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KMC launches D20M youth empowerment project

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KMC launches D20M youth empowerment project

By Adama Makasuba

Kanifing Municipal Council today held a launching ceremony of a 20 million dalasis youth empowerment project.

The project signed between KMC and Supersonicz targets 300,000 youth within 12 months and it seeks to help business starters to develop business skills and create employment opportunities for youth.

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, mayor of Kanifing Municipality, who spoke at the signing ceremony said youth are the engine of growth.

Mayor Bensouda urged youth to believe in themselves, describing The Gambia as a land of opportunities and “you must believe in yourself, and what I see here if you apply best of yourself you will archive your goals.”

He called on enterpreneurs to give support to youth of the country, saying if youth have no hope that they will resort to desperate ventures.

Jaja Cham, KMC chief executive officer challenged youth of the region to make best use of the project by registering their businesses so that they win support of such projects.

Chief executive officer for Supersonicz, Alh. Njundu Fatty said their mission is to facilitate financial inclusion that aims to supporting youth and women in the country.

“The KMC-Supersonicz youth empowerment fund is a revolving fund and our Target is 300 thousand people before next 12 months,” he said.

Kemo Bojang, youth councilor of the council expressed gratitude of the project, saying: “We believe this fund will be useful for youth, because lots of youth come to KMC seeking fund, and I believe young will earnish this fund and make best use of the fund.”

He renewed his council’s commitment to all-inclusive and that they don’t believe in discriminating people based on their political affiliation or tribal persuasion.

Misconceptions and Misinformation About Secularity Part 2

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Misconceptions and Misinformation About Secularity Part 2

I have never doubted the continued existence and the future of the Gambia until the issue of ‘secularity of the state’ emerged following the release of the draft constitution for public review. I have come to see the rise of extremism on both sides of our religious divide that is just scary, worrying and sad. I, therefore, strongly suggest that the CRC Chair convenes an in-house closed-door family consultation between the Supreme Islamic Council and the Gambia Christian Council to provide clarifications, assurances and bridge the gap harmoniously over this issue so they can better engage their congregations on the matter.

 

Having said that let me state that my position remains that we should have the word ‘secular’ in the constitution simply to further reinforce the secularity of the state as enshrined in both the 1970 and 1997 constitutions. Both constitutions uphold the freedom of religion and the 1997 Constitution went further to bar the National Assembly to make a law establishing a state religion. The Gambia cannot be a religious state. Therefore, to attempt to twist and confuse ‘secularity of the state’ as anti-Islam is a manipulation that some people are perpetuating with the notion that they are defending their religion.

 

Yes, majority of Gambians are Muslims, but this does not give Muslims anymore rights over the other less populous religions even on the principle of democracy. I have heard many people argue that democracy is ‘majority rule’ and therefore this should reflect the fact that Muslims are the majority in this country. Indeed, decisions in democracy rests on majority but it is not to the detriment of the minority. The fundamental values of democracy are equality, inclusion, participation and representation. Hence it is not merely about the majority riding roughshod over the minority. That would be dictatorship.

 

In that regard I have noticed a very concerning view from many significant quarters who call for an outright ‘Islamic Republic’ on the basis that Muslims form the majority in the Gambia. One person even suggested to me, in defence of the ‘Islamic Republic’ campaign, that if the Christians were the majority then it would also be right to declare the Gambia a ‘Christian Republic’. Such a view is essentially saying that it is okay for the majority to own and rule!

 

The trouble with this view is that it ignores and violates at the same time the sovereign equality of all citizens of the Gambia as per Section 1 of the 1997 Constitution. Regardless of which section of the population of the Gambia forms the majority or minority the fact remains all citizens are equal in rights and ownership of this country hence the Constitution and state of the Gambia cannot be based on one particular section. This is why even political parties are not formed on the basis of tribe, religion or region so as not exploit the majoritarian argument hence undermine democracy and sovereignty of citizens.

 

Otherwise if we go by that majoritarian argument, then should the Mandinka people also claim to be owners and rulers of this country? Should the women also say they own and should rule this country? Should the youth also claim they own and should rule this country? This is because all of these groups form the majority by their sheer numbers. This is why it is such a wrong view to conclude that democracy is all about majority rule.

 

There is also the misconception that ‘secularity of the state’ will undermine Islam and Muslims in the Gambia. On the contrary I wish to posit that in fact ‘secularity of the state’ will protect both Islam and Christianity and their believers equally. For that let me point some of the misconceptions and misinformation that are being peddled in opposition to ‘secularity of the state’.

 

In the first place there is reference made to France which banned the veil in 2004 that some people claim that in future it is possible that someone may also call for the banning of the hijab in the Gambia. Those who perpetuate this misinformation, deliberately or not, refuse to state the full facts about this French ban. In 2004 when the French Parliament voted to ban the veil, the ban was only limited to public schools. Furthermore, the French law also bans the explicit wearing of all religious materials such as the Jewish kippa (i.e. the small hat Jews place on the middle of the head) and large Christian crosses. Therefore, it was not only about the hijab.

 

The French law permits ordinary signs of faith to be displayed. In public hospitals, schools and other public places the law requires state employees to respect the principle of secularism by respecting people’s religious preferences. In fact, recently the French Government has resisted calls from far-right groups to ban Muslim women volunteers who help schools during excursions from wearing a headscarf. In fact, as recent as October 2019 the French President Macron was heard speaking strongly in support of the Muslim population against the racist narratives from the far-right racist groups. Therefore, to exploit the French veil ban in the discussion about secularity in the Gambia is a misconception and a misinformation.

 

But let us look at Muslim majority states where many countries have banned the veil (from the hijab to the burqa) in public places such as schools, universities, restaurants, parks or in offices as the case may be. These countries include Tunisia, Tajikistan, Chad, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Gabon and Cameroon including some European and Asian countries. What is clear in these bans is that they either relate to security concerns or other distractions as well as racism in other cases. Again, these actions are not caused by secularism.

 

There is also the false narrative that secularism means the demolition of mosques in public places and the outright restriction on Muslims to worship as they wish. This is utterly false because such an action would constitute a violation of the principle of secularism and the freedom of religion. Secularism is where the state does not side with any religion against another. Rather the state protects the fundamental right to worship which includes protection of religious sites and activities. Therefore, a secular state cannot be seen to violate or destroy the right to religion. As we see in France, the ban on the open display of religious materials in schools was not limited to Islam alone but also affects Judaism and Christianity which are the biggest religions in that country.

 

There is also the false narrative that the Gambia was not a secular state and so why introduced it now. The fact is that the Gambia has always been a secular state since 1965 as stipulated in its various constitutions. For example, in the 1965 Constitution, the right to freedom of religion is guaranteed under Section 19; in the 1970 Constitution this right is guaranteed under Section 21 and in the 1997 Constitution the right is guaranteed in Section 25. Furthermore Section 100(2) of the 1997 Constitution bars the National Assembly from declaring a state religion. It is only in a secular republic that the right to freedom of religion is guaranteed. In the Saudi basic law (since Shari’ah and the Hadith are their constitution) there is no such freedom of religion because Islam has been declared the State religion for all!

 

Some have argued therefore what is the point of having ‘secular’ spelt out in the constitution since Muslims and Christians having lived together for ages in peace and harmony in this country. What we must recognise is that laws are made to regulate life and human activities within a society with focus not only on the present moment but also in view of the past and the future. In the past we have had a president who unilaterally declared a state religion. Even though one may state that Jammeh violated the constitution because the law-making power rests with the National Assembly and they did not participate in that declaration, however the 1997 Constitution did not also state that a president cannot make such a declaration, whether that declaration can be considered law or not. Therefore, effectively Jammeh may be said to have not violated the Constitution.

 

This one act by Jammeh highlights the weakness of the Constitution in building fences to prevent abuse of power. Hence it is therefore necessary to state upfront in the new constitution that the country is secular to further reinforce that tradition since Independence. Furthermore, it could be stated under the powers of the Executive that the President has no power or authority or function to make a declaration or issue an executive order for a state religion.

 

Some have argued this is still not necessary because we saw how Yaya Jammeh however violated many other safeguards in the Constitution therefore what is the point of putting in higher fences if another president could also violate them. Well, this is the very point why those fences must be put there so that we could point out with clarity which fences were broken and by who. Without those fences we cannot hold any president or person accountable for violating them. Hence putting up those fences enhances accountability as well as protection.

 

Some people have come up with the idea that because Islamic law protects minorities therefore by making the Gambia an Islamic Republic will protect non-Muslims equally. I find this argument equally untenable simply because Islam and Muslims do not own this country. Their majority does not in anyway give them any right or power to determine the manner of governance in the country. More fundamentally when you institute a Muslim law or Christian law for the entire society there is no doubt that such law will negatively impact on those who do not belong to that faith sooner or later. Hence a state based on religion can only work conveniently and safely for a society with 100% believers of that particular faith. The Gambia is multireligious hence no one faith can be the basis for governance.

 

Many others went into dictionaries to copy and paste meanings of secularity and therefore conclude that secularity is anti-religion and therefore will deny believers from performing their religions. Well the point is that the literal meaning of ‘secular’ in any dictionary is anything that is not connected with religion, i.e. secularity is about mundane things. Of course, it is a fact that religion is inherently not secular but spiritual. All religions, especially Islam and Christianity teach believers to shun the secular and mundane aspects of life but to seek Heaven or the Kingdom of God.  But the State is not a human being. The State is not a believer of any faith. A secular state guarantees freedom of religion otherwise it is not secular at all.

 

The State is merely a set of institutions in which men and women work. Those men and women do have faith but when they go to work in a State institution they do not operate based on their beliefs or faiths. They operate based on a set of laws, policies, guidelines, regulations and tools and processes which are not based on any religion. But these laws, policies and tools do not violate one’s faith, rather they protect it. Therefore, if you wish to pray in the workplace you should have the right to have space to pray. This is why workplaces have mosques and chapels or prayer rooms to satisfy the right to worship by workers.

 

Secondly while religion is about the spiritual and secularity is about the earthly affairs of people, however the values that exist in secular laws and institutions can be found to be the same in religion. For example, the constitution and other laws condemn rape, stealing, lying under oath or misuse of public wealth just as it is in religion. However, acts of immorality and criminality do occur in every society, whether the law punishes it or not. Every week they cut off someone’s hand in Saudi Arabia for stealing yet stealing continues.

 

Hence the counter argument against secularity that it will promote homosexuality and same sex marriage are unconnected. There are multiple democratic and secular states that continue to ban homosexuality. Homosexuality is a matter of human rights and how much citizens are aware and appreciate rights in general within the wider context of political awareness. So long as that awareness is not there it means the acceptance of sexual orientation will be lacking hence homosexuality cannot be legalized.

 

However, it must be noted that what is moral or immoral in religion and culture and what is legal or illegal in law are sometimes not the same.  For example, Islam prohibits drinking of alcohol and eating pork, while both Islam and Christianity forbid adultery and fornication as immoral acts but such practices are not illegal by law. Hence to put forward the moral argument in opposition to ‘secularity of the state’ would be untenable where there are different religions. After all the Gambia Government continues to receive financial and material support from states around the world among which some are secular such as UK or France, theocratic such as Saudi Arabia or Iran and atheistic such as China or Cuba. So far no one ever said we return all support from those secular and atheistic states!

 

Religion is a huge resource only if believers act on the precepts. It is meaningless to claim to be a Muslim or Christian and to pray fervently yet one is corrupt, unjust, unfair and you discriminate and commit all of the evils that one’s religion prohibits. Therefore, for me the biggest threaten to Islam and Christianity in the Gambia is not ‘secularity of the state’. Rather the biggest threat is the very believers themselves who violate the values and standards of their faiths. Given the level of injustice and corruption in our homes, communities and in the public and private sectors I have no doubts that majority of our men and women are not abiding by their religious precepts. Otherwise if we truly uphold the values and standards of Islam and Christianity in our words and deeds it is clear that we would have had a very wealthy, peaceful and just society. It was not long ago when we had a leader who committed al forms of crimes and evil yet he was strongly supported and embraced by Islamic religious leaders!

 

In our society today the incidence of abuse of the rule of law, embezzlement of public funds, failure to work diligently and efficiently and sexual harassment of girls and women are rampant. The mere incidence of poverty in itself is a manifestation of injustice and discrimination in our society. Who perpetuates these crimes and evils other than our citizens who claim to be Muslims and Christians? Therefore, whether we are secular or not secular if we cannot ensure justice, fairness, non-discrimination and uphold the rule of law and the rights of all then what is the value of religion in our lives even if we are secular or a theocracy?

 

I hope as citizens debate on the soul of our nation we will be able to identify the fundamental and important issues that will serve to value all lives, protect all human rights and ensure that there are adequate opportunities so that no Gambian lives in poverty, deprivation and discrimination because of one’s religion or tribe or sex or disability or other status. In this world there are many countries – some are secular, and some are theocratic – yet many have failed to secure safe and advanced life for their all of their citizens. I hope the Gambia could.

 

For the Gambia Our Homeland

……………………………………………..

Madi Jobarteh

Skype: madi.jobarteh

Twitter: @jobartehmadi

LinkedIn: Madi Jobarteh

Phone: +220 9995093

Gambia journalism community thrown into mourning as eloquent Sarjo Barrow dies at 66

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Gambia journalism community thrown into mourning as eloquent Sarjo Barrow dies at 66

By Lamin Njie

Veteran journalist Sarjo Barrow, who dedicated his life to a career in newsreading and translation of news from English to Mandinka, has died. He was 66.

Mr Barrow, who has been suffering from ill-health died on Sunday at his house in Brusubi. His career in journalism spanned 40 years.

Tributes poured in for the longtime GRTS man who started his career in journalism way back in 1979.

Canada-based Basidia M Drammeh said The Gambia has “indeed lost a golden voice that has reverberated across the length and breadth of the nation for about four decades.”

Ous Kanteh also paid tribute to Mr Barrow on Sunday saying: “I wonder if we can have a replica of Uncle Sarjo who had control over the flaw of Mandinka literature.”

Mr Barrow spent his last days reading news in Mandinka at Star FM.

Tangara hails Morocco over support country gives to Africa’s youth

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Tangara hails Morocco over support country gives to Africa’s youth

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Mamadou Tangara, on December 20th, 2019 returned gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco for the colossal support it has rendered to the continent for building the capacity of youth in Africa.

Dr. Tangara made these remarks at a summit was organised by All Africa Students Union in collaboration with the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI).

Addressing the summit, the Honourable Foreign Minister acknowledged the contribution of All Africa Students Union for bringing the youth of the continent and beyond to Rabat. He spurred African countries to further strengthen cooperation within the continent in the area of education with a view to breaking the vicious circle of poverty. He used the opportunity to call on African youth to continue working hard and jealously guard the peace and stability of the continent.

Other speakers at the summit include the Foreign Ministers of Morocco, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Comoros and Cameroon.

All Africa Students Union is meant to promote unity among democratic and progressive student movements in and of Africa based on a common anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist, anti-neo-colonialist objective. It also tasked itself of creating among the broad masses of African people an awareness of the problems confronting Africa; urge students, as an integral part of society, to be fully involved in efforts to solve these problems.

Issued by the Communication Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad

Barrow takes ‘back way’ headache to Ecowas meeting

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Barrow takes ‘back way’ headache to Ecowas meeting

President Adama Barrow has called on West African leaders to perfect efforts aimed at addressing the problem of irregular migration.

At least 60 Gambian migrants were killed earlier this month after their boat headed for Spain ran out of fuel and capsized off the coast of Mauritania, with the United Nations branding it the ‘worst’ migrant tragedy of West Africa this year.

State House reported on its official Facebook page on Saturday Mr Barrow while addressing the 56th Ecowas heads of state and government summit in Nigeria called on the leaders of

Ecowas “to address the issue of irregular migration as a major concern.”

“In spite of the progress made towards sustainable regional integration, our Community continues to face threats to peace and security within the sub-region. Issues of social discrimination, irregular migration, terrorist attacks, land conflicts and environmental concerns, for example, pose a big challenge to us,” Mr Barrow said, according to State House’s Facebook page.

Chief says Buba Jammeh’s killer often sneaks into Gunjur

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Chief says Buba Jammeh’s killer often sneaks into Gunjur

By Adama Makasuba

Chief of Kombo South on Friday said that the killer of Buba Jammeh who is wanted by police often sneaks into Gunjur.

Violent clashes between Kombo South communities of Gunjur and Berending in March this year led to the death of Buba Jammeh. Mr Jammeh was allegedly shot and killed by Berending native Buba Drammeh.

Chief Lamin Darboe speaking during a summit held in Brikama as part of the Office of National Security’s nationwide consultation tour, claimed the killer of Buba Jammeh often sneaks into Gunjur.

Mr Darboe, a native of Gunjur himself, said: “He sneaks into the village every time but we suspect that some of his security friends tip him off that they’re coming to arrest h. And he would cross the border [to Senegal].”

On 16 March 2019, a communal land dispute erupted between Gunjur and Berending which saw ECOMIG forces deployed to Kombo South. Police chief Mamour Jobe had to scamper for safety after his vehicle came under attack by the people of Gunjur.

Imams at war: Parallel Supreme Islamic Council to unveil its officials on Sunday as row rages

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Imams at war: Parallel Supreme Islamic Council to unveil its officials on Sunday as row rages

By Lamin Njie

A parallel Supreme Islamic Council will unveil its officials on Sunday amid a bitter leadership row that has gripped the country’s top Islamic body.

The Momodou Lamin Touray-helmed Supreme Islamic Council is embroiled in a longstanding dispute over leadership. Top clerics under Rawdatul Majalis have been accused Mr Touray and his executive of holding the council hostage following the expiry of their term.

As a result, Rawdatul Majalis leaders have set up a parallel Supreme Islamic Council with top Brufut cleric Nano Hydara serving as its president.

On Sunday, the group will meet with journalists in Brufut to unveil its new executive committee members.

A press conference will be held at Sherif Muhamed Sanusi Nano Hydara’s house in Brufut at 10am.

Group that wants Barrow to do five years targets staggering 300,000 people but date of protest is yet to be confirmed

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Group that wants Barrow to do five years targets staggering 300,000 people but date of protest is yet to be confirmed

By Lamin Njie

Gambia for Five Years and Peace Building is stepping up preparations ahead of its planned protest.

The pressure group formed to ensure President Adama Barrow serve a full five-year term will stage a protest in the coming weeks, a top official of the group has told The Fatu Network.

“The group is looking at 300,000 people but the date of the protest is yet to be confirmed,” the official added.

It comes amid reports the pro-Barrow group will stage its protest on 12 January to demand President Barrow remain in office until 2021.

Thousands of Gambians last Monday took to the streets to call for the resignation in January of President Barrow. The protesters, under Operation Three Years Jotna, want Mr Barrow to respect his pledge of serving for only three years.

In 2016, President Barrow promised coalition partners he will preside over a transition government of three years. He has now made a U-turn saying he will serve a full five-year term whether ‘one likes it or not’, and going as far as announcing he is forming his own political party.

His critics say he is trying to cling to power.

Migration expert explains plight of Gambians in Germany and it includes them going to bed at night in fear of being woken up by police to be deported

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Migration expert explains plight of Gambians in Germany and it includes them going to bed at night in fear of being woken up by police to be deported

By Lamin Njie

The director of European Stability Initiative, a Berlin-based think tank on migration matters has said thousands of Gambians in Germany live in an atmosphere of fear and hopelessness.

Gerald Knaus at a news conference at Coco Ocean on Friday said most Gambians in Germany go to bed at night in fear of being woken up by police to be deported.

Mr Knaus who is on a visit to the country to engage stakeholders to pave way for a win-win cooperation on migration between The Gambia and Germany said: ” Most (Gambians) of them are in one part of Germany, the state of Baden-Wurttemberg which has 11 million people. It’s one of the richest parts in the world. That’s where the car was invented, that’s where Mercedez Bnez comes from. It’s very rich, it has 2% unemployment. By coincidence, most Gambians were sent there.

“Another reception centre I visited three weeks ago, there 100 people in there, all of them from Africa, 40 of them are Gambians. I talked to them, their life looks like this: they go to bed at night in fear of being woken up by the police to be deported. They don’t really have a job to look forward to. They wait. But what can they do?

“The deportation from this centre and I talked to one young Gambian who had been deported three times to Italy because the deportation don’t take place to The Gambia. They are so-called transfers from one European country to another. Last year, Germany transferred 2800 people to Italy. But we have no borders in Europe, so there are no border controls.

“So these people then come back a few weeks later through a bus to Germany. This young Gambian was deported three times but he was back in Germany. This creates an atmosphere of fear. There is no hope and there are thousands of Gambians who risked everything and are now in this position in Germany and a similar number in Italy.”

Imam Fatty lashes out at OJ and Touma Njie, argues duo could have been BEHEADED if they’d made their mosque comments in Omar’s time

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Imam Fatty lashes out at OJ and Touma Njie, argues duo could have been BEHEADED if they’d made their mosque comments in Omar’s time

By Lamin Njie

Imam Abdoulie Fatty has lashed out at former PPP leader Omar Jallow and Touma Njie following their comments on mosques.

Banjul South national assembly member Touma Njie recently sparked outrage after she called for the removal of mosques from public places. Omar Jallow also known as OJ had suggested that the new draft constitution should bar the building of mosques and churches in public places.

In a sermon before worshippers today in Serrekunda, Imam Fatty raged: “Touma Njie and OJ Jallow and their collaborators… If you’re angry because you’ve been toppled in a coup by Yahya Jammeh, go after him, he’s in Guinea Equatorial. But the mosques he built are owned by Muslims. If you attempt to speak against those, you will see us like the sun.

“Go after him (Yahya Jammeh), it’s not our business but stay away from the mosques. For us we have no problem with anyone except the Mushrik (idolater) who gives our religion no peace, the unbeliever who gives our religion no, the hypocrite who gives our religion no peace. We can never cooperate with those people, no one should try it.

“No leader, no intellectual, no any other person, no rich man, no person of authority. We can never share the same position. God’s enemy… Someone who has shown his hatred towards God, [someone who] has shown his hatred towards the prophet, [someone who] has shown it [hatred] towards places owned by Muslims.

“There are bars. Alcohol is being drank, it’s being made, [and] it’s being sold. Fornication is being sold, you will never talk about these.

“Boys are dropping their pants. Girls are not wearing anything. The beach has been destroyed, the tourists have messed up the country, fornication is everywhere. You will never say anything about it.

“If you see all these things being said today… If Omar Ibn Khattab was alive, he would cut off your heads, you hypocrites. You think we can be bold enough to say this in a gathering where Omar Bun Khattab is in attendance? To tear down God’s mosque? This can only be said in our midst and the people who said it go scot-free.”

Omar Ibn al Khattab was a no-nonsense Muslim general who stood by Prophet Muhammad’s side during the early days of Islam. He fought in many battles and was feared by many.

TRRC frown at people ridiculing female sexual violence victims amid one-year milestone

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TRRC frown at people ridiculing female sexual violence victims amid one-year milestone

By Lamin Njie

The TRRC on Friday said some women who have publicly testified before the probe have been ‘objects’ of ridicule.

The TRRC on January 7 will mark one year since it began painstaking hearings on the human rights violations and abuses that occurred during the 22 years rule of former President Yahya Jammeh.

The probe today met journalists to look back on its work so far and to point out the challenges it had encountered.

TRRC executive secretary Dr Baba Galleh Jallow told journalists: “The other challenge we are having to deal with has to do with victims of sexual and gender based violence. And that is female witnesses shaming and threatening.

“Some women who have publicly testified before the commission have been objects of ridicule, insults and even threats from some members of the general public.

“Now this unfortunate situation has the effect of discouraging all but the most courageous female victims of sexual violence from coming forward and sharing their stories with the Gambian public but even submitting statements to the commission.”

Barrow’s top adviser insists Gambian leader would be disappointing nation if he agrees to step down

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Barrow’s top adviser insists Gambian leader would be disappointing nation if he agrees to step down

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow would be disappointing the nation should he agree to resign after completing a three-year term, Dou Sanno has said.

President Barrow is under pressure to leave office in January as part of a promise he made back in 2016. He had pledged to serve for only three years and hand over power.

On Monday, thousands of Gambians took to streets to call for his resignation and for fresh elections to be called. The protesters who are members of pressure group Operation Three Years Jotna said Mr Barrow’s refusal to step down  is an attempt to cling to power.

But speaking in an exclusive interview with Paradise TV, Dou Sanno a top adviser to President Barrow said the president would be disappointing the nation if he agrees to step down.

The president’s deputy political adviser said: “When plans were being perfected to say in three years times we’re going to enter into [elections], did they [coalition partners] forget that there is a constitution on this land that couldn’t be decided upon by seven people? The country’s constitution is more powerful that a gentleman agreement that nobody knew about.

“So even if President Adama Barrow is ready to say, ‘in three years I am going to go by the gentleman agreement and respect it’, I would tell him he is disappointing the nation. The nation is more powerful than individuals.”

Something’s got to give! Muslim High School risks relocation amid ports’s expansion drive

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Something’s got to give! Muslim High School risks relocation amid ports’s expansion drive

By Lamin Njie

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education has said authorities at Muslim High School are aware of a plan to relocate the school.

Claudiana Cole appearing before Gambian lawmakers on Wednesday said the 44-year-old high school is lined for relocation amid an expansion project by Gambia Ports Authority.

“…this [relocation] was communicated to them [Muslim High School officials]. At the momen, we want to wait to hear from the GPA and the Banjul Muslim elders so that we know exactly where we’re going and what would be expected of us.

“What we are avoiding at this moment is to do any capital investment in that school by way of maintenance so that we don’t waste funds,” Minister Cole said.

Muslim High School was founded in 1975 and some of the people who attended the school include President Adama Barrow and former interior minister Mai Ahmad Fatty.

Karpowership hands over Brikama library after rehabilitation work that came at tune of D500,000

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Karpowership hands over Brikama library after rehabilitation work that came at tune of D500,000

By Lamin Njie

Students in Brikama would no longer sit outside to read after Karpowership on Thursday handed over the Gambia National Library complex after weeks of renovation.

Power production company Karpowership has been in the past weeks contracted EG Enterprise for the renovation of the Gambia National Library branch in Brikama. The project was at the tune of D500,000.

Speaking at the hand-over event held at the library grounds in Brikama on Thursday, the Gambia National library director Matilda Johnson said the intervention could not have come at a better time.

Johnson said: “I must say I am more than impressed because I have been coming to this brank library for a long time and I never thought or expected that the space we had here at the back would take such a building.

“We all know that for some time now, the readers who have been coming to this library would sit outside, they would stand outside, some would sit on the stones, some would even use their mobile phones to get light to read and for us it was a big concern.

“So when Mr Mamburay walked into our offices and said to us he has been using the library throughout his student days and he feels that he needs to give back to the library, to the nation. We thought this is our opportunity.”

Karpowership country manager Yankuba Mamburay speaking at the event said the intervention formed part of Karpowership’s corporate social responsibility.

“Today, we reached another milestone in our efforts to make sure that we give back to the community and that is the support of an important sector of our country, that is the education sector, the national library of The Gambia” he said.

Lamin Fatajo the regional education director of West Coast Region said the library will enhance the learning conditions of students in Brikama and surrounding towns.

“I want to advise everyone especially the community of Brikama to make the best use of this library,” he said.

Barrow leaves for Nigeria tomorrow, four days after protest

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Barrow leaves for Nigeria tomorrow, four days after protest

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow will travel to Nigeria to attend the 56th Ecowas heads of state and government summit. The summit will hold between 20 December and 22 December.

“The public is hereby informed that His Excellency, Mr. Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia will travel to Abuja, Republic of Nigeria to attend the 56th ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit from the 20th – 22nd December 2019.

“The President and delegation will depart Banjul International Airport on Friday, 20th December 2019 at 10:00 AM,” State House said in a statement today.

It comes four days after thousands of Gambians took to streets to demand Mr Barrow step down in line with a pledge he made 2016.

Mr Barrow rode to power on the back of an agreement that was struck by coalition political party partners. Seven political parties backed him during presidential elections in 2016 after he had agreed to serve for only three years.

He has now changed his mind saying he will remain in office until 2021, a U-turn that had sparked controversy.

Tycoon’s son kills cousin in Bakau

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Tycoon’s son kills cousin in Bakau

By The Standard

A son of a leading business tycoon last Friday stabbed a cousin to death.

Muhammed Jawara, 32, knifed Bilal Sillah in the ribs and stomach at around 4am after a fight broke out over money, in Jawara’s father’s compound in Bakau. He died by noon at a hospital.

Muhammed claimed he was acting in self-defence, official sources told The Standard.
The accused is now charged with murder and is in police custody.

CID officers told this medium that Muhammed said Bilal wanted his money even though he already gave him some.

According to them, Muhammed said Bilal threatened to crash the car they were driving in as they were returning from a nightclub in Senegambia.

The police said Muhammed told them his mother had warned him to stay away from Bilal because “he has killed before”.

The CID officers said Muhammed is under suicide watch as he has been “seriously distraught” since the homicide.

However, when contacted for comment, police spokesman ASP Lamin Njie said he was not aware of the incident.

As of last evening, Muhammed Jawara was in custody at the Kanifing Police Station.

Pope denounces ‘torture, slavery’ in Libyan migrant camps

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Pope denounces ‘torture, slavery’ in Libyan migrant camps

Pope Francis called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya on Thursday, saying they were rife with torture and slavery.

Francis, who has made defense of migrants and refugees a key part of his pontificate, made his comments in to a group of refugees, including women and children, brought to Italy by the Vatican from a transit camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

“How can we fail to hear the cry of so many brothers and sisters who prefer to face a tempestuous sea rather than die slowly in Libyan detention camps, places of torture and ignoble slavery?” he said.

More than 5,000 refugees and migrants are held in 19 official detention facilities in Libya, some controlled by armed groups, as well as an unknown number in squalid centres run by traffickers, according to the United Nations.

Rights groups say abuses are rife including beating and forced labor.

“We need a serious commitment to empty out the detention camps in Libya, evaluating and activating all possible solutions,” Francis said, adding, without elaborating, that “complicity by institutions” should be denounced.

In September, prosecutors arrested three people, a Guinean and two Egyptians, suspected of torturing migrants in a detention center in northwest Libya. The three were found in a migrant registration center in Sicily.

Francis spoke sombrely as he unveiled a cross bearing a battered red life jacket that was used by an unknown migrant who drowned in the Mediterranean in July.

Detainees in the Libyan camps include those who left on boats for Europe and were brought back by the European Union- backed Libyan Coast Guard, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

More than 1,100 migrants have died or are missing at sea after attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration. The number of crossings dropped sharply from 2017 amid an EU backed push to block arrivals.

“The problem is not resolved by blocking boats,” Francis said, adding that this left them at the mercy of unscrupulous human traffickers. (Reuters)

Top fire official says their engines are not built to tackle bushfires after URR residents accuse Basse fire officials of casting a blind eye to their distress calls

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Top fire official says their engines are not built to tackle bushfires after URR residents accuse Basse fire officials of casting a blind eye to their distress calls

By Adama Makasuba

Residents in the Upper River Region have accused the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service of shutting their eyes to bush fires ravaging vast areas in the region.

Residents of the villages of Allunahari, Dare Wassu, Talito and Demba Kunda said they sought help from firefighters in Basse regarding a bushfire crisis in the region but their demand has been spurned.

One resident told The Fatu Network: “Yesterday there was a new fire outbreak around Alunhari, Dare Wasa, Talito, and Demba Kunda but when the Fire Services were called for help, they said their vehicle cannot come to the scene, because their boss didn’t give them order to go.”

The spokesman of Gambia Fire and Rescue Services Pateh Gibba told The Fatu Network their fire engines are not built to tackle bush-fires

“I talked to the command in Basse and he told me they didn’t receive any call from villagers on Tuesday,” Mr Gibba said.

He added: “People should know that the fire engines use by the fire services are not meant (to quell) bush fire, they are meant to (to put off) domestic fire.”

“They (engines) are not designed to go and fight fire in the bush and come back home and fetch water to go back in the bush to fight the fire.”

The EU disburses 22 million Euros of Budget Support to the National Treasury of The Gambia

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The EU disburses 22 million Euros of Budget Support to the National Treasury of The Gambia

Banjul, 19 December 2019

EU Budget Support and Technical Assistance contribute to macro-economic stability, economic governance and support the implementation of the National Development Plan as well as ongoing political and legislative reforms required to consolidate democracy and the sound management of public finances for the benefit of the population of The Gambia.

On 19 December 2019, the EU transferred a tranche of 22 million euros to the National Treasury of The Gambia, as per the State and Resilience Building Contract agreed between the European Union (EU) and the Government of The Gambia. Since EU and The Gambia intensified their relations in 2017, the European Union has so far transferred a total of 77 million euros in grant financial assistance to The Gambia to support reforms to improve its governance, public financial management and service delivery in the country.

EU Budget Support involves the transfer of funds directly to the National Treasury of The Gambia. EU-funded Technical Assistance helps to improve the overall capacity of Gambian administration to better manage its public finances.

With the transition to a democratic regime in 2017, the EU opened a new chapter in EU-Gambia relations. A programme of budget support and technical assistance is accompanied by a broad and intensive political and policy dialogue between the EU and The Gambia. Through its support, the EU contributes to the short-term stabilisation of public finances and to consolidating good economic and financial governance, the improvement of transparency and accountability while simultaneously supporting the ongoing political and legislative reforms.

“With this programme of Budget Support and the Technical Assistance the EU encourages the Gambian authorities to continue to improve management of public funds with the aim of advancing its National Development Plan,” says Ambassador Attila LAJOS, the Head of Delegation to the Republic of The Gambia.                        

Donald Trump becomes third US president to be put on senate trial after impeachment

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Donald Trump becomes third US president to be put on senate trial after impeachment

Donald Trump became the third president in American history to be impeached on Wednesday on a largely party line vote, setting up a formal trial next year in the Senate.

Republicans lawmakers rushed to the speaker’s dais to cast their votes by paper ballot, which means the votes had to be tallied by hand by the Clerk of the House. The usual procedure is for lawmakers to vote via an electronic system.

But Democrats used the electronic system and 230 voted for the first article impeachment – abuse of power. That number hits the simple majority needed for approval. There were 197 voting no.

Two Democrats voted against the article – Colin Peterson of Minnesota, who said he would be a no vote, and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey who is reported to be switching to the Republican Party.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi voted yes, casting a rare vote. The speaker of the House typically does not vote.

Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat running for president, voted ‘present.’ Justin Amash, the Republican lawmaker turned Independent, voted yes.

Trump was in Michigan for a campaign rally as the House of Representatives held its impeachment vote. He was speaking in Amash’s district.

‘By the way by the way it doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached,’ he told the crowd.
He turned to bragging about his accomplishments, including the Space Force which was just established by congressional vote.

‘I’ll be able to tell my kids someday and everybody else, see that Space Force, that was my baby,’ he said, drawing a loud roar from the crowd.

The president was silent as he left the White House on Wednesday to head to his rally but he tweeted furiously throughout the day.

‘SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!,’ he wrote in a furious all-caps assault earlier in the day.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi kept her Democratic lawmakers in line, with only a few Democrats defecting.

There are three not-voting congressional seats: the seats held by Katie Hill, who resigned, and Elijah Cummings, who died, have not been filled. Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter can’t vote after being found guilty of a felony.

Additionally, Republican Rep. John Shimkus missed the vote because he was on a pre-planned trip to Africa.

‘Long before today’s votes were scheduled, my wife Karen and I made arrangements to visit our son Joshua in Tanzania where he’s serving in the Peace Corps,’ he said in a statement.

The day-long debate on the House floor was a ping pong back-and-forth of one minute speeches were Democrats accused the president of using a foreign power to help him win the 2020 election and Republicans claimed Democrats were trying to over turn the 2016 contest.

‘This is not about Ukraine. This is about power. Donald Trump has it and Democrats want it,’ said Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of Trump’s biggest allies on Capitol Hill.

‘Democrats may have won the house in 2018. But they haven’t forgiven Donald Trumper for having the audacity to win the presidency. And they haven’t forgiven you, the American people, for voting for him.’

Democratic Rep. John Lewis, a legend of the civil rights movement, urged lawmakers to do the right thing and vote to impeachment.

‘When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair—you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something. Our children and their children will ask us: “What did you do?”‘ he said.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi began the formal debate on the articles of impeachment by saying the president gave them no choice but to impeach him. She received a standing ovation from her Democratic lawmakers when she was done.

‘As speaker of the House I solemnly and sadly open the debate on the impeachment of the president of the United States. If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty. It is tragic that the president’s reckless actions make impeachment necessary. He gave us no choice,’ she said in her speech in the well of the House, standing next to a sign with a picture of the American flag and reading ‘to the republic for which it stands.’

The speaker was dressed in black for the day. Pinned to her dress was a broach in the shape of the Mace of the House – a symbol of the power of the speaker.

Pelosi, who fought to become speaker after Democrats won control of the House after the 2018 election, has received kudos from her party members on her handling of the impeachment inquiry.

Leading the floor debate for the Democrats were the two men who led the impeachment inquiry: House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.

‘He tried to cheat and he got caught,’ Schiff said in his remarks on the House floor.

The debate grew more impassioned as the time for the final vote got closer.

One of the last lawmakers to speak, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise delivered a fiery defense of President Trump, throwing papers on the desk and waving his arms to the cheers of his fellow GOP lawmakers.

‘This has been about a political vendetta,’ Scalise said.

And he echoed Republican charges Democrats were trying to over turn the 2016 election.

‘This isn’t just about Donald Trump. They don’t just hate Donald Trump,’ he said of Democrats. ‘They hate the 63 million Americans who voted for this president. The forgotten men and women of this country who have been left behind.’

‘No, no,’ the Democratic lawmakers yelled from across the chamber. Republicans started cheering Scalise on to drown them out.

Rep. Diana DeGette, was presiding over the chamber, gaveled for a return to order.

‘Impeachment will not just be a stain on this Democratic majority. Impeachment will be their legacy,’ Scalise finished.

Schiff made the closing argument for Democrats and he appealed to lawmakers to think of the future, when they could be the majority in the House.

‘You may be one day — although you may not act like it, you may one day be in the majority. You will want to hold a president accountable. What will you say when that president says, you were a paper tiger, you have no oversight, I can ignore your subpoenas, what will you say? What will you argue? No, no, that was different. Then we were in the minority. Then it was a Republican president. Will that be your argument?,’ Schiff said.

He also pointed out that Republicans, under Ronald Reagan, cared about standing up to Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

‘We should care about Ukraine. We should care about a country struggling to be free and a democracy. We used to care about democracy. We used to care about our allies. We used to stand up to Putin and Russia. We used to. I know the party of Ronald Reagan used to,’ he said as Democrats applauded.

The final line up of GOP speakers rallied the party against the ‘sham impeachment’ as they called it, while the Democratic speakers focused on the vote ahead.

‘I see a president who will put his head down in spite of the sham impeachment and he will do his job and he will tell the American people that I care about you and he will still put the economy first and he will make sure this country stands strong,’ said Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, earning a standing ovation from his party.

‘Democrats did not choose this impeachment. We did not wish for it,’ House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said as a few Republican lawmakers yelled ‘Come on’ in response.
The impeachment vote was a foregone conclusion given Democratic control of the House.
The old arguments were rehashed by both sides of the political aisle and few lawmakers made impressions.

But one who did was Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, when he compared Trump to Jesus Christ.

‘Before you take this historic vote today, one week before Christmas, I want you to keep this in mind. When Jesus was falsely accused of treason, Pontius Pilate gave Jesus the opportunity to face his accusers. During that sham trial, Pontius Pilate afforded more rights to Jesus than Democrats have afforded to this president in this process,’ he said.
But Nadler countered that the president had the opportunity ‘to come and testify…to send his counsel, to question witnesses.’

‘He declined to do so,’ Nadler added.

The Democrat from New York has been full of come backs after Republicans finished their remarks.

Republican Congressman Chris Stewart charged Democrats with trying to overturn 2016 election – a common argument from the GOP.

‘They think Hillary Clinton should be the president and they want to fix that,’ Stewart said.
Nadler shot back: ‘I remind the gentleman if President Trump is impeached and removed, the new president will be Mike Pence and not Hillary Clinton.’

That brought Nadler cheers from the Republicans, who applauded his words.

‘Hurrah,’ one Republican lawmaker seated on the House floor. ‘Thank god,’ said another.
Nadler also blasted GOP Congressman Louie Gohmert who pushed the unproven conspiracy theory that it was the Ukraine – and not Russia – that interfered in the 2016 election.

‘I am deeply concerned that any member of the House would sprout Russian propaganda on the floor of the House,’ Nadler said in response.

Gohmert, who had started to leave, walked back to the microphone and proceeded to yell at Nadler: ‘Will the gentleman yield? Will the gentleman yield?,’ he yelled as the presiding officer of the House gaveled him to order.

‘He accused me of Russian propaganda,’ Gohmert said. ‘Have his words taken down.’

While Trump watched the proceedings at the White House before leaving for his rally, Pelosi sat quietly in the back of the House chamber throughout most of the day, listening to the speeches.

House Chaplain Patrick Conroy began the morning with a prayer that acknowledged the task before the lawmakers.

‘We ask guidance for members of the people’s house,’ he said, asking God to ‘give them wisdom and discernment’ in their task ahead.

Wednesday’s vote comes less than five months after Trump got on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pushed him to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden – a top contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Democrats allege Trump with held $400 million in military aid to Ukraine in order to put pressure on Zelensky. Trump has denied any wrong doing.

The vote was scheduled one day shy of the 21st anniversary of the last time the House took such a step – impeaching Democratic President Bill Clinton for lying under oath on December 19, 1998 after he failed to come clean about an affair he was having with a former White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.

The impeachment inquiry now moves to the Senate, where Trump will go on trial.

It will be presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said it will begin in January after senators return from their holiday break.

He and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer are set to meet this week to determine the process the Senate trial, including its precise start date, how long it will last and whether additional witnesses will be called. (DailyMail)

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