A 25-year-old mason living in Cambérène threw himself into the ravines of the Pikine technopole on Saturday and drowned.
The man identified only as Mr Ndiaye shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ before diving into it, reports Le Soleil.
Firefighters came to the scene and recovered the lifeless body. A relative of the victim told authorities such have happened in their family before.
Police have arrested a man for allegedly breaking into a shop and stealing various items. Amadou Jallow was arrested by police during their routine patrols within West Coast Region.
Police said: “Personnel of the West Coast Region combined security task-force during routine patrols within WCR arrested one Amadou Jallow with suspected stolen properties.
“Further probe was conducted into the matter when the suspect led investigators to a shop where he allegedly broke into and stole the items. Police recovered 5 Flat Screen TVs and several other valuables hidden by the suspect. He has been charged with shop breaking and stealing.
“Similarly, three unidentified motorcycles suspected to be stolen properties have been recovered during investigations.
“Individuals whose motorcycles have been stolen can visit the New Yundum Station to help in identification and establishment of ownership.”
President Adama Barrow has told the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation The Gambia is on tracking to hosting the OIC summit next year.
According to State House, the president disclosed this to Dr Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen during a meeting. The president is currently in Saudi Arabia, the seat of the OIC.
State House added in its statement: “The President also affirmed his dedication to the OIC’s commitment to combatting terrorism and extremism.
“Shortly after his meeting with the President, Dr Al-Othaimeen thanked the President for granting him an audience, describing him as an “understanding and gracious” man who is committed to the realization of issues related to the development of the Umah. He said his conversation with the President focused on peace, security, and the Umah’s anti-terrorist position, which the President fully supports.
“He praised the President and government for their efforts in ensuring the Summit’s success and stated that the OIC will be there to support The Gambia throughout the process.”
The Gambian government is a coalition of parties that came together to field one candidate to contest against the former president Yayah Jammeh in 2016. Among the major parties that formed the coalition were the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS). The coalition won the election through the candidacy of the current president Adama Barrow, a previously little known real estate dealer. The coalition however fell apart shortly after the election even though the government remains as constituted with the appointed from the all the seven member parties of the coalition. The president ditched his sponsoring party UDP (the largest party in the coalition and country) and formed his own party, the National People’s Party (NPP). Since then, there has been bickering between the ruling coalition members especially because the president had promised to rule for only three years as a transition president then oversee democratic elections (in which he would not participate) that would allow Gambians to choose a leader of their choice. The president has since reneged on the promise and is set to vie for elections at the end of 2021. Yunus Hydara is a civic activist based in the UK and one of the UDP’s most vocal advocates. Recently, he criticized Halifa Sallah (PDOIS) and Sidia Jatta (PDOIS), the chairperson of the Public Enterprises Committee and vice-chairperson of the Finance and Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly respectively of enabling corruption through their failure to move bills in parliament to enact anticorruption laws (Editorial 2021). Specifically, he accused the Public Enterprise Committee of Halifa Sallah of refusing to present the report of the Auditor General and a private auditing firm to parliament for ratification to pave way for action against the misappropriation of public funds. This paper is a critique of the rebuttal of Hydara’s accusations by Sallah, noting that the rebuttal was full of logical fallacies.
First, the repudiation of Hydara’s claims by Halifa Sallah deserves commendation for its restraint from insulting Hydara despite the disagreement therein. It is noteworthy that political exchanges, especially in Africa dwell on insults that do not differentiate between the personal lives of the adversaries and their public roles. According to Lajul (2020), political discourse in the continent usually relies on ridiculing opponents using the most barbaric and humiliating insults that have no relation with the public role of the opponent or their stated position. Typically, political players exploit the low levels of education, little exposure to modern political leadership and allegiance to ethnic origins among the citizenry to defer any meaningful discourse when they face accusations. Halifa Sallah was able to stay above that temptation and instead focused on showing why he thought Hydara was wrong strictly by tackling the accusations. The restraint was a demonstration of maturity and political sobriety from a senior government official responding to a junior critic out of the government. Sallah however watered down his restraint when he stated that he needed to behave in that manner because he was offering himself as a presidential candidate in the 2021 elections. The revelation that his candidacy was the foundation of the restraint leaves the readers thinking that he would have wished to tackle the matter differently if it were not for his candidacy and his desire to appear tolerant to win the elections. Nevertheless, that kind of restraint and restriction to the accusations leveled at him remains admirable and should set the tone for the political engagement in the face of the impending elections of December 2021.
Second, Halifa Sallah demonstrated systematic organization and structure in his rebuttal of Hydara’s accusations. The structured arrangement of his rebuttal is visible in his tracing of the case from the beginning to the end. First, Sallah introduced Hydara to the reader in his reference to him as a descendant of decency. The rebuttal then gave a background to itself by specifyin ghte accusations that Hydara had laid against him and Sidia Jatta. The reader or audience of the rebuttal would therefore be easily able to follow the matter at hand. He then delved into the accusations in detail to keep the audience at the same level of understanding with him. Thereafter, Sallah gave his reasons why the accusations were false. According to Lubis (2019), a structured communication makes it easy for the audience to follow it and to understand the subject matter. Structuring communication explains the subject to the audience from the known facts to the unknown, promoting understanding. Readers or listeners are therefore able to follow the speaker from the beginning to the end. Conversely, poor or lack of structure confuses the audience and leads to loss of interest in the communication. Sallah followed a systematic structure in his rebuttal.
On the downside, Sallah committed many logical fallacies in his rebuttal that would make any keen reader dismiss them. First, Sallah began his rebuttal by direct reference to the person of Yunus Hydara instead of focusing on the issues he had raised. Sallah began by stating that Hydara’s name was associated with “…decency and moral integrity…” and that he would spare him any harsh response because he (sallah) had “…respect [for] those who gave birth to him…” (Editorial 2021). The referral to the personal circumstances of Hydara is the ad hominem fallacy where the speaker points the audience to the individuality of the other party to divert attention from the central issue. Although Sallah did not insult Hydara and appeared to express ‘admiration’ and ‘respect’ for the man and his family, his choice of illuminating those facts was a misplaced appeal to the ethos and pathos of the audience. Sallah was setting the context for the audience to influence their assessment of his arguments by exploiting the respect for families and parents that most African societies value. In reality, there was no need for any such expression of respect for Hydara’s family and origins in the rebuttal.
In addition, Sallah’s rebuttal was full of evasion, failing to address the matters raised by Hydara directly. In response to the accusation by Hydara that the Public Enterprise Committee was “…sitting on the report of a British Audit Firm that verified potential corrupt practice…”, Sallah chose to respond by claining that his committee was not “…in charge of such a report…” The response was evasive because Hydara did not claim that they were in charge of the report but only pointed out that the committee had failed to present the report to the National Assembly for discussion. The direct approach would have been to explain the state of the report and to confirm whether or not the report had been presented to his committee and what action his committee had taken about the report. Those questions remained unanswered yet they were the essence of the accusations (Warman & Hazmah 2019) by Hydara. Halifa Sallah’s response did not therefore serve to settle the matters raised by Hydara regarding his and his committee’s role in subjugating justice and abetting corruption.
The remainder of the rebuttal by Sallah is a red herring that he used extensively and unsuccessfully to distract attention from the role of the Public Enterprises Committee. The communication diverted attention to the roles and functions of the auditor general, in complete disregard to the role of the PEC. Sallah cited Section160 Subsections 1 and 2 of the constitution to elaborate the functions of the auditor general (Editorial 2021). In none of the citations did Sallah refer to the role of the PEC in helping the auditor general achieve his goals in his role. In other words, he deflected the blame for the failure of the PEC to the office of the auditor general. Furthermore, Sallah continued with the red herring when he focused on the small issue of Jatta having been referred to as the chairperson of the FPAC instead of the vice-chairperson. He concluded his red herring by citing the party rivalry as the reason for the allegations laid against him by Hydara Yunus. In short, Sallah went off tangent completely and intentionally to prevent any real discussion on the failure of the PEC to present the report of the auditor general to the National Assembly.
In conclusion, the rebuttal by Halifa Sallah followed the normal structure of a communication, beginning with the introduction, followed by the detailed subject mater and ending with a conclusion. Unfortunately, the rebuttal failed to address the actual issues raised by Hydara’s accusations. Instead, Sallah first misused the appeals of ethos and pathos by beginning his rebuttal with direct and unrelated reference to Hydara’s background. He then continued the remainder of his rebuttal with a red herring addressing the nominally unrelated issue of the roles of the auditor general as stipulated in the constitution. At the end, the communication was an unnecessary exposition of the roles of the auditor general.
By: Musa Val Banja
USA
APRC deputy leader Ousman Rambo Jatta has attacked the Barrow government over an agreement for former President Yahya Jammeh to return to the country.
The former dictator fled the country after losing the December 2016 presidential election. APRC insists there is an agreement that said the former president can return to the country whenever he wants.
But according to the party’s deputy Ousman Rambo Jatta, the Barrow government at first denied there is an agreement.
Speaking to citizen journalist Alpha Bah, Mr Jatta said: “For the joint communiqué, I was there when it was being drafted. That was when Conde and this guy from Mauritania came. It was us who fetched them from the airport and took them to State House. We have been pushing for this joint communiqué for a long time. You were there when we protested.
“We took it to AU, we took it to ECOWAS. Up to now, we did not get a response from these people. And that demonstration you saw how tough it was to get the permit. It came on the very day of the demonstration but people did not know what was happening behind the scenes. When they asked us to go and answer with, it was Lajos we found there. He had a meeting with them and told them not to issue a permit to us.”
Mr Jatta then singled out Ebrima Sankareh for criticism and said he has nothing in his head.
He said: “We’ve been pushing the joint communiqué. At first the government was denying it. They said they have no knowledge of it. We all heard it. He (Ebrima Sankareh) is the biggest nonentity in Barrow’s government. He doesn’t have anything in the head. However big his head is, there is nothing in it.
“Ebrima G Sankareh doesn’t know anything. But no wonder, he will do whatever it takes to retain his position because in America he was a jobless person.”
The Gambia High Commission to the United Kingdom, on Saturday 19 June 2021, bade farewell to the out-going High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr. Francis Blain, at a ceremony held at the High Commission’s conference room in London.
The farewell ceremony came on the heels of his retirement as High Commissioner. High Commissioner Blain has served as The Gambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom since 2018, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement added: “It was during his time The Gambia re-entered the Commonwealth of Nations which received huge endorsement from Gambians and members of the international community. High Commissioner Blain worked hard in ensuring that the strong bond of friendship between The Gambia and the United Kingdom is strengthened based on shared values.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia seizes this opportunity to commend High Commissioner Blain for the tremendous service he has rendered to The Gambia during his stint as High Commissioner. The Ministry will miss him in London and in the Foreign Service at large. Best wishes for a peaceful and enjoyable retirement home.”
By Al Jazeera
Derek Chauvin, the white former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, a Black man, was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison Friday.
Chauvin, 45, was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck for up to 9 1/2 minutes as the 46-year-old Floyd gasped that he could not breathe and went limp.
The jury in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty on Tuesday in the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in a decision US President Joe Biden said he hoped would become a “moment of significant change”.
The 45-year-old Chauvin, who was filmed on May 25 last year with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, was found guilty on all three counts: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
After a three-week trial, it took the 12-person jury, consisting of six white and six Black or multiracial men and women, 10 hours to reach their verdict.
Chauvin’s bail was immediately revoked and he was escorted out of court in handcuffs. He will face sentencing in eight weeks and could be sent to prison for decades.
Police have reportedly arrested a number of people after violence between Kombo East villages of Gida Sukuta and Madina Talokoto left scores injured.
The youth of the two villages pelted stones at one another Friday evening amid a huge row over a land area.
One person familiar with the issue told The Fatu Network violence started began after the youth of Gida Sukuta allegedly demolished a fence at a disputed land area the people of Madina Talokoto use as football field. Both villages have laid claim to the land and have been at daggers drawn for long.
Police in Banjulinding have detained a number of people mostly from Gida Sukuta, one person said.
Police spokesman Lamin Njie could not be immediately reached for comment.
The World Health Organization has stated that just over 1% of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated.
WHO further stated that globally, around 2.7 billion COVID-19 doses have been administered, of which just under 1.5% have been administered in the continent.
Eighteen African countries have used over 80% of their COVAX vaccine supplies, with eight having exhausted their stocks. Twenty-nine countries have administered over 50% of their supplies.
The UN Health Agency has also announced that Africa is facing a fast-surging third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with cases spreading more rapidly and projected to soon overtake the peak of the second wave the continent witnessed at the start of 2021.
COVID-19 cases have risen for five consecutive weeks since the onset of the third wave on 3 May 2021.
As of 20 June—day 48 into the new wave—Africa had recorded around 474,000 new cases, (a 21% increase compared with the first 48 days of the second wave.)
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said, “The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder. With rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness, the latest surge threatens to be Africa’s worst yet.”
“Africa can still blunt the impact of these fast-rising infections, but the window of opportunity is closing. Everyone everywhere can do their bit by taking precautions to prevent transmission.” The Director added. (CGTN Africa)
By Fatou Njie
Ebrima Camara (Ebou) Born on June 25, 1972 in Banjul at 72 Lancaster Street. He went to Bakoteh Primary then to Nusrat High School in Bundung. He completed High School in 1992 and left for the USA in 1994.
He Joined the U.S. Army in 1997. From the onset he demonstrated outstanding commitment and drive to excel, moving up the ranks from Private to Sergeant First Class in 7 short years.
After earning his Bachelor of Science and Masters Degrees in Business and Public Administration from Columbia Southern University, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning Georgia due to his meteoric rise and exemplary record of service. Upon the successful completion of OCS in 2008, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps. He served honorably and retired as a Captain in 2018.
During his Military career in the U.S he served at Fort Hauchuca, Arizona, twice at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Twice at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Monroe, Virginia and Fort Bliss, Texas.
His overseas tours include two tours in Germany, a tour in Kuwait, a combat tour in Afghanistan, two combat tours in Iraq and his final duty station was Camp Ederle, Vicenza Italy as part of the coveted 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
Today would have been Ebou’s 49th birthday but he took a journey of no return.
Death is painful, bitter and it hurts. To the believer and the righteous, it is good – an essential part of our very existence. Whatever Allah does, is doing, did or has done, I Thank him. He is my creator and sustainer. Every soul shall taste death. This is the bedrock of my faith as a Muslim. Indeed the heart is grieved, the eyes are shedding tears – losing a son is extremely tough to deal with. I will not say anything but what pleases Allah, from HIM we all came from and to HIM we shall all return.
So it is with that faith I carry the burden of this immense sorrow and grief of never seeing sweet Ebou Camara. I just wish a mother has a say in who stays and who goes. I am sure the answer is obvious – Ebou would have been the one celebrating me and not the other way around.
I look forward to that day when we meet again. Until then, you take a good rest and remain as pleasant as you have always been my son.
By Yunus Hydara
I refer to a publication on Foroyaa newspaper written by Hon Halifa Sallah responding to an article I published on my Facebook page while ago. In this article, I expressed my dissatisfaction on two National Assembly Committees whose members I referred to as being lethargic, selfish and incompetent in the execution of their functions and are thus the biggest enablers of corruption in the country. This did not sit well with Hallifa as he is chairman of one of the committees and Siadia Jatta is vice-chairman of the other. These two Parliamentary committees are: Finance and Public accounts committee (FPAC) that is chaired by the speaker of the house Ms. Denton with Sedia Jatta as vice-chairman and mandated of providing an oversight function on government and all financial aspect of public institutions. This committee, which is the one am most interested in, and the one Halifa did not talk about, are dragging their feet in examining and fine-tuning (if required) the anti-corruption watchdog bill despite the fact that the 16 weeks period given for this task has elapsed long time ago.
The second committee is the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) chaired by Hilafa Sallah and mandated to scrutinise the operations of all public enterprises to ensure efficiency, transparency and probity in all their undertakings. I registered my dissatisfaction that despite many reports of adverse findings by both the auditor general and an external British audit firm on seven State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), this committee has never, not even once, ever laid any report before the plenary since assuming office, thus failing the entire membership of the National Assembly in their delivery of justice and accountability.
Hon. Halifa, in his response characterised my article as utter fabrication and politically motivated for which he cautioned such fabrication will surge as our leaders become more desperate. He promised he will not use derogatory remarks on me because my surname, Hydara, is associated with “decency and moral integrity”. Also that he respects my parents and the fact that he is an aspiring president and using derogatory remarks on a citizen by a potential president will be inappropriate. I cannot help but wonder if Halifa will disparage me if my surname was someone else’s like the Jengs, the Chams, the Manjangs, the Jarjus, the Bahs and Jallows just to name a few as my surname should make me any different from anybody and as an aspiring leader of my country I’ll expect Halifa to treat all our citizens with equal spirit of dignity and respect. And no, my assertion isn’t pollical but born out of the frustration of the lack of accountability I see in that country. If it was politically motivated I will not have given a list of all members of these committees and their associated parties which showed members of my own party.
More to the point however, Halifa failed to defend his colleague Hon Sidia, and left him to fend for himself and concentrated in clearing his own name. His main contention was the committee he chairs is not responsible in discharging justice and accountability and aimed at side stepping responsibility and casting blame on the auditor general whom he claimed has the “bread and knife” derived from the constitution in executing accountability and the obstruction of justice and accountability may be attributable to executive influence depending on the type of government we have. I know the auditor general is appointed by the president and I’d agree they will be prone to manipulation by the executive but what troubled me the most is Hon. Halifa, for a man of his standing do not seem to understand his role as an MP, the concepts of separation of powers, and the enormity of the powers vested on the committee he chairs by the constitution. Either that or the alternative to these is simply blatant disregard to his duties in holding the executive in check. The National Assembly, in which Halifa is part of, do not only have the same powers in directly scrutinising public spending as the auditor general, they also have the powers in scrutinising and to some extend punishing those responsible in scrutinising government spending including the auditor general.
Section 102(c) states:
In addition to the other powers conferred on the Assembly by this Constitution or any other law, the National National assembly may-
– examine the accounts and expenditure of the Government and other public bodies funded by public moneys and the reports of the Auditor General.
Also Section 109(3) states:
For the purpose of effectively performing its functions, each of the committees shall have all of the powers, rights and privileges as are vested in the High Court at a trial in respect of –
(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise;
(b) compelling the production of documents; and
(c) the issue of a commission or request to examine witnesses abroad.
So the law did not only give Halifa bread and Knife as the auditor general in dispensing justice and accountability, it also gives him a bigger cutlass to punish the likes of solicitor general for obstructing justice and accountability by conferring on him the same powers as the high courts. What is clear however is the lack of accountability that stands in glaring contrast with the blatant corruption and mismanagement of public funds that’s prevalent in the country. Halifa has given Barrow an enormous space for him to toil with the lives of our people by keeping quite while his supporters rejoice the misfortunes our country is going through as they deem them a UDP misfortune. This continued from the inception of Barrow govt despite the all prevailing issues from high crime rates including importation of cocaine, corruption, embezzlement of the COVID relief funds; environmental degradation and pillage of our marine resources to name a few. So Hon. Halifa really validated my point that he is not measuring up to expectations despite being equipped by the constitution to defend the truth which he claimed is in-line with the principles his party espouses – advocating for good governance and accountability.
The government has explained why investigations into more than two tons of cocaine seized at the country’s seaport taking long.
Gambian minister of interior Yankuba Sonko fielding questions from the country’s lawmakers said there cannot be a time-frame to an international investigation.
Mr Sonko said: “[In] international investigations, you cannot put a timeframe. You can [make] temporary seizures, temporary activities, until the main suspect is arrested. This is a criminal link, linking all the way to Ecuador – a lot of personalities are involved there, the Ecuadoran authorities are also investigating.
“We have to remember also that these drugs transited through many countries undetected until their arrival in The Gambia undetected. So if that chain has to be followed, revise back to where it originates, get all the required information to be able to charge them, not only putting them before the courts…
“Because if you put all the suspects before the courts here, that means the other suspects in the other countries will go scot-free. That’s going to be the end of the investigation.
“So this is why we are collaborating with international partners to make sure that the link is controlled from where they departed, in all transit areas and up to here. All we have as at now is only people we arrested here. We’re urging others to arrest others in other areas to dismantle the criminal gang.”
The nearly three tons of cocaine seized at the seaport in January is being kept at a safe location with 24 hours arm-guard, the minister of the interior Yankuba Sonko has said.
Speaking to the nation’s lawmakers on Wednesday, the internal security minister said: “The investigation into the seizure of 118 bags containing cocaine weighing two tons, 952 kilograms, 850grams in a container of industrial salt imported from Ecuador, South America by Circuit Long Trading Ltd on the 7th January 2021 at the seaport in The Gambia is steadily progressing so far.
“Two main suspects are charged in court for various offences including aggravated drug trafficking. International bench warrant and Interpol red notice are issued against the main suspect. Temporary freezing order is secured from the high court to block all accounts linked to the main suspect.
“The drugs seized are properly secured in a safe location with 24 hours arm-guard. It must be noted that this is typical transnational crime, thus the investigation has international dimension and a number of countries are concerned with the case and investigations are closely collaborating with investigators in those other countries in the evidence gathering.
“The national assembly select committee on defence and security has been briefed and are playing a needful leadership role to support the investigation.”
The National Assembly Member for Kombo South Kebba K Barrow has expressed frustration over the manner the case of Buba Drammeh is being handled by authorities.
Buba Drammeh allegedly shot to death Buba Jammeh amid violent confrontation between the people of Gunjur and Berending. Drammeh was detained at Mile 2 prison but he escaped from the high-security prison last year.
And expressing frustration at the handling of the issue at the National Assembly on Wednesday, KK Barrow said: “Honourable Speaker, I think action needs to be taken very quickly. This is a case that is 24 months now. The aggrieved persons and our discussions with the family, you have assured us that the report will be out as quickly as possible and it’s six months now, nothing is said about the report.
“So please get this report out as quickly as possible because it is important the people of Gunjur know what is happening in this case.”
The interior minister Yankuba Sonko who was at the House to answer questions from the lawmakers had earlier said: “The escape matter was investigated and the report has been sent to the attorney general’s office chambers for legal advice. In addition, a red notice has been issued by Interpol.
“The circumstances of the escape are all in. We have about three officers who are currently interdicted but unless as to what to do next from the AG’s Chambers, these officers will still remain under interdiction.”
By Fatou Camara II
The Global Youth Parliament Gambia Chapter has flagged off its Environmental Heroes Challenge along the streets of Kairaba Avenue aimed at keeping the environment clean and implementing the anti-littering law with the help of KMC under the leadership of its Mayor Talib Bensuda.
The group earlier this week commenced hoisting up red zone flags across the Kanifing Municipality.
Sainabou Jange Coordinator GYP Gambia KMC Chapter believes “it is not going to be an easy task and that is why we want to kick start with the sensitisation in the first month”.
“Shop owners are partners, partners in the sense they own shops on our streets and if they support by keeping their vicinity clean that would be a great achievement of course with the continued support of our various municipal Councils.
“In the second month we will be working towards implementing the anti-Llittering Law. We know there is an anti-littering Law but implementation is the problem so we are currently working with KMC so that we can work towards implementing it and anyone found littering on the streets would be held responsible,” she said.
Yandeh Jange GYP KMC parliamentarian for Latrikunda Sabijie challenged the general public to support the programme.
“Personally I don’t think there is need for one to wait for someone to sensitise him about the importance of keeping your own vicinity clean. Keeping our environment clean should be a collective responsibility. However, we are up to the task and I hope Gambians will add up to the task,” she said.
The Head of Anti Littering KMC, Landing Camara assured the organisation of his support under the leadership of Talib Ahmed Bensouda.
“GYP Gambia Chapter is handed to me as the Head of Anti Littering by the Mayor to support in this initiative. Therefore, I’ll give all the support. There is already an anti-littering law and we will help the organisation by making sure it is implemented,” he said.
By Fatou Camara II
The head of the anti-littering unit at Kanifing Municipal Council Landing Camara has said The Gambia is among the dirtiest countries in the world.
Mr Camara made this statement earlier this week as Global Youth Parliament KMC Chapter begun their Heroes Challenges Initiative along the streets of Kairaba Avenue. The project is aimed at keeping the environment clean but also ensuring the full implementation of anti-littering laws in Kanifing Municipality.
Mr Camara said of Gambia: “I wish to inform everyone that Gambia, we are among the dirtiest countries in the world. I‘m sorry to say because I’m a Gambian but this is the truth.
“You go to Darkar… Just Dakar alone is a population of over eight million and then compare the vast area the people of Senegal clean that can almost consumed the entire Gambia.
“In Dakar you hardly see a person throw litter but in the Gambia people do indiscriminate dumping, you will even see a person dig a hole in some streets for dirty water passage which is not in line with health and even religion.”
The Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Badjie has stated the government doesn’t have an issue with players refusing 11 million dalasis given to them by the government.
“Of course, it’s a gift, it’s a reward. You want to take it, that’s good enough. If somebody says I don’t want your gift, that’s as fair as any other thing. We don’t have any problem with the team refusing the money,” Mr Badjie told reporters at a press conference in Banjul on Wednesday amid the issue persisting.
The minister however made it clear the government appreciates the ‘tremendous’ efforts of the players in ensuring Gambia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“But we just think that it’s important that we clarify this but also tell the boys that as a ministry, as a government, we recognize their tremendous efforts in putting The Gambia out there,” he said.
The nation’s players refused to meet with President Adama Barrow over the presentation of a cheque of 11 million dalasis to them. They said the money is too small, according to people familiar with the issue.
Two National Assembly Members sacked by GDC for supporting President Adama Barrow are criminals, the party’s youth president has said.
MPs Salifu Jawo and Kebba Jallow have overtly shown support to President Barrow and the GDC unhappy with their action sacked them. Their dismissal was made official on Tuesday when the National Assembly declared them independent MPs.
The MPs insist it’s their people who voted them in office and not GDC but MC Cham Jnr said: “If they say GDC didn’t ensure they win is not true. There was a time you can’t even pay the deposit, it was the party that paid it for you, it was the party that campaigned for you, it was Mamma Kandeh’s image that you used.”
Cham Jnr added: “Salifu Jawo organized a meeting in Jokadu just yesterday. He took a bag of rice there and told his committee he was donating it to them. They almost beat him up. They told him he betrayed them, that if he was joining Barrow he should have informed them. These people even campaigned against the party.
“Kebba was in Niamina campaigning for NPP and Salifu was in Jokadu campaigning for the NPP candidate. So these are people who have long left the party but it was the National Assembly that delayed the announcement of their sacking from the party. They were still sitting on committees and benefitting in the name of the party. They are criminals, they are bandits.”
Civil society group Gambia Participates has sued the mayor of Banjul Rohey Malick Lowe, the Independent Electoral Commission and the Attorney General over the mayor’s power to issue birth attestation.
A row has erupted over the IEC empowering the mayor of Banjul to issue attestation amid Banjul not having either an alkalo or chief. Gambians have been protesting the decision.
And Gambia Participates has now sued both the Mayor and the IEC as well as the attorney general challenging the legality of the decision.
“It is our contention the unlawful issuance of attestation to constituents is not in conformity with the relevant laws of The Gambia, therefore a serious contravention of the Elections Act at the instance of both the Mayor of Banjul and the Independent Election Commission,” Gambia Participates said in a press release.
In their suit filed on Wednesday, Gambia Participates wants a declaration from the high court that the actions of the Mayor of Banjul in issuing attestation to constituents of the City of Banjul in the ongoing Independent Electoral Commission general voter registration violate the electoral act.
The group also want a declaration the actions of the IEC in conferring the power to the office of the mayor to administer attestation forms generated by the IEC for the purpose of claiming voter’s cards in Banjul violate the electoral act.
The group wants the high court to quash the decision of the IEC to bestow upon the mayor of Banjul the authority and power to issue attestation to constituents in Banjul. The group also wants the high court to set aside all attestation forms endorsed and or issued by the mayor of Banjul for which voter’s cards were issued by the IEC.
The group finally wants the high court to cancel all voter’s cards issued by the IEC that were supported by attestation forms issued or endorsed by the mayor of Banjul.
The Gambia Democratic Congress is in big trouble in terms of support, Jokadu national assembly member Salifu Jawo has said.
The sacking of Mr Jawo and fellow MP Kebba Jallow from GDC was confirmed on Tuesday following their declaration as independent MPs by the National Assembly.
GDC sacked them from the party and went ahead to inform the National Assembly about the move. The party accused them of straying from the cause of the party and showing overt support and loyalty to President Barrow.
But Salifu Jawo said: “He brought five seats to this parliament but as I am speaking to you, he is left with only two. Three has gone.
“So that’s a disaster to his party. So I am telling him that this 2021 election, Mamma Kandeh is going to see fire.”
