By Lamin Njie

The ministry of health has sent a coronavirus rapid response team to a London Corner neighbourhood in Serrekunda after two people reportedly returned to the town from Touba, Senegal.

Concerned neighbours claim two males evaded quarantine after they travelled to Senegal and returned ‘a few days’ ago.

The concerned neighbours told The Fatu Network they called the ministry of health hotline but no action was taken.

They expressed worry over the presence of the two men in the neighbourhood.

The Fatu Network spoke to Dr Buba Manjang the head of quarantine at the ministry of health and he said a team was on its way to London Corner.

Bakoteh-based politician Omar Beyai has been made deputy secretary general and party leader of Gambia Action Party.

GAP said in a statement today signed by administrative secretary Muhammed Kandoro Yaffa: “The Gambia Action Party is pleased to announce the arrival of Mr Omar Beyai whose presence in GAP testifies that his admiration for nation building ahead of individual interests and this decision moderates united front. Mr Beyai is a qualified Gambian and has civic rights to establish a political institution, but after attempts made to lure him to GAP as our ideological powers interrelated, he opted to join GAP and suspended forming his party. He is determined, dedicated, disciplined, has leadership traits, fairness and maturity to deliver effective services to nation are what defined his uniqueness as an individual. Throughout his professional career, he demonstrated genuineness and led by example. This has demonstrated responsible leadership, and hunger for the welfare needs of all the citizens.

“GAP is aware that almost all the political parties followed Mr Beyai but his decision to join us with all his entourage is a clear manifestation that our strength as a nation lies on unity and that GAP has a lot to offer for the selfish interests of the Gambia. Mr Beyai is not power hungry nor is he a political opportunist but he is a real person who believes in diversity and to salvage the Gambia from sinking any further. For this patriotic decision, GAP National Executive has unanimously approved and appointed him as the first Deputy Secretary General and Party Leader of GAP, a decision that we deemed it necessary and a right man in the right position.

“And for those people with the aim of registering parties, we urge you to relinquish that decision and follow Mr. Omar Beyai to GAP. We are with the strongest convictions that the Gambians has voted for changes that never occurred in reality but we hoped that 2021 presidential elections would be a turning point in the history of our beloved nation and chances must be made available to all citizens irrespective of one’s background or origin. GAP is the only party in The Gambia that can deliver the promise and we urge everyone to vote for progress and not on tribal grounds. We will seize this opportunity to urge the Gambians to remain united in our daily commitments and remain strong and supportive to one another.

“Our country has suffered and endured a lot for the past few months due to COVID-19 pandemic that holds the world at hostage, but we promise to deliver a system that will prepare us to fight against anything derailing our economy. For our safety reasons, please let us be mindful and committed to the health guidelines during this period.”

By Lamin Njie

Michael Sang Correa has been charged in the United States for torturing engineers of the 2006 failed coup against former President Yahya Jammeh.

Mr Correa was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement last year for illegally staying in the country.

On Thursday, local media reported the Colorada-based ex-soldier had been indicted for torture and aiding and abetting torture.

“Michael Correa allegedly committed heinous acts of violence against victim after victim in a brutal effort to coerce confessions,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski, according to local media.

According to court filings seen by The Fatu Network, Michael Sang Correa was a member of the junglers who between and on or about March 2006 through August 2006 ‘knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree with others to commit torture’.

In March 2006, a group of soldiers and civilians led by Colonel Ndure Cham attempted to overthrow then-President Yahya Jammeh; the takeover however failed before it could launch.

According to US government court filings on 2 June, those arrested in the aftermath of the foiled coup, at least six victims, were tortured at the NIA headquarters.

US federal authorities alleged that Correa participated in both the transporting of the coupists from Mile Two prison to NIA as well as their torture.

By Lamin Njie

Director general of the Gambia Tourism Board Abdoulie Hydara has been removed from his role.

Mr Hydara was removed from the role on Thursday and redeployed to the foreign service after the Public Service Commission agreed to an executive decision, a source said.

He would work in the role of deputy head of mission of the Gambia High Commission in Nigeria.

Mr Hydara has been replaced by Abubacar Camara.

His removal comes two weeks after the ministry of tourism placed him and his entire team on half salary and asked that they stay home in an attempt to cut cost amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It also comes as players in the leisure and entertainment sub-sector clashed amongst themselves over the setting up of the Restaurant, Bar and Nightclub Association of The Gambia.

Some players in the sub-sector petitioned the GTBoard through Mr Hydara after they accused the group of comprising foreigners only.

By Denver7

A Denver man was arrested Thursday on federal torture charges, accused of abusing political prisoners in his home country of Gambia, where he worked for a special military unit at the direction of the African nation’s president, according to court documents filed this month.

Michael Sang Correa, 41, was arrested in the case Thursday and was scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge at 2 p.m., according to court filings. Correa has been in custody at the Immigration Customs and Enforcement facility in Aurora since last year, when he was arrested on immigration charges.

A federal grand jury indicted Correa on June 2 on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of aiding and abetting torture. The statute in the case — which allows U.S. officials to prosecute foreign nationals residing in the U.S. for alleged crimes they committed elsewhere — had only been used twice before, U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn said at a news conference Thursday.

“I can not overstate the significance of these charges,” Dunn said.

Correa, a Gambian national, traveled to the United States in December 2016 to work as a bodyguard for the Gambian vice president, who was visiting the United Nations, Dunn said. When Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was voted out of office at that same time, Correa stayed in the U.S., and at some point moved to Denver, where he lived with his wife and worked as a day laborer, officials said.

While he lived in his home country, Correa worked for an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” who answered to Gambia President Yahya Jammeh, the indictment said. The Junglers, according to the indictment, were selected from the ranks of the Gambian military but worked outside of the army’s chain of command, “receiving orders from President Jammeh.”

Correa trained with the Junglers in 2004, authorities said. When Jammeh learned in 2006 that a group within Gambia was trying to overthrow his government, his administration arrested “numerous” individuals and took them to the Mile 2 Prison for interrogations, according to the indictment.

Correa, authorities alleged, took part in the interrogations by abusing and coercing the prisoners. In one case, he beat a victim with sticks, palm branches and wires and extinguished a cigarette on the victim, the indictment said.

Correa and the other co-conspirators are also accused of dripping molten plastic onto a victim’s thighs and feet and suspending the victim in mid-air while they beat the person, according to the indictment.

The indictment outlined other torture allegations, including pouring cold water on a victim, electrocuting a victim, and bringing a hot metal rod next to a victim’s face.

The alleged torture happened in March and April of 2006. Correa left Gambia for the United States in 2016, coinciding with Jammeh’s ouster as Gambia’s president.

Eric Balliet, Homeland Security Investigations deputy special agent in charge, did not detail specifically how investigators tracked Correa to Colorado, but said agents “were able to follow all communication trails, financial trails, every aspect of how he left bread crumbs to identify how he ended up here in Denver.”

Jammeh, who faced numerous allegations of human rights abuses, was voted out of office in December 2016 but only stepped down after a weeks-long standoff with foreign troops, according to the New York Times. As of January, Jammeh remained in exile in Equatorial Guinea, the BBC reported.

Two Democratic U.S. senators wrote a letter in February to U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf asking for Correa to be prosecuted for the alleged abuses. The senators said at that time that they learned Correa was in federal custody in Colorado for overstaying a visa – which was first reported by Just Security in December.

The senators also wrote that Correa had since his arrest unsuccessfully applied for asylum in the U.S. and had been ordered to be removed from the country.

“Thoroughly investigating Correa’s alleged crimes and prosecuting him, if warranted, would send a strong signal that the United States will protect its own citizens and will not serve as a safe haven for those who commit human right atrocities,” the senators wrote. “Allowing Correa to be removed from the United States, on the other hand, would likely allow him to escape any kind of real accountability or justice.”

Dunn on Thursday said the government fully intends to prosecute Correa in the U.S.

“With this arrest, we are not only holding accountable a man who has allegedly committed horrific acts of torture against his own people, but demonstrating to the People of The Gambia, and indeed the entire world, that the United States stands for the rule of law and against those who abuse human rights,” Dunn said in a news release.

Army chief Major General Yankuba Drammeh on Thursday met with the Mayor of Kanifing Municipality as part of his nationwide tour.

Drammeh became the country’s top military leader following the removal of Masanneh in March.

According to Kanifing Municipal Council, Drammeh’s courtest call is part of his nationwide tour to “discuss matters bothering on defense and security within the Municipality and in the process further cement the existing bond between the two institutions”.

“Speaking during the meeting, Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda used the occasion to thanked the CDS and his delegation for visiting the municipality. He also revealed to the CDS council’s plans to support members of The Gambia Armed Forces especially in the area of transportation. He concluded by assuring the CDS of council’s continuous collaboration and support at all times,” the council said on its official Facebook page on Thursday.

Gambia Alliance for National Unity has been registered by the Independent Electoral Commission making it the latest political party in The Gambia.

IEC in a statement on Thursday said GANU was registered on 9 June after meeting the requirements for registration.

The party is led by Sheikh Tijan Hydara a former attorney general of The Gambia.

The party’s secretariat has been recorded to be Brusubi while its colour is sea blue and sky blue, according to IEC.

Its symbol is people in a circle holding hands as a mark of unity.

By Jaka Ceesay Jaiteh

ABM Covid Gambia on Tuesday 9 June donated 5000 locally made face masks to the Gambia Red Cross Society.

The presentation took place at their site in Serrekunda.

The association is set up with the aim of gathering various professional expertise and resources to develop pragmatic solutions as contribution towards the prevention and fight against COVID 19.

“We have come up with an initiative called mask4all campaign which is aimed at providing free facial masks for everyone in the country regardless of their social status,” Co founder Bintou Camara said.

The masks which were handed over to the Red Cross was the first of many and was received by a delegation from the Red Cross which was led by the program manager Abdoulie Fye.

“The masks that we received will go a long way in helping to contain corona virus. We have been in support of the initiative before they began production and we will continue to partner with them to make sure that every individual is not left out,” Fye added.

The materials and most of the equipment used for the production are self fund by the founders of the organization as a means of contributing to the prevention of Corona Virus.

By Fatou Camara

Many Gambians in the diaspora have been without a job due to the coronavirus pandemic, a Gambian living in Italy has said.

Ebrima Drammeh in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network said: “If you look at The Gambia, you will see that the struggle is really hard back home and that is why most of us left.

“However , the coronavirus has left many Gambians jobless here in the Diaspora. A lot are suffering especially those without proper documents as they do not have bank accounts. Some will even complain that even food to eat is a big problem.”

Meanwhile a Gambian living in UK Lamin Tamba has said he was happy when he heard the Gambia government saying “they are going to help students in the Diaspora”.

“But then I hear students complaining that they did not receive a penny from the government and I was wondering, what happened to the Gambia government?” Tamba said.

By Fatou Camara

Four people are arrested after they allegedly broke into their employer’s home, the police have said.

Cherno Ngum, Alasana krubally, Alieu Tangara and Yankuba Tangara performed the act ‘some time ago’, police spokesman Lamin Njie said at a press conference on Wednesday.

He said: “Some time ago, we have a complainant who reported to the police that his house has been broken into and items were stolen.

“The police set up an investigation panel and then diligently and professionally they were arrested.

“One of them is Cherno Ngum, he’s a Senegalese national but he works for the complainant we realised later on.

“And also we have anothet two suspects, Alasana and two other individuals who were all employees of the complainant who decided to break into their employer and decided to steal all these properties that you have seen.”

The suspects allegedly stole money, gold and diamond and other items.

By Lamin Njie

Opposition APRC on Wednesday insisted Attorney General Abubacarr Tambadou might have read another document from planet Mars, as the party fact-checked a statement issued by the ministry of justice.

The government was left scratching its head last week when the court of appeal ruled that the executive could not only rely on and execute recommendations from a commission inquiry.

It dealt a major blow to the Barrow government as it has now suspended ‘all sales’ of properties stemming from the Janneh Commission recommendations. Most of the properties belonged to former President Yahya Jammeh.

The ministry of justice while annoucing the government was backtracking from the sale of the properties insisted the court of appeal ruling in the MA Kharafi Vs Attorney General never said the Janneh Commission recommendations could not be enforced.

Opposition APRC on Wednesday held a news conference to react to the developments at which event the party moved quickly to fact-check the Attorney General Ba Tambadou.

The party’s interim leader Fabakary Tombong Jatta said: “I want to make a contrast as to the key ingredients of the judgment versus the response of attorney general Ba Tambadou versus who is Ba Tambadou. We must look at it from that perspective.

“I will just want to read what Ba Tambadou, his response to the judgment. Just some quotes from it. I will go into the judgment and I will now lay out who Ba Tambadou is.

“He (Ba Tambadou) said. ‘Meanwhile, consistent with the Government’s strong commitment to respect for the rule of law, all sales of properties flowing from the Janneh Commission recommendations have now been suspended in deference to the ruling of the court of appeal until a final pronouncement is made on the matter.’

“He said, ‘The Government notes that different interpretations of the ruling are being offered by many including sections of the media. The Government wishes to clarify to the general public that The Gambia Court of Appeal did not in any way state that the Janneh Commission recommendations cannot be enforced. Rather, in a departure from long established practice in this jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal held that an additional legal step needs to be taken by the Executive in order to execute some, and not all, of the recommendations of a commission of inquiry such as the Janneh Commission. Indeed, the Gambia Court of Appeal has accepted, in the said ruling, that the position arrived at by the Court in this matter is a novel one. The Government however disagrees with this position by the Court of Appeal and intends to further litigate this matter’.

“And then he concluded, ‘ The Gambia government is committed to the principles of good governance and rapidly gaining recognition around the world as a bastion of democracy and judicial independence’. These are the words of Ba Tambadou. It is the same judgment we all read.

“Let’s make comparisons: in the judgment, Justice Njie said, ‘a commission of inquiry does not and legally cannot make a judgment’. Very clear words. ‘In other words’, he continued, a commission of inquiry cannot legally render a binding decision which may be executed or enforced as it were a judgment or order’. Ba Tambadou said the judgment did not said that.

“Justice Njie further said, ‘the adverse findings and recommendations of a commission of inquiry are merely advisory and not conclusive and binding’. Justice Njie in his jugdment, weigh it against what Ba Tambadou said.

“He (Justice Njie) further noted, ‘that commission of inquiry is part and parcel of the executive and not part of the judiciary thus not an adjudicating body’.

“The appeal court quoted and relied on a supreme court judgment – Fayel Ghanim Vs Attorney General with the chief justice sitting. That’s Hassan B Jallow the current chief justice. And Justice Hassan Jallow stated that, ‘a commission of inquiry is not a lawmaking body, it has no legislative powers and does not fall within the legislature’. This is before, a previous case that this judgment relied on. This was also stated and this has not been a guidance to Ba Tambadou, attorney general and chief legal adviser to government.

“Justice Jallow further said in that judgment that, ‘a commission of inquiry is an investigative fact-finding body which makes findings and recommendations that are subjected to the approval of government’. This is Hassan Jallow’s judgment in a different case earlier on.

“Justice Njie of the Appeal Court said, ‘consequently, my view is that the adverse findings or recommendations of a commission of inquiry cannot be executed or enforced. They are not judgments or orders of an adjudicating body’.

“Ba Tambadou said that’s not what the judgment said. I think he’s reading another document from Mars.

“You see, we’re at a stage where no one person can fool Gambians. We must recognise that. If mistakes are made, we must accept our mistakes as human beings. But in the execution of our duties, we must put away our emotions and sentiments.”

Big Apple Ltd has written to the Gambia Tourism Board pushing back at claims by the Restaurant, Bar and Nightclub Association that the company was one of the businesses that associated itself with the association by submitting appeal letters of assistance to the group for onward submission to the Ministry of Finance.

RBNA and a number of big players in the leisure and entertainment sub-sector of the hospitality industry have been locking horns after the latter accused the former of not truly representing all palyers in the industry.

Big Apple and some players then petitioned the GTBoard over the creation of the group. They complained that it was composed of foreigners only.

RBNA on 4 June also wrote to GTBoard stating its side of the story.

In the letter, the association alleged there are several businesses, listed as signatories in the said petition against “our association, who had already submitted to our association appeal letters of assistance for us to submit to the Ministry of Finance on their behalf, long before the same signatories appeared on the petition against us”.

“To cite one example, The Big Apple Night Club and Lounge,” the association alleged.

Big Apple has now reacted by writing to the GTBoard; using its 8 June letter to express dismay oover the claims.

“We read on social media with dismay the letter dated June 4, 2020 directed to your (GTBoard director general) esteemed office in respect to the establishment of the Restaurant, Bar and Nightclub Association, (Herein thereafter to as RBNA) as an attempt by (RBNA purporting to represent the interest of all restaurants, bar and nighclub owners in The Gambia) to discredit, desecrate and misrepresent the facts as presented by them particularly in reference to Big Apple Gambia Ltd in their correspondence,” Big Apple said in their letter to the GTBoard supremo.

The company added in their letter signed by Lord Azeez O. Yusuf: “According, we humbly state our position unequivocally as follows; RBNA is a registered association purporting to represent the interest of all business owners and stakeholders in the restaurant, bar and nighclub sub-sector of the hospitality businesses operating in The Gambia;

“That Big Apple Gambia Ltd is not officially a registered member of RBNA presently nor among the 23 officially registered members as posted in the letter referenced above. It is misleading therefore for RBNA to submit that correspondence between the parties is the same as membership in reference to paragraph 2 and 6 of the letter dated June 4, 2020.

“That BIG APPLE (GAMBIA) LTD received correspondence in May 2020 from RBNA to endorse and support the appeal letters to the Government and regulatory authorities in The Gambia, for bailout and assistance as a result of the effect of covid-19 pandemic on businesses. This support was given as a stakeholder in the hospitality sector and not as a registered member of RBNA as submitted by RBNA.

“That BIG APPPLE (GAMBIA) LTD attention was also drawn to the undemocratic and total disregard for due process in the constitution and establishment of RBNA by other major players in the industry, namely Club Envy, Waaw Night Club, Club Gravity, Ice lounge and many others establishments.

“That it was consequent to the above that Big Apple (Gambia) Ltd and all other major players comprising of about Seventy Nine (79) signatories representing different businesses in the Restaurant, Bar, Lounge and Nightclub sub sector of the hospitality sector in The Gambia undersigned the petition against RBNA. The letter is dated 1st of June, 2020 and all relevant regulatory authorities were copied.

“Therefore it is the position therein submitted in the letter dated 1st of June, 2020 that BIG APPLE (GAMBIA) LTD adopts which is that, RBNA as an undemocratic association cannot represent the aggregate interest of all business owners and stakeholders in the Restaurant, Bar, Lounge and Night club sub sector in the hospitality business in the Gambia without following due process of law through wider consultation, embracing democratic measures, reasonable public notice and a participatory general election conducted for all in order to vie for the executive board positions of RBNA.

“We therefore submit thus; that the organization and membership process RBNA is shrouded in discrepancies and secrecy to mislead and misguide; that RBNA as an interest Association should engage in democratic means to appoint its executives and organs via election process; that RBNA should open up the membership for wider participation to achieve accountability, transparency and just representation; that the appropriate regulatory bodies should intervene to ensure democratic measures and principles are adopted in RBNA organizational structure to reflect aggregate interest for the total benefit of the hospitality business in the Gambia.

“That BIG APPLE (GAMBIA) LTD and the major stakeholders coupled with over 70 business owners in the sub sector that undersigned the petition dated 1st June, 2020 account for over 78 percent of the business ownership and turnover in the Restaurant Bar, Lounge and Nightclub sub sector of the hospitality business in the Gambia, and any representation or presentation to the government or authorities devoid of aggregate interest or in disregard to common interest, may be a policy failure and an economic catastrophe to the hospitality business in general.

“We thank you for your continuous support and cooperation and as we seek for your intervention in this time of crisis, we remain positive towards economic prosperity and development in the hospitality sector and in The Gambia as a whole always.”

By Lamin Njie

The army has announced it will embark upon a huge blood donation exercise.

In a statement on Wednesday, the army said the donation is in line with a blood donation drive launched by army chief Yankuba Drammeh ahead of World Blood Donor Day next week.

“This patriotic and humanitarian gesture is aimed at complementing the efforts of the ministry of health and social welfare in ensuring adequate supply of blood to Gambians particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the army said in a statement signed by spokesman Major Lamin K Sanyang.

According to the army, officers, soldiers and ratings in all military installations from ‘Banjul to Basse’ would voluntarily donate blood.

The country’s defence minister Sheikh Omar Faye will flag off the exercise which would take place on Friday 12 June.

Seven of the country’s top medical facilities have been identified for the exercise. They are; Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Kanifing General Hospital, Bwiam General Hospital, Farafenni General Hospital, Essau Health Centre, Bansang General Hospital and Basse Major Health Centre.