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.”

President Adama Barrow arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday afternoon amid his official visit of the kingdom.

In a statement, State House said the president arrived in the country accompanied by his Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow and other Senior Government Officials.

He was welcomed by the Governor of Madinah Province, Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, State House said.

The President will inaugurate the new Gambian Embassy and Ambassador’s residence, in addition to other engagements while in Saudi Arabia, State House added.

Mauritanian authorities have arrested former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, one of his lawyers said on Wednesday, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged high-level corruption during his time in office.

Abdel Aziz, who stepped down in 2019 after serving two five-year terms, was indicted in March and placed under house arrest in May, following a parliamentary investigation into suspected graft during his administration.

Abdel Aziz was taken into custody late on Tuesday for failing to appear before a judge last week, as he is required to do regularly under the terms of his judicial supervision, said Mohameden Ichidou, coordinator of the lawyers for his defence.

“The cause raised in the report relates to the absence of the former president in front of the judge on Friday and Sunday,” said Ichidou.

He said Abdel Aziz had stopped going to see the judge because each time he went he was followed by police and civilians along the road who hassled and threatened him.

The former president could not be reached on Wednesday for comment. He has previously denied the corruption allegations. (Reuters)

The Gambia Football Federation is engaged in talks with the nation’s players to accept the money the government gave them.

The president on Monday presented 11.1 million dalasis to the team manager of the Scorpions despite the players refusing to meet him. The players were unhappy with the sum and turned it down.

But according to the communication and marketing chief at GFF, there are talks between GFF and the players.

Baboucarr Camara told The Fatu Network: “The money is not only meant for the players but also the technical staff as well and the technical staff did not say anywhere they do not want the money.

“We are already engaging them and there are positive signs the players would accept the money.”

Former information minister Demba Ali Jawo has said Essa Faal’s comments he is not an Ahmadi but a pure Muslim no doubt seems to support the notion held by some Muslim fundamentalists that Ahmadis are not pure Muslims.

Mr Faal made the comments during an interview with Home Digital FM.

But according to DA Jawo, Mr Faal must have made the mistake unwittingly.

He said in a write-up: “However, while dispelling rumours that he was an Ahmadiyya, he unwittingly made a serious apparent gaffe by emphasizing that he was not an Ahmadi but ‘a pure’ Muslim which statement no doubt seems to support the notion held by some Muslim fundamentalists that Ahmadis are not ‘pure’ Muslims.

“It is possible that he did not realize the implications of that statement and we would expect him to apologize to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat for that apparent inadvertent gaffe.”

Ahmadis in The Gambia have continued come under attack from mainstream Muslims who brand them non-Muslims. Some of the nation’s clerics have even called for their execution.

The Independent Electoral Commission has registered more than half a million Gambians for the December presidential election.

In latest updates by Election House, IEC registered 556,766 Gambians with women continuing to lead men in registering.

The number of women who registered stood at 317,993 while that of the men stood at 238,773, according to IEC’s latest update of the voter registration.

It’s been just three weeks into the voter registration which end in mid-July.

By Ousman Jatta

Fatou Sillah second runner up of Miss Environment Gambia in April 2021 has expressed delight ahead of her next scheduled miss competition where she will be representing The Gambia at Miss Philanthropy Africa in Abuja, Nigeria in November of this year.

Speaking to The Fatu Network in a telephone interview, Fatou says she feels amazing to represent the Gambia. Fatou’s passion for modelling started at a very young age.

“As a kid growing I have always had passion for modelling,” she tells The Fatu Network.

Upon graduating from high school, Fatou wasted no time as she joined the Sky Modeling Agency, this was the beginning of her carrier in the modeling industry, where she was supposed to compete with other models in order to make a breakthrough in her career.

“There is a saying that a queen is not made over night, and being a winner does not only have to do with your talents”, Fatou said.  “Your attitude and character matters a lot, this was how my victory started.”

When ask about how she feels representing the Gambia in Abuja, Nigeria, Fatou says she feels great as this is her first time representing her country.

“I feel so amazing, it’s a challenge for me, because I am not going there as Fatou Sillah, I am going there as the Gambia.”

She encourages her fellow women to believe in their God given talents.

“If you can do something and you sure that you can do it let nothing stop you from doing it’’, Fatou advised women.

“You have to be persistent, and it does not only mean when you want to do anything you will be perfect at it, being persistent will help you to discover your inner talents and be a master in your trade’’, She adds.

By Sarjo Brito

A Gambian migrant and a native of Brikama Newtown by the name Ousainou Darboe reportedly in coma in an Italian hospital in the city of Fermo. Little information is known about him, or his family as fellow migrants share his pictures on social media in hopes of getting the family to reach out.

“This boy you are seeing here is a Gambian migrant. His name is Ousainou Darboe living in Italy but right now he is in hospital in coma and in a critical condition in a city call fermo in Italy.

“We are looking for his family members in Gambia. He is from Brikama Newtown. His father’s name is Buba Darboe, and his mother’s name is Mariama,” a plea statement said.

According to the European Council on Refugees, more than 30, 000 Gambian migrants have arrived in Italy between the years 2015 and 2020. The plight of Gambian migrants in Italy and other parts of Europe continue to be cause for concern as young people continue to embark on the perilous ‘backway’ journey.

The police officer testifying in the rape trial of Bubacarr Keita completed his testimony on Tuesday by saying they did not discover any tangible evidence the businessman raped the complainant.

Mr Keita, 29, has been standing trial for the alleged rape of his former wife’s 15-year-old sister. He denies any culpability.

And Musa Dumbuya a police detective at Piccadilly Police Post who said they initially charged Mr Keita with defilement of a minor finished giving evidence in his trial.

The police sergeant said on Tuesday they did not discover any ‘tangible’ evidence the accused raped the complainant when Mr Keita’s lawyer asked if they did during the course of their investigation.

But he quickly added: “What we know and confirmed is both the complainant, the accused and the victim were living in the same house.”

The police officer had earlier on gave evidence on why they didn’t drop charges against the complainant’s boyfriend since they’d confirmed the duo dated for only three months when they already confirmed medical test results showed the pregnancy of the complainant was ‘four to five months old’.

“As I told you yesterday, for the purposes of the investigation, Pa Modou was subjected to an investigation where he was cautioned and charged equally for defilement. If you see we did not drop charges against Pa Modou because at that stage at our level, the case file was demanded by the gender and child welfare unit at police headquarters from our gender and child welfare OC under Bundung Division because of the critical and sensitive nature of the case,” Mr Dumbuya said when the prosecuting lawyer Alasan Jobe asked why they did not drop the charges against Johm.

He added: “There, we handed over the case file together with the complainant, the victim and the accused person so that if there should be any amendments or any adjustments it can be done in the case file. A crime report was also attached to the case file, a soft copy of the crime report was also given to them so that if there would be amendments, they would do it. To answer counsel’s question, that’s the reason why we did not drop charges against Pa Modou Johm.”

Mr Dumbuya’s response came only after lawyers on both sides of the aisle sparred over the way the prosecuting lawyer framed his question. The defence lawyer Lamin Camara did not like his comment the police officer confirmed the complainant and her former boyfriend dated for only three months when the pregnancy was confirmed to be four to five months.

“My Lord I will object to that. He never confirmed that they dated for three months. He said they dated for three months. There is a difference between the two. We will be guided by the records,” Lamin Camara told Judge Momodou SM Jallow.

“Mr Lord, he said they confirmed. Yesterday he said they confirmed that Pa Modou Johm the ex-boyfriend of the complainant dated for only three months,” prosecuting lawyer Alasan Jobe replied.

“My Lord what he said is from his text message, he was saying from the text message, not from Pa Modou Johm. It said it was confirmed from the text messages they dated for three months. How he is paraphrasing it, it looks like [it’s] from Pa Modou Johm they confirmed,” Lamin Camara insisted.

The judge intervened by saying “you cannot do that, please limit your directions because otherwise it may confuse him (witness)”.

Elsewhere, the witness testified that it was normal for the gender and child welfare unit of the police to make alterations or recommendations to case files sent to them.

“Yes it’s normal,” the witness said while responding to the prosecuting lawyer’s question of normality.

The prosecuting lawyer then asked him: “My final question is are you surprised the state only charged the accused person?”

In his response, the police officer said he wasn’t. He said: “I am not surprised for the simple reason that the pregnancy test result indicated that in the case the pregnancy was four to five months old and the duration Pa Modou stated through the text messages when he was dating with the victim was only three months.

“And both Pa Modou and the victim stated that when they met they only stopped at kissing and hugging, they never went further. And the victim stated that apart from Pa Modou, she had no affair with any other boy or man.”

Lamin Camara quizzing the witness requested the accused person’s voluntary statement asked that it be given to the witness. He then sparked a fight from the prosecution when he asked the witness if it was correct it was the voluntary statement of the accused person.

“My Lord, we’re objecting to that,” prosecuting lawyer Alasan Jobe quickly said.

He then argued: “My Lord, last week this issue was raised. That the document was for ID purposes only. Now counsel is relying on it to cross-examine our witness. And he himself even said even the judge cannot even look at it and he is using the same document to cross-examine our witness.”

Lamin Camara fired back that no question has been asked on the content of the document.

“That is what you cannot do at the moment. I am asking the witness to identify the document, not the content,” Camara added.

Intervening, the judge said, ruling in the defence’s favour: “The voluntary statement of the accused person which had been hitherto ID1 is now admitted into evidence as Defence Exhibit C which aforesaid statement complies with all prima facie requirements for obtaining same wherein the accused person states, I quote, ‘no, I do not agree on above charge made against me’.”

The defence lawyer then asked the witness if it is correct that the accused person was being investigated for an allegation of rape.

“Yes, initially he was being investigated on defilement of a child under the age of 18, at our level at Piccadilly Police Post,” the witness said. He then said he never personally investigate him for the allegation of rape and that it was not to his knowledge if any of his colleague did.

Elsewhere during cross- examination, said they charged Keita with defilement of a girl but he strongly denied it. He also said some the evidence she gave on Tuesday was based on what the first witness in the trial and the complainant told him during the course of his investigations, as well as Pa Modou Johm the complainant’s former boyfriend.

By Sarjo Brito

The National Assembly on Monday, June 21st tabled a motion to summon the Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources to explain the wastage of fish in the coastal towns. The motion was moved by the Member of Parliament for Banjul South Honourable Touma Njie.

According to Honourable Njie, the motion is for the Gambian people to know the state of their resources and the apparent wastage of fish by foreign investments without any regulations or explanation from the Minister.

“Hon. speaker, I beg to move a motion under S53 of the standing order to summon the minister of fisheries and water resources as a matter of urgency to answer to this August Assembly as to the state of the fisheries department about the state of the coastal line as well as the wastage of the resources.

“Madam Speaker, this matter was brought here a long time ago and the Minister gave us false information and stated that the pictures are not from the Gambia but a foreign country. Madam speaker our citizens deserve to know the state of their resources, and this is in line with section 77(4) of the constitution. Thank you,” Njai said.

Touma’s move has been widely applauded by Gambians with some even demanding the Fisheries Ministry be raided by the Police Prosecution Department and jail anyone found wanting. The Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources made headlines some few months ago following a bribery scandal involving the Permanent Secretary Dr Bamba Banja.

The scandal was unravelled by investigative newspaper Malagen with an audio recording of Dr Banja allegedly telling officials of a Chinese fishing firm “this one I will share with my Minister”. Banja has since been put on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Towns along the coast continue fight for their source of income and environment as it becomes a harbour for Chinese fishing vessels and fishmeal factories.

There has been increasing demands from the residents and environmentalists for the closure of these factories as they continue to cause extensive economic and environmental damages.

The fisheries minister James Gomez is now set to appear before MPs on Wednesday to answer questions after MPs agreed to the motion.

Musician Gee has said he will neither vote for President Adama Barrow nor UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

Gee real name Gibou Bala Gaye was a few years ago the country’s top rapper but he has gone silent these days with the likes of Jizzle now taking charge of the scene.

In a tweet on Monday, Gee who appears interested in the country’s politics said: “Both @BarrowPresident & @ODarboeOfficial wouldn’t have my vote. Nothing they’ve done has given me confidence that they could lead Gambia; besides they’re younger and smarter people around.

“But I forget it’s Gambia, people support based on tribe, alliance/affiliation and so on.”

President Barrow and UDP leader Darboe however appear to be the two leading contenders in the December 4 presidential election.

The ministry of health has announced law enforcement officers shall embark on full enforcement of the ban on public smoking.

In a statement on Monday, the ministry said smokers have been flouting the law prohibiting smoking in public places.

“…the Ministry has noted with concern the low compliance rate among the general public and institutions in spite of the numerous radio, television and community engagement programmmes conducted to sensitize the pubic on the law and regulations.

“With all the all the necessary preparations in place, the public is hereby further reminded that with immediate effect the law enforcement officers shall embark on full enforcement of the law and regulations,” the ministry said.

The Gambia has two laws banning smoking in public places, the Tobacco Control Act of 2016 and the Tobacco Control Regulations of 2019.

State House has said in a statement President Adama Barrow awarded a total of GMD14.1 million to three sports teams. The sum of GMD11.1 million was given to the Senior Scorpions, GMD2.5 million to the Under 20 Scorpions, and half a million dalasis given to the U-19 National Volleyball team.

“The awards are given in recognition of the teams’ outstanding performances in various international competitions particularly the Scorpions for The Gambia’s maiden qualification in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon,” State House said in a statement.

It added: “President Barrow made the presentations today at the State House in Banjul. The ceremony was witnessed by representatives of the various teams, Technicians from GFF and Volleyball team as well as the athletes.

“In their vote of thanks, Tijan Marr, captain of the U-20 squad, and Lamin Jammeh, 1st Vice President of the National Volleyball team, both praised President Barrow and his government for the award and continued support for the development of sports in the country.

“The Honourable Ministers of Youth and Sports, Tourism and Culture and Fisheries joined the President to welcome the team.

“Honourable Bakary Badjie, Minister for Youth and Sports said despite competing national development priorities, Government continues to provide the limited resources to encourage sports development and support to sports men and women.”

The presentation comes amid the nation’s senior players opting not to meet the president as they protested the money government wanted to give them was small. They were invited to State House but declined the invitation.

The nation’s players were absent at Monday’s presentation of a cheque of 11 million dalasis as they continued to protest the decision of government to give them ‘only’ 11 million dalasis to share.

The nation’s senior national team propelled the country to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in our history – but a row has erupted over their bonuses.

People familiar with the issue had told The Fatu Network the players ‘feel insulted’ by the 11 million sum, going by what each will get after it’s split.

Gambia Football Federation officials were at State House on Monday but the players did not turn up, one official said. The cheque of 11.1 million dalasis was however collected by the team’s manager.

The Fatu Network understands most of the nation’s footballers are currently on holiday in the country.