By Lamin Njie

Former secretary general Momodou Sabally has insisted The Gambia was better off in the fight against coronavirus if Dr Ahmadou Samateh wasn’t at the forefront.

Health minister Dr Samateh has been the country’s health chief since his appointment into the role by President Barrow last year.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken the world by storm and The Gambia now sits at the edge following the death of a Bangladesh man who became the country’s second COVID-19 case.

Sabally said on Monday Dr Samateh wasn’t the man to lead the country out of the crisis.

He said in a post on Facebook: “And surely one of the most effective moves that could help us contain this corona pandemic is for President Barrow to fire his Health Minister.

“I love Dr Samateh but he doesn’t have what it takes to provide us with the proactive #leadership that we need to survive this menace…

“I am not saying that Samateh should be kicked out…

“But Barrow can #relieve him of his appointment and redeploy him elsewhere with the same salary and benefits to protect our health/lives.”

By Lamin Njie

Medical Research Council said on Monday the Bangladesh national who died after contracting coronavirus came into contact with three of its staff.

A 70-year-old Bangladeshi man on preaching mission in The Gambia succumbed after contracting coronavirus. He reported died in the ambulance while being taken to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) on 20 March.

According to MRC, three of their staff at the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Hospital have come into contact with the patient and are now self-isolating.

“The health and wellbeing of our staff is paramount,” MRC said in a statement.

By Lamin Njie

Gambians on Monday stepped up their call for President Adama Barrow to show leadership over the coronavirus crisis.

President Barrow has made only a single public appearance since the coronavirus crisis began, in the form of an 8-minute public address on 17 March. He has since retreated behind the walls of State House.

Gambians have been calling for the Gambian leader to show leadership by speaking to journalists on his government’s efforts and plans against the deadly disease.

However, senior information officer at the office of the government spokesperson, ministry of information Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu lept to the president’s defence on Monday saying just because US President Donald Trump is speaking doen’t mean President Barrow should also be speaking.

“The president is leading from behind… Just because Trump is coming up and speaking, Merkel is coming and speaking that doesn’t mean that our president should just come and [speak],” Mr Sankanu told reporters at a news conference in Kotu on Monday.

“He set the agenda. He is in charge and a time will come when he sees the need, he will protect the political leadership and act. But right now the technocrats are there…”

By Lamin Njie

Mayor of Kanifing Municipality Talib Ahmed Bensouda has written to the Inspector General of Police Mamour Jobe over the defying of a decree on public gatherings.

President Adama Barrow last week banned public gatherings across the country in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.

It appears Gambians have been flouting the decree and the mayor of Kanifing Municipality has now written to the police chief seeking his support in ensuring the ban is enforced.

Mr Bensouda in his letter to Mamour Jobe today, wrote: “The Kanifing Municipal Council is calling on your support to fully enforce the suspension of public gatherings with the support of security forces in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“On March 17, His Excellency President Barrow decreed that, ‘all public gatherings are suspended forthwith…all other public gatherings in whatever form, including lumos (open markets) and Gamos are immediately suspended for three weeks’.

“The council fully supports this presidential decree and is committed to working with the Gambia Police Force to fully enforce the lock down and complete suspension of all public gatherings. Since the release of the presidential decree, the council has witnessed the continuation of several public gatherings, including markets, voos, football matches, naming ceremonies, religious gatherings, Sunday beach outings etc.

“I am committed to working with you and the Gambia Police Force to ensure the protection of human life in Kanifing Municipality.”

By Adama Makasuba

National Assembly for Banjul South Fatoumata Njai has been finally released following her arrest.

Fatoumata Njai was arrested on Sunday after attempting to bring her mother out of coronavirus quarantine.

Her release comes as police insisted Njai broke the law by going to Golden Beach “on three separate occasions where she subjected the health and security officials to verbal abuse”.

“Added to that, she used her vehicle to barricade the entrance to the hotel obstructing everyone from entering or leaving the premises,” police said.

They then blasted the lawmaker: “Hon. Njie’s actions are not only a breach of law but also one least expected of a lawmaker.”

Her release came after hours of negotiation led by her lawyer, PPP leader Papa Njie and fellow lawmakers.

By Lamin Njie

Police said national assembly member Touma Njie verbally abused health and security officials while trying to retrieve her mother from Golden Beach.

Touma Njie was arrested on Sunday following a visit to Golden Beach where her 72-year-old mother was being quarantined over coronavirus.

Police said in a statement: “Hon. Touma Njie, National Assembly member for Banjul South is currently under police custody in relation to charges of obstruction.

“Her arrest is on the basis of her conduct at the Golden Hotel where newly arrived travellers are being quarantined and observed for symtoms of COVID-19 as per health regulations.

“Hon. Njie whose mother is one of the passengers currently under observation at the hotel went to to the hotel and tried to intimidate the health and security officials into forcefully removing her mother from the premises.

“On three separate occasions, Hon. Njie went to the hotel, where she subjected the health and security officials to verbal abuse. Added to that, she used her vehicle to barricade the entrance to the hotel obstructing everyone from entering or leaving the premises.

“She did this around the hours of 1700 on Saturday 21st March 2020, but the officials didn’t budge. The following morning, she returned and acted in the same manner yet the officials refused to yield. She returned around 1700 hrs and behaved same.

“Hon. Njies actions are not only a breach of law but also one least expected of a lawmaker. She is currently helping police with investigations.”

By Lamin Njie

A 70-year-old Bangladeshi man on preaching mission in The Gambia has died after contracting coronavirus, health minister Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh has said.

Reports abounded earlier on Sunday that a man had died after contracting the deadly bug, making him the country’s second coronavirus case.

The health minister said late Sunday: “Since the diagnosis of the first case, nine suspected cases have undergone testing and one has tested positive today. This is the second confirm case in The Gambia.

“This case, a 70-year-old Bangladeshi man who came to The Gambia from Senegal on the 13th March 2020 as a preacher. He was resident at the Markass Centre in Bundung where he engaged in preaching and interacted with a number of people.

“He was in six other countries where he was carrying out similar preaching. He was a known diabetic who presented at a health facility… He was later referred to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and he unfortunately passed away in the ambulance before arrival on the 20th March 2020.

“A sample was taken from him and the results were delivered today and we confirmed the positive test.”

By Lamin Njie

Fatoumatta Njie has been arrested after she allegedly attempted to retrieve her mother from Golden Beach Hotel where she was being quarantined.

The National Assembly Member for Banjul South’s mother reportedly returned to the country on Saturday from UK and sent to Golden Beach for coronavirus quarantine.

Touma Njie visited Golden Beach late Sunday and got into a back-and-forth with officials there over her 72-year-old mother, according to multiple sources. Police then arrested her and took her to Senegambia Police Station.

Sources say Touma Njie’s daughter, a sickle cell patient is also under quarantine at Golden Beach.

It comes four days after at least 14 people fled the hotel after they travelled into the country from UK. The runaway travellers said they could not stay in the hotel because the beds have bugs.

State House has announced President Adama Barrow has approved the closure of the border between The Gambia and Senegal as the two countries desperately battle coronavirus.

“The decision of the closure of the border was taken considering the rapid spread of COVID -19 in the world and in our region, and the continuous movement of people posing high risk of contracting the disease. The Government of the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal have mutually agreed to close their border for a period of 21 days in the bid to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” State House said in a statement adding the decision will take effect Monday 23 March at midnight.

The statement added: “The public is hereby informed that the closure will not affect essential services, such as movement of security personnel, foodstuff, medical services, related items and equipment between the two countries.

“Furthermore, the Republic of the Gambia has decided to close its airspace from all flights except for medical cargo flights. This closure will also begin midnight on Monday, 23rd March 2020, for a period of 21 days.

“Meanwhile, President Barrow reiterates his commendation to the national response teams and committees, all the frontline workers, community and religious leaders, political leaders, the business community, all citizens and people living in The Gambia for their cooperation and standing with his government during these trying times. The President further urges all to take responsibility to prevent, contain and manage the Coronavirus.”

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Armed Forces said on Saturday gloves worn by Masanneh Kinteh as he handed over to his successor Yakuba Drammeh was not because of coronavirus.

Reports in recent days suggested the sacked former head of the army wore gloves to prevent himself from catching coronavirus.

The army through its spokesman Major Lamin Sanyang said in a statement on Saturday Mr Kinteh didn’t wear gloves because of COVID-19.

“The formal Handing and Taking Over of Office, Baton of Command and Pulling – Out ceremony was held on Tuesday 17 March in the form of a colorful parade with outgoing CDS, Lieutenant General Masanneh N Kinteh, dressed in ceremonial uniform with white hand gloves like all members of the parade. Lieutenant General Kinteh was dressed in this attire because the ceremony was about him and not a preventive measure by the outgoing CDS against the COVID-19 virus (as reported by some media outlets); the white gloves are part of the ceremonial dress in the military,” the army said.

The army’s new head Major General Yakuba Drammeh’s reign has not started off quite smoothly as he has been asked to self-isolate over coronavirus. He travelled in the same flight as the 28-year-old woman who earlier this week became the country’s first coronavirus case.

The army said of its new leader’s coronavirus self-isolation: “The Gambia Armed Forces wishes to state that Major General Yakuba A Drammeh had travelled on an official mission to France from 9 – 14 March 2020 together with another senior officer of the GAF. At the end of their mission General Drammeh together with others returned to The Gambia via Cassablanca, Morocco and arrived in Banjul early morning on Sunday 15 March 2020 onboard a Royal Air Maroc flight.

“All passengers on board the flight, including the CDS were screened at the airport upon arrival in line with laid down medical protocols and all were found to be negative with no signs and symptoms of the COVID – 19 virus.

“It may be pertinent to state that Major General Yakuba Drammeh reported to work on Monday 16 March 2020 to take over office as Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces following his appointment by His Excellency the President and Commander-In-Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces on 5 March 2020.

“He was to, among other things, prepare for the formal Handing and Taking Over of office with his predecessor, Lieutenant General Masanneh N Kinteh on Tuesday 17 March 2020 at the Defence Headquarters in Banjul. The in-coming CDS was further tested on two different occasions by a qualified medical doctor after resuming office, all in bid to confirm his status as regards the pandemic, and all the tests results were negative.

“However, before close of business on Wednesday 18 March 2020, the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Yakuba A Drammeh received an official from the Ministry of Health who informed the CDS that they had information suggesting that a 21 – year old Gambian lady from the United Kingdom who had reported to the Medical Research Council with signs and symptoms of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) and tested positive was, apparently or coincidentally, also on board the same flight with him as well as several other people. It has to be stressed that any other Gambian or non-Gambian could have been on board this flight either by circumstance or mere coincidence.

“The Chief of Defence Staff was then advised that, in accordance with WHO protocols on COVID – 19 virus prevention, all those on board the flight including him have to self-isolate themselves for a period of 14 days as a preventive measure. Without hesitation, Major General Drammeh complied with the advice and started the self-isolation immediately.”

Close to one billion people worldwide were confined to their homes on Saturday as the global coronavirus death toll shot past 11,000 and US states rolled out lockdown measures already imposed across swathes of Europe.

The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, restricting movement, shutting schools and forcing millions to work from home.

While President Donald Trump insisted the United States was ‘winning’ the war against the virus, individual states dramatically ramped up restrictions, with New York and Illinois joining California in ordering residents to stay home.

The virus death toll surged past 11,000 worldwide, with 4,000 alone in worst-hit Italy where the daily number of fatalities has shot up relentlessly over the past week.

An estimated 900 million people are now confined to their homes in 35 countries around the world – including 600 million hemmed in by obligatory government lockdown orders – according to an AFP tally.

While the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the hardest hit by the virus, the World Health Organization warned that young people were also vulnerable.

‘Today I have a message for young people: you are not invincible. This virus could put you in hospital for weeks – or even kill you,’ WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

‘Even if you don’t get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else.’ (DailyMail)

Dr Ismaila Ceesay on 20 March together with Youths of West Coast for Empowerment and Development distributed buckets with detergents for hand washing and sensitised the public on COVID-19 in an attempt to contain the spread of the infection.

“The COVID-19 crisis will have an impact on every sector of our society. The Gambia Government should establish a Crisis Management Team to carrry out a comprehensive assessment of the medium to long-term implications on education, economy, business & develop mitigation strategies,” Dr Ceesay tweeted.

He added that the pandemic will greatly affect the already struggling economy and urged government to launch a Crisis Fund to support Small and Medium Size Enterprises.

Coronavirus is an on going pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China in December 2019 and was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. As of 19 March, more than 277, 000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in over 185 countries and territories, resulting in more than 11, 300 deaths and 91,000 recoveries.

Weeks after neighboring Senegal announced its first case of the Coronavirus, The Gambia announced its first and only confirmed case on 17 March. The country is yet to register any new cases since.

By Adama Makasuba

Office of the National Security on Wednesday halted its country sensitisation tour on security sector reform amid fears of the deadly coronavirus.

The virus which emerged in China last December has so far killed more than 10,000 people across the World leaving thousands of people infected with it.

The Gambia last Tuesday registered its first case of the virus in a 28-year-old Gambian lady who travelled from UK, which triggered President Barrow to ban public gatherings and shut down schools and Universities in an effort to contain further spread of the virus in the country.

Office of National Security who began five days country tour Monday in Kerewan to engage security officials and government officials, and public to education them about process of the reform has now suspended its tour.

Last December, the office held a similar tour to educate Gambians on its process on security sector reform.

In a joint statement from office of the national security and Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, the office said the suspension of the tour is in compliance with the statement of the president.

By Adama Makasuba

Chief imam of Kanifing Estate Mosque Baba Leigh has called on Imam Abdoulie Fatty and Bakawsu Fofana to end their longstanding bad blood, warning it could extend to their followers.

Baba Leigh said the two imams should forget the past and reconcile in the interest of their followers.

He told The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview: “I will use this opportunity to call on them [Imam Abdoulie Fatty and Imam Ba Kawsu Fofana], at least let them forget the past and create a way forward.

“Despite there cannot be 100 percent agreement in everything but even if we are going to be different [in view], it should be based on respect and love.

“If they become different [in view] that indifference will go down to their followers, to their congregations and that’s what Saitan wants.”

By Lamin Njie

The woman in isolation at MRC after testing positive for coronavirus is clinically stable, the ministry of health said on Saturday.

A Gambian woman became the country’s first coronavirus patient last Sunday after she travelled back into the country from UK. She has since been isolated at MRC.

The ministry of health on Saturday held a news conference where it gave updates on the health state of the 28-year-old.

“The patient is in isolation and clinically stable under excellent care at the MRC clinic in Fajara,” Modou Njai of the ministry of health told reporters in Kotu.

The woman flew in the same plane with dozens of people including army chief Yakuba Drammeh and Inspector General of Police Mamour Jobe.

And according to the health ministry, it has on the ground 20 surveillance officers who are trained and who are currently helping on contact tracing.

“They are also being trained on standard operating procedures as part of their work in tracing the contacts,” Modou Njai said.

By Lamin Njie

The ministry of health said on Saturday it is on the tail of at least 14 people who fled quarantine after they travelled into the country from UK.

“What they have done is against the public health act and when they are caught, we are finding them….

“…they are going to face the full force of the law. It’s just like somebody taken to prison and the person jumped and went away and the person is caught,” Director of Health Promotion Modou Njai told reporters at a news conference in Kotu.

Thirty-three travellers last Wednesday jetted into the country from coronavirus-hit UK. They were quickly put them in a bus and sent to Golden Beach Hotel. They later fled the hotel.

Modou Njai said they do not know whether they are infected with the virus or not.

“Perhaps if they have it, then the people they have contacted with, meaning they have just come to pass the disease to people who are not even… these are innocent people [sic],” Njai said.

Congolese music star Aurlus Mabélé has died in hospital in France’s capital Paris, aged 67.

Posts on social media from friends and relatives say he died of coronavirus but this is not confirmed.

His fans called him the king of soukous – a high-tempo Congolese dance music popular across Africa.

His daughter, French singer Liza Monet, tweeted on Thursday that her father had died of coronavirus. “I am inconsolable” she wrote.

Fellow member of the supergroup Loketo, Mav Cacharel, also said on Facebook that he had died of coronavirus.

His manager, Jimmy Ouetenou, however, told BBC Afrique that it was not confirmed he died of coronavirus and that he had long-term health problems.

He was admitted to hospital on Thursday and died on the same day. (BBC)

By Lamin Njie

Scores of Senegalese in Senegal’s capital Dakar took to the streets on Friday following the arrest of an imam.

IGFM reported on Friday the people of Yoff took to the streets to demonstrate against the arrest of an imam following the prayer he led.

Senegal has placed a ban on mass gatherings including the Friday congregational prayers in a bid to combat the spread of the Coronavirus.

By Adama Makasuba

West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination has on Friday said in a statement it was suspending the WASSCE 2020 timetable.

WASSCE said the negative impact of the novel and deadly COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent protocols put in place by government of member countries to prevent the spread of the disease have ‘serious’ implications for the conduct of WASSCE for School candidates, 2020 as agreed by the national Offices.

“Please note that the proposal from the Secretariat on the need to reschedule WASSCE[SC] 2020 was approved by the Chairman of the Council,” the statement signed by E.K. Myers, Ag Head, IED, for the registrar, added.

According to the statement, the WASSCE [SC] 2020 timetable is suspended until further notice; the conduct of WASSCE [SC] 2020 to be put on hold until further notice; and directive (1) and (2) will be reviewed when the health situation improves.

By Adama Makasuba

The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education announced on Friday students across the country will now take their lessons through the radio and TV following the shutting down of schools over COVID-19.

President Adama Barrow earlier this week ordered that all schools across the country be closed after a woman was tested positive for coronavirus. Officials have since been travelling continents over how to recover contact hours that students are set to lose.

The education ministry has now said it has been in engagement with media houses for the past two days and agreements are made to have lessons on radio and television stations across the country starting Monday, 23rd March 2020.

“Parents and caregivers are urged to use this as an opportunity to keep children at home to make the best use of the days they are out of school and also as a means to protect them from the deadly COVID – 19,” the ministry said.