By Lamin Njie

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou’s ‘political brinkmanship’ comments are for President Adama Barrow, Madi Jobarteh has said.

Mr Tambadou at the legal year opening last Sunday vowed to arrest and drag to court former president Yahya Jammeh if he ever returned to the country. The justice minister said no amount of idle political talk or political brinkmanship could stop that from happening.

Madi Jobarteh has pored over the justice minister’s comments telling The Fatu Network Mr Tambadou’s political brinkmanship comments are for President Barrow.

Mr Jobarteh said: “[The lack of political will] is what is bringing up this march, especially where you have the president himself go to rallies and speak about, ‘Yahya Jammeh can return to The Gambia but not as a president but as a private citizen’.

“I think that is a huge misconception and something unbecoming of President Barrow to say, indicative of, really, that lack of political will. Given also the way and manner he has been getting himself closer to APRC and even bringing in key Jammeh enablers right inside his cabinet and to other parts of his government, which is also the valve that has given the air to APRC to breathe to the point that Yahya Jammeh himself would have the audacity to say that, ‘Gambians miss me, I am better than Barrow’, and all of those things.

“So what Ba said last week should be something that should have been said since 2017. But what Barrow has been saying, what his spokesperson Sankareh said, that ‘his [Jammeh’s] security cannot be guaranteed’. Yes, his security should be guaranteed by the state because the state has a responsibility to guarantee the security of each and every Gambian.

“But when Ba said… There are two things in his statement; no amount of political talk and no amount of political brinkmanship. For me, I have distributed that to two people. Idle talk is about Fabakary Tombong Jatta and his APRC folks who are in that idle talk that ‘Yahya Jammeh did not kill anyone, Yahya Jammeh did not torture anyone, Yahya Jammeh is innocent’.

“The second thing is political brinkmanship. When we talk about political brinkmanship, it is when politicians engage in maneuvers, in schemes, in that kind of games in order to seek votes, in order to seek support, to seek legitimacy, in places where they are not even needed. And that is what we see Barrow do. I don’t know what is in Ba’s mind, but in my analysis of that speech, that political brinkmanship is for Barrow.”

Police in Mauritania have arrested Senegalese and Mauritanian homosexuals who were getting married in Nouakchott, Senego reported on Thursday.

Last weekend, the Senegalese-Mauritanian gay community held a mass wedding that was filmed and posted in various websites.

Police in Mauritania have now arrested the individuals as they launch a new crack down on gays.

The suspects were arrested in the chic Tevra Zeyna district on Wednesday, according to Senego.

The ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday announced the visit to The Gambia of the president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Erdogan will pay a day’s visit to The Gambia on 27 January 2020. It will be the first time a Turkish president is visiting the country.

A statement from foreign affairs said: “The purpose of the visit is to facilitate a review of the bilateral relations between the two countries and to map-out ways of strengthening collaboration relative to development cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral level.

“During the visit by President Adama Barrow to Turkey in February 2018 the two countries signed various Bilateral Agreements, Protocols and Memorandums of Understanding. Since that fruitful visit, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has become more comprehensive involving commercial, educational, economic, health and security sectors just to name a few.

“The Gambia and Turkey have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations dating back to 1965 following the country’s attainment of independence and have been collaborating closely at the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and other international fora.”

The Awards Committee of The Fatu Network Heroes Awards has finalised the categories for the top-line awards as well as the criteria. Eleven categories have been identified by a seven-man independent awards committee.

The awards event is slated for 14 March 2020 and it will attract 1000 people among them First Ladies, ministers, businesspeople and members of the Gambian diplomatic community.

The First Lady of Sierra Leone Mrs Fatima Bio will be presented with a special award for her work in the area of girls in the West Africa sub-region under her Hands Off Our Girls campaign. Other high profile figures will also be presented with special awards.

See the different awards categories and their criteria as well as an explanation of the awards committee and the awards procedures below;

Awards Committee
The members of the Awards Committee are chosen by The Fatu Network. These individuals are apolitical and have been seen by The Fatu Network as able to demonstrate fair and unbiased judgement in assisting to recognize exemplary Gambians. Once identified, the committee works independently from The Fatu Network. The Fatu Network cannot make any decisions as to who should be awarded or not.

Award Nominations
Essentially, anyone can nominate an individual or group they see fit to receive an award within the applicable category. Prior to the awards, there will be a brief period of time in which the general public has the opportunity to submit nomination suggestions based on the categories and criteria presented. From there, the awards committee will assess all suggestions and ultimately narrow it down to a maximum of 4 candidates for each category.

Determining Award Winners
Award winners will be determined by both the awards committee (60%) and general public (40%). Once the nominees for each category are finalized, there will be a public voting poll open which will feature the group/persons qualifications, work, and accomplishments. There are two methods of voting; an easily accessible online survey and AFRICELL SMS. All will be informed immediately when the polls are open, each individual can only vote ONCE.

Resolving a conflict of interest: If a member of the committee is directly involved with a nominee, they will automatically be excluded from nominating and/or voting in that category.

CATEGORIES:

. Agriculture- Agricultural Leadership Award
. Diaspora-Diaspora Engagement Award
. Disabled- Trailblazer Award (Honoring the differently abled)
. Education- Education Prize for Excellence Award
. Environment- The Green Award
. Health- Health Servant of the Year Award
. Man of the Year Man of the Year Award
. Philanthropy- Philanthropist of the Year Award
. Posthumous- Iconic Gambian Award
. Woman of the Year Woman of the Year Award
. Youth- Exemplary Youth Award

Agricultural Leadership Award
The Agricultural Leadership awardee is one who establishes high impact achievements in the realm of Gambian agriculture. This group/person’s work has resulted in the demonstrable increase in the quality, quantity and/or availability of consumables for our urban and/or rural society- even more so if their ‘green thumb’ has been able to extend outside of the borders of The Gambia. We are considering the significance of individual achievements, but the complexity of the problem solved will be the most important aspect considered.

Criteria:
. Increased production or productivity of crops
. Reduced cost of cultivation through use of sustainable methods
. Has reduced poverty, hunger or suffering; or enhanced health, nutrition, quality of life and well being
. Uses cutting edge technology to address food security

Diaspora Engagement
For years, groups and individuals of the Gambian Diaspora have been selflessly and tirelessly contributing to the development of The Gambia-from a distance. The aim of the Diaspora Engagement Award is to highlight and showcase this effort! We are not talking of the obligatory remittances sent back to sustain their families back home, but going further by striving to make a difference and actively contributing to the change they want to see.

Criteria:
. Donates an extensive amount of time, energy, or money to an underrepresented and . underdeveloped cause in The Gambia
. Created a group or organization that contributes to the development or advancement of the following sectors: Maternal Health, Education, Science, Poverty, Environment etc.

Education prize for excellence of the Year
“In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else”
– Lee Iacocca

The Education Prize for Excellence Award aims to highlight and reward a true inspirer in and out of the classroom, we are looking to- recognize a teacher, administrator or institution. The importance of the role a teacher and/or institution plays extends far past the textbook and deep into the future of the youth, especially in a society like this where the youth spend a large amount of time under their care. Even more so, in a society like this where the youth account for roughly 60% of the population and are, undoubtedly, the future of The Gambia.

Criteria:
. An outstanding Teacher, Administrator or Institution
. Proven record of outstanding achievement and leadership in the education sector
. Uses modern techniques and innovations to impact knowledge
. Achieved significant results (of a class/individual) through their influence
. Exposed and encouraged youth to participate in national and international competitions
. Overcomes difficult challenges to delivering quality education in a marginalized or disadvantaged community, especially in the rural Gambia

THE GREEN AWARD
More often than not, environmental causes are neglected and not seen as a pressing enough issue to pursue. This is a wild misconception and approach the very basis of our homes and livelihoods. The Green Award will highlight and reward the efforts of a group or individual working tirelessly against the odds to ensure that a difference is made in the way we treat our environment. This can be by way of sustainable business solutions, activism, policy or any effective type of outreach being made to change the societal norms in Gambia.

Criteria:
. Uses sustainable and innovative means to address environmental challenges
. Demonstrated achievements in rolling back the effects of climate change
. Initiated a major environmental initiative that addresses and provides sustainable solutions to waste management
. Has a proven track record of activism to both educate and inform stakeholders and communities alike on issues affecting our environment

Health Servant of the Year
The Health Servant of the Year award is dedicated to a civil servant promoting or improving the health and well-being of all individuals that cross their paths. Regardless of social background, wealth, status or influence- this individual treats all walks of life as one when it comes to dedicating their time, expertise, and energy.

Criteria:
. Makes ‘do’ with limited resources to incite impactful results that save or enhance lives
. Shows extraordinary commitment to dispensing healthcare throughout the country
. Demonstrates strong leadership that result in significant gains for a health facility
. Goes above and beyond in providing greater care, excellent customer service and support for patients during their line of duty
. Innovative health administrators and organizations that have made significant contributions to the health sector can also be nominated in this category

Man of the Year
This award will go to a man who inspires, motivates, invests, and dedicates himself to the advancement of the society. Through these actions, he has impacted society in a profound fashion – in terms of empowerment of youths, women, the underprivileged, peace building, and all other patriotic endeavors geared towards molding The Gambia into a beacon of hope.

Criteria:

. Makes the single-biggest achievement/impact in a year
. An emerging voice who uses his/her work to achieve a result in the greater interest of the country and people
. Emerges as the single-biggest influence in the year
. Showcases huge patriotism in addressing or preventing something that saves lives
. Worked to enhance the image of The Gambia internationally
. Brokered peace through conflict-prevention and management that fostered socio-political stability

Philanthropist of the Year
The Philanthropist of the Year award is presented to an extraordinary individual who has shown outstanding leadership in the area of philanthropy and who, throughout their giving, has made remarkable differences in bringing about sustainable social change.

Criteria:
. Giving in the moment a ‘giving’ that is strategic and long-term
. May include an individual, couple or family
. Evidence of outstanding civic responsibility as demonstrated by contributions of financial resources and voluntary commitment of time
. Willingness to serve in leadership roles and providing vision and the ability to involve others in philanthropic efforts

Trailblazer of the Year (Honoring the differently abled)
The Trailblazer of the Year award is accredited to celebrate and acknowledge a person with disability who, despite the odds against them, RAISE THE BAR AGAINST THE ONE SET FOR THEM.

Criteria:
. Breaks barriers to accomplishing an extraordinary achievement, especially by members of the disability community
. Proven record of sustained advocacy or campaign that empowers persons with disability
. Emerged as a strong voice for the cause of persons with disability
. Donates resources and time to championing the cause of persons with disability
. Initiate a project that provides skills for the employability of persons with disability.

PostHumous (inspiring Gambian award)
This award celebrates a person who made numerous sacrifices for the advancement of our society. Life is precious and only true patriots are willing to give it up for the greater good. This award is a nod to not only the selflessness of the recipient but also the inspiring attributes he/she possessed.

Criteria (not limiting):
. Lost their life in the previous year (2019)
. Led a life of sacrifice and dedication to justice for all or any particular noble cause
. Was a voice for the voiceless during their lifetime
. Sacrifice resulting in lasting, positive impacts in The Gambian society

Woman of the Year
This award will go to a woman who inspires, motivates, invests, and dedicates herself to the advancement of the society. Through these actions, she has impacted society in a profound fashion – in terms of empowerment of youths, women, the underprivileged, peace building, and all other patriotic endeavors geared towards molding The Gambia into a beacon of hope.

Criteria:

. Makes the single-biggest achievement/impact in a year
. An emerging voice who uses his/her work to achieve a result in the greater interest of the country and people
. Emerges as the single-biggest influencer in the year
. Showcased huge patriotism by addressing or preventing something that saved or enhanced lives

Exemplary Youth
The Exemplary Youth Award section is dedicated to a young Gambian who exerts their effort to create positive social, economic and/or environmental change in our society. Making up roughly 60% of the Gambian population the youth are undoubtedly the future; but this person in particular has been demonstrating acute direction in regard to solving at least one of the numerous development issues we continue to face. This person’s ideas and actions are innovative, impactful, and has the potential to bring about true structural and institutional change. We are particularly looking for an individual who has demonstrated: Resourcefulness and Perseverance, Strategy and Bigger Picture, Revolutionary Thinking, and Advocacy.

Criteria:
. Aged 15-35
. Making a difference in the Gambian society
. Has spearheaded urban and/or rural projects/community initiatives
. Innovative in Business/Entrepreneurship

The Gambia case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice got off to a good start after the world’s top court ordered Myanmar to take measures to prevent genocidal acts against the Rohingya.

The court on Thursday unanimously adopted “provisional measures” that require Myanmar to prevent genocide and take steps to preserve evidence.

Myanmar’s military committed extensive atrocities against the Rohingya, including murder, rape, and arson, that peaked during its late 2017 campaign of ethnic cleansing, forcing more than 740,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, according to human rights watch.

In September 2019, the United Nations-backed International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar found that the 600,000 Rohingya remaining in Myanmar “may face a greater threat of genocide than ever,” the group said.

Thursday’s development comes as a huge victory for The Gambia as the country and Myanmar lock horns after it filed a case at the International Court of Justice last year alleging that Myanmar was committing “an ongoing genocide” against its minority Muslim Rohingya population.

Myanmar has since denied those allegations.

By Adama Makasuba

Leaders in Tallinding Wednesday evening convened an emergency news conference, calling on feuding Tallinding families to find a way of ending their dispute peacefully.

The Cham Kunda and Badjie Kunda families of Tallinding are locked in a bitter feud over the headsmanship of the town.

The two families have in recent weeks been throwing jabs at each other over who really are the true custodians of Tallinding. Gambian customary law says the family that founds a town or village automatically becomes the custodian of that town as well as its alkaloship (headsmanship).

The Chams of Tallinding claim they founded the town and that the Badjies were temporarily assigned the alkaloship role. The Badjies have dismissed that claim as they claim they are the larger family.

On Wednesday, respected figures of the town held a press conference calling on the two families to end their feud.

Mbemba Barrow who spoke a the news conference asked the two families to allow elections settle their dispute.

He urged the two families to calm down and know that they are one people.

By Lamin Njie

The campaign to bring former president Yahya Jammeh to justice has received a huge boost as Gambians abroad have stumped up various amounts that totalled D70,000 ahead of a march on Saturday.

Victims of Mr Jammeh’s 22 years tyranny will take to the streets on Saturday to call for the former leader’s arrest and prosecution for crimes he allegedly committed.

Mr Jammeh’s rule was marked by gross human rights violations and abuses, and the case has sparked an investigation.

Victims of his rule will stage a protest on Saturday to call on the Barrow administration to ensure Mr Jammeh faces justice. An amount of D77,000 have been raised to be ploughed into the march with indefatigable Yunus Hydara leading the fundraising campaign. The sum is from diaspora Gambians.

It comes days after opposition APRC, Mr Jammeh’s party, staged a protest calling for the return to the country of the former president.

Mr Jammeh has since January 2017 been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea following his shock electoral defeat in an election the previous year. He had refused to step down but troops activated by Ecowas forced him to flee the country.

Gambia for Five Years and Peacebuilding will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss its next move, The Fatu Network has gathered.

Gambia for Five has been rivalling Operation Three Years Jotna on the latter’s campaign against President Adama Barrow’s decision to set aside his promise to serve a three-year term.

The anti-Barrow pressure group staged a protest last month to call for the president to resign.

Gambia for Five Years wants President Barrow to serve a five-year term and group answered Operation Three Years Jotna’s protest by coming up with their own protest to call on the president to ignore demands for him to leave office.

Three Years Jotna will stage a second protest on Sunday after a showdown last Friday which saw the police roll back an initial position of denying the group a permit.

Gambia for Five Years will hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss its next move.

By Lamin Njie

The leadership battle at the Supreme Islamic Council has edged closer to a close as it has emerged imams of the government-recognised body plan to hold a congress soon.

Sources have told The Fatu Network a commitee has been set up tasked with organising a congress that could churn out a new leadership.

Gambians imams have been at loggerheads over the leadership of the country’s top Islamic body.

The Imam Momodou Lamin Touray-led administration has been accused of leading the council illegally.

As a result, Imams under the banner of Rawdatul Majalis set up a parallel Supreme Islamic Council and announced their own president.

The Fatu Network now understands a congress is in the pipeline which could see the election into office of a new leadership at the government-recognised Supreme Islamic Council. The congress could be held within a month.

By Adama Makasuba

Top imam Baba Leigh has detailed his fractious and bitter relationship with ex-president Yahya Jammeh.

Imam Leigh testifying before the TRRC went down memory lane on a relationship that was so bitter it led his torture and jailing.

In his testimony, the imam said: ” Yahya Jammeh just hate and dislike me and he even said it.”

According to him, Jammeh was following him to incriminate and silence him over his words of preaching and activism.

Baba Leigh told commissioners that it was Mr Jammeh who stopped from hosting a programme on GRTS, adding he was also stopped from doing a programme on West Coast Radio.

Imam Baba Leigh was among a number of religious leaders who were arrested and tortured.

His ordeals saw him flee into exile to America.

The revised Schengen Visa Code includes an increase in application fee, lengthier visa validity, extended application period, sanction for countries that refuse to readmit their citizens, among others.

As from 2 February, new rules governing the issuance of Schengen Visa will go into force. The visa allows its holders to travel to 26 European countries, 22 of which are member states of the EU.

The main changes to the Schengen Visa Code are:

1. Higher visa fees: Increase in the visa fee from €60 to €80. While children and other categories persons that are granted the benefit of paying lower fees will now pay €40 instead of €35. Children aged 0 to 6 remain exempted from the visa fees.

2. Extended application submission periods prior to travel: Application can be lodged six months in advance of a trip. It was formerly three months. The latest an application can be submitted, however, remains 15 calendar days before an intended trip to the Schengen Area.

3. Electronic application process: Application forms can now be signed and submitted electronically.

4. Lengthier multiple-entry Visa validity: Frequent visitors to the Schengen Area who have a positive visa history – meaning they have lawfully used their previous visas, have a good economic situation in their country of origin and a genuine intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa for which they have applied – will be granted the benefit of a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years.

5. Visa processing as readmission leverage: The new visa code employs visa processing to pressure third-countries (non-EU countries) to collaborate in the readmission of their citizens classified as irregular immigrants in Europe. Thus, the European Commission will assess regularly, at least once a year, third-countries’ cooperation on readmission to determine whether a third-country is cooperating sufficiently. In cases when the Commission considers that a third-country is not cooperating sufficiently on readmission the nationals of that country may face longer visa processing periods and higher visa fees. Countries collaborating in this regard will be rewarded with shorter visa processing periods, lower visa fees and visas with lengthier validity.

6. Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance remains mandatory for Schengen Visa applicants

7. Schengen Member Countries’ representation: The new code obliges all Schengen member states to be present in every third-country (non-EU country) through their embassy/consulate, another Member States of the EU, or by outsourcing Schengen visa processing to an external service provider so that the nationals of some countries will no longer have to travel to a neighbouring country just to lodge and application.

The revision of the schengen visa code is mainly “to strengthen the common visa policy while taking into account migration and security concerns, through increasing the role of visa policy in the EU’s cooperation with third-countries”, the EU says.

Currently, travellers from 104 countries and entities need to obtain a visa to enter the EU for stays of up to three-months within the Schengen Zone. (The African Courier)

Child Protection Alliance has lashed out at an investigation by The Sun newspaper suggesting The Gambia is a paedophilia paradise where children are sold to old British paedophiles for as low as D150.

The Sun’s story ‘Inside ‘paedo paradise’ The Gambia where sex beasts are buying African children and toddlers to rape’, has shocked many Gambians and has once more thrust to the fore the problem of child sex tourism in the country.

However, The Sun has come under fire after the national coordinator of Child Protection Alliance Lamin Fatty who The Sun quoted, said he was misquoted.

The Board of Directors of the Child Protection Alliance (CPA) in a statement on Tuesday expressed its ‘grave’ concern on the article.

The statement said: “The Board wants to stress that these statements attributed to the National Coordinator are malicious and total distortion of what was actually said to the reporter. What the National Coordinator said was in reference to the vulnerable situation of child hawkers and the paltry amount of D150 some of them make at the end of day’s sale. Nothing was mentioned about the purchase of sex with a toddler for about £2.

“While we find certain parts of the said article sensational and distasteful, we think the reporter has exposed a serious canker worm in our “body tourism”: the sheer lack of commitment by the State to the fight against sexual exploitation of children in our travel and tourism; the negligence and complicity of parents in the abuse of their children; child and family poverty; the indescribable, mindboggling laxity in the enforcement and implementation of the “good” laws we have for the protection of our children; the immense vulnerability and risks our children daily face; the glamorization of sex tourism; and materialism which has pervaded the moral fabrics of our society.

“CPA recognizes the great importance and contribution of tourism to the economy of our country, and as a big employer and source of income for many people. We equally appreciate the efforts of the Government in making the country an attractive destination. However, CPA strongly believes in the promotion and creation of responsible and sustainable tourism which places child protection at its centre, in particular the fight against sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

“‘Destination Gambia’ has an obligation to protect its children and to ensure that no one uses of the facilities of its travel and tourism industry to sexual abuse and exploit our children or take advantage of vulnerable families. CPA wishes to renew its commitment to the cause of children in The Gambia, to the protection of children from all forms of abuse, violence, discrimination and exploitation, and to holding the State, as a primary duty bearer, accountable for its obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children.

“Finally, the Board wishes to assure the State and all relevant child protection actors of CPA’s commitment to further strengthening of the already established collaboration and partnership in our quest to creating an enabling, protecting, warm and violent-free environment for all children in The Gambia.

“The Board wants to clarify that its National Coordinator, Mr. Lamin Fatty, was neither arrested nor harassed by the Police or by any authorities, contrary to news which was carried by some media outlets. Mr. Fatty was invited by the Police to make clarification on certain aspects of the said article and to which request he duly complied.”

Turkey’s new ambassador to The Gambia Tolga Bermek on Tuesday met with President Adama Barrow at State House, marking the start of his tenure as Turkey’s new top diplomat.

Mr Bermek replaced Ismail Sefa Yuceer who left the role last month.

The diplomat spoke to journalists at State House after meeting President Barrow on the visit to the country of Turkey president Reccep Tayyib Erdogan.

According to State House, the ambassador said the Turkey President’s visit to The Gambia is a good start for him as an ambassador, adding that the visit will be short but efficient, as the President will be accompanied by a huge business delegation.

“We have a good opportunity on the occasion of the visit of our President. It will be the first time of such a visit to The Gambia at the presidential level. I think it will open up new horizons to the relations of both countries,” he said, according to a statement by State House.

By Lamin Njie

The UK remains committed to broadening and deepening its economic ties with all countries across the African continent, UK high commissioner Sharon Wardle has said.

UK Prime Minister Boris ‘Bojo’ Johnson hosted 21 African leaders to a summit on Monday but The Gambia’s failure in making the list of the countries have sparked speculation of fraying of relations between The Gambia and UK.

The Fatu Network contacted the UK High Commission on Tuesday via email but according to the UK’s high commissioner, the fact that The Gambia was overlooked for the UK-Africa Investment Summit does not mean that the UK is not exploring ways to deepen economies ties with The Gambia.

Sharon Wardle said: “As my colleagues in London have discussed with the Gambian High Commission, the UK remains committed to broadening and deepening its economic ties with all countries across the African continent and our efforts on this are not limited to those countries invited to the Summit, which is only one part of our commitment to work with our African partners.

“While The Gambia wasn’t one of the limited number of countries attending the UK-Africa Investment Summit, this does not mean that the UK is not exploring ways to deepen our economic ties with The Gambia. We are already a significant investor through our support to the key multilateral institutions.

“A few recent examples of how we are, and will continue to, directly do this include our contribution through the NAMA Facility to support private sector participation in renewable energy supply, UK funding to the African Development Bank Green Mini-Grids project to provide solar energy to rural communities, UK-funded InfraCo support to the Gambian Ports Authority and the ongoing range of activities to support women entrepreneurs through the global SheTrades initiative.

“I remain confident that we will continue to see an increase in UK investor interest, and as happened with the signing of the BP exploration licence are keen to work with the Government to support socially-responsible investment into the country.”

Meanwhile, The Fatu Network has gathered the 21 countries invited represent a regional balance across Africa and have the highest potential for new UK investment.

By Adama Makasuba

The president of Gambia Bar Association has called for more court rooms in the country to give Gambians greater access to justice.

Speaking during the official opening of 2020 legal year on Sunday, Salieu Taal said: “While the judiciary is increasing the number of judges, we do not have enough court rooms to accommodate our judges comfortably.

“There is a dire need to upgrade the current infrastructure in the Greater Banjul Area and build more courts in the regions to broaden access to justice to the majority of Gambians.”

Mr Taal called for more support to the judiciary saying “I urge the government and our donor partners to allocate more resources to the sector as a matter of priority and urgency.”

According to him, spending on the judiciary is not an expense (but) it’s an investment in our democracy and investment in democracy guarantees peace and stability.