A charity that operates a rescue ship carrying more than a hundred migrants off the coast of Italy said on Saturday that it could not guarantee their security after the boat had spent more than two weeks waiting for a port to disembark in.

The migrants picked up off the coast of Libya, most of whom are African, are waiting to disembark on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

Italy’s far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has ordered his officials not to let them do so, although on Saturday he made a partial concession, saying he would allow any children to leave the boat. He added that he had only agreed to this at the insistence of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

The Barcelona-based NGO Open Arms said that 27 minors who had been authorized to leave the ship disembarked onto Italian coast guard boats. That left 107 migrants on the ship.

Open Arms said the 16 days waiting for a port to disembark in had taken their toll on the migrants, with frequent fights breaking about among them and conditions on board deteriorating.

“After … six medical evacuations and having told authorities about our situation without receiving an answer, we are in a situation of need and we cannot guarantee the security of the 134 people onboard,” Open Arms said.

“It is terrible, the things that are happening are not only physical but psychological. The conditions in which they were staying in Libya and now in the ship, it is just terrible, with 130 people and two toilets,” Open Arms’ director and founder Oscar Camps told Reuters on Friday.

By Lamin Njie

Police in The Gambia have arrested at least a dozen people on suspicion of being part of last month’s mass protests.

Mass protests erupted in Serrekunda last month following the death of Ousman Darboe. The 33-year-old businessman died as a result of alleged police brutality. Hundreds of youths burnt car tyres on July 24 as they marched on Bijilo, the town that hosts the headquarters of the police anti-crime unit. Tens of youths later stormed the house of the police anti-crime unit chief in Ebo Town and set it on fire.

On Saturday, the police responded by arresting at least 10 people they suspect of having a hand in the protests.

“It happened between 3pm and 4pm at the Serrekunda market,” Demba Njie the secretary general of the SK Boko Loho Association, an association that advocates for the welfare of mobile phone vendors at Serrekunda market said.

He added: “They were taken to Tallinding Police station but the officers there assured us that they are in safe hands, that they are just going to ask them questions, take their statements and release them.”

A source close to Killa Ace confirmed to The Fatu Network that the rapper-activist was arrested alongside at least a dozen others. The Fatu Network could not immediately establish whether Ace was arrested in connection with the protests.

The police spokesman Lamin Njie could not immediately comment on the issue.

By Lamin Njie

A communication officer at the office of the president Sanna Camara has fired back at people who go about ‘throwing lies against persons just to score personal points.’

Mr Camara and other members of President Adama Barrow’s PR team have been accused of incompetence by Gambians.

Former secretary general and head of civil service Momodou Sabally led the catastrophic review saying on Tuesday President Barrow’s public relations and communication woes is down to an incompetent communication practices of a team led by Amie Bojang.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Mr Sabally said: “We have to admit that the President’s popularity is waning especially on social media. Barrow’s PR team should up their game pronto to help shore up some positive energy towards their principal. But wait, does he even have a Team @ his PR and communications department? A house divided shall not stand.”

Also writing on President Barrow’s public relations crises and erosion of good will among Gambians, Femi Mahoney said: “I agree with Sir Momodou Sabally, that president Barrow popularity is on the wane. However, I also believe that, it’s too late and he’s been let down by his ‘PR Team’. Especially Ebrima Sillah, Amie Bojang Sissoho, Ebrima Sankareh, Nfali Fadera, Sanna Camara, Lamin Cham (Statehouse), Dou Sano (sycophant #1) for failing to advising the president on how he should have been seen to empatise with the daily struggles of the average Gambian. These folks, especially the Press Department, of the Statehouse have been advising Barrow to avoid Gambians and media outlets, all due to the inferiority and insecurity. Thanks to their foolery Barrow is now so unpopular, even Yaya Jammeh can trounce him any snap election.”

Mahoney added: “With all due respect to the woman (Amie Bojang Sissoho), this is someone who was only known for reading Sarahule news in Radio Gambia. Then later joined her partner in crime Dr Isatou Touray to set up that GAMCOTRAP which the rest is history. She was given the job by Barrow because they were both brought up by Sarahule friends and knew each other from then. She’s my sister, but unfortunately she’s not capable”

Political commentator Zakaria Kemo Conteh, on his part, said: “Even President Barrow’s most ardent supporters would acknowledge that his popularity has plateaued somewhere around early 2018 and has been on free fall ever since. Now, with President Barrow’s negative approval rating on the rise, does it make sense for him to seek another term in office? Is it a consequent of PR and policy blunder or a result of overall abysmal performance and ineptitude that dominate his government?”

On Friday, Sanna Camara appeared to be responding to the reviews and The Fatu Network who carried the story saying in a Facebook post: “Nob[i]lity of Journalism implies that the tradecraft is treated with credibility and not lies, aspersions and damaging reputations of people who worked VERY hard to build them.

“It is okay to not like, or be filled with grudge against a person. What is not okay is to throw allegations, lies and spite against well meaning persons just to score personal points; demean or make him look something he’s and can never be.”

A Commonwealth mission to The Gambia in 2018 faulted the efforts of the Gambia government in effectively communicating the challenges it faces to the public. The report seen by The Fatu Network cited: “By January 2017 overwhelming power had been centralised in the Office of the President. The Barrow Administration has taken action to decentralising decision making. The Office of the President has not been successful, in effectively communicating with the Gambian population the challenges faced by the government, and its successes. Additionally, the security arrangements around the President have caused some resentment among the security services and reinforced the impression of foreign influence and a detached President.”

By Lamin Njie

There was ample fury on Friday after Gambia Ports Authority appeared to be directing Trust Bank to pay over half a million dalasis to a company for the construction of a police station in Mankamang Kunda, President Adama Barrow’s hometown.

A letter purportedly by Gambia Ports Authority and signed by its managing director Ousman Jobarteh emerged online on Friday in which the authority is seen asking Trust Bank to pay D744, 941 to Bafaad Enterprise. The authority said in the letter the payment is for the construction of a police station in Mankamang Kunda.

The development was quickly trailed by largescale anger with Coach Pasamba Jow saying in a Facebook post: “President Adama Barrow has a very deliberate and mean-spirited way of reminding Gambians of Jammeh’s wicked ways. How pathetic is it for President Adama Barrow and his government to keep imitating the disdained actions of Jammeh?

“Jammeh used SSHFC and Ports as his personal bank to finance his ill-advised programs, which President Barrow has also found worthy of emulation. Did President pay attention to anything said at the Janneh commission; better yet, has he even bothered to read the report that was submitted to him?”

Jaw Manneh said: “The Lawmakers should do their darn job – hold Barrow and heads parastatals accountable for such out-of-order public spending. Barrow is blatantly flouting the rules of the book and hijacking the functions of lawmakers.

“How many of such unauthorized spendings have taken place without public knowledge? Barrow is out of control. Our lawmakers should rein in illegal spendings to stamp out corruption. We can’t run public business like a Mickey Mouse government.”

Ndey Fatou Sohna, on her part, said: “#MankanangKundaCentralPoliceStation! When High crime areas don’t have enough Police security. What is ECOMIG battalion for?”

A GPA official could not immediately comment on the letter.

The Fatu Network also contacted the director of press and public relations at the office of the president Amie Bojang Sissoho for comment but she did not pick a call.

By Lamin Njie

The family of two boys who were last heard from in 2016 in Libya is calling for help in an effort to finding out what happened to their loved ones.

Gelajo Bah, 29, and Omar Njie, 25, left The Gambia on March 4, 2016 for Libya in their attempt to reach Europe but the last time their family heard from them was in May 26, 2016.

Gelajo Bah is a native of Latrikunda Sabiji. He was studying ACCA at Grace Institute before he left for Libya. Omar Njie is a native of Brikama Nyambai. He graduated from Nusrat Senior Secondary School in 2013. The two boys are cousins.

Teddy Bah, a sister to the boys, said: “They were both very young brothers who we were proud of had a bright future ahead. They both wanted to become accountants and had enrolled at the UTG but did not go far.

“They were studying ACCA just before they left. We love them so much and hope and pray to see them again. We really miss them so much.”

Anyone who has information on the two boys can kindly contact; 7127121/3997121/6991688

By Lamin Njie

Top Islamic scholar Bakawsu Fofana has warned President Adama Barrow against insisting on staying in office beyond this coming December.

Seven political parties backed President Adama Barrow at the 2016 presidential election but Mr Barrow has run roughshod on every tenet of the political grouping. A key tenet is for him to do three years and step aside but President Barrow has expressed his desire to be in office for five years ‘whether one likes it or not.’

Bakawsu Fofana in an audio message on Tuesday, August 13 said President Barrow could end up humiliating himself like other African presidents in the past if he insists on staying in power. Mr Fofana who was speaking in Mandinka, addressed President Barrow directly.

The fiery cleric said: “There are three solutions to the Three Years Jotna issue but it’s all up to you (President Barrow). The first two solutions are pro-peace.

“I want to call on the president and his supporters to listen to me with their minds. The issue of three years is not a political issue, it’s an issue of conflict but dialogue can solve it. But everything is up to the president.

“I do not know the people behind Three Years but there are only three ways out of it and it’s all up to President Barrow. The first option for you (President Barrow) is to resign and call elections at the end of three years. You (President Barrow) should not take part in the elections and you shouldn’t support anyone.

“The second option is for you (President Barrow) to form a party and stand in the elections at the end of the three years. If you truly believe in yourself and if your supporters believe in you. If you win, your government will be an independent one free from coalition control.

“There is a third option. Just that that option can breed conflict. That option is for you (President Barrow) to refuse to step down. People could take to the streets demanding you leave power. There will be a back and forth, ‘leave power, I will not leave power.’ There will then be two things; either you flee into exile like Yahya Jammeh or you get arrested and taken to Mile 2.”

By GPU

The Gambia Press Union with funding from the United Nations Endowment Fund will on Monday, 19th August 2019 begin a ten-day training on investigative journalism for twenty journalists.

The participants, drawn from both print and broadcast across the country, will undergo extensive training on corruption and financial reporting.

The training will be conducted by an international investigative journalism trainer in a bid to position the Gambia media and journalists to effectively fight corruption in all its forms.

Background

This training aims to strengthen investigative journalism in order to position the media and journalists to effectively contribute to efforts to strengthen democracy and sustainable development in The Gambia.

Once a vibrant branch of journalism in the country, the practice of investigative journalism has over the years been on the decline, if not a tradition long gone. This is attributed to a number of factors. There are laws and administrative codes that not only bar public servants from disclosing information to public in general, but there also are risks of harsh punishment, including lengthy prison sentences, arising from publication of information deemed politically sensitive. Moreover, there are almost unbearable financial implications for both news media houses and individual reporters.

However, the most prominent factor is lack of adequate capacity and competencies to take up investigative journalism. The reporters do not have the essential know-how on investigative reporting.

Until 2013, there was no formal school for the training of journalists. The GPU School of Journalism, now Media Academy for Journalism and Communication, is the first such centre.

The University of The Gambia set up a school of journalism the following year. Journalism education in the country is therefore in its infancy. Reporters signed up to the practice without prior training or orientation. Ad-hoc training programmes focused on imbuing skills on basic journalism courses without specialisation.

On a regular basis, therefore, the Gambia Press Union has been approached by its members and media organisations to train journalists on investigative journalism.
In response, the GPU with the support from partners in 2017 rolled out the first ever training on investigative journalism, in collaboration with the University of The Gambia for two months. The training was followed by, in May 2018, another similar one with more focus on practical skills and tools required for investigative reporting.

Moving from the fundamentals of investigative reporting, the GPU through a two-year project funded by the United Nations Endowment Fund (UNDEF) is organising a ten-day investigative journalism training with focus on corruption and financial investigation. The training is designed to equip the participants on how to investigate corruption and financial issues.

By Lamin Njie

Former secretary general and head of civil service Momodou Sabally has faulted President Adama Barrow’s communication team headed by Amie Bojang Sissoho for Barrow’s communication and PR woes.

According to Sabally, President Barrow’s public relations and communication woes is down to an incompetent communication practices of a team led by Amie Bojang.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Mr Sabally said: “We have to admit that the President’s popularity is waning especially on social media. Barrow’s PR team should up their game pronto to help shore up some positive energy towards their principal. But wait, does he even have a Team @ his PR and communications department? A house divided shall not stand.”

Also writing on President Barrow’s public relations crises and erosion of good will among Gambians, Femi Mahoney said: “I agree with Sir Momodou Sabally, that president Barrow popularity is on the wane. However, I also believe that, it’s too late and he’s been let down by his ‘PR Team’. Especially Ebrima Sillah, Amie Bojang Sissoho, Ebrima Sankareh, Nfali Fadera, Sanna Camara, Lamin Cham (Statehouse), Dou Sano (sycophant #1) for failing to advising the president on how he should have been seen to empatise with the daily struggles of the average Gambian. These folks, especially the Press Department, of the Statehouse have been advising Barrow to avoid Gambians and media outlets, all due to the inferiority and insecurity. Thanks to their foolery Barrow is now so unpopular, even Yaya Jammeh can trounce him any snap election.”

Mahoney added: “With all due respect to the woman (Amie Bojang Sissoho), this is someone who was only known for reading Sarahule news in Radio Gambia. Then later joined her partner in crime Dr Isatou Touray to set up that GAMCOTRAP which the rest is history. She was given the job by Barrow because they were both brought up by Sarahule friends and knew each other from then. She’s my sister, but unfortunately she’s not capable”

Political commentator Zakaria Kemo Conteh, on his part, said: “Even President Barrow’s most ardent supporters would acknowledge that his popularity has plateaued somewhere around early 2018 and has been on free fall ever since. Now, with President Barrow’s negative approval rating on the rise, does it make sense for him to seek another term in office? Is it a consequent of PR and policy blunder or a result of overall abysmal performance and ineptitude that dominate his government?”

A Commonwealth mission to The Gambia in 2018 faulted the efforts of the Gambia government in effectively communicating the challenges it faces to the public. The report seen by The Fatu Network cited: “By January 2017 overwhelming power had been centralised in the Office of the President. The Barrow Administration has taken action to decentralising decision making. The Office of the President has not been successful, in effectively communicating with the Gambian population the challenges faced by the government, and its successes. Additionally, the security arrangements around the President have caused some resentment among the security services and reinforced the impression of foreign influence and a detached President.”

By Lamin Njie

Damage was caused when a commercial bus ploughed into a barrier at Senegambia Bridge.

Witnesses said a Senegalese commercial bus that was conveying Eid celebrants crashed into a barrier as it ‘forcefully’ tried to use the bridge. The incident happened on Saturday August 10.

A witness told The Fatu Network: “The bridge closes at 7pm but this bus came and wanted to force its way.

“The driver was insisting he will use the bridge because they [Senegal] built it.”

A Gambia Ports Authority official confirmed the incident telling The Fatu Network: “The vehicle is at Farafenni police station. GPA is saying the driver should replace the barrier.”

The police spokesman could not be reached for comment.

By Lamin Njie

PDOIS leader Halifa Sallah on Tuesday took a swipe at Gambians for letting the coalition to disintegrate.

Seven political parties including Mr Sallah’s PDOIS party backed President Adama Barrow at the 2016 presidential election but Mr Barrow has run roughshod on every tenet of the political grouping. A key tenet is for him to do three years and step aside but President Barrow has expressed his desire to be in office for five years ‘whether one likes it or not.’

Speaking to journalists at a midday press conference on Tuesday, Mr Sallah hit back at Gambians who argue the political leaders who make up the coalition should insist Barrow step down after three years.

Mr Sallah said: “Everything was done with sincerity and unanimity not consensus. No dissent. So now if people are demanding from us, that we should speak out. What do you want us to say? To speak with anger when you the people who are now demanding that we should speak out, when the coalition was being dismantled, we [PDOIS] said, ‘let’s work together in cabinet, those that can go to the national assembly; all independent national assembly members, let’s have an independent country, no part will emerge’.

“Because we wanted a level ground after[wards]. But others said no they don’t want parties to die. What did you say at that time? How did you vote? What was your position? Why didn’t you claim at that time that this will dismantle the coalition?”

By Lamin Njie

Political commentator Zakaria Kemo Konteh has said a credible survey will indicate that President Adama Barrow is the least popular president and commander-in-chief in the history of The Gambia.

In a brutal review titled, ‘A policy or PR blunder or a broad ineptitude…..?’ Mr Conteh said even President Barrow’s most ardent supporters would acknowledge that his popularity has “plateaued somewhere around early 2018 and has been on free fall ever since.”

Konteh said: “A credible survey will no doubt reveal that Barrow’s approval rating as the President and Commander-in-chief among Gambians in general might be hovering around 30%, making him the LEAST popular sitting President in our history.

“On policy matters, the President and his team have successfully stabilized the economy away from a meltdown they inherited from from Yahya Jammeh. Our economy registered both a rebound and growth at about 6.6% but even at that, inflation remains unstable from 6.62% in July 2018 to 7.38% in June 2019 with hard effect on consumer price. Our external debt burden stands at a staggering One Billion dollars. This means we have an uncontrollable borrowing system which threatens both our current economic growth and our future.

“The President has also scored diplomatic /foreign relation victories by moving out country from the isolationist programs of Yahya Jammeh to a more acceptable friendlier approach with the world based on shared values and interests.

“However, The President’s Agricultural Policy does very little, if any, to bring about collective positive change on our farmers. Our Health structures, delivery systems and accessibility continue to decline, causing serious avoidable consequences.

“The much talked about reform programs have turned into money making and philosophical exercises and circumventing the very root causes critical to the tangible reform success l.

“Now, with President Barrow’s negative approval rating on the rise, does it make sense for him to seek another therm in office? Is it a consequent of PR and policy blunder or a result of overall abysmal performance and ineptitude that dominate his government?”

Populations of animals that live in the world’s forests have declined by more than half in the past 50 years, a study warns.

A report by conservation charity WWF has found the alarming decline since the 70s has seen a huge amount of animals removed from the world’s forests.

Forest wildlife is vital for maintaining healthy woodlands and jungles which act as a major carbon store and help curb climate change.

That is because creatures such as primates and large birds perform an important role in the regeneration of forests through dispersing tree seeds, eating plants and other activities – helping woodland thrive and absorb carbon.

The report is formed of a global assessment by WWF and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), of 455 populations of 268 species.

It revealed that these forest-only groups have declined by 53 per cent on average since 1970.

The biggest threat to forest-dwelling wildlife is the loss and damage to their habitat.

Most instances of this include unsustainable logging, shifting agriculture and wildfires.

But species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds are also at risk from hunting, climate change, invasive species and disease, the report said.

Declines have been greatest in the world’s tropical forests, such as the Amazon.

These function as a key carbon store and habitat for nature and scientists are growing increasingly concerned that they are approaching a ‘tipping point’ where much could dry out and become savanna.

The report calls for efforts to halt and reverse the loss of tree cover, but warned keeping forests standing is not enough on its own to protect forest wildlife.

Other threats, such as the illegal wildlife trade and climate change, also need to be tackled, the WWF claims.

WWF is calling on world leaders to declare a planetary emergency and draw up a new global ‘deal for nature and people in 2020’.

The charity says this is needed to stop climate breakdown, restore nature and fix the food system.

Protecting and restoring forests, which support more than half the world’s land-based species and provide food, medicine, clean water, healthy soils and livelihoods to people, should be at the heart of the deal, WWF said.

Will Baldwin-Cantello, global lead on forests at WWF, said: ‘Forests are complex systems that depend on the wildlife that live in them to keep them healthy and the rapid decrease in forest wildlife in recent decades is an urgent warning sign.

‘Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based animals, but they’re also our greatest natural ally in the fight against climate breakdown.

‘We lose them at our peril,’ he warned.

‘We need global leaders to declare a planetary emergency and kickstart a global programme of recovery to keep our forests standing to protect our planet.’

The report pointed to success stories such as the return to forest of ranchland in Costa Rica and the increase in numbers of mountain gorillas in East Africa as ways in which the loss of nature can be reversed. (DailyMail)

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has named Pap Saine, co-publisher and managing editor of The Point newspaper in The Gambia, West Africa, as the recipient of the 2019 Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year Award.

The annual award honors the groundbreaking and often dangerous work done by foreign journalists covering the African Diaspora. The award is named for the late Percy Peter Tshidiso Qoboza, editor of The World newspaper in Soweto, South Africa. Qoboza’s powerful columns ranged from coverage of the 1976 Soweto riots to the tragic horror of apartheid and the white minority government’s treatment of millions of black Africans.

NABJ honored Saine at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala, during the 2019 NABJ Convention & Career Fair on Saturday, Aug. 10, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida.

The Point is an English-language, independent newspaper that is recognized for holding the government accountable. Saine’s courageous reporting, commitment to press freedom and activism mirrors the tireless work and groundbreaking storytelling of Qoboza. Throughout his career, Saine has overcome harassment by government authorities in The Gambia, never swaying from his dedication to his cause.

According to the International Press Institute, which named him a World Press Freedom Hero in 2010, Saine has been arrested, criminally charged and imprisoned for simply doing his job as a reporter. In 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison with five other journalists for using his platform to criticize then-Gambian President Yahyah Jammeh’s comments about press freedom and the unsolved murder of his colleague and The Point co-founder Deyda Hydara. While he was eventually pardoned, he continued to endure harassment from the government. Over the past year, he has spoken and written unapologetically about the role the former government leaders may have played in the death of his fellow newspaper colleague and the need for the government to strike down media laws that he describes as “draconian.”

According to NABJ President Sarah Glover, Saine’s commitment to journalism regardless of the attempts to silence his voice is exemplary.

“Press freedom is one of the most precious rights that we could ever fight for,” said NABJ President Sarah Glover. “I am proud that NABJ has the opportunity to honor Pap Saine as not only a champion for the citizens and members of the press of The Gambia but also a champion for ensuring that journalists worldwide can do their jobs without censorship or pressure from the government.”

According to Damaso Reyes, co-chair of NABJ’s Global Journalism Task Force

and director of partnerships at the News Literacy Project, Saine has always been an individual that never hesitated to lead by example. Reyes explained that Saine garnered the nomination for the award, “Not just by producing high-quality journalism but by speaking truth to power and standing up to his government and holding them to account.”

Reyes added, “At great personal risk, he has kept working, not letting his voice be silenced even though he was imprisoned. And he has kept fighting to produce honest and independent journalism in The Gambia and throughout the region. As American journalists come under fire from all fronts, Pap’s example is one that should inspire us to persevere.”

In a recent interview with “All Africa,” Saine, who has also served as a Reuters correspondent for West Africa, underscored that there is still more work to be done in the fight for press freedom.

“To ensure democracy, government and the media (must be) partners…. there can be no democracy without a vibrant press,” he said.

Eating less meat could help save planet, a landmark United Nations report on climate change and land use suggests.

Switching to a diet centred around vegetables rather than meat would preserve land from over farming and cut greenhouse gas emissions, experts say.

Trade-offs between securing food supplies or cooling the planet will have to be made if action to combat climate change isn’t taken now, the report recommends.

The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change met to discuss the land use report during their 50th session.

It was held in the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva from August 2 – 6.

‘This is a perfect storm,’ said Dave Reay, professor of carbon management at the University of Edinburgh of the report.

‘Limited land, an expanding human population, and all wrapped in a suffocating blanket of climate emergency.’

Intensive farming processes have allowed the global population to more than triple in the last 100 years, but have come with a cost, the report warns.

This increasing land use has led to more soil erosion, more rapid desertification and a reduction in the amount of organic material stored in the ground.

The report calls for big changes to farming and eating habits, but stopped short of explicitly advocating going meat-free.

Dietary changes, featuring plant-based foods and sustainable animal-sourced food, could free up several million square miles (km) of land by 2050.

This could potentially cut 0.7–8.0 gigatonnes a year of CO2 equivalent, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in the report.

‘Delaying action … could result in some irreversible impacts on some ecosystems,’ the report said.

In the longer term, it added, this ‘has the potential to lead to substantial additional emissions from ecosystems that would accelerate global warming.’

The report should help to guide governments meeting later this year at a conference in Chile on ways to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement and avoid runaway climate change. (DailyMail)

By Lamin Njie

Two police officers have been stabbed after they got into an altercation with three men at a football park in Serrekunda.

The male officers who have not been named were stabbed by Musa Sarr of Dippa Kunda on Wednesday as he attempted to enter a football park.

The police spokesman Lamin Njie confirmed the incident telling The Fatu Network: “We can confirm that yesterday at the SK West mini stadium, our officers were on duties providing security. Three boys came to the gate wanting to enter. They were subjected to routine security checks and search on the contents of the bags they were carrying.

“They were without tickets to enter to watch the game but they tried to force their way inside which resulted in a scuffle with the officers. In the middle of the exchanges, one of the boys Musa Sarr of Dippa Kunda drew a knife and stabbed two of the officers. They were rushed to the hospital where one of them got treated and discharged while the other got admitted and currently receiving treatment.”

The police spokesman continued: “The accused Musa Sarr has been arrested and charged with Assault. He is currently helping in Police investigations. The public is urged to cooperate with the Police in the execution of their duties.”

By Momodou Justice Darboe

Barely three days to the Muslim feast of Id-ul-Adha, many Gambian Muslims are complaining over what they called the exorbitant ram prices.

At present, rams are sold at between D10,000 to D20,000 depending on the size. Many that spoke to The Fatu Network say prices of ram for this year are beyond the means of the average Gambian, many of whom live on less than D200 a day.

Some of our interlocutors has tied the cost of Tobaski ram to, what they believed, was the unnecessary   cost incurred in the transportation of rams from Senegal where they were bought.

“The Gambian police and authorities are not making things easy for us. We bought rams from Senegal and it was not a problem to navigate there with the police. But once in the Gambian territory, the police at every checkpoint would like to be bribed,” lamented a ram seller, Abdou Mbye.

“Not only the police, but the authorities at the Banjul ferry crossing are not also helping the ram business. There was a D50 crossing fee on every ram and this has not been helpful in stabilizing ram prices,” he added.

Another seller who spoke to The Fatu Network lamented that costs involved in obtaining ram from Senegal was huge and, this had in turn, badly influenced the price.

But some customers are suspicious that ram sellers are using the rise in demand for rams to milk unsuspecting customers from their hard-earned money.

“It is incomprehensible, exasperating and unacceptable the amount of money some of these ram sellers are putting on the heads of their rams. How can an average Gambian buy a ram for D10,000, considering the state of affairs? It is a problem that our authorities need to take a critical look at,” suggested a customer who spoke to The Fatu Network at the Bakau ram selling and buying points.

Meanwhile, sacrifice of an animal is considered essential part of the Islamic festival of Id-Ul-Adha. Id-Ul- Adha, called the Festival of Sacrifice, is an important Islamic holiday and distributing meat amongst the people is an integral part of the festive season.

But a visit by the Fatu Network team today to some buying and selling points of rams, the most preferred animal for sacrifice by many Gambians, revealed that prices are shooting through the roof.

By Lamin Njie

The Supreme Islamic Council on Thursday directed imams in The Gambia to offer special prayers for rain.

Gambians farmers are dealing with a dry summer which is threatening their crops – and the apex Islamic body has chimed in asking imams in the country to dedicate their tomorrow’s sermons to the problem.

The SIC said in a statement signed by its president Momodou Lamin Touray: “The Supreme Islamic Council wishes to urge all imams and scholars in The Gambia to perform prayers for seeking rain from Allah tomorrow 9 August 2019, 6th Dhul Hijjah 1440H.

“Imams are further urged to offer prayers during their sermons (Khutbahs) for Allah the Almighty to bless us with a beneficial rainfall.”

August is usually a wet month in The Gambia but the lack of rain is proving quite worrying for Gambian farmers.