Unknown persons have entered Alliance for National Reorientation and Development leader General Lamin Bojang’s family home in Brufut and set his car on fire.
The attack took place early Thursday.
The former military general confirmed the incident to The Fatu Network and said police have visited scene and collected evidence.
The political leader is yet to know the reason behind the attack.
By Yero Jallow
Scores of families in villages of the Upper Fulladu West district in the Central River Region, South have been left homeless and some seriously injured after Wednesday’s night strong windstorm.
The villages affected by the windstorm number nine including Sare Madi, Sare Jabel, Sare Kanimang and Sare Njobo.
Houses were brought down by the windstorm, animals killed, foodstuffs destroyed and some people injured after the collapse of buildings.
The executive director of the National Disaster Management Agency Sana Dahaba has handed the nation an idea of the full extent of the damage caused by Wednesday night’s windstorm.
A powerful windstorm hit the country at around 10pm Wednesday night tearing the roof of many homes. Hundreds of families are now without shelter.
But according to the nation’s disaster chief, more than 3000 people have been affected.
Sana Dahaba told reporters on Thursday: “As we are speaking 3140 people have already been affected. There is 10 fatalities and 1531 internally displaced.
“This is very, very, very serious. The assessment is ongoing. Before government can determine the kind of response that the government would provide, they must have a credible and dependable data.”
NAWEC said on Thursday the powerful windstorm on Wednesday night severely affected its power transmission and distribution network across the country.
The powerful windstorm hit the country at around 10pm on Wednesday – and vast parts of the country were quickly thrown into darkness.
Citizens in parts of the greater Banjul area have confirmed not having power or water as of Thursday morning.
In a statement, NAWEC said its transmission and distribution network across the country has been severely affected, particularly the GBA.
In some areas trees have fallen on transmission lines which is causing extended blackouts at the moment, NAWEC said.
“Our engineers are currently going round to assess the situation and we will be working round the clock to quickly restore power in the areas less affected, while taking reasonable measures to address the major damages,” NAWEC said.
The National Human Rights Commission has gotten a new executive secretary in Dr Saikou Kawsu Gassama.
Dr Gassama was appointed to the role on July 1 by the commission, replacing Dr Cherno Omar Barry.
Dr Gassama had previously worked in the civil service, holding roles such as secretary to cabinet and permanent secretary at the Office of the President.
He also worked as director at the Gambia Prison Service.
The Gambia has been nominated to Chair the Africa Group of Permanent Representatives at the United Nations in New York for the month of July.
The Africa Group at the United Nations is made up of 54 African Union Member States. The bloc coordinates efforts on various topics, ranging from health and migration to issues of peace and security.
The Group holds regular meetings to receive briefings from guests and UN officials and discuss on UN Resolutions and topics in order to reach a common African position.
Speaking as The Gambia begins Chairing the Africa Group, The Gambia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lang Yabou stressed the importance of prioritising African issues at the UN.
Ambassador Yabou said as the continent is undergoing meteoric transformation, it would need the continuous support of all its partners and friends, especially the United Nations. The Gambian Ambassador pointed out that as representative of the African continent at the United Nations, they must continue to rise to the occasion by constantly making sure Africa’s priorities are not only on the table for discussion but the outcomes of those discussions are implemented positively in Africa’s best interest.
The Gambian Ambassador said, “as we approach the 76th Session of the General Assembly, Africa should raise its voice more, to call for adequate financing for SDGs, vaccine availability, financing its recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, institutional strengthening, climate finance, and addressing the challenge of peacekeeping finance and peace and security in general.”
Ambassador Yabou observed that as the impact of COVID-19 would put a lot of people in abject poverty, he called for multilateral solutions, equity relating to vaccine access and distribution and substantial resources for other development priorities should continue to form part of the campaign during the 76th Session.
He challenged members of the Africa Group to prepare adequately and raise their voice during the forthcoming preparatory meetings for the Food Systems Summit in September 2021 and the Fifth United Nations Conference on the LDCs (LDC V) slated for January 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
The Gambia’s Permanent Representative said Africa has enough potential to thrive on its own, noting that the continent needs the cultural and social-economic space.
He went on: “It is my considered view that Africa is not asking for much from the global body. Africa’s legitimate demands have been the correction of past historical injustices, and for our continent’s fair share of the global social political-economic, and cultural space that it needs. Indeed, it is Africa’s legitimate right to ask for its fair share of global development and fair representation in global institutions.”
In this connection, the Ambassador said Africa’s Group task should be to continue asking for the advancement of these demands, preserving African dignity, solidarity, culture, shared values, and continuous advocacy for the alignment of global development policies and programmes with Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Advocating these issues, The Gambia’s Ambassador added, “always remind ourselves that, we can only achieve our aims and aspirations for the continent as its people at the multilateral arena by demonstrating unity through the preservation of African solidarity.”
Ambassador Yabou used the opportunity to call for greater African unity both in speech and action, urging his colleagues within the African Group to have each other’s back.
He added: “When we are united in our representation functions and actions, we do so to defend the continent and its interests. We become each other’s keeper and collectively we would achieve the best for our people. As Ambassadors, we must always remain the voice of conscience and must keep the momentum high.”
Commenting on the challenges of the Africa Group, Ambassador Yabou noted “as we progress in this crucial Decade of Action, it would remain critical for us to continue engaging our thoughts concerning the questions: what can we do to silence the guns in Africa? What can we do to sustain our peace? What can we do to ensure sustainable and predictable financing for African-led initiatives especially in peacekeeping, women and youth empowerment, climate change, poverty alleviation, research, inclusive COVID-19 recovery, and development financing? and finally, what can we do to make the UN and its organs fit for today’s world and meet the expectations of our continent and its people?”
“When it comes to calling for accountability, justice and equal treatment, equal and fair geographical representation, elections, and IGN processes, it is crucial for Africa to always speak with one voice and ensure that our focus on reforms take an all-inclusive approach that would encompass reforms of all the organs, functions, and most importantly, the development pillar of the UN system. And also, this is when African solidarity and brotherhood (sisterhood) as well as, our pioneered expanded cooperation with CARICOM should matter most,” the Gambian Ambassador posited.
Ambassador Yabou said the problems Africa faces are rooted in harsh realities of the past that are unpleasant to look at and much more difficult to comprehend. However, he added that shying away from those problems, would only worsen the situation, and crave the indulgence of his colleagues to advocate for correction.
He went on: “Africa and Africans have what it takes to build the Africa we want and posterity would not judge us well if, we fail to take charge of our own narrative to preserve and promote the best interest of the continent and its people.”
The Gambian Ambassador ends his speech with a solemn call for the Africa Group to always act together in incurring the preservation of African unity, solidarity, voice, culture, and heritage. He wished all members a happy month of July whilst wishing all successful 76th Session in advance.
President Adama Barrow has called an emergency meeting of stakeholders following Wednesday night’s windstorm.
An unsual windstorm struck parts of the country including the greater Banjul area Wednesday night – and by Thursday morning, the nation began making sense of the destruction.
In a statement, State House said the president has been informed of the disaster “that caused loss of lives and properties to many families and individuals, following the destruction the windstorm caused in different parts of the country”.
“The damages occurred on Wednesday night, 7th July 2021, and has disrupted electricity, water, and other services.
“President Barrow extends his deepest condolences and sympathy to the families that lost their loved ones and empathise with victims, and all those affected throughout the country. The President sermoned an emergency meeting to conduct a rapid assessment of the damages to advise the Government accordingly.
“Meanwhile, the President urges good samaritans to support in any way they can to ease the burden on affected families while his Government assesses the needed support,” State House said.
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency has confirmed arresting Lamin Touray who goes by the street name Mosquito.
Mr Touray has been detained after seven bags containing 65 big bundles of cannabis were allegedly seized from him on July 1 at Sukuta.
“He loaded the drugs from Cassamance and distrusted some before his interception, pursuit and arrest. Lamin is one of the most notorious cannabis transporters in the Gambia given the huge quantity with which he is always arrested. He has strong links with cannabis farmers and rebels in Cassamance.
During questioning, Lamin touray claimed that he is transporting the drug in order to make some money and pay his lawyer in the ongoing drug case. He was to be paid D25,000.00 for his transportation service,” the DLEAG said.
According to DLEAG, Mr Touray has been involved in multiple drug cases in the past that his ‘criminal’ record revealed that he was on 4th August 2016 arrested with 65 bundles (56KG 380G) of cannabis at Kotu on board his vehicle while transporting and distributing.
“Subsequently, he was charged before kanifing magistrates Court. At the end of the trial, he was acquitted and discharged,” DLEAG said.
The agency said elsewhere about him: “On 27th June 2018, he was arrested with 34 BUNDLES (37KG 20G) in his house and 126 BUNDLES (123KG 20G) in his vehicle (BJL 1068 J) at his residence in Brikama. He was accordingly charged before the Brikama Magistrates Court but acquitted and discharged by Magistrate PETER NCHE on untenable grounds and his vehicle in which substantial quantity of cannabis was recovered was returned to him by the same court. AG Chambers is currently appealing the case. Meanwhile, on 11th September 2020, a minor Alieu saine (Mosquito’s In-Law) and Fanding Bajong (Prison Officer) were arrested onboard the same vehicle (BJL 1068 J) with 5 big bundles of Cannabis at Brusubi while on distribution. They are currently standing trial
“0n 2nd February 2020, he was arrested with 45 BUNDLES (37KG 640G) and 6 STONES (38G 400MG) at Sukuta while transporting and later charged before the Brikama Magistrates Court. This case is currently proceeding.
“It is however interesting that while Lamin Touray accrued to himself all these criminal records, he will only spend short time in remand and will succeed in securing bail from the high court come back to society and continues trafficking cannabis.
“It is worth noting that the arrest of Alieu Saine (minor) and Fanding Bojang confirms that Lamin Touray is introducing and using other people including minors and security officers in his drug trafficking enterprise.”
By Fatou Camara II
The December presidential election is only months away and Gambians have been busy registering to vote. From Banjul to Koina, the IEC has installed voter registration centres everywhere to enable eligible Gambians to register. The exercise is well noticed in Basse.
Mustapha Dampha is the IEC official at the Basse Community Center and he told The Fatu Network, the registration is going on smoothly at the center.
“People are coming out even though the turn out is less compare to the privious center. The area is a commercial area and people go about their businesses so they only come around when they have time to,” he said.
Eighteen-year-old Kumba Drammeh was out to get her voter’s card. She called on her peers to get their voters cards.
“I’m out to get my voter’s card to enable me vote come December because for me, it is not only a right but a responsibility. I just hope my peers will understand this and do the same,” she said.
Standing beside Kumba was Momodou Lamin Sillah. Muhamed shares the same age as Kumba. He said: “I feel great to know I got a voter’s card to enable me vote for my choice of candidate in the coming presidential elections.”
In Basse, the voter’s registration has been going on smoothly. This part of the GAMBIA will play an important role in deciding which candidate goes to State House come December.
A new police officer witness in the rape trial of Bubacarr Keita has said the complainant in the case said in a statement at the police station the businessman raped her.
Lisa Colley who did not wear a uniform began testifying in the case on Wednesday at the high court in Bundung.
She told Judge Momodou SM Jallow she came to know Mr Keita when a complaint was lodged against him at Picadilly Police Post in late 2019 when she was stationed there.
“The complaint was laid by [complainant’s elder sister],” she testified.
The police officer who holds the rank of detective corporal the complainant’s sister came with the complainant herself.
She testified: “Upon receiving the complaint, the complaint was registered in the diary [and] a case file was opened and then sent to the child welfare office.
“Upon receiving the case file from the charge office, both parties were invited and we heard from both parties what happened.”
The witness clarified that both parties meant the complainant and the accused Bubacarr Keita when asked by prosecuting lawyer Alasan Jobe what he meant by ‘both parties’.
She continued: “We first heard from the complainant. In her statement, she state that she was raped by one Bubacarr Keita whom we came to know as the accused person.
“Upon hearing from both parties, the investigation started. I personally left the charge office to visit the complainant’s residence at Tabokoto. Upon my arrival at the complainant’s house, we came to know that the accused and the victim were living in the same house, their doors were just opposite [each other]. From there we came back to the station. The following day, we went to the Kanifing General Hospital in Serrekunda.”
Her testimony continues on Thursday.
By Madi Jobarteh
Did I hear some NAMs lament on the floor of the National Assembly that Gambians in the diaspora will not vote in the December polls? Why are they lamenting? Are they serious? If not them, who is to blame? The truth is, no one is failing this country other than NAMs and political parties, especially those parties that have representatives in the National Assembly.
Let’s check the history. When the Minister of Finance brought the 2021 budget estimates to the National Assembly in November 2020, NAMs saw the budget for the IEC. If they were interested in diaspora registration and voting, they would have made sure that the money was there and given to IEC. Instead, NAMs decided to slice the budget of the IEC, claiming it was too much.
But at that time, the Minister of Finance did say that the budget included money for the registration of Gambian diaspora. But several months later, the same Finance minister told NAMs that such money was not allocated after all. Right there and then, NAMs should have scolded the Finance minister to produce the money or sack him by using Section 75 of the Constitution. But NAMs failed to do that. Why?
Since 2017, this Government has brought several supplementary appropriation bills before NAMs which they approved. The Government brought those requests for projects that they were interested in. But no NAM ever asked the Government to also bring a supplementary appropriation bill for the diaspora registration and voting. Why?
Every NAM has a right to present a private member’s bill to either amend the Constitution, or the Elections Act or create a whole new law. Hence any NAM or a group of NAMs could have proposed a bill that sought to make sure the right kind of law is created just to ensure that diaspora is registered and vote. But no one did it. Why?
Furthermore, any NAM could propose a motion on the floor of the National Assembly to ask that the Gambia Government provide the money to the IEC to make sure the diaspora is registered and vote in December and all public elections. But no NAM ever did that. Why? Yet we know that NAMs have placed many motions on the floor of the parliament that got supported by everyone. Therefore, why was there no motion for diaspora voting?
Yet all of these NAMs are from political parties, but we have seen no party that had ever asked its members to pursue the above actions. Not UDP, GDC, PDOIS, NRP, APRC, PPP, NPP, and the Independents. No one ever suggested to their NAMs to take action. Why?
Any NAM or any relevant parliamentary committee such as the human rights and constitutional matters committee could have summoned the President under section 77(2), or summon the Vice President or any minister under Section 77(4) to question and demand them to make sure the diaspora register and vote. But this was not done even though NAMs have that power. Why?
Also, any political party could have gone to the High Court or the Supreme Court to seek an order for the Government and the IEC to make sure the diaspora register and vote. But no party did that, ever. Why?
Also, any political party could have asked its supporters to protest in the middle of Banjul to demand that the diaspora register and vote. But no political party ever did that. Why?
Also, any party could have written to the President to demand him to ensure that the diaspora register and vote. But no party ever did that. Why?
Above all, NAMs have the power and the opportunity and the resources to have amended the Constitution or the Elections Act since 2017 to ensure that the diaspora register and vote. But no such amendment ever took place even though NAMs did amend Section 91(1)(d) to secure their own tenure, made through a private member’s bill proposed by the Minority Leader Samba Jallow, the NAM from NRP. We also saw the Executive propose the amendment of Section 62(1)(b) to remove the upper age limit for president as well as Section 141(2)(b) to remove the same upper age limit for judges. Why not for diaspora vote?
But here we are in July 2021, at the very eve of the December election, NAMs could not even still pass the elections bill so that we have a new elections law in time for the presidential election! For several months now they have this elections bill with them, and even went around the country with it for so-called public hearings, yet the session ended yesterday without passing the elections bill. Why?
But they have the time and the temerity to stand up in the adjournment debate to lament the lack of diaspora voting! Seriously?
Indeed, no NAM or political party and the Executive have any moral authority to complain about the lack of diaspora voting. This is because they killed it. They have the power, the opportunity and the resources to make it happen. But they flatly refused to make it happen yet they want to lament here as if they ever cared. How?
Stop the lip service. Hold your NAMs and Political Parties Accountable.
For The Gambia Our Homeland
The registrar of the University of The Gambia Dr Momodou Lamin Tarro has hit back at claims UTG is as bad a primary school producing poor graduates.
The head of the faculty and staff association of the UTG Dr Alieu Gibba charged in an interview with The Fatu Netwok that UTG was like a primary school.
But speaking to The Fatu Network on Tuesday, Dr Momodou Lamin Tarro hit back: “That is not coming from the management. This is coming from an aggrieved person. I can tell you that our students are very good. They have travelled out of this country and they have won laurels.
“Some of them have gone to Oxford, others have gone to Australia, New Zealand and other places. If what was taught here was sub-standard, they would not have attained that feat. So people are free to say whatever they want.
“To say that the students are not of good quality is a very serious statement. These are students who have fulfilled the eligibility criteria for enrolment and that is it. We know there a quite a lot of challenges here and there. But nevertheless, they are good.”
Government lawyers at National Agency for Legal Aid have decided to end their strike after a meeting with the civil service chief and solicitor general on Monday.
The lawyers last week proceeded on a sit-down strike over low pay and the poor condition of work at NALA.
The lawyers complained that their salaries were low compared with that of those who work at the ministry of justice – and that the only car they use was so bad the female lawyers were having their skirts torn by it.
But in a new development on Wednesday, the lawyers have decided to apply the brake on their strike following a fruitful meeting.
The meeting took place on Monday involving the lawyers, the secretary general and head of the civil service and the solicitor general, one person familiar with the issue said. The government has given them assurance that their demands would be addressed, the person added.
Four disciples of a marabout in Mbacke, Senegal have been arrested by police and detained at Diourbel prison.
S Niang, M. M. Fall, C. T. Sarr and D. Dieng were arrested after cannabis was found in their car on Tuesday, according to Senego, relying on SourceA.
The beleaguered disciples reportedly said they were travelling to meet the marabout to give him the car as a gift.
The Independent Electoral Commission has announced registering over 800,000 Gambians for the presidential election in December.
The IEC will conclude its voter registration exercise on Sunday after nearly one and a half months.
In their latest update however, the IEC said it registered 856,719 voters where 488,416 are women and 368,303 are men.
Madison, Wisconsin police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with last Tuesday shooting death at a Far East Side motel.
Jalyn L. Cain-Roberson, of Madison, is tentatively charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of 18-year-old Dembo Jammeh.
Cain-Roberson was being held in the Dane County Jail on Friday awaiting a court appearance.
Last Friday, the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Jammeh as the victim.
Jammeh was found just after 8:30 p.m. last Tuesday in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn at 4830 Hayes Road and died later at a local hospital, according to police and the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Police said the shooting, which they believe was targeted, remains under investigation. (Madison.com)
APRC spokesman Musa Amul Nyassi has pooh-poohed claims the party was behind Saturday’s attack on UDP officials on voter registration monitoring in Kanilai.
UDP’s Ebrima Dibba and four others fled Kanilai as the youth of the village descended on them in an attack that has attracted widespread condemnation.
But according to top APRC chieftain Musa Amul Nyassi, APRC never sanctioned the attack.
Amul said: “People will automatically attribute it to APRC supporters and conclude because it happened in Kanilai. Because we all know that Kanilai is the birthplace of the party. Kanilai I can say is the headquarters of the APRC and one can conclude to say Kanilai is a community where APRC has 100% support.
“So I believe this is why people are attributing it to APRC supporters but the intent was not to come as APRC and attack the UDP team that was on the voter registration monitoring exercise. Yes we will accept the responsibility but we will let the general public know that it’s not something that has been incited by the party.
“Kanilai is as safe as any community in this country. And I can tell you it’s 100% guaranteed, that be it a journalist or a political party, you are 100% safe to enter into Kanilai. Kanilai being the birthplace of the former president and the supreme leader of the party has nothing to do with insecurity.”
