Citizens’ Alliance (CA) said it received news of the demise of Mamour Jobe with the utmost sadness.

CA said: “Mr. Jobe was known to have been a patriotic citizen who devoted his entire life to serving God and humanity. He has contributed immensely in promoting and uplifting the police sector.

“It is without a modicum of doubt that his demise has cast waves of shock across the country and has left a massive vacuum in the nation’s police service.

“On behalf of the leadership and entire membership of the Citizens’ Alliance (CA), we commiserate with Mr. Jobe’s family and express our sincere condolences to the nation at large. We pray that Allah have mercy with him and rest his soul in Jannatul Firdaws.”

Gambia Action Party has said it is saddened to have learned the ‘untimely’ death of Alhaji Mamour Jobe, the Inspector General of the Gambia Police Force.

“Indeed, it’s a national loss as Mr Jobe spent his entire life in the service of the Gambia and his professionalism is unquestionable,” GAP in a statement signed by leader Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly said.

The statement added: “During his tenure in office, he contributed towards making the Gambia free from crimes and it’s related issues. He regulated our Police Force and make it envious around the world, that led to many young and energetic Gambians join the force to protect our brothers and sisters. Undoubtedly, his legacy will continue to be written in the good pages of the Police Force and the nation in general.

“As we bid our final moment with you, GAP is committed to maintain your records and closely work with the men and women for posterity reasons that you worked profusely and diligently in your time in the service of our dear nation.

“On behalf of GAP, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the Police Force and the government of the Gambia. May Allah in his exalted power reward you with Jannatul Fiirdaous and forgive his transgressions, Ameen.”

Tributes have continued to pour in for Mamour Jobe following the top police officer’s passing on Saturday afternoon.

Gambia Democratic Congress in a statement described his passing as “a sad and great loss to the Gambia”.

“Mamour Jobe will be mourned for a long time, as his hard work and relentless service to the country and the security sector earned him a reputable name in our country. He was known to be kind, polite and dedicated to national duties,” GDC said.

“The GDC recognizes his service to the nation, through the ranks and cadres of our security services.

“The GDC mourns his demise and pray that Allah grant him the highest residence in Jannah and look after his family,” GDC added.

Legendary Senegal musician Thione Seck has died after a brief illness, according to Senego.

Seck who battled it out with the likes of Youssou Ndour in Senegal’s Mbalax music scene for many decades died early Sunday, the outlet said. He was 66.

Thione is music superstar Wally Seck’s father.

United Democratic Party has issued a statement commiserating with whole nation on the passing of police chief Mamour Jobe. Jobe died on Saturday after a brief illness.

UDP said in a statement signed by leader Ousainou Darboe: “On behalf of the National Executive Committee, the entire United Democratic Party and indeed on my behalf, we write to express our deepest condolences and sympathies on the sudden passing of Alhaji Mamour Jobe the Inspector General of the Gambia Police Force- to his immediate family, the extended family in Ballaghar and the rest of the nation.

“IGP Jobe rendered great service to the Gambia Police Force, he served for many years as the head of the Police Training School and during the difficult days of the dictatorship he always conducted himself with utmost professionalism, a grateful nation mourns his untimely death.

“We pray that Almighty Allah the most merciful, the most beneficent may grant his soul al Jannah. This message is extended to His Excellency, Mr Adama Barrow,  President of the Republic of the Gambia and indeed to all the members of Cabinet.”

President Adama Barrow has reacted to the death of the nation’s Inspector General of Police Mamour Jobe saying he is shocked and saddened by it.

“What a great loss to the country! I am shocked and sadden [sic] by the sudden death of Inspector General [of Police] Mamour Jobe,” the president wrote a short while ago.

Police have issued a statement announcing the passing away of Mamour Jobe, their Inspector General.

In a statement, police said: “The Office of the Inspector General of Police, the entire Management and staff of the Gambia Police Force, regret to announce the sudden demise of IGP Alhagie Mamour Jobe, who passed away today the 13th March 2021 at Medicare Clinic.

“This sad news is extended to The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed and Security Services, His Excellency Mr Adama Barrow, Vice President, Her Excellency Dr. Isatou Touray, the Minister of Interior Hon. Yankuba JN Sonko, Service Chiefs, friends and relatives in the Gambia and abroad.

“He will be laid to rest tomorrow the 14th March 2021 at 14:00hrs at Sinchu Alagie.”

Tributes poured in for Mamour Jobe following his sudden passing Saturday afternoon in hospital.

Jobe’s policing career spanned nearly four decades. He died at the Medicare Clinic after a brief illness.

Police DIG Abdoulie Sanyang confirmed the top cop’s passing to The Fatu Network.

CA leader Dr Ismaila Ceesay said ‘I adored him’ as he reacted to Jobe’s death.

“He was a patriot who served his country with distinction. I adored him,” Dr Ceesay commented.

“IGP Mamour Jobe will be remembered for professionalism and patriotism to the national duties,” Yankuba Sinera said.

The National Human Rights Commission also issued a statement saying it had a very good working relationship with Jobe “who was very cooperative and we have closely worked together to build the capacity of the Police Force and to streamline Human Rights in their day to day work.”

Jobe first became the Inspector General of Police in July 2018 following the resignation of Landing Kinteh. In August 2020, he clinched a two-year deal to stay on as the nation’s top police officer following his retirement.

Jobe’s time as IGP would be most remembered for the Three Years Jotna quandary when he had to use his judgement to either issue or not issue a permit to the group as it went about protesting against President Adama Barrow’s rule.

But one act that drew him admiration was when he promoted a junior police officer Kaddy Jarju after a photo showing the officer standing in the rain and directing traffic emerged online.

But Jobe’s passing will come as a shock to many Gambians as he just last week appeared before the TRRC where he helped the commission with certain basic information regarding how police go about keeping their diaries. The TRRC had been investigating the death of West African migrants killed in the country in 2005 on the orders of former President Yahya Jammeh. He looked hale and hearty.

UDP faithful Mansa Sumareh has left UDP and joined President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party, in a stunning move.

Sumareh was a staunch UDP supporter, with his support for the party spanning decades.

He was President Barrow’s driver but fell out with the president following a diplomatic passport scandal.

Sumareh has now gone back to the president after they met on Friday.

He confirmed his decision to join NPP saying ‘it’s true, what has happened has happened’.

“I seek forgiveness from everyone especially in UDP people they stood by me throughout,” Sumareh said.

He also said the president welcomed him back with open arms and they him the 2016 change was something they both fought for and therefore should take ownership of it.

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.