Remittances from international migrant workers to their families are expected to rise to over US$550 billion in 2019, up some $20 billion from $529 billion last year, Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), stated on Friday.

In a message released on the occasion of the United Nations’ International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR), observed each 16 June, Houngbo noted that the money sent home by the world’s 200 million migrant workers adds up to more than three times the level of official development assistance (ODA) and surpasses foreign direct investment (FDI). An impressive figure given that it corresponds to only 15 per cent of migrant workers’ earnings, with 85 per cent remaining in host countries.

“Behind the numbers are the individual remittances of $200 or $300 that migrants send home regularly so that their 800 million family members can meet immediate needs and build a better future back home. Half of these flows are sent to rural areas, where they count the most,” Houngbo said.

If current trends continue, it is projected that $8.5 trillion will be transferred to families in developing countries over the 15-year life of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By then, it is estimated that over $2 trillion (on average 25 per cent of remittances received) will have been saved or invested. If leveraged effectively, remittances can have an unprecedented multiplier effect on sustainable development.

“Governments, regulators and the private sector have an important role to play in leveraging the effects of these flows and, in so doing, helping nearly one billion people to reach their own sustainable development goals by 2030,” Houngbo added.

With half of all flows going to rural areas in developing countries, IFAD has long been committed to working to make the development impact of remittances even greater. The crucial contribution of migrant workers has also been recognized in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted in December 2018.

Remittances are private funds transferred through private channels and are of increasing interest to the private sector, both as a business opportunity and as a tool for development. Global efforts have been underway to bring transfer costs closer to the 3 per cent target identified in SDG 10.

Linking these flows with financial services and, in the process, bringing millions of people into the financial sector, remains one of the greatest development opportunities that remittances offer.

“Over the past decade, IFAD has invested in over 40 countries, supporting more than 60 projects aimed at leveraging the development impact of remittances for families and communities,” said Paul Winters, IFAD Associate Vice-President, speaking at an event held today at UN Headquarters in New York recognizing the international day and its #FamilyRemittances2030 campaign.

“Providing better access to remittances and better use to families through rural financial institutions has had a positive impact in rural areas by bringing many unbanked recipients into the formal financial sector. Thanks to this inclusive effect, families can now collaterize remittances and access financial products, such as savings, credit, and insurance,” he added.

“In fact, it is fair to say that, in poor rural areas, remittances can help to make migration a choice rather than a necessity for so many young people and for future generations.”

By Lamin Njie

The caste-generated feelings of deep-seated animosity between members of some communities in the Upper River Region district of Kantora have led to the deaths of two people in a twelve-month period.

A fortnight ago, the nation woke up to the news of an outbreak of another caste-related violence in the Upper River Region this time in Koina in which houses were set ablaze and properties vandalised. The police in the region have rounded up and detained nearly two dozen people suspected of involvement in the rampage.

But what is the Barrow administration doing to bring an end to this caste madness in Kantora? Well, according to the chairman of Koina Village Development Committee, Mr Saikou Samura, the Gambian authorities are not keen in the maintenance of peace between members of Koina’s various social rungs.

“Deeply concerned and perturbed by the deepening caste-related problems, the Alkalo and Imam of Koina despatched a mission to governor Fatou Jammeh in Basse for immediate intervention. Fatou Jammeh sent up to three letters to Lamin Dibba who was then minister of local government for government intervention in the caste issue. But up to his [Dibba] time of leaving office, nothing has been done about the issue,” Samura tells The Fatu Network over the weekend.

Koina in the upper reaches of The Gambia is one of very few communities that boasts of a school, health facility and other social amenities through the sweats and toils of her citizens. Through community self-help initiatives, Koina has succeeded in building a school that is catering to the educational needs of her children as well as a health facility that is reducing mortality rate in that part of the country. Citizens of Koina, spread across the world, pride themselves in bringing development to their home through collective, communal efforts. The one thing though that helped Koina come this far in terms of development is the fact that the people have peacefully co-existed for over 200 years.

Located 500km from the Gambian capital Banjul, Koina is a promising, growing settlement with over ten thousand residents. However, the growing feeling of deep-seated animosity between the so-called freeborns and slaves is seriously threatening the peace in which members of the community enjoy.

Visiting the remote settlement over the weekend, The Fatu Network find that there is more to the recent clash in Koina than meets the eye. A security issue deserving national attention, Koina caste problem is a combination of complex factors from tradition to economics.

The Fatu Network traced the recent clash largely to a sustained campaign for ‘equality’ in the predominantly farming community. Gambana, a Serahule world with the English equivalent of We Are All One, has been synonymous with a persistent struggle for freedom in Koina. In schools and other public places, the word Gambana is written everywhere and this has not gone down well with all residents of Koina.

It was little over two weeks when Muhammad Krubally went to the town’s mosque during the dusk prayers with a cap on which Gambana had been printed. But according to some worshippers, when they saw Krubally walked into the town mosque with the Gambana writing, it became evident that he was shooting for trouble. He was immediately hauled over by a group of worshippers and taken to the house of the Imam of the town and manhandled before been rescued by the police.

But why has Gambana become such an emotive term in Koina to the extent of arousing feelings that can lead to destruction of properties and injuries?

According to narrations of some supporters of Gambana movement, the word Gambana has come to be popularly used not only in Koina but also in some communities in the Upper River Region(URR) and beyond, to agitate for the abolishment of the term slave inherited by generations due to social arrangement.

“We became emboldened to wear Gambana T-shirts and materials when we realised that the so-called freeborns are irritated by it. It exasperates them because they don’t want to break away with the tradition of calling us slaves,” Haji Keita of so-called slave status tells The Fatu Network.

He adds: “It then metamorphosed into a sustained campaign for the abolishment of the slave label tagged on us. You can find it [Gambana] written everywhere in the town now.”

Some members of the so-called freeborns of Koina rejected the notion of Gambana, saying no-one is treating anyone inferior and therefore Gambana had no place in the community ‘only to ignite mistrust.’

Be as it may, the caste-related problem in Koina and other villages and towns in URR requires a drastic surgery for the security and safety of communities.

The Fatu Network made efforts for either the minister of information of The Gambia Ebrima Sillah or the spokesperson of the government Ebrima Sankareh to speak on the issue but none was able to give us an interview. Ebrima Sillah did not answer calls neither did he respond to a text message. The Fatu Network visited his office on Tuesday June 11 and left a message with his secretary. The secretary returned to us the following day saying the minister told her she should tell us he was busy. Ebrima Sankareh on the part told The Fatu Network he was travelling out of the country and will be unavailable for two weeks.

Editor’s note: Momodou Justice Darboe contributed to this story  

By Lamin Njie

The US Embassy in Banjul on Thursday said the United States government fully supports the government of The Gambia in its investigation into the corruption of former President Yahya Jammeh.

The Embassy in a statement said the US also supports the Gambia government’s efforts to recover the ill-gotten gains of Jammeh and his associates.

The statement added: “We commend the efforts of the Commission of Inquiry into the Financial Activities of Public Bodies, Enterprises and Offices, and those of the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General of The Gambia for their work in uncovering and documenting the kleptocratic actions and mechanisms of the former president and his associates.

“We echo President Barrow’s position that “never again” must be the focus of Gambian effort, not only in regards to the abuse of power that led to systematic, state-sanctioned gross violations of human rights, but also in the pervasive corruption that robbed the people of The Gambia and depleted the resources of this country to the benefit of only a very few.

“We encourage the government to work closely and expeditiously with the National Assembly to analyze this extensive corruption, and develop strong legislation, strong regulations, and strong rule of law-based investigative and prosecutorial mechanisms to address persons who abuse their positions of public trust to greedily benefit themselves – not only in the past, but also in the present and the future.

“Though it will be a long and involved process, the government of the United States is committed to working with the Government of The Gambia to pursue all available legal means to recover the ill-gotten gains of Yahya Jammeh and his associates identified by the Commission of Inquiry.  We encourage other governments and international organizations to render all possible assistance to the Government of The Gambia in this regard.”

By Momodou Justice Darboe

The Gambia government is involved in consultations with authorities in the United States for the recovery of Yaya Jammeh’s house in the US, says The Gambia’s justice minister.

Abubacarr Baa Tambadou on Wednesday informed members of the press that he was engaged with the US ambassador to The Gambia as measures and actions continue to recover the ill-gotten properties of President Jammeh within and outside The Gambia.

On Jammeh’s multi-million dollar house in the US, Minister Tambadou said: “I believe I heard information that the property[Jammeh’s US house] was frozen. I’m involved in exchanges with ambassador Paschal [US ambassador to Gambia]. We’ve been working on this.”

He revealed that the Gambia government is cooperating with several governments around the world in tracking and recovering Jammeh’s properties.

“With other Jammeh properties, tracking and recovery is a very sensitive matter and people have the ability to move assets around the world. And, we are cooperating with several governments. I am not at liberty to disclose the nature or the identity of those governments otherwise I risk endangering the process of recovery because those assets could be moved quickly.

“Let’s remember that assets recovery efforts outside Gambia are not unfortunately within our control. They are on foreign territory and are subject to foreign laws. We can only rely on the goodwill and the support and cooperation of those countries where some of these assets are.”

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.”