By Momodou Justice Darboe

The Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Justice is engaging the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) to facilitate the appearance of jungulars before the TRRC.

Close to a dozen members of former dictator Yaya Jammeh’s hit-squad are currently in state custody as the government continues to waver as to which line of action to take against the once dreaded group.

“The jungulars are an extra-ordinary group of people and we are thinking about trial or to release  them to the public. These were the options but we take neither. So, unfortunate thing is that they have been in detention for a while now. I have engaged with the TRRC and we are working to facilitate their voluntary appearance at the TRRC soon,” explained Gambia’s minister Justice in a press briefing on Wednesday.

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou admitted that the issue of the jungulars is an unfortunate one. “It’s been a difficult matter for me personally as a human rights advocate. But we have found ourselves after the change in an extraordinary situation,” lamented he.

Meanwhile, the issue of the continued detention of some members of Jammeh’s death squad raises some pertinent questions of public security and human rights.

By Momodou Justice Darboe

Yankuba Touray and Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay earlier Wednesday had their case of interfering with a TRRC witness discontinued.

The former heavyweights of the APRC administration came into conflict with the laws of the land in February of this year when police accused them of interfering with a witness of the Gambia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to probe the 22-year excesses of former president Yahya Jammeh. The duo was dragged to the courts on suspicion of attempting to influence a truth commission’s witness whose name has been adversely mentioned in commission’s hearings in connection to instances of brazen human rights violations that happened in Yundum Barracks three months after the July 1994 military takeover. Yankuba Touray and Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay were said to have engaged former Sgt. Alagie Kanyi in phone conversations in which they were alleged to have told the ex-army sergeant not to treat the truth commission with seriousness. Kanyi had admitted to particiapting in the gruesome killings of some soldiers and officers of the defunct Gambia National Army who were accused of involvement in a coup plot against the AFPRC junta in November of 1994.

The charges carry a penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine of 1 million or both.

But The Fatu Network understands Wednesday the state has withdrawn the case. Since at the outset, one of the weaknesses of the prosecution in proving guilt against the two lied in the fact that Alhagi Kanyi had earlier told a lower court in Kanifing that it was Touray and Madam Jahumpa-Ceesay who advised him not to mind the truth commission but he subsequently testified to the contrary when he informed the high court in Banjul that the duo had never sought to interfere with him or his testimony before the commission. The case was consequently dismissed on grounds of want of prosecution.

Yankuba Touray and Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay held various top positions in the government of former dictator Yaya Jammeh before falling out with him. Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay once served as the spokesperson for the former Gambian President before ascending to become a Speaker of the Gambia’s legislature. She was also a member of the West Africa sub-regional parliament. Yankuba Touray also served as minister of local government and lands. He was also a one-time mobiliser of the APRC party.

The Gambia is set to establish a social protection system that will effectively deliver measures to safeguard the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the country.

On Tuesday the Government of The Gambia and the World Bank signed a Social Safety Nets project in amount of $31 million to support this significant initiative.

The World Bank Group will provide a $30 million grant, approved by its Board of Directors on May 24, 2019. The Government will contribute $1million over the course of the project.

The main aim of the Social Safety Net Project is to support the Government in implementing its policies to protect the poor, as articulated in the National Development Plan and the National Social Protection Policy.

Chairing the signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Economic Affiars Mod Secka said the importance of the project cannot be understated. “It’s the first project of its kind in the country where the vulnerable are targeted to provide basic needs for their livelihood,” he added.

The Nafa Program, funded through the Project, will provide small amounts of income to support the extreme poor, so that they can spend on more and better quality food for survival, medicines, and clothes, services like education and healthcare, and tools, seed or small investments for production or savings.

“In a country where half of the population lives below the poverty line,: the Social Safety Net Project will help in bringing the most vulnerable of the population to the fore and also help in achieving our National Development Goals,” according to Saikou Trawally, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Office of the Vice-President.

The grant will also support the Government to put in place a Social Protection Secretariat and a Social Registry as a contribution towards the Government’s goal to establish and strengthen the leadership, coordination, and implementation mechanisms of the National Social Protection system.

Across Africa, evidence has shown that social safety net programs can provide equity, resilience and opportunity for the poor and vulnerable.

“I am delighted that the World Bank is able to provide grant financing to support the Government in fulfilling its pledges to the Gambia’s poor and rebuilding the social contract,” Elene Imnadze, World Bank Country Representative for The Gambia added.

By World Bank communication unit

By Lamin Njie

Former finance minister Amadou Sanneh has told the TRRC he was unable to walk after he was battered by a group of men at the National Intelligence Agency.

In 2013, Mr Sanneh and two other people were arrested and detained at the NIA for preparing false documents for people seeking political asylum in Europe and the United States. Sanneh was the treasurer of then opposition United Democratic Party.

Mr Sanneh on Tuesday appeared before the TRRC telling the investigation: “Normally when we hear the main gate creaking, opening our hearts slip. We know something terrible is going to happen [but] to who we don’t know. We were sleeping by the gate, that’s the hall at the entrance.

“They came for me. They were taking us one after the other. I was taken to a hall. When I arrived there, there was these people and Yankuba. They told me to remove my shirt. They started asking questions.

“Then they started slapping and beating and then all the others came in and pounced and beating everywhere. I think I almost passed out. I could not walk when they finished with me.”

Sanneh was later jailed for five years for a crime of sedition.

A driver error led to a truck overturning and its cargo of an estimated 133 million bees escaping in the U.S. state of Montana, local media reported on Tuesday.

“Fuel was leaking from the truck, mandating a quick response by rescue workers, who used self-contained breathing apparatus packs to minimise and reduce the risk of being stung,’’ assistant fire chief, Brian Nickolay told broadcaster KBZK.

NBC news said local officials put out warnings amid concerns for people with bee allergies. “No one was hurt in the crash,’’ the media outlets reported.

A beekeeper was called in to assist the rescue crews and NBC reported that the owner of the cargo may give whatever bees are recaptured to local residents. (dpa/NAN)

By Lamin Njie

Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou has hailed men and women of the Gambia Armed Forces, saying they were at the forefront of efforts aimed at removing former president Yahya Jammeh from power.

Mr Tambadou speaking at the launch of the new national security policy at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Monday said while some members of the Gambian army did not live up to expectations, the army ‘have had the most attempts at trying to removing former president Jammeh from power’.

The Justice Minister who is also the chairman of the security sector reform steering committee said: “Too many things, sometimes good and sometimes bad, have occurred in our country over the past two decades and The Gambia Armed Forces, for one reason or another, found itself at the center of those events. But let me make this clear, The Gambia Armed Forces are our armed forces, the peoples’ armed forces, they are not enemies of the people. Yes there have been failings in the past when some of them did not to live up to our expectations and we cannot deny this obvious fact. Naturally, this has created mistrust between the armed forces and the people that it seeks to protect and serve. Indeed, this has been acknowledged on several occasions.

“But the reality is that every society, every community, every organisation, professional or otherwise, has bad elements and so this is not unique to our armed forces. The fact remains that an absolute majority of the members of our armed forces are hard-working, honest, and dedicated professional men and women who on a daily basis put their lives at risk so that the rest of us and our families can live in a peaceful, safe and secure environment. It is because of them that we can go to sleep at night with our families not having to worry about our safe-ty or the safety of our loved ones, and we must show gratitude to them for this. They deserve our respect. Moreover, and notwithstanding what one may think about the desirability or justifications, our armed forces have had, over the past two decades, the most attempts at trying to remove former President Jammeh from power. Many of them died as a result, while others were jailed, maimed or went into exile. At face value, it illustrates their collective disapproval of former President Jammeh’s methods.

“We must therefore continue to build upon the modest successes of this renewed civil-military relationship since the change of government in order to inspire confidence and trust by the people. The Gambia Armed Forces must be willing therefore, to do what is necessary to shed its past image as an instrument of oppression. Respect, after all, is also earned, and not demanded. So, you the men and women in uniform, you must regard yourselves as the guardians of our new found democracy and our freedom, and this responsibility and expectation has only increased in the new Gambia. Your time, your services, your skills and your professionalism are needed now more than ever be-fore, and you will continue to fly our national flag with the honour, pride and dignity expected of true patriots.”

By Momodou Justice Darboe

President Adama Barrow has said his government is mindful of the current reality, regarding the safety and security of the nation.

Speaking at the launch of the National Security Policy(NSP) 2018/2021 earlier on Monday at Kairaba Hotel, President Barrow emphasised that the basis of growth,development and progress are peace, security and stability.

” As a result, we cannot ignore this responsibility. Notwithstanding the government’s responsibilities, the overall aim of the National Security Policy is for everyone to be responsive in countering security threats whilst utilising opportunities that prevail. The NSP sets out the directions government will take to safeguard our people and natural resources,”he pointed out.

According to President Barrow, NSP sufficiently provides a robust, coherent and strategic approach to respond collectively to national security threats, to sieve decision-making processes, clear lines of accountabilty and responsility from execution of action and commitment to building the nation’s resilience to crime.

He added:” It is important to note that this policy is not intended to duplicate nor to overlap with other existing sector plans,policies and strategies on national security. Rather, it is to strengthen effective coordination of their implementation. This National Security Policy has opted the expanded concept of security which now include both traditional and new forms of security threats.

” Such threats empass border management and security, climate change, natural disasters, economic security, environmental security and human security with focus on gender-based violence and the fight against non-communicable diseases.”

President Barrow expressed optimism that NSP will further strengthen coordination at national level in achieving the country’s security goals and strategic objectives, protect national security interest and to facilitate proper management of national resources.

” The policy seeks to create a united and secured nation wherein people’s core values; welfare and wellbeing,way of life, territorial integrity and sovereignity are protected and enhanced. The government will strengthen the pillars that hold the security of the nation and ensure that security become a top priority.”

The NSP,President Barrow explained, is the outcome of a series of extensive consultations and validation exercise conducted nationwide.

” It was developed through the participation of all stakeholders that involve government, the private sector, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society organisations and our local communities. The product of these consultations led the foundation for the formulation of this important document as it revealed various forms of security threats, risks and opportunities associated with the security sector and the country at large.

” Experience have shown that it is difficult to successfully reform any security sector in the absence of the necessary and appropriate framework to guide its operation and direct its management. Thus, the need for a policy and strategic framework is more urgent and critical.”

“My government has launched a number of initiatives aimed at improving coordination between and among different institutions aimed at transforming our country into a sustainable and economically viable democracy. We can safely predict that the impact of this initiative will be felt increasingly over the next few years. And with results in a security and a justice system that is more responsive to Gambia’s needs,” Mr. Barrow disclosed.

By Lamin Njie

Malick Jones Sunday said he is not a registered member of any club, effectively rejecting any ideas he is a member of Barrow Fan Club.

Pictures emerged on social media of the veteran journalist attending a meeting of Barrow Fan Club. The meeting was held on Saturday.

Mr Jones responded to the claims Sunday telling The Fatu Network: “I am not a registered member of any club. I am a journalist and went there in my capacity as a journalist to see what’s going on. If you follow my newspaper, I have a newspaper called Gambia Today. Nobody knows me as a political man. Everybody knows me as journalist. And when I was introduced I was introduced as a well-known journalists.

“The other thing is I have my own political affiliation if there is need to. The Barrow Fan Club is not a political entity. There is a Barrow Fans Club, there is Barrow Youth Movement, there are many segments of whatever President Barrow and his people are doing. But I attended that meeting. Not only that one but I attended the previous meetings as well.”

Pope Francis has lamented what he calls today’s “culture of insults” in the world.

In his homily during Pentecost Mass Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, Francis also decried that “the more we use social media, the less social we are becoming.”

He warned of the temptation to cling to “our little group, to the things and people we like,” saying it’s only a “small step from a nest to a sect, even within the church.”

The pope said that “nowadays, it is fashionable to hurl adjectives” in what’s tantamount to “a culture of insults.”

He recommended responding “to malice with goodness.”

Francis also said the Catholic Church risks becoming a mere organisation with propaganda as its mission instead of a mission to foster joy and harmony.

By Lamin Njie

Police in The Gambia said Friday they have opened an investigation into a fatal car accident in Pirang.

A Brikama-bound passenger van collided with a truck in the Kombo East town Friday morning with at least six people confirmed to have been killed.

The spokesman of the Gambia Police Force Lamin Njie confirmed the news: “The accident occurred on Friday 7th June 2019 at about 0615 hours, around Pirang- Faraba along the Trans-Gambia Highway.”

Njie, in a statement, added: “It involved a motor vehicle with registration number Bjl 3236 L Lima Truck driven by Babucarr Mbye, 27 years old of Old Yundum heading to Bullock and another  vehicle with registration Bjl 7516 N, 26 passenger sprinter van driven by 25 year old Musa Gibba of Jalokoto Foni.

“At the Pirang- Faraba bend,  Musa Gibba driver to the van was overtaking another vehicle with speed when he lost control of the steering and collided with the truck driven by Babucarr Mbye resulting to a serious crash.

“The accident claimed the lives  of the following people. Ismaila Badjie 27 years old of Bajagar village, Fatou Njai 70 years old of Somita village, Musa Jallow 25 years old of Arangal Foni, Hamadi Sabally 41 years old of Bondali village and Anna Jarju also of Bajagar village making the number of fatalities six individuals.

“Several others are admitted at Brikama Major Health Center and Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for injuries at various degrees.

“The Police has opened an investigation into the accident. Meanwhile the two drivers are helping the Police in their investigations.

“Drivers are strictly warned to desist from speeding and dangerous driving as the Police will not hesitate to apply the Laws.”

A pregnant housewife has been admitted in hospital in Touba Saloum after her fellow wife scalded her with hot water, local media in Senegal has reported.

Seneweb reported Friday that a pregnant woman was scalded by her co-wife in Touba Saloum. Touba Saloum is a town in one of Senegal’s biggest regions, Kaolack.

The victim was evacuated to a local health centre, Seneweb added quoting RFM. The deputy mayor of the region is said to have confirmed the incident.

Investigations have been opened into the incident.

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Police Force Thursday said its investigations have revealed no signs of ‘external involvement’ in the deaths of a Mauritanian couple.

Last week, Kololi woke up to the shocking news of the death of a Mauritanian businessman and that of his wife. The couple were found dead inside their shop.

The Gambia Police Force Thursday evening issued a statement saying preliminary investigations have revealed no signs of ‘external involvement.’

The statement signed by the force’s spokesman Lamin Njie said: “On Thursday 30th May 2019, at around 1800 hours, the Office of the Inspector General of Police received information that the shop of Sheikh Babou, a Mauritanian, situated at Kololi had not been opened for quite a while and an unpleasant odour was exuding from the shop. The information prompted officers to immediately visit the scene where the lifeless bodies of a man and woman identified as Sheikh Babou and Mariama Babou his wife were found. Also their six month old daughter was found alive.

“The officers immediately evacuated the child to the Serrekunda General Hospital for medical attention as she too sustained injuries.

“The scene was preserved, protected and subsequently visited by forensics and crime scene experts who examined and collected evidence from the scene.

“Preliminary investigations revealed no signs of external involvement as so far evidence points to supposed domestic violence leading to a fight resulting to the death of both.

“This is further corroborated by evidence of previous history of violence and mental health issues around the couple.

“After taking appropriate actions, the Police eventually moved the bodies to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for autopsy.

“The Office of the Inspector – General of Police hereby informs the public that investigations are ongoing and its outcome will be made public as soon as concluded.

“Meanwhile, the baby is positively responding to treatment.

“The general public is encouraged to come forward with information that maybe useful to the investigation.”

One in three African children are stunted and hunger accounts for almost half of all child deaths across the continent, an Addis Ababa-based thinktank has warned.

In an urgent call for action, a study by the African Child Policy Forum said that nearly 60 million children in Africa do not have enough food despite the continent’s economic growth in recent years.

A child dies every three seconds globally due to food deprivation – 10,000 children every day – but although figures show an improvement in child hunger at a global level, it is getting worse in some parts of Africa, where the problem is largely a question of political will.

Nine out of 10 African children do not meet the criteria for minimum acceptable diet outlined by the World Health Organization, and two out of five don’t eat meals regularly. Liberia, Congo and Chad are at the bottom of the chart when it comes to children aged six to 23 months receiving sufficient and diverse food with a healthy frequency. They are followed by Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Child hunger is fundamentally a political problem,” said Assefa Bequele, ACPF’s executive director. “It is the offspring of the unholy alliance of political indifference, unaccountable governance, and economic mismanagement. Persistent and naked though the reality is, it remains a silent tragedy, one that remains largely unacknowledged and tolerated, perhaps because it is a poor man’s problem.”

Bequele added: “It is completely unacceptable that children are still going hungry in Africa in the 21st century. The statistics are truly alarming. Child hunger is driven by extreme poverty, uneven and unequal economic growth, gender inequality and a broken food system. Although Africa now produces more food than ever, it hasn’t resulted in better diets.”

Hunger impairs growth and cognitive development of children, but also hits the economic performance of the country they come from. Child hunger can cost African countries almost 17% of their GDP, according to the report. The continent’s present GDP is estimated to have been reduced by 10% because of stunting alone. (Guardian)

The global scale of sexually transmitted infections (STI) should be a “wake-up call” to governments, UN health experts said on Thursday, citing data showing that one in 25 people today have “at least one” curable STI, which occur at a rate of more than one million a day worldwide.

Highlighting the “concerning lack of progress” by countries in stopping the spread of these and other STIs, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that if left untreated, they can have a profound impact on the health of teens, adults and unborn children.

“This is a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases”, said Dr Peter Salama, Executive Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course at WHO.

Negative effects of the four curable STIs covered in the report – chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis – include neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, pregnancy complications, stillbirths, and an increased risk of HIV.

‘No substantial decline’ in infection levels

“On average, these data translate to one in every 25 people globally having at least one of these curable STIs with some of them experiencing multiple infections at one time,” said Dr Melanie Taylor, Medical Epidemiologist at WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research.

Noting the “incredibly high global burden” of STIs, Dr Taylor added that since WHO last published estimates on curable STI levels in 2012, “there has been no substantial decline” in infection levels.

WHO’s findings relate to 2016 global figures for women and men aged 15-49. (UN News)

Senegambia Bridge will close later this month for essential final-touch work, it has been announced.

The government said Thursday the Sene-Gambia Bridge at Bambatenda – Yellitenda, will be closed to all traffic from 15th of June 2019 to 30th of June 2019.

“The closure is necessary to allow the contractor to carry out the final finishes to the bridge,” a statement by the Ministry of Transport, Work and infrastructure and the management of the National Roads Authority said.

It added: “During the period of this closure, the Gambia Ferry Services will continue the service of ferrying people, vehicles and goods across the river.

The Ministry and the NRA apologies sincerely to the travelers using this corridor for this inconvenience and would like to inform the public that service on the bridge will resume on the 1st of July 2019 and the bridge will be open to all vehicular traffic including trucks.”

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow has said that pushing people out of his government forms part of his responsibility.

President Barrow said he is committed to removing any official and hiring a fresh hand at any given time ‘in the interest of the country’.

The president made these remarks on Tuesday while meeting with the country’s Muslim leaders on the occasion of this year’s Eidhul Fitr festival.

Mr Barrow said: “We may have different views but one view we should all share is how The Gambia can move forward. We seek forgiveness from everyone. For us, we have forgiven everyone. This position [I’m] holding today, it’s a responsibility given [to me] by God. That’s to shepherd people, to see what’s best for The Gambia.

“So we don’t have anything personal against anybody. We are only doing our job. The work I’m doing, I’m doing it between God and I. If I come to the realisation that a person is fit for a particular position at a particular time, I will pick the person and put the person there. It’s only for the interest of the country. To remove you from [a position] doesn’t mean I hate you. I’m only bound by what the nation requests of me. Anyone who is upset with me, you’re only upset [over no reason] but know that I’m only doing my job.”

President Barrow also said no one loves to see The Gambia to move forward in terms of development ‘more than me.’

“No one can love to see Gambia move forward more than me because I’m the principal. All we are invested in terms of thought is how The Gambia can move forward. But with that, I cannot do it alone. Gambians must support me. Let’s know that this country without hard work, the country will not move forward. There is no other way, there is no shortcut. I want all of us to fasten our belts and work for The Gambia,” the president said.

The Gambia Police Force has issued a statement saying it has observed with deep concern private security firms, parastatals, councils and other institutions recruiting security officers without following approval guidelines for uniform specifications.

A statement signed by the spokesman of the force Lamin Njie on Wednesday said: “The office of the Inspector General of Police has observed with deep concern, private security firms, parastatals, councils and other institutions; recruiting security officers without following approval guidelines for uniform specifications.

“In accordance with Section 18 Sub Section 1 (A, B, and C) of the Police Act Cap 18:01 Laws of the Gambia; it is part of procedural guidelines that such organizations are required to present a sample of proposed uniforms to the office of the Inspector General of Police for approval before issuance of uniforms to avoid confusion with national security services’ uniforms by the public.

“In this regard, the Office of the Inspector General of Police urges all recruiting organizations, private security firms, parastatals, councils and private individuals providing security to liaise with the Inspector General’s Office to seek approval for uniforms as specified under section 18 of the Police Act, Laws of The Gambia in order to provide security services in accordance with the Law.

“Consequently, noncompliance could result to legal actions instituted against such organizations.

“The Inspector General’s Office solicits the cooperation of the general public.”