By Lamin Njie

The bad blood between Imam Bakawsu Fofana and Imam Abdoulie Fatty showed no signed of ending Tuesday after a new video emerged of the fiery cleric castigating the former State House imam.

“Abdoulie is a very dangerous person. He was leaning on Yahya Jammeh, and any time he touched anyone, his people would ask him to ignore it because he was leaning on the president,” Bakawsu said in a video posted to Facebook on Tuesday, where two machete-wielding students who were also dressed in weird costume stood either side of him.

“The useless among all Ustads of this age is Abdoulie Fatty. Even small Ustads who just started out are building schools and are benefiting people. Abdoulie Fatty had greater opportunity than anyone but he simply didn’t want to benefit anyone,” he added.

Bakawsu Fofana and Imam Fatty hold each other in great contempt spanning over a decade. The former last month appeared before the TRRC accusing Imam Fatty of engineering his falling out with former President Yahya Jammeh.

Imam Fatty on his part said it was Bakawsu who caused all manner of problems for him after helping the ‘kid’ out.

By Lamin Njie and Fatou Camara Jr

Police have arrested defiant sacked staff of Food Safety and Quality Authority amid a bitter row over Zainab Jallow’s leadership.

FSQA director general Zainab Jallow has found life difficult as leader at the authority as some staff have accused her of abuse of office and corruption.

The staff last year wrote to the Vice President Dr Isatou Touray informing her that Jallow was sacking staff illegally and that she was engaging in corruption practices. Zainab Jallow denies the accusations.

In January, seven officials got dismissed after they held a press conference at FSQA saying their petition action against Jallow had been ‘frustrated’ – while calling for it to be implemented.

More follows…

The First Lady of Sierra Leone Fatima Bio will be among distinguished personalities attending The Fatu Network Heroes Awards 2019.

On 14 March, 1000 people drawn from corporate Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and elsewhere will gather at Coco Ocean for the maiden edition of The Fatu Network Heroes Awards. The annual event honours and recognises leading personalities who have rendered great service to The Gambia and to their communities.

The First Lady of Sierra Leone Fatima Bio will be a special guest of honor at the event, and she will be a presented a special award for her efforts in empowering women and girls in Sierra Leone and beyond. She is expected to arrive in The Gambia next week.

Madam Fatima Maada Bio is motivated by pan- Africanist ideals and she is a strong believer in women empowerment as key to sustainable development .

Born on November 27th 1980 in Sierra Leone, she pursued her passion for women empowerment as First Lady by staging a peaceful protest against gender based violence. It was a historic march, for the first time in history, First Ladies from different African Countries came together in unity and joined the peaceful protest march on the streets of Freetown in December 2018. This was the beginning of her very powerful campaign themed “Hands Off Our Girls”.

The chairman of the board of Global Voice Group Laurent Lamothe will attend The Fatu Network Heroes Awards 2019 scheduled to take place on 14 March.

Mr Lamothe, 47, successfully served his country as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister from 2011-2014, and contributed to unprecedented improvement to the fight on poverty and innovative financing mechanism for a developing economy.

Lamothe obtained a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Barry University in Miami and, in 1996, earned his MBA with honours from the University of St. Thomas.

In 1998, at the age of 26, Lamothe founded Global Voice Group SA (GVG), which today is considered a world-leading provider of ICT solutions for telecoms and fiscal authorities. He served as CEO of GVG until he stepped down to assume his public sector duties with the government of Haiti. And in December of the same year, Lamothe founded the Dr Louis G Lamothe Foundation in honour and memory of his late father.

Mr Lamothe had also in 2014 resigned as Prime Minister of Haiti and went on to found LSL World Initiative. The organisation is a global enterprise that provides solutions for governments of emerging countries to overcome debt and achieve sustainable development.

At the start of 2020, Lamothe launched R-Ventures, a venture capital firm, that will focus on investing in emerging market startups from the Caribbean and Africa.

Mr Lamothe will be among high-profile personalities in The Gambia and beyond who are set to grace The Fatu Network Heroes Awards 2019 to held at Coco Ocean on 14 March.

By Fatou Camara (Jnr)

Karpowership on Friday 28 February donated computers and books to the National Library’s branch in Brikama.

It comes hot on the heels of the refurbishment and extension of the complex by Karpowership in December of last year.

Karpowership in staying true to its corporate social responsibility as Nawec’s leading partner in electricity production in the country returned to the library to donate computers and books it had bought.

Speaking at the presentation event, Karpowership country manager Yankuba Mamburay said his company will continue to render much-needed support to Gambians.

“We are happy to be here once again. I think this is a location that is becoming a little bit familiar for us because we have been here just a few months ago, precisely on the 19th of December 2019 for the inauguration of the refurbished and extended library, Gambia National Library Brikama branch.

“That was quite an auspicious occasion and since then, our management from Turkey and our PR department saw the need to do something more for the library. And that’s why we are here today,” Mr Mamburay said.

Board chairman of the national library authority Professor Pierre Gomez also speaking at the event said: “We are pleased and honoured to receive Karpowership after they decided that they will share the little they have with the future generation of this country.

“That is the youths but also those who want to educate themselves, those who want to have information.

“So on behalf of the board and management, I want to thank Karpowership for the foresight, for their significant contribution to sustainable development .”

By Lamin Njie

Youssour Ndour will meet with nominees in The Fatu Network Heroes Awards 2019 at a cocktail event ahead of the awards night on 14 March.

The top Senegalese musician has confirmed to the chief executive officer of The Fatu Network that he will arrive in The Gambia next week with a delegation to meet with all shortlisted nominees, members of the awards committee as well as partners. The cocktail is by special invitation only.

On 14 March 2020, 1000 people drawn from corporate Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and elsewhere will gather at Coco Ocean for The Fatu Network Heroes Awards 2019. Forty-three candidates comprising individuals and organisations have been shortlisted and are now battling it out at the polls. Eleven categories are up for grabs.

It comes as Mr Ndour assured The Fatu Network he would accord the event his full backing. His media group, GFM, will partner with The Fatu Network by providing live coverage.

The Fatu Network Heroes Awards is an annual awards event that honors inspiring personalities. The event recognizes individuals who work tirelessly and selflessly for their country and communities through their respective industries and initiatives.

By Lamin Njie

Gambia Democratic Congress on Monday issued a statement calling on President Adama Barrow to abandon his URR trip after Senegal confirmed its first case of Coronavirus.

Senegal on Monday afternoon said a Frenchman living in Dakar tested positive for Coronavirus, making him the first person to be diagnosed with the killer virus.

GDC in a statement signed by party leader Mamma Kandeh is now calling on President Adama Barrow to return to Banjul.

The statement said: “After Senegal has confirmed its first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) today the 2nd of March, 2020 being the second west African state to confirm the virus after Nigeria, the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) is urgently calling on the President of the Republic of the Gambia HE Adama Barrow to cut short his trip from the provinces and convey a cabinet meeting on the issue as soon as possible to mobilize all available resources and open every channel of communication in and outside the country to strongly face the deadly virus.

“The government must take giant step towards securing all entry points to the Gambia and monitor the movement of people in and outside the country. The COVID-19 is deadly and an enemy to all of mankind, it is spreading so fast around the world and without any cure as at now.

“The implication of such a virus to the Gambia will not only cause massive fear among people but also within a week or so can paralyzed the few standing arsenal of our economy including tourism and the free movement of goods and services. The Gambia is a country so vulnerable due to its social and economic settings; being a cash economy, tight public transport system and other numerous social gathering.

“The GDC is urging the media, health sector, teachers, civil societies, National Council for Civic Education, the Gambia police and security forces in their capacity to be on alert to give full support to authorities in protecting the Gambia and her borders from the deadly virus through education and any other available means that comes their way.

“We are asking people to listen to authorities with regards to issue of the COVID-19 and constantly engage in prayers for Allah to save us all. Long live the Gambia and the people of the Gambia.”

By Lamin Njie

The health minister of Senegal Abdoulaye Diouf has told reporters a patient has indeed test positive for Coronavirus.

“We would like to ask that you do not panic because you can put your trust in the Senegalese health system,” Mr Diouf told reporters Monday afternoon as he confirmed that a man tested positive for Coronavirus.

A first case of Coronavirus (Covid-19) was confirmed in Senegal on Monday, local media had earlier reported, adding it pertains to a Frenchman living in Almadies.

The man is now at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar after travelling to Senegal from France on Saturday via Air Senegal, IGFM reported, adding the health ministry of Senegal was trying to get the flight’s detail in a bid to track everyone who travelled alongside the Frenchman in a flight which landed at Blaise Diagne International Airport.

It comes as President Macky Sall Monday morning called an emergency meeting to discuss the Coronavirus which has killed over 3,000 people worldwide.

Senegal is now said to be the fourth African country after Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria to confirm Coronavirus.

By Adama Makasuba

Ministry of health has deployed 11 health officials to Banjul International Airport as fear grows over the deadly Coronavirus.

Coronavirus emerged in China last year and thousands have so far succumbed, leaving thousands of others infected with the virus. According to WHO, 80,000 cases have so far been recorded.

The health ministry on Monday convened an emergency news conference to highlight some of their measures against the deadly virus as they announced deploying eleven health officials at the country’s airport as screeners. The ministry also announced extending such measures to every border post of the country.

Speaking at the news conference, Sanna Sambou coordinator of epidemiology and disease control, said: “We almost have eleven people assigned for at airport alone likewise all the other borders have been supplied with minimum stock of materials and the IPC equipment to be able continue what they are doing.”

“At our points of entries, the borders; the airport and seaport are very key here because we expected corona to be imported via the airport. So this is why we are doing possible effort to make sure we strengthen the airport as possible,” he said.

According to him, the virus is widely expected to spread easily through the airport as a ban on international travel has not yet been effected by the country.

By Fatou Camara (Jnr)

Scores of Gambians among them two former vice presidents (Ousainou Darboe and Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang) on Saturday gathered at Kiang Kwinella in the Lower River Region for the official launching of Tresor Women Warriors headquarters.

In The Gambia, the ladder of women empowerment is constantly climbed by Gambian Women themselves and among those at the forefront is Ajie Kumba Daffeh founder of The Night of Excellence. Mrs Daffeh is also the owner of Tresor Closet and Beyond; she’s also the chief executive officer of the Tresor Women Warriors organisation.

On Saturday, Tresor Women Warriors’s headquarters was launched in Kiang Kwinella, a women group that is out to support Gambian women. TWW has 700 women members and it targets women who are into business especially those in the area of agriculture.

Speaking at the event, development economist Abdoulie Touray praised the brain behind TWW, Aji Kumba Daffeh, saying he wasn’t surprised about Mrs Daffeh’s position in seeing Gambian women achieve success and financial independence.

The launch of the organisation’s headquarters was performed by the Minister of Agriculture Amie Fabureh, who commended Aji KumbA Daffeh for the intervention.

Mrs Fabureh then pledged that her ministry would continue to work with the foundation towards the realisation of the sustainable development goals.

By Lamin Njie

A first case of Coronavirus (Covid-19) was confirmed in Senegal on Monday, local media have reported.

Several Senegalese media including IGFM reported on Monday a Frenchman living in Almadies has tested positive to Coronavirus.

The man is now at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar after travelling to Senegal from France on Saturday via Air Senegal, IGFM reported, adding the health ministry of Senegal was trying to get the flight’s detail in a bid to track everyone who travelled alongside the Frenchman in a flight which landed at Blaise Diagne International Airport.

It comes as President Macky Sall Monday morning called an emergency meeting to discuss the Coronavirus which has killed over 3,000 people worldwide.

Senegal is now said to be the fourth African country after Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria to confirm Coronavirus.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow said Sunday his party, the National People’s Party, will floor its rivals at next year’s presidential elections, calling it a wrestling contest.

“We are certain that when 2021 comes it would be a wrestling contest but NPP will knock everyone down,” President Barrow said in Baniko Kekoro in URR where his party, the National People’s Party, held a rally for the first time since it was registered at the start of 2020.

The rally comes four days after the president arrived in the Upper River Region for the unveiling of a number of infrastructural projects.

On Saturday, President Barrow inaugurated the Laminkoto-Passamas road which he hailed as “a clear signpost of the implementation of the National Development Plan.”

“We will continue to maintain and expand the urban, secondary and feeder road networks in order to improve accessibility and induce acceptable travel time between destinations for all travellers,” the president had said Passamas where the event was held.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow warned on Saturday talkers will continue to talk as he inaugurated in URR the Laminkoto-Passamas road.

“Gambia is ready to work now. Talkers will continue to talk but we will continue to work. We will continue work on roads, we’ll work on bridges in this country, we’ll work on electricity in this country,” President Barrow said during the inauguration of a road whose length stands at 120kilometres.

Mr Barrow is currently on a 10-day trip to URR for the unveiling of various infrastructural projects.

And earlier reading from a prepared speech during the inauguration of the Laminkoto-Passamas road held in Passamas on Saturday, Mr Barrow said the successful completion of “this project is a clear signpost of the implementation of the National Development Plan.”

“We will continue to maintain and expand the urban, secondary and feeder road networks in order to improve accessibility and induce acceptable travel time between destinations for all travellers,” the president said.

By Adama Makasuba

The health ministry has dismissed reports Coronavirus has entered the country after a man travelled from Italy.

On Saturday, reports did the rounds on social media claiming a suspected case of COVID-19 was detected at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.

But in a statement the ministry, said: “We hereby inform the public that this information is not true and that the said patient has no signs/symptoms related to COVID-19.”

“We assure the public that there has been no case of COVID-19 in Gambia and the Ministry and its partners are doing all it can to maintain Gambia free from COVID-19,” the statement added.

By Adama Makasuba

Police have arrested 15 Guinean nationals over an attack on their consulate that resulted in the destruction of multiple of properties of the consulate and injuring the consul.

On Friday, an angry Guinean mob staged an attack on their consulate in a reported anti-President Alpha Conde protest. The mob allegedly attacked the building and set it on fire. They include 13 males and 2 females.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie told The Fatu Network: “Currently, investigation is opened and depending on the outcome of the investigation, charges will be levelled against individuals precisely depending on their participation and responsibility..

The attack came after two of the arrested attackers who are both women pretended to be requesting a clarification on their documentation in the country.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie described the attack as ‘coordinated’ as he warned non-Gambians in The Gambia especially Guineans to desist from such activity.

“We want to assure the diplomatic corps that their security is paramount and we will ensure that we maintain security at all embassies, 24 hours as it has been,” ASP Njie assured.