The Gambia Press Union and the Civil Society Coalition on Access to Information have issued a statement welcoming the passing of the Access to Information Bill 2021 by the National Assembly on Thursday, July 1, 2021.

If the Bill is granted presidential assent, it will be the first time in the history of The Gambia for right of access to information to be legally recognized as a human right. Globally, over 120 countries have such legislation and The Gambia has become the last country in English-speaking West Africa to have one, GPU and Civil Society Coalition on Access to Information said.

The statement added: “The ATI Bill is a product of collaborative effort of the Gambian Civil Society which worked closely with the Government through the Ministry of Justice. It was first tabled in 2019 by then Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou and has since gone through rigorous parliamentary scrutiny.

“The Bill is aimed at proactive and organised dissemination of public records and information to the people.”

Speaking on this milestone, the President of Gambia Press Union, Sheriff Bojang Jr., commended the National Assembly members for putting the Gambia on the true path to democracy.

“I want to commend the National Assembly members not just for passing the Bill, but also for debating on the Bill purely on its principles and benefits to society, devoid of partisan politics,” he said.

“This is an indication that all the political parties and indeed every Gambian is in support of access to information as it had been the missing piece in the Gambia’s quest to becoming a true democracy.”

With the technical and financial support of its partners, the GPU planted the seeds of civil society-led access to information campaign way back in 2016. After a series of consultative meetings with the Government and other civil society organisations, the GPU collaborated with TANGO (The Association of NGOs) to establish the CSO Coalition on Access to Information.

The Chairman of the Coalition, John Charles Njie, said the change of Government in 2017 provided an opportunity for the media, government and civil society to work together towards a better Gambia.

“The passing of this Bill shows how mutually beneficial a collaboration between the civil society and government could become” he said.

“This is the first time that the civil society has worked with the Government on a legislation from conception to enactment, and for me that is an indication that the Government and civil society are not mutually exclusive. We are different sides of the same coin and it’s our two sides that make up a coin.

“The civil society is not here just to criticize government; we do constructive criticism where necessary, but we can also collaborate and work together in solving our problems and the success of this Access to Information Bill is a testimony to that fact.”

Mr. Njie commended the Ministries of Justice, and Information and Communication Infrastructure for leading the process on the side of the government. The Ministry of Justice has been particularly instrumental in the process; the former Minister Tambadou played a key role and the current Minister, Dawda Jallow, took it and successfully completed the process.

From the outset, the Gambia’s Access to Information was not without international support. This came in the form of financial and technical assistance. The main part of the funding came from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) through a two-year project implemented by the GPU. Other partners including the United Nations Development Program, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office were also key.

Technical support came in different forms and shapes from the Media Foundation for West Africa, Centre for Law and Democracy, Centre for Non-profit Law, Fesmedia, ARTICLE 19 and Gambia Bar Association.

The next steps

Given the political will and commitment demonstrated by the President of the Republic since the inception, we are equally confident that he would assent to the Bill within the 30-day legal limit required.

The GPU, through the CSO Coalition on Access to Information, will continue to intensify its awareness campaign about the legislation to make sure Gambians understand and are able to utilize it.

The collaboration with the Government will also be strengthened so that it creates the necessary structures and systems for the effective enforcement and implementation of the Act.

The enactment of the Access to Information Bill by the National Assembly is just the beginning of another step towards an effective Right to Know regime in The Gambia. More still needs doing and the GPU is hopeful that with commitment and continuous partnership of all institutions and agencies, the Act would contribute tremendously to the democratization process of the country.

Two company directors have denied charges relating to the deaths of five men at a recycling plant.

Almamo Jammeh, Ousmane Diaby, Bangally Dukureh, Saibo Sillah and Mahamadou Jagana died at Shredmet’s premises in Birmingham on 7 July 2016.

The two directors, plus two recycling firms, have been charged with health and safety offences.

Wayne Hawkeswood and Graham Woodhouse appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday to deny charges against them.

ENSCO 10101, formerly Shredmet, and its predecessor Hawkeswood Metal Recycling are also being prosecuted.

The five men – four from the Gambia and one from Senegal – died when a wall collapsed at a recycling plant in Nechells, smothering them in hundreds of tonnes of metal ingots.

A sixth man suffered serious injuries. (BBC)

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has vowed that UDP will not be like previous ruling parties who would promise voters all sorts of things and fail to live by them after their victory.

Speaking while receiving D300,000 from UDP supporters in Italy, Mr Darboe said UDP will put an end those things it is complaining against and deliver on its promises.

Mr Darboe said: “InshaAllah we will win and if we win, it would be you the diaspora Gambians who made us win. Thank you. After the victory is what matters. This is a trust test for leaders of UDP, for people to take their money and put it into a party without expecting anything back. All they want is for Gambia to be saved and a government that would wipe the tears of all Gambians.

“We’re hopeful that after the victory, we will not be like the others. After the victory, the things we say should not happen would all be stopped and make sure the things that should be done are done. Because you cannot seek people’s votes on a purpose and [fail to do it]. You must fulfill [those promises]. That is not UDP.”

Reverend Father Peter Gomez of St Kizito’s Church died early Thursday, a statement by the church said.

In the statement, “the Bishop of Banjul, Most Reverend Dr. Gabriel Mendy, the Priests and religious of the Diocese of  Banjul and the family of the deceased regret to announce the sudden death of Rev. Fr Peter Gomez”.

“This sad event took place early this morning, 1st July, 2021 at St. Kizito’s Parish House. Details of funeral arrangements will be provided later.

“May God grant him forgiveness and reward him for the good work he has done in the name of Jesus our Merciful Saviour,” the statement added.

The United States will begin shipping the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines it has donated to Africa from this weekend, a special envoy of the African Union said on Thursday.

President Joe Biden’s administration announced last month it would donate 500 million Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses to the 100 lowest income countries in the world and will seek no favours in exchange for the doses.

Strive Masiyiwa told a weekly online briefing of the Africa Centres for Disease Control that the donations consisted largely of Pfizer doses and a few Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

“We begin to ship by this weekend the U.S. donations. So some countries will begin to receive early next week shipments that are Johnson and Johnson, others will receive shipments that are Pfizer. No country will receive both,” Masiyiwa said.

Masiyiwa is part of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust, which is helping coordinate the distribution of the vaccines donated by the United States.

The continent is lagging behind in vaccinating its population, with just 1% fully inoculated, John Nkengasong, the Africa CDC director said during the same meeting.

Africa had targeted to have 800 million doses by December this year but had only received 65 million so far, Nkengasong said. (Reuters)

General Yakuba Drammeh Thursday morning visited a military farm in Banjullinding amid his tour of military installations across the country.

The army chief has in past days been visiting all military installations as part of his annual engagement with his men and women.

Drammeh became the head of the army last year when President Adama Barrow pulled the trigger on powerful general Masanneh Kinteh.

Dr. Mamadou Tangara on Wednesday 30 June 2021 addressed India Global Leaders Forum 2021.

Foreign Minister Tangara was invited by the Global Leadership to give an African perspective on issues bordering on COVID-19 and the recovery process, the friendly bilateral relations between The Gambia and the Republic of India and how the global tourism industry can be revived in the face of an ongoing global pandemic, the foreign ministry said in a news release on Thursday.

The release said: “Commenting on measures taken by The Gambia in containing the pandemic and protecting its economy, Dr. Tangara said the government cut all travels and used those funds to buy ambulances and other medical equipment for health workers.

“He said negotiations were held with bilateral partners for the country to access vaccines with 10,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by the President of the Republic of Senegal to his brother President Adama Barrow and later, AstraZeneca vaccine was also received.

“The Honourable Minister indicated that the challenge the government had was to convince people to take the vaccine. The government, he added, resorted to a massive sensitisation campaign which made great impact because it significantly reduced the vaccine hesitancy.

“Minister Tangara told the Global Leaders Forum that The Gambia does not have adequate vaccines to give second doses to the teeming number of people that have had the first shot.

“The Honourable Minister also emphasised the importance of global solidarity in this phase of the pandemic by helping countries with little or no vaccine to access it.

“On the bilateral ties with India, Honourable Tangara extolled the excellent bilateral relations The Gambia has with India in the past decades and how India is one of Gambia’s strongest partners.”

Government lawyers at the National Agency for Legal Aid have threatened a sit-down strike over poor working conditions at the agency.

In a letter to the executive secretary of the agency seen by The Fatu Network, the lawyers complained about poor pay and poor working environment.

The lawyers said in their June 25 letter: “With only one roadworthy vehicle which is barely available to the legal unit, it has become impractical to carry out the above mandate. Legal Aid 3, the pickup that has been assigned to transport the lawyers is so dilapidated that it often breaks down in the middle of the road thereby leaving lawyers stranded on the road or forced to join public transport in order to get to court. The cushion that should cover the seats in Legal Aid 3 are all worn out exposing the dusty foam and open wires on the seats. Legal officers have had to bear the embarrassment of coming out of the car with foam dust all over their clothes and torn skirts which is a very humiliating experience. This vehicle has become a health hazard, several times the lawyers have been involved in accident with this very car. These incidents have been lamented to you severally, but nothing has changed for the better. The conditions continue to deteriorate daily.

“Secondly, we, the lawyers informed you sometime in March, 2020 at one of our meetings that our counterparts at the Ministry of Justice have received a hundred percent (100%) pay rise with a draw back from January, 2020. As lawyers in the employment of the state, we protested that staff of the Agency should be accorded same pay rise or even more taking into account how disadvantaged we are and the daunting task our office has been inundated with. You intimated to us following the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Agency with the president of the Republic sometime last year that steps were being taken to ensure we have adequate mobility and to receive same pay rise as our counterparts at the Justice Ministry. However, we are half way into 2021 and this promise has remained unchanged.

“Thirdly, the legal department has been grappling with the issue of printing court processes in time for onward court filings due to lack of a printer at the said department. The only readily available printer is installed at the Assistant Account’s office and whenever the said office is closed, printing of court processes becomes impossible. You had indicated to us that we were at liberty to use the printer in your office. However, when you are not around, no one can access that printer since it is connected to your laptop and does not recognize any other computer. On several occasions lawyers have had to go and print court processes outside the office at their own expense when there are so many printers lying around but not working.”

The lawyers called on the agency’s leadership to address the three issues as soon as possible or they would proceed on an indefinite sit-down strike starting on July 1.

The Fatou Bah-Barrow Foundation (FABB) has signed an MOU with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) for collaboration in the fields of education, health and access to water in The Gambia.

First Lady Fatou Bah-Barrow representing FABB during the signing ceremony, expressed gratitude to WAMY for recognizing her foundation’s charity work, State House said in a press release on Wednesday. She said FABB’s work focuses on serving some of the neediest and most vulnerable in The Gambia, the release said.

It added: “The Secretary-General of WAMY, Dr Saleh Bin Sulayman Al-Wohaibi said his organisation’s partnership with FABB will facilitate scholarships for students and work together in the areas of health and access to clean drinking water.

“The agreement was signed on the sidelines of President Barrow’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was witnessed by FABB’s counsel, Mr Badou Conteh.

“Since its inception in 2017, the Fatou Bah-Barrow Foundation (FABB) has worked in the areas of education, health and particularly the empowerment of women to complement the government’s efforts.

“The foundation has provided boreholes to communities, health materials to hospitals and carries out advocacy to promote the health and well-being of women and children. It also facilitates the award of scholarships to deserving students to further their education.”

UDP leader Ousainu Darboe accompanied by a high powered delegation visited Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital on Tuesday.

The group conducted a tour of the facilities after hearing firsthand the challenges faced by the institution, UDP said on its official Facebook.

Mr. Darboe donated sugar, oil, onions, soap, 20 bags of rice and other items as a token of appreciation.

Senegalese authorities are investigating leads linking famous thief Boy Djine to a burglary incident in Jeshwang last month.

Armed men allegedly forced their way into the home of Walid Bourgi in Old Jeshwang and stole at least 16 million dalasis.

According to Senego on Wednesday, Baye Modou Fall alias Boy Djine is being questioned by the Criminal Investigation Division in Senegal over the incident.

The famous criminal allegedly received help from Dame Sy who has also been arrested.

According to Senego who relied on Lasnews, the missing money is estimated at 17 million dalasis in addition to gold and silver jewelry.

APRC deputy interim leader Ousman Rambo Jatta has called on supporters of APRC to decide wisely in the December presidential election as the life of the party depends on it.

Speaking in an interview with photojournalist Alpha Bah, Mr Jatta argued: “God forbid they take government. It’s not going to end up good. This election will determine the future of the APRC. We have to decide and we have to decide very wisely.

“If we fool ourselves, that will be the end of us and President Jammeh will never return to this country.

“The reason why I said God forbids a UDP government… they’re going to go to where he is to try to prosecute him because they’re full of vengeance, they’re full of hatred for the man. This is why I will never like UDP. I don’t hate them but I dislike their attitude.”

By Ousman Jatta

The magistrates court in Brikama has struck out a case of land involving the alkalo of Old Yundum Borry Jassey.

The Brikama Magistrates Court struck out the land case between Borry Jassey Alkali and and businessman Landing Jadama on Tuesday on grounds the court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The move came following an application made by the senior state counsel S.O Sibbie in April for the court to strike out the case.

State Counsel O.S Sibbie argued  that  Landing Jadama is facing trial at the High Court of the Gambia over the same land located at Old Yundum Village, measuring 190m by 115m by 50m by 80m by 115m by 235m.

Jadama, of Brufut, had sued the alkalo over the land claiming it belongs to him. Jadama will now continue his battle as a defendant at the High Court of the Gambia, as a law suit is against him there over the same land.

By Ousman Jatta

The alkalo of Manduar Mandinka the original founders of Manduar has said the people of Manduar Touba should be told the truth.

Clashes erupted between the two Manduars on Monday as a result of Touba Manduar’s attempt to be in charge of their own voter registration by having their own alkalo endorse the attestation forms of their villagers. But some youth from Manduar Mandinka allegedly decided to interrupt the whole attestation process by allegedly refusing for Manduar Touba alkalo issue attestation to Touba Manduar residents.

But speaking to The Fatu Network, Alkalo Jerreh Bojang, said while he is not against the alkaloship of Mandouar Touba, he was never informed about the alkaloship of Mandour Touba.

“Mandour Touba should be told the truth,” the alkalo added.

Riot police stormed the registration center on Tuesday breaking a crowd of the angry youths with tear gas.

But one youth of Manduar Mandinka said: “Since 1996, we have been registering with our neighbours from Mandour Touba. This year if you see they decided to have their own attestation, they have strangers whom they want to give attestation to, in order for them to a have a voter’s card.”

Making comments on the clash over attestation, Superintendent Lamin Njie explained: ’’There is Manduar Mandinka and Manduar Touba of the Wolof. The IEC had designated a voter registration center for Manduar. This center is based at the Manduar Mandinka Kunda.

“But there is the other side which is Manduar Touba who have their own Alkalo and this Alkalo is a legally appointed alkali. So the IEC realized that since they are both alkalos and there is one registration center, they suggested that the two alkalos can come at the registration center or maybe they can all be designated as people can give attestation in case there is anybody who needs attestation.

“But the people in the Mandinka area said that is not possible because the only recognized Alkalo is their own Alkalo, the other Alkalo cannot participate in that process. I understand that the other Alkalo came with his table and stuff, but were disrupted by the people of Manduar Manding, who even when to the extent of instigating violence. This was why the police decided to intervene and deploy officers there and control the situation. So in that process, five people have been arrested for obstruction related issues.”