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.

President Adama Barrow has declared Monday August 12 a public holiday throughout the country.

Muslims in The Gambia will join Muslims around the world on Sunday to observe Eid al Adha known in The Gambia as Tobaski. During the feast, Muslims administer various rites including the killing of rams.

In a short statement on Thursday, the Office of the President said President Barrow “acting under Section 76 (1) of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, is pleased to declare Monday, 12th August 2019 a Public Holiday throughout The Gambia in honour of the Muslim feast of Eid-al-Adha.”

“On behalf of the First Family and the government, the president would like to wish the entire Muslim Ummah a joyous and blessed Eid celebration,” the statement said.

By Lamin Njie

Officials of the National Human Rights Commission of The Gambia on Wednesday met the top brass of the police anti-crime unit.

The unit has come under massive scrutiny following the death last month of Ousman Darboe. The Sierra Leonean is believed to have died as a result of torture allegedly meted out to him by men of the police anti-crime unit.

Mass protests erupted in Serrekunda as a result of his death with angry youths demanding justice. The youths later marched on the police anti-crime unit headquarters in Bijilo in an attempt to overrun the compound.

But on Wednesday, officials of the National Human Rights Commission launched a fact-finding mission to establish the facts and circumstance of the death of Darboe.

“It was fact-finding investigative mission. We met Gorgi Mboob, his deputy [and] all the senior officers. It was a very open and frank discussion,” Emmanuel Joof the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission told The Fatu Network.

The top human rights official added: “We will also talk to the victim’s family and the people who know about the circumstances and the situation.”

The National Human Rights Commission, created in 2017, is mandated to promote, monitor, investigate and protect human rights, as well as create a culture of human rights in The Gambia. The institution can also recommend appropriate remedial action to the government regarding a human rights violation.

Leading African Rating and PR firm, Avance Media has announced its inaugural list of 100 Most Influential African Women, which features distinguished women whose works and accomplishments continue to inspire the next generation of women in Africa.

Speaking about the list, Prince Akpah, Managing Director of Avance Media, noted that, the list has a representation of 100 women from 35 African countries who are changing the feminine narrative and challenging the status quo of women on the continent.

He also cited that, some of the honourees have expressed interest in offering mentorship opportunities to young women from across the continent through the Be A Girl Mentorship program which is being launched to upsurge the impact of the publication.

Avance Media has over the years been engaged in changing the narrative about Africa through rating and ranking publications and the launch of this initiative is expected not only to celebrate Africans but showcase the individual and collective works of women who are earnestly inspiring the next generation of leaders in Africa.

The list features women who occupy eminent leadership positions such as President, Prime Minister, Secretary General, First Lady, Governor, Minister, CEO and Commissioners.

Notable among them are Ethiopia’s President H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, Liberia’s Vice President H.E. Jewel Taylor, Namibia’s Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, United Nations Deputy Secretary General H.E. Amina J. Mohammed and former presidents, H.E. Ellen Sirleaf Johnson and H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza.

The list also features young women activists such as AU Youth Envoy Aya Chebbi, Farida Bemba Nabourema and Ilwad Elman.

Profiles of all the honouree have been published on 100women.avancemedia.org and applications for the Be A Girl Mentorship Program is also opened.

Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2019 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order.

Abiola Bawuah || United Bank for Africa (UBA)

Aïda Diarra || Visa, SSA

Amani Abou-Zeid (H.E Dr.) || African Union Commission

Amina C. Mohammed (Amb. Dr) || Kenyan Cabinet Minister

Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || United Nations

Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil (H.E) || African Union Commission

Angela Kyeremanten-Jimoh || IBM

Angélique Kidjo || Musician

Arunma Oteh || University of Oxford

Aya Chebbi || African Union Commission

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || soleRebels

Bineta Diop (H.E) || African Union Commission

Binta Toure Ndoye || The Orabank Group

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo || Batswana Cabinet Minister

Bonang Matheba || Media Personality

Carole Wainaina || Africa 50

Caroline Abel || Central Bank of Seychelles

Caster Semenya || Athlete

Catherine Samba-Panza (H.E) || Former President, Central African Republic

Cessouma Minata Samate (H.E) || African Union Commission

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie || Author

Clare Akamanzi || Rwanda Development Board

Coumba Toure || Africans Rising Movement

Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon || International Labour Organisation

Delphine Maidou || Allianz Africa

Diane Karusisi (Dr) || Bank of Kigali

Elisabeth Medou Badang || Orange Africa

Elizabeth Elango Bintliff || Junior Achievement Africa

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (H.E) || The Elders

Farida Bemba Nabourema || Togolese Civil League

Fatima K. Mohammed (H.E) || United Nations

Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura || FIFA

Fatou Bom Bensouda || International Criminal Court

Fatou Jagne Senghor || Article 19 West Africa

Folorunsho Alakija || Famfa Oil

Genevieve Nnaji || Actress

Gladys Kokorwe || National Assembly of Botswana

Graça Machel || Graca Machel Trust

Hanna Tetteh (H.E) || United Nations

Kamissa Camara (Hon) || Malian Cabinet Minister

Ibukun Awosika || First Bank of Nigeria

Ilwad Elman || Elman Peace and Human Rights Center

Irene Ovonji-Odida || The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers

Jackie Chimhanzi (Dr) || African Leadership Institute

Janine Kacou Diagou || Nsia Groupe

Jeannine Mabunda Lioko || DRC National Assembly

Jewel Taylor (H.E) || Liberian Vice President

Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko (H.E) || African Union Commission

Joyce Aryee (Dr) || Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd

Joyce Msuya || United Nations Environment Programme

Joyce-Ann Wainaina || Citi East Africa

Judy Dlamini (Dr) || University of the Witwatersrand

Juliana Kantengwa (Dr) || Pan African Parliament

Julie Gichuru || Acumen Communication Ltd

Justice Irene Mambilima || Supreme Court of Zambia

Justina Mutale || Justina Mutale Foundation

Khadja Nin || Musician

Leymah Gbowee || Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa

Linda Ikeji || Blogger

Louise Mushikiwabo || Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

Lupita Nyong’o || Actress

Mandisa Maya || Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa

Mariam Jack-Denton || National Assembly of the Gambia

Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti (Dr) || WHO

Maya Hanoomanjee || National Assembly of Mauritius

Meaza Ashenafi || Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia

Michelle Ndiaye || Africa Peace and Security Programme

Mo Abudu || Ebony Life TV

Monica Geingos (H.E) || Namibian First Lady

Mosun Belo-Olusoga || Access Bank PLC Nigeria

Nadia Fettah || Saham Finances

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala || Gavi Alliance

Nicky Newton-King || Johannesburg Stock Exchange

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (H.E) || South African Cabinet Minister

Nunu Ntshingila || Facebook Africa

Obiageli Ezekwesili || Transparency International

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde || Actress

Osaretin Demuren || GT Bank PLC Nigeria

Oumou Sangaré || Musician

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Dr) || UN Women

Precious Moloi-Motsepe (Dr) || African Fashion International

Priscilla Schwartz (Dr) || Sierra Leone Cabinet Minister

Priscillah Mabelane || BP Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

Rebecca Akufo-Addo (H.E) || Ghanaian First Lady

Rebecca Enonchong || Apps Tech

Rebecca Kadaga (Rt. Hon. ) || Parliament of Uganda

Retselisitsoe Matlanyane (Dr) || Central Bank of Lesotho

Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila (Rt. Hon. Dr) || Namibian Prime Minister

Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || Ethiopian President

Sarah Mbi Enow Anyang Agbor (Prof H.E) || African Union Commission

Sheila Tlou (Professor ) || Global HIV Prevention Coalition

Sola David-Borha || Standard Bank Africa

Sophie Ikenye || BBC Focus on Africa

Tiwa Savage || Musician

Tsitsi Masiyiwa || Higherlife Foundation

Vera Songwe (Dr) || United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Verónica Macamo || Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

Wendy Lucas Bull || Absa Group Limited

Winnie Byanyima || Oxfam International

Yvonne Chaka Chaka || Musician

By Lamin Njie

The new dalasi banknotes have started circulating nearly three months after the Central Bank announced it was replacing the features on the country’s currency. A principal move has been the removal of former president Yahya Jammeh’s portrait on the dalasi currency.

The new banknotes started circulating on Monday August 6 and The Fatu Network has been speaking to Gambians.

Alhassan Ceesay: I don’t think it’s a good thing because if you look at it, we actually spend a lot of money in order to print out those notes. I think the government should look into other things rather than printing out this money.

Musa Gaye: I think the way the new notes look is good. The old notes have a lot of differences. The D100 bills do not look alike, the D50 bills do not look alike and the money has become worn to the point it smells. So I think this is the best [thing to do].

Fatou Conteh: These new notes is better than the last one because the last one is not very nice and it’s all mopped up all the time but this one looks very good and it’s quite independent. You see a lot of Gambians in there. It’s original.

Bubacarr Keita: I just got the new D100 bills and I think it’s important that we have new banknotes. The money we had here symbolised an individual because it bore the face of our former president. So I think it’s good we are having new notes.

Amie Jobe: It’s pointless to have a portrait of presidents on the currency because a president will not be here forever. So this is a good move.

It was in May this year when the Central Bank of The Gambia announced that the country’s currency, the Dalasi, will no longer bear former president Yahya Jammeh’s portrait. The apex bank said at the time the dalasi currency will now bear features that are ‘representative’ of The Gambia. The features include various bird species in the country and historical sites.

The new banknotes in circulation include the D5, D10, D20, D50, and D100 bills. The D200 is not yet in circulation. The D25 bill has been scrapped.

By Lamin Njie

The Constitutional Review Commission has rejected suggestions its external consultations were senseless ventures.

Criticism abounded after the CRC announced in March this year that its officials will travel around the world between April and June to obtain the opinion of Gambians on the new constitution. Fourteen million dalasis was spent on the venture, one million more than what was spent on internal consultations.

On Wednesday, the CRC insisted the external consultations are justified with the commission’s chairman telling journalists at a press conference the criticism was coming from people who have not contributed anything to the new constitution project.

Cherno Jallow said: “You are talking of a difference of about just a million dalasis between the internal consultations and the external consultations.

“So you can draw your own conclusions as to whether it was really worth the exercise and I can tell you when you make that analysis, do it in a way that will include opinions from Gambians in the diaspora that have participated and I am emphasising ‘[those] that have participated’ because we’ve seen a lot of criticism and [there’s] nothing wrong with criticism.

“But a lot criticism of the external consultations [come] from persons who have to date not contributed a single word to the CRC process. So why should we stop other Gambians benefitting from the relevant platforms to engage with us and contribute ideas to the constitutional review process?”

The ECOWAS Commission on Tuesday urged ECOWAS Parliamentarians to enact laws and take other appropriate measures to protect whistle blowers in the sub-region.

Mr Eyesan Okorodudu, Head, Democracy and Good Governance, ECOWAS Commission, said this in a paper he presented on “ECOWAS Protocol on Anti-Corruption and the Regional Network (NACIWA): What Progress?”

He gave the presentation at the Delocalised Meeting of the Joint Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and APRM, Gender, Women Empowerment, Social Protection, Legal and Judicial Affairs held in Burkina Faso.

The theme of the event which is “Status of Implementation of ECOWAS Protocol A/P3/ 12/ 01 on the Fight Against Corruption: ECOWAS Parliament’s contribution thereto” is to give the overview on implementation of the Protocol which was adopted in Dakar in Dec. 2001.

Okorodudu said that the Article 5 of the fight against corruption A/P3/ 12/ 01 was of must important to the commission which borders on preventive measures.

“We want to make the parliamentarians realize that there is need for them to work around measures to protect whistle blowers.

“Because now, with the aid of social media a lot of whistle blowers do come up with very strong evidential reports on corrupt practices and when you see it on social media it becomes an all comers.

“In one of the member states the whistle blower policy did not see the light of day in the parliament and you have to get an executive order.

“It is interesting to know that with the executive order you can work to an extends, it has some limitation but when you have a law enacted like protocol requires then certainly you can do a lot to protect whistle blower.

“And also whistle blower can get the benefit of their civil responsibilities which the laws of whistle blower provide for them.”

He said that the 15 member countries of NACIWA adopted the strategy of protection tool that ECOWAS have put in place imploring them to set up a law on whistle blower stating that it was very cost intensive to embark on whistle blower policy.

“A percentage is meant to be given to the whistle blower, but the danger involved in protecting the whistle blower, the strategy involved, once you blow the whistle corruption fight back.

“And if it fights back, there are certain mechanism that needs to be put in place, one of them will be relocating the entire family of that individual.

“And people go behind the scene to expose the whistle blower, so we need to get the whistle blower policy to guide member States to come up with their laws, so if you have it as a law then the State is totally involved.”

Okorodudu, however, recommended that government should give the Anti-corruption agencies independent powers to prosecute corruption matters.

He said that media and CSO’s should ensure their oversight roles on monitoring corruption cases is done with transparency.

However, Mr Mahmoud Riadds, a Researcher with the University of Benin said that a participatory approach was needed in the fight against corruption.

He said that with the participatory approach people should not seat in their offices but meet with other relevant stakeholders to prevent corruption.

Riadds said that judges needs to be careful because they are pacesetter and if they compromise the State will be weaken and won’t be stable.

He said that in the fight against corruption, mechanisms should be emplaced to protect the life of the whistle blower. (Vanguard)

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Armed Forces on Tuesday confirmed that three detained soldiers are yet to be freed.

Malick Jatta, Omar Jallow and Amadou Badjie are set to regain their freedom following a decision by Justice Abubacarr Tambadou that the three soldiers be released. The killers have been in detention for two and a half years but rumours abounded Tuesday that they have been released.

The Gambian army’s spokesperson Major Lamin K Sanyang told The Fatu Network on Tuesday the men are yet to be released.

“They are still not released. This thing is a process and takes some time. They can only be released once everything is finalised,” Sanyang added.

By Lamin Njie

The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations has expressed concern at the decision by Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou to release three detained junglers.

Justice Minister Tambadou last Friday cleared the release from custody of Malick Jatta, Omar Jallow and Amadou Badjie. The three men who were part of former president Yahya Jammeh’s killer squad have been in detention for two and a half years. One of the men was the one who murdered top Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara.

Reacting to Mr Tambadou’s decision on Tesuday, the Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violation slammed the justice minister’s decision as ‘a quick one, which needed dialogue and further consultation with victims and other stakeholders to reach a compromising decision.’

“Such a decision will undoubtedly undermine the national reconciliation and healing efforts ushered by the ongoing truth seeking process of the TRRC,” the group said.