An Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital nurse allegedly attacked a patient Friday night after an altercation.

The Fatu Network gathered the patient had asked the nurse to flush the catheter but the nurse refused and went ahead to deliver an injection. Parts of the patient’s body later got swollen, according to one person familiar with the incident.

The patient who reportedly underwent surgery was then allegedly attacked by the nurse after a testy exchange, a witness told The Fatu Network.

The spokesman of EFSTH Kebba Sanneh told The Fatu Network he was not aware of the incident and could not comment on it. When asked if he could find out, he said he would not do that but then later said he would share with the outlet if he got anything on the issue on his desk on Monday.

NPP stalwart Seedy Njie has said every political party in the country agreed for the retroactive clause to be removed except UDP.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, Njie said: “Every political party in The Gambia accepted some of these recommendations and also came up with recommendations.

“And all the political parties accepted in the interest of the nation including the retroactive clause.

“Not only NPP but NPP and all the other political parties thought that it is targeting an individual and therefore it must not be in the constitution and we all indicated that it should be expunged only United Democratic Party that refused.”

Commentator Yunus Hydara has chipped into the talk over the doomed draft constitution warning that it was his patience that got tested ‘all day’.

In a write-up posted to his Facebook on Friday, Hydara said: “The conversation of the draft constitution has been testing my patience all day! The document is dead, thanks to Barrow for his selfishness. There is simply no time for its resurgence regardless what dialogue by who. In essence, all other political parties with three to no MPs are irrelevant; PDOIS and APRC wants the 97 constitution. It’s only the UDP who wishes the draft to pass as evidenced by our MPs unanimously voting for it.

“It’s Barrow’s loss, because he just missed on the one last opportunity to have the most significant objective of the transition agenda tagged to his name/legacy . Now Gambia have one option – vote Barrow out in Dec and vote UDP in. We shall give you the choice to decide on the draft constitution through a referendum.

“We will not stop at that, we shall invest in you, the people! We will invest in your health and well-being; we will invest in our youthful population through entrepreneurship and Education; We shall commit 10% of our National budget to revitalize agricultural sector by providing farmers with incentives, mechanical, storage, markets, transport and agricultural research facilities. We shall empower our women to realize their full potential and be more effective in contributing to the health and development of communities.”

Salieu Taal became a victim of much bashing on Friday after the lawyer’s comments about the draft constitution hodgepodge.

The Gambia Bar Association president writing in his personal capacity on his Facebook on Friday drew flaks by saying Gambians need to take off partisan colours and see Gambia.

“We need to have an honest and sincere conversation. We need to take off partisan colours and see [Gambia]. It is deplorable and disdainful that in 2021 Gambian political leaders have an impasse over whether or not to have a new constitution,” Taal wrote.

His moderate comments however did not sit well with some UDP supporters online with Pata Saidykhan setting the stage for a huge UDP onslaught.

“I have low tolerance for peope who misappropriate words. What we have going on with the Draft Constitution is anything but an Impasse. There’s no impasse here. Certainly not with or by Political leaders or parties. It is the PRESIDENT against the Majority aspirations. Period. I am troubled by attempts to blame the people when it’s only ONE person standing between you all and what you think is going to get the Gambia to the mountain top,” Pata wrote.

UDP Bubacarr Sidiqqi Jammeh was more brutal blasting Taal as disingenuous.

“See the disingenuousness of this guy? Where was this message when Barrow and his MPs were jubilating the demise of the draft constitution? Where was Sal Taal  when Barrow arrogantly declined to meet EU Officials then??

“Oh, so you’re afraid to call out barrow and his nonsensical amateur games, but quick to throw stones at UDP like were some freaking punching bags huh? Those days are gone my friend. This is not 2016 again when you fraudulently hijacked GambiaHasDecided and made it yours when you neither campaigned nor voted for the coalition to begin with,” Jammeh wrote.

But there are Gambians who have leapt to the defence of Taal saying he has a right to his opinion.

President Adama Barrow and UDP leader Ousainou Darboe have been asked to sit down and talk – and ‘one of them has to sacrifice for the nation’.

UDP have rejected any idea of tampering with the draft constitution and their stance meant there has been no deal over the document amid a plan to return it to the national assembly.

According to GDC leader Mamma Kandeh, President Barrow and Darboe “are the two groups that are holding us for now”.

“Because all the other political parties do not have any issue or any problem of supporting the draft constitution.

“But because of the retroactive section in the constitution, these are the two people or two groups that are holding us and I think they need to sit them down and one of them has to sacrifice for the nation. I see no reason why these two cannot sit together and negotiate. They both can sacrifice something for this nation,” Kandeh told The Fatu Network.

Thirteen Gambians have been rounded up in Italy, according to the Gambia Refugees Association -Europe Branch.

“At least 13 Gambian asylum seekers in Cagliari (Italy) were on 9th February 2021 arrested and taken to the Uta prison for questioning following the unexpected raid on them. The clampdown on the Gambian asylum seekers by Italian police in collaboration with Gambian Immigration officers is unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” the group said in a press release.

The group also said in its press release: “According to information from Italian police published in their website, the victims were called for identification and some of them are being targetted for deportation anytime soon.

“Information reaching our association indicates that most of those who were arrested had their documents stamped with a Red stamp and that they might be deported anytime soon although they have been released from custody.

“This action by the officers is uncalled for and the Gambia Refugees Association- Europe Branch has strongly condemned it.

“We are calling on the Gambia Government to stop sending Immigration officers to countries like Italy, Switzerland and Germany for identification of Gambians to be deported. This is not what we expect from our government. Our brothers and sisters in Italy, just like those in other countries in Europe and the entire Diaspora, deserve protection, support, guidance and encouragement for a better future.”

A 16-year-old girl has been suspended by her school for explicitly sharing the meaning of sexting emojis.

A Youtuber interviewed the girl on sexting emojis and the girl was explicit in her answers. She got interviewed while in her school uniform.

Alex Akimboyo the principal of Unity Comprehensive Senior Secondary School told Paradise TV the girl has been placed under suspension while they are looking for the ‘so-called’ journalist.

One sexting emoji shown to the girl by the Youtuber is the eggplant which symbolizes the penis and the girl did answer it correctly while insisting a man’s penis should be hard enough, in comments that have shocked her principal.

Goodluck Jonathan’s draft constitution talks have failed to produce positive results after days of talks, pushing the Gambian people’s desire for a new constitution into greater doubt.

Jonathan flew into the country on Monday for a final round of talks with the country’s political leaders including President Adama Barrow.

But the talks have failed to produce a deal as UDP leader Ousainou Darboe continued to stand his ground over the retroactive clause.

The retroactive clause deals with whether President Barrow’s current term should count. The draft constitution says it should but President Barrow and his supporters have disagreed prompting MPs loyal to him to vote against it in September last year.

The last two days, Wednesday and Tuesday, saw Jonathan meet with all of the country’s political leaders but the standoff between UDP and President Barrow’s NPP meant the talks have failed.

Still, at least two political party leaders told The Fatu Network International IDEA now wants to set up a committee that would be given three weeks to find a common ground around the retroactive clause standoff.

By Jaka Ceesay Jaiteh

As part of the Kanifing municipal council’s aim to revive all parks within its vicinity with trees and other facilities the municipality kicked start the project at the buffer-zone park which happens to be the KMC’s Central Park.

The Buffer Zone park is one of the biggest parks in the greater Banjul area and for decades has been used as a center for concerts, a football field among other activities.

The project is set to bring about changes and new facilities such as a well structured football field, wrestling ground, a playground, 120 solar lights, 134trees and also creating employment opportunities for the people of the community

Present at park was the lord Mayo Talib Ahmed Bensouda who expressed delight over the project and its impact. He promised to personally cover the expenses of rehabilitating the park’s football post “I will promise and pledge to the counselor that I will personally contribute to rehabilitating the post and also putting some football nets” said the Lord Mayor.

He added that the same would happen for other parks within the municipality.

Handling the project is the counselor of Tallinding South Karamo Ceesay. He assured that park would be under full supervision and well managed “a number of 10 individuals have been employed to handle park management such as security, toilet management and handling of the trees” he said. He further called on the people make good use of the facility.

Part of the plans is also to fully fence the park as it was some 15 years ago.

The High Commissioner of The Gambia to Senegal with accreditation to Mali and Burkina Faso Hadrammeh M Sidibeh has presented his Letters of Credence to the President of Senegal Macky Sall at a ceremony held at the Presidential palace in Dakar. It came on March 4.

Following the presentation of his Letters of Credence, High Commissioner Sidibeh conveyed a special greeting from President Adama Barrow to President Sall, foreign ministry said in a statement.

“He used the opportunity to commend President Sall, his Government and the People of Senegal for the support and solidarity the Gambian people have enjoyed from their Senegalese brothers and sisters.

“For his part, His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal extended fraternal greetings to His Excellency Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia. President Sall expressed his Government’s strong commitment to cementing the longstanding relationship and solidarity between Banjul and Dakar. 

“He promised to widen cooperation areas through the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council. President Sall said there is no doubt that the cordial relationship between The Gambia and Senegal is a blessing from the Almighty Allah whilst calling for more commitment to strengthen relations to greater heights.

“The two countries renewed their commitment to working closely within multilateral and international institutions in order to pursue the interest of people from both countries,” the foreign ministry said.

Senegalese President Macky Sall declared Thursday a day of national mourning in memory of those killed in recent unrest sparked by the arrest of a rival politician accused of rape.

Sall also announced in a statement Wednesday that a health emergency declaration due to the coronavirus pandemic would be lifted at midnight on March 19.

The declaration had led to restrictions, including a curfew in the capital Dakar — measures which added to frustrations highlighted in recent protests.

Senegal has recorded more than 36,000 COVID-19 cases and 935 deaths.

At least five people were killed in recent clashes between opposition supporters and security forces sparked by the March 3 arrest of Ousmane Sonko, a government critic popular with the country’s youth.

The violence, which the opposition says claimed 11 lives, came as a shock in a country often seen as a haven of stability in an otherwise volatile region.

Tensions only began to ease on Monday after a court freed Sonko from detention.

The 46-year-old was nonetheless also charged with rape, in a case which he claims was part of an effort to smear him.

An opposition collective that includes Sonko’s Pastef party has called for a day of mourning on Friday, urging people to wear white to commemorate protesters who had died.

The collective known as the Movement for Defence of Democracy, or M2D, has also urged supporters to gather for a peaceful demonstration in Dakar the following day to press for the release of what it described as political prisoners.

Sonko came third in 2019’s presidential election and is considered a contender for the 2024 vote. (AFP)

The Gambia Government has decided to reduce the newly imposed COVID-19 test fee for international travellers from D3,000 to D2,500.

Gambians complained after the government announced it would now charge travellers D3,000 for COVID-19 test and certification.

But in a statement by government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh on Thursday, the government said it is now reducing the fee by D500.

“This decision is consistent with ECOWAS recommendations in harmonizing issues governing the COVID-19 pandemic within the West African sub-region,” the government said in a statement.

The statement added: “Ever since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, The Gambia Government was among only a few countries globally that never charged fees for all COVID-related expenses including until very recently, exorbitant hotel expenses for mandatory quarantine.

“However, because of the rising costs of medical equipment, supplies and attendant logistical and financial burdens, The Gambia Government found it logical to share some of these costs with intending international travellers.”

Lamin Kaba Bajo has accepted sharing false information to the government of Ghana regarding the country’s citizens who were murdered in 2005.

Bajo was the nation’s foreign minister when the Ghanaians who were trying to reach Europe were rounded up and killed on the orders of former President Yahya Jammeh.

Bajo wrote a letter to his Ghanaian counterpart at the time telling him his citizens were only cautioned and released on humanitarian ground.

He appeared before the truth commission on Thursday where he told Essa Faal when it was put to him that he gave false information: “Yes I fully agree, 100%, based on what I learnt recently.”

“But Mr Bajo you sent this letter this letter to your counterpart in Ghana, you accept that is completely false information that was provided?” Essa Faal then asked him.

Bajo in his response said: “I learnt the reality of the facts based on the outcome of the TRRC.”

Essa Faal then press further: “How do you feel knowing that the letter you sent to your counterpart who is today the president of Ghana is completely false, it’s a cock and bull story?”

Bajo said: “I feel very bad, very embarrassed and I felt deceived.”

When Essa Faal asked him if he was actually misled or he just allowed himself to be “used to submit false information to a sister republic, friendly to this country”, Bajo disagreed.

“Not at all, I don’t agree with that. The story was not my own story,” Bajo said.

Two thieves on a motorbike smash the front window of a man’s car, grabbed a bag containing D350,000 and fled.

The owner of the bag pulled at Traffic Lights from the bank where the thieves carried out the brazen act, a witness told The Fatu Network. The thieves are said to have followed their victim.

The incident happened on Thursday.

The Fatu Network could not immediately reach the victim and police are yet to respond to a request for comment.

Former Presidential Affairs Minister and top UDP member, Momodou Sabally has provided a trophy and financial package for a tournament to be held in the Niani area of the Central River Region (CRR).

Sabally unveiled this initiative during a political event held at the town of Niani Sukuta, Sunday March 7, 2021.

Presenting a giant trophy to youth leader Morro Dampha in the presence of the Niani Constituency NAM, Honourable Alhagie Sillah, Sabally emphasised the need for young people to come together as one and help one another in developing their potential.

He stated that the tournament is non-partisan and all youths of Niani are free to participate regardless of political affiliation.

The tournament will be named after ancient king of Niani Mansa Kimintang Camara, with a view to revive the glorious past of the area.

In another side event, held at the village of Barajally, Sabally donated D40, 000 to the Islamic Institute of Barajally as token support towards the effective running of the school. He urged potential donors to come to the aid of the school since tuition fees are free for all students and the school plays a critical role in the development of the young people of that town.

The Federation of ECOWAS Business Women’s Association (FEBWA) presented medical items to His Excellency President Adama Barrow at a ceremony held at the State House in Banjul on Wednesday, 10th March 2021, according to State House.

In a statement, State House said: “The delegation was led to the presidency by Aja Ndey Conteh–Jallow, who commended President Barrow for the massive improvement in the country’s health sector, adding that the donation is to complement his government’s efforts. Mrs. Conteh–Jallow said the Barrow government has created an enabling environment for women to explore existing opportunities and upgrade their economic status in the country.

“President Adama Barrow thanked the Federation for supporting his government’s agenda in improving the health sector in The Gambia. He said the upgrading and improvement of the health sector is a priority for his government.

“The President shared his government’s plan to construct and renovate fifty (50) health facilities as well as introduce community ambulance services across the country, as previously announced during his last dialogue with the people tour.”

Mamma Kandeh has suggested a showdown between the two most powerful men in the country – President Adama Barrow and UDP leader Ousainou Darboe.

The nation’s political leaders have been holding talks over the beleaguered draft constitution but a deal has so far proved elusive.

Former Nigeria leader Goodluck Jonathan has been fronting the talks but they are now headed for complete collapse amid a huge standoff.

Darboe has continued to stand his ground that no changes should be made to the draft constitution including the so-called retroactive clause, a political leader who attended Wednesday’s talks at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre told The Fatu Network.

At Wednesday’s meeting, GDC leader Mamma Kandeh proposed that President Barrow and Darboe face off over the draft constitution, another political leader who attended the talks said.

The talks have now entered a final day.

President Adama Barrow on Wednesday became the first Gambian to get a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at State House and a raft of citizens including ministers, health workers and journalists quickly following suit.

President Barrow on Wednesday launched The Gambia’s National Vaccination Campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic at State House– where he assured citizens of the safety and effectiveness of the inoculation.

In launching the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the president said priority will be given to those who are highly at risk and the most vulnerable segments of the population.

“These are the frontline health workers, those aged sixty-five (65) and above, and people with health conditions. With the arrival of more vaccines, the campaign will be expanded to include other segments of the population,” President Barrow said.

The Gambia recently received 36,000 doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine under the Covax package. President Barrow branded it as ‘remarkable’.

“Let me reassure you that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for the prevention and control of COVID-19,” the president said.

With the nation also receiving 10,000 doses of the Sino-Pharma vaccine from Senegal, the president also expressed appreciation to Senegal.

“I thank my brother, His Excellency, President Macky Sall, for this kind gesture,” the president said.

The Independent Electoral Commission has gotten a new deputy IEC chairman in Joe Colley its erstwhile communications director.

The IEC has been combing for a new deputy chairman since the resignation of Malleh Sallah last year.

The appointment of Oreme Joiner last year backfired after it emerged he was a member of President Barrow’s National People’s Party.

The country’s electoral body now has a new deputy chairman in Joe Colley.

Colley confirmed his appointment to The Fatu Network and said it came on Tuesday in a letter. His appointment came from the president.