President Adama Barrow has expressed ‘deep’ appreciation to ECOWAS, African Union and the Security Council of the United Nations for standing by the country over the years.

ECOWAS heads of state in January 2017 agreed unanimously to send troops to The Gambia to ensure Jammeh leaves power and President Barrow is installed amid a bitter political impass.

Tuesday marked four years since President Barrow was sworn into office at the Gambian embassy in Dakar and he has expressed ‘deep’ appreciation to ECOWAS, African Union, the Security Council of the United Nations, and all friendly nations who stood by the country over the years.

Jammeh’s refusal to cede power following the December 1, 2016 presidential election sparked a huge political impasse in the country. Ecowas then tapped a Senegalese general Francoise Ndiaye to ensure the will of the Gambian people is enforced. Jammeh then fled as the soldiers moved in on him paving the way for President Barrow’s takeover.

Meanwhile, President Barrow in commemorating the fourth anniversary of his ascension is touting ‘exceptional’ developments.

“Under the leadership of President Barrow, the country has witnessed exceptional developments, particularly in the area of road infrastructure; bearing in mind that infrastructure development is key to the advancement of the country’s socio-economic status,” State House said in a statement on Tuesday.

A senior Navy officer Mbaye Faal died early Tuesday, the Gambia Armed Forces said in a statement on Wednesday. He was aged 51.

The army described the navy lieutenant’s passing ‘untimely’ while announcing the said event.

“The sad news is extended to His Excellency the President Adama Barrow, the Hon Minister of Defence and Cabinet Ministers, his family members, relatives and friends in The Gambia and abroad.

“Burial will take place at his residence in Kerr Serign on Wednesday 20 January at 1400hrs. While asking Allah to grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” the army said in a statement announcing Faal’s demise.

Police have mounted an investigation into a complaint Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh allegedly sold land to Yusupha Saidy for 2.2 million dalasis and failed to transfer the land to the businessman.

Saidy lodged a complaint with police he paid 2.2 million dalasis to Dr Janneh over a piece of land, police spokesman Superintendent Lamin Njie told The Fatu Network.

“We can confirm receiving a complaint against Amadou Scatred Janneh. According to report the complainant paid D2.2M to Mr Janneh over a piece of land. He later realized that the said land is being developed by another person. The Police have opened an investigation into the matter,” Njie said.

Dr Janneh confirmed selling land to Saidy telling The Fatu Network: “I sold a piece of property that was allocated to my company to Mr. Yusupha Saidy. I wanted to develop an alternate site in Gunjur.

“It turns out I can’t transfer the Brusubi plot to Mr. Saidy until it is leased and that process takes a considerable amount of time.

“I therefore offered to refund his money in full or to give him another property. I was informed by our intermediary (Modou Sanneh) that he preferred another piece of property. And that was to be done upon my return from the US.”

Saidy told The Fatu Network Dr Janneh blocked his numbers but Dr Janneh denied ever blocking his numbers.

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe tendered the disclaimer ‘he’s my son but I did not inculcate that habit in him’ as he said President Barrow spoke falsely about the circumstances around his appointment as foreign minister.

President Barrow’s claim Darboe insisted he could work as foreign minister even after his friend Omar Sey counselled him that his age was against him was thrown at the UDP leader during his interview with Membekering on Tuesday evening.

And reacting to the claim, the UDP leader said: “I know it’s now clear to Gambians that your president that he’s good at saying statements that do not exist. To say I cannot be vice president, that’s true. But Omar Sey was never there during our discussion. It was his press secretary Amie Bojang Sissoho who was there. She was the one inside his office.

“When I told him I could not be vice president, his eyes dropped because it shocked him. Because what he said [is that] he doesn’t like travelling, that entering plane is not something he’s excited about. That he would like for me to go to places that the president should go to. So he was shocked.

“He asked me why I could not be vice president and I told him what disqualified me to contest as president is what disqualified me to be appointed as vice president and that’s the truth. But all he said here that Omar Sey said this… Omar Sey was foreign minister, he has seen foreign ministers who are much older than me.

“So to say those statements is not true but what it has shown is that our this man is very good at saying statements that do not exist.”

And when host Pa Modou Bojang put to him President Barrow was his son, the UDP leader retorted: “He is my son but I did not implant that habit (lying) in him.”

By Ousman Jatta

Sellers at the craft market in Bakau have said the coronavirus pandemic is having rippling effect on their businesses

The tourism sector contributes immensely to the Gambian economy but the coming of coronavirus has hugely changed the narrative.

The sector employs at least 100,000 Gambians among them those in the craft market sub-sector. But according to Sainey Singhateh the president of Bakau craft market, there is no tourist season for this year which means business is not fairing as expected.

The Gambia’s tourism season usually begin in late October and normally last for a period of six months.

Samba Sarr an artisan at the Bakau craft market, spoke along the same tone as Singhateh disclosing they sit for hours, sometimes the whole day without seeing customers.

Mariama Manneh called on the government to chip in and offer a helping hand in order to compensate for their losses during these trying times of the pandemic.

By Ousman Jatta

Motor tricycles also known as Batch cars are becoming a widely used local taxi transport service by most Gambian commuters mostly during rush hours.

Three wheeled vehicle is based on the same technology as a bicycle and a motorcycle but it’s normally powered by an electric motor, scooter or a car engine.

Amadou Saidy a motor tricycle driver for the past six years said the motor tricycle is a booming business for them nowadays. He says they depend on it to earn income for themselves to be able to put food on the table for their families.

Abdoulie Jammeh is also among the few motor tricycle drivers in Bakau. According to Jammeh, the covid – 19 pandemic has seriously affected their taxi business as they sit for hours without seeing customers.

The cost of fair for the batch cars is five Dalasis, for commuter’s dwelling around Bakau.

With the country now experiencing severe traffic jams mostly during rush hours most people are beginning to turn their focus on the motor tricycles.

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe used diplomatic language throughout as he on Tuesday evening responded to Sidia Jatta over the veteran politician’s damaging claims against him.

Mr Jatta in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network this past Sunday blasted that President Barrow killed the coalition and Darboe finalised its murder by burying it. Mr Jatta’s other claims include President Barrow allegedly telling him Darboe said he will make him foreign minister by hook or by crook.

The UDP leader responded to Mr Jatta on Tuesday evening for the first time during an interview with Membekering.

He said: “I held Sidia in high regard yesterday (previously). I respected him. One, because of his age. Two, I placed him among people who have outstanding minds. I placed him among people who even where it’s hard, to say statements that did not exist.

“But it’s today I despise (look down upon) Sidia, I despise him a lot. The statements he made which are statements that never existed and he wants people to believe those his statements that do not exist. That has made me to look down upon him a lot.

“I think he said the coalition disintegrated when the ministers were appointed. So was it me who appointed the ministers? If they say there is an agreement, he didn’t say which agreement they signed. The agreement that no one would disagree to was the one for the convention to select the president.

“It was the national assembly elections when there was disagreement. If there was an agreement, what disagreement would happen? All these people, statements that did not exist are what they say. And you know I said I did not want to respond to this statement but if you see I am saying something about it is because there is someone who spoke who I didn’t hope would say statements that do not exist.

“Didn’t he even say I was the one who told Barrow not to make him foreign minister. With his experience and his knowledge? He knows it’s the president who chooses a minister, no one can tell the president it’s so you should make minister.

“To then sit in the middle of the whole world and say these things. Wallahi I despise (look down on) him. So because I despise (look down on) him, I will not respond to him. Because if I respond to him, I will bring myself down.”

President Adama Barrow on Tuesday thanked Gambians for pulling together and installing him as president.

President Barrow was four years ago together sworn into office at the Gambian embassy in Dakar following his victory at the December 1, 2016 presidential election.

The president remembering the day on Tuesday thanked Gambians for setting aside their differences for the national interest, according to a statement by statement.

The statement signed by press secretary Amie Bojang Sissoho said: “This day in 2017, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow was sworn in at The Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, after his undisputable victory in the presidential elections of December 1st 2016.

“The inauguration of President Barrow marked the beginning of an era of prosperity in all spheres of Gambian society. Four years down the line, The Gambia remains committed to the values and principles of democracy; something that the country was deprived of for more than two decades.

“Under the leadership of President Barrow, the country has witnessed exceptional developments, particularly in the area of road infrastructure; bearing in mind that infrastructure development is key to the advancement of the country’s socio-economic status.

“Remembering the day, President Barrow expressed gratitude to all Gambian electorates, the Gambians in the Diaspora, the Coalition 2016 Campaign Team, and the political parties for putting aside their political differences for the national interest.

“He expressed deep appreciation to ECOWAS, African Union, the Security Council of the United Nations, and all friendly nations who stood by the country over the years.

“Recalling the importance of good neighbourliness, President Barrow wishes to thank His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, and his government for the hospitality accorded to him, and the over fifty thousand Gambians who sought refuge in Senegal.

“Reiterating his call for peace, progress and unity, President Barrow emphasised that elections are contested based on political diversity, but the nation can only progress through national reconciliation and unity. Thus re-echoing the call for all to uphold the value of One Gambia, One Nation, One People!”

By Fatou Camara II

Police on Tuesday commenced a test exercise for drivers and vehicles nearly a month after the police chief made a decision to have all drivers undergo basic driving test.

High rate of road traffic accidents last year saw the Inspector General of Police halt issuance of driver’s license and coming up with a program to test all of the nation’s cars and drivers.

The exercise commenced on Tuesday across appointed test centres across the country amond them the Independence Stadium.

“We are checking the general conditions of the vehicles, the organs of the vehicles and when it comes to commercial vehicles especially vans carrying 14 passengers to 18 passengers and above, we are looking at the sitting capacity and where necessary we reduce the number of passengers they are carrying,” principal testing officer Amadou Badjie told The Fatu Network.

According to Officer Badjie, “if a driver does not come forward, that driver will not have the clearance to be on the road”.

One driver who took the test Amadou Jallow said the initiative is good.

“Many young people are driving and the accident rate is high and I see two to three reasons that are causing this. One is lack of decipline, attitude and some of the vehicles coming to the country are crap vehicles [sic],” Jallow said.

Mai Fatty said on Tuesday the coalition did not obtain the support or active cooperation of the Gambia Police Force, the NIA or the Gambia Armed Forces as President Adama Barrow got sworn into office following his 2016 electoral victory.

President Barrow demolished former President Yahya Jammeh at the December 1, 2016 presidential election but the latter refused to leave power. Ecowas then sent troops to the country which saw him flee to Equatorial Guinea, as the nation’s military played a spectator role.

Looking back on the events as the country marks the fourth anniversary of the swearing in of President Barrow at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Mai Fatty said “by this time, we did not obtain either the support or the active cooperation of The Gambia Police Force, NIA or The Gambia Armed Forces”.

“Yet they would have been incapacitated from hindering the massive operation, with the imminence of the Nigerian Navy within launching distance from our shores and the rapid mobilization of ECOWAS ground forces from Senegal into The Gambia,” the GMC leader wrote in a titled ‘How Adama Barrow Became President of The Gambia In Dakar, Senegal’.

Fatty also wrote about how he warned Jammeh directly to “immediately quit power or choose one of two options: capture and imprisonment or ultimate termination”.

“He chose to flee out of the country that night to Equatorial Guinea in exile, where he still resides,” the GMC leader said.

Petroleum company Jah Oil has charged being targeted by PURA after the public utilities regulatory authority fined the company over a million dalasis.

PURA last week fined Jah Oil after concluding the company built petrol stations without a permit from the authority. The authority also ordered the company to halt the construction of at least two petrol stations, on Kairaba Avenue and in Wellingara.

The company reacted to the development with its manager Momodou Hydara telling QTV his company is being targeted.

“We’ve wrote a protest letter to PURA, protesting their enforcement and at the same time we’ve also wrote a letter to the ministry of petroleum to inquire into this matter. Because the way we see it is we are a victim of… A company that’s just targeted,” Hydara told QTV.

He also said: “When you look around as journalists, go and do your findings, you will see that all the petrol stations are operating and they’re not in compliance with that 50 meters rule they’re hitting us with. And then the question we’re asking them is that let them give us a fair answer. Why us and why us now.”

The group Concerned Gambians Against Deportation has called on the government to speak to citizens about the resumption of deporting of Gambians from Europe.

Germany recently sent back 20 Gambians, a move that caused consternation among Gambians both home and abroad. The government has been tight-lipped about the issue.

According to Concerned Gambians Against Deportation, it is expecting a reaction from the government.

“We the Concerned Gambians against Deportation, are aware of the resumption of the deportation of our Gambian brothers and sisters from Europe especially Germany after a moratorium on deportation was announced in 2019 by the Gambia government and Germany,” the group said in a statement signed by chairman Omar Saibo Camara.

The statement added: “The start of the new trend has raised alarm from and for both families, home and abroad, about the deportation of our citizens who struggled through the journey of turmoil to change their livelihoods and that of their families.

“Since the arrival of the first 20 deportees, we have been closely monitoring the situation and also keeping in touch with our brothers and sisters in Europe on the reasons for the resumption of the deportation. Also, we were expecting to see the reaction of our government and relevant stakeholders on the issue and what exactly they know about it.

“To our disappointment, the only step taken by the government was to go and pick these people from the airport and release them to go to their home. We expected the government to at least talk to us about the issues surrounding the deportation, their involvement and stands on the issues. We understand that deportation involves diplomatic talks and it must involve governments and their authorities. Therefore, we want the government to tell us the reasons and justifications of the deportation and the role they are playing on the whole issue.”

GMC leader Mai Fatty has burrowed deep into events that unfolded in Dakar, Senegal four years ago amid a bitter political impasse that gripped the nation.

Then president-elect Adama Barrow briefly stayed in Senegal after flying out to Mali as then-President Yahya Jammeh refused to cede power following the December 1, 2016 presidential election which he lost. President Barrow was then four years ago today sworn into office at the Gambian embassy in Dakar.

Mai Fatty today took a trip back to the events that happened in Dakar baring how he invited top lawyer Sheriff Tambadou to swear in President Barrow.

He said: “After leading series of successful Regional diplomacy, in coordination with ECOWAS, the AU & UNOWAS, here is the culmination. Four years ago, having convinced both the Senegalese and the international community to conduct the Swearing-in-ceremony on Gambian soil in the Republic of Senegal, the will of sovereign voters was ultimately enforced. Having thoroughly researched the law, and did additional consultations, and advised President-elect Barrow on the legal implications,

“I contacted and invited Mr. Sheriff Tambadou, then President of the Bar Association, to administer the Oath at the ceremony in Dakar. Under the directives of the new President, I turned my attention to my first and most important official duty: the repatriation of almost fifty thousand temporary Gambian refugees in Senegal.

“I am proud to have officially successfully led the biggest repatriation of nationals in the history of The Gambia. While in Dakar, I directed former Ports MD Baboucarr Sanyang to conduct uninterrupted ferry service without fail to get nationals across the river bank. That directive was implemented, as I remained in close contact with Mr Sanyang to monitor implementation. From Dakar, I had also directed the then MD of GTSC Mr. Habib Drammeh to put into immediate operation all of the assets of the company towards the comprehensive repatriation of nationals from Senegal and internally displaced persons on both sides of the River Gambia. That was complied with, as I remained in close contact with Mr. Drammeh to monitor implementation. I directed the border authorities, Fire and Rescue Services to work with volunteers to ease passage for returnees. That was implemented as I required officials of Gambia High Commission in Senegal to assure smooth operations, with their counterparts at home.

“By this time, we did not obtain either the support or the active cooperation of The Gambia Police Force, NIA or The Gambia Armed Forces. Yet they would have been incapacitated from hindering the massive operation, with the imminence of the Nigerian Navy within launching distance from our shores and the rapid mobilization of ECOWAS ground forces from Senegal into The Gambia.

“I am grateful to Mr. Alassan Senghore of the International Red Cross who worked with me very closely in Dakar, to facilitate humanitarian intervention, Senegalese authorities and Gambian volunteers such as Killa Ace, Aji Daffeh, etc, who worked closely with me during this difficult and sensitive period. Thank you to all those who helped in any way possible.
While this was going on, simultaneously, I was coordinating with the international community on essential aspects of military intervention to forcibly remove Jammeh out from State House.

“Later, at an international press conference in Terrubi from Dakar, I warned Jammeh directly to immediately quit power or choose one of two options: capture and imprisonment or ultimate termination. He chose to flee out of the country that night to Equatorial Guinea in exile, where he still resides. It was the most sleepless and exhausting experience in my entire life. Am truly grateful to Adama Barrow for the trust and for this rare opportunity to serve my country at its hour of greatest vulnerability and existential threat. I kept President Barrow fully briefed of the entire situation, while he was busy receiving official delegations. The Gambia is worth it, and you Gambians deserved it.”

Twenty-three new cases of coronavirus have been discovery and one person has died of the virus, according to the ministry of health.

The ministry in its latest report covering 16 and 17 Jan said one new death has been registered bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded to 128.

The victim was a 68-year-old woman, who until her demise, was hospitalized at a COVID-19 Treatment Center since January 16. She however had multiple comorbid conditions, according to the health.

The ministry said 23 new cases have been registered bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases ever confirmed in the country to 3,933.

“The median age of the new cases (11 female and 12 male) is 38.5 (range: 13 to 70 years)

“Of these, while 4 sought to be tested by virtue of being sick with flu-like symptoms, the other 19 are intending travellers who needed COVID-19 test certificates,” the health ministry said.

Sidia Jatta said he told President Adama Barrow hungry people were following him and advised him to give position to those people.

“There were those who wanted minister positions fast, those are the hungry people. I told him to give it to those people. I told him for me I have means to cook my own food and eat,” the PDOIS leader told The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview.

President Barrow was in 2016 backed by leaders of the nation’s opposition which ensured his victory at the December 1, 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after his victory, the president appointed at least 11 people into his cabinet including political godfather Ousainou Darboe. The president also appointed the likes of Mai Fatty, OJ, Hamat Bah and Henry Gomez.

The only party who declined a position in the cabinet is PDOIS.

The president then started sacking them 10 months into his term beginning with GMC leader Mai Fatty.