to do with the documentation, however, even though it is almost done, we have not received the final stage of the lease yet.”

By: Ousman Saidykhan

Recently, Nuha Fofana, the President of the Association of Public and Environmental Health Officers of the Gambia (APEHOG), expressed disappointment over government’s decision to suspend 371 health officers without pay; a decision he said they are working on to get reversed.

“[We are] disappointed because a lot of effort was put in by the executive to convince the membership to resume work,” Nuha said.

A letter coming from the Personnel Management Office, dated July 1st, suspended the two-month salaries of three hundred and seventy-one (371) health workers who were on strike just a day after they had agreed to resume work.

“We agreed to commence work on the 4th of July during an emergency congress we held on the 30th of June,” the APEHOG President confirmed.

APEHOG embarked on a sit-down strike since last month 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 deems discriminatory to other cadres within the health sector. They demanded this be suspended.

In a press release dated 28th June 2022, the Health Ministry called on the protesting APEHOG members to call off the sit-down strike and immediately resume work the following day or risk shouldering “administrative actions”, including withholding their salaries.

However, the health workers countered the ministry’s warning, saying they “sailed too far to be dictated or intimidated” and that they would resume working based on their own accord.

Meanwhile, despite being disappointed with the government over the suspension, the association is exploiting avenues to overturn the decision.

“A selected task force is working with the government to revert their decision, both the suspension and ensuring that our demands are met,” APEHOG President said.

Nuha is optimistic that they will drive home their demands through the task force’s engagement with the ministry.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Muslim feast Eid-ul Adha, locally referred to as Tobaski, is just a day away. During the days leading to the day, Muslims round the world with financial power will buy rams and slaughter them on the day as a sacrifice.

The Gambia is a Muslim-dominated country. These days, rams are everywhere despite the hike in prices.

There are abattoirs and ‘Darals’, where livestock is sold. From Sheep to goats and cows. These are animals that are sold in the Brikama Daral, one of the busiest and the biggest ‘Daral’ in the Gambia.

Yesterday, July 7, three boys were apprehended as thieves for attempting to steal two rams and a goat.  This came after two others snatched rams and disappeared unnoticed to the ram dealers in the ‘Daral’.

Ansu Fabureh is a retired Chief Police Superintendent and now a livestock dealer in the Brikama Daral. He told The Fatu Network that despite the organisation in the ‘daral’ among livestock dealers, thieves still penetrate. He explained to TFN how thieves extort livestock dealers.

According to the retired Police Superintendent, thieves will appear there in disguise. Most of them will come and request to bathe rams for the dealers and get paid for the services. Bathing rams is also source of revenue for youths, especially at the moments when the market is expected to yield fortune for livestock dealers.

“So, while doing that, they will use the opportunity to snatch them and leave, to the detriment of the owners. Just a few days ago, a strong young man came and requested to bathe rams, which he will get paid for.  While doing that, he snatched the biggest ram from the owner. He only realised that later when he was counting them”, he narrated. He added some will pretend to be buying rams and they will secretly snatch rams. Some will come with a group. The person pretending will remain there to fake situations.

Another trick that they will use, according to one Alagie Saidy, a young livestock dealer, is that they will steal rams and take them to the ‘Daral’. He said that every livestock dealer in the ‘Daral’ has documented and each livestock is documented.

“Whenever we see them selling, the security will ask for their papers. If they didn’t, the security will take them to the police station. Just 4 days ago, two boys stole goats from their parents and they came here. After we reported them to the police, the parents were able to know” he narrated.

The security officers stationed at the ‘Daral’ are civilians who once served in the country’s security force.  Alagie Saidy and Lamin Darboe, all livestock dealers are expecting more thieves to play tricks in the last hours before Tobaski. They advised their fellows to be very vigilant.

On many occasions even at home, thieves will snatch rams and sell them.

By: Modou Touray

In a bid to get the needed supports from state and non-state actors and also promote the availability of quality chicken products in the country, some local poultry farmers have told The Fatu Network that government should place a temporal ban on the importation of chicken and chicken products.

Muhammad Sanyang, a local poultry farmer in Gunjur Sambouyang village claimed that government is not providing them the required financially support to develop their poultry farming business.

“I started with my little capital. I am still struggling. I am even fed-up with media interviews because we keep talking, but nothing is coming out of it. I am sure that if we get enough capital, we will produce lots of chicken and chicken products.”

He stated that, with huge capacity in poultry farming, the country will not depend on foreign chicken.

“The Gambia is now a dumping ground for low quality chicken and chicken products.”

The “G farm” which Mr. Sanyang initiated with local partners was purposely to create jobs for youths. Currently, more than 100 youths are working at the farms whiles learning the skills to make themselves self-reliant.

Marima Saine, a youth advocate underscored the importance to invest in youths farming ventures, calling for immediate actions. He described youths as the cream of society.

“If we are really serious in developing the country, youths’ advancement must always be considered.”

The National Farmers Platform, the umbrella body responsible for the welfare of famers, has also raised concerns on the challenges of farmers.

Lamin S. Fadera, communication officer of the farmers’ body, suggested the need to put an embargo on imported chicken.

“We need to form a unified force to make sure that the importation of chicken is temporarily banned. We have been advocating for this, but we have not seen any fruitful outcome.”

In her reaction, the regional livestock director for West Coast Region, Isatou Savage, spoke of government’s commitment to local livestock production and efforts to provide support.

“We do routine health check on poultry farms, give them support through advice and also create market linkages for them through the small-ruminant project.”

Poultry farming is still a major challenge for local farmers, hence the amount of chicken and chicken products being imported continues to float our market.

By: Alimatou S Bajinka

An editor-in-chief, also known as a lead editor or chief editor is a publication’s editorial leader who has final responsibilities for its operations and policies.

The editor-in-chief determines the publication of contents. He or she has the final say in what is published and what isn’t and leads the publication’s team of editors and writers.

In a country of 2.5 million people, according to Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data as of July 7th 2022, news editing is predominantly seen as a male-dominated area fit for only men in The Gambia, however, a trendsetter in the name of Juldeh Njie is changing the narrative.

Mrs Juldeh Njie is the only female editor-in-chief in the entire Gambian media fraternity. Juldeh, who was editor-in-chief at Eye Africa TV and now editor-in-chief for Paradise TV, has always believed that news editing is a male-dominated area and therefore not fit for women, even as talented as her.

“I always have this self-doubt that I cannot be an editor because I am a woman. Even though I have been so confident in my abilities, I have always convinced myself that this is a male-dominated area.”

After going through rigorous journalistic training and working in different institutions and under people who served as mentors and a source of motivation to her, Juldeh Njie would soon rise through the ranks from reporting to presenting news and finally to being editor-in-chief of an entire newsroom.

The bright young editor’s journey started at the standard newspaper where she would go on to work under Talibeh Hydara, the assistant editor-in-chief of the standard Newspaper and then Ebrahim Press Bah, editor of Eye Africa TV. According to Juldeh, these two people immensely contributed to her journey and career in journalism to become a good writer and editor.

Juldeh has attended Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC), a renowned school for journalists and media practitioners, where she attained an advanced diploma in journalism.

She said MaJaC exposed her to a wide range of issues, including her vocabulary being sharpened and improved and also her understanding of journalism taking a spiking sharp turn at the academy.

After voluntarily editing for 5 months at Eye Africa TV, Juldeh realised her ability to spot grammatical errors and construct perfectly read sentences and only then did she decide to give editing a chance.

“When I realised my capabilities, I said to myself why not just give it a shot. So I went to the proprietor, Lamin Kanteh of Eye Africa and we spoke and then he gave me a contract as a news editor. This is how my journey started and from there I started to be a full-fledged editor of an entire newsroom.”

She concluded by narrating her unique story in the Gambian media landscape as it has not really been an easy journey to the echelon of the media food pie but with determination, perseverance, and passion she was able to pull through and now here she is as the Editor-in-Chief of Paradise TV.

Muhammed S Bah, President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) expressed concern over the low number of female editors in the Gambian media.

“The GPU is very much concerned about the limited number of female editors in the media houses. It is important to have equal opportunities for both male and female media workers,” Bah said.

However, to remedy the situation, the GPU President said they have rendered support in the form of women’s advancement in the media to the Women Journalist Association of The Gambia (WoJAG). He also pledged that Union will continue to advocate for the issue of women’s advancement in the media.

“We believe everyone should be given the chance if one has the qualification and experience despite your regardless of gender”

Miss Annette Camara, the President of the Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WoJAG) said at their level, they are training women Journalists to improve the quality of their reporting skills and setting the standards to be able to bridge the gap. “It’s only through standards we can be on the same level with men,” she said, adding that they are engaging their male counterparts in the media to know and understand the importance of equality and representation.

However, she claimed that women in this industry experience a more hostile workplace than men and that prevents them from reaching top leadership roles. “This is something we all know and the excuse we get is that we are not performing,” she said.

Dr Baba Galleh Jallow, a veteran journalist, believes there are no specific reasons for fewer female editors, saying there is no single answer to this

as there are more female journalists today than when they were journalists back in the 90s and early 2000.

“Journalism is an open field and one name comes to mind, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, she was an editor at the observer and even became president of the GPU,” Jallow said.

In Baba Jallow’s view, it is unfair to blame men for the low number of female editors in newsrooms. “I am not sure it is right to put the entire blame on men for the absence of females in the editing department, I think it is a matter of choice that women feel not to venture into editing now. There were female editors before, I can’t remember specific names but certainly there were. I worked with two female editors in the past.”

He concluded by saying women should be encouraged in whatever they want to become or pursue in their careers. “They could be editors, they could be anything they feel like, whatever a man can do a woman can do when it comes to journalism, so if they are qualified for it why not.”

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

“I am going, I can not buy it here”, a downhearted 49-year-old Musa Touray, who went to buy ram voiced after wandering in the Brikama ‘Daral’ with an amount of money that could not get him his prefered ram.

Tobaski in The Gambia is on Saturday and Muslims with the means of buying Tobaski rams are going to the places where rams and goats are sold. Brikama ‘Daral’ is one of the biggest places where animals are sold and one of the busiest these days as Muslims prepare for Tobaski.

However, there has been an increase in the prices of rams this year.  Some rams will cost a buyer 50 thousand dalasis.

Musa Touray woke up in the morning and went to the Brikama ‘Daral’ with 12 thousand dalasis to buy a ram for his family but left the place empty-handed due to the prices of the rams he pointed.

49 years of age, Musa told the Fatu Network that he cannot buy a ‘very small ram’ for his family.

” The ones they are selling for 12 thousand are very small. Only I can eat and finish the meat’, the downhearted Musa said. He added that he will leave for Abuko abattoir to see if situations will be different.

Ousman Manneh, another buyer at the Brikama Daral was able to get one for himself despite the prices of rams. He explained to TFN that he negotiated so hard for him to get it at 14 thousand dalasis. According to him,   he was not expecting to buy it at that price and confessed that he will now struggle because he spent almost all his money.

“Now, I leave everything to God. I have spent almost all I have on myself. I cannot go home without this, my kids will not understand”, he uttered.

Speaking on behalf of the Brikama Daral Association, Buba Darboe, an executive member of the association told this medium that the price of rams is not expensive compared to the price they bought the rams in Senegal.

According to him, the value of the Gambia currency is low compared to the Senegalese CFA. He narrated that they have to change Gambian Dalasi into CFA and the least that they will buy a ram is 10 thousand dalasis in addition to transportation back home.

“The price is normal. We buy a ram for over 25 thousand CFA and the least price will be 10 thousand dalasis. When transporting them to the country, we have to pay for each D300 to D400 dalasis.  If we add all of these and compare them to the amount we sell them, it is not expensive”, he said.

Lamin Touray, a ram seller said that the profit that they get from the sale of a ram is less than a thousand dalasi. He argued that they use a lot of energy and time to get rams.  To Lamin, the price is not expensive.

He further explains that a sheep can be sold for 7 thousand dalasis but nobody will want that for a Tobaski ram. He asserted some buyers will come with an amount that will not get them the type they want.

By Modou Touray

Women involved in smoked fish venture at Kartong fish landing site have frowned at the unavailability of proper storage facility for their fish, putting them in frequent loss.

“Wherever we smoke fish, the remaining which is not immediately sold spoil because we don’t have proper storage facility to keep them. Also, the building we are using is old and doesn’t have a door to avoid tampering with our fish,” says Marie Gibba, a fish monger.

According to the women, they normally transported their fish to Basse, Tanje and other parts of the country by wholesale customers.

Another fish vendor, Isatou Touray, said they have been complaining to authorities, but however said that they have not seen expected responses.

“As you can see, our ovens are getting old, and out of 24, only 6 are functioning. Officials always visit this place, they will hear our concerns but no results. We equally need new ovens as well.”

The entire structure need refurbishment; hence the women have been using it for more than 35 years now.

“It’s the same building we have been using for over 35 years now. Monthly, we contribute little amount to support our business. there is no money allocated to us to run the place. We are struggling on our own,” Bintou Senghor explained.

Aisatou Badjie Badjan, representative of fisheries department at the Kartong fish landing site, pointed out that the facility was erected by the department through the European development fund.

“Our department trained the women on fish smoking.”

She emphasized the importance of the facility, noting that it enhances the socio-economic status of the beneficiaries.

“What we are advocating now is use of modern technology instead of firewood which generates lots of smoke.”

The fish smoking facility is located at the border crossing point.

By: Haddy Ceesay   

Omar Ceesay, the President of The Gambia Transport Union has urged government to take steps in removing obstruction materials being placed by people at the highway, especially the trans-Gambia road. He said those obstruction materials are creating harm than good.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Ceesay said the action has become a norm, especially for those living in the rural areas.

“As far the law is concerned, nobody is mandated to put anything at the highway.”

He noted that such road blockage can cause accidents, especially during the rains.

The Transport Union boss said, in collaboration with Gambia Police Force, they were about to engage people in West Coast Region and the Fonis to find out the reasons behind the obstruction materials along the highway.

Mr Ceesay disclosed that, from the comments they got from the community people, it was said that they want to protect their people from the frequent accidents occurring on the highway.

He said if community people want to prevent accidents they should however do it accordingly, adding that putting materials for blockage on the highway cannot prevent accidents.

“You should know the cause of accidents first before bringing up any solution,” he noted.

He said as far the union is concerned, preventing accidents goes beyond blocking the highway.

Ceesay confirmed that they were receiving some complaints from some subregional countries about the situation.

He said accidents can be caused by anything.

“Using obstruction materials will cause more accidents,” he emphasized.

Omar Ceesay concluded by urging the government to collaborate with the union to take the right solution on how to protect accidents because they all know the root causes of accidents in the country.

Alimatou S Bajinka

Britannica defines pornography as a representation of sexual behaviour in books, pictures, statues, films, and other media that is intended to cause sexual excitement. But what are the effects of pornography on relationships and its negative impacts on ‘porn addicts’?

To delve proper into the social phenomenon, The Fatu Network engaged a marriage counsellor and some ‘porn addicts’ on the effects of porn.

Mariama Jawara, a marriage counselor told The Fatu Network that marriage is not all about sex so living in a porn illusion literally makes marriage funny and meaningless.

“Porn is a multi-billion dollar per year industry. It is visually exciting and instantly grabs attention. It’s entertainment performed by actors. Just as your marriage and family life are much different than a 30-minute sitcom, the same applies to your sex life. When we fill our minds with false images of porn, we naturally take those expectations with us. Marriage is not all about sex so living in a porn illusion literally makes marriage funny and meaningless.”

Usher (not his real name) has been married for 2 years with a child and faces difficulty becoming sexually aroused without pornography. Usher detailed the negative impact porn has had on his marriage.

“As a clear victim, I would say porn is destructive to a happy marriage. I was happily married but that just lasted for a few months as I engage myself in watching porn. Now I do not have the sexual urge or feelings without watching porn. My wife complains about me not being intimate with her and now distances herself from me and sometimes she does not even talk to me because I am unable to satisfy her sexually since I started watching porn.”

Usher, however, said his wife does not know of his addiction to pornography, saying “she does not really know that I watch porn. I cannot let her know. I still watch porn in my office and at places, I feel I am not being watched.”

He expressed uncertainty when asked if he has any plan of quitting the habit of watching porn.

“Well, I tried quitting several times, but I always find myself back to the habit. I just wish I could stop and go back to my normal life, which is being happy again with my wife.”

In the same vein, Mrs Jaka (not her real name), who has been married for 3 years with no child, has been watching porn well before getting married and has increasing doubts about the value of staying married.

“I have been watching porn before getting married. I was forced into marriage because marriage is not something that I find attractive. Watching porn has made me view the idea of marriage as senseless. To me it is all about sex and certifying one another, so if I can be certified by just watching porn what is the essence of marriage?”

When asked about the sexual relationship between her and her husband, Mrs Jaka said she has already asked for a divorce and that she does not feel any emotional attachment to her husband.

“We live as a couple physically, but there is no emotional attachment and I have asked for a divorce on several occasions but he is not giving in to it, so we are just living like that.”

Research has shown that pornography affects people’s emotional lives. Married men and women who are involved in pornography are said to feel less satisfied with their marital sexual relations and less emotionally attached to their husbands and wives.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Freedom Properties Housing Estate has been accused by clients of misleading and tricking them into paying the company money for houses without fulfilling their agreement.

Omar Jallow, a resident of Brusubi and Amadou Jallow, a resident of Manjai who entered into land business with the said company have expressed disappointment in dealing with the company.

Omar Jallow said they began the process of buying the plot of land at Freedom Properties after they were introduced to the company by one Mariama Cham, who was a staff at the company at the time.

“We were asked to pay D190, 000.00, which we did and after completing the payment, the CEO of Freedom Properties, Alieu Njie then asked us to pay another D20, 000.00 for leasing the land which was not initially part of the agreement between us and the company and we did. It has now been three years since we completed the payment and still, we did not get our land. Njie wants to baffle us but we will show him that we are all Gambians.”

Omar Jallow went on further to accuse the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Properties, Alieu Njie, of playing 419 games on customers. According to Omar Jallow, they went into business with Freedom Properties on the 31st of December 2018.

According to Omar Jallow and his brother Amadou Jallow, the process was witnessed by Mariama Cham, staff at Freedom Properties who introduced them to the estate developer, Alieu Njie.

“Before I started the payment, I asked Alieu Njie if we will be able to get all the documents without delay or problems when the payment is done and he responded with sweet words,” Omar Jallow said.

Amadou Jallow, brother of Omar Jallow, who is currently in German told The Fatu Network that Freedom Properties is not a reliable company.

“Alieu Njie is just a liar but anytime I come home and he does not want to give us the land or our money, he will not like what I will do. Imagine how cold German is and all the sacrifices I took to be here and Njie just wants to eat our money like that? I went to the office after finishing the payment and told Alieu Njie that we have paid the money so I then ask him what next. We need our documents because we want to develop our land, but he started giving excuses saying that lands in Jamburr are not secured and that they want to lease the land. When I asked him about the duration of the leasing, he said six months. Now, is about two to three years since we bought the land and we still have not gotten our land. Njie is just twisting and turning us and how can I believe the stories he is narrating?”

Reacting to the allegations, Alieu Njie, CEO of Freedom Properties Housing Estate, confirmed that the allegations made against him are true but noted that they are working on the leasing process of the lands.

“I don’t why these people are so complicated. I told them to tell us what they want so that we can now work on that. But I don’t know what Amadou and his brother want. We need to know what they want and act on it and this has been happening in our company since 2018, we never had issues with anybody,” Njie said.

Mr Njie further said that his company, Freedom Properties Housing Estate, is currently under a leasing process, which is not under their control.

“The leasing is done by the Department of Physical Planning and sometimes it takes six months or one year. We will never go to social media and reveal what is in our company, it will never happen. The man has to understand that this is a company procedure,” he said

Mr Njie vowed to drag Amadou and his brother to court if they continue spreading “rumours on social media to tarnish the reputation of their company”.

“We will never play 419 games on customers. They want to destroy the character of a company that is very innocent and we will not allow that to happen,” he emphasized.

However, this medium has made efforts to reach out to one Mariama Cham, the former staff at the company who is said to have introduced Omar and Amadou to Freedom Properties as she is believed to be the witness according to the complainants, but we could not reach her. Research shows that the land business has become a course for concern as over a hundred estate dealers are operating in the country leading to daily court cases about land disputes. Many people have become bankrupt after falling victims to estate owners in the country. Families dragged to courts, friendships broken up, and companies accused of illegal purchase of lands among others have become the order of the day.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Presiding over the Select Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Yahya Sanyang, national assembly member for Latrikunda Sabiji said farmers should not continue to suffer due to procurement malpractice and negligence.

He made the statement while engaging officials of Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) and the Ministry of Agriculture on the procurement of fertilizer.

The lawmaker told GGC officials that they cannot convince the committee that they were working under pressure and thereby delaying the procurement of fertilizer.

Hon. Sanyang said business cannot be as usual, adding that the committee will consider establishing commission of inquiry to investigate and bring to book those officials responsible for the procurement of fertilizer if delay reoccurs.

“Our farmers cannot continue to suffer year in year out due to procurement malpractice and negligence,” he emphasized.

Hon. Sanyang said the records reviewed show that Zain-Enterprise was awarded contract by GGC to supply 10,000 tons of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at the tune of nine million six hundred and fifty-five thousand dalasi (D9,655,000.00) after the company was reported to have met the requirements.

According to him, after reviewing the letter, they realized that there were inconsistencies and the amount sent to Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) for approval for Zain-enterprise was 10,000 tons, but the contract document signed indicated that the company supplied only 7,000 metric tons.

“You cannot convince this committee that you were working under pressure because you are experts in your area,” Hon Sanyang stated.

He said it is time to differentiate between buying and procurement, adding that GGC needs to be specific at all times as procurement is a process. He urged the officials to reach out to the committee whenever they encounter delay in accessing finance so that the committee can engage the Ministry of Finance. He further said they will engage the GPPA on why they approved restricted tenders.

Reacting to concerns raised by parliamentarians, Abdoulie Touray of GGC said they are facing lot of challenges beyond their control.

In his reactions, Muhammed Njie, Director of Gambia Groundnut Cooperation  said their mandate is to purchase fertilizer on behalf of the country, adding when funds are secured from the bank to buy fertilizer, they always need the approval of government due to the magnitude of the funds.

“Fertilizer was arriving late in the past if you look at history. In 2021, the international market price was high due to the pandemic,” he said.

Various committee members raised concerns on the skyrocketing prices of fertilizer which they believe is due to malpractice.

“If you look at the cost of fertilizer today, it shows that something is wrong somewhere. We have fertilizer that can serve the country for two years, but what happen to that agreement: I don’t think the world market should affects the purchase of fertilizer in this year,” said Hon. Omar Jammeh of Janjangbureh.

By: Ousman Saidykan

The Kunta Kinteh Foundation yesterday 5th July 2022 marked the second edition of the Kunta Kinteh Day with a march past from Traffic Lights to Westfield Youth Monument.

July 5th 1767 was the day Kunta Kinteh, a Mandinka warrior, like many other Africans, was captured as slaves by the whites and taken across the Atlantic Ocean to America to labour in plantations.

The day was marked by the Foundation to “reflect on the pain” of slavery and also memorialize the young boy who was just 17 when he was captured in the surrounding of his home village, Juffureh. The son of Omoro and Binta soon made a name for himself for generations down the line through his bravery and dissent to the slave masters.

Lamin Jatta, the founder and president of the foundation emphasized the importance of the day while touting it as a symbol and connection to their lineage. He admitted that even though slavery is abolished, mental slavery is still very much at large.

“The 5th July is important because we want to never forget about what happened to them (Kunta and other slaves). But we want to move on from the stigma of slavery. We are fighting for our freedom because we are still not free from mental slavery. Kunta Kinteh Day would be a day of freedom that would symbolize and give us connection and attachment to our forefathers; men and women who left the Gambian shore. We can join with them, reconnect with them, and we can heal with them through their spirits,” Mr Jatta said.

The commemoration, which commenced with a march past from Traffic Lights to the Westfield Youth Monument was accompanied by cultural displays and a jamboree.

It is only two years since the commencement of the commemoration of this day, but the Foundation is already keen to see July 5th become a public holiday.

“We want it [Kunta Kinteh Day] to become a public holiday. If it becomes a public holiday, that will be one of our achievements and we cannot achieve that alone. We want the support of the whole country, the government and the Nationals Assembly Members,” PRO, Lamin Ceesay told this medium.

“Kunta Kinteh is an international brand name for the Gambia and it is sold throughout the world as a representation of the Gambia. If a day is to be ascribed as the Kunta Kinteh Day, then obviously I think it should be a national day,” said Sheikh Omar Jallow, Director at the National Centre for Arts and Culture.

A warrior who is said to have been one of the bravest slaves taken to the West, Kunta Kinteh according to history, even after being shipped as a slave to America, did not entertain the idea of assimilation. A prominent narration given was written in Alex Haley’s book entitled “Roots” where his master tried to change his name but he refused.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Kanazawa Karate Club of London Corner has tested and promoted over 18 karate students to various levels over the weekend.

The club trainers and practitioners are pleading for supports from the government, NGOs, philanthropists to help them with proper training kits and facilities.

Karate has been widely practiced as a sport for centuries. It comprises six level belt colors namely white, orange, blue, yellow, green, brown and black.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Sensei Nfamara Ceesay, founder and master of Kanazawa Karate Club said the club’s objective is to guide and give quality training to the practitioners, thereby assisting them in making their dreams a reality.

He said the Karate is facing numerous challenges ranging from lack of training facilities, materials, media coverage, and support from government among others.

“We want the government and NGOs to support us because karate is very important. It is not what many people think it is. Karate is beyond mere fighting. It is a decent sport like football and others. If we are giving the necessary support, we can represent this country at international karate championship,” he explained.

He said karate is an oriental system of unarmed combat using the hands and feet to block blows and kicks. He disclosed that karate helps to promotes physical and mental discipline, develop composure, boost self-confidence, strengthen the body, improve coordination, quicken reflexes, and build stamina.

Malick Jallow, a karate practitioner at the club, said he wants to represent the country at international level but noted that lack of necessary support is making it difficult for them. “We really need support so that we can make our dreams a reality,” he said.

Malick is among the students who were tested and promoted to various levels.

Hawa Joof, also emphasized on the need for support. She said karate is a significant sport that is given less attention.

“I want to win a gold medal for The Gambia at international karate championships, but we need support and encouragement. Many people believe that if a woman practices karate, she cannot give birth and this just a misconception,” she said.

The club is located at London Corner and is mainly dominated by young people.

By Ousman G Darboe

Gambia cricket players have expressed their disappointment to the league organizers of The Gambia Cricket Domestic League T-20 tournament on Saturday after a game between ComAfrique cricket and Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) cricket club at the MRC cricket Oval was postponed due to the unavailability of cricket balls.

CompAfrique were the first team to bat in the first innings and they were to bowl in the second innings with a new ball as the rules of cricket stated.

Cricket just like any other international game, has its own rules. Rule 4.3 of the cricket game stated that, unless an agreement to the contrary has been made before the match, either captain may demand a new ball at the start of each innings.

In the case of Saturday’s game, no prior communication was sent to neither the two captains nor the Umpires to make them aware of the unfortunate circumstances.

It was until the first innings ended, just at the beginning of the second innings, that the captain of ComAfrique cricket club requested a new ball but the only answer he could hear was that “there is no ball, this is the only ball available’”

Many players see it as a violation of the cricket rules and a total setback for the game.

Mbaye Dumbuya, the former Vice President of The Gambia Cricket Association as well as the former captain of the National Cricket team was the main umpire between ComAfrique and GPA cricket club. He stated that he asked the match commissioner why they brought only one ball for the match, and the response was that the balls were not many that was why they brought one ball in order to economize the balls. For Dumbuya, this is not fair play because it will be advantageous to one team while disadvantageous to the other.

“ It was not communicated to me that the balls were not available, when this was communicated to me I would have called both captains to inform them when we were taking the toast so that they will decide if we going to proceed with the game with the only ball available for the two innings.”

When asked if the move was a violation of the laws, Dumbuya responded “ It is a violation of the rules, it does not matter whether it is international or domestic, cricket rules are the same.

In every innings, new balls should be provided for a team that is going to field, so in this case, it is contrary to the rules.”

For Andreh Jarju, the Captain of ComAfrique, “Bad leadership is the cause of the unfortunate situation “.

He expressed that the match commissioner came to the ovals (cricket ground) without informing the two captains about the condition of the day’s match.

He blamed the leadership of The Gambia cricket association for the poor organization of the league.

Jarju said that he has not seen any positive future for Gambian cricket if things do not change because of abnormalities in the country’s cricket association.

When asked if the National Sports Council is aware of the condition of The Gambia cricket association, Jarju stated “Well the National sports council are much aware of what has been happening within the cricket fraternity.

I would say that what they are relying on is not something that can help cricket grow in this country.

You do not only sit back and wait for associations to write reports and then rely on those reports.”

“I think should be doing site survey to know what is really happening within the association, they should do fact-finding for them to establish the truth instead of relying on what they are being given by the association,” Jarju stated.

After approaching Jamiu Falana who was identified as the match commissioner for the day to give his side of the story, Jamiu stated “Interview? I don’t have that time, I am not going to talk.

In March this year, the main sponsor of the country’s cricket association Andrew H. shanks accused the leadership of misuse of funds and corruption. Shanks told journalists that he has been sending cricket equipment worth millions of Dalasi since 2008 while no positive development was made.

He said every now and then players will complain that they do not have cricket kits and equipment which is a big disappointment for him.

Mr A. H Shanks later told the players that he would no longer help the association as far as the same set of people are at the helm of leadership.

By Modou Touray

Omar Jarju and Zakaria Colley are voluntary guards at the “Bumorut” community forest in Sutus injang village. They guard the 64-hectare forest.

“I need professional security shoes and outfits. I need to run sometimes and therefore I need to get materials to avoid unnecessary injury,” said Omar Jarju and re-echoed by Zakaria.

The community forest is located close to the border with the southern region of Senegal (Casamance). It is reportedly exposed to external threat due to the periodic clashes between Senegalese forces and MFDC rebels.

According to the chairman of the Community Forest Committee, Landing Colley, the management of the park is challenging as most of the pioneers and hardworking members have died while others are aging.

“Illegal bushfire during the dry season also endangers the effective growth of the forest.”

Colley heads a 15-member committee charged with the management of the forest.

Concept of the community forest was introduced to the village by Marcel Badjie and Eddi Jarju who were working with the St. Joseph family farms project in Bwiam. The villagers embraced the idea due to its significance to the environment.

Ousman Sonko, a forestry officer who spoke to this medium, applauded the initiative of the people of Sutusinjang for their collective spirit in nurturing the community forest.

“For the forest park to be satisfied and fully handed over to the community, there are procedures to be followed. All requirements most be fulfilled and the  memorandum of understanding on its management be signed by Forestry and the community,” Ousman Sonko explained.

Mr Alkali Jarjusey, forestry and natural resources expert working with the National Resources Consulting (NACO), spoke at length on the importance of community forest on the environment and the involvement of the community in preserving it.

These statements were made as part of a monitoring visit by the Agriculture, Natural Resources/Soil Lowlands Management Committee (ANR/SLM Committee). This is a sub-committee of the technical advisory committee (TAC) of the West Coast Region.

The Technical Advisory Committee consists heads of government institutions/departments and NGOs in an administrative region which provide technical support to regional governors.