By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Prison Service has launched a massive manhunt after 21 people escaped from Jeshwang prison.

Jeshwang prison has now become notorious for jailbreaks with the most elaborate coming in August 2018 when 20 inmates escaped from the prison. A chief inspector prison officer was later sacked.

Prison spokesman Modou Lamin Ceesay confirming last week’s jailbreak told The Fatu Network: “This is true but it is not a jailbreak because if you say jail break it involves a high number of prisoners. This is just one cell out of the lot.

“The officers failed in their coordination and the prisoners putting the officers’ strength into consideration took advantage of the situation while the cells were opened by the afternoon duties officers.”

The number of prisoners that attempted to escape were 29 while the prison officers were five in number.

“The eight were captured, so as we are speaking there are 21 that are at large,” Mr Ceesay said.

There have been reports eight inmates that were captured while attempting to escape have been tortured.

The prison spokesman dismissed these reports saying: “There was no torture or maltreatment of any prisoner.

“Because we are aware of human rights commission, we are aware of human rights in the administration of prison. Those days are over. To torture somebody?”

The prison spokesman also said they had wanted to bring the issue to the media but realised it could frustrate their efforts in capturing the escaped inmates.

By Lamin Njie

The new head of the army Yakuba Drammeh met President Adama Barrow today at State House.

It comes three days after the top military leader returned to work following a scare over coronavirus. He had flown in the flight as a Gambian woman who tested positive for coronavirus last month.

The major general was on self-quarantine and only returned to work on Monday.

He met with President Barrow at State House accompanied by his deputy Brigadier General Mamat O Cham. The defence minister also participated in the meeting.

According to State House, the army chief and his deputy updated the president on the situation at the Gambia Armed Forces and “proposals under CDS Drammeh’s leadership, within the context of improving the structures and operations of the Army”.

The new army leaders also assured the President that the army is ready to stand by ‘civil authority’ in the fight against the global pandemic, COVID-19 in The Gambia.

Mr Drammeh was appointed chief of defence staff last month following the abrupt sacking of Masanneh Kinteh who had been in the role for three years.

By Lamin Njie

Halifa Sallah directed his disappointment at the speaker of the National Assembly after the attorney general Abubacarr Tambadou’s comments that interpretation was a matter for the courts.

Lawmakers were on Thursday involved in a long back and forth over the attorney general’s request for the extension of a state of emergency declared by President Adama Barrow over the coronavirus.

Mr Sallah had quickly made a suggestion for the proclamation to be passed to the National Assembly’s committee on human rights and constitutional matters before they could vote on it – which sparked a huge commotion.

The attorney general took the floor midway into the back and forth and said: “I understand the honourable member for Serrekunda’s concerns. That between the period of the first declaration and the second declaration there might have been a gap and whether any measures where taken to enforce the regulations issued in between that gap.

“Now this is a matter of interpretation and that is not, with all due respect to the national assembly member for Serrekunda, the province of the national assembly. That is the responsibility of our courts.”

Mr Sallah, unappreciative of Mr Tambadou’s comments rose and said: “Point of order… Honourable speaker, the minister rose to make an observation and I was not in any way asked to allow that process to take place at the time that I was making that motion.

“And you’ve given the minister the privilege now and I believe, Honourable speaker, [that] it’s just fair that we are entertaining what is not proper and the minister should realise that.

“What he is saying now is in fact improper but we are allowing him because we understand the urgency.”

By Lamin Njie

Halifa Sallah’s suggestion for the extension of the state of emergency declared by President Adama Barrow to be passed to the National Assembly’s committee on human rights and constitutional matters has won popular support.

Things got tense and rowdy at the National Assembly today after the attorney general and minister of justice Abubacarr Tambadou went there to seek for an extension of President Barrow’s state of emergency declaration. Mr Tambadou was looking to strike a deal that will last for 90 days.

The session which started at 10am however saw the national assembly for Serrekunda Halifa Sallah suggesting the House’s committee on human rights and constitutional matters interrogate the proclamation before the House could approve or otherwise the attorney general’s request.

The suggestion sparked tension and complete disorder with one NAM venting at the speaker that she was ‘jumping’ to voting when everything wasn’t ‘clear’.

In the end, the suggestion was put to a vote with 36 lawmakers voting for the motion while 11 voted against it.

The House’s committee on human rights and constitutional matters has now been asked to reconvene ‘immediately’ to go through the proclamations ahead of a session on Friday.

By Lamin Njie

Justice Minister Abucacarr Tambadou today told lawmakers it was ‘okay’ for them to not take his word for what it is after his comments the state of emergency proclamations were gazetted.

Gambians lawmakers today could not find common ground over a motion that sought to extend the state of public emergency declared by President Adama Barrow by 90 days. It was brought to the national assembly by the attorney general and minister of justice Abubacarr Tambadou.

At today’s session, NAMs could be heard saying ‘where is the evidence?’ when the attorney general commented that the two state of emergency proclamations by President Barrow were gazetted.

“I hear, ‘where’s the evidence?’ This is the attorney general of the country speaking,” Mr Tambadou said as the national assembly member for lower Baddibu interjected, ‘observation, Madam Speaker’.

Mr Tambadou then continued: “If you don’t take my word for what it is then it’s okay but I have the proclamations here in my docket, that’s gazzetted.”

By Lamin Njie

Former army chief Masanneh Kinteh has written to the army asking the force to allow him to keep nine members of his entourage.

President Barrow last month suddenly removed Mr Kinteh as chief of defence staff after three years in the role. No reason was given.

Mr Kinteh has now through his assistant in the army Major Abdoulie Mboob written to the new army chief stating his intention to ‘temporarily retain’ two drivers, two orderlies, and five guards. They are all soldiers.

The former military leader also wants to temporarily keep two utility vehicles.

Army spokesman Lamin Sanyang told The Fatu Network today: “It’s just a request [but] it’s not like it’s compulsory [and] we should do it.

“It happens in other countries where when a general is retired, he’s granted some privileges. But once he’s redeployed to China, I’m sure these guys will be withdrawn.”

The chief executive officer of Kairaba Shopping Centre has been slapped with a D100,000 fine after being dragged to court over price gouging.

Undercover officers busted the Lebanese national for price gouging on Sunday as part of a cogent crackdown on businesspeople who overcharge citizens.

Mr Nehme appeared at the Kanifing Magistrates Court on Wednesday were he quickly pleaded guilty to selling a tray of eggs for D200. He was previously selling it for D150.

He also pleaded guilty to selling hand sanitizer D250 which he was previously selling for D150.

The court then fined him D100,000.

Five other businessmen were also convicted of price gouging and handed various fines.

By Fatou Camara

Police have arrested two men over the theft of motorbikes, mobile phones, TV sets and other items.

Modou Lamin Sabally and Omar Jallow AKA Joe are accused of stealing six motor bikes , two bicycles, 10 mobiles phones , flat screens and other electronic materials.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie told reporters at Brikama Police Station on Wednesday: “Our officers here at the Brikama Police Station received a tip of information that some individuals are been involved in motor bike stealing.

“So they decided to investigate into the situation and eventually thorough search was conducted at the premises of Omar Jallow where all these motor bikes , mobile phones, Flat Screen Television were recovered on 27 March and eventually brought to the police station.

“What they do is, Omar Jallow carries the motor bikes to Casamance and then sell them to people and some times what happens is barter trade sort because he exchanges these motor bikes with some suspected canabis and our officers had recovered some suspected canabis from omar Jallow known as Joe.”

Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh has cleared up areas of life that have been affected by the state of emergency announced over coronavirus.

President Adama Barrow had last week declared a state of public emergency in desperate efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus. The proclamation has however sparked confusion over which business is allowed to operate and those that aren’t allowed to do so.

Ebrima G Sankareh in a statement on Wednesday clarified: “Following His Excellency President Adama Barrow’s Proclamation of a State of Public Emergency on Friday 26th March, 2020 and in accordance with Section 3 of the Emergency Powers Act, 2009, The Gambia Government wishes to clarify areas of public life affected by the Emergency Powers Regulations.

“Specifically, and for purposes of clarity and effective compliance, all forms of bars, casinos and gaming parlours, cinemas and video clubs, event halls, gymnasia, stadia, night clubs, public swimming pools, sporting areas, are deemed ‘Non-Essential’ and shall remain closed to the public.

“Equally, all public gatherings like ‘Ataya rendezvous’ and street gatherings of more than five (5) people are strictly prohibited.

“Restaurants shall remain open for the singular purpose of selling food for takeway services. Restaurant owners or operators shall ensure that a minimum distance of at least two (2) metres between any two persons in the restaurant ordering ‘take away food’ is maintained.

“Salons or barber shops shall remain open in so far as they are located outside of markets. However, a salon or barber shop owner or operator shall ensure that not more than two (2) persons are present within the premises of his or her business at any given time.

“Significantly, all non-food outlets in all markets throughout The Gambia and within one hundred metre radius of a market shall be closed to the public for business. Such outlets can only operate some one hundred metres(100M) outside market places throughout the country and are equally obliged to practice social distancing, serving one customer at a time and install hand washing stations for their customers and observe the highest standards of hygiene at all times.

“Food vendors and traders of any food products inside the markets shall open for business between the hours of 06.00 AM to 2.00OPM each day to allow for local authorities to cleanse the premises for the following market day. This does not include local ‘chere’, hot food, vegetable and fruit vendors who normally operate in the evenings across various communities. They are however, equally obliged to follow all prescribed hygiene precautions and keep away from inside markets after the close of business.

“All food traders on temporary stalls in a market shall maintain a minimum distance of two metres between any two stalls.

“Crucially, all traders operating in a market shall have hygiene materials available for use by them and their customers and shall cleanse their places of business with water and disinfectants at the close of daily business.

“By extension, the owners of shops located in areas with more than five (5) interlinked shops shall ensure that there is a maximum of two (2) persons in every shop.

“For the enforcement of these regulations, the Local Government Authorities in collaboration with State Security Services (The Police, PIU, and Intelligence Services) shall designate their officers as ‘Inspectors’ and enforce the law to the letter.

“An Inspector, in clearly identifiable uniform or with official identification documents for plain clothes or undercover assignment, shall have the power, without prior notice and at any time, to close any non-food business in the markets. Inspectors could enter and inspect any business premises in the occupation or under the control or possession of a trader in the market, and do any other duty necessary or expedient for the proper discharge of their functions under these Emergency Regulations.

“Accordingly, a person shall not obstruct an Inspector in the exercise of his or her functions.

“Commercial public transportation is restricted. In this respect, a commercial public transport driver shall limit the number of passengers to not more than half his vehicle’s capacity. The driver shall cleanse and disinfect his or her vehicle at the beginning and close of business every work day. A driver of a four-seater commercial vehicle shall carry a maximum of three (3) passengers only.

“In the same vein, a driver of a vehicle carrying commercial goods shall carry only one passenger in the vehicle cabin. Commercial motorists are cautioned not to inflate or increase fares lest they face severe consequences.

“For private vehicles, a driver shall limit the number of passengers to half the usual capacity of the vehicle. A rider of a motor cycle shall not carry any passenger on his or her motorcycle except where that motorcycle is designed to perform ambulatory services which are very common in the provinces.

“As it relates to Garages and Car Parks, the Local Government Authorities of every Region shall ensure that public garages, car parks, bus depots and transport offices are cleansed and disinfected at least twice daily. They shall be fitted with hand washing stations in and around the areas. The controllers of public garages or commercial vehicles pick-up areas shall ensure that only the drivers of commercial vehicles and their apprentices are allowed within or around a garage or a pick-up area.

“As it relates to marine transportation, all ferries and commercial boat operators shall ensure that they strictly operate from 6a.m to 7p.m daily except under medical emergencies. The ferries should carry only half of the capacity allowed on each trip and provide protective gears to the crew and essential ferry staff while disinfecting their boats after each trip. The waiting area at all ferry terminals must be regularly disinfected and restricted to only the elderly and the differently-abled persons. Terminal operators shall provide hand washing facilities to all passengers before they board the ferries. Passengers should be sensitized on basic personal hygiene and social distancing as per the advice of the Health Ministry.

“Members of the public are urged to take these regulations very seriously as they are intended to curb the Covid:19 Viral Pandemic ravaging the world and therefore, carry severe penalties for offenders. A person who contravenes these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a very heavy fine.

“These regulations shall subsist until the end of the Proclamation of a State of Public Emergency issued on 26th March, 2020.

“The Gambia Government wishes to thank the people for their understanding and encourage them to comply with the regulations governing the State of Public Emergency as we mobilise our combined national efforts towards the eventual defeat of COVID-19.”

By Lamin Njie

Health Minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has said two Gambian coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospital after recovering from disease.

They are the first COVIG-19 patient, a 28-year-old woman and the third case, a 71-year-old man from Numuyel who has always insisted he doesn’t have the virus.

Dr Samateh told reporters at a news conference in Banjul an hour ago: “By way of recent updates, all five recent laboratory test results received from yesterday till today are all negative.

“Now this includes the lab tests for the first diagnosed COVID-19 case in The Gambia and the third diagnosed COVID 19 case in The Gambia as well.

“Now, these tests have been negative. Now, as per th WHO guidelines the two consecutive negative tests for each of these individuals is a confirmation of recovery.

“So I repeat, the first and the third COVID-19 cases in The Gambia are declared to have recovered from the disease as confirmed by the two consecutive negative tests and these individuals have been discharged from the hospitals.”

By Lamin Njie and Sarjo Brito

All vessels calling at the port in Banjul are now required to be quarantined by Gambia Ports Authority health officials before being granted clearance to berth.

Non essential staff attendance have also been scaled down with staff reporting on rotational basis to abide with the social distancing procedures recommended by WHO.

These were revealed by the managing director of the authority Ousman Jobarteh during an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network.

All Gambian institutions and departments have been adjusting to life amid the coronavirus health crisis.

And according to Mr Jobarteh, the crisis has caused GPA a 50 percent drop in output.

“But by and large, the cargo that keeps coming into the country has been steady in terms of the forecast. As we speak, we have full occupancy in terms of the ships that are calling at the Banjul port,” Mr Jobarteh said.

“There are also three container ships waiting at the anchorage.

“What we can state is that these are shipments that were booked already probably three months in advance and these are the cargo we have started receiving in Banjul.

“But the impact really in terms of the volume can only be felt in the subsequent three months, post the health crisis, when maybe other would have come at that particular time would have slowed down because of access to markets globally.”

The GPA boss also revealed the impact of COVID-19 on volumes that are coming to Banjul can only be measured three months subsequent to the menace.

“The menace has been very devastating in certain hotspots as it were to the extent that there is total lockdown for those countries but in The Gambia we are not at that situation yet and we pray to Allah we don’t reach that level.

“But nonetheless operations have scaled down to the extent that non-essential staff have been scale down and be reporting to work on rotational basis but operations are still going on as far as the ship discharging and delivery of cargo are concerned because these are essential goods that people will need for their daily livelihoods,” Mr Jobarteh said.

Business at Gambia Ports Authority just as in any other government parastatal is fast changing enforced by coronvirus.

These days, delivery trucks within the container terminals minimised to avoid overcrowding.

GPA has also come up with other measures which include basic hygiene by placing hand washing taps and sanitizer for all staff and port users at all entry points and strategic locations within the port facility and ferries.

Among the measures also is that ferries at Banjul and Barra have scaled down to 4 trips daily and close at 7 pm.

The Gambia Armed Forces has made a new video featuring its officers on how one could avoid catching coronavirus.

The video is part of efforts aimed at raising awareness on the deadly disease.

The video was posted to Youtube on Tuesday.

Click on link below and watch the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqRElFaGA4U&feature=share&app=desktop&fbclid=IwAR0Lu2TQpIKkFGSZdz5ls0yxBhZ8AJr9Z_EQVUzaml3ajDsriq5ZKwH8z2o

By Lamin Njie

The head of the Gambia Transport Union on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the reduction by the Gambia government of the price of a litre of fuel by just one dalasi.

The ministry of finance Tuesday evening reduced the price of fuel amid the coronavirus crisis which has caused a huge impact on the transport sector.

Gambians currently face a transport crisis following President Adama Barrrow’s announcement that commercial vehicles will no longer be allowed to carry more than half of their original capacity as part of measures aimed at preventing a spread of coronavirus.

Omar Ceesay said of the fuel price reduction: “We are very disappointed because you are talking about 50 percent reduction [of the capacity of a vehicle].

“Fuel is very cheap at the world market today. So if government really want to help people in this crisis, it should sacrifice and assist the citizens.”

A price of a barrel of fuel in the world market currently stands at $25.43 dollars amid a 3.8 percent drop on Wednesday.

According to Mr Ceesay, drivers in The Gambia ‘cannot do what doesn’t favour them’ with most now opting to stay home.

The new price set for a litre of diesel is D50.4 while a litre of petrol is now selling D49.36. The two previously sold at D51.9 and D50.68 respectively.

By Lamin Njie

Councillor of Sanyang ward Momodou Bojang has pushed back at claims he refused to receive his sacking letter.

United Democratic Party announced on Tuesday it has sacked the councillor as a member of the party. The party said Momodou Bojang however refused to receive his sacking letter.

The councillor told The Fatu Network on Wednesday the claims were false.

“It’s false, it’s not true,” Mr Sanyang said of the claims.

According to him, it was a friend who is ‘almost’ family to him who called him and informed him he had a letter for him.

Mr Sanyang said: “He is a supporter of UDP, a non-executive member. He said he has a letter for me from Pipeline.

“I had already learnt through social media that Sheriffo Sonko and two councillors have been dismissed from UDP – myself and Bilal Faal of Nemakunku ward.

“I then asked him (friend) whether he was a messenger of UDP but he said no. I also asked whether he was an executive member of UDP and he said no.

“I then told him he was not the right person to deliver that letter to me. I told him to ask the right people to deliver that letter to me.”

By Fatou Camara

Some travellers across the country are having their trips heavily delayed due to transport shortages.

President Adama Barrow on Friday announced that all commercial vehicles would now be allowed to carry half of their original capacity in desperate efforts in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

One traveller, Ebrima Darboe, tells The Fatu Network: “I am one of those who spent the night here [at Brikama car park]. I came here around 5pm yesterday. I couldn’t get a vehicle to travel to Jara Soma.

“When I ask the drivers, they will tell me the cost of fuel remains where it is and ‘we are told by the government to reduce the number of passengers’.”

Njurrta brings the sweet-scented plant, nana, to Brikama car park to sell and she tells The Fatu Network travellers are facing a crisis.

“Transport is the only problem here. Because you can’t find a vehicle when you finish selling and want to go home,” she says.

“The drivers have all opted to stay home . They say fuel is expensive when they are allowed to take only a few people.”

By AFP

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, whose brother Andrew is the high-profile governor of New York state, said Tuesday that he has contracted coronavirus — and will keep broadcasting from self-isolation in his home.

“In these difficult times that seem to get more difficult and complicated by the day, I just found out that I am positive for coronavirus,” Cuomo said on Twitter.

“I have been exposed to people in recent days who have subsequently tested positive and I had fever, chills and shortness of breath,” he added.

“I just hope I didn’t give it to the kids and Cristina. That would make me feel worse than the illness!”

Cuomo, 49, presents his own weeknight news show on CNN, “Cuomo Prime Time.” He said he would keep working from his basement, where he is quarantined away from his family.

“I will do my shows from here. We will all beat this by being smart and tough and united!”

The New York governor, who has ribbed his younger brother during interviews, mentioned the family situation during his daily press briefing, calling the CNN reporter his “best friend.”

But he could not resist a bit of good-natured teasing, saying: “He’s young, in good shape, strong — not as strong as he thinks, but he’ll be fine.”

By Lamin Njie

United Democratic Party has said a councillor of Brikama Area Council who was sacked alongside the chairman of the council has refused to receive his letter of expulsion.

“Mr. Momodou Bojang has refused to receive his letter of expulsion from the UDP, nonetheless he is expelled,” UDP said in a statement.

Mr Bojang was sacked by the party as a member on 27 March along with Sherriffo Sonko and Bilal Faal. They were accused of waywardness.

“In a separate letter the Independent Electoral Commission has been notified accordingly,” UDP said.

The National Assembly will resume sittings on Thursday two weeks after suspending business over coronavirus.

“This Office of the Clerk wishes to inform the general public that following the Presidential proclamation declaring a State of Public Emergency in accordance with section 34 of the 1997 Constitution on Friday 27th March, 2020 and the fact that the National Assembly is currently in its First Ordinary Session in 2020, the National Assembly will reconvene its sittings on Thursday 02nd April, 2020 at 10:00am,” the House said through the clerk’s office on Tuesday.

“During this period, the Hon. Attorney General and Minister for Justice will table a Motion seeking the approval of the National Assembly to extend the State of Public Emergency for 90 days.”

By Lamin Njie

United Democratic Party has sacked the chairman of Brikama Area Council Sheriffo Sonko as member of the party.

Mr Sonko was sacked on 27 March alongside two West Coast Region councillors, UDP spokesman Almami Taal told The Fatu Network on Tuesday.

“He’s been expelled from the party. [This was on] the 27th of March, last Friday,” Mr Taal said of Mr Sonko’s sacking. Mr Sonko has always made his support for President Adama Barrow known.

“It’s not a question of crime. He’s a member of a party that has rules and he has been found to be non-compliant with the rules of the party. So he has been expelled,” Mr Taal added.

The UDP has also sacked two councillors who serve on the Brikama Area Council.

“It’s not only him, there are two other councillors, one Modou Bojang and one Bilal Faal,” Mr Taal said.

UDP has come under criticism over the timing of the sackings as all focus appears to be directed at the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Taal however said: “We are an organisation, we can do more than one thing at the same time.

“In the fight against coronavirus, I think we have been doing everything possible within our means and powers to be part of it and we have pledged complete support to the government of The Gambia and the president.

“But it does not mean that if your house is burning, you will say, ‘oh there is coronavirus, let me go and talk about that’.”