The world’s billionaires are richer than 60 per cent of the global population, a report for charity Oxfam has claimed.

The wealthiest 2,153 people have more money than the poorest 4.6billion, researchers said, while the 22 richest men have more than all the women in Africa.

Their vast wealth comes largely at the expense of women and girls who contribute some 12.5billion hours of care work each day without being paid, the report adds.

Oxfam estimates this work contributes $10.8 trillion per year to the world economy – more than the entire technology sector – but goes largely unpaid or underpaid.

‘Our broken economies are lining the pockets of billionaires and big business at the expense of ordinary men and women,’ Oxfam’s India head Amitabh Behar said

‘No wonder people are starting to question whether billionaires should even exist.’

Oxfam’s annual report on global inequality – the year entitled ‘Time to Care’ – was released just before World Economic Forum in Davos this week.

Behar will represent Oxfam at the conference, where he will present his report.

‘The gap between rich and poor can’t be resolved without deliberate inequality-busting policies,’ he said.

To highlight the level of inequality in the global economy, Behar cited the case of a woman called Buchu Devi in India.

Buchu spends 16 to 17 hours a day doing work like fetching water, cooking, preparing her children for school and working in a poorly paid job, he said.

‘And on the one hand you see the billionaires who are all assembling at Davos with their personal planes, personal jets, super rich lifestyles,’ he said.

‘This Buchu Devi is not one person. I in India encounter these women on a daily basis, and this is the story across the world. We need to change this, and certainly end this billionaire boom.’ (AFP and Reuters)

Kafo Bayo has recalled the moment he came face to face with operatives of the national intelligence agency after his 2016 arrest and detention at NIA.

Kafo Bayo was arrested in April 2016 alongside Solo Sandeng when they took to the streets calling for electoral reform ahead of elections the following year.

Mr Bayo has now relived the moment he was arrested and taken to the NIA for harrowing questioning.

He told The Fatu Network today: “We were marching. We didn’t have anything, not even a stick. All of a sudden paras (riot police) came. Those who wanted to run ran and some of us stayed. They started beating me. I was thrown into the truck like a piece of wood.

“They took us to Kanifing PIU. Later, they called the five of us – Solo Sandeng, Kafu Bayo, Modou Ngum, Ebrima Jabang [and] Nogoi Njie. They put us in a pickup [truck] because they said we were the leaders of the issue [protest].

“They took us to NIA. They first asked us to remove our clothes. When we took off our clothes, they asked me why I did what I did, I told them I wanted the country to be better. They told me, ‘you, we will either kill you or castrate you’. I told then they could not do anything to me. They then hit me and I lost my teeth.”

Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations on Monday tore into APRC over its pro-Jammeh protest last week.

Thousands of APRC supporters last Thursday took to the streets to call for the return to the country of former President Yahya Jammeh.

Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations held a press conference on Monday where officials lsammed APRC’s protest as a ‘mockery’.

“The same political party that enabled Jammeh to stifle the God given voices of all Gambians, tortured, maimed, killed our loved ones and sexually abused our women for 22 years was given a permit to protest for the return of the most cruel and inhumance dictator who victimsed the entire Gambia,” Victim Centre’s Ayeshah Jammeh said at the news conference.

She added: “We are strongly recommending that the government imposes a ban or suspend the APRC party until such a time that the ongoing TRRC is concluded and its recommendations implemented to enhance a smooth transitional justice process for us to reconcile and unite as a people and as a nation.”

By Adama Makasuba

At least 16.4 billions dalasis was sent in the country on remittances in 2019, Central Bank of The Gambia announced.

Saikouba Jabbi first deputy governor of Central Bank of The Gambia, who spoke on behalf of CBG governor on Saturday at Kairaba Beach hotel said: “Remittances received in The Gambia in 2019 reached $318.5 millions. This is equivalent to 16.4 billion dalasis.”

Remittances are monies sent by Gambians based in America, Europe, Asia and other countries in Africa into the country.

The Gambian diaspora is said to have made up seven percent of the country’s population that stands at about two million people.

More than half of the country’s population depends on agriculture as unemployment to among the country’s youth continue to rise.

By Lamin Njie

APRC deputy spokesman Dodou Jah has personally reacted to Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou’s comments that former president Jammeh will be immediately arrested if he returns to the country.

APRC have upped their call for the return to the country of Jammeh from exile in Equatorial Guinea. Party supporters took to the streets last Thursday to insist on the implementation of an agreement that could pave the way for the former leader’s return.

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou on Sunday said Mr Jammeh will be arrested if he sets foot in The Gambia, comments that have not sit well with the former president’s supporters.

APRC deputy spokesman Dodou Jah who can not immediately discussed the party’s position on the comments however told The Fatu Network Mr Tambadou is not the owner of The Gambia.

“Personally I believe this country has a constitution and Ba Tambedou is neither the owner of the country or the author of the constitution,” he said.

He added: “Instead he has given the go ahead for Jammeh’s properties to be sold and he has to answer for that.”

According to him, APRC can only take a position on the comments when they hold an executive meeting.

By Adama Makasuba

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou has assured victims of former president Yahya Jammeh’s tyranny that there will be accountability of the highest order.

Gambians who suffered abuse and violation of their rights during the 22 years rule of former president Jammeh have been baying for justice – sometimes denouncing the Barrow administration over the ‘snail-pace’ handling of their plight.

The decision by police to grant APRC a permit to stage a protest demanding the return to the country of Mr Jammeh outraged the victims and sparked new anti-Barrow government sentiments.  Victims have now announced they will take to the streets to protest against the police’s move.

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou speaking at the opening of the 2020 legal year insisted there will be accountability of the ‘highest order’.

Mr Tambadou said: “After a year of public hearings, and as we enter into the second and possibly final year of hearings, it can no longer be ruled out that crimes against humanity have been committed in The Gambia, between July 1994 and January 2017, under former President Yahya Jammeh, and that those who will be identified by the TRRC will face certain prosecution in the most serious form. There will be accountability of the highest order for these crimes and I assure the victims that it is now only a question of when, and not if.

“Regarding the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), it has been a challenging one year of public hearings with a number of shocking revelations and difficult decisions. I sympathize and understand the frustrations of some victims and their families over the perceived lack of accountability for perpetrators, frustrations often expressed in the saying that justice delayed is justice denied.

“But I say that sometimes justice has to be delayed so that it will not be denied. As leaders, we cannot simply follow public opinion all the time. We have a responsibility to occasionally lead public opinion especially when it comes to matters of justice and the rule of law.”

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow and UDP leader Ousainu Darboe hugged as the two leaders came face to face for the first time in many months.

President Barrow on Sunday presided over the opening of the 2020 legal year, attended by Darboe who is a lawyer and a member of the Bar.

The two leaders hugged after they chanced upon each other at the event but a hug has sparked a review of their relations.

In one of the pictures that emerged online, President Barrow can be seen leaning so hard on Darboe as he hugged Darboe who appeared not interested – as Sheriff Tambadou looked on and laughing. Another picture showed the two leaders hugging each other properly amid Barrow laughing from ear to ear.

Gambians online have been reacting different to the rare encounter.

Ensa Jobe said: “Barrow is forcing himself on Darboe but that won’t safe him from thunder.”

Aisha Barry said: “Did Barrow attempt to suffocate our party leader? TRRC most investigate this.”

Estranged father and son Darboe and Barrow have gone their separate ways and Sunday’s meeting is one of the very few times the two leaders stumbled across each other since their bitter fall-out last year.

By Adama Makasuba

Attorney General and Minister of Justice has vowed government’s readiness to take former president Yahya Jammeh to justice if he comes back.

Speaking at the official opening of 2020 legal year today, Abubacarr Tambadou said: “Let me make this clear, if former president Jammeh ever comes back he will be arrested and prosecuted.”

His statement comes days after thousands of pro-Jammeh supporters took to the street to demand his return. The protesters were largely APRC supporters.

Mr Tambadou’s comments also come days after the former dictator placed a call to deputy interim leader of APRC Ousman Rambo Jatta asking that the party stages a hold to demand for his return.

Mr Jammeh has been living in exile in Equatorial Guinea since losing the 2016 presidential election.

The First National Quality Awards ceremony organized by The Gambia Standards Bureau, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIRIE) was held on 13rd December, 2019.

Unique Solutions, a subsidiary under the Unique Group, was recently awarded Winner of the 1st Edition of the National Quality Award (2017), level one (Diamond Award) – Commitment to Quality. Subsequently, Winner of the 2nd Edition of the National Quality Award (2019), Level Two (Silver) – Quality Control.

The National Quality Awards are held in synchrony with the ECOWAS Quality Awards every two (2) years. The winners of the Excellence category at the National level automatically qualifies for the ECOWAS Quality Awards. Organizations that participated in the National Quality Award were audited against criteria of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001.

ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 164 national standards bodies. The standard is used by organizations to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements and to demonstrate continuous improvement.

The Award aims to raise awareness on quality and thereby boost quality culture thus, promote interest in quality management principles by organizations. The award ceremony solely recognizes and rewards investments and commitment to quality by organizations, based exclusively on the flagship international standard for quality known as the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.

Chief Operating Officer for Business Development, Mr. Adama Touray, emphasized on Unique Solution’s firm commitment towards quality management and consistently providing first-rate service delivery and customer care. Unique Solutions is proud to be celebrating 20 years of service excellence in April 2020.

By Omar Wally

Sheikh Omar Faye has said that Gambia Armed forces are not redundant arguing when civilians are sleeping the army are in check-points around the country.

The defense minister granted his first television interview to The Fatu Network on Friday disagreeing with any claim the Gambian army have been pushed into redundancy.

Since the coming of ECOMIG forces into The Gambia in 2017, Gambia Armed Forces took a back seat, a move seen by many as putting the military into redundancy.

The defense minister has however said Gambian army have the capacity to take up the security of the country whenever ECOMIG forces leave.

“It was not the making of Gambia Armed Forces for ECOWAS forces to be present in the country. Gambia was in a constitutional crises that also involved Gambia Armed Forces,” he said.

“We had issues and not everywhere that foreign troops go the armed forces of that country is not good no; all of us wanted foreign forces to be in The Gambia and we don’t want armed forces to be a player and be a judge.”

By Lamin Njie

Operation Three Years Jotna’s Sunday protest took a huge twist on Friday following a summit that ended with members of the group agreeing to call off the protest.

Top figures of Operation Three Years Jotna, the interior minister, security chiefs and members of the civil society met at the ministry of interior in a six-hour showdown that ended with every party giving something.

Operation Three Years Jotna had been denied a permit to protest but the group threatened to stage its protest regardless.

A last-minute deal was struck on Friday between the government and Operation Three Years Jotna at a summit held at the interior ministry, with both sides compromising.

On the side of Operation Three Years Jotna, the group agreed to call off Sunday’s protest while the police have agreed to undo its initial position of refusing the group a permit on the other.

Police will now issue the group a permit to stage a protest on Sunday January 26.

By Lamin Njie

The president of Turkey Recep Tayyib Erdogan will visit The Gambia later this month, sources have told The Fatu Network.

Mr Erdogan will be the first president in the history of Turkey to visit The Gambia.

Foreign affairs spokesman Saikou Ceesay told The Fatu Network the 65-year-old leader will indeed visit the country.

“We are working on a date with our Turkish counterparts,” Mr Ceesay said.

It comes as the new Turkish ambassador to The Gambia Tolga Bermek stepped into his role as Turkey’s new ambassador, taking over from Ismail Sefa Yuceer.

Turkey is one of The Gambia’s most dependable allies and its president is one of the most powerful presidents in the Muslim world.

APRC have demanded the unconditional and immediate return to the country of former president Yahya Jammeh.

Thousands of APRC supporters on Thursday took to the streets to call on UN, AU and Ecowas to stay true to the implementation of a deal that induced former president Yahya Jammeh into going into exile after he lost the 2016 elections. The protest saw party chiefs submitting a protest letter to the African Union and sending copies of the letter to President Adama Barrow, Ecowas and the United Nations.

Below is the full text of APRC’s protest letter;

16th January, 2020

Chairperson of the African Commission (AUC)
Ufs:
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex, Kombo North District, West Coast Region
P.O. Box 673
Banjul, The Gambia

Dear Sir/Madam,

Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) Party
Demands for the ECOWAS, AU, UN, and President Yahya AJJ Jammeh Joint Declaration to be Respected and Immediately Implemented

On the 1st December 2016, was the Presidential elections and the Gambian people went to the polls to choose their leader. When the final results were announced many could not believe the toss of the coin. Incertitude that resulted from the announcement of two sets of election results brought about a brief political impasse.

The unfolding events afterwards had potentials to result in serious political and civil crisis. Given the interest of the major actors in the crisis, different scenarios were at play. The evolving political situation has attracted attention both within and outside Gambia. Hence different thoughts on how to resolve the impasse emerged, namely; the interventionists, concessionists and legalists.

The interventionists privileged the use of external intervention to forcibly remove President Jammeh from office, without granting him much of a concession. This perspective believes the threat or actual use of force or sanctions against President Jammeh is critical in ending the political deadlock.

The concessionists advocate for constructive engagement with President Jammeh with a view to convincing him to step down. This perspective does not accept military intervention as the best option. It therefore, saw persuasion as critical to peaceful resolution of the dispute.

The Legalists uphold the rule of law as central to ending the political logjam. This perspective recognizes the sovereignty of The Gambia and primacy of its laws in resolving the impasse. “If the Constitution and electoral laws allow for judicial role in resolving electoral disputes, then The Gambian constitutional courts be allowed to count in resolving the political impasse”. Section 49 of the 1997 Constitution and section 100 of the Elections Act provided that an election petition is the legal pathway to determining any election dispute in the country.

The foregoing demonstrates interesting but opposing views on the crisis; it shows the politically complicated nature of the impasse as well as the approaches that could be used to resolve it.

Although it became clear that mediation for the exit of President Jammeh by the ECOWAS mediation team led by Nigeria’s President Muhammad Buhari and his Ghanaian counterpart is one that ended the logjam.

Mediation efforts were presumably focused on creating incentives for President Jammeh to step down in exchange for immunity. Concerted efforts from the international community such as ECOWAS, AU and the UN on Jammeh swayed him to accept a negotiated exit from power with greatest prospects for peace.

As the mediation ended, the Buhari-led team produced a tangible result of a 14 points Joint Declaration regarding peaceful transition of power. A combination of concessions by ECOWAS, AU and UN convinced President Jammeh to exit power.

The APRC as a party wish to acknowledge and salute the tremendous efforts underscored by President Jammeh’s ‘goodwill and statesmanship’ (and) ‘with the greater interest of the Gambian people in mind, and in order to preserve the peace, stability and security of The Gambia and maintain its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the dignity of the Gambian people.

In the circumstances therefore, we the members of the APRC on our own accord demand the full implementation of the Joint Declaration regarding the unconditional and immediate return of H. E. Sheikh Prof. Dr. Alhajie Yahya A. J. J Jammeh former President of the Republic of the Gambia and the Supreme Leader of the APRC Party.

Please find attached the copy of the Joint Declaration signed between ECOWAS, AU, UN and President Jammeh for your attention and action.

We wait for your full understanding and cooperation.

Respectfully,

…………………………
Mr. Pa Amadou Suso
Administrative Secretary
Cc: Office of the President
All Embassies, Diplomatic & Consular Corps
File

Ecowas on Friday joined EU in stating its position on the wave of protests that have swept the country in recent days.

Ecowas in a statement said it has been monitoring the various protests being held in the country by the 3-Years-JOTNA, 5-Years-JOTAGUL, the APRC and other intended protests by the 3-Years-JOTNA again on 19 January 2020 and the Gambian Victims Centre in Banjul on 23 January 2020.

The statement signed by Vabah K Gayflor, special representative of the president of Ecowas to The Gambia, said: “Though these protests have so far been peaceful, the ECOWAS Mission wishes to categorically state that it is totally against any group or party that seeks to undermine the constitution of The Gambia and by extension any group that seeks to forcefully demand the removal of any constitutionally and democratically elected government, which contravenes the provisions of the ECOWAS 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“Furthermore, the ECOWAS mandate requires the Mission to facilitate dialogue and initiatives that will ensure peace, security and stability in the country. The Mission’s engagement with civil society groups, religious groups and other stakeholders in respect of the current developments have all been geared towards this direction. Deliberate misinformation, distortions and falsehoods about the true and otherwise positive overtures by the Mission aimed at sowing seeds of discord between ECOWAS and Gambian stakeholders and other relevant actors, must be ignored.

“The ECOWAS Mission will thus not give credence to any group that seeks to be a source of instability. Therefore, any distortions by some actors in respect of previous engagements by ECOWAS must be ignored. The Mission once again wishes to assure Gambian stakeholders and citizens at large that it will continue to facilitate dialogue, peaceful co-existence and stability and put in the necessary measures to enhance a stable and secure environment for national development.

“The Mission therefore remains seized within its mandate to work with the Government of The Gambia, Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to peacefully resolve any issues that have the potential to undermine the peace, security and stability in the country.”

By Adama Makasuba

Top figures of All People’s Party on Friday returned to the Independent Electoral Commission to collect the party’s registration certificate, marking the end of an arduous registration exercise.

IEC earlier this month announced the registration of APP as one of the country’s newest political parties. Today, party chiefs went to the IEC to fetch the party’s registration certificate.

The interim leader of the party Gumbo Touray told journalists they are opening their doors ‘immediately’.

“Our headquarters will be in Sinchu. We inviting people come forward to register in the first instance,” Mr Touray said.

The APP interim leader speaking on the problems the country is facing said “these are really major, these are governmental”, adding “we are a political party, we can highlight that in terms of speaking them out and giving advice if it is requested”.

He added: “We have the technical know-how, we have the professional know-how. But the implementation, this is government. We cannot come and build a road now. We are a political party. But what we are saying is that something better needs to be done and we have the ideas.

“Let’s take for example in the terms of education. Education, looking into Gambia at the moment, we need a lot of emphasis on technical education but when we have technical education, we need to back it with the necessary institutions and the support so that when those people qualify they are able to engage themselves and so forth.”