Tuesday, June 17, 2025
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Halifa Sallah says George Floyd is sacrificial lamb for USA to repent

Halifa Sallah has said the George Floyd is the ‘sacrificial lamb’ for America to ‘repent’ and ‘heal’.

Below is the Serrekunda MP’s statement under the title ‘A Nation Caged and on Fire Cannot be at Peace with Itself to Prosper; George Floyd is the Sacrificial Lamb for the USA to Repent and Heal’.

When the worst is seen by a people, be rest assured that better times are around the corner, waiting for those who hate to see the worst to take the measured steps to address the challenges of destiny. Each has a duty to discharge our contract with destiny. The options are two. There is no middle road.

We will either live in the hell or the heaven of our own creation. This is the verdict of history and common sense and it is incontrovertible.

This is why COVID-19 is caging the USA and prejudice is burning it into ashes. History has its turns, convulsions and convolutions, its trials and tribulations but it also has its confessions, concessions and conciliations, its dialogue and healing. Hope always dawns when it is almost lost. The might of hope, unity and awareness is much more powerful than the strong current of hopelessness, antipathy and ignorance. The wisdom of the ages teaches that; behind the dark clouds, the glorious sunlight is always waiting to shine and it will shine someday. That is inevitable!

The convergence of the whole world for justice because of one incident is a glimmer of hope for a better world. Millions around the world became tormented as they saw a handcuffed human being lying on his side, unable to pose any threat to any officer, being subjected to excruciating pain by putting the whole weight of a well-built police officer on his neck, with a knee strategically placed on his jugular veins which ferries blood from the head to the heart thus depriving him of breath by relying on his weakest point to rip his lungs to pieces and send him to his grave.

What type of order will allow the transformation of a protector of life and property into a murderer? What property is more precious than personal freedom? It was not difficult to conclude that brother George Floyd was sent to his death without due process because of pride and prejudice that nourished contempt and ill will in the heart of the law enforcement officer. Where law enforcers become law breakers, the law is left without guards and fences. Society becomes a jungle where the fittest survive.

Burning, stoning and looting may continue to vent frustration until it becomes clear that such actions are not sustainable and cannot proffer solutions to the anguish that prejudice, inhumane treatment, alienation and injustice inflict on others.

It is therefore our duty not to provide the unjust with the excuse to legitimise the shooting and torturing of the weak because of their colour by exceeding the bounds of peaceful protest. Those who shook the USA to its knees did so in the 60s through the might of civic awareness and peaceful protest.

The belligerent and incorrigible hate mongers became consumed by the hell fire they lit and lost control of power. The peacemakers who took charge of governance assumed their responsibilities in separating the grain from the chaff, apologised for wrong doing while promising justice to the aggrieved families to cool the last embers of hate and revenge and allow sanity to be restored.

Hence, as we seek for a solution in these tumultuous times, the multitude should leave the street to COVID-19 and return to their separate chambers to speak to themselves in quietude and ask this fundamental unanswered question:

How can there be peace and tranquility, law and order without justice and respect for human rights irrespective of colour or creed?

George Floyd is posing this question for everyone in the USA to answer, each morning when starting a new day until a new USA is born. The USA is now crying for New Citizens and new leadership that could meet the expectations of those new citizens. Destiny makes the USA the nexus of world peoples and civilization.

The Union was founded and built from the blood and sweat of democrats fighting for a sovereign Republic in 1776, abolitionists fighting against those who defied the principle of sovereign equality of human beings, by trying to enslave other human beings, anti secessionists, 170, 000 of whom were Afro-American soldiers who defied disease and death to keep the nation together.

The wealth of the USA cannot be separated from the toil and moil of the enslaved, the indentured servants, the workers, the trillions in trade and investment in USA Bonds from all over the world. The USA is a corpus of world civilization without distinction to colour or nationality.

That is why when the USA is caged, the whole world feels the agony. When it is in flames, the whole world feels the heat. This is why the USA deserves a world class leadership in order to send the torch of justice, love, peace and harmony all over the globe where their ancestors hailed either by force against their will or due to flight from injustice perpetrated against them.

To all those who empathize with George Floyd, I have this to say: He is the sacrificial lamb of history, heralding the end of the days of prejudice based on colour.

Today, each person of African descent in particular or of any descent in general, whether in the USA, the Caribbean, Africa or any where in the globe should dispose of any inferiority complex that may have plagued one’s mind by prejudice and ignorance of one’s embodiment of inalienable dignity and self-worth.

Each must recognize that inferiority complex is a by product of self-hate and self-degradation. It leads one to engage in self-pity because of the inhumanity of others or become inhumane to react to the inhumanity of others. Instead of empathy, we should all celebrate the birth of a new day of awakening, a day when we will mutually commit ourselves to honour with total disregard that there is a white race or black race or red race or yellow race. We must now trumpet from mountain tops for the whole world to hear without any ambiguity or dissonance that there is only one race of people in the world – The Human race.

To look at the sun and say it is the moon is a symptom of mental ill health. To look at a person of African descent and say he or she is not a part of the human race is a symptom of mental ill health. All peoples, irrespective of colour, nationality, gender or place of origin are members of the human race who are endowed with similar capacity to think, invent and build a civilisation they would be proud to bequeath to their children and children’s children (ad infinitum), to eternity.

We must take this opportunity today to declare in George Floyd’s honour that his humanity and standing as a member of the human race stand shoulder high above his murderer. We must affirm that the human race comprises only two types of human beings; the human and the inhumane, the just and the unjust. We must reveal our discovery in his memory that any human being who looks at another human being and display signs of fear because of his or her colour is suffering from neurosis and needs treatment for his or her illness. This is the scientific truth.

It goes without saying that, any person who becomes obsessed with fear, hatred, pride and prejudice to the point of enjoying the perpetration of violence against another because of the colour of his or her skin must be seen to be suffering from psychosis. That is the unalloyed scientific truth. History has placed on the shoulders of all humane and just citizens of the USA in particular and the world over to begin the battle to screen and treat the ill and the unjust in our countries so as to ensure healing and peaceful coexistence. They must no longer be given the credit to think that they are displaying superiority over others by displaying contempt and hate.

The world must put an end to colour prejudice by exposing its source.

Those suffering from colour neurosis and psychosis must be identified and cured. The more they are allowed to increase and go on the rampage the more we have a society of psychopaths behaving like chosen people.

Then hell fire will be our home on this earth for eternity. History has put the salvation of the world in the hands of those who have suffered historical injustice the most, that is still unabated. However, history has rewarded the African people with land, human, material and financial resources in the USA, the Caribbean and Africa due to the vicissitude of destiny. We must now convert this strategic advantage into asset to save the world from the hatred of people that have lost all sense of obligation to humanity.

Once they learn to forgive after all the psychopaths are restrained and humanised, the twenty first century would evolve a human civilization that would guarantee peace on earth and good neighborliness throughout the world. All humane persons in the world must unite to save humanity from the insanity of the inhumane and the unjust.

This is the clarion call of destiny. We must answer to this call or face the abominable peril and the unaffordable cost of chaos, licentiousness and impunity.

Madi Jobarteh and Co’s protest is ‘postponed’ after meeting with police chief

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The planned protest on Monday 8 June against police brutality and racism in the United States has been postponed, Madi Jobarteh has said.

“This is to inform the general public that the planned protest on Monday June 8 in front of the American Embassy on Kairaba Avenue against police brutality and racism in the United States has been postponed briefly,” Mr Jobarteh said on Wednesday.

He added: “We had a meeting with the IGP this afternoon and he referred to the ongoing state of emergency which imposes restrictions on public gatherings. He noted that he would be unjustified to allow this protest to go ahead when schools, churches and mosques are closed and even some imams and other individuals arrested for leading public gatherings.

“The IGP however assured us that he will grant a permit once these emergency regulations are relaxed. It is expected that by June 8 the state of emergency will end. Even if it is extended the expectation is that the restrictions will be relaxed. As law abiding citizens we accepted his reasons and urged him to ensure that our right to freedom of assembly is respected.

“In light of the above we will postpone the June 8 protest and a new date will be set and communicated accordingly.”

OACPS SUMMIT: President Barrow touts SoPE as one of measures Gambia adopted to ward off coronavirus

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President Adama Barrow on Wednesday participated in the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States heads of state summit, telling the meeting The Gambia like other countries has adopted measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“These include declaring a State of Public Emergency, observing WHO regulations and mitigating the impact of such strict measures on the public,” the Gambian leader told the virtual summit which focused on transcending the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting was the first of its kind.

President Barrow added: “Already, however, the pandemic has impacted severely on both the formal and informal sectors of our economy.

“The need to pay due attention to both sectors is urgent, noting that our informal sector contributes crucially towards sustaining livelihoods and to GDP.

“In short, the impact on employment, government revenue and the subsistence of the people is immensely negative.”

Truckers put their despair behind them as government finally pays them

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By Lamin Njie

Government COVID-19 foodstuff transporters have finally been paid by the Gambia government.

The government had contracted several transporters to convey rice and sugar it purchased under a grand relief package.

The truckers had grumbled that they were running into difficulty getting their money from the government – as the Eid celebrations neared.

The Fatu Network has gathered the government has finally paid them, in a contract that ran into millions.

Transporters for North Bank and Upper River Region were paid nearly 11 million dalasis on Friday.

Anger in Barra as man behind ill-fated boat returns but police are warning against vigilantism

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By Lamin Njie

Family and survivors of the Barra boat disaster last year have expressed anger over the return to the town of Ousman Bahoum.

Mr Bahoum is the man behind the rickety boat that sank off the coast of Mauritania in December 2019 – while conveying at least 150 Gambian migrants to Spain.

He left Barra shortly after the disaster but has now returned back to the town.

Survivors and family of those who died in the accident held a meeting in Barra on Tuesday over Mr Bahoum’s return.

They are warning that they could take matters into their own hands if nothing is done.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie (not the author of this story) has however called for calm in Barra – even as he dismissed allegations Ousman bribed the police D300,000.

He said: “We want to assure the public especially ppl of Barra that the panel investigating the matter will not leave any stone untorn. All individuals found wanting will face the full force of the Law.

“We urge them to contain their impatience and not take the law into their own hands as justice will be served.

“The bribery allegation is definitely unfounded.”

Why will we not go? Doomed Barra boat survivor says lack of jobs prompted their fatal voyage

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By Lamin Njie

A survivor of the Barra boat disaster last year has said the Gambia government has been ignoring them, six months after a tragedy that left 68 people dead.

A rickety boat bound for Spain and carrying Gambian migrants most of them from Barra capsized off the coast of Mauritania after it ran out of fuel.

Baba Jahateh a survivor of the tragedy has told The Fatu Network their life condition has not changed and that the government has been ignoring them.

“Since when we came back, they have been ignoring us,” Baba said.

“There was a fire incident at a market when our incident happened. We sat here and heard Barrow gave them two million dalasis.

“We left for [the ‘back way’] because of lack of jobs. That’s why we boarded a boat to go.

“They’re ignoring the youths here and if they speak, they say why we are going the ‘back way’. Why will we not go? Are we going to sit here and eat sand?”

UNDP and GCCI pen understanding ahead of pilot of gender equality project

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United Nations Development Programme and Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 20 May signed a memorandum of understanding to provide a framework of cooperation that will facilitate and strengthen collaboration between the UNDP and GCCI for the pilot and roll out of the Genger Equality Seal project for private sector in The Gambia.

UNDP in a statement today said the GES Certification Programme will support and guide the private sector’s delivery and compliance to gender equality principles by establishing standards that promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

“Implementing the GES will also help in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. The CEO GCCI Mr. Alieu Secka urges the private sector in the Gambia to rise up and implement,” according to the UNDP statement.

Launched by national governments with support from UNDP, the Gender Equality Seal Certification Programme assists public and private institutions to ensure that their workplaces are fair and equitable, for a productive and innovative workforce, while enhancing efficiency and promoting accountability – with higher rates of women in non-traditional sectors and leadership roles.

The Gender Equality seal was developed in collaboration with the private sector and governments to create certification incentives when commitments towards gender equality are met. Piloted in Latin America, with certifications for over 600 companies and 1,900 branches in 14 countries since 2009, a global roll-out of the programme has provided support and acknowledgement to actors working to close the gender gap.

From November 2018, UNDP Africa rolled out the Gender Equality Seal Programme to help professionals gain expert knowledge and implement policies, aimed at harnessing the benefits of the certification programme in public and private institutions. The Gambia, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa are among the first cohort of countries to take part in capacity development for the Gender Equality Seal Programme, with support from UNDP.

To date, over 1,700 public and private companies are engaged in the implementation of the programme and 400 companies have been certified.

These companies have reaped a number of benefits, including but not necessarily limited to: a more just & equitable Work Environment; greater efficiency and staff performance; enhanced public image and brand loyalty; enhanced employee competence and commitment; reduced staff turnover; [and] greater accountability and transparency in institutions.

The Gambia Government made a commitment to support the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal (GES) for the Private sector in The Gambia in December 2016. The Private Sector Gender Equality Seal is to be piloted in 7 private companies in The Gambia including Africell and TAF Global. The GCCI acts as the lead institution for the Gender Equality Seal for Private Sector Programme and is also one of the pilot companies.

138 police officers get decorated after they were mass promoted to senior ranks

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Police on Tuesday decorated 138 police officers after they were promoted to various senior-rank positions – the first of its kind in the history of the police.

The decoration event was held at the police headquarters in Banjul.

The ranks ranged from Cadet ASP to Commissioner of police. The promoted officers include 28 Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, 48 Assistant Superintendent of Police, 13 Deputy Superintendent of Police, 19 Superintendent of Police, 13 Chief Superintendent of Police, 10 Assistant Commissioner of Police, 5 Deputy Commissioner of Police and 2 Commissioner of Police.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie (not the author of this story) who himself has been promoted to the rank of Supretendent and decorated said in a statement: “In what was a low key ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for adherence to social distancing regulations, officers were decorated in three separate sets at the police HQ conference Hall.

“In his remarks, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Abdoulie Sanyany reminded officers that promotion comes along with additional responsibilities and higher expectations. He congratulated the newly promoted officers and implored them to uphold the highest sense of professionalism at all times.

“The Inspector General of Police Alhagie Mamour Jobe, started by thanking the Government through His Excellency the President for creating the enabling environment.

“He informed that the promotion of 138 officers at a single ceremony is historical and a record high since the inception of the GPF.

“IGP Jobe challenged the newly promoted officers to take up responsibility and perform their duties without fear or favour. He encourage them to exercise diligence and professionalism in serving the Gambian public. He maintained that from now on, promotion will be performance based. He ended up with expressing gratitude to the Government, the ministry of interior, and PSC for the support in making this day a reality.

“Delivering remarks on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Interior, Mr Ngorr Secka, Adviser to the minister, stated that the promotion of officers came at a critical time when there is an ongoing security sector reform.

“The vote of thanks was delivered by newly decorated Commissioner of Police Amie Nyassi.”

Couples ‘should wear masks while having sex’ amid coronavirus pandemic, experts advise

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By Mirror UK

A new study has warned that having sex could spread coronavirus, and has advised that couples take preventative steps in the bedroom.

This includes avoiding kissing, showering before and after sex, and even wearing masks while having sex.

In the study, researchers from Harvard University ranked different sexual scenarios, based on how like you are to catch coronavirus during them.

Abstinence and masturbation were ranked as ‘low risk’ sexual activities, while sex with people within a household, and sex with people from other households were ranked as ‘high risk’ activities.

While the researchers admit that abstinence isn’t possible for many people, they’re urging people to take certain measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

In their study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers, led by Dr Jack Turban, wrote: “For some patients, complete abstinence from in-person sexual activity is not an achievable goal.

“In these situations, having sex with persons with whom they are self-quarantining is the safest approach.

“Those unable to take this approach may benefit from risk reduction counseling, which has proven effective in other realms of sexual health.

“Patients should also be provided with information about how to reduce the risk for other sexually transmitted infections as well as the importance of continued use of contraceptives during this time to prevent unwanted pregnancy.”

The study comes shortly after an expert claimed that recovered coronavirus patients should avoid sex for 30 days.

Veerawat Manosutthi, a senior medical expert at the Thai Disease Control Department, has advised that patients who have overcome COVID-19 should avoid getting intimate for 30 days, and has even warned against kissing.

Speaking to Khaosod English, Manosutthi said: “Those who believe themselves to be free of the virus should use condoms when having sex.

“Kissing should also be avoided as it is also known that it can spread through the mouth.”

MLS’ DEATH: Foreign ministry says it has asked Gambian Embassy in Washington DC to engage the relevant US authorities

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC to engage the relevant US authorities including the State Department to seek transparent, credible and objective investigation on the matter, the ministry has said.

In a statement on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia has learnt with regret the unfortunate incident in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America, that resulted in the death of Mr. Momodou Lamin Sisay, a 39 year old Gambian on Friday 29th May 2020.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC to engage the relevant US authorities including the State Department to seek transparent, credible and objective investigation on the matter. Consequently, the Honourary Consul in Georgia and the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC are on the ground to support the family of the deceased and to also work with US authorities in establishing circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Sisay.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray that the Almighty Allah grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and further grant the departed soul a place in Jannatul Firdaus.”

Alkalo whose attempted arrest saw hostile natives hurl rocks at police remanded at Mile 2

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By Lamin Njie

The alkalo of Madina Nemasu in Bafuloto whose attempted arrest on Monday saw police come under attack from hostile natives has been remanded at Mile 2.

The Brikama Magistrates Court on Tuesday remanded Alhagie Jobe after appearing before the court.

Police in Farato had on Monday travelled to a neighbourhood in Madina Nemasu to arrest Alhagie Jobe for allegedly assaulting Momodou Kanteh. They however were attacked by an angry mob forcing them to abandon the arrest operation and flee. They later managed to arrest Jobe.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie (not the author of this story) has confirmed to The Fatu Network Jobe has been remanded at Mile 2.

It comes as Jobe’s family raise questions over his whereabouts less than 24 hours of his arrest and detention.

Will the police chief accept? RAR applies for permit to stage protest over George Floyd murder

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Rising Against Racism a newly cobbled group comprising concerned Gambians has applied for a permit to stage a protest in The Gambia over the killing of black man and US citizen George Floyd.

Members of RAR include Kexx Sanneh, Dodou Jah and MC Cham Jnr.

The group in a letter written to the Inspector General of Police made known their intent to stage a ‘public demonstration’ on 13 June.

“The March Pass will begin at Westfield to the American Embassy, Kairaba Avenue where we would deliver a petitition to the American Embassy,” the group told Mamour Jobe in their letter seen by The Fatu Network.

It comes as top activist Madi Jobarteh announced a similar protest that will take place on Monday, 8 June.

REPAIR THE RIGGED GLOBAL SYSTEM AGAINST THE BLACK RACE

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The ongoing mass civil disobedience threatening the four-century-old entrenched sociopolitical and economic fabric of the USA in the wake of the public lynching of African-American George Floyd by a white-American police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis is a candid resultant of an unsustainable system of institutionalized racism against colored people firmly embedded in the foundation of all Western capitalistic societies since its advent here on July 4, 1776 AD. History teaches us how human society for over 3500 years, beginning from the Code of Hammurabi laws of 1776 BC that had governed the first human society in Babylon and effectively ended in the Declaration of American Independence from British-Crown rule in 1776 AD was founded and maintained on a monarchial hierarchy that educated and indoctrinated all subjects into the belief of a pecking divine order, originating from the universal Deities/Gods who had classified human value into superiors/nobles, commoners and slaves. Indeed, for three and a half millenniums, human society was strictly administered under such a groundless commandment, reinforced by zealous lawmakers and enforcers under kings and emperors who built and expanded their domains by conquering territories, seizing lands and properties and killing or enslaving the weak and powerless. The best in society was reserved for the “superiors” while commoners took the leftovers and the slaves severely punished for daring to ask for their share.

On July 4, 1776 AD, American colonies loyal to the British crown, reviewed this whole nonsensical order, rebelled against it, declared their independence and created a novel fraternity, still based on a capitalist system of government but on the concept that all human beings were created with equally valuable souls by a single Christian God.

Notwithstanding, bear with me for the purpose of objective comparison and read the Babylonian preamble to their Universal Declaration of People’s and Humans’ divine rankings, codified by king Hammurabi in 1776 BC: THE GODS ANU, ENRIL AND MARDUK (leading deities of the Mesopotamian pantheon) APPOINTED HAMMURABI TO MAKE JUSTICE PREVAIL IN THE LAND, TO ABOLISH THE WICKED AND THE EVIL, TO PREVENT THE STRONG FROM OPPRESSING THE WEAK.

Yes, the code asserts that Babylonian Social order was predicated in Universal and eternal principles of justice, dictated by the most important three Gods at the time.

People were therefore naturally ranked into two genders-male and female- but further classified unnaturally but most importantly into three classes: 1. The Superiors, 2. The commoners and 3. The Slaves. Yet a single tooth of a commoner was more valuable before the Gods than the life of a slave woman (try reading the 300 laws and judgments in the Hammurabi constitution). 

Now, compare that to the American one declared by Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers in 1776 AD:  WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

Whereas the American constitution enshrined this divine equality among human beings, our society was however built violating or disrespecting that whole spirit by institutionalizing  and reinforcing a hierarchy that blatantly empowered white males, disempowered women for centuries and still diminish the value of black people and indigenous/native Americans. Blacks in particular have since been treated as subhumans currently epitomized worldwide by the emergence and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on us.

It is obvious that the manner in which George Floyd was publicly “executed” on May, 26 2020, was not an exception but had always been the norm all over America and even beyond. What it has however culminated into, is the global awakening of the minds of conscientious people, underpinned by the unwarranted negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic and series of recent brutalities from law enforcers targeting black people, prompting a spontaneous and urgent need to abolish this unsustainable phenomenon and to reinvent a new order that will cease to disproportionately and unjustly favor white people while systematically oppressing and killing black people.

The ideas that triggered the initiative of the founding fathers in 1776 at Philadelphia occasioning the American revolution against the British monarchial entitlement to govern all their subjects are the similar or same reasons now jolting the minds of all assiduous people, blacks and whites alike to explore a more favorable alternative order better than this so-called God-created-capitalistic system that otherwise may ultimately destroy all black lives and our livelihoods.

Worst things have happened unnoticed to blacks in America and the world over which are now increasingly being exposed in frequency and severity, thanks to the advent of video cameras capturing these evil images every now and then.

The cases of  African-American Rodney King (Los Angelis), Eric Garner (New York), Ahmed Aubrey (Georgia), Philando Castile (Minnesota) and even George Floyd (Minnesota) would have gone unnoticed if cameras were not present at the scenes to capture these horrible racially-motivated brutalities.

Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers’ ideal panorama of society founded to freely and fairly safeguard our God-endowed “right and liberty”, irrespective of gender and race has now become a delusional concept that only sanctions the persistent persecution of the black race by caucasians and mongoloids.

In fact, most mongoloid or Asian religions practiced by over 1.5 billion people today do not subscribe to the existence of a God of creation we immortalize in the culture of Western civilization and democratic values. Their denominations instead espouse the constant reincarnation of human souls, supervised and purified by heaven-based-supernatural “Masters” until perfection before they finally cease to be reborn. Hence, the idea of equality among human beings before a God is nonsensical to, particularly, Hindus and Buddhists who worship pantheons that also stratify human values based on the purity of their souls with the best and the worst identified by the color of their skins; the darker the skin tone, the inferior the soul, a flawed abstraction widely validated in the Indian cast system, despite their affirmation of strengthening “genuine democratic principles ”. The Chinese, by extension, with their communist system of government and a population of over 500 million atheists, regard anyone preaching the idea of a creator or God, as a person missing several screws in his or her head.

Nevertheless, all these systems and peoples of believers and non-believers still accord every deserving respect and honor to white people but will always eagerly persecute and prosecute black people on mere bigotry. During this pandemic, we have seen it in all societies; Chinese, Indian, American, Arab and European, all deliberately or inadvertently exhibiting total disregard for the lives of black people. In this America we call home as black people it is now abundantly clear that the rights and privileges provided for the “great white race” in business, education, health care, justice, name it, are deviously restricted to the reach of the “devalued black people” that has to change now.

In short, the global systems whether approved by a creator or not have generally been rigged against our survival. Unfortunately, we have a president in Donald Trump who since the election of President Barack Obama, the first black US president, had created a racially-inspired gang of followers that stoke more hate against minorities and black people with a level of intellectual honesty that has contributed immensely in the decadent system requiring immediate and total overhaul. It is however my strong belief that we now are in that process of a new dawn uniting diligent humans to come up with a new Universal Declaration of human and people rights that will treat everyone fairly and stop the discrimination and slow but sure extermination of the black race in this 21st Century.

The struggle continues. Thanks for reading.

Samsudeen Sarr

New York City

US Ambassador Richard Paschall says healthy democracies require peaceful assembly

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By Lamin Njie

The Ambassador of the United States to The Gambia Richard Carl Paschall has said Healthy democracies require freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, speaking for the first time since protests rocked his country over the death of black man George Floyd.

“Healthy democracies require freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. Those who peacefully gather in our two countries and in democracies around the world to demand justice, an end to racism and discrimination, and meaningful reform are putting into action our shared values of democracy and respect for the human rights and human dignity of all,” Ambassador Paschall said in a statement published on the US Embassy Banjul official Facebook page today.

The experienced diplomat’s comments come as at least two protests loom in The Gambia over George Floyd’s death as well as that of Momodou Lamin Sisay.

The US ambassador said: “The response of Americans and Gambians to the tragic death of George Floyd is profound ‘pain and anger’, as well as a pressing legitimate need to express frustration and seek truth and justice.

“We must hear the demands for true equality and justice, and we must all as individuals, and as persons united in our determination, act in our daily lives to put into place a world that realises true equality and justice. That is my solemn conviction, and that of my entire team.”

From Rhetoric to Praxis: A Call to Global Action to End Injustice Against African Americans

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The death of George Floyd is a tragic event that shocked conscientious people across the racial and political divide. This scar on humanity’s conscience can only be removed with the sounding of a death knell against injustice and discrimination against African Americans and all disadvantaged racial minorities across the globe.

The Black Lives Matter movement has indeed made their presence felt in the United States of America and they must be commended. But just like the ANC could not stop apartheid with global support, African Americans need the solidity and support of governments, private institutions, individuals and multilateral behemoths like the African Union to be able to effect meaningful change in how America treats her citizens of African origin. 

If the knee-jerk response of Colin Kaepernick and his allies are not to go in vain, then the  strangulation of George Floyd at the knees of the American law enforcement must get the rest of the world off their knees and lift them from prayers and appeals to collective action that would send the American oppressive beast back to her senses.

A nation that could not be moved to completely stop their cycles of injustice more than seven score years after Abraham Lincoln made the clarion admonition in his Gettysburg address will not listen to any speeches in the hollow, cold halls of the United Nations anytime soon. A country that would not heed  the echoes of Lincoln’s voice in Martin Luther King’s sermons, would certainly need a rude awakening from a global coalition of determined voices committed to inspired ACTION. Here are the words of M.L.K. as delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on 4 July 1965. certainly these are not mere mortal musings, there is something otherworldly about their psalmic cadence:

“But now more than ever before, America is challenged to realize its dream, for the shape of the world today does not permit our nation the luxury of an anemic democracy. And the price that America must pay for the continued oppression of the Negro and other minority groups is the price of its own destruction. (Yes it is) For the hour is late. And the clock of destiny is ticking out. We must act now before it is too late.”

The injustice that killed George Floyd has deep roots that need to be well examined and destroyed. America must reboot her own romanticised narrative by telling her children that the history of the land of the free did not start with the revolution that sent their British cousins sailing back home across the Atlantic. America must come to terms with her bloody past vis-a-vis the Indians that were massacred in their own land and made to remain on the fringes of the country that welcomes her visitors with the allure of the Statue of Liberty.

The United States of America must admit and acknowledge the fact that while Thomas Jefferson gave them their sacred birth certificate that entrenched life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that same wise old man owned and abused innocent Africans that gave birth to his own scions. America must confess her sins of slavery and move on with genuine and sincere affirmative action devoid of the condescending pretentions of tokenisms like the Obama Presidency that may have left America a better country as a whole but did nothing to significantly improve the lot of the African American population. 

To foster a faster evolution of the foregoing proposal, the world must come together to call to order the global police and universal enforcer of the rights and dignity of all people, the USA. A mixture of targeted sanctions, global admonition and mass protests in cities around the world as well as social media advocacy for concerted action would surely make a dent in the white supremacist universe of a country so unfortunate as the have a narcissistic bigot like Donal Trump as their President.

The founding fathers knew that America was not perfect but the most sanguine souls among them trusted in the potential of their bequeathal to continuously self-correct towards a “more perfect Union”. America in the age of Trump cannot do this on its own, a global movement-cum-prime-mover is needed to kickstart this process. 

We must not miss the opportunity presented by the George Floyd tragedy. America must pay for the cumulative karmic debt of occupation, slavery and racial discrimination. The time for that is NOW.

Momodou Sabally

Former Presidential Affairs Minister and International Speaker, Momodou Sabally is a prolific author and President of the youth mentorship foundation, Sabally Leadership Academy (SLA).

Police abandon arrest of man after rocks were hurled at them

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By Lamin Njie

Police in Farato abandoned their plan of arresting a man and fled after they came under attack from an angry mob.

Police in Farato on Monday travelled to a neighbourhood in the town to arrest Alhagie Jobe for allegedly assaulting Momodou Kanteh.

Police however couldn’t arrest the cutlass man as they came under attack from hostile natives.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie (not the author of this story) told The Fatu Network: “The police understood that he assaulted somebody, I think the name is Momodou Kanteh.

“His assaulted this person with a cutlass and caused him injuries. This was the matter that was reported to Farato station. The police went to effect arrest on Alhagie Jobe so that he would answer to the complaint against him.

“It’s is found out that he and his family together with some members of the vicinity vehemently resisted the arrest of Alhagie Jobe. People came around were throwing stones at the police. After they have thrown stones at the police, the police withdrew because we don’t want to create some issues around there because it’s a community full of people.”

The Fatu Network understands Alhagie was later arrested and currently helping the police in their investigations.

ECOMIG Commander meets SOF and briefs him on activities of the no-nonsense force in Gambia

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The Minister of Defence Sheikh Omar Faye on Monday received the ECOMIG Force Commander, Colonel Cheikh Umar Tamba in his office.

“Colonel Tamba was at the Ministry to pay a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister and to brief him on the routine activities of the ECOMIG Mission,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement Monday.

It added: “The Minister thanked the Force Commander for the visit and used the opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment and subsequent assignment to the Gambia as Force Commander of the Mission. He expressed optimism that, as a seasoned and very proficient senior military officer the Colonel is, he will bring to ECOMIG, a wealth of experience that is expected to add fresh dimension and a new impetus to the gains made by his predecessors to further move the Force to achieve greater success.

“The Force Commander thanked the Honourable Minister for the reception and assured him of his resolve to further enhance the existing positive working relations with the Gambia Armed Forces. He promised to work progressively with all other major stakeholders in order to achieve the Force mandate and the overall objective of sustaining peace and stability in The Gambia. He assured the Minister that the ECOMIG Mission will continue to conduct joint operations with the Gambian Armed Forces to promote cooperation and better understanding between the two forces.”

Egypt’s Al Sisi and Palestine’s Abass pen greeting letter to President Barrow on 2020 Ramadan

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President Adama Barrow received goodwill Ramadan messages from Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of Egypt and Mahmoud Abass, President of the State of Palestine, according to State House.

In a statement on Monday, State House said: “President Al Sisi described the sacred month of Ramadan as ‘a great opportunity for the Muslim Ummah to uphold the spirit, sublime Islamic values of fraternity, solidarity and cooperation, which are very much needed to overcome the big challenge our world has been facing lately’.

“He prayed for Allah to save the world from the unprecedented pandemic and bless their shared endeavour towards a safer, healthier and prosperous world.

“Meanwhile, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darrusalam, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah expressed confidence in the warm relations and cooperation between The Gambia and Brunei in a message of acknowledgement to President Barrow.

“On behalf of the Government and the People of Brunei Darrusalam thanked the Gambian leader for the warm congratulatory message extended to him on the occasion of their 36th National Day.

“The message concluded with best wishes of good health and happiness as well as progress and prosperity for the people of the Republic of The Gambia.”

‘Boy was humble’: MLS’ aunt says her nephew was a humble man – as she reveals they’d want justice

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By Lamin Njie

The aunt of Momodou Lamin Sisay killed on Friday in the United States has called for justice in her slaying.

Sera Wadda, a younger sister to Momodou Lamin’s late mom Aunty Mam Wadda told The Fatu Network her nephew was a humble man who loved people.

“We would want justice, we would want to know whatever they did until they killed Boy. Because what they are saying that he took out a gun is not true. We would need surveillance videos,” Sera who could not stop crying said.

Momodou Lamin was born in Banjul but left The Gambia for the United States in 1991. He has a brother who also lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Boy was a humble man. Boy was religious, he was quiet and wouldn’t look anyone in the eye. He loved people and he was respectful,” Sera who lives in Norway said.

Investigation on in Momodou Lamin Sisay killing

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Investigation is intensifying into the circumstances surrounding the death of Gambian Momodou Lamin Sisay.

Sisay, 39, was shot and killed by police in the US state of Georgia last Friday.

“The attorney working on behalf of the family is in touch with the Snellville police, Gwinnett County, and GBI investigators. Both Gwinnett County and GBI are working to establish the facts as to what transpired on that fateful night that Sisay was killed.

“Several matters being looked into are: did Sisay have a gun as alleged by the police report?; If he had a gun, did he point it in the direction of the law enforcement officers trying to apprehend him?; which bullet killed him?; [and] whether use of force was necessary in the first place?,” Banka Manneh said in a Facebook post on Monday.

He added: “The attorney is also working on securing documents and video footages from Police body cams and car dashboard cameras.

“The process is on and we are imploring the community to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult period.

“Do not draw any quick conclusions, nor rely on hearsay. One of the stories making rounds is that Sisay was shot during a protest. This is totally false.

“In the meantime, efforts are underway by Alhaji Habib Mbye and others to secure the body for proper burial. Gambian Embassy officials are also on the ground to help.”

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