By: Mama A. Touray

New Jeshwang, Ebo Town women gardeners, in an exclusive interview with The Network, lamented the lack of space to continue their gardening as the authorities allegedly sold their garden space in Jeshwang.

Sibi Saidy, a resident of Ebo Town whose source of livelihood depends on gardening and marketing, said: “Gardening is what we do for a living. We sell at the market, and after that, we come to the garden. At this point, we don’t have a place to even do our gardening because in Jeshwang, where we garden, they have sold the place. The only place left is at the back of the school where we do our small gardening.”

She continued: “At this point, there are people who want to work, but due to the lack of space to garden, they can’t. When we say, ‘Let’s work,’ and we have no place to work, it will definitely be a problem. They have sold all the available land and dug holes just to frustrate us.”

In an emotional tone, Sibi said: “We, the women, do not have power; our power relies on this gardening, so help us.”

She added that after the gardening, they give the space to other people who cultivate rice, and when those people are done, they hand the space back to them to continue gardening.

Isatou Ceesay, a resident of New Jeshwang, told The Fatu Network that the garden has over three hundred gardeners and that they are faced with many challenges, such as water shortages and lack of access to fertilizer. She also mentioned that they do not have their own garden, and the space they are occupying is not fenced.

She said that as a result of the unfenced space, animals disturb their vegetables and eventually destroy their crops. “If we have support for a borehole and fencing, we will be happy,” she said.

“We do gardening in the dry season, and during the rainy season, we return the land to the owners to farm rice. We are calling on authorities and philanthropists to come to our aid so that we can have our own garden to farm both during the dry and rainy seasons,” she added.

Another challenge highlighted by Sibi Saidy was the lack of fertilizer. “Having access to fertilizer is difficult, and if you are to buy it, it’s you, as the woman, who will buy it for yourself. If you don’t have money for three to four bags of fertilizer, you will face challenges because one bag cannot sustain your crops. In fact, buying two, three, or four bags of fertilizer is not easy. Even if you want to buy them, you think of your children and what you will give them.”

She added: “If the crops are not covered with fertilizer, you lose your crops, and it becomes a great loss. If you want to have healthy, fresh, and nice crops, you need to have fertilizer.”

By Alieu Jallow

ASP Modou Musa Sissawo, the Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Police Force, has expressed concerns regarding the police salaries, labelling it a “challenge for everybody”.

The GPF’s men and women are tasked with the duty of safeguarding citizens, fighting crime, and ensuring the prevalence of justice. Nonetheless, their unwavering dedication seems to be undermined by insufficient wages, leading to discontent and unprofessional conduct, including the solicitation of bribes from both citizens and foreigners.

In light of these issues, the Police PRO remarked that being governed by the Public Service Commission presents significant challenges to their salary structure.

“Salaries are a challenge for everybody, which is the elephant in the house. The challenge with that [is] the Gambia Police Force is under the Gambia government, and we don’t have our [own] pay scale. So, it is like when the government increases the salaries, our salary also increases,” Sisawo said.

The police spokesperson emphasized their work on the Police Draft Bill, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the Police Force and other aspects intended to strengthen the police department. PRO Sissawo also refuted claims that inadequate salaries drive their officers to accept bribes.

“Bribery usually is about the attitude of the person. It is not about salaries because many people are accused of bribery and corruption who receives 10 times more than the average salary of a police officer on the street who is alleged to have accepted bribes”.

Numerous police officers face financial difficulties and struggle to support their families because of their insufficient salaries. This issue particularly impacts junior officers, many of whom find it challenging to afford essentials like food, housing, and their children’s education.

ASP Sissawo emphasized that police should never accept bribes, as they are conscious of the salary that comes with their job. Nonetheless, ASP Sissawo acknowledged that with the substantial rise in the cost and standard of living, there is a pressing need for a salary increment.

“Looking at standards of living, things have changed in this country and there is a great need for salaries to be reviewed or adjusted for the Gambia Police Force. We are engaging the leaders, and they are aware. Hopefully, we will see at the strategic level as we are only at the operational level of government because we want to see how they can encourage our officers to serve in a very respectable, committed and deserving way of the public,” he said.

The problem of inadequate remuneration within the GPF is a significant concern that numerous officers have lamented. Despite risking their lives daily to enforce the law and safeguard citizens, many feel their dedication and sacrifices remain unrecognized, even as they face verbal and physical assaults from the very people they protect.

By Alieu Jallow

The Gambia Police Force has added nine brand-new L200 pickups and buffaloes to their fleet in a bid to enhance their ability to maintain peace and security within Gambian society.

This move reflects the force’s dedication to effectively carrying out their duties and ensuring the safety and well-being of the nation’s citizens.

The Police management stated that the introduction of these new vehicles comes at a crucial time when the Gambia Police Force is looking to strengthen its operational capabilities, especially in the face of evolving challenges such as combating crime, ensuring public safety, and responding to emergencies.

In his opening remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Seedy Muktarr Touray, highlighted the shortage of motor vehicles at police stations, anti-crime unit bases, and the police headquarters since he took office in mid-March of this year. He emphasized the critical role of motor vehicles in policing, stressing that mobility is essential for effective law enforcement.

“Through vehicular patrol, police officers can cover more grounds and longer distances without expending more energy. Response time to call for police assistance will be starting and quicker than when officers have to work or ride a bicycle to a crime scene or point of distress call,” he =said.

The police boss outlined that the nine vehicles, consisting of patrolling cars, will be strategically distributed across key regions within the country. This distribution strategy aligns with the police force’s vision of maintaining a strong and visible presence throughout the Gambia, contributing to a greater sense of security for all Gambians.

“With these four-wheel drive vehicles officers can easily access remote parts of the Gambia the police the communities and keep criminals at bay.”

Speaking on behalf of TK Motors, Musa Musa expressed gratitude to the Gambia Police Force for investing trust in their services. Additionally, Mr Musa outlined that the vehicles’ engines are all 2024 models.

“The vehicles are all model of 2024, and their engines are all diesel, and all that we require is for them to be maintained properly and to take care of them, and they will serve for quite a while, and we wish them the best of luck to the use of these vehicles,” he said.

On his part, Ansu Singhateh, representative of A and A Motors, expressed their commitment to continue providing the police with top-notch services and products to support the important work the police do in ensuring citizen safety.

“We are honoured to partner with the Gambia Police Force, and we hope these vehicles can serve their needs beyond all expectations. We will give you service free for 15000 km, and we would like you to respect the maintenance”.

The commissioning of these vehicles marks a significant milestone for the Gambia Police Force under the leadership of Commissioner Seedy Muktarr Touray. At the climax, the IGP and his senior management team inspected the vehicles.

By: Alieu Jallow

In a tragic incident, 25-year-old Kaddijatou Mballow from Sotuma Samba, Upper River Region (URR), took her own life on September 5, 2024. Her death sheds light on the profound emotional struggles individuals face when overwhelmed by unexpressed anger and frustration.

According to a family source, Kaddijatou was trying to discipline her children by beating them when her husband intervened before subsequently leaving to lead prayers at the mosque, while she proceeded to prepare dinner. It is reported that shortly after she finished preparing dinner, she served it and went back to her room.

While everyone else was preoccupied with dinner, she reportedly used her black veil, known as a “Gilbert,” used it to tie a noose around her neck, secured it to the un-ceilinged roof, and hung herself. A few moments later, her husband, Hassan Jawo, entered the house to search for her and found her hanging. He then called out for help, to which his brother, Pateh Jawo, responded swiftly. They cut off the veil, which had left severe bruises around her neck, and rushed her to the hospital. However, she was pronounced dead by the nurse on duty.

According to the family, many believe her suicide was a result of unvented anger, raising concerns about the challenges faced by individuals struggling to cope with overwhelming emotions.

Speaking on behalf of the police, ASP Modou Musa Sissawo confirmed the tragic incident and affirmed the police’s efforts in getting to the root cause of her death.

“The Basse Police are currently investigating the alleged suicide of Kaddijatou Mballow, a 25-year-old woman married to Hassan Jawo of Sotuma Samba. The incident occurred on the night of September 5, 2024. The body is being transported to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) for a possible postmortem. The police are investigating the circumstances leading to the alleged suicide,” the Police PRO reported.

Both husband, Hassan Jawo, and his brother, Pateh Jawo, are in police custody, helping with the investigation.

By: Alieu Jallow

In a devastating revelation, Musa Sanneh, a Gambian national and native of Brikama in the West Coast Region, is alleged to be involved in a widespread scam, manipulating unsuspecting individuals by falsely promising to facilitate their visas and travel documents for a seamless journey to the captivating landscapes of New Zealand. According to his victims, Musa’s fraudulent operation seeks to exploit the dreams and aspirations of those yearning to visit this island nation, leaving them disillusioned and financially drained.

In a telephone interview, Essa Sall, Lamin Keita, and three others who wish to remain anonymous said Musa is operating with calculated precision, employing tactics that prey on the vulnerability and desperation of individuals eager to secure their travel authorization. He promises efficiency and convenience, extracting substantial monetary payments by claiming to expedite visa processing, provide guaranteed entry, and manage all necessary documentation for them.

“I was introduced to Musa by a friend, and when I started talking, he told me that he could process a visa with a work permit within a week, and the process would cost $223,500. On the 1st of May, he called me to inform me of my visa approval and that I should confirm with my friend in Senegal to verify the authenticity of the visa before making the payment, which my friend gave me assurances of. So I had to send the money to his wife and another to his boss,” Mr. Sallah alleged.

He further explained that after sending the money to Musa’s wife, Binta Dumbuya, Musa told him he needed an air ticket with a one-way ticket, as he possessed a work permit visa, which was challenging to secure. Essa Sallah asserts that after a challenging time, he was able to secure a one-way ticket with advice that once he landed in New Zealand, he would be able to secure an “Okay to Board” ticket. However, he said Musa insisted he should send the money to him to purchase the “Okay to Board” air ticket.

“I had to cancel the air ticket I secured earlier and sent him D93,909 to buy the ‘Okay to Board’ air ticket. After one week, he told me they were working on my air ticket. Two weeks later, I called him to ask him where he was with the ‘Okay to Board’ ticket. Then he started giving me flimsy excuses because he knew that the visa was fake and the authorities would never issue an air ticket with a fake visa. I had to borrow money to buy a round-trip ticket for over D129,125, then left from Senegal to Turkey and Malaysia, where New Zealand immigration officers checked the visa only to inform me that the visa was fake,” he narrated.

After spending over one month in a hotel in Malaysia with three others, their situation became increasingly frustrating as they struggled to survive without any job in Malaysia. Essa said he has paid over $446,704.50 to Musa, and his counterparts are on the verge of being deported from Malaysia following an overstay. They vowed to hold Musa’s wife, Binta Dumbuya, accountable for being an ally to her husband’s scamming business, as most of the money was transferred or paid to her.

By Mama A. Touray

The Tanji fish management committee, in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, has called on the Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries, to help reduce the price of fuel and electricity.

Assan Jallow told TFN that the boat owners, fishermen, and fishmongers are facing challenges due to the high cost of fuel and electricity, which is affecting their ability to continue fishing in Tanji.

He expressed concern that because of the high cost of fuel and electricity, boat owners are leaving the Tanji site to buy fuel in places closer to Senegal. Additionally, the price of ice blocks is increasing as ice plant owners struggle with the cost of electricity.

“We want the government through the Ministry of Fisheries to help reduce the price of fuel and electricity because if you see a lot of boats run away from Tanji beach to other beaches like Kafunting, is because of the price of fuel.

“The price of fuel in Senegal is cheaper compared to ours. You will see boats that will have fuel, but the fuel is from Senegal simply because the price here is higher than that of Senegal,” he said.

He described how fishermen often store the fuel purchased from Senegal in their boats, using it as needed. Despite the presence of petrol stations in their own country, he noted that the high cost drives many to buy fuel in Senegal and store it either in their boats or in a secure location.

“The fuel that the boats use and that of the factories are not the same. If you put 50 litres of fuel in a car you can go up to Basse but if you put that in a boat, you won’t pass Foni because they are totally different. The fishermen are going to take about 300 litres. If you put that amount in a car, you will round the entire country”.

On the price of ice block to preserve fish Jallow said: “Ice block is very expensive now because the amount of electricity consumed by factory owners is too much, then what they consume is different from what they consume now that is why they increase the price because they don’t have anything from it”.

He added: “When the price of electricity was not increased, ice block was easy and affordable but now it’s not because of the increment in electricity and that is a big challenge to us. When you go to the provinces with fish knowing that the place is hot, if you usually buy 150 baskets, you cannot buy 150 but 100 because of fish scarcity and the increment of electricity price makes ice block expensive”.

Aramata Manneh, a fishmonger laments the high cost of ice blocks.

“Having access to ice block is another challenge [because] the price is high. Then we buy a bag of broken ice blocks for D75 but now we buy it at D130 and if it’s not available at Tanji they go to other places and bring it. If that happens, they sell it to us for D300 and if you say it’s costly your fish will be spoiled”.