Police have confirmed ‘apprehending’ a yellow pickup truck belonging to UDP.

Police said in a statement: “Patrol Team C of Bundung Division on 17th April 2021, during night patrols apprehended a yellow pickup truck belonging to the United Democratic Party and driven by Yusupha Jambang of Sukuta.

“The driver failed to stop for checking resulting to his immediate pursue. While evading security check, he caused considerable damages to the patrol vehicle.

“Evidence of suspected cannabis were found in the vehicle leading to the arrest of the driver.

“Since it’s a drug related matter, the case has been handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of the Gambia for further actions.

“Meanwhile, the Traffic Department of the Police is assessing the damages caused to the patrol vehicle.”

A mechanic risked facing his fate all alone and without UDP on Saturday after he arrested for allegedly being in possession of cannabis.

There was much chatter among Gambians online on Saturday as reports emerged of cannabis being retrieved from a UDP vehicle.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie did not immediately get back to The Fatu Network on the issue but UDP has now issued a statement distancing itself from the issue.

The party in a statement said: “It has come to the attention of the United Democratic Party that one of our vehicles that was on maintenance at a mechanic workshop was last night intercepted by the police patrol team and bonds of cannabis were found with the driver.

“The UDP wants to make it categorically clear that the driver at the time of the incident is not a member of the party but a mechanic tasked to repair the vehicle in question.

“The United Democratic Party commends the Gambia Police Force for its continued vigilance in fighting crime and asks that a thorough investigation be done and the culprits punished for breaking the laws of The Gambia to the letter.

“The UDP is disappointed that the mechanic betrayed the trust of the party by allegedly being in possession of cannabis while using our vehicle. The party is offering to cooperate with the police to make sure this matter is put to rest; and the UDP continues to strive for a crime-free Gambia.

Two girls aged 15 and 12 died on Saturday morning after they got trapped in their apartment amid a fire outbreak.

The girls identified as Fatima Barry and Oumie Barry tragically lost their lives while they mother was left hospitalized in a fire outbreak at their Tallinding apartment.

Tallinding MP Fatoumatta Jawara confirmed the incident and explained to journalist Kebba Camara how her husband put the dead bodies of the two girls in his car and drove them to the hospital.

She said: “I was in my house at around 1am last night when I heard people shouting. I told my husband it looked like fire but he told me it was a fight. I came outside and saw the house engulfed by the fire.

“I then woke the neigbours and then called the fire service who responded quickly. But before they came, the fire had already devastated the house and two people died, the two girls and the mother suffered burns on her hand.”

They will be laid to rest Saturday evening.

By DailyMail

The Queen wiped away tears and was forced to mourn alone away from her family in St George’s Chapel during Prince Philip’s Covid-hit Windsor Castle funeral today as she said an emotional final goodbye to her ‘strength and stay’ after their extraordinary 73-year life together.

Her Majesty looked grief-stricken and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved husband’s coffin on its final journey while their eldest son Prince Charles cried as he walked behind the casket into church followed by other devastated royals.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers with a handwritten note from his wife as pallbearers placed him on to his extraordinary self-designed green Land Rover Defender hearse in the castle’s quadrangle packed with hundreds of armed personnel.

After the eight minute procession and the 50 minute service, his coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault. A lament was played by a lone piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Last Post was then sounded by buglers of Philip’s beloved Royal Marines who then played Action Stations at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pronounced the Blessing before the 30 royal mourners silently filed out of the church into cars to take them the short journey back to castle. Harry and William decided to walk back with Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and were seen smiling speaking animatedly as they were reunited for the first time in a year where their relationship became fractured.

The emotional Queen had arrived at the funeral as the national anthem played and the royal Bentley stopped next to her beloved husband’s coffin, where she poignantly paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in remembrance of the duke, wiping tears from her eyes.

Her Majesty was then driven to St George’s Chapel with her lady in waiting Susan Hussey, before being sat alone at the front of the church where she stood and bowed her head during the national minute’s silence. She looked at the coffin throughout the poignant service, where the majority of her children and grandchildren were on the verge of tears.

Following behind the coffin was the royal procession, led by Philip’s children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, followed but the feuding brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, viewed as a ‘peacemaker’ between the two.

The Duke of Cambridge entered the chapel one place ahead of his younger brother, as the mourners filed into the historic gothic chapel without saying anything to each other. But they later spoke as they walked back to the castle, with Kate taking a step back to let them spend time alone.

The Queen had decided that no royals should wear military uniform after Prince Andrew demanded to dress as an Admiral and Prince Harry was stripped of his titles. They were allowed to wear their medals, however. Andrew was seen driving away in a casual suit and aviator sunglasses around an hour after the funeral ended.

The Queen wore Queen Mary’s Richmond Brooch, while Camilla wore the Rifles Brooch. The Duchess of Cornwall wore the brooch in July 2020 when Philip’s role as Colonel-in-Chief of the infantry regiment The Rifles was formally handed over to her.

Kate wore a necklace and earrings borrowed from the Queen.

After the funeral ended at 3.49pm, the Queen led the Royal Family from the chapel, followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

IEC deputy chairman Joseph Colley cut short his appearance on The Brunch on Saturday afternoon amid a confrontation with host Lamin Cham.

Colley and Cham took on each other in an astonishing showdown on The Brunch on Kerr Fatou that saw confused guests Samba Jallow and Sait Matty Jow struggle to separate the two men with Samba Jallow saying at one moment: “We’re not here for this.”

Cham who is the editor-in-chief of The Standard newspaper sparked tension when he asked Colley about blank voter’s cards retrieved in streets recently that sparked concern among citizens.

“No, no this is the problem I have with people… They like inference. You’re deducing or inferring,” Colley blasted at Cham when the veteran journalist told him nobody questions the integrity of the people in IEC but the way the cards were disposed of. Cham said the people suggested it spelt the IEC’s insensitivity to the protection of the “sensitive document” in its custody.

The back-and-forth then degenerated further with Colley saying “we’re never insensitive” referring to IEC officials.

“That is what you’re saying. I want you to withdraw that,” a frustrated Colley added.

Cham bit back: “You have to accept the fact that these documents are sensitive.”

“Don’t put things into my mouth,” Colley fired back, point his finger at Cham.

The two men continued talking over each other with Cham saying the people think something like voter’s cards are sensitive.

“Let’s talk about the facts, you don’t put your feeling there,” Colley told Cham.

“But they have a right to tell you an institution such as yours should be sensitive to the documents you have whether they are old or new,” Cham responded.

“No, no let me go,” Colley then said standing up. He then took back his seat after his co-guest Sait Matty Jow asked him not to, with Cham also telling him, “no, sit down.”

“I’m telling you what the people felt,” Cham said, renewing the exchange.

“That’s people’s problem. That’s your own problem,” Colley replied.

Cham then said: “I am a citizen of The Gambia…”

“This man has a problem and he must be told his problem,” Colley told Cham.

Cham fired back: “I am telling you what the people felt about you in handling the cards.”

A confused Samba Jallow then interjected: “Listen, honestly we are not here for this.”

“He has an ulterior motive,” Colley said but Cham replied that he has no ulterior motive.

Cham then said: “You have to accept there is a bit on negligence from the IEC.”

“What negligence is there,” Colley asked.

“Negligence… Why should sensitive documents like that are disposed in the street. It erodes confidence,” Cham said.

“I have accepted the mode, so why is he talking about negligence,” Colley responded.

“Gambian people have lived with so many mistakes by the IEC, simple mistakes,” Cham blasted.

“This man has an agenda,” Colley replied and then left the interview saying he had other things to do.

“Bye Bye for now,” Cham told him.

Police have said a total of eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the ‘unwarranted’ attack on the newly inaugurated Immigration post at Gunjur.

Police said in a statement Friday: “The arrested suspects are: Momodou Barry, Momodou Yerro Gaye and Amadou Wurry Jallow all Conakry Guineans. Carlos Sambou and Domingo Manneh Bissau Guineans. Muhammed Silva, Lamin Jarju and Banjul Sanyang all Gambians.

“Investigations revealed that the attack was conducted during early hours of Friday 9th April 2021 at 02:00 hrs. The assailants were armed with sticks, cutlasses and a single barrel rifle. Several knives and cutlasses were recovered from one of the suspects.

“Two Immigration Officers and a Fire Fighter sustained injuries as a result of the attack and currently receiving treatment. The suspects are currently being processed for court actions.”

Gambians have been hammering the government since reports emerged online of justice ministry officials taking 10 million dalasis in money given to The Gambia over the Rohingya.

What’s On Gambia in a Facebook post on Thursday said six government officials were pocketing between two million dalasis and 1.4 million dalasis from money donated by the Bangladeshi government to support The Gambia at the International Court of Justice.

The current justice minister Dawda Jallow as well as his predecessor Abubacarr Tambadou were named to be among the officials set to share 10 million dalasis among themselves.

An investigation by The Fatu Network revealed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in November 2019 approved a budget to pay the legal fees of international law firm Foley Hoag that ran into more than five million dollars. The budget also include honoraria for local legal officials who were set to work with Foley Hoag.

One person who is familiar with the issue confirmed that the local lawyers at the ministry of justice who are to work with Foley Hoag on the ICJ case were to receive $200,000 honoraria.

Still, one named official said ‘some’ people do not know the definition of a scandal as the official explained that all the work done including a 500-page memorial of The Gambia to the ICJ was the joint work of the two legal teams, Foley Hoag and the local lawyers. The total amount payable to the international firm is over five million dollars and we are crying over $200,000 being paid to our own lawyers, the official said.

Another official told The Fatu Network: “What is being said is a lie. The OIC had a budget for the case. The budget included fees for the international law firm and honoraria for the local lawyers working on the case.

“The whole budget per annum is 1.5 million dollars goes to the international law firm and $200,000 goes to the local lawyers working on the case with the international law firm. Many countries made contributions, it’s not just Bangladesh. It’s a budget that is with the OIC in Saudi. I’m confused by Gambians.

“So they don’t have a problem with 1.5 million dollars to foreigners in a law firm but they have a problem with $200,000 coming to Gambians. The law firm has been dealing with many countries and it is practice that whenever there is an international case by a state, there has to be local counterparts.”

Justice Minister Dawda Jallow told The Fatu Network his ministry will respond to the claims at the appropriate time.

Villa Glori State Police arrested a 28-year-old Senegalese citizen on Thursday for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Agents from the Villa Glori police station, led by Anna Galdieri, have arrested S. M., a 28-year-old Senegalese citizen, for drug trafficking, according to Senego, relying on an Italian outlet.

The police, after discovering a strange comings and goings of people in the vicinity of Piazza Re di Roma, focused their attention on a young man, noticing that he was walking home cautiously, almost as if he feared to be followed, Senego reported. He was said to have tried jumping through the window when he was arrested.

Senego said a search found 5,470 grams of marijuana, 91 grams of cocaine, 108 grams of heroin, 1 gram of black cocaine and 970 euros in cash, a Rolex watch, a Patek Philippe Geneve watch, two precision scales and seven mobile phones.

The World Bank Board on Friday approved $8 million additional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to provide The Gambia with safe and effective vaccine purchase and deployment.

“With this additional financing, the World Bank is helping The Gambia strengthen their pandemic response and health care systems, as well as scale up its vaccination campaign, with a total contribution of $19 million towards the implementation of the Government’s National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan,” said Feyi Boroffice, World Bank Resident Representative for The Gambia.

The additional financing for Gambia COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Response Project will strengthen immunization systems and service delivery capacity to support the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. It will expand The Gambia’s access to vaccines, through direct purchases from manufacturers and other arrangements through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust convened by the African Union.

“The COVAX Facility will provide vaccine doses to cover 480,000 people and this additional financing from the World Bank will make it possible to have sufficient vaccine doses to cover 980,000 more people, with nearly all adults in the Gambia having access,” said Samuel Mills, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. “It is now important for people to be adequately informed that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risk of not getting the vaccine.”

To help prepare the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 vaccines, the government conducted a vaccine readiness assessment with support from the World Bank, the World Health Organizations (WHO), the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI). The assessment showed that the country has trained medical staff, a monitoring system in place, as well as adequate storage capacity to handle both routine vaccines and COVID-19 vaccine at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. This additional financing will also support the procurement of ultracold freezers to augment the cold chain to store vaccines such as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which require sub-zero storage, and the freezers will subsequently be used by the National Blood Transfusion Center for storing blood plasma.

In addition, the World Bank has supported the Ministry of Health in procuring innovative and environment friendly health care waste treatment technology to allow safe decontamination in hospitals. The Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony will be held tomorrow for the construction of clinical waste treatment centers at Farato and at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. The project contributed to the renovation of the Ndemban Clinic, which operates as a COVID-19 treatment center, and procured 10 ambulances for intensive care, critical life-saving medical equipment and supplies, as well as six pickup trucks and 18 motorcycles to facilitate contact tracing and response.

This $8 million funding package for The Gambia is one of several projects in support for the COVID-19 vaccination effort across Africa and other regions. Today, the World Bank Board also approved additional financing for Côte d’Ivoire ($100 million), Eswatini ($5 million), Rwanda ($30 million), El Salvador ($50 million) and Honduras ($20 million).

Madi Jobarteh has insisted the April 16, 2016 protest galvanized the Gambian masses against fear and sparked the ‘unstoppable’ journey to liberation.

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe along with a raft of UDP top officials took to the streets five years ago today on April 16, 2016 to demand for the release of Solo Sandeng who led a protest two days earlier.

And writing on the event, Madi Jobarteh said: “This was the catalyst moment that galvanized the masses against fear and the unstoppable journey to liberation.

“Future historians and students of politics must review the April 14 and April 16 protests to establish their nexus and the emergence of a national resistance that finally culminated into a coalition.

“These protests gave the background and the impetus that would see the masses of the people rally behind their political leaders determined to end tyranny.

“Bravo to these senior citizens! May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace. The Struggle Continues…”

The Solo Sandeng Foundation has paid tribute to UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and all those who took to the streets on April 16, 2016 demanding the ‘dead-or-alive’ release of Solo Sandeng.

Solo Sandeng’s arrest on April 14 and his subsequent murder prompted UDP leaders and rank-and-file supporters to take to the streets to demand for his release. They were stopped by riot police who brutalized them with the likes of Darboe later sent to Mile Two.

Friday marks five years of the event and the Solo Sandeng Foundation in a statement signed by President Fatoumatta Sandeng Darboe said: “As we remember another historic day of our struggle to restore democracy in The Gambia, we pay homage to the gallant men and women who on the 16th of April 2016 took to the streets to demand for the release of Solo Sandeng and the rest of the Westfield protesters of 14/4/16. They chanted “Release Solo Sandeng dead or alive”. Face to face with forces of one of Africa’s most brutal dictatorships, their lives have not been the same ever after, because with a great spirit of patriotism they paid the price in sweat, blood and in jail terms. The April 14th Protest gave birth to the April 16th Protest and many more resistances that followed, therefore the need for this day to be celebrated and remembered equally.

“Five years on we honor, recognize, and respect the sacrifices of these patriots for country. Generations of Gambians unborn will learn about them and the true patriotic senses they all possess.

“The Solo Sandeng Foundation also calls on the government of The Gambia to ensure that justice is served for the April 14/16 protesters and all victims in The Gambia. This as is evident is the only way for our nation to go through proper healing and reconcile with the gruesome atrocities that occurred in this country for 22 years.

“On behalf of the Sandeng family, the Solo sandeng Foundation wishes all a reflective and proud April 16th anniversary. We pray for colleagues of our father, grandfather, husband, and icon to continue to withstand the life changing effects of this day and we reaffirm our gratitude to their resolve for justice and peace in our beloved Gambia.”

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has reacted to comments by critics he turned a blind eye to the wrong decisions of the Barrow government when he was part of it.

Darboe served as foreign minister and vice president in the early days of President Adama Barrow’s government. He was sacked in 2018 as tension reached boiling point between him and his political son, President Barrow.

He is now a regular critic of the actions and decisions of the Barrow government but his critics would always knock back at him that he never criticized the government when he was part of it.

But Darboe told The Fatu Network, while answering questions on vehicles that were donated by an anonymous donor and later given to the country’s MPs: “People think that when you’re in government, things happen and you keep quiet about them. In fact I was disciplining one of the youths in the party and the president didn’t like it… So it wasn’t that I wasn’t speaking, I was.”

Brikama Area Council Chairman Sheriffo Sonko has rendered thanks to God for his victory against United Democratic Party.

Sonko came out on top after UDP sued the IEC and himself for by-elections to be held in the chairmanship of Brikama Area Council after the party sacked him. But the Supreme Court last month ruled in Sonko’s favour by saying the law UDP relied on was faulty.

And reacting to the development, Sonko told The Fatu Network: “I feel very relieved and relaxed. Why? Because my family was very disturbed. UDP has caused a very big problem in my family. My family members, maybe some of them did not have the strong faith like I may have.

“[They] were afraid that our breadwinner is going to lose his job. So I’m relieved the way they were happy that day. So I thank Allah for that victory. God will never support those kinds of things. The war against me was so evil, it was personal and this personal attack went into the party.”

The risk of developing a blood clot after having COVID-19 is eight times higher than after being given the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, according to a study by Oxford University.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) occurred in 39 in a million COVID-19 patients, compared with about five in a million people given the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In the study of over 500,000 coronavirus patients, the risk was reported to be around 100 times higher than normal after infection.

Numerous countries have limited use of the vaccine to certain age groups or paused its rollout – with Denmark even dropping the jab from its vaccination programme permanently – following reports of very rare cases of blood clots.

The UK’s medical regulator has said the vaccine is still safe and effective but has limited its use in those under 30 as this age group is less at risk of becoming seriously ill with coronavirus.

However, the Oxford study suggested around a third (30 percent) of the CVT reports after COVID-19 infection were in people under 30.

Scientists have said the technology used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, harnessing an adenovirus, has been linked to a slightly increased risk of blood clots.

It’s the same explanation for the Johnson& Johnson vaccine, which has been paused in the US after a handful of clotting reports there. (CGTN Africa)

Respected youth leader leader Lamin K Saidy has put his mouth into a debate that has erupted after the government this week authorized female civil servants to close early to enable them cook for their families.

A debate erupted around the move with some women’s rights activists branding it as sexist. Some said it was designed to condemn women to the kitchen.

Lamin K Saidy wrote Thursday: “Greeter percentage of our women take pride in preparing food for their husbands an family member and that never changed their status as dignified person(s).

“Again, the tragedy is that most of us are not practicing what we preaching to the young ones.

“Most women desires the contrary….they wanna cook for their husbands.

“I support women empowerment with the context of religion,  harmless cultures etc.”

Landing 13 Badjie who was the nation’s top police officer in the mid-2000s has died, The Fatu Network has learnt.

Badjie is said to have died in Dakar on Thursday.

He is a former Inspector General of Police under former President Yahya Jammeh’s regime.

People’s Progressive Party has called on Gambians to commit themselves to peace and stability in an election year.

In a Ramadan statement signed by Kebba E Jallow, PPP said: “As the auspicious month of Ramadan starts, may the Crescent month brighten your path with fulfillment and peace through the grace of Allah.

“2020 was an extremely difficult year for humanity. So let us use the Holly month of Ramadan as a moment of reflection and opportunity to remember those lost loved ones and those in their sick beds.

“Let us renew our commitment to the spirit of neighborliness that characterizes Gambian as caring, sharing, and forgiving peoples.

“2021 is an election year in The Gambia So let us all pray and commit ourselves to peace and stability.

“The benefit of peace and stability is too great, and the good thing is that we can all contribute to it by preaching and sensitizing our families and friends to exercise decorum in our political discussions. We should encourage political tolerance that we are all brothers and Sister Keeper. 

“I call on all Gambians and non-Gambians resident in the country to pray very hard during the Holly month of Ramadan that Allah’s blessing and grace see us through the December 4th electoral process peacefully. 

“On behalf of the People’s progressive Party, I wish you all Ramadan Mubarak.”

About seven in 10 citizens or 69 per cent of Gambians believe prayer is more effective than a vaccine in preventing one contracting coronavirus, according to a new survey.

In a new report dubbed ‘Views on Covid-19 and government’s response to the pandemic’, most Gambians believe prayer is a more effective means to preventing Covid-19.

The survey was conducted by Afrobarometer, a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.

The report on Covid-19 was released on Wednesday and on its findings on vaccine, “about seven in 10 citizens (69%) say prayer is more effective than a vaccine would be in preventing COVID-19 infection, including 52% who think prayer is “much more effective.”

Researchers interviewed Gambians who are aged 18 and above with respondents selected randomly.

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe has said he doesn’t owe Gambians an apology over his comments of legal action against anyone who tried to have President Barrow step down at three years.

President Barrow had initially pledged to serve for only three years but UDP leader Darboe balked at any attempt to have Barrow leave power at three years as talk intensified for the president to honour his promise. This was in the early days of the coalition government.

But speaking to The Fatu Network on Wednesday, Darboe stood his ground saying: “If to say that anybody who wants to use force… Bring me the agreement and we test it against the constitution. If that is offensive, then I owe no apology to the Gambian people because I am going by the constitution of this country.

“After all, we came in to say there should be a proper constitutional order, there should be adherence to the constitution.

“So if my statement that adherence to the constitution is regarded as emboldening Barrow then those who profess to be constitutionalists are really not constitutionalists, they’re something else. So I have no regret about it and I do not apologise to anybody about it, for standing by the constitution.”