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.

By Adama Makasuba

A Gambian US-based professor has called for national healing in public centres like mosques and churches.

Professor Abdoulaye Saine was speaking to TRRC to explain his research document on former President Jammeh’s 22 years rule.

Prof Saine, 69, told the truth commission on Tuesday: “This country needs a national therapy session in mosques, in churches, in families discussion and in lectures…to unravel this deep-rooted trauma and wound.”

According to him, Gambians who are known for their friendly and jovial nature, started to feel sadness and living in fear since 1994 coup took place.

“Walking in the street was nothing more but a trauma, not knowing who was following you, not knowing if you’re going to be nabbed in the corner of the street and whisked away and tortured,” he said.

Yahya Jammeh is accused of committing gross human rights crimes like killings, torture and rape.

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

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.