Lawyer Lamin K Mboge has said that it is perfectly fine for members of the Gambia Bar Association to hold different views on issues.
Mboge has come under criticism over his decision to sue embattled national assembly member Ya Kumba Jaiteh when the group that the lawyer is a member of, the Gambia Bar Association, appears to be in support of her.
Ms Jaiteh was sacked as a member of the national assembly by President Adama Barrow two weeks ago, with the Bar Association putting together a statement slamming the president over the move.
But speaking to The Fatu Network, Mboge said it is in fact healthy that members of an organisation hold different views on an issue.
Mboge said: “This is all legal, it’s all constitutional and it’s all democracy. We all have freedom of opinion, the freedom to decide what is right and what is wrong and it is the court that will determine finally what is the position. But the fact that other members of the Bar Association are in support of Ya Kumba doesn’t mean that we should also be in support.
“We are defending our constitution and the constitution has stated very clearly that any person who feels that the constitution of The Gambia is being violated that person has the right to go to court and that is why we are going to court.”
Barrister Lamin K Mboge has denied claims he sued embattled national assembly member Ya Kumba Jaiteh just to get close to President Adama Barrow.
Mboge and one other, lawyer Ibrahim Jallow, have filed a lawsuit at the supreme court against Ms Jaiteh.
In the suit, the duo are saying the president is right legally in his decision to sack Ms Jaiteh and they are asking the apex court to hand out an injunction to stop Ms Jaiteh from going to the national assembly.
The two lawyers have been taking flaks over their move, with many claiming they want to be in the good graces of the president.
But Mr Mboge told The Fatu Network on Tuesday said “we are not seeking any favour from the president and we are not trying to get close to the president.”
Mboge said: “We are only defending our constitution and defending our country from crisis. We are supporting the decision of the president based on the constitution. That it is legal. That anyone who has power to appoint or power to nominate has the same power to revoke that nomination. That is our position.”
According to Mboge, their own case is coming up at the supreme court on Wednesday.
“We are seeking for an injunction to restraint Ya Kumba from going to the national assembly because her nomination has already been revoked by the president and the space is already been occupied by another member of the assembly and that is Mr Foday Gassama.
“We are bringing this action in our personal capacity. That is in my name and the name of Lawyer Ibrahim Jallow. The two of us are the plaintiffs against the attorney general and 31 members of the national assembly who had a caucus meeting and passed a purported resolution that they were condeming the revocation of the nomination of Ya Kumba,” he said.
Boeing 737 aircraft jets have been banned from UK airspace following the Ethiopia crash which killed all 149 people on board.
Airlines TUI and Norwegian Air are amongst the carriers that will not be able to take off or land in the UK after the “precautionary measure” was announced this lunchtime.
It comes days after the Ethiopian Airlines flight went down just six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa.
The cause of the crash isn’t known, but in the aftermath of the tragedy the Boeing model was grounded by a number of countries and airlines until they are confident it is airworthy.
However, a spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the tragic incident in Ethiopia on Sunday.
“The UK Civil Aviation Authority has been closely monitoring the situation, however, as we do not currently have sufficient information from the flight data recorder we have, as a precautionary measure, issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace.
Rescuers look at a pile of debris at the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines flight(Image: VCG via Getty Images)
It will affect TUI flights, who use the aircraft
“The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s safety directive will be in place until further notice.
“We remain in close contact with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and industry regulators globally.”
It comes as Lord Tunnicliffe spoke out as TUI had earlier said it would still use its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet, touted as the “most reliable aircraft in the world”.
It took delivery in December and plans to have a total of 32.
Asked if it would take any action in response to Sunday’s Ethiopian Airlines crash, the airline said: “We are, as always, in close contact with the manufacturer. We have no indication we can’t operate our 737 Max in a safe way like all other planes in our network.”
TUI assured passengers that safety was its priority.
SilkAir has temporarily grounded its Max 8 fleet(Image: REUTERS)
Ryanair has 110 of the 737 Max200 jets – a variant of the Max 8 – which will fly on 40 routes out of London Stansted from May.
At least nine Britons were among 157 killed when the Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed six minutes after take-off on Sunday with no survivors.
In October the same 737 MAX 8 model was crashed in the Lion Air tragedy in Indonesia killing 189.
Aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said: “It’s highly suspicious…a brand-new aircraft that’s gone down twice in a year. That rings alarm bells because that just doesn’t happen.”
Lord Tunnicliffe, who flew previous models of the Boeing 737, urged the Government to stop the jets flying.
He told Transport Minister Baroness Sugg: “In my day we had a rule – if it can go wrong, it will go wrong. The industry seems to have lost sight of this. Initial reports strongly suggest the latest crash is related [to the Lion Air crash].”
A Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 that crashed into the Java Sea in October(Image: Lion Air/Twitter)
He added: “What will the Minister do? Can she explain why the Government is not taking immediate action to ground this aircraft until they have had a satisfactory explanation of the crash?”
Baroness Sugg said the Civil Aviation Authority is working with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency “and any decision to ground flights is best taken at an international level”.
Norwegian airline, which serves Manchester, Gatwick and Edinburgh, has 18 MAX 8 jets. But China, the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, South Africa and Ethiopia have grounded theirs. China said the crashes “have some degree of similarity”.
Lynette Dray of the University of Central London said of China’s decision to ground its MAX 8 fleet: “There’s just not enough information available yet to say definitively whether it is justified.”
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered from Sunday’s wreckage. Investigators said the Lion Air crash pilots had appeared to struggle with a new automated anti-stalling system.
Boeing warned airlines of a problem and is due to release a software update.
The CAA said it is “liaising with the European Aviation Safety Agency”.
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
A police officer was forced to quit five months into her job after it emerged that she had received gifts worth more than £34,000 from an 87-year-old widower.
Fatou Mendy-Sambou, 28, resigned from Gwent Police in August last year, after joining in March.
A disciplinary hearing was told she would have been dismissed if she had not resigned over the “inappropriate relationship”.
She also lied about her contact with him.
Mendy-Sambou was struck off by the hearing yesterday after pleading guilty to gross misconduct.
She first met the married pensioner while working as a carer for his wife in 2014, the hearing was told.
But when his wife died in 2015, she visited his home, initiated regular contact with him on the phone and went out for meals with him.
The hearing was told that the elderly man gave Mendy-Sambou gifts including weekly payments of £50, a £2,000 holiday to Paris, flights to Gambia, £2,700 for a master’s degree and £9,000 for a BMW.
She was given a deposit for a house and £750 towards a police training course by the widower, identified only as Mr JB.
Mendy-Sambou, from Newport, was given a £320 Michael Kors watch as a present for her birthday and a silver necklace from Sri Lanka, along with a washing machine, cooker and even a fish tank.
In the case, brought by presenting officer Kate Connell, the force alleged of Mendy-Sambou: “You accepted money and gifts from him amounting to many thousands of pounds and engaged in an inappropriate relationship with him.
“When questioned about these events, you initially lied about your contact with JB, dishonestly inventing false stories about the sources of your money to try and conceal the extent of your financial gain.
“You did this because you knew that your actions in forming and exploiting the relationship with JB were wholly wrong.”
Panel chair Susan Davies said had Mendy-Sambou continued to be a police officer she would have been “dismissed without notice”.
Maria Henry, representing the former constable, told the hearing: “She admits she behaved in the manner alleged.” (Telegraph)
A youth organisation formed to advance President Adama Barrow’s national development agenda has dismissed claims that the president was one of the people who sponsor its activities.
Kebba Lang Fofana, the secretary general of President Barrow Youths for National Development, speaking to The Fatu Network in an exclusive interview said “President Barrow is not giving any projects to Gambians through this organisation.”
Fofana said: “This organisation developed its own strategic plan for four years and on annual basis from the year 2017 we extract annual workplan and we go out there to mobilise resources for the implementation of those workplans..
“I don’t need to lie to you or anybody else, President Adama Barrow does not sponsor any of the projects undertaken by this organisation.”
Mai Fatty has said his presence at the supreme court on Monday should be understood as a personal endeavour meant to bring him up to speed with the ’emerging jurisprudence’ both as a lawyer and as a party leader.
A section of Gambians online on Monday made a mountain out of Mr Fatty’s attendance of Ya Kumba Jaiteh’s case.
A picture of the president’s special adviser was posted on Facebook by Bubacarr Sidiqi Jammeh with the caption, ‘Mai woo Fatty. Time does have a way of revealing people’s true colors, don’t it? Aling nga taa dorong.’
Fatty reacting to the criticism told The Fatu Network that “the entire media fraternity know what transpired.”
He said: “The state attorneys are known as much as the plaintiff’s. Font I have the right to be there? What’s wrong if a lawyer goes to court?
“They assumed I appeared for Barrow. Is Barrow a defendant in court? There are 3 known defendants. Is he one of those? Only parties named in a suit need representing.
“Barrow, a non party to the suit needs no legal representation. Binga Daniels announced representation for NA and AG. 2nd Defendant unrepresented. What’s therefore so alarming about me sitting in court?
“This case is unprecedented and both as a lawyer and a Party leader, I should be interested to closely follow the emerging jurisprudence. Does it mean working as Special Adviser I lost my personal identity?”
A former driver in the Gambian army on Monday detailed how Peter Singhateh and other soldiers hid in flowers on the night of November 11, 1994.
Mafugi Sonko testifying before the TRRC on a day that saw the brutal killing of at least 10 people – all soldiers – said soldiers led by Lieutenant Peter Singhateh hid in flowers near the main gate of Yundum Barracks.
November 11, 1994 is a date in infamy in The Gambia as this was when at least 10 middle ranking officers of the Gambian army were killed after they were accused of trying to overthrow Yahya Jammeh’s government. The alleged ringleader of the coup Lieutenant Basirou Barrow was among the officers killed.
Sonko in his testimony said he could recall the events that led to the arrest of some of the leaders of the coup.
Sonko said: “I was not on duties that day but on that day around 9 pm, Lieutenant Minteh who was my boss came to my room. He found me in bed. He called me, ‘Mafugi Sonko.’ And I said, ‘yes’. He asked me to come and take these lieutenants to Yundum and come back. I have not forgotten that. I know a few of them; Lieutenant LF Jammeh, Lieutenant Darboe, a light-skinned Lieutenant Jammeh, Nyancho Sanneh. Lieutenant Basirou Barrow was also among the people I took [to Yundum Barracks].
“When all these lieutenants entered my vehicle at around 10 pm, I started the car headed for Yundum Barracks. They were conversing. They didn’t know me, we didn’t even belong to the same camp. At that time, none of them had a gun, there was no fight, there was no quarel. There was no problem in the country. We went until we arrived at Yundum Barracks,
“When you’re going to Yundum Barracks coming from Bajulinding you have to turn right to enter the barracks. At the gate, there are flowers. The place is a bit dark because there are a lot of things including trees. I didn’t know until we got there. I heard gunshots. They were firing at our vehicle.
“The firing was rapid. I stopped the car and all the soldiers that I was conveying opened the doors and scrambled for safety. Lieutenant LF Jammeh and another colleague managed to escape. The rest including myself were captured. We were stripped. Lieutenant Peter Singhateh and Samba Batch, Edward Singhateh’s driver were the two who led the operation. Once we were stripped, we were all lying on the ground, we were crawling. They were kicking us as if they were kicking at a football. They also used guns to hit us.”
The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission has vowed to deal with anyone who attempts to obstruct its work.
Adelaide Sosseh, the vice chairperson of the commission, told the commission’s sitting on Monday that insofar the commission has critics “it will not tolerate persons who attempt to obstruct its work.”
Sosseh said: “The TRRC has critics and opponents. The TRRC values constructive criticism and will do all it can to address all those criticisms when they occur.
“The TRRC however, will not tolerate persons who attempt to obstruct the work of the commission or who tries to distract from its work by vilifying the integrity of the commission or the commissioners.
“The TRRC stands resolute in carrying out its mandate to the best of its ability without fear or favour and as mandated by the TRRC Act 2017.”
Sosseh’s comments come after at least two people have been arrested and charged to court for interfering with the TRRC’s work. Yankuba Touray and Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay face up to three years in jail if convicted.
The TRRC also has critics and one person who stands out is proud companion of former President Yahya Jammeh, Samsideen Sarr.
The former Gambian army commander writes long articles where he often tears into the TRRC.
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Monday adjourned the trial of Yankuba Touray after prosecutors informed the court of their desire to strengthen their case.
Yankuba Touray is on trial for allegedly interfering with the work of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission.
The former AFPRC strongman is accused of calling a witness and asking him not to cooperate with the commission. Alhagie Kanyi later turned up before the TRRC and implicated him in the brutal murder of a Gambian state minister in 1995. Touray faces up to three years in jail.
At the court on Monday, police prosecutors led by Almamy James Manga said they would have loved for the case to proceed but for the emergence of new evidence.
“We wanted to proceed but due to circumstances we’ve not been able to make progress… Investigations have taken a new dimension, new facts have started coming out. Because of that we are trying to consolidate this case and the sister case,,” Manga told the court as he prayed for an adjournment.
Touray who was represented in court did not oppose the application.
The magistrate, Isatou Janneh Njie, then adjourned the case till Friday March 22, 2019.
A small crowd on Monday gathered at the Supreme Court in Banjul chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ in a defiant show of support to embattled national assembly member Ya Kumba Jaiteh.
Ya Kumba Jaiteh on Monday began legal proceedings against the attorney general and at least three others.
It comes following her controversial sacking as a member of the national assembly by President Adama Barrow.
“We came to court to get a declaration to set aside the decision that has so far been taken by the executive,” Ms Jaiteh’s lawyer Bori Touray told The Fatu Network on Monday shortly after the case was adjourned for hearing.
Touray added: “The matter only came up for mention. There is a motion before the court in which we are seeking to restraint the swearing in of the so-called appointed new member of the national assembly. So the state said they needed time to be able to file a response to the application before the court and on that note the matter has been adjourned for hearing to Thursday.
“The action is unconstitutional.The executive cannot be interfering with the smooth functioning of the legislature, not in a democratic situation just as how he cannot interfere in the smooth running of the judiciary so it is the same as the legislature. He has a whole arm of government to be dealing with, so therefore he cannot be interfering in the proper functioning of the legislative arm of the government.”
A panel of Supreme Court justices led by Justice Hassan Jallow has adjourned Ms Jaiteh’s case until Thursday March 14 for hearing.
It is not only dangerous for a President but also for a country to have widespread public disillusionment with his government! So far the level of public discontentment with the Barrow Government is at an alarming proportion! Such discontentment is not only a national security issue but it also fundamentally and severely undermines good governance and sustainable development.
Hence Mr. Barrow needs urgent advice to salvage himself and bring the country back to the path of the high hopes that Gambians had when we decided in 2016! His blind and vigorous pursuit of his future political objectives at complete variance with the agreement and expectation that brought him to power is costing the country and citizens dearly and certainly he will not succeed in that project!
History will only absolve Barrow if he realizes that he must remain faithful to the deepest aspirations of the people that brought him to the high office. He must not just pursue his ego and seeking to associate and listen to only those individuals who will continue to massage his ego as they did with Yaya Jammeh! Just as this did not serve the interest of that Despot in the long run so also will Barrow fail woefully if he wishes to cheat Gambians!
Therefore to salvage himself and to demonstrate commitment to a New Democratic Gambia Pres. Barrow must change course immediately by taking urgent and critical decisions and actions that will set the path to bringing about system change and thereby generate public trust and confidence in his leadership and Government.
If indeed Barrow has genuine and patriotic advisors and if indeed public officials that are around him are learning any lessons from the past then they must advise him to undertake these decisions and actions with urgency and seriousness!
If he fails to listen or refuses to take these decisions and actions I would advise those advisers and officials to resign so as to prevent them from being part of another disastrous project that will harm the country and to protect and preserve their integrity, credibility and conscience!
Be open, truthful and honest to Gambians by sharing full, timely and accurate information on all issues with Gambians!
Conduct a comprehensive civil service reform to address indiscipline, inefficiency and corruption and transform the civil service into a true engine of national growth and development.
Conduct a comprehensive security sector reform to cleanse our security institutions of all vestiges and practices of the past to transform them into true instruments of protection and security for the people.
Interdict security officers who confessed at the TRRC for either engaging in or condoning torture until after the TRRC to decide their fate. This will send a strong signal to all rank and file security personnel that never again will abuse be tolerated and for all senior officers to realize that they must not issue unlawful orders to junior ranks.
Interdict public officials who confessed at the Janneh Commission for breaking the General Orders and Financial Instructions until after the Janneh Commission to decide their fate. This will send a strong signal to all public servants that they bear the greatest responsibility to uphold the rule of law and protect public resources under their lawful care.
Close down NIA until after TRRC so that victims and citizens in general would trust that indeed Barrow is committed to system change and particularly to the Never Again agenda.
Interdict, retire or dismiss key enablers of the Dictatorship from Cabinet and strategic positions in the security sector and the civil service including the foreign service. This will send a strong signal to all public servants to realize that when you hold public office your allegiance should only be to the people and you will perform your functions according to the law and not to dance to the whims and caprices of any superior officer.
These actions are necessary to demonstrate to Gambians that indeed Barrow intends to have a clean and an accountable government that meets the needs and aspirations of the people. It will serve to generate public trust and confidence in him as a president and as well serve as a lesson to all security officers and public officials that abuse of office, corruption and disregard of the rule of law will not be tolerated!
With these actions Barrow would have cleansed and purified his government to become a true instrument of the people. So far it is clear that indeed Barrow is utilizing the Yaya Jammeh textbook because he has surrounded himself with former Jammeh enablers who push him towards that agenda in pursuit of his selfish political interests. He has also surrounded himself with new people who lack conviction and are prepared to entertain his selfish agenda to hold on to power by any means even unnecessary.
Barrow needs to push out all former and new enablers and surround himself with Gambians with conscience who will guide him towards national salvation and progress!
While he is yet to do that it is however pertinent to remind all public servants that there is absolutely no excuse for any public officer to abuse power and misuse your office in the name of executing orders and claim ignorance!
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, was honoured with the Warrior Award at the International Women of Power Luncheon in California, U.S.A. The award was presented to Her Excellency by international actress Jackie Appiah for her bravery and outstanding contribution towards women and girls in Sierra Leone.
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The International Women of power event celebrates women who are pace-setters, trailblazers and strong voices on issues of women and girls. First Lady Bio in her acceptance speech, reiterated that Africa has the youngest population and as a continent, we are destined for greatness. She also urged men to be part of the drive, to ensure women in Africa achieved their full potential. She also put out a stern warning that sexual perverts must #HandsOffOurGirls.
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The event brought together world celebrities like Wendy Raquel Robinson(Host), Tiffany Haddish, Ryan Destiny, Nomzamo Mbatha, Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah as honorees and stars like Jackie Appiah, Malinda Williams, Edwina Findley and Raven Goodwin, among others.
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It could be recalled that Madam Fatima Maada Bio in early October 2018 at an event in New York, was recognised and ranked among the Global Top 100 most influential women of African decent under 40 years.
An Ethiopian Airlines jet has crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all on board, the airline says.
It said 149 passengers and eight crew members were believed to be on flight ET302 from the Ethiopian capital to Nairobi in Kenya.
The airline added that there were 33 different nationalities on board.
The crash happened at 08.44 local time, six minutes after the months-old Boeing 737 Max-8 took off.
It is not yet clear what caused the accident.
An eyewitness at the scene told the BBC there was an intense fire as the aircraft hit the ground.
“The blast and the fire were so strong that we couldn’t get near it,” he said. “Everything is burnt down. There are four helicopters at the scene now.”
First word of the crash came when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his “deepest condolences” on Twitter.
In an earlier statement, the airline said that search and rescue operations were under way near the crash site around the town of Bishoftu, which is 60km (37 miles) south-east of the capital.
“Ethiopian Airlines staff will be sent to the accident scene and will do everything possible to assist the emergency services,” the statement added.
Boeing, the company that built the aeroplane, said in a tweet that it was “closely monitoring the situation”.
Its 737 Max-8 aircraft is relatively new to the skies, having been launched in 2016. It was added to the Ethiopian Airlines fleet in July last year.
Another plane of the same model was involved in a crash five months ago, when a Lion Air flight crashed into the sea near Indonesia with nearly 190 people on board. (BBC)
The National Reconciliation Party has denied the reported defection of dozens of its members to the United Democratic Party.
UDP on Saturday held a rally in Farafenni, North Bank Region, with a prominent member of the party claiming that more than 50 people have abandoned NRP and have gone on to join UDP.
“More than 50 people from nrp have switched their allegiance from little nrp headed by their chairman Dorro Bah to mighty UDP!!!! They just sake hand with our leaders,” Bakary Njie, a UDP national assembly member, said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
NRP quickly responded to the claims, saying they were false.
“We want to inform the general public that the information circulating on social media purporting that hundreds of NRP supporters led by Doro Bah cross carpeted to UDP, is false,” NRP said on its official Facebook page.
According to the party, Dora Bah was the APRC Chairman for Lower Saloum constituency.
“He joined UDP and recently got elected as it’s CRR Chairman. It is therefore illogical to say he cross carpeted to a party he already holds chairmanship or led people from a party he was never a member,” it added.
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has wooed academics and students at Harvard Law School during a forum on Sierra Leone organised by the Centre for African Studies, Harvard University.
Delivering his keynote address, a confident President Bio said that he has prioritised human capital development because that is the foundation for sustainable development.
In his usual unique description of human capital development, he told his audience about the three components of human capital development which include education, food security and healthcare. In addition to the free quality education, he also highlighted measures he has undertaken for food security and accessible healthcare.
President Bio also said that he was in Harvard University to seek partnership and collaboration through experience sharing, knowledge sharing and learning. Discussing the cost of his flagship programme, free quality education, he also said that “ignorance is more expensive than education”.
President Bio used the forum discussion which coincided with International Women’s Day to higlight some of his policies which have been targeted towards the protection and empowerment of women and girls in Sierra Leone. In the area of education, he spoke about grants-in aid for female students pursing sciences in tertiary institutions. A passionate President Bio also explained about the state of emergency on rape and sexual violence as part of series of measures to protect girls and women.
President Bio also highlighted his achievements in revenue mobilisation and control of expenditure to demonstrate his efficient economic management of the state. He spoke of his war against corruption and the commissions of inquiry to ensure democratic accountability to the people.
During the dialogue forum there were also expert presentations by academics in the following areas: Dr Paul Farmer presented on Healthcare Infrastructure and Healthcare Delivery; Professor Fernando Reimers presented on K-12 Education for a Global World; Professor Margaret McMillan presented on Economic Development in Sub-saharan Africa and Professor Raymond Atuguba presented on Law and Governance in Sierra Leone.
Earlier, President Bio held discussion with the Harvard University President, Larry Bacow and senior academics of the University wherein a partnership between Harvard University and Sierra Leone was discussed.
Later in the evening, President Bio was also hosted to an investors dinner where the Presidential Adviser on Economic and Financial Policy, Mr Joe Demby, presented the Sierra Leone Investment Ecosystem Strategy and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Mrs Nabeela Tunis presented on investors’ experience in Sierra Leone. During the investors’ dinner, President Bio also assured investors of his commitment to improve the investment climate in Sierra Leone and invited them that Sierra Leone is open for business.
The Gambia Police Force has said it is investigating the death of Edmond Thomas.
Mr Thomas is reported to have died under curious circumstances on Wednesday at a mechanic shop in Brikama.
The police in a statement on Saturday said they are aware of Mr Thomas’ death and that investigations were ongoing.
The statement from the GPF press office read: “On Wednesday 06 March, 2019, approximately 1730 hours, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police received information that the lifeless body of a man identified as Edmond Thomas was found lying under the chassis of a fuel tanker at the premises of Global Electrical Group (GEG) in Brikama.
“Preliminary investigations revealed Mr. Thomas was a mechanic supervisor at GEG until he was laid off some six months ago. On the fateful day, it is believed he drove to the location in his private vehicle, a black Pajero marked BJL 5388 B, and upon arrival, removed some parts from the fuel tanker which belongs to his former employer, GEG.
“Mr. Thomas’ body was found by the spouse of Mr. Foday Ceesay, a man employed by GEG to secure their premises. She informed her husband and he reported the matter to Kabafita Police Station.
“After taking appropriate actions, the Police moved the deceased to Brikama Health Centre and eventually Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for autopsy.
“The Office of the Inspector – General of Police hereby informs the public investigations are ongoing and its outcome will be made public as soon as possible.”
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr. Moustapha Cisse Lo has disclosed that ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, (ECOFEPA) has championed the legislation for the enhancement of women participation in politics in West Africa.
Cisse Lo made this disclosure at the end of a three day conference on Single Currency organised by ECOWAS Parliament in Dakar Senegal.
Mr. Cisse Lo said, “Women through the instrumentality of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, ECOFEPA, have championed the legislation for the enhancement of women participation in politics in West Africa.
“I acknowledge the roles played by the ECOFEPA, women caucus, with citizenry of the community.”
“The improvement of legislation for the citizen’s empowerment and their contributions towards ensuring further participation of women in political life in West Africa”.
International Women’s day is celebrated on March, 8th every year as a focal point in the movement for woman’s rights. This year’s theme which is #BalanceforBetter is a call to action for driving gender balance across the world.
Some Female members of the ECOWAS Parliament who spoke on what the day means to them.
Mrs. Veronica Sesay, who is also a member of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, said the International Women’s Day is a great day because it is very essential for women to be recognized for their role in the society.
She decried the fact that women are the vulnerable and contribute immensely to the society, out of the whole year; the role of the women is just acknowledged just a day out of 365 days in a whole year.
According to Mrs. Sesay” we are mothers, sisters, Aunties, so I am very much happy that this day is a day that should be worth celebrated by every woman.”
In my own parliament in Sierra Leone we have 12% representation but not withstanding, we interact because we have the male champions that work in collaboration with us whenever we have issues of women they come along with us.
“Just two weeks ago, we adopted a resolution for peace and security, for all the women in the whole world, in the adoption there is violence against women, affirmative action, all these was embedded in that resolution, in my country.”
“We don’t discriminate against women in Sierra Leone, just that sometimes, it is very difficult for women to come on board, but if we have the affirmative action adoption put in place, things will be better.”
Fatoumatta Njai, a member of the Gambian National Assembly, said women should be celebrated every day, because of the role they play in the society.
She noted in the Gambian Parliament, female parliamentarians are only seven percent.
For Ama Pomaa Boateng, a Ghanaian Parliamentarian and a member of ECOWAS Parliament said the day creates opportunity to promote the advancement and recognition of roles of women in any society.
Politically in Ghana, Boeteng noted that there has been increase in women participation.
She said, “Women should strive to compete favourable with their male counterparts.
A raft of Gambians have taken to social media to ridicule Musa Batchilly after the Gambia Action Party leader audaciously claimed he could fix The Gambia in 90 days.
“If they can borrow me Gambia, if they can borrow me. If Barrow can step out, borrow me, Gambia for like 90 days, Wallahi 90 days I will do a proper, effective impact the whole entire dunya (world) will talk about it. [In] 90 days I will do proper management. It [Gambia] [will] start walking,” Batchilly exclusively told QTV.
Gambians have taken turns on social media to react to Mr Batchilly’s comments.
Faith Cole posting a one-minute video of Mr Batchilly’s QTV interview on Facebook commented: “Belie where did this man come from, Gambia belie du dem (Gambia will not move).”
Pa Amang Sanneh, reacting to Faith Cole’s post, said: “Too bad I had to watch this gruesome show of a man. I’d rather we encourage leadership of people who are well contained in their emotions and ideas hence exhibit these in very excellent ways without having to sound aggressive, bullish and sarcastic. Met the man once in person some time last month, exchanged pleasantries though however snippets of this interview gave me an insight as to how much of power hungry individuals we have within our midst. God Save The Gambia.”
Gambia First, said: “Hahahahaha….OMG ” If they can borrow me Gambia 90 days, I will do a proper effective impact “…I will bring a battalion of proper technocrats “….I thought General Baxso was the worst English speaker among our politicians, but this Man surpassed him… Definitely kee dafa yabb Gambians…who in their right mind will vote for this clown ? Let him go sir somewhere please with his wolengish ( wollof + english ) dialect…lol”
Awa Omadi Sarr said: “…Borrow me Gambia… With that grammar, he might be worse than Barrow.”
Kebba Ceesay said: “Hahaha seriously ths guy is a clown… So thsi guy was an executive member of GDC… No wonder they failed.”
Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh has said that President Adama Barrow is a deportee from Germany.
Sankareh made the astonishing revelation during a panel discussion on QTV on Thursday.
“The immigration issue… This question for me is a very passionate issue. It is very emotional. I have my own son deported from America. President Adama Barrow, the president of The Republic of The Gambia is a deportee from Germany, today he is the president of the Republic of The Gambia,” Sankareh told QTV’s Viewpoint even as he fell short of stating why Germany deported President Barrow.
The Gambia government is facing the full fury of the Gambian public in its handling of the deportation issue.
Anti-deportation campaigners holding a protest on Thursday demanded an end to what they describe as the government’s silence on the issue.
““We are here to send a message on behalf of our brothers in the diaspora. This movement came as a result of the announcement of the deportation of 2500 Gambians from Germany. It’s about government’s silence about deportation that’s what triggered this movement,” Omar Saibo Camara, one of the leaders of Thursday’s protest told fellow protesters at Westfield.
But the Gambia government on Friday said it has imposed a moratorium on the deportation of Gambians from Europe.
“Following intense diplomatic negotiations regarding the plight of thousands of Gambians facing potential mass deportations from across Europe, The Government of President Adama Barrow has imposed a moratorium on repatriations pending further negotiations with our European partners,” government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said in a statement on Friday.
Government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said Friday the Gambia government has struck an agreement with Germany to temporarily halt the deportation of Gambians from Germany.
Sankareh stated this in a statement he signed and sent to news media organisations including The Fatu Network on Friday.
Sankareh said: “Following intense diplomatic negotiations regarding the plight of thousands of Gambians facing potential mass deportations from across Europe, The Government of President Adama Barrow has imposed a moratorium on repatriations pending further negotiations with our European partners.
“After a frank and amicable meeting; first between the German Ambassador Stephen Roken and the Interior minister, Mr. Ebrima Mballow and later between Ambassador Roken and Gambian vice President H. E. Ousainou Darboe, witnessed by senior officials of the Gambian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, The Gambia government agreed with Germany to halt the planned mass deportations while better and more humane modalities are worked out. Meanwhile, Government is meeting visiting senior British officials on Monday and will be sending a correspondence to our Spanish, Italian, British and Austrian allies formerly informing them of the moratarium on pending repatriations.
“During the discussions, vice President Darboe responding to wild allegations of complicity in the ongoing repatriation of Gambians, made it categorically clear that “neither me nor Mai Fatty ever signed any agreement to deport Gambians from Europe” and expressed natural curiosity over the source of these unfounded allegations. This matter was corroborated by the German envoy that his government never signed any such deal or agreement with any Gambia government officials and that he was in fact, willing to face the media on this unfounded story. Therefore, the Government of The Gambia wishes to make it categorically clear that it has never received money from any European country to facilitate the mass deportation of Gambians as is persistently alleged. These are mere allegations and our European partners can be contacted by journalists and all concerned citizens for further verification.
“In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mamour Jobe, and a cross-section of the Service Chiefs had a very successful meeting at his office with representatives of Concerned Youth Gambia (CYG) who passionately deliberated on the inhumane nature of deportations and the associated social stigma and indulged The Gambia government to immediately intervene. IGP Jobe thanked Messrs. Yerro Jallow, Muktarr Saho and Malang Camara of CYG for their legitimate concerns over the plight of our fellow citizens and informed them of both the Government and Police’s equal interest in the protection and security of all its citizens. IGP Jobe assured the CYG representatives that Government takes the plight of deportees very seriously as evident in the on-going discussions at home and diplomatic negotiations with European partners.
“In the end, the police and CYG were able to reach an understanding, a permit was issued for their planned demonstration to highlight the plight of deportees which finally took place peacefully on Thursday at the West Field Youth Monument.”
