By Ousman Jatta

Environment Minister Lamin B. Dibba on Monday confirmed 22 containers filled with timber logs have been seized with the alleged owner facing trial.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Dibba said a lot of people will not understand why the government is asking citizens not to cut trees.

According to the minister, he in 2019 ordered his ministry to conduct a reassessment of all the landing sites through the northern part of the country where the timber are coming from, adding “we have realized that there has been a significant drop in the wood because of the several [arrests] made”.

“Before business we must have a sustainable production and consumption. That cannot be done without a healthy environment. Healthy environment promotes the livelihood of people and equally as well promoting its economy,” Dibba noted.

Since the change of government in 2016, dozens of Gambian trucks loaded with timber have been intercepted by Senegalese security forces especially those at the Bwiam Military Checkpoint.

Gambia Action Party has issued a statement over the extension of the mandate of the ECOWAS military mission in The Gambia.

The statement reads;

The Gambia Action Party is committed to the security of our nation and we are conscious of the fact that the recent joint communique from the ECOWAS leaders to have extended the mandate of ECOMIG forces in the Gambia for another twelve months with new detachments due in the Gambia from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo and Ghana with policing roles. As an institution directly with the people, GAP has taken a preceding view and approached the oval office to provide sufficient justification that warrants the extension of the ECOMIG forces and we were referred to the Minister Of Interior. We believe in the method of dialogue and not insurgent behaviour that will further polarise our nation.

Since the very beginning of GAP, we promised to safeguard the security system of the Gambia and the recent decision made by our government does not only position the nation into  fragility or brittleness but created fear and uncertainty surrounding our people and places our sovereignty to a possible adverse outcome that could be perilous in future.

In our recommendations shared with the Minister Of Interior, we urged the government of the Gambia to be committal to the Security Security Reform as no earnest action is made necessary to implement the reform agendas and the current state of the Gambia is not a post conflict scenario that allows military intervention. We called the attention of the government for its failure to ensure parliamentary approval or writ as a body directly representing the public interest. On the equally footing, we recommended for the arrival of security personnel from Ghana,  Nigeria and Sierra Leone for being in the commonwealth with the Gambia and practices the same criminal justice act to provide for compensation if some specified cases or risks occur and that differs from the procedures in Senegal, Togo and Ivory Coast.

Their policing mandate order shall be in derivation of the Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force to shape their operations without infringement on the sovereign owners of the Gambia when the service is required. We urged the government to restore the sovereignty and be versatile enough to condemn acts that contravene our peaceful coexistence. We recommended for dialogue with all the relevant stakeholders and the party leaders inclusive on the national discourse and ceaselessly communicate to the people on all the latest developments. The stabilization of the Gambia must be considered by all and sundry as we are conscious of how divisiveness led to the destruction in many parts of Africa, the Gambia will not trend on such trajectory.

We are conscious of the roles played by the ECOMIG forces after the 2016 presidential election and remain grateful for the support as a party and nation, we recommended for their withdrawal tactics which should have been done in the first year of President Barrow in office. We are calling on all the ECOWAS leaders to remain in the service of the sub region and not consolidation of self perpetuating cultures in governance or a perceived standard of higher behaviour for going against the will of the people. The recent political turmoil in Guinea Conakry and Ivory Coast clearly substantiate this claim and evidence based enough for military intervention but why Gambia?

We call on all the political leaders and their surrogates to maintain law and order, protect our jovial relationship as we venture into an election year. History will assess every Gambian based on patriotic efforts geared towards national unity and oneness. In 2021, the future of our nation lies in the hands of sixteen people and must all be responsible enough to avoid a replica of 2016.

We thank the government to have given us the chance and outlined our recommendations that could possibly avert the security threats surrounding our nation. It’s time to rethink and rebuild our HOMELAND.

Secretary General and Party Leader of GAP,

Hon. Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly.

Dr Ismaila Ceesay slammed on Monday it is ‘unjustifiable’ to outlaw inter-school athletic competition but allow super music concerts and political gatherings to take place.

Singer ST launched his album this past Saturday at the Independence Stadium attended by thousands of fans.

It came days after President Barrow launched his party at the same venue attended by thousands.

The government has however banned inter-school athletic competition in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus – in an astonishing show of inconsistency.

According to Dr Ceesay, it’s unjustifiable to bar students from taking part in their annual athletic competition where you allow super music concerts and political gatherings to take place.

“The political leaders, myself included, have failed to show leadership at a time when it is needed to fight the virus,” Dr Ceesay said in a tweet on Monday.

A surge in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is feared in The Gambia as COVID-19 disrupts learning and programmes that help protect girls from this harmful practice, UNICEF and UNPFA warn ahead of a high-level event to commemorate International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on Tuesday.

The event, to be graced by the Vice President Her Excellency Dr Isatou Touray and other stakeholders, is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, UNFPA and UNICEF to galvanize national efforts and strengthen partnerships to eliminate FGM in the country.

Over the years, The Gambia has registered remarkable progress in eliminating FGM. Between 2010 and 2018, FGM among children 0-4 years old has dropped by 10 per cent to 27 per cent, the two UN agencies said in a statement on Monday.

Huge gains have also been made in changing perceptions with 49 per cent of women now openly saying FGM should stop, they said.

“Evidently, our collective work has translated into great progress in eliminating this human rights abuse”, said Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA The Gambia Representative, according to the agencies.

“But while we take pride in our achievements, we must be more resolute to protect every girl and woman from FGM, including the 27 per cent of young girls who continue to undergo the practice,” Adeniyi added, according to the statement.

Even before COVID-19, reports of a widespread practice of FGM in The Gambia were rife, despite its criminalization, the agencies said. The outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic has made the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending FGM by 2030 an even more ambitious commitment, the agencies said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted critical programmes and shuttered schools, leaving many girls vulnerable and at increased risk of FGM,” said Gordon Jonathan Lewis, UNICEF The Gambia Representative, according to the statement.

“That is why we insist that schools must remain open at the slightest opportunity and that all measures must be taken to support programmes that help protect girls,” Lewis added according to the statement.

An Ado Ekiti High Court has sentenced one Farotimi Samuel 27 to life imprisonment for conspiracy and rape.

In her testimony the victim said, she went to buy garri  and sugar, while on her way home, she was waylaid by three men, who covered her mouth and later took her to an uncompleted building where they all had sex with her adding that she can recognise the accused person among them.

According to the charge sheet, the act was committed on or about the 29/01/2018 at oke-ureje, Federal Polytechnic road, Ado Ekiti, the accused conspired with others at large to rape a 14yr old girl, contrary to sections 516 of the Criminal code, 31 of the Child Right Law, Cap C16 and C7, laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In his judgement, justice Adekunle Adeleye said “I hold that the prosecution has established the ingredients of the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable  doubt, he is found  guilty as charged he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor Mr Olawale Fapohunda called five witnesses, while the accused confessional statement was tendered as exhibit.

The accused spoke in his own defence through his counsel Chris Omokhafe and called no witness. (Vanguard Nigeria)

Essa Faal departed from his promise of being courteous to former NIA director of operations Salmina Drammeh by blasting him for lying to the TRRC.

Drammeh had earlier on, on Monday complained that it was wrong to tell an ‘elderly’ person he is lying.

“I’m ashamed to tell you that you lied,” Faal told Drammeh when he began his testimony before the TRRC on Monday morning. The witness had testified he knew about only two torture incidents at the NIA.

“You don’t tell an elderly person that you are lying,” Drammeh told Faal. Faal then rowed back a little by saying he would now use the word ‘false’ instead of ‘lie’.

Drammeh continued his testimony Monday afternoon which saw Faal not living up to the pledge.

The witness got Faal frustrated when he said former rebel Balo Kanteh was lying when he said security officials began beating him at the gate of the NIA, as soon as he entered.

“He is lying,” Drammeh told Faal who asked him whether the ex-rebel was lying.

Essa Faal then blasted: “Mr witness, I am sorry to tell you if there is anyone lying about this it’s you. Mr witness you told the commission a little while ago, five minutes ago that when the guy arrived and alighted from the vehicle, all of you guys were emotional, you descended on him and he was being beaten as he was taken away to the hall.

“I said mob justice and you said I am giving a legal description. I asked you to give a factual description and I asked you two times. You did not answer that question and we moved on. I can remember exactly what you said.”

Drammeh who looked unhappy fired back: “Counsel, are you trying to play on my intelligence or what? Did I say on arrival at the gate I was present?”

Faal then countered: “No, you said he was being beaten from there, [that] all of you descended on him, you’re beating him as he was being carried away.”

A top rebel commander who was forced out of his base in Casamance by the Senegalese military has retreated further in the north with his fighters, according to Senego.

The Senegalese army last week seized Sane’s base in Sikoun alongside another base after heavy bombardment. The top rebel then fled with his fighters.

According to Senego, the town of Sikoun which lies near Senegal’s border with Guinea Bissau had been a sanctuary for MFDC rebels but the Senegalese army has now regained control of the area. There hasn’t been much media coverage around the Senegalese army’s recent operation in Casamance, according Senego.

MFDC rebels have been fighting for the independence of southern Senegal since 1982.

Senegal’s top opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has been gripped by allegations of rape following a massage parlour scandal.

-What we know-

Sonko is Senegal leader Macky Sall’s biggest opponent but recent days have seen the opposition leader sweating after he got accused by a woman of rape.

The opposition leader himself broke his silence on Sunday saying no one could really believe what is being peddled – that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a woman at gunpoint at a massage parlour he’s been frequenting.

Sonko admitted on Sunday he sought massage therapy at a massage parlour that belongs to a married woman.

He said he is ill and doctors recommended that he undergoes massage therapy.

He said two ladies are always in the room when he is being massaged – and that it was his Oustadh who said he could be massaged by women if it’s on health grounds.

The ministry of local government has claimed the decision from the mayor of Kanifing Municipality reeked of an attempt to direct the ministry to a particular line which is not in line with the local government act.

Two Faals had since last year been locked in a bitter war over who should be the new leader of Latrikunda Yeringaya.

The war between Pa Omar Faal and Swaibou Faal is now over after the intervention of the ministry of local government and lands who ruled Pa Omar is the right person for the job.

The Kanifing Municipal Council had been leading the effort in resolving the crisis but according to the ministry of local government, the council employed an illegal process and tried to direct the ministry towards a particular line.

Local government ministry permanent secretary Buba Sanynag told West Coast Radio: “The KMC mayor must have to understand that he’s given a leverage to recommend for the minister but it doesn’t mean the minister has to go by that. He has to understand that. We looked at the process that the KMC followed. What they did was they took papers to people to sign. This is not prescribed in any act, this is not the procedure in selecting and alkali.

“But even if we have to go by that, we came to realize that the aspirant candidate himself was going round to collect these signatures and also there are people we know who were part of that list are not yard owners, they’re tenants in those compounds. We were able to establish all those facts. So I want to make it on record that the law says we should follow traditional lines of inheritance.

“I want to give you an example: we all know Gambians tribes have the same standards in terms of following our traditional lines of inheritance in the sense that if you are a father or an uncle in a family, however young you are, you are considered before a son or a nephew. I think this is across our customs and traditions in this country. If you are a father, I might be 25 years as a father, somebody might be 40 years as a son but when the throne comes, they consider the father first before the son. Unless and until I say I am not interested.

“[In] Latrikunda case, the aspirant candidate who is the imam wrote to the mayor informing him that he is not interested as being the next [in line to] the throne. They wrote to the mayor himself telling him that he said he is not interested but he recommends Pa Omar Faal as the next to the throne. And also the Faal family of about six or seven of them wrote also to the mayor indicating that they are supporting the candidature of Pa Omar Faal.

“This ministry, after we received the list from the Lord Mayor, we wrote to him requesting that let the mayor provide the minister all the correspondences he received regarding this matter to enable the minister make a decision. And his response was those correspondences he doesn’t deemed them necessary and he has discarded that. I have a correspondence to that effect. That is not correct. Somebody gives you power to go down and do a work for him.

“If you feel that you have picked up information against or for a particular thing, you should make it all available to the person if you want him to make a correct decision. The decision that came from the office of the mayor is more of directing us to a particular line which is not in line with the local government act. Because that one (Swaibu) is not in the line of fathers. Pa Omar Faal is an uncle and Swaibu is a son.”

Salimina Drammeh expressed displeasure after TRRC lawyer Essa Faal told him he lied over his claims he only knew about two incidents of torture at the NIA.

“I’m ashamed to tell you that you lied,” Faal told Drammeh who was appearing before the TRRC as a top ex-official of the NIA.

The TRRC has in the past weeks been holding hearings on the NIA – an institution bastardised by former President Yahya Jammeh and used for the detention and torture of Gambians.

Drammeh who served as director of operations at the NIA felt offended when Essa Faal told him he lied by saying he knew about only two incidents of torture at the NIA.

“You don’t tell an elderly person that you are lying,” Drammeh told Faal.

“But in this business, a lie is a lie. We don’t maslaha (compromise) the truth here. The lie is a lie,” Faal replied.

“With courtesy please,” Drammeh fired back.

Faal then capitulated and said: “I’m being super courteous now by telling you that was false and be courteous enough to accept the truth. You agree?”

Drammeh in replying simply said: “Yeah.”

Top adviser to President Adama Barrow Dou Sanno has predicted United Democratic Party will die after the December presidential election.

Speaking in Tallinding on Sunday at the christening meeting of the respected Teneng Ndure as mother by the people of Tallinding, Sanno said: “Those insulting let them continue insulting. It’s only a useless person who insults. And a compound where there is insult disintegrates.

“What’s left of UDP’s life is from now to the December election. Because when it gets to there, it will die. The reason it will die is that there are people in the party who joined the party because of position.

“Those who failed in life are the ones who joined the old man and confused him. It will be clear in December 2021. If disappointment comes, they will all leave, you will not see one person [in UDP] anymore. That’s when UDP will die.”

Pa Omar Faal has defeated Swaibou Faal in a bitter battle for alkalo of Latrikunda Yeringanya after the ministry of local government intervened.

The duo was locked in a bitter row over who should be the new leader of Latrikunda Yeringanya in a crisis that has spanned many months.

Pa Omar is an uncle in the large Faal family of the town who insisted he was next in line for the coveted leadership role while Swaibu said it was his turn to hold the role, previously held by his late father.

The Kanifing Municipal Council had for months been trying to address crisis but there remained no breakthrough.

The ministry of local government has now intervened and has ruled Pa Omar Faal the next alkalo of Latrikunda Yeringaya.

“The law clearly indicated that the minister shall appoint an alkalo in consultation with the governor and the chief. But further, it states that while the minister is doing this, he will consider the traditional line of inheritance,” local government ministry permanent secretary Buba Sanyang told West Coast Radio in an exclusive interview.

“So I want to make it on record that the law says we should follow traditional lines of inheritance. I want to give you an example: we all know Gambians tribes have the same standards in terms of following our traditional lines of inheritance in the sense that if you are a father or an uncle in a family, however young you are, you are considered before a son or a nephew.

“I think this is across our customs and traditions in this country. If you are a father, I might be 25 years as a father, somebody might be 40 years as a son but when the throne comes, they consider the father first before the son. Unless and until I say I am not interested. Because that one (Swaibu) is not in the line of fathers. Pa Omar Faal is an uncle and Swaibu is a son,” he said.

Twenty-one people have had their names published by the ministry of health after they allegedly refused COVID-19 testing and quarantine upon their arrival into the country.

According to the health ministry, although the travellers carried negative COVID-19 test cards, they refused a follow-up test and quarantine procedures.

The ministry said the travellers came into the country from hotspot nations. Their names were published in the health ministry’s official Facebook page.

An independent inquiry into the death of Momodou Lamin Sisay who was shot and killed by police in the United States has heard the 39-year-old’s crime was being black.

Lamin Sisay was killed following a shooting that happened on Temple Johnson Road near Pate Road in Snellville, Georgia in May last year.

Father of the 39-year-old told The Fatu Network then while his family is not accepting or disputing the narrative police in Georgia are pushing that he shot at police, they intended to do their own investigation into the circumstances surrounding his son’s slaying.

A UN-okayed inquiry into his death opened on Saturday with attorney for the Sisay family testifying that Lamin Sisay died because he is black.

“His only crime was being black, driving a car with an expired tag. Think about that. This was on May 29, 2020, four days after George Floyd was killed,” Abdul Jaiteh told the investigation during a session done via video and streamed on Facebook.

Jaiteh also told the probe: “They pulled him over not just because of the tag. The tag is pretext for them to see what else they can find in the car. That’s why they did it.

“We have laws in the books that police cannot act on a hunch, they have to have probable cause that someone has committed a crime or a criminal activity is about to occur.

“A license plate violation and an expired tag is not a criminal offense. Mr Sisay what he thought is best for him at the time for fear of his life was to flee from the police. That’s what led to what happened later.”

The ministry of health has apologized to five people who it wronged by publishing their names alongside scores sick with coronavirus who refused to adhere to treatment protocols.

The ministry last Thursday said they were looking for more than 100 people who have failed to surrender themselves to medical care.

But according to the ministry on Saturday, the publishing of the names of five people in the “previous missive was done in error”.

They are Adama Gassama (Ebo Town), Sarah Sophia Swaray (Sukuta), Lamin Kemba Manjang (Kotu East),  Ismaila Bah (Ebo Town) and Therese Ibrahim (Kololi)

“The Ministry of Health apologises to the following people listed below for any embarrassment and inconvenience this might have caused them and their families.

“Ensuring data privacy and confidentiality as we battle COVID-19, is of paramount importance to the Ministry of Health. The Ministry therefore assures the public that it will continue to strongly protect each individuals’ COVID tests information as long as the protocols and guidelines for COVID cases are adhered to by the individuals,” the ministry said.

Gambia For All has expressed concern over voter registration exercise by the Independent Electoral Commission.

The IEC was supposed to commence registering voters for the presidential election last month but cancelled it.

The leader of GFA and others had along the way sued the IEC over Gambians who live abroad not allowed to vote or be voted for. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court last month declared as illegal such law.

But according to GFA, the issue of voter registration is now in limbo – even after the IEC was instructed to register all Gambians, whether they live in the country or outside.

GFA said: “The Gambia For All (GFA) party would like to congratulate the party Leader and Secretary General Bakary Bunja Dabo, and fellow Gambian Plaintiffs on their recent victory in the supreme court of the Gambia’s decision that extends franchise to Gambians in the Diaspora. A landmark decision that for the first time, will enable Gambians living abroad to participate in the choosing of our leaders.

“By their own released election timetable, the IEC should be busy with voter registration from January 14th through to February 26th 2021. A tight election schedule which anticipated the approval of the draft constitution by the National Assembly, to be followed by a  referendum on the approved Draft Constitution on June 5th 2021. However, the spectacular failure of the National Assembly to approve the draft constitution, is matched only by the Machiavellian machinations of the Executive in seeing to it that the draft constitution is presented to the National Assembly with the tag  “dead on arrival”.

“One would have thought that the presidential election of 2016 and the impasse that followed will be a lesson for both the IEC and the country at large. The country was taken to the brink of chaos, and it was only the timely intervention of the international community under the leadership of ECOWAS  that prevented a national catastrophe.

“It is a little more than 4 years since the last presidential election was held, and barely less than a year to the next. In the meantime, the IEC has been busy registering new political parties, each paying a million Dalasis to do so, while nothing is being done to create the circumstances that will result in a free and fair election. New voter registration has been unilaterally suspended/postponed by the IEC and no indication given as to when it will start, if at all.

“The registration of Gambians in the Diaspora, which the IEC is now required to undertake as per the Supreme Court’s decision in B.B Dabo et al  vs the IEC and the Attorney General is now held in limbo. “Even if by some miracle the IEC changes course and decides to start Diaspora voter registration, how long the exercise will take, given  the experience of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) in their Diaspora consultation process.

“Without any preparation, the IEC is committed to using the “paper balloting system” in the 2021 election series, while no effort is being made to improve on the much familiar marble voting system. Public sensitization and education on the new system has not started, and there is no indication that will happen. Is it incompetence, or a deliberate attempt to  have a chaotic election process that will produce tainted election results which will damage  our democratic credentials?

“Given all of the above, and adding to the mix the failure of the authorities to address the electoral boundary issue, we are as it were, sleep walking into a scenario potentially worse than the impasse of 2016/17. The position of The Gambia For All party is very clear an unequivocal. The  party expects, and will accept nothing less than a level playing field, resulting in a free, fair, and untainted election that reflects the genuine aspirations and will of The Gambian people.”

The nation’s former vice president Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has spoken for the first time on her failed bid to become the deputy chairperson of the AU commission.

Tambajang Jallow was supposed to battle it out with four other African women for the top role but Nigeria’s interest in another job led to the withdrawal of her candidature. Some believed Nigeria strong-armed its compatriot ECOWAS nations.

But she wrote on her official Facebook page on Saturday: “On February 2nd, ECOWAS Heads of States had an extraordinary summit via videoconference and decided to have Ghana and The Gambia step down their Candidates for Deputy Chairperson of the AU. This means that I am no longer in the running for deputy chairperson of the AUC. Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Gambia all also withdrew their commissioner candidates as well, in order to allow Nigeria to run as a sole regional candidate as commissioner of peace.

“Since my nomination by The Gambia government in September 2020, I have been busy campaigning but like the saying goes, man proposes but God disposes. Today as the voting process of the new AU commission kicks off, I would like to thank all those who have supported my campaign; I will continue to support the reform and growth of the AU and wish the incoming commission the best of luck.”

The role went to Rwanda’s Dr Nsanzabaganwa Monique on Saturday after 33 delegates voted for her.

President Adama Barrow on Saturday addressed the 38th ordinary session of the African Union heads of state and government where he warned strong leadership is required over COVID-19.

“I am confident that working collectively, Africa will successfully generate the resources to address the challenges before us.

“Therefore, The Gambia supports the comprehensive strategy designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and revitalise our economies; but, this requires strong leadership and redoubling our efforts collectively,” the president said.

According to the president, the COVID-19 pandemic poses immense challenges in various ways.

“We regret the loss of lives, and pray for the recovery of those infected. May the departed souls rest in peace,” the president said in a statement he delivered over video.

MFDC rebels in Casamance have accused Guinea Bissau of entering into an agreement with the government of Senegal after two of their bases fell.

The Senegalese army shelled two rebel bases near the border with Guinea Bissau causing the rebels to abandon the two bases.

But according to a statement by MFDC, there is an agreement between the Senegalese government and Guinea Bissau which allows the Senegalese Army to use Bissau-Guinean territory to attack their bases.

Two new COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded bringing the total number of deaths since March of last year when the virus was first seen in the country to 134.

Both newly deceased cases were males aged 70 and 91 – and had their samples collected and processed posthumously, the health ministry said on Friday.

It comes as the ministry said 53 new cases have been registered bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 4,237.

Those who tested newly for the virus include 14 women and 39 men.