Police have issued a statement asking drivers to renew both their driver’s and vehicle licenses.

In a statement Wednesday, police said: “The Office of the Inspector General of Police wishes to announce to the general public, particularly vehicle owners and drivers that, they should renew their licenses on or before 15th April 2021.

“The Gambia Police Force will commence an exercise to check on all vehicles and drivers that have not got their licenses renewed for 2021. This exercise will begin on Monday 19th April 2021 and vehicles that are found unlicensed will be impounded. To avoid any inconvenience, all vehicle owners and drivers are urged to ensure that, their licenses are renewed for 2021’’

“The usual cooperation and understanding of the general public is highly solicited.”

The chief imam of Gunjur Fakawsu Touray has died, The Fatu Network has learnt.

The cleric died in Gunjur on Tuesday.

His age was not immediately known.

Gambians took turns on Wednesday to pay tributes to Solo Sandeng whose brutal murder five years ago sparked a huge campaign against former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule.

Sandeng was tortured to death in April, 2016 by security forces loyal to Jammeh after he took to the streets demanding reforms to the country’s electoral laws.

Wednesday marks five years of the tragic event and Gambians have taken to social media to honour the late UDP youth leader.

Below is what some Gambians are saying;

Bubacarr Sidiqi Jammeh: “Ebrima Solo Sandeng is a shining example for all of us. A patriot who was on the path of working for the country and seeing the best for the country… We can only look up to him.”

Ayesha Haruna Jammeh: “14 April is a day that Gambians should always remember and should always commemorate because this was the day that these brave men and women gave up their lives for The Gambia.

Alhagie Darboe: “Janko Solo was the catalyst of our changed. May your soul continue to rest in the highest place of Jaanah. Ameen.”

Coach Pasamba Jow: “Solo Sandeng has a special place in The Gambia’s history because of what he stood for. Because Solo stood for justice, Solo stood for democracy and Solo stood for liberty.”

By Ousman Jatta

The Serrekunda market is one of the Gambia’s biggest and busiest markets and as the holy month of Ramadan commences, businesses and businessmen at the market get to receiving a lot customers.

But vendor Mai Saidy is describing business in the market as hard. Prices of goods have shot through the roof and the impact is being felt.

“Now the business is very challenging, because the prices of goods have all increase, a times we find it very difficult to buy goods, to later sell it,” she says.

Sulayman Jallow another vendor says there has been an increase on the prices of goods.

“A bowl which used to cost for hundred dalasis (D100), it is now costing for D150,” he says.

Ramadan is an important month for Muslims. Because Muslims go the whole day without food and water, most find it necessary to stock up on food for their late evening and early morning meals.

But prices of these commodities are increasing by the day and that can only come off as big pain for them.

By Fatou Camara

Narations tell us the breaking of fast with dates is rooted in religious teachings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, who is quoted as saying: “When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then he should break his fast with water, for water is purifying. “

According to Islamic scholar Oustass Muhammed Sye, “it is significant for Muslims to break their fast with dates”.

“This is Sunnah, it is the way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Therefore I strongly advise all Muslims to consider breaking their fast with dates if they have it. In fact, is narrated the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to break his fast with dates in odd numbers and if he don’t have dates then he takes water three times in sequence then eat something else.  The sahabas followed this act and all Muslims to an extent WHO conducted a research on the fruit and came out with multiple health benefits,” the imam said.

Date vendor Rasidu Barry is a date trader for 15years. The man said Ramadan brings good business for him

“I’ve been in the date business for 15 years now. It is true that a business do not sell everyday but to be honest with you the business sells mostly during the month of Ramadan and I am glad the month is here and customers are coming to buy. This is good for my business.

“Even not for the business as a Muslim dates is something one should consider eating at the time of breaking the fast. It was the way of life of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” he said.

The Qur’an also narrates the incidence when Maryam, may Allah be pleased with her, was provided with fresh ripe dates when she was feeling pain during childbirth ,and this also served as a  reason for considering dates to be beneficial to pregnant women while experiencing contractions.

Momodou Sabally has commended government for letting women close early during Ramadan.

The government has authorized all female officials to close at 2pm from Monday to Thursday to enable them cook their iftar meals.

While the move has remained unpopular in many quarters, Sabally is welcoming of the idea.

He wrote on his official Facebook page today: “And also we must commend the Barrow administration for the magnanimous gesture of reducing working hours for women during this holy month of Ramadan.

“Wishing His Excellency the President and his entire administration Allah’s blessings and protection during this holy month and beyond.”

Joe Colley has been sworn in as deputy chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission official becoming the second most powerful man at Election House.

President Adama Barrow on Tuesday swore in the election expert at State House following his appointment as deputy chairperson a few weeks ago.

At the event, President Barrow said it is important that the country have an independent and impartial electoral body to conduct free and fair elections, State House said in a statement.

“As a government, the political will is 100 per cent, that we conduct free and fair elections. Africa and the entire world is looking up to The Gambia and 2021 is a very important year for this country,” President Barrow said, according to State House’s statement.

Colley said at the event, according to State House’s statement: “Being elevated from the secretariat to the Commission has caused me to reaffirm my unwavering commitment and courage to ensure the creation of a more level playing field in the political arena as the electoral laws of The Gambia have called for.”

The government is facing a backlash over its move for female officials to close at 2pm to enable them get home and cook for their families during Ramadan.

In a memo that has emerged online, the Personnel Management Office on Tuesday wrote to all permanent secretary informing them of authorizing all female workers to close at 2pm from Monday to Thursday “and adhere to the normal closing time for Friday (12:30pm) in honour of the holy month of Ramadan which officially begins today Tuesday 13 April, 2021”.

The missive said “this is to allow female staff to attend to their traditional evening ‘itar’ preparations ahead of the breaking of the fast”.

Gambians have reacted variously to the move with both Christians and non-Christians reacting.

Neneh Gomez blasted: “Christians are Gambians and we deserve to be treated as Gambians. What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. We christians observed our Lenten season for forty good days and I bet you all those Christians civil servants went to work while fasting and closed normal time. Ooops, least I forget, the Secretary General of the christian civil servants forgot to issue a directive for christian women to close work early.

“Thanks to the Secretary General  of the muslim civil servants under the dynamic leadership of the president of the Muslims in the Gambia, Adama Barrow, for looking after your people. When you are represented, you will never be considered. Unless the people at the helm of it are fair and considerate. Unfortunately our own people are the epitome of selfishness and inconsiderate.”

Annetta Titita wrote: “My fellow Christians women did you receive such letter during the lent period. Or are we invisible? treated differently by the government in our own country.

“I heard that SSHFC, did not allow Christians to go for afternoon mass during the lent period. Correct me if I’m wrong.

“Also women’s role is to be in the kitchen, as they’ve highlighted.”

Coach Pasamba Jow in lending his voice to the issue said: “The Gambia is NOT an Islamic State, it is a country of Muslims and Christians alike, who are all CITIZENS and must be treated equally as such. The patronizing and blatant discriminatory move by the Secretary General to order female Civil Servants to close at 2pm during the month of Ramadaan is absolutely repugnant. The Christians observed Lent without any such directives, begging the question: Why?

“Gambia Muslims have observed many Ramadaans without ever needing a Secretary General to come up with such a divisive and patronizing directive.  The Secretary General, and by extension the President, must always be guided by what is just and what is in the general interest of all Gambians. Ridiculous directives like this, do nothing but fan the flames of discord among a population that has lived harmoniously together.”

Pa Louis Thomasi said: “This is the height of recklessness and irresponsibility. How can the State come up with such an irresponsible and discriminatory letter? This is shameful and disrespectful to the Christian community of the Gambia.”

The government and Immoland Sarl on Tuesday signed a concession agreement for the construction of a five star hotel in the country ahead of the 2022 OIC Summit.

Providing luxurious accommodation for the summit guests is one of the key mandates of the Secretariat and the Gambia government, OIC Gambia said in a statement, adding, the hotel will have 400 rooms including presidential and royal suites.

The secretariat said: “Immoland Sarl will finance the project 100% while the government provides the land. According to the group Chairman, Mr. Abdoulie Thiam, construction is expected to begin by next month and will last for about 20 months.

“The Minister of Tourism, Hamat NK Bah, who signed on behalf of The Gambia government, described the partnership as ‘the biggest private investment in our tourism, ever’. Reiterating the significance of the partnership, the Minister added that the project will contribute to the economy by addressing the absence of a branded hotel franchise in the tourism sector.

“The Vice President lauded the venture stating that providing excellent accommodation facilities for the OIC Summit is a key infrastructural requirement. She assures Immoland Sarl of the government’s full support and stressed that it would continue to enhance the tourism potential of the country.

“The investment partnership was borne out of the desire to create and promote intra-Africa cooperation and regional integration, according to Chairperson of Immoland Sarl,” Mr. Abdoulie Thiam said according to OIC Gambia.

“Africans should begin to promote trade and investments among ourselves instead of always depending on foreign sources of financing’’, he said, according to OIC Gambia.

The event was attended by various Ministers and other dignitaries.

Karpowership has leapt to the aid of a staggering 150 families by giving them rice and sugar amid this year’s Ramadan. It is the fourth time the company is reaching out to Gambian families during Ramadan.

Speaking at the presentation of the foodstuff to the families on Monday at the Karpowership office in Fajara, Yankuba Mamburay country manager of the company said his company is much known for such programmes.

Mamburay said: “This is our third year of operation in The Gambia but this is our fourth presentation. Because the first year, we just started… Barely two months after starting, it was time for Ramadan and we went ahead and did something like this.

“Our name almost became synomyous with this kind of gesture, helping the community, helping the people even though our mandate primarily is electricity generation.

“We’re glad to be part of the development programmes of The Gambia. Electricity is very important, without it no nation can develop.”

Mamburay thanked NAWEC and the government for allowing his company to serve the Gambian people.

The families thanked Karpowership for the assistance. Each family was given one bag of 50kg rice, one bag of 50kg sugar and four packs of dates.

“I’m really happy and this is possible because of prayers. So let’s not forget prayers. We should pray for those who made this possible. This is indeed a good gesture and may Allah bless the act,” one of the beneficiaries said.

The event was attended by Fatou Camara, the chief executive officer of The Fatu Network and Sheriff Bojang, the Proprietor of The Standard newspaper, who are the PR partners of Karpowership.

Kexx Sanneh has written again describing QTV’s apology to him as ‘half-hearted and inadequate’.

QTV mistakenly used Kexx’s photo while reporting the arrest of Alagie Manneh of Sanyang. Sanyang had allegedly looted over D150,000 during violent protest in Sanyang last month.

Kexx then demanded an apology from QTV who has apologized but Kexx isn’t satisfied.

He wrote on Monday: “QTV has came [sic] up with an apology in their Wednesday 7th April 2021 newscast to me for negligently associating me to a police operation in Kombo Sanyang whereby one Alagie Manneh was arrested for allegedly stealing D 158,000.00, but used my image in the report.

“Again, QTV got my name wrong in their apology. Instead of Kemeseng Sanneh, the apology was directed to one Kebba Sanneh, which is legally inadmissible.

“Also, the apology was made only in the Wolof language, but the first broadcast was run in Fula, Mandinka and wollof. I am expecting QTV to proportionately apologise, as in the first broadcast. This is the position of law and professional journalism.”

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said on Tuesday it is ‘deeply’ perturbed by the spate of rape and other forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the country.

In a statement, NHRC said hardly a week passes by without the report of sexual violence against the female gender in the newspapers or on social media.

“A few days ago, it was the alleged rape of a 9-year-old girl by a 40-year-old man in Lamin, West Coast Region and the alleged rape and gruesome murder of a Grade 12 student in Busumbala. Our young girls and ladies are apparently not safe in their own homes, schools, on the streets and at the workplaces,” NHRC said.

It added: “A study on sexual harassment in the workplace in the Gambia, conducted by the NHRC in February 2021, indicates a high prevalence (74 per cent) of sexual harassment in our workplaces, especially in role allocation, promotion and employment seeking. Disproportionately but unsurprisingly, women form the majority of the victims and the workplace is the most identified location where the harassment occurs. The three highest types of workplace harassment are sexually suggestive comments and jokes, inappropriate staring and leering and the repeated or inappropriate invitation to go out on dates. The Demographic and Health Survey 2013 and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2018 both showed the disturbing prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence in our society.

“The NHRC regards all forms of sexual and gender-based violence as a serious violation of human rights and reprehensible abuse of power and authority and the highest betrayal of trust. As a statutory body mandated to promote and protect the rights of everyone within the Gambia, the NHRC  strongly urges the State, as the primary duty bearer, to take every legal measure and action to combat sexual abuse, violence and exploitation in the society.

“The NHRC further urges the Gambia Police Force to vigorously enforce the Children’s Act 2005, Sexual Offences Act 2013 and all other legislation that protect children and women from sexual violence and for the Ministry of Justice to ensure that alleged offenders are prosecuted. The laws must be enforced by investigating alleged perpetrators and successfully prosecuting the offenders. It is only in this way that impunity would be challenged and people’s confidence in the laws restored.

“In the same vein, we called on the Ministries of Health and Gender, Children and Social Welfare to intensify their efforts in the building of a more protective environment for victims of sexual violence. Essential services, including health, psychosocial and rehabilitation and reintegration programmes must be in place to support victims and survivors.

“While the NHRC appreciates the great efforts of the Media, including social media, in exposing these abuses and violations, we urge them to always bear in mind the best interest of the victims and strict observance of its ethical standards in the reporting of sexual and gender-based violence and children’s issues. The privacy, honour and dignity of the victims and survivors should always be given primary consideration.

“As a society, there is the need for us to begin serious conversations at all levels on the factors which engender sexual and gender-based violence and our individual roles in its perpetuation. We must interrogate those aspects of our culture, including patriarchy, which subordinate women, perpetuate masculinity and blame and cast aspersion on victims for their abuse and violations and encourage everyone especially our girls, women and children to report all forms of sexual and gender-based violence that they are subjected to or know about to the appropriate authorities.

“The NHRC understands that there are factors that inhibit victims and witnesses from reporting cases to the Police or other statutory bodies. To safeguard confidence in our protection system, statutory bodies with obligations to protect must ensure that cases are expeditiously investigated and perpetrators prosecuted for their crimes and that victims and whistleblowers are protected from victimization.

“The NHRC will continue to engage all the critical stakeholders and duty bearers to map out strategies for the effective protection of victims and survivors and to put an end to the impunity which has dampened confidence in our protection system. We must do more for the vulnerable members of our society and the protection of girls, women and children is paramount.”

Police are ramping up efforts to arrest a teenager who mowed down a man during a car race on Bertil Harding highway at the weekend.

Omar Seckan died after being killed by a car during a car racing reportedly involving a teenager.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie told The Fatu Network “the case is currently under investigation”.

“The driver is currently at large, meanwhile efforts to get him arrested are being intensified,” he added.

Gambia Action Party leader Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly has wished Gambian Muslim a blessed Ramadan.

In a statement on Tuesday, Batchilly said: “As Muslims in The Gambia and around the world commence their fast today, The Gambia Action Party wish them a month filled with Allah’s divine grace and blessing, protection and mercy. This is a unique and holiest moment that connects all the muslims around the world with renewed hope and love amongst them.

“Even in the midst of the pandemic when live seems otherwise, we urge the Muslim community to pray for the restoration of public safety and health in The Gambia. We wish every muslim in The Gambia and around the world a blissful month of Ramadan and may all supplication be answered.”

World Health Organization, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that “Confusion and complacency in addressing COVID-19 means the pandemic is a long way from over, but it can be brought under control in months with proven public health measures.”

While addressing a media briefing, the Director General insisted that “The COVID-19 pandemic is a long way from over. But we have many reasons for optimism. The decline in cases and deaths during the first two months of the year shows that this virus and its variants can be stopped,

“Transmission was being driven by confusion, complacency and inconsistency in public health measures.” He added.

Adhanom also spoke of the world now having seven consecutive weeks of increasing COVID-19 cases and four weeks of increasing deaths globally.

“In January and February, the world saw six consecutive weeks of declining cases. We have now seen seven consecutive weeks of increasing cases, and four weeks of increasing deaths. Last week was the fourth-highest number of cases in a single week so far,” Tedros said.

“We too want to see societies and economies reopening, and travel and trade resuming.

But right now, intensive care units in many countries are overflowing and people are dying – and it’s totally avoidable.” He said.

So far some 780 million vaccines have been administered globally, with a total of 137,322,644 people testing positive for COVID-19 globally,  2,961,025 deaths, 110,521,058 recoveries. (CGTN Africa)

Day 1 of Ramadan in Senegal will be on Wednesday after the moon crescent was not sighted in the country, according to local media.

Leral.net reported the moon crescent was not sighted on Monday in the country.

Ramadan in The Gambia began on Tuesday after the Supreme Islamic Council announced the moon was seen in North Bank and Upper River regions.

President Adama Barrow has sent his greetings and prayers to Gambians on the occasion of this year’s Ramadan.

Ramadan fast began in The Gambia on Tuesday.

And writing on his official Barrow PORG page, the president said: “Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims in The Gambia and around the world.

“As we begin the fast in this holy month, I pray that Allah continues to shower blessings on us and help us defeat Covid-19 to end the Coronavirus pandemic.”

Mamma Kandeh has pleaded with the nation’s security top officials to act against the rising crime in the country.

The GDC leader made the plea on Monday as he met supporters.

He said: “I call on the minister of interior, I call on the minister of defence, I call on the Inspector General of Police, I call on the director of intelligence. The reason I called on them is that our country has been destroyed. The country has no security.

“No Gambian is seeing nowadays, there is no secure place. Crime rate is high in Gambia. Killing is high in Gambia. We’re seeing something that has never happened in Gambia.

“The reason I called out these people and not Adama Barrow is because I want to take Adama Barrow out of the picture completely because Adama has failed.”