Fatoumatta Njai has thanked Abubacarr Tambadou for his service to the nation saying on Monday she wished his critics have done a bit of what the outgoing justice minister had done.

Mr Tambadou on Monday appeared at the national assembly for the last time as attorney general and minister of justice.

Banjul South MP Fatoumatta Njai bidding Mr Tambadou farewell said: “I think I have been one of the hardest on Ba in this national assembly. Not because I question his integrity but I know Ba can take us where we wanted to go. That was why I kept pushing.

“I stopped having breakfast with Ba at his place just because of work. Because I wanted to detach our personal and professional work. But Ba, I wish you well. I know that where you are going, you will continue serving us and we’re looking up to you to continue serving us.

“All I can say today is thank you for your services to this nation. You came in when it was needed. You’ve been criticised, you’ve heard so many things but I wish those people saying that have done a bit of what you have done. Thank you.”

Abubacarr Tambadou last Friday said ‘personal reasons’ triggered his resignation as attorney general and minister of justice. His exit after three and a half years in the role has divided opinion. He was at the national assembly on Monday for the last time and The Fatu Network brings you what Halifa Sallah said about him after he praised Halifa Sallah.

Halifa Sallah:

When one is singled out, one is also weakened to make comments. In fact it is duty bound to do so. Having lived this long, and being associated with so many things. I have to use every occasion to share lessons. Honourable speaker, justice and mercy are two sides of a coin. And we heard the attorney general. Today attorney general, tomorrow ex-attorney general. And that’s the same for all of us. What legacy do we live behind is really what matters. And essentially, jobs have to be done. And one thing that we must learn is to separate work to be done and the person doing it. When we are here, we must abide by the dictates of the constitution, of conscience, of the national interest. We must separate our individual self from the national cause, the national duty. What is important at this stage is to examine the task that confronted the nation and those who had to carry out the responsibility to ensure that the nation moves forward. Msitakes are unavoidable. Personal conflicts are unavoidable but ultimately we must move on and the nation must move on. And we hope today, as he leaves this forum, he will go knowing that this is Gambian his homeland. And each of us belongs to this nation. And it is our duty to want to build a nation we will want our children and our children’s children to inherit and be proud of. So in this spirit of national unity, we hope this departure will touch the heart of every member of this parliament so that we see a person who has had a job to do and had to face us, and we also had a job to do and had to confront him under certain circumstances so that ultimately we achieve a purpose worth achieving. And as we go our separate ways, we go with the spirit of forgiveness, spirit of real national reconciliation to know that after justice, then there must be peace and we must move forward with reconciliation before there is that peace. Every starting point requires a new state. It will not be nice after a conflict because you must settle all that existed during the period. But after all that, we should have a new beginning. And I hope that he will have a new beginning where he is going and we will continue to search for that new beginning of a Gambia that all of us will belong to and all of us who wish to serve and all of will give our might and heart so that we shape a destiny where there will be no conflict that we see today, no hatred that we may see today but all of us will know that we have a job to do for the nation and the best of all of us. We wish him the best and we hope that he leaves The Gambia knowing that this parliament is striving as much as possible to at least bring that new ethos of building a country for all of us.

Dr. Mamadou Tangara on Monday held a meeting with the out-going High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to The Gambia Sharon Wardle, according to a statement by the foreign affairs ministry.

The meeting was held at the foreign ministry in Banjul.

The statement by the ministry said: “In his opening statement, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mamadou Tangara commended the out-going High Commissioner Ms. Wardle for the progress registered in the bilateral relationship between The Gambia and the United Kingdom since the advent of the new democratic government of President Adama Barrow.

“Minister Tangara informed the High Commissioner of President Barrow’s appreciation of gains registered in the area of strengthening cooperation between the two countries during her tour of duty. He expressed confidence that more positive outcome will be realised in our already cordial relationship.

“In her remarks, High Commissioner Wardle who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Community in The Gambia expressed optimism about the future of The Gambia. High Commissioner Wardle thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the support rendered by the Foreign Affairs Ministry towards enhancing the work of the British mission in The Gambia. The two sides discussed ways and means of containing the deadly pandemic – COVID -19 and also exchanged views on pertinent issues crucial to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

“It could be recalled that H.E. Sharon Wardle was appointed Ambassador to The Gambia by Her Majesty in July 2017. However, her designation changed to High Commissioner following Gambia’s return to the Commonwealth in 2018.”

Abubacarr Tambadou on Monday appeared at the National Assembly for the last time as attorney minister and minister of justice.

Below is the full text of his address to members of parliament;

I guess parting is never easy. And I have had memorable encounters with almost all of you. It’s not been easy at times. Some have actually recently threatened to conduct citizen’s arrest on me, others have labelled me incompetent. But that is the joy of democracy. It’s the joy of what each and every one of us here, in this assembly fought for, for many many years.

Many of you devoted your entire lives to fighting this cause. And on a day like today, I would like to single out honourable member for Serrekunda for his devotion to fighting for this freedom for many many years. I recall when I was a student at St Augustine’s and we used to be excited socialist-marxist ideas and we would invite him to come and give talks at our symposium. I used to be inspired by him.

It’s been three and a half short and long years. It’s been difficult sometimes but I only wish to remind all the members here that our country is at crossroads. You’re all patriotic men and women of this country. You represent our people here. Everything you say, everything you do, you do on behalf of the people of this country. But the responsibility to traverse from this very shaky water to a more stable and institutionalised democracy rests on each and every one of us. And we cannot do that without peace. It is what we have, it’s our national treasure. It’s what we must always preserve.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the engagements, for your criticisms, for your compliments and for the openness. The Gambia has changed. It will only change for the better from now on. You more than anyone out there have a unique responsibility to ensure that there is transparent, open and accountable government in this country. You more than any other constituency out there have a unique ability to check the execesses of power. You have a heavy burden to make sure that this country will no longer go back to a dictatorship. And you’re already doing that. I can only encourage you to do that some more. See the executive as your partners in development and engage constructively.

Of course sometimes our decisions will be swayed by partisan political interest but what makes us true democrats is the ability to identify a national crisis and come together and put aside our political differences. It’s going to be difficult going forward. Democracy is chaos. We will not like some of the things that are being said about us. We will not like the insults on social media. We will not like the unfair, unjustified criticism sometimes but I personally and I know as much as you prefer to live in this climate than the climate that we came from on the 1st of December 2016. It behoves all of us to ensure that The Gambia we bequeth to future generations is The Gambia that we inherited before 22nd July 1994. I thank you all for your support. I thank you Honourable Speaker. I thank the Office of Clerk. I thank you.

At least 19 harmful practices, ranging from breast ironing to virginity testing, are considered human rights violations, according to the latest UNFPA report.

The report which focuses on the three most prevalent ones: female genital Mutilation, child Marriage, and extreme bias against daughters in favour of sons, will be released on Tuesday, according to a statement by UNFPA Gambia.

“Harmful practices against girls cause profound and lasting trauma, robbing them of their right to reach their full potential,” UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem said, according to UNFPA’s statement.

The press release statement added: “This year, an estimated 4.1 million girls will be subjected to female genital mutilation. Today, 33,000 girls under age 18 will be forced into marriages, usually to much older men. Also, an extreme preference for sons over daughters in some countries has fueled gender-biased sex selection or extreme neglect that leads to their death as children, resulting in 140 million ‘missing females’.

“In The Gambia, 3 in every 4 girls have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation while 1 in every 3 girls is married off before her 18th birthday. Although some of these practices are waning, due to population growth, the number of girls subjected to them will actually rise in the coming decades, if urgent action is not taken.

“Having ratified international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, The Gambia has a duty to end the harm, whether it’s inflicted on girls by family members, religious communities, health-care providers, commercial enterprises or state institutions. Although the Country has responded by enacting laws, but laws alone are not enough.

“Decades of experience and research show that bottom-up, grassroots approaches are better at bringing change, “We must tackle the problem by tackling the root causes, especially gender-biased norms. We must do a better job of supporting communities’ own efforts to understand the toll these practices are taking on girls and the benefits that accrue to the whole of society by stopping them,” as stated by Dr. Kanem UNFPA’s Executive Director.

“The economy and the legal system that supports gender inequality must be restructured to guarantee every woman equal opportunities, changing rules for property inheritance, for example, can eliminate a powerful incentive for families to favour sons over daughters and help to eliminate child marriage in the Gambia.

“Ending Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation worldwide is possible by 2030 if we invest in scaling up efforts to keep girls in school longer, teaching them life skills and engaging men and boys in social change.”

Leaving Abubacarr Tambadou has described the country’s lawmakers as patriotic men and women who devoted their lives to democracy.

Speaking at the national assembly on Monday for the last time, Mr Tambadou said: “Many of you devoted your entire lives to fighting this cause [democracy]. It’s been three and a half short and long years. It’s been difficult sometimes but I only wish to remind all the members here that our country is at crossroads. You’re all patriotic men and women of this country. You represent our people here. Everything you say, everything you do, you do on behalf of the people of this country.

“But the responsibility to traverse from this very shaky water to a more stable and institutionalised democracy rests on each and every one of us. And we cannot do that without peace. It is what we have, it’s our national treasure. It’s what we must always preserve.”

Mr Tambadou reserved special praise and admiration for Serekunda NAM Halifa Sallah.

He said: “And on a day like today, I would like to single out honourable member for Serrekunda for his devotion to fighting for this freedom for many many years. I recall when I was a student at St Augustine’s and we used to be excited socialist-marxist ideas and we would invite him to come and give talks at our symposium. I used to be inspired by him.”

In April, the duo nearly clashed after Mr Tambadou said the issue of interpreting the law is not a matter for the national assembly in a direct riposte to a suggestion by Mr Sallah for President Barrow’s state of emergency proclamation to be referred to the National Assembly’s committee on human rights and constitutional matters before they could vote on it.

By Lamin Njie

Ousman Rambo Jatta has vowed to stop Abubacarr Tambadou from leaving the country as the former attorney general prepares to leave for his new role in The Hague.

Mr Tambadou last week announced he was stepping down as the country’s attorney general. He had been in the role for three and a half years.

APRC has remained Mr Tambadou’s biggest nemesis as he led vast efforts aimed at keeping former president Yahya Jammeh accountable for his crimes. The former attorney general once daringly vowed he was going to personally prosecute Jammeh if he ever stepped foot in The Gambia.

Last Friday, he admitted however his ‘principled’ position against Mr Jammeh has not endeared him to the former leader’s supporters, as he spoke for the last time as attorney general.

The party’s deputy interim leader Ousman Rambo Jato Jatta in a message to all APRC supporters said they are going to deal with the outgoing attorney general.

Rambo said in an audio message obtained The Fatu Network: “All APRC militants, I advise you to be on stand-by. Ba Tambadou is not going to leave the shores of The Gambia without telling us where the assets of our former president is.

“Anyone day we hear Ba Tambadou is leaving this country, we’re going to block the highway to the airport for Ba Tambadou not to leave. Ba Tambadou will not leave this country without clashing with us. Ba Tambadou you’re not going to escape.”

Rambo’s comments come as Mr Tambadou said at the national assembly on Monday there are some people who want to conduct a citizen’s arrest on him. He did not elaborate.

Youth in Kombo East have called for answers over the sacking of Lamin Darboe.

Darboe was sacked last week from his role as acting executive director of National Youth Council. No reason was given.

The youth of Kombo East in a statement signed by chairman of the district’s youth committee Lamin Sanneh on Sunday said: “Kombo East Youth and Children Development Alliance (KEYCDA) express our utter dismay and condemnation of the unlawful dismissal of Mr. Lamin Darboe, from his position as Executive Director of the National Youth Council of The Gambia.

“Mr Darboe is an exemplary figure in the youth sector who prepares and inspires many Gambian youth and remains a role model within families and communities. We consider his termination as illegal and a blatant disregard to the dictates of the National Youth Council Act 2000.

“Due to his dedication, commitment and foresight towards the wellbeing of young people of The Gambia (particularly Kombo East District), he co-founded Kombo East Youth and Children Development Alliance (KEYCDA); the first organised district youth and children development organisation in The Gambia and became the first coordinator in 2005. During his tenure, he selflessly mobilised and united communities within Kombo East and beyond.

“As the first coordinator of KEYCDA, he led the basics for progressive youth empowerment and development, community child protection and youth entrepreneurship and sports development, amongst others within communities, districts, Regions and beyond. His contributions toward youth empowerment have positively transformed the lives of many young people who are making great impact towards national development.

“Mr Darboe’s dismissal through the Ministry of Youth and Sport is unlawful and contradicts Section 13 of the National Youth Council Act, which gives authority to only the President to appoint the Executive Secretary in consultation with ‘the Council and the Public Service Commission.’ This Act is however, silent on the removal of the Executive Secretary, thereby empowering the common legal maxim that “he who appoints can dismiss.”

“Mr. Darboe was served a letter of dismissal without stating any ground that renders the government to sack him from his position. He is widely regarded as a competent, resourceful, diligent, ethical and professional youth leader in The Gambia and the sub-region.

“As a result, his unlawful termination has agitated the entire Gambian youth population and beyond due to his selfless services and sacrifices. He has been selflessly rendering development services to the young people and the government of this country which has broadly contributed to progressive youth empowerment and the development of our beloved nation The Gambia. He has been an epitome of hope for the youths and a pillar for the construction and development of life-changing initiatives in the country.

“During his stint as Executive Director of NYC, Mr Darboe has transformed all the Regional Youth Offices in the country and succeeded in building healthy relationship with partners and stakeholders in youth empowerment and development, bringing trust, coordination and mobilization much easier than before.

“Without any regard for that national commitment and endeavors, his position was unjustifiably snatched in the most unfashionable manner, with series of miscalculated remarks from the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youths and sports, against the personality and competence of Mr. Darboe.

“In light of the above, we the young people of Kombo East District Youth Committee, on behalf of the entire young people of the district, demand answers for Mr. Darboe’s unlawful dismissal and urge for his unconditional reinstatement.

“We are equally calling on Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and individuals to continue standing against Mr. Darboe’s unlawful dismissal and against injustice at all-time as it will not help in the attainment of the desired goals and aspirations of our beloved country.”

Imam Baba Leigh on Friday used his sermon to lend his voice to the issue of bigots that attack the tribe of others.

“Let’s be mindful of the events of this age. We’re living a difficult time. Insulting a tribe is bad. What Sossehs call ‘si neng diro’. To call an entire tribe and say bad things,” Imam Leigh said.

He added: “Any tribe you see has good people, they have walis (holy men), they have good servants of Allah. And you refer to all and insult them? When you the culprit, is certainly a nobody.

“And honestly, things are trying to get out of hand. The person who was doing it, naming a tribe and insulting them, Allah has removed him from here. But he has put that nonsense in the hearts of people now. Anyone who gets up would name and tribe and insult it. It’s an ignorant person that insults.”

His comments come as a Marie Sock supporter insulted Mandinkas. She has however apologised.

A second person from the SN Brussels flight that came into the country last Monday has tested positive for coronavirus.

A 24-year-old Dutch national who has been in quarantine on account of his recent arrival from the UK by an SN Brussels flight tested positive for the disease on Friday.

“He is asymptomatic and currently admitted at the treatment centre,” the ministry of health said on Saturday.

The National People’s Party Fass Njaga Choi village chairman has dismissed claims of a major defection involving members of NPP.

A group comprising ‘about 50’ people from Fass in Lower Nuimi led by Omar Corr on Saturday met GDC leader Mamma Kandeh and told him they are joining. They claimed to be NPP supporters.

NPP top official in Fass Njaga Choi Mustapha Joof told The Fatu Network the claims were exciting laughter in him.

He said: “This is making me laugh. The people saying this should also say what position they held in NPP to the extent they’re cross-carpeting. The whole of Lower Nuimi including Fass used to be Mamma Kandeh (GDC).

“So for people to get up and say they are cross-carpeting to a party they have been supporting would amount to paranoia. They do not hold any role in any committee of the party be it village or ward.

“The people that left here were five people. They were to other villages and took people who are Mamma Kandeh [supporters]. They said they are going to Mamma Kandeh to ask him to help Fass with a borehole. They’re just saying whatever they like.”

NPP top-shot Seedy Njie slammed the reported defection as a ‘non-event’.

He said: “It is a non-event. It’s false, it’s not true. As the National People’s Party as we speak… In fact it was few days ago it was announced that the National People’s Party is in the process of finalising its executive committees and in fact it was announced that regional executives have been composed across the length and breadth of the country, and we’re looking forward to getting the National Executive Committee soon.

“I cannot fathom, and I can’t believe that a party that is busy setting up its executive members and we have been who are cross-carpeting from the NPP to the GDC. That is false, that is a child’s play. Even a six-year-old child will never believe people will leave the National People’s Party to join a dying party.

“The party is already dead. In fact to set the records straight, Omar Corr is a close friend of Modou Bobb. Modou Bobb was the candidate for the Gambia Democratic Congress in 2017 parliamentary elections. Both of them hail from Fass Njaga Choi and they’re part of the founding members of Gambia Democratic Congress.

“How can a sober person, a sane person leave National People’s Party and say the he is defecting to a dead party? It’s not true and I want to say that the people of Fass Njaga Choi are very loyal and committed to the government and the National People’s Party and our support base there is second to none. These are political propaganda.”

Three people have been killed after a ‘gele gele’ van conveying passengers crashed into a static truck.

Police said Saturday the an accident happened at Tanene village, West Coast Region around 10:30am.

Police said: “A 20 passenger “gele gele” with registration no BJL 1154 S hit a truck which was parked along the road side.

“Three people are reported dead at the scene while others are evacuated to Brikama health center for further medical attention.

“The Police have opened up an investigation into the accident.

“We urge drivers to be vigilant and to drive with due care especially during the rainy season. Furthermore, this is a period of time when vehicles need proper maintenance to avoid mechanical fault leading to road accidents.”

The military has shot back at the Constitutional Review Commission over their claim they did not receive any written submission from the military regarding what they want inserted in the country’s new constitution.

Army chief Yakuba Drammeh earlier this month complained after the draft constitution failed to state what role the military would have. The top military official said ‘adhoc interpretations’ of the role of the military would present a problem for it.

The Constitutional Review Commission in responding to the general’s comments said following publication of the proposed draft constitution in November last year, the CRC publicly invited the ‘general public and all other stakeholders to review the Draft Constitution and provide written comments to the CRC’.

“No written submissions were received from The Gambia Armed Forces. However, the written comments and further proposals received from the National Security Adviser were considered in finalizing the Draft Constitution,” the CRC said.

The army have now fired back insisting on Saturday they did submit a letter which contained their observations and suggestions.

The army in a rejoinder signed by spokesman Major Lamin K Sanyang and addressed to The Fatu Network’s Editor in Chief on Saturday said: “The Office of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces wishes to unequivocally state that the Armed Forces has no intention of making any unwarranted and unguarded statements or accusations against the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) or any institution for that matter in this country. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the Gambia Armed Forces wishes to set the records straight as regards its submissions on the draft constitution.

“It may be instructive to state that the Defence Headquarters received a correspondence from the CRC in December 2019 in which the Commission requested the Gambia Armed Forces to submit inputs relating to its mandate, functions and other roles. This, according to the correspondence was to enable the Commission to include the inputs into the Draft Constitution. On the basis of this, the Chief of Defence Staff constituted a Regimental Board tasked with the responsibility of formulating the appropriate inputs while making reference to best military practices from all over the world, the 1997 Gambian Constitution as well as constitutions of other countries. The aim was to ensure that the Gambia Armed Forces’ contributions were not only substantive but were also based on what obtains in most English speaking countries within the region.

“After completion of its work and reviewed by the Convening Authority, the inputs by GAF were duly submitted to the Commission before the publication of the first Draft of the Constitution. However, to the dismay of the GAF High Command, the inputs were not reflected or captured in the Draft Constitution upon review by the Defence Headquarters. Accordingly, the Gambia Armed Forces wrote a letter (Reference DHQ/280/A) to the Constitutional Review Commission dated 23 December 2019 which was delivered by the GAF Dispatch Clerk and it was received at the CRC Office by the Receptionist, Madam Ya Sainey Jobe on 24 December 2019. The letter contained observations as well as suggestions on the first Draft that the Gambia Armed Forces considered to be essential to be included in the final Draft. Although our clerks’ Way Book showed receipt of the letter by the Commission through Madam Ya Sainey Jobe, the Gambia Armed Forces is therefore surprised and disappointed by the Commission’s claim, through their rejoinder to the Fatu Network in which they stated that they had not received any written submissions from the Gambia Armed Forces. Moreover, the Gambia Armed Forces, upon request by the ONS, also forwarded this same submission to the Office of National Security (ONS) which had compiled all the inputs from the other Security Services including The Gambia Armed Forces for onward transmission to the CRC. As a matter of fact, the Constitutional Review Commission in its response to the Fatu Network as regards the submission by the ONS confirmed that “the written comments and further proposals received from the National Security Adviser were considered in finalizing the Draft Constitution”. Going by this statement, it can be deduced that the CRC had actually received not only the submission by the ONS but equally those by the Armed and Security Services including the Gambia Armed Forces. Otherwise, this is a glaring contradiction by the CRS that the Commission needs to further clarify for better understanding as to which ONS submission they were referring to.

“Furthermore, when the CRC published the final Draft Constitution, it was once again observed with dismay that the Draft had not captured most of GAF’s submissions and observations that were contained in both the letter from the Defence Headquarters and the submissions by the ONS. Perhaps, it is instructive to note that the expected roles and functions of militaries all over the world are always succinctly captured in the Constitution of any given nation rather than leaving them to a future provision of an Act of the National Assembly. This is true for Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan and Senegalese constitutions, just to mention a few.

“However, when all these efforts failed and given the sensitive nature of this issue, our observations were brought to the attention of the Ministry of Defence through a letter (Reference DHQ/280/A) dated 22 April 2020 in which the MOD was requested to engage and draw the attention of the CRC to the concerns of the Armed Forces on the matter. Besides, to the consternation of the High Command, the CRC as an institution neither wrote back to at least acknowledge receipt or otherwise of all of our submissions, for whatever reasons, in all these two occasions.

“While it is not our intention to engage either directly or indirectly in any verbal or written confrontation with the Commission, it is our expressed and/or professional view that these omissions are serious and could have the potential to significantly limit the constitutional mandate, function and roles of the Gambia Armed Forces to the detriment of our national security and socio-economic development. It has to be reiterated that in the process of reviewing the draft to generate GAF’s inputs, we were cognizant of some of the provisions relating to the peacetime and war-time functions and roles of the military of other countries within the sub-region. These core roles, functions and mandates are similar and synonymous to most militaries all over the world. They are as follows: to preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of The Gambia against external aggression; to aid the civil authorities, at their request, in emergencies and in case of natural disasters; [and] to engage at the request of the civil authorities in productive activities, such as agriculture, engineering, health and education for the development of The Gambia.

“While sub-paragraph (a) is a mandate common to militaries the world over, it is however instructive to stress that the other functions reposed on the Gambia Armed Forces in sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) are performed only at the request and instance of civilian authorities. This unequivocally denotes that the Gambia Armed Forces should be accountable and subordinate to civil authority. This is necessary to justify its existence as a vibrant nation defence instrument. With that said, it is our expressed and professional opinion that in as much as these are functions provided for militaries all over the world, the 1997 Constitution had similar provisions for the Gambia Armed Forces which we hope should have been included in the Draft Constitution.

“On a final note, while we commend the Commission for coming up with a Constitution that would usher in the Third Republic, it is our considered professional view that our roles and functions should be defined clearly in the Constitution without ambiguity and/or direct or indirect subjective interpretations. This would ensure that the military performs its constitutional mandate and other assigned roles both in peace time and during emergencies thereby enhancing national peace and security.

“Finally, we wish to reiterate that the Gambia Armed Forces, like all Gambians wishes to see a Constitution that would stand the test of time. Accordingly, the GAF is more than willing to engage the CRC constructively on this important national security matter as appropriate.”

A group of people from Lower Nuimi have had their defection from NPP accepted by GDC after they met with the leader of the opposition party.

The group comprising ‘about 50’ people from Fass in Lower Nuimi were led by Omar Corr and they met GDC leader Mamma Kandeh on Saturday.

The party’s national youth mobiliser Omar Ceesay told The Fatu Network: “They came to show solidarity as long as the party is concerned.

“What most of them narrated, they were supporting Barrow’s party NPP and suddenly they are not satisfied with what they have seen there, what they are encountering. So they decided they could not form any other party other than GDC.”

An NPP official contacted for comment promised to react to the claims by the villagers.

By Jaka Ceesay Jaiteh

Black Lives Matter activists on Saturday chanted ‘we want justice’ as they gathered in front of the US Embassy on Kairaba Avenue to protest against injustice and racism.

The 25 May fatal arrest of Minneapolis, United States black-man George Floyd continues to anger people mostly blacks in America and beyond.

Earlier this month, Rising Against Racism staged a protest in front of the US Embassy over George Floyd and Momodou Lamin Sisay’s deaths.

Black Lives Matter The Gambia have also held their protest on Saturday, where activists led by Madi Jobarteh handed a petition to officials of the US Embassy.

In the petition are seven demands made by the protesters and these included: the release of the police video of the shooting of Modou Lamin Ceesay who was shot by a police in Georgia, to conduct investigations on police brutality against blacks in the U.S and ensure full justice and accountability and to conduct constitutional, legal and institutional reforms to read out and end cultural racism and to actively criminalise racism in all forms.

The petition was received by the deputy chief of mission at the American embassy Shelly Seaver.

Bowing Abubacarr Tambadou has called on critics of the Barrow government to not just sit back and lay blame when mistakes happen.

The Barrow government has acquired a lot of critics since its ascension three and a half years ago.

Abubacarr Tambadou who worked as the attorney general and minister of justice since 2017 knows clearly how it feels to be in a Barrow government. He’s resigned after securing a new job with the United Nations.

On Friday, the former minister held a press conference where he asked critics to be constructive in their criticism of the Barrow government.

He said: “We inherited a system of governance where State institutions from the Presidency to the lowest levels were systematically dismantled over a two decade period; and where we found no culture or practice of State protocol in consonance with democratic practice.

“In many instances, we have had to rely on conventional wisdom. Given these circumstances, there are bound to be mistakes. But when mistakes occur, point them out in a constructive manner and make suggestions on how to avoid them in future. Do not just sit back and moan and blame.”