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.

By: Dawda Baldeh

In commemorating World Environment Day, Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) – a body advocating for environmental safety and protection in The Gambia is calling for actions to preserve the marine resources for the future.

The United Nations (UN) designated World Oceans Day on June 8 to remind people how massive water bodies play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem of the planet. The objective of World Ocean Day, according to the UN, is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean.

The day is also dedicated to celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources.

Muhammed Hydara, Secretary-General of GEA and an environmental activist said the coastal areas play a significant role in the socio-economic development of every nation, adding that preserving the ocean should be everyone’s business.

Fatou A Jeng, environmental activist and treasurer of Gambia Environmental Alliance explained the importance of the day and why people should preserve the ocean for the future.

“We all know that the ocean plays a significant role in our day to day living. We should protect the ocean as we get most of our food ingredients from it such as fish. “We are losing a lot of marine resources due to our actions that are affecting the ocean. We should avoid dumping plastics, and other waste in the ocean,” she said. Madam Jeng went on to reiterate their commitment to ensuring that people are well informed about the important role of the ocean.

Lamin Bojang, VDC chairman of Sanyang village highlighted the importance of the day in the day-to-day lives of people. “We get a lot from the ocean and we all know how healthy it is to eat ocean food,” he said.

Mr Bojang added that people’s actions cause damage and loss to marine resources which negatively impact the country’s economy. “If we want to continue eating fish and benefit from other marine resources we must protect the ocean,” he emphasizes.

This year’s Ocean Day celebration is led by Gambia Environmental Alliance which is an organization advocating for environmental protection from all forms of human activities that affect the ocean.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Bakary Badjie, has disclosed that renovation of the country’s main football field to meet CAF and FIFA standards will commence by end of this month.

The Minister made this revelation to the press shortly after watching the senior national team play its home game away from home in Stade Lat Dior in Thies in Senegal.

“We are working internally to get the fund that is necessary and getting the right contractor to do the job. We don’t want to do the job and in the end, CAF comes and say we have not passed. So we want to take our time and ensure that whenever the job is done, we will pass. We are hoping that by the end of this month, work will start.”

The minister voiced that they are hopeful that by August, the work will be completed at the stadium and hopefully, the country will host Mali in September.

“If it is not completed, at least be good enough to allow the CAF inspection team to give a one-match approval for September then will continue the job before December”, Hon. Badjie explained.

The Gambia’s independence stadium is being deemed unfit to host CAF and FIFA elite competitions.

Weeks ago, it was reported that the government needed 100 million dalasis to renovate the stadium to at least meet certain requirements to host games.

Many Gambian football zealots described the current conditions of the stadium as ‘unacceptable ‘ and ‘shameful’.

The Scorpions will play home to Mali in September and the Minister is positive that the game will be played at the independence stadium.

By Sainabou Sambou

Still circulating on social media is the rumor that fish vendors are using Sniper chemical on their smoked fish to prevent it from spoiling.

The Fatou Network has engaged some smoke fish vendors at Serekunda regarding the rumor.

Kumba Kuyateh, a smoke fish seller told The Fatu Network that she has never used the insecticide on her fish and has never seen any of her fellow fish sellers use the said chemical on their smoked fish.

She disclosed that the rumor has badly affected her business.

“I used to send fish to people abroad at a good cost. I had already prepare to send forty-five baskets of smoked fish to someone in the United States. However, because of the rumour, the person has asked me not to send the baskets of smoked fish anymore,” she said.

Kuyateh added that in Europe, imported fish is normally placed in a machine to know whether it is safe for consumption or not.

She added that she is still left with over thirty-seven baskets, saying that many people are now scared to buy smoked fish due to the Sniper chemical rumour.

Kumba Corrah, another smoke fish vendor denied the allegations. She said she have been in the business for long and have never seen anyone use the chemical.

“If sniper is being used on the smoked fish it will kill lot of people,” she stated.

She said most people have decided not to eat smoked fish anymore.

Ma Nyima Touray, a consumer, said she has never come across any smoke fish seller using Sniper on their fish. She however said that the allegations might be true.

She noted that the government should completely ban Sniper in the Gambia.

A vendor at the Serekunda market, who preferred not to be identified, claimed that smoked fish vendors are indeed using the Sniper chemical on their fish.

“I have seen people using it on their smoked fish,” she alleged.

She cited that when she saw the person using sniper on the smoked fish, she told her not to do it again because it can cause infection.

She called on smoked fish vendors to stop using Sniper because it can affect lot of people and can even cause harmful diseases.

Sniper is a chemical that is mostly used to kill insects. Due to huge public concerns, authorities have announced a ban of the chemical and that anyone found using it will be prosecuted.

 By Ousman G Darboe

Timber is a versatile raw material that offers several advantages, enabling it to be used in a wide range of applications.

Easy to handle, cut, and shape with readily available tools, lending to its ability to have widespread use.

Its scrap or waste products can be repurposed. So, there is little to no unused material from a given cut of timber.

It has aesthetic appeal and can be stained, painted, or coated to produce a wide variety of finishes. In recent years, timber production industries and people dealing in the sector have experienced some challenges due to the shortage of this raw material.

Boat constructors at the Banjul seashore have expressed concerns over the shortage of timber which they said can lead to unemployment in the country.

Secka Dem, a boat constructor, said that timber is costly and thus hard to get. He said through timber they earn their living and create employment opportunities for other young people.

He said that they spend a lot of money to get timber which is sometimes not profitable for them and eventually causes economic hardship.

“We are Gambians like any other person, this is where we earn our living to feed our families.

Unfortunately, many people who engaged in timber work will now live without a job,” Secka Dem said.

Muhammed Jobe also expressed concerns over the lack of space for boat construction and the shortage of timber material.

Jobe lamented the impediments they encounter which are caused by lack of space and shortage of timber in the country.

“The Shortage of timber will cause economic deadlock in the fishing sector because we rely on timber to construct fishing boats.

If it is little or no timber life is going to be a challenge as most Gambians consume fish daily,” Job said.

Both Dem and Jobe called on the Government’s intervention in addressing the shortage of timber and space for boat constructors for them to continue on their income earning adventure.

By Karimatou Jallow

Smoking has long been a way of life for many people, especially among young people.

Despite knowing or being repeatedly warned against the negative impact of smoking, people still smoke believing that it relives stress.

Research shows that smoking causes cancer, heart diseases and diabetes. It also increases risk of tuberculosis, certain eye diseases and endangers the immune system.

In light of this, the country’s Health Ministry has said it is taking measures to control tobacco in the country including sensitizing people on the negative impact of tobacco and smoking in general.

The Minister notes that it is focusing on graphic health waning to ban tobacco products which includes advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of smoking and smoking in public places.

Sainabou Bara Cham, Program Officer of the Non Communicable Disease Unit at the Ministry of Health, said despite their efforts in discouraging smoking, people are still violating drug laws regulating smoking in the country.

“Smoking doesn’t only harm you, it also endangers those around you. Smoking can affect your canvas system which is responsible for the exchange of blood. It can also lead to hypnosis, stroke, cancer of the mouth, cancer of the throat, cancer of lungs, change in the morphology of a man’s sperm and affects a woman’s mensural cycle,” Bars Cham stated.

The 2016 Tobacco Control Act came into force in December 2018. Section 9 of the Act provides for a tobacco smoking free environment.

According to the said provision, a person consuming tobacco product shall ensure that he or she does not expose another person to the effect of his tobacco smoking.

The Act prohibits smoking, including the use of shisha in public places, workplaces and in public transport.

By public place, the Act refers to hotels, restaurants, bars, office buildings, schools, garages, prisons, police sealed off places, video clubs, public service vehicles, among others.

By: Sanna Jallow

Farmers in the Lower River Region (LRR) who mainly engage in subsistence farming have expressed their concern over the high cost of fertilizer, which has recently spiked from seven hundred Dalasis (700) to two thousand five hundred (2500) this year.

These farmers eat what they grow and then sell it for less than that of the harvest they get at the end of the season to be able to sustain their families’ needs.

Surang Jallow, a farmer in Jarra West has said since the price of fertilizer has been increased to 2,500, it is going to be very difficult for him and other farmers to have enough fertilizer for their farms as they would not be able to afford it. He went on further to say looking at the last year a kilo of groundnut was sold at 23 Dalasis and the full bag is less than 1,500 Dalasi.

Mr Surang stresses that how can the government expect poor farmers who don’t determine the price of their harvest to be able to buy a bag of fertilizer for 2,500 and that their lands have depreciated.

“I am already discouraged in farming because my standard of living which is already low will continue to decrease what is the essence of farming if I cannot get anything at the end of my harvest,’’ he said.

Mr Jallow said that farmers in the rural Gambia are neglected because they are not given the support they deserve. He said if agriculture is truly the backbone of the country’s economy then farmers need to be empowered.

“I know the government is importing the fertilizer but notwithstanding they have to subsidies the fertilizer and make it affordable for us because if we cannot afford fertilizer the threat of food insecurity will get worse,” he said.

Mamadou Dem, a farmer in Jarra East, also said the price increment of fertilizer will basically force farmers out of production this season because the average rural farmers depend on fertilizer to improve productivity because of the low soil fertility.

“I am struggling to buy a bag of rice at a minimum of D1500 dalasi, where would I get the financial strength to buy a bag of fertilizer D2500 the government should bear in mind that we are also humans too our source of income is not monthly pay or per diems but we earn our living from farm produce”, he explained.

He urges the government to give fertilizer to farmers at a subsidized price or they will risk going into crop season where the result could be devastating.

Lamin Kura, a resident of Sandkandi said he cannot cultivate without fertilizer but he cannot affort D2500 per bag, he stressed that the crops will not grow as he expected because he needs 10 bags which will cost him twenty-five thousand Dalasis, which he cannot afford.

Speaking on the same issue, Ousman Drammeh, said if he should buy a bag of fertilizer D2500 at the end of the harvest he will not make any profit adding that the hike in the prices of fertilizer is the main problem they are facing as farmers.

By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh

The scorpions of the Gambia will begin their 2023 Ivory Coast AFCON journey this afternoon in Thies when they face the Bright Stars of South Sudan. The red white blue green boys will be playing home but not in their home land as the country’s stadium continue to be unfit to host CAF and FIFA elite competitions.

Back from recording their first ever point against a non-African side last weekend in an international friendly with the  United Arab Emirates, Tom Sainfeit’s boys are the favourite on the paper after their recent exploits in Cameroon.

In January this year, the scorpions of the Gambia graced the pinnacle of African football showpiece in Cameroon and stunned football fanatics with stunning performances up to the last eight in the competition where they succumbed to a two-nil lost to the host country.

The competition was the debut appearance of the scorpions of the Gambia  in the competition after over five decades of unsuccessful attempts. A glittering performance in Cameroon earned the team a rousing and heroic welcome.

After experimenting the nation’s cup amazingly well, the Gambia is no more a minor in group G. The Scorpions are grouped alongside South Sudan, Mali and Congo. South Sudan, the Scorpion’s opponent, is the only country in the group that is yet to play in AFCON.

The head coach of the Gambia, To Sainfeit, despite losing three players due to passport issue and injuries, told the Fatu Network that they must win the game.

Ebrima Sohna,  an erstwhile  Gambian international footballer also spoke highly of these crop of players, noting that the bar is already high. He told TFN that the country has all that it takes to do better.  He predicted a 3-0 for the scorpions.

Scores of Gambian fans have crossed the Gambia-Senegal border to Stade lati dore in Thies to cheer up the scorpions.

By: Christian Conteh

The newly elected president for the Network of Women Elected officials of subnational and local governments of Africa, REFELA, Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe has commended the Adama Barrow led government for its role in her REFELA presidential election victory. She did this during a state house visit on 2nd June 2022.

She went further to dedicate her victory to President Adama Barrow, the women of The Gambia and the young people.

“Your Excellency, I dedicate this victory to you, the women and the youth of our beloved country, the Gambia. I wish to recall that I received maximum support from you and the government of the Gambia. I truly appreciate your support and that of the government. You did not relent in your efforts to pull diplomatic strings to make this happen,” she said.

Mayor Lowe explained that she won the elections after the organisation’s Vice President for Central Africa withdrew her candidacy and supported her (Mayor Lowe). This paved the way for her to be unanimously voted into office as President of REFELA Africa for a four-year term.

On his part, President Adama Barrow congratulated the mayor and expressed his pride in her achievement.

“I will seize this opportunity to congratulate Rohey Malick Lowe and her team and the entire Gambian people. On my behalf and on behalf of the government, I congratulate Rohey Malick Lowe for this rare victory. I think this is the first time even Gambians are knowing about REFELA. Myself, I will confess it’s when she came to me to explain about REFELA that’s the time I came to understand that this is a big thing the government should support. That’s why personally, I give my support…to make sure she succeeds because, if she succeeds, the Gambia succeeds,” President Barrow said.

He ended his statement by encouraging Gambians to be tolerant despite their political belonging and conviction.

By: Christian Conteh

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has intensified its call for the repeal of the death penalty. In its recent report, the institution called on the Adama Barrow led Government to repeal the obnoxious law from the country’s Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

This is in line with Section 18 of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution which guarantees the right to life and the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of life except in the lawful execution of a death sentence imposed by a court of law.

The Gambia ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant in Civil and Political Rights aimed at the abolition of the death penalty in 2018 but the law remains in the law books despite its enforcement being suspended since 2017.

“The death penalty remains in the statute books of The Gambia and continues to be passed in judgments where persons are convicted of offences punishable by the death penalty. For instance, on 14 July 2021, Yankuba Touray, a former Minister of Local Government in the early days of Yahya Jammeh’s rule was sentenced to death by the High Court in Banjul for the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, who was one-time Finance Minister,” the National Human Rights Commission says in its report.

It also referenced a certain Saidou Cham who was also convicted of murder and sentenced to death by the High Court in Basse. This act of sentencing people and putting them on death row the human rights commission says is degrading, inhumane and contrary to the human right to dignity.

The commission, therefore, calls on the state to commute all death sentences imposed on all inmates to life imprisonment and to expedite the enactment of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Bills that are currently before the National Assembly.

Gambia For All (GFA) has welcomed the release of the Government white paper on the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) report and urged the citizenry to be vigilant to ensure the implementation of the white paper.

GFA says the establishment of the TRRC to investigate the horrendous atrocities allegedly committed by the Jammeh dictatorship, is considered to be a key part of our country’s transition to democratic rule.  The conclusions of the commission’s hearings and the submission of their report to the government were in itself a milestone worthy of celebration.

It further noted that like all Gambians, GFA eagerly awaited the government’s response, in the form of a White Paper. Delivered with much fanfare and ceremony on the 25th of May 2022, the government indicated that it has accepted more than 95% of the recommendations in the report.

“GFA broadly welcomes the government’s TRRC white paper as a step in the right direction. The Barrow government’s regrettable alliance with alleged rights violators and active enablers notwithstanding, we want to believe that the administration will muster the courage and determination to ensure that the equally difficult implementation stage of the report will be timely, fair, and effective.”

GFA added that necessary institutional reforms, which form part of the TRRC report, should attract a new sense of urgency to the government’s legislative agenda.

This it notes will be important if the TRRC mantra of “NEVER AGAIN” is to be realized.