By State House Media

Her Excellency, First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow on Wednesday 30^th January, 2019, presided over the launching of Nsaa Keno: Nutrition and Protection for Children on the Move project at Jarra Soma, Lower River Region.

The project seeks to strengthen regional and local government structures, provide an opportunity for all people to understand the rights of children, and the need for their protection. Additionally, it is designed to provide adequate nutrition to maximize the potential of children in the country.

In her statement, the First lady described the launching as opportunity for government and stakeholders to fulfill their commitment to upholding Children’s rights. She said in her new role as a champion of the Children on the Move initiative, she would continue advocating for the implementation of enacted legislation and policies that protects the rights of children.

‘’I will continue working with Civil Society Organizations and the UN system in The Gambia to reach out to communities and families in a bid to increase awareness on how to ensure and maintain the best interest of the child at all times’’, she stressed.

First lady Barrow commended the Italian government, through its Ambassador, and the UN system in The Gambia, particularly UNICEF and UNDP, for supporting such a project.For her part, the Governor of Lower River Region, Fatou Jammeh Touray said the Nsa Kenno project will provide better social services to the taxpayers and make decentralization a smooth process.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana highlighted the leading role UN plays in pushing the agenda of the government, particularly the National Development Plan, while stating that the project is aimed at reducing malnutrition among children and discouraging migration through creating opportunities. The Italian Ambassador to Senegal, Francesco Paalo Vanier said children issues are as important to Italy as it is to Gambia. He said the fight against child malnutrition is breaking away from poverty.

The event was punctuated by cultural performances by women group in the Soma.

The Gambia Press Union on Thursday said it learnt with delight the move by the Government of The Gambia to lift national education levy on the print media.

According to a press release by the union, on Monday November 26, 2018, the Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr Mambury Njie, told the National Assembly that all print media houses in the country are now exempt from the payment of the National Education and Technical Levy effective 2019.

“The GPU welcomes this announcement as a major boost towards the promotion of an enabling environment for vibrant media industry. The Union applauds the Newspaper Publishers Association for their constructive engagement with the government on the issue,” the union said.

The press release continued: “The media in The Gambia is constrained by undue tax burden. Media houses are required to pay a number of tax levies, including education tax, newspaper sales tax, advertising sales tax and income/value added tax. Heavy import duty is placed on printing materials.

“The Union has consistently pointed out that the tax regime on media was imposed out of censorial motive. It has been particularly used by the former government to restrain the growth of the press and suppress dissent.”

The GPU President, Mr Sheriff Bojang Jr., said: “By imposing heavy tax and other financial burdens, the government ensured that the newspapers have limited capacity to expand production, hire more competent staff and award improved remuneration.”

He added: “We welcome exemption as an important first steps toward removing the economic stranglehold of the media. Of course, we could do better by doing a more comprehensive review of the tax regime as it applies to media.”

The Gambia Press Union has constantly been advocating for the review of the country’s tax regime as it applies to media. On May 3, 2017 – barely three months after the inauguration of the new government – the Union submitted to the government a Position Paper on Freedom of Expression, which among others calls for review of the tax regime.

By Lamin Njie

Former secretary general Momodou Sabally on Thursday took a swipe at the chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission for saying that Gambians have lost faith in government.

CRC chairman Cherno Jallow told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday that “it is an understatement to say that Gambians generally have lost faith in government – and that is any government.” His comments have drawn him flaks.

Former secretary general and head of the civil service Momodou Sabally tackling Mr Jallow in a letter titled, ‘On Faith in Government and Related Matters: Epistle to the Chairman, CRC,’ wrote: “My Lord, Most Respected Justice of our Supreme Court,

“I submit the following address to you with respect. The submission is in relation to your recent statement that “Gambians generally have lost faith in government”. You were quick to diffuse the inherent innuendo in that statement by generalising that utterance but the accusation and insidious condemnation in that flagrant statement is just too obvious.

“I wish I could have submitted to you a more genial address but you have confirmed my suspicions about you and your ilk who have been trusted and thrusted unto our national governance re-calibration process despite the fact that you have turned your back on this country virtually pretending that there was no country called The Gambian during the last two decades. My angst about such attitude against our country was amply presented in my essay entitled “The Great Retreat”.

“But if you have been given an opportunity to come and serve despite your past nonchalance about our nation, the least you can do is to think and act in a manner that is fair, honest and sincere.

“Indeed, I have been suspicious about the inner intentions of a lot of the “new comers” on the scene. And by “new comers” I do not refer to those who were in active opposition to the past status quo, for they have all earned my respect even if I may have been on the opposite end of the political spectrum. By new comers, I refer to those who were either sitting on the fence or completely took a break/retreat from national affairs, totally giving up on our country because of one man.

“Your case has been a bit more sanguine because I heard some very positive personal testimonies about your integrity and sense of fair play; but your statement which I read on the Fatu Network practically condemning our government is definitely uncalled for and I deem it an attack on our governance framework that could be detrimental to the progress we yearn for in our new democracy-building project.

“But why should I be surprised that such a statement is coming from your end? Truly the way and manner you and your team have been conducting the constitutional review process has gotten many independent observers concerned/worried about the outcome of your work.

“Your series of ‘bantaba’ meetings that is loosely coordinated and conducted with “leading questions/questionnaires” has given some of us the impression that those at the helm of the Constitutional Review Commission just might have their own predetermined outcomes for our envisaged new constitution and are proceeding in a determined way to ensure that their preferred outcome is served on the national menu in such a careful way that the hungry innocent public would have no choice but to take what they are served.

“In view of the foregoing and knowing the vested interests already lined up, the concerned voices referred to above now fear a potential brexit-type situation in our upcoming referendum. Will you lead us to such a terrible situation?

“My Lord, the main challenge your commission is facing is communication. The messages coming from your consultation process have been incongruent and sometimes out right misleading. For instance your statement that “Gambians do not trust the educated class” is at odds with the general message we have received from your end about what level of academic qualification should be a requirement for those aspiring to become President. Or is this a case of your own biases and prejudice overriding the general views of the public you have consulted?

“Lest I lose track, my Lord, let me zero in on my refutation of your thesis/verdict on the relationship between our government and the governed.

“If you surmise that the people have lost faith in government, are you not the face and body of that government? You have toured the country in a black Pajero with a vanity number plate and what do you think? Don’t you know that the very way and manner you presented yourself to the people (especially the rural folks) has made them to view you as part and parcel of that government you are talking about? If you can come in as chairman of a 2-year commission and get yourself a brand new Pajero worth roughly D3million; what moral authority do you have to re-echo the public’s supposed lack of faith in government, knowing very well that some of those misinterpreted grievances is about the non-judicious use of public resources?

“There is information out in the public that you and your team at CRC are to embark on an overseas tour supposedly to consult Gambians abroad at a huge cost to the tax payer. Didn’t we have enough Gambians from the diaspora on vacation here from November to date? Couldn’t  you and your team have gathered a statistically significant sample from these visitors to consult them on the constitution? The proposed trip is what we call in classic government parlance “per diem mongering”. If you and your team, the current ubiquitous face of government, are so intent on a cash splurge at a time when budget concerns are critical in The Gambia, why wouldn’t the people ‘lose faith’ in government?

“My Lord, I take exception to your accusation-cum-verdict, and submit that The Gambian people still have faith in their government, imperfect as that government may be. And truly there is no perfect government in this world; not even the ones you were serving prior to your current role in the very government you have just condemned.

“The recent Afro Barometer survey, came out with very interesting conclusions and any fair-minded analyser of the outcome of that survey would definitely disagree with your observations coming out from your costly ‘raba-raba ’ CRC consultation tour. The broad outcome of the said survey showed that Gambians have faith in their government despite qualms about some governance issues. Your duty is to help us to a get a document that would improve our governance infrastructure, not to go on a negative PR campaign to undo what we have as at now.

“I do hope, my Lord, you would consider my address with a view to review your verdict  on our government, and make a new ruling to absolve the government of your previous indictment.

“I submit the foregoing, with due respect, and therefore, I rest my case.”

Meanwhile the head of communication at the CRC Sainey Marenah told The Fatu Network editor on Thursday the CRC chairman was ‘misquoted’ by the online news media and that they were preparing a statement.

By State House Media

His Excellency, President Adama Barrow told the visiting Interior Minister of Spain that any progressive discussion on migration between the Kingdom of Spain, and the European Union in general, must take into account domestic socio-economic challenges facing The Gambia and other African countries as a whole.

President Barrow made the remarks during a courtesy call with the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Spain at the State House in Banjul. The high ranking Spanish official is in the country to discuss and strengthen bilateral relations with his Gambian counterpart – the Minister of Interior, Hon. Ebrima Mballow, who accompanied them to the State House.

The President said cooperation with European partners must include development strategies focused on building capacities to empower youths as well as strengthen the national economy for jobs creation in order to reduce exodus of youths and the risks cross-border criminal activities.

While stating that The Gambia has a long standing relations with the people and government of the Kingdom of Spain, the president said his government is committed to advancing the ties from strength to strength.

Following the closed-door discussion with the president, His Excellency, Mr. Fernando Grandea Marlaska Gomez spoke to the State House media corps reaffirming the position of the president on the migration debate: “We agreed that security should not be our only area of consideration… other social and economic areas are equally important to security. If we want to get a peaceful relations between Europe and Africa, we have to get into development”.

He added that Spain and The Gambia are going to work to improve the human resource base of Gambians, particularly security outfits in the areas civil protection, among others. He argued that fighting irregular migration networks is a common concern for both countries. And so are transnational criminal organizations such as narcotic networks.

The Minister maintained that everyone has the right to live anywhere they want. People should also be given the opportunity to live where they want, according to the diplomat. Therefore, Spain and The Gambia have to work together to be in equal partnership, he added.

By Mammy Saidykhan

Shop owners at Serrekunda Market on Wednesday called on the Kanifing Municipal Council to perfect efforts aimed at arresting the recent rise in burglary incidents at the market.

Serrekunda Market, one of the largest business centres in The Gambia, is hit by a new rise in burglary cases. Shop-owners blame the situation on lack of proper security.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, Buba Drammeh a vendor at the serrekunda market said thieves had broken into his shop and took some items.

“I was sleeping when I received a call and I was told that some thieves broken in my shop and they took some items, a friend told me that he recongised my bag in which my laptops were in,” Buba said.

“I went to police and it was confirmed that they were my laptop, we have a technician, who was given two phones to repair, an iPhone5S and an iPhone6S, he said he didn’t see those phones.”

According to Drammeh, incidents of burglary is on the rise at the market, a situation that has been made known to the authorities.

He said: “This is too much, we had two break-ins last year in the same market. We made our reports and the police said they will do their investigations. In November, they (thieves) attempted to break three shops but they succeeded in breaking one. In December again, they stole 56 mobile phones and 20 laptops at different shops.”

Abdoulie Nget, another shop-owner, said: “We were told that our shop was broken by thieves but when I came, I realised that they attempted to break in but couldn’t succeed.”

Demba Njie, on his part, said: “The problem is worsening by the day. [In] the past two years, every two [or] three months [there] will be a break-in case, sometimes two to three shops.”

The Gambia Revenue Authority has recognised and awarded top GSM company Africell as the biggest and best tax compliant business in the country for the year 2017.

This prestigious award was conferred on Africell at a ceremony presided over by vice president Ousainu Darbo at the Paradise Suites hotel. It was the 3rd edition staged by GRA to recognise companies who respected their tax obligations to standard. Africell’s award is recognition of the company’s judicious payment and general commitment for tax compliance for the year under review.

Ebrima Barry, head of human resources at Africell, who happily received the award on behalf of the company from the vice president, said the recognition symbolises the general commitment of Africell as the biggest taxpayer in the country promising that the company will not shy away from fulfilling its social corporate responsibilities and at the same time respect its tax obligations.

He said the most difficult thing for a business is to pay correct taxes. “So if we are recognised as the highest taxpayer we cannot ask for more”, Barry said.

Mr Hussein Diab, director of operations at Africell said the award solidifies without doubt Africell’s contribution to the economy of The Gambia as the largest operator with over 1.6 million subscribers.

He further revealed that the company will further endeavour to introduce more exciting and rewarding experiences in boosting the country’s economy.

The Commissioner General of GRA Yankuba Darboe commended Africell and encouraged other organisations to emulate their footsteps in fulfilling tax obligations towards the resuscitation of the Gambian economy.

Africell launched its operation in The Gambia in 2001 with a mission of making telecommunication accessible to every Gambian at the most affordable rates and has since then positioned itself as the largest operator and have been selected as the service provider of the year for the last six years. (Standard newspaper)

By Jaka Ceesay Jaiteh

The chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission Cherno Jallow on Wednesday said that Gambians generally have lost faith in their government.

Mr Jallow speaking at a press conference in Kotu in relation to the commission’s just ended country-wide consultation programme said the process afforded many Gambians with the ‘rare opportunity’ to vent their frustration at how government is administered.

“The sum of the most pertinent issues raised by the Gambian community at large relates to concerns about the governance of the country,” Jallow told journalists.

“It is an understatement to say that Gambians generally have lost faith in government – and that is any government.”

The Constitutional Review Commission chairman also said Gambians do not trust the educated class “that they seem to view as untrustworthy, greedy, unreliable and without conscience.”

He said: “One even indicated that he does not trust his own educated sons because of how he has seen them amass their wealth. Some amongst them have even called for farmers to lead this country.”

Meanwhile the chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission has said his commission recognizes the importance of managing public expectations.

“The new constitution cannot embrace everything. However, the people we have consulted with have spoken and we have listened,” Cherno Jallow added.

The former Minister of Justice of The Gambia Fafa Mba’I met the editor of Foroyaa over a news article published by the respectable daily.

Former agriculture minister Omar Jallow claimed Monday Fafa Mba’I was among a group of people mostly soldiers who threatened to execute him in 1994.

And According to Foroyaa, Mr Fafa Mba’I approached the editor of the paper to claim that what Foroyaa published was not said by Mr Omar Jallow.

“The editor spoke to the reporter who submitted the recording. This is a verbatim report of what was recorded: ‘On the 9, in the morning, we heard a truck and a lot of noise and all former ministers were brought out of their cells. We lined up at the door and we saw Sanna Sablly, Sadibou Hydara and Fafa Mba’I who was the then Minister of Justice coming with a lot of soldiers and then when he arrived, he said he has information that all of you should have been executed, you are corrupt and you have done so much bad deeds to Gambians but the Council, they are humane and it is going to set an example on one person, that is Omar Jallow. He is going to be executed on Friday by a firing squad and then he said all the other ministers should be released and they started calling the names of the ministers and they called and they all left,’” the paper wrote in its Question of the Day.

Halifa Sallah has said that Omar Jallow gave a distorted account of where he (Sallah) was detained when they were arrested as members of a coalition of political parties in 2005.

The national assembly member for Serekunda was among a group of NADD leaders who were arrested after they were accused of engaging in subversive activities. Others arrested were Omar Jallow and Hamat Bah.

Omar Jallow testifying before the TRRC on Monday said he was arrested and taken to Mile Two in 2005 where he met Hamat Bah and Halifa Sallah.

Reacting to OJ’s claims, Sallah said OJ’s account of his detention in 2005 was wrong.

Sallah, who is also the leader of PDOIS, said in a letter written to OJ: “I am still wondering what you were trying to prove by giving a distorted account of where I was detained in 2005 when we were arrested as members of the NADD leadership and arraigned before Justice Paul charged, with Sedition.

“For your information, the use of the carrot and stick tactics by security agents is a byproduct of psychological warfare which regimes use to tame their critics and ensure forced confession. Torture is meted to break the spirit of the victim. Those who wish to win the psychological warfare must display resilience so that the agents would be convinced that they are not susceptible to torture to give false confession.

“When I was arrested on Friday I was not taken to any police station. I was taken to the NIA Headquarters after they announced that I had absconded which led me to call  Alhaji Seringe Faye to tell him that the broadcast was false before leaving with NIA Officers. This is what led my wife to write a letter to Jammeh to confirm that she witnessed my arrest and any claim of absconding was a fabrication.

“The letter I wrote to Jammeh which led to the arrest would be published again as part of my open letter to the TRRC.

“I do not know when you and Mr. Hamat Bah were arrested and where you were taken before you reached Mile Two Central Prisons.

“What is certain is that I stayed in a cell at the NIA where I defied sleep for two nights and was removed on the third day when they knew that they would never succeed in getting me to lie or sit on a floor powdered with ashes. Instead of being struck by despair I nursed my curiosity in doing more findings on what goes on in that building. I guess they did not want me to know more. Hence I was taken to the maximum security wing, at Mile Two where I was detained in the cell block where Ex-Mayor AbdouLie Conteh and Ex-Interior Minister Samba Bah were also detained. When Abdoulie Conteh was arrested from the airport and taken to Mile Two he passed my cell which was the next to Lamin Darboe’s Cell – an executed death row prisoner.

“I know you have always taken me for a political rival but truth and reconciliation is about putting the past behind us after the truth is said.

“History cannot be rewritten. It is incontrovertible that the Government you served did not even have a war Cabinet and the Commander-in-Chief abandoned his troops at the most critical moment, thus depriving them of any command and control structure, resulting in the paralysis of the whole security apparatus leaving those who were more prepared to take over the mantle of leadership to do so.

“After this development the only glorious task worth taking pride in is the rolling back of the change which took place through the bullet in 1994 by effecting change through the ballot box in 2016 which makes the TRRC possible to be constituted.

“I hope you will put the record straight. I do not think that you have any doubt that I carried out my duty without fear or favour, affection or ill will, as coordinator of NADD, as dictated by the times and circumstances. I would be prepared to engage you in any forum if you wish to defend that your narration on my place of detention was correct.

“While hoping that taking oath would be a reminder to everyone who appears to testify that one must speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

The Gambia Refugee Association Europe Branch on Wednesday called on the Gambia government to intervene in the ongoing efforts by European countries to deport thousands of Gambians.

At least 15 undocumented Gambian migrants were on Tuesday deported from Germany, a move that has caused panic within the Gambian refugee community in Europe.

The Gambia Refugee Association Europe Branch in a statement signed by the chairman Buba Barrow said it is “soliciting efforts towards finding a peaceful and positive solution to our problems.”

The statement read: “We are very much concerned about the ongoing trend of deportation that Germany is taking currently against Gambian refugees and migrants. Last Month, the Interior minister for Baden-Württemberg Region Thomas Strobl was quoted as saying in the news media publication on 28 November 2018, that there are 2,500 Gambian refugees whose asylum cases have been rejected and are already identified to be deported.

“He said from last month onwards, 15 Gambians will be deported every month until the total number of 2, 500 identified refugees is completed. Again, he was quoted as saying, besides the said number, there are 5,400 remaining Gambian asylum seekers who are either waiting for an answer from their interviews or have not yet done any interview. There are 14,000 registered Gambia asylum seekers in Baden-Württemberg Region and the remaining are either waiting for an interview or have already got their documents.

“As we speak, many Gambians were deported in December 2018 and there are plans to deport many more Gambians at the end of this month too. This is indeed a great cause for concern for us. Initially, on 3rd January 2019, we took a first step by writing officially to our country’s leader HE President Adama Barrow; the Vice President HE Ousainou Darboe; Cabinet Ministers such as Interior minister Hon. Ebrima Mballow; Justice Minister Abubakarr Baa Tambedou; Youth and Sports Minister Hon. Hadrammeh Sidibeh; Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Momodou Tangara; the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Mariam Jack-Denton; the Deputy Speaker Hon. Momodou LK Sanneh; the Majority Leader Hon. Kebba K. Barrow; the Minority Leader Hon. Samba Jallow and all the other National Assembly Members each (Total 58 NAMs); and each of the Political Party leaders (UDP, GDC, GMC, APRC, PDOIS, NRP, PPP and NCP), to inform them of our situation and the earlier mentioned information about the ongoing deportation trend. We have equally sought their quick intervention to resolve the matter but have not yet received any CONCRETE answer.

“However, we would also like to clearly state that we have received a notice via email from Hon. Sanna Jawara, UDP National Assembly Member for Upper Fulladu West; Lawyer Almamy Taal, Spokesperson of UDP, Hon. Halifa Sallah, National Assembly Member for Serrekunda Constituency, and Hon. Hadrammeh Sidibeh, Minister of Youth and Sports, acknowledging receipt of our letters addressed to them. Furthermore, Hon. Hadrammeh Sidibeh, the Youth minister has written a letter to us signed by his Permanent Secretary, stating his concern over the issue and has promised to forward the matter to the concerned authorities in the Gambia government for further action.

“Hon. Halifa Sallah, NAM for Serrekunda has also written to us, promising that the National Assembly Select Committee will discuss the matter in the third week of January and shall get back to us upon completion of their first step. Therefore, we are appealing to Civil Society Groups, Human Rights Organisations, Opinion leaders, Politicians, Activists, Mayors of Banjul and Kanifing, Local Government authorities such as the Governors, Area Council Chairpersons across the country, District Chiefs, Councillors, Alkalolu, Gambian women, the youths, parents and any other concerned individual(s) to kindly convince our Gambia Government (President Barrow and his Cabinet and the National Assembly) to engage the European Union and authorities especially Germany and Italy regarding our plight and welfare in an effort to minimize the deportation trend.

“Despite the international guidelines set aside on the issue of deportation, we thought it imperative for our government to engage the Europeans to re-prioritize deportation. As committed, hard working and dedicated Gambian youths, we want to be given the chance to work and get good integration in Europe and as well learn new skills for the next five years. This will enable us to work and contribute effectively towards the socio-economic development of the country we live in and of our very own nation, The Gambia whenever we return back home in some years to come. Many of us want to learn various skills and professions that will enable us explore our potentials in our motherland. We have a vision and our focus is on capacity building and how to effectively contribute towards our country’s development. However, we cannot take care of our families and cannot make any useful contribution in our homeland if we are deported without getting any proper integration or learning new skills that can benefit us in Gambia. Gambia government should also understand that the remittances from the Diaspora are estimated to represent about 20% of the Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and we (refugees and migrants) form an integral part of this sector.

“Therefore, getting additional number of youths sent back without any skills or knowledge to help them contribute their quota to the country’s development could bring some complications for our government. We again reiterate our appeal to all concerned Gambians to convince our government to engage the EU on the deportation issue. We have seen success stories from countries like Ghana when their president Nana Akufo-Addo recently engaged Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini to stop the deportation of Ghanaians and Italy had no choice than to let their migrants stay until further notice. We hope that The Gambia will follow suit.”

By Lamin Njie

At least 15 undocumented Gambian migrants were on Tuesday deported from Germany.

The deportees arrived at the Banjul International Airport Tuesday evening, government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh told The Fatu Network on Tuesday.

The deportees, all male, were brought back in a chartered Germania aircraft with Registration Number ST1090.

Germany is hit by a migrant crisis with hundreds of thousands of people among them Gambians seeking asylum in that country.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier back in 2017 confirmed that there are over 35, 000 Gambians migrants in Germany out of whom 1, 500 are undocumented and awaiting deportation.

“There are over 35,000 Gambian migrants in Germany, out of whom 1,500 are undocumented and awaiting deportation,’’ Steinmeier had said at a joint press conference with President Adama Barrow in Banjul.

Steinmeier had also said the two countries will bring technical experts to work on the problem, including providing skill training to Gambians.

“Europeans do not have answers to Africa’s problems, the problems need African solutions,’’ he had said.

Meanwhile government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh has told The Fatu Network the flight was also carrying about 45 Nigerians.

“While the 45 Nigerians proceeded to their home country, the 15 Gambians were received by immigration officials and successfully processed. Some were received by their family members while those whose family members couldn’t make it to the airport were escorted by immigration officials to their homes. Escorts from the International Office for Migration (IoM) gave each deportee 60 Euros for Taxi fares. The IOM has also earmarked a reintegration package for the detainees,” Sankareh added.

By State House Media

His Excellency, President Adama Barrow said his government is committed to creating the right environment for the promotion and development of The Gambian music industry.

President Barrow made the remarks on Tuesday during a closed-door audience with ST Brikama Boyo, one of the leading Gambian artists, at the State House.

Stressing that his government would promulgate the right policies to protect the sector and provide the right environment for local artists to excel, the president advised the multiple award winning artist to remain steadfast and focus on his career. “You need to remain focused, responsible and committed to always breaking new grounds in your music. With the right environment, you can take your music to high levels and make it a successful enterprise for yourself and the country,” he advised.

The President congratulated the Brikama-based artist on the successful launch of his album in late 2018, which was described by many observers as the single biggest gathering by a Gambian artist.

Describing the outcome of the meeting as ‘’very positive’’, ST, whose birth name is Sanna Singhateh, told the State House Press Corps that he was at the presidency to bring the attention of the President to some of the challenges Gambian artists grapple with in their profession. While stating that the President was receptive to the issues raised, ST said he was left convinced that the president was willing to take a step further to support Gambian artists.

The rapper concluded that Gambian artists need protection: “We have seen a lot of artists who will rise up but end up with nothing. So I think it is high time we put Gambian artists in the spotlight and devise ways to develop their industry”.

The interim leader of APRC Fabakary Tombong Jatta has accused President Adama Barrow of playing propaganda with regard to projects started and mostly paid for by the APRC government.

President Barrow last week inaugurated the Senegambia Bridge at a historic event in Farafenni, a leap that has drawn him admiration.

Jatta reacting to the inauguration of the structure in an interview with West Coast Radio said the bridge, like many others were conceived, signed, awarded and paid for by former president Yahya Jammeh’s administration.

Jatta said: “Remember as I said government couldn’t even thank former president Yahya Jammeh and the APRC for the trans-Gambia bridge because it started in 2014.The Laminkoto Passamas road was funded by five loan agreements we ratified. The contractors were identified by the APRC works started with the APRC when all the funds were available.

“We would agree that it may complete during their time or during their time work still ongoing but they cannot take the credit. That is what happened with the ferry, Sukuta Jambajelly road. These were road that we funded.”

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission on Tuesday gave no reason as to why it did not sit.

The TRRC, an investigation in the human rights violations and abuses of the 22 years rule of former President Yahya Jammeh, was supposed to sit on Tuesday in a truth-seeking process that is getting more and more intriguing. The commission may now not sit until February.

“There will be no TRRC sittings for today Tuesday, January 29 and tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30. We are still not sure there will be any sitting on Thursday, January 31 either for reasons beyond our control. January 31 marks the end of the Commission’s first session on the July 22nd, 1994 coup,” a statement posted on Facebook by Mustapha Kah at commissioner at the TRRC said on Tuesday.

It added: “The second session of hearings focused on the November 11, 1994 incident will begin on Monday, February 11 and end on Thursday, February 28. The interim period between February 1 and February 10 will be devoted to committee meetings, outreach activities, and other important work that cannot be done when the Commission is sitting.

“At this time, all persons who were victims of human rights violations associated with the November 11 incident are encouraged to please come to the TRRC headquarters at Dunes Resort or call any of the following numbers to give their statements: 9348929 / 2949170 / 2590391 / 5086200. Victims and witnesses traveling from the regions to give statements or testify will receive modest reimbursements.

“Relatives of all who lost their lives or disappeared as a result of the November 11 incident are kindly encouraged to come forward and help us get to the truth of what happened when hearings resume on February 11, 2019. A more detailed media advisory will be issued within the next day or two.”

A former brigadier general in the Gambia Armed Forces has commended President Adama Barrow for his commitment to take The Gambia to the next level.

MA Bah, a former interior minster and heavy weight of the APRC who defected to the United Democratic Party, has declared his support to President Adama Barrow’s National Development Plan, the NDP, The Standard newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“I am sincerely committed without any reservation to fully support the NDP, a plan already in full motion and yielding positive results in the country,” he said.

Bah said President Barrow is committed to rapidly transform The Gambia into a model state, admirable and hospitable to all Gambians and non Gambians.

“I believe my career as a statesman and a senior military officer can best serve our Commander-in-Chief by supporting his agenda during this period of transitional governance,” he said.

General MA Bah further commended the president for his demonstrated will to unify and reconcile the people of The Gambia.

“And I intend to be part of the solution towards bringing peace and stability in the country especially after hearing him appeal to all of us to join his dynamic crusade to build the new Gambia,” he concluded.

One of The Gambia’s most reverred religious scholars on Saturday landed safely at the Banjul International Airport, assuring Gambians that by Allah’s will,  the West African nation will never be led by Yahya Jammeh’s type.

Imam Momodou Ceesay had immediately prostrated, praised and thanked Allah after stepping his foot on the soil of a Gambia freed from Jammeh’s dictatorship clutches. “I prostrate, praised and thanked Allah for freeing Gambians,” Imam Ceesay told a large gathering of welcomers at the airport.

The Chief Imam of Detroit’s Muslim Center was very instrumental in awakening the consciousness of Gambians about the need to surrender to Allah, stand their ground and uproot the Jammeh dictatorship. His special sermons and programs on Kairo Radio likening Jammeh to Pharoah of Egypt helped Gambians to dissect and understand the nature and effect of a government that had fed on the blood of its innocent citizens.

“Everyone knows this country had been gripped by decades of brutality. Gambians had a leader who squandered their resources, tortured, exiled and killed citizens at will. As a result, majority of the youths fled the country and endangered their lives at sea. Imagine the countless pain, troubles and unpleasant issues pregnant women go through only for their children to be crushed to death by a government whose leader swore to protect them. Yahya Jammeh was destroying the fingers that fed and provided him fancy lifestyle. He flew with expensive planes as well as bought costly house in America,” Imam Ceesay said, justifying the reasons for unloading attacks on Mr. Jammeh.

“Jammeh was not grateful to Gambians who gave him everything. He treated everyone, including the majority Mandinka people like trash and even had the audacity to threaten them with death. As a religious leader in America I teach, counsel and guide people to lead a better and fulfiling spiritual life. I thought it would be immoral to ignore the government’s orchestrated madness. I live in America where not a single soul is eliminated without qualms. I want Gambians to enjoy the right to live in dignity and I pray to Allah to shower his blessings, peace and unity in The Gambia. By Allah’s willingness, our country will never produce the like of Yahya Jammeh, the man greedy who rebelled against his Creator,” Imam Ceesay said offering prayers to a large community of the welcomers who included Gambians from all walk of life.

Imam Ceesay shook hands with people eager to see him before being escorted to his Kotu residence. Most of the people at the airport fall in love with Imam Ceesay’s teachings.

Among the people who received Imam Ceesay were praise singing men and women who advised Gambians to honour a man who used his “knowledge to turn darkness into light. Gambians owe a lot to Imam Ceesay who has fought for them using Kairo Radio. I remember conducting programs with Musa Saidykhan, Fabou Sanneh and others on Kairo Radio. Imam Ceesay fearlessly used his knowledge to keep our spirits high that change was imminent,” said Pa Suso aka Jali Seattle.

Imam Ceesay’s welcome program was organised by One Gambia Organisation.

Source: Kairo News

By Lamin Njie

Around 150 staff at the Gambia Ferries Service risk losing their jobs if the government proceeds with a plan to hand control of the Senegambia Bridge to the National Roads Authority, sources have told The Fatu Network.

The Gambia Ferries Service and the National Roads Authority are fighting over who should manage revenue at the newly inaugurated Senegambia Bridge.

The Ministry of Works has fashioned out an ‘interim’ arrangement between the two agencies, a senior official at the ministry told The Fatu Network on Tuesday.

“We set up a committee that came up with that interim arrangement and officials of both the ferries and NRA were part of that committee. As far as we are concerned, the operation is going smoothly,” Essa Drammeh, the director of Planning at the Ministry of Works, said.

Meanwhile, the deputy managing director at Gambia Ferries Haly Gai downplaying the row told The Fatu Network on Tuesday “it just an interim arrangement, if you go to the site you have NRA staff, you have ferries staff working in an environment that is very friendly.”

Gai, however, added: “If that [retrenchment] is a concern, is that not a concern to you as a Gambian. Do you know the social ramification of retrenchment? Do you one person, how many families are behind him? If you can avoid it, why not avoid it? 150 staff, if their lives are on the line every Gambian should be concerned but that’s not the point. The point is the government is already aware…

“It’s the country. This is about The Gambia. The government of The Gambia. You have all the relevant ministers [Ministers of Works and Finance] involved in this decision. So, what is important is not an institution, what is important is The Gambia.”