Public Utilities Regulatory Authority PURA has issued a suspension notice to Comium after accusing the GSM operator of failing in its licensing obligations.

In a statement, PURA said its decision to suspend Comium is due to the company’s failure to ‘pay licences and spectrum fees for 2020 and levies for the international gateway for 2021’.

PURA mindful of the impact of the move could have on Gambians said: “In light of the suspension notice served to Comium, PURA does not want to expose Comium subscribers to significant losses in the event Comium does not adhere to the terms of the suspension.”

Comium has until October 1 to respond to the suspension notice.

Students of the University of The Gambia will protest on Friday over the huge crisis that has gripped the university.

The UTG management and staff are at war over demands the latter have made among them a new leadership. The staff have since begun a sit-down strike despite a court order.

With the semester a few weeks away, students have been most affected by the wrangling and have now decided to vent.

The students will stage a protest on Friday, The Fatu Network understands.

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) started a crucial extraordinary summit here Thursday over the military coup in Guinea.

The summit is the second meeting by leaders of the 15-nation sub-regional bloc since the military coup on September 5.

The leaders will receive a report from the delegation which visited Guinea last Friday to hold discussions with leaders of the military junta.

“The presidents will consider the report of the delegation and take a firm decision on how to apply pressure on the military junta to return Guinea to constitutional rule,” said Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, ahead of the summit.

The Presidents of Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Senegal are in the meeting. Nigeria is represented by its vice president, while the rest of the countries have their foreign ministers attending.

ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership from the bloc, urging a quick return to constitutional rule after their virtual meeting on September 8. (XINHUA)

Former APRC Foni Jarrol MP Bory Colley has slammed people peddling the claim people of Foni are balking at the idea of APRC entering into an alliance with NPP.

APRC supporters who are rebelling at the move have been making claims APRC rank-and-file supporters in Foni do not endorse the move.

But speaking during a meeting with APRC elders in KM, former Foni MP Bory Colley said: “The people saying they have gone to Foni and people of Foni have not agreed are not telling the truth.

“Those people listening to them in Foni should use their common sense. Our coalition is of interest to the APRC and Yahya Jammeh.”

The NPP-APRC alliance has sparked anger in opposition and civil society quarters who have accused President Barrow of betraying Gambians.

But Gambians on the other side of the political aisle insist the move is in the best interest of the nation particularly in the area of reconciliation.

Kitabu Fatty has lifted the lid on why he collapsed his president ambition and opted to support Essa Faal.

“PDP as a party we believe and we know that the rightful person to rule this nation and to push us to the next level is Essa Mbye Faal,” the comedian-politician told reporters in Kerr Serign on Thursday.

Kitabu announced Tuesday he was throwing his weight behind Essa Faal who a few weeks ago announced running for president.

“His wealth of experience, indepth knowledge of the law, his personal accomplishments and calm temperament, makes him unique among the competing candidates to steer the affairs of the country,” PDP had said in a statement on Tuesday.

Presidential aspirant Essa Faal has declared he has forgiven all those who have attacked his faith.

Gambians among them former secretary general Momodou Sabally have been relentless in their attack on the lawyer saying he is anti-Islam.

But speaking at a press conference at his house in Kerr Serign on Thursday, Mr Faal said: I would not ordinarily respond to this because this is profound and deep, it is an attack on my faith. But let me tell you: in this country every individual has a right to believe in whatever they want to believe. That is the law of this country, that is what keeps us in peace. That is what ensures that every individual would get want they want.

“But I’m appalled and disappointed by the attack on my faith. I’m a Muslim. There are many branches of Islam, I don’t embrace any tariha (sect). I’m a simple Muslim. I’m not a Mouride, I’m not Ahmadi, I’m not Layen, I’m not the many branches that are there. I am a Muslim. What I believe in is to do my five daily prayers and observe the five fundamental pillars of Islam. I have nothing against the Mouride as I have nothing against the Ahmadis.

“I am a peaceful and tolerant person, I tolerate everybody in the exercise of their belief. I forgive them because that is what my religion teaches me. Islam teaches me to be a charitable person and and forgiving person so I forgive them. So if they attack me in the name of Islam, I forgive them in the name of Islam.”

West African leaders gathered in Accra on Thursday to determine how the region’s main political and economic bloc can steer Guinea back towards constitutional rule following a coup that ousted President Alpha Conde last week. (Reuters)

This story is developing…

UTG staff have vowed to continue with their strike despite a court order that bars them from industrial action.

UTG staff and management have been at war over the way the UTG should be managed with the former wanting a new governing council and a new chairman.

A showdown meeting in June led the staff to abandon their strike after securing an agreement for their demands to be addressed. The staff have now accused the stakeholders including the higher education ministry of betraying the agreement.

The management have now taken the staff to court to seek redress over the legality of the association as a trade union.

Still, management secured a court order that bars the staff from any industrial action but the staff has disregarded the order and have gone ahead with their strike.

The staff president Dr Alieu Gibba told The Fatu Network exclusively: “We are ready to go and sleep in prison for the rest of our lives to save the country and to save the University of The Gambia, and to help the country to move forward.”

EMKAY Stores has written to the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry notifying the chamber of a deliberate campaign of calumny against the company.

Reports have been rampant that EMKAY Stores imported expired Mayonnaise into the country.

But the food import giant in a letter to GCCI and seen by The Fatu Network dismissed the reports and said they are calculated to harm the reputation of a company that has more than 400 Gambians on its pay role.

The company told GCCI in their letter dated September 15: “You will recall that an incident happened regarding a container carrying Mayonnaise and headed for Dakar.

“Unfortunately, because of the pandemic and restrictions in movement of containers from the port, the container carrying the mayonnaise overstayed in the Banjul port while awaiting transit. The same container was later intercepted by the Senegal Customs while en-route to Senegal, where it was discovered that the consignments were expired.

“Being that the GCCI, The Gambia Police Force and the Gambia Food Safety and Quality Control are aware of this development, it is quite surprising to read about the incident of three months ago on social media.

“Emkay Stores will never knowingly put the people of The Gambia in harm’s way, considering the amount of money we pay in taxes yearly, it is rather unfortunate that a deliberate attempt would be made to discredit Emkay Stores’ reputation, a company that has more than 400 Gambians on its pay role.

“It is in this regard that we write to notify you of the deliberate attempt to sabotage the work Emkay Stores does, while hoping that the people of The Gambia will be told the truth about the expired Mayonnaise incident.”

President Adama Barrow has made it clear his ‘father’ Darboe will enjoy all benefits when he finally retired him from politics in December.

“He should know when I retire him, I will give him all his privileges,” President Barrow said in Farafenni on Tuesday during his meet the people’s tour meeting there.

The president spoke in the context of the December presidential election insisting UDP leader Darboe was still unwilling to retire from politics.

President Barrow’s NPP has accepted to ally with APRC for the election and the president has insisted it’s in the best interest of the country.

“All the talk is out of their selfish interest. [It out of] their fear if APRC joins NPP, the election is a foregone conclusion. This is why there is all this talk,” the president said.

Opposition Gambia Action Party has dismissed reports it was engaged in talks for an alliance with NPP.

Reports emerged on Wednesday the Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly-led GAP is involved in talks for a coalition with President Barrow’s NPP.

But GAP in a statement, said: “On the strongest possible term, the GAP administration would like to clarify to the general public that GAP is established mainly to contest and participate in electoral processes in The Gambia. Forming coalition or alliance with NPP as claimed by Amat Tijan and further requesting for Gambia Action Party’s withdrawal from the anticipated coalition talks by another party leader (name withheld) is aimed to tarnish the party’s image.

“We wish to clear the public space that GAP is opened to conversations that will ensure the application of socioeconomic development gains in the Gambia, and we wish to clarify to the public that GAP and NPP has nothing common and are not in coalition talks. We are open to GAP led alliance with parties of similar visions to envisage national development plans.

“Our candidate will contest in December 4th Presidential election with or without coalition or alliance. We urge all the patriotic Gambians both home and abroad to refrain from derogatory comments that will serve as catalyst to create tension in the nation as we approach the elections.

“We are very much sure that our visit to the presidency was based on national development initiative undertakings as we took a representative of Thailand government who wish to invest in The Gambia. We would like to remind Amat Tijan that if meeting President Barrow means forming coalition with him, then Hon. Mama was the first opposition leader to met him in 2017.

“Our agenda is to ensure that The Gambia compete at the global economic front and that cannot be realized without sacrifices and efforts to convert the manifestos into workable policies.”

UDP on Wednesday displayed new vehicles procured by the party as campaign intensifies for the December presidential election.

The vehicles, five in number, were presented at UDP leader Darboe’s office in Pipeline on Wednesday.

Mr Darboe speaking during the ceremony said: “This is a great day for UDP. This shows we are poised to take State House on the 4th of December this year. Our party has never been so lucky and it has never been so prepared for an election and our preparedness has been largely due to the forsight, initiatives of people you have put in charge of of running the affairs of the party.

“I am just one who just nods or disagrees but all the work is done by members of the organising committee, the administration and other members of the organisation, youth wing, women’s wing. My own role their is not as important as theirs.

“So we want to really appreciate all this good work that you’re doing and this has come about because of the high hope, high expectations of the people that the next government in this country is the one that is going to be led by the United Democratic Party.”

President Adama Barrow has warned his ‘father’ Darboe his retirement is looming and it will be enforced by NPP allying with APRC.

The president made the warning in Farafenni Tuesday during his meet the people’s tour which started on Monday.

The president said: “All the talk is out of their selfish interest. [It out of] their fear if APRC joins NPP, the election is a foregone conclusion. This is why there is all this talk. We want to tell those talking including my father (Darboe). We will tell him he has his own compound and I also have my own compound. So he can run his compound and let his son to also run the affairs of his compound.

“Every prays to have a child who will be a good child and builds his own compound and manages it. So let him let me run my compound. If they do not know what’s good for me, I know what’s good for me.

“But we will tell him that since he has refused to retire voluntarily, APRC-NPP will take him to retirement whether he likes it or not. But he should know when I retire him, I will give him all his privileges.”

Hamat Bah has continued to attack President Adama Barrow’s political rivals, this time Essa Faal blasting the lawyer for suggesting he is educated.

Mr Faal while announcing his plan to run for president in December last month tore into the least educated and said they have not succeeded in developing any country.

Mr Faal insisted he is the best candidate to lead The Gambia.

But Hamat speaking at President Barrow’s Farafenni meeting on Tuesday said: “You have people who say they are educated. Learning someone’s language is that what is call education? No, it’s a shame.

“What I know education to be is about engineering, scientist, doctors, architects, accountants and others. Learning someone’s language is that what you call education and you are bragging about it saying ‘I’m the most educated in the country?'”

Hamat Bah has stuck the knife into UDP leader Ousainou Darboe saying the veteran politician is preaching morality to President Adama Barrow forgetting about what he himself have said or done in the past.

Mr Darboe has criticised President Barrow over his decision to accept APRC supporters amid the December presidential election.

But NRP leader Hamat Bah who has worked together with UDP and Darboe in previous elections in the country said at the president’s meet the people’s tour meeting in Farafenni on Tuesday: “There is one person I knew to be named Ousainou but I heard he has now changed his name to Abubakar. I wasn’t sure until I saw on the papers that he is now named Abubakar Darboe. Changing your name is quite strange.

“He said Adama Barrow doesn’t have authority to ally with APRC. Doesn’t he know what we know about him and his acts? In 2017 when 25 APRC MPs made a pronouncement defecting from APRC [to] supporting UDP of then Ousainou now Abubakar Darboe and Ousainou celebrated that. The whole world saw it. They jubilated about it. Where is the moral authority he is preaching Adama Barrow. Where was he then?

“When General MA Bah cross-carpeted from APRC to UDP, he was received in a massive reception. The whole world saw it. Where was the moral authority he is preaching Adama Barrow? Where was he then? Look, we knew what they were doing to make sure that our negotiation with the APRC will fail.

“No matter how much you want to be president, you should know people have not forgotten what you said and did yesterday. I head he was aiming a sly dig at me. He said those talking about tribalism are the tribalists themselves. I will not mention a tribe but I want to remind him: they once asked him who will replace him [as UDP leader]… He had a deputy at the time but he never mentioned his name. He said Kemeseng Jammeh was around and failed to mention his deputy. When we were campaigning in the parliamentary election here in Badibu, he was saying ‘let’s take our relative’s side’. Adama was not part of that, I was not part of that.”

UTG staff have stood their ground by proceeding with their strike despite a court forbidding them from the act.

UTG administration announced on Wednesday a court has ordered for the staff not to go on any strike.

But the unmoved staff have vowed to proceed with their strike beginning today despite the court order.

Staff top official Yorro Njie in a memo to all staff said: “The President of The Staff Association has been served with a document at 9:30pm this night by three individuals purportedly from the Bundung High Court. The documents on the face of it appears to be a ruling of the court granted by the Bundung High Court.

“The court document will be forwarded to the Association’s lawyer for legal advise and then we will respond to it appropriately.

“As citizens of this country, we reiterate our fundamental right not to be forced to work and remind UTG Staff that it is our constitutional right to embark in an industrial action geared towards national interest.

“We therefore urge the Staff to stay home as earlier communicated until our signed resolutions are implemented or further advise from the Executive, despite the Court Injunction.

“No Staff should report to work as agreed during the Staff Congress held on September 8th, 2021.

“We are not embarking on an industrial action for monetary purposes but for institutional reforms and for national interest. The university is what we have to progress as a nation.”

UTG management have issued a statement annoucing that a high court sitting in Bundung has ordered the staff not to embark on any strike.

UTG staff had earlier on Tuesday announced their suspended strike will now start on Wednesday September 15.

But the administration have now issued their own statement asking the staff not to go on their strike and that a court order forbids them from doing so.

The statement said: “The attention of the Administration of the University of the Gambia has been drawn to an announcement of a sit-down strike by the University of The Gambia Staff and Faculty Association (UTGSFA). Following this, the University filed an Application before the High Court challenging the legality of the sit-down strike. The University further made an application for an interim injunction against any sit-down strike or industrial action by the UTGSFA pending the hearing of its main application.

“Accordingly, the High Court sitting at Bundung, has today made the following orders: an order of interim injunction restraining the UTGSFA, its executives, officers, members, agents, servants, employees or howsoever, from embarking on the industrial strike action scheduled to take place on the 15th September 2021 in relation to the resolution passed by the UTGSFA at its Congress held on the 8th of September 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons or further orders of the High Court; an interim injunction directed at all the members of the Executive Committee of the UTGSFA to immediately and publicly call off their planned strike or industrial action scheduled to take place on the 15th September 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the matter; an Interim Injunction that the President and the Executive Committee of the UTGSFA be restrained from organizing or holding any form of picketing or industrial strike action pending the hearing and determination of this matter.

“The UTGSFA are hereby notified of this Court Order and are urged to comply with the orders as failure to do so shall amount to contempt of Court. Staff are therefore advised to report to work as normal in line with the Court order and Council resolution.

“In the same vein the students are urged to go about their normal activities and the University assures them that they will not relent in ensuring that the Academic Calendar is not adversely impacted.”

Five staff of Gambia Ports Authority Ferry Services were involved in a fatal car accident on Tuesday, leaving one of the staff dead.

Yama Jarju who is a controller at ferries died after an accident that occurred in Kiang Kaif on Tuesday.

A senior official of ferries confirmed the incident, saying they were returning to Kombo from posting at the Senegambia Bridge.

The rest of the staff involved in the accident have been hospitalised.

Kitabu Fatty the leader of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), and a Presidential aspirant for the 2021 elections, has given his full endorsement to Mr Essa Mbye Faal, independent Candidate for the upcoming polls.

A statement by the comedian-politician on Monday said: “Prior to taking this decision Mr. Fatty had been approached by several Political Parties to join their campaign. However after a period of thorough reflection and evaluation, both Mr. Fatty and the National Executive of the PDP unanimously agreed that Mr. Essa Mbye Faal is the best person to lead our country at this time of great social and political change.

“His wealth of experience, indepth knowledge of the law, his personal accomplishments and calm temperament, makes him unique among the competing candidates to steer the affairs of the country.

“The PDP believes that with Mr Faal as President, The Gambia will change for the better. For this reason the PDP and Mr. Fatty decided to shelve their plans for the coming elections and rally behind Mr. Essa Mbye Faal for President 2021. Mr Faal takes this opportunity to thank Mr Fatty and his followers for endorsing his bid for the Presidency and urged other Parties to join with him and to work towards removing President Barrow’s ineffectual government come 4th December.”

UTG staff have announced their suspended strike will now start on Wednesday September 15.

The staff of the university shelved their July 3 strike after talks with government and other stakeholders.

The staff are now saying there has been not much commitment and will towards a new UTG constitution among other demands.

In a memo to all staff, the UTG faculty and staff association secretary general Yorro Njie said: “Sequel to our suspended sit-down strike on the 3 July 2021, and in the implementation of the decision made by Congress on the 8 August 2021, the UTGFSA Executive Committee wishes to announce that the association resumes its strike starting Wednesday, 15 September 2021. It is essential to state that the Executive Committee had engaged relevant authorities and stakeholders, including The Office of The President prior to taking this decision, without any signs of resolving the matter.

“Considering this, all UTG activities are to be put on hold, and no office, except the Department of Finance, Internal Audit, and Security, are permitted to work. This exception is made to avoid paralyzing the institution. Equally, we appeal to all the TAC volunteers, among other visiting lecturers, to stay home in solidarity with the UTG Staff.

“As Staff of The University of The Gambia, we resolved that the agreements signed on 3 July 2021 by all stakeholders present at the meeting shall be implemented to the latter.

“Rest assured that we have your back and will not, without fear or favour, compromise the welfare and wellbeing of the staff and students. All shall be duly informed on any positive development.”