By Adama Makasuba

At least a dozen traders at Serrekunda market registered a nightmare start to their New Year after their shops were gutted by fire.

At least ten shops have been burnt down to ashes by fire said to have started early Tuesday. Its cause is yet to be established.

The affected shops include foodstuff shops, meat shops and cosmetics shops.

Ebrima Bah, is a victim of the fire. His entire shop has been burnt to ashes.

“What I lost here is worth over 400,000 dalasis,” he said.

“We don’t know the cause of the fire yet, but I know it wasn’t from electric shock failure,” Mr Bah told The Fatu Network.

British-Gambian Amie Joof enjoys every support, love and care contrary to reports she has no one to care for her.

A video emerged of Amie at the weekend suggesting she was in need of help. In it, Amie could be seen crying and that she wants to leave UK and return to The Gambia.

Her family has reacted to the development telling The Fatu Network the video was taken in bad faith, a day after she returned home.

“They did it to shame her and we are disappointed,” one of her relatives said.

Another one, her niece, said: “I even met with her yesterday and she’s doing fine. We are however not happy with what the Gambian Embassy did by doing a video and sharing it on social media.”

Editor’s note: The Fatu Network hereby apologise to the family of Amie Joof for the report done on her. Our report had no malicious intent. The video had been shared and published by individuals and media outlets long before The Fatu Network could carry it. Our publication was purely based on the statements of Amie herself and the fact that the video was already in the public space. We reported it to shine light on her plight, without any malicious intent. We simply wanted authorities to fulfill their duty to a Gambian citizen, just like we have done in many cases in the past. But now that her family have set the records straight, we would like to apologise for any distress the story may have caused them.

Thieves broke into a Fajara house early Monday making away with a licensed hunting gun, clothes and other items, sources have said.

The thieves entered the house through a window while the security guard was fast asleep, a friend to the victim told The Fatu Network. The house-owner was in Dakar at the time of the incident, he added.

The Fatu Network understands the thieves vamoosed with a licensed hunting gun, more than 30 pairs of jeans, gold speakers, perfumes, clothes and bags.

The matter has been reported to the police.

The Independent Electoral Commission has registered a new political party, the All People’s Party. APP was registered on Monday after having met all the requirements for registration, according to the IEC.

It comes four days after IEC registered Gambia For All, former vice president Bakary Bunja Darbo’s party. The IEC had on 31 December 2019 registered President Adama Barrow’s party, the National Peoples Party.

All People’s Party makes it the third political party the IEC has registered in a span of seven days.

The party’s interim leader is Alhaji Gumbo Ali Touray. The party’s color is ‘sea blue’ and ‘white’ with a book, a rice plant and stethoscope as its symbol.

By Adama Makasuba

APRC deputy spokesman has said his party doesn’t care much about what people say about them saying they’re entitled to their opinions.

APRC is seeking a permit to demand for the return of former President Yahya Jammeh, who has been living in Equatorial Guinea since 2017.The party plans to stage a protest later this month.

Many Gambians have however lashed out at the idea of Jammeh returning to the country but speaking to The Fatu Network in a telephone interview, Dodou Jah said: “We don’t care much about what people say…it’s their own opinion because they are entitled to their opinions. Everybody is entitled to speak their mind, that’s what they are advocating for. That we shouldn’t be given a permit.

“The Police shouldn’t be driven by what people are saying (but) they should go by what they law says.”

He said his party knows what the laws say and that “we know what the laws say – what makes somebody to be rejected or not rejected when you apply for a permit.”

Dozens of passengers could only look on after a ramp failure at the Banjul end of the river saw a heavy-duty truck partially submerge in water.

Sources told The Fatu Network the incident happened on Monday afternoon. No one was hurt, they added.

It comes four months after a similar incident disrupted ferry service at the Banjul ferry terminal. A truck conveying goods plunged into the water after it tried to leave the ferry.

By Adama Makasuba

Centre for Legal Support has engaged dozens of prison inmates on the country’s transitional justice program to raise their awareness on the program.

Officials of Centre for Legal Support, a mainly lawyers organisation, over the weekend met sensitised prison inmates at Mile Two and Jeshwang prisons. CLS was formed in 2018 to promote human rights and rule of law in the country.

Chairman of the group, Sheriff Kumba Jobe, said: “Our presence here today is clear manifestation that The Gambia has changed for better because few years back, this was not possible at all.

“Thus, as citizens we must demand greater respect for our fundamental human rights and freedom and unless we insist on our rights and livelihood, our democratic gains would be meaningless.

“We understand and feel your plights and the difficulties you are facing; and with the advent of the new political dispensation, we are committed to contribute our quota in responding to your legal needs.

“This has motivated us, as lawyers to come together to add value to the lives and rights of every Gambian particularly the undeserved and people with limited means such as women, children and youth.

“CLS provides pro bono legal assistance and representation to the undeserved and persons with limited means charged with criminal offences, victims of human rights violations in cases before the national courts; initiates and undertakes public interest litigation on human rights and constitutional matters before the High Court and Supreme Court of The Gambia; and also engage in capacity building workshops and community awareness creation with the prime objectives to encourage citizens’ participation in the democratization process, public debates on national issues, freedom of expression and divergence while pushing the human rights and good governance agenda forward.”

By Lamin Njie

The Momodou Lamin Touray-helmed Supreme Islamic Council has denounced Rawdatul Majalis for setting up a parallel Supreme Islamic Council saying the group is engaged in attempts aimed at hijacking the government-recognised SIC.

Gambian imams have been soaked in a bitter row over leadership of the country’s apex Islamic body, the Supreme Islamic Council. Imams under the banner of Rawdatul Majalis have accused the current leaders of Supreme Islamic Council of holding the council hostage by refusing to leave office. The imams then went on to set up a parallel Supreme Islamic Council – and last month, they unveiled their executive with top Brufut cleric Nano Hydara chosen as its president.

The government-recognised Supreme Islamic Council in a statement on Monday denounced Rawdatul Majalis branding the group’s move as ‘illegal’.

“The Majmuatu Rawdatul Majalis have tried and failed to denounce the legally constituted council and have resorted to abuses. We wish to remind the public that the legally Constituted GSIC is a non-government organization established by Government intervention to have a strong working relationship as provided in the Constitution of the Council on all Islamic matters,” the statement signed by President Imam Momodou Lamin Touray said.

The statement then added: “The Constitution defines in article 18 the qualification of membership for the Council. Article 35 provides the legal term for membership and eligibility. Article 36 makes provision for the expiration of the legal term and the process for the supervision of general election for the positions of regional offices etc.

“As an illegal body the Rawdatul Majalis cannot therefore come and wants to hijack a legally constituted Council as the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council. Unilateral action from the Rawdatul Majalis is a violation of the constitution and should be denounced vehemently and opposed in its strongest terms.

“The Rawdatul Mejalis is not a registered organization to the GSIC, nor attached to any Islamic body. It has no right to the title of Gambia Supreme Islamic Council or call itself Supreme Islamic Council. The Rawdatul Majalis is spreading false information about its existence to the public and the Islamic Institutions. This is totally against the teachings of Islam.

“The mention of personalities in their statements to whom they claim to enjoy their fraternal support is totally untrue. This must stop. The GSIC is using the press and electronic media to clarify what is seen as total false and an irresponsible way by the Rawdatul Maj alis to the general public and more directly to the Islamic Umah.”

GDC deputy leader Sarjo Fanta Bojang has told The Standard he left the party after his ‘expectations’ were not met.

The Standard reported today Mr Bojang said he quit GDC after the party failed to mainstream ‘the people of Kombo and matters of Kombo’. The Brikama native said the people of Kombo were in fact marginalised, according to The Standard.

GDC national youth president has shared what appeared to be Mr Bojang’s resignation letter. In the letter dated 4 October, Mr Bojang touted his below par performance and ‘immense’ pressure from his family as the reason why he was leaving the party.

“Thank you and the national executive for putting your trust in me to help promote the party and the party’s agenda. However, I know I have not lived up to these expectations. I have been under immense family pressure to stay away from politics and I have been battling with these pressures for the past several months,” Mr Bojang said in the letter.

The Standard reported that the former GDC Number 2 has announced he’s joined President Adama Barrow’s party, the National Peoples Party.

“I was among a handful of Kombo elders who met President Barrow today [last Saturday] and we are convinced that the NPP is the party that will serve the people pf Kombo with far more respect and care than any party,” he told The Standard.

By Adama Makasuba

A GAP coalition 2016 president would have kept his promise and resign after a three-year term, the party’s flagbearer Lamin Bojang has said.

President Adama Barrow in 2016 agreed to serve for only three years in office but has made a U-turn which has sparked a huge row. The three years term will run out later this month.

Lamin Bojang, standard-bearer of GAP said despite the fact that when the agreement was being signed, his party wasn’t present, their position is for President Barrow to honour his promise.

“Barrow and the coalition members promise Gambians that they are going to serve for three years and it should be honoured. If it was the GAP we will fulfil it our promise,” the retired general said.

He urged coalition leaders to come out and look for amicable solution to the three years saga.

“Our position is for the president to honour his promise. If it was not for this promise Gambians would not have come out to protest,” he said.

According to him, leaders of eight coalition leaders cannot be trusted by Gambians anymore “because they have betrayed the people in different ways.”

By Lamin Njie

The 1,031 capacity conference centre which will be the centrepiece of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit to be held in The Gambia in 2022 will be inaugurated on Saturday 11 January.

President Adama Barrow in September 2017 laid the foundation stone for a conference centre as The Gambia braced to host last year’s OIC summit. That planned failed after the imcompletion of the building and the country later allowed Saudi Arabia to host the Muslim-nations-only gathering.

Chinese constructors have now completed work and the building is set for inauguration. The complex cost 50 million dollars and the money is a grant from China.

The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure in a statement said
ICC will be inaugurated by President Adama Barrow on 11 January.

The ministry said: “The ICC, which is a grant by the People’s Republic of China, is a state-of-the-art facility consisting of a plenary hall with seating capacity of 1,031, four adjoining conference halls, VIP rooms, bilateral rooms, press room, meeting rooms, offices, banquet halls and entertainment spaces with beautiful fauna and sea view. The ICC is a symbol of the friendship and cooperation between The Gambia and The People’s Republic of China.

“The Ministry further informs the public that the International Conference Centre will be named after the former president, ‘Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre’.”

By Lamin Njie

Top figures of pressure group Three Years Jotna vowed to remove President Barrow from power after police barred them from holding a fundraising event.

Scores of Three Years Jotna members late Friday gathered at Serrekunda East park for a major fundraising event ahead of their planned protest later this month but police barred them from holding the event. Police commissioner Kalilu Njie told members of the pressure group they needed to be issued a permit before they could hold the event.

Frustrated Three Years Jotna members shouted ‘we’re going to remove him’ as senior officials told The Fatu Network the move came as a surprise to them.

“We have witnessed people holding programs without permit, so now we will make ourselves CIDs and wherever there is a program, if they do not go through the permit process that will be something else,” Three Years Jotna chairman Abdou Njie told The Fatu Network.

Prominent Three Years Jotna figure Sheriffo Sonko said they will not be intimidated in their fight to end Barrow’s rule.

“We’re going back [to the streets] on the 19th or on the 20th [of January] and demand that he resigns and he will resign because the power belongs to us,” Sonko said.

The officials said they will write to the Inspector General of Police to request a permit to hold their fundraising event.

By Lamin Njie

Madi Jobarteh on Friday bashed coalition top figures as he reacted to President Adama Barrow’s decision to form his own political party.

The IEC on 31 December 2019 registered President Barrow’s National Peoples Party, bringing to an end months of speculation as well as the existence of a coalition government.

Outspoken commentator Madi Jobarteh has shared his view on the move saying what the creation of the NPP demonstrates is the ‘disgraceful’ failure of leadership of the parties and their leaders who created the Coalition.

“Political parties are primary governance structures whose mandate is to hold the Government and each other accountable. Hence the political parties must not stay as bystanders or flip-flopping on issues that carry the destiny of the country. Unfortunately, this is what the Coalition parties did exactly,” Mr Jobarteh said.

He then added: “For example, just as Adama Barrow reneged on his own word we saw how UDPs’ Ousainou Darboe and his entire party also flip-flopped on the Agreement by standing with Barrow for five years until they fell out. It was utterly wrong for Mr. Darboe to dismiss that Agreement on the basis that it was not signed when in fact he knows that it was on the basis of that Coalition Agreement that Adama Barrow campaigned and got elected. As the largest party in the Coalition as well as the biggest beneficiary of the regime change brought about by the Coalition UDP had both moral and political obligation to ensure that the Coalition Agreement stands to the letter!

“Similarly, we also saw how PPP’s OJ Jallow jumped back and forth between the three and five years’ agenda only for his entire party to finally side with Barrow in disregard of the Coalition Agreement. As a leading senior political figure who had earned the respect and admiration of many Gambians for his consistent and brave stance against tyranny, OJ should have remained as that voice of conscience to defend the Coalition Agreement and not to betray it. The rest of the Coalition members – GPDP, NRP and NCP – remained indifferent therefore betraying the Coalition Agreement just because they hold positions in the Government.

“Meantime GMC only came to reject Barrow because their party leader ‘left’ the Government. Until then they knew very well that Barrow has already betrayed the Agreement but never said anything. While PDOIS leaders spared no opportunity to eloquently explain the rationale and processes of the Coalition yet they also washed off their hands thus leaving Adama to decide as he wishes. For Mrs. Fatoumatta Tambajang and Dr. Isatou Touray, one wonders whether they ever knew if there exists something called ‘Conscience’?”

One of President Adama Barrow’s fierce critics Madi Jobarteh has said he will devote 2020 to fighting for the rights of his people.

Mr Jobarteh in 2019 criticised President Barrow and his government more than any other Gambian and in a write-up made available to The Fatu Network, the top civil society activist said: “My new year resolution is therefore to fight for the rights of my people by demanding that the Government of the Gambia is transparent, accountable, efficient and responsive to the protection of the rights and the fulfillment of the needs of the people of Boraba.

“My resolve is to expose the perennial lies and misinformation of the Government perpetuated by elected and appointed public officials; to combat corruption and abuse of power and to demand quality and affordable delivery of public services that are accessible and available to all of our citizens including Boraba’nkolu!

“It is 2020 today yet the Gambia Government’s Vision 2020 has only become Nightmare 2020. Despite its high sounding goals and lofty objectives, it is now clear that the Gambia Government led by elected and appointed public officials were only lying to citizens when they launched that development blueprint in 1996 because they know that they were not going to achieve that Vision 2020 anyway. The evidence is right here on 1st January 2020!

“Scores of Gambian citizens continue to die from preventable diseases. Scores of Gambian women die as they give birth to another Gambian. Those babies who are delivered successfully a lot of them die even before they get to five years due to preventable childhood illnesses.

“Scores of our youth perish in the Sahara and in the oceans because they are running away from home because home provides them no hope. Scores of Gambians continue to be discriminated and under-served because they have some form of disability or because of their sex or tribe or religion or because of some other status that makes them different from the rest!

“As a son of Boraba I am a true and direct witness of the failure of State responsibility. For more than 100 years of Colonialism and more than 50 years of self-government I have seen how a State not only fails to protect a people but even goes further to also oppress and exploit them. As a son of Boraba I know that each and every government of The Gambia has only cheated, exploited and oppressed my people over the decades and centuries more than they served them. For that matter I have no reason to trust and respect any government or politician until they prove otherwise!”

By Lamin Njie

The Independent Electoral Commission on Thursday announced it has registered a new political party, Gambia For All.

GFA is the latest political party to be registered as the country’s political space becomes increasingly saturated ahead of the 2021 race for State House. Former vice president Bakary Bunja Darbo is the party’s secretary general and leader, according to IEC.

It comes two days after IEC confirmed the president’s party, the National Peoples Party, has been ‘duly’ registered as a bonafided political party. IEC said President Barrow’s party had met all the requirements for registration under Section 105 of the Elections Act of 2009 as amended.

According to IEC, the symbol of Gambia For All is a swarm of bees and a corn cob. The colour chosen by the party is light blue and its motto is; ‘tesito (gird up one’s loins), justice, discipline’.

The Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday paraded a 60-year-old suspected drug trafficker.

Babucarr Singhateh was paraded at Serrekunda Police Station alongside three other suspected drug traffickers.

Drug demand reduction officer at DLEAG Lamin Jobarteh told journalists the suspects were recently arrested in Banjul, Abuko and Dippa Kunda. They were allegedly in possession of cannabis and heroine.

The other suspects are Mass Senghore, 36, Alagie Cham, 34, and Bakary Njie, 26.