Alagi Yorro Jallow

Pro-democracy clicktivists are rebooting adulations and demagoguery, they are shouting and screaming from roof tops tolerate double standards and defend amorality, unethical, Machiavellian and the contradiction of contradictory beliefs and ideals. We will never stop our critique from administration to “ Jalibas and Jali-Ndings” of the phenomenon of intellectual opportunism frequently associated by its critics with careerism and dubious unprincipled self-promotion, where ideas become just another commodity or a bargaining tool. Gambians of conscience should be comforted by iconic Chinua Achebe’s immortal words in his book, ‘The Trouble with Nigeria:’

“There will always be some people whose personal, selfish interests are, in the short term at least, well served by the mismanagement and social iniquities. Naturally they will be extremely loud in their adulation of the country and its system and will be anxious to pass themselves off as patriots and to vilify those who disagree with them as trouble-makers or even traitors. BUT DOOMED IS THE NATION WHICH PERMITS SUCH PEOPLE TO DEFINE PATRIOTISM FOR IT “Patriotism is an emotion of love directed by a critical intelligence. A true patriot will always demand the highest standards of his country and accept nothing but the best for and from his people. He will be outspoken in condemnation of their shortcomings”.

This is about the Gambia and not about juvenile personality politics – that could live and accept as a fine outcome of morality versus legality. Those Clicktivists stung into action by hailing and “ Jaliya”. They stung into action in behalf of few individuals by the persistent voices of patriotism justifying double standards and obsequiousness. The Gambia cannot survive with the conscienceless and overbearing influence of these “supposed owners of the country” who surreptitiously command every facet of our nation’s socioeconomic and political life.

And the entire purpose of our critique against the Clicktivists double standards are well captured: we can do better, we deserve better. If we fail, we critique, we scrutinize, and we keep holding people to higher and higher standards. We expect them to try and try and try again till they get it right.

Once they get it right, the next phase of their pro-democracy struggle begins: institutionalizing that which we have gotten right so that the system and the process continue to work like a fine-tuned machine long after they retire from activism or consumed by the administration. At every stage of this process, they will be heavily critiqued, heavily scrutinized by those who understand that they have a civic duty, a solemn obligation not to cut their motherland any slack in the journey to catch up with the 21st-century.

A note to those who are being called names because of the sustained critique that has been producing results. The first thing we must notice is that every time their spinning and unrelenting engagement produce results, those whose mission is to praise amorality to high heavens, defend the status quo, rationalize travesty, and make highfalutin arguments for how great the administration or their own friends are doing, they immediately change gear and move in to declare victory seamlessly.

That is why as soon as they yielded to pressure from unconstitutional brigandage to a semblance of legality birthed by our unquenchable choric hailing of the administration’s previous illegality.

From justifying everything about select few of their friends in government and claiming there was no case of contradiction and as soon as the administration swayed by relentless criticism without instituting an Inquiry to probe, they moved seamlessly to gloat and proclaim victory as if that shift by the administration had been occasioned by their hailing and “ Jaliya”.

In case after case after case, they hail the administration on the wrong path. Whenever critique stings the administration, they pull the rug from under their feet and changes course, they immediately move in to claim victory.

This should be a lesson for those whose sustained critique and engagement and struggle are providing these minimal gains: even the most irredeemable sycophants recognize results and are willing, ready, and able to take credit. They are just too far gone in personality cultism to be willing to offer what is expected of them to get such results in a democracy and civilization: critique, sustained engagement, and a zero tolerance for mediocrity and “ Jaliya”.

What the community of engagement must understand urgently is that this stuff is serious business and it is not a popularity contest with professional praise singers. They must be called names on their path of sustained critique and be willing to allow to be praise singers to move in and claim credit and gloat over results and progress delivered by the sort of critique in which they did not participate.

They must also remember that if they give in to intimidation and name-calling by personality cultists, the country will never make progress for their own idea of critique to continuously lower the bar of expectation to such ridiculous depths that even if President Barrow reads Facebook, it can be celebrated as the achievement of the century.

They lower the bar of expectation, clobber and pummel fellow citizens psychologically into a culture of accepting stomach-churning illegality as the height of 21st-century Gambian success, genius, and innovation.

Borne by personality cultism, the confederacy of hailers creates national atmospherics in which the bar of expectation for President Barrow and the entire leadership in the country is considerably lower than what is expected of leadership in other countries in the sub-region.

We must make way for daily celebration of roaring success. If we judge all birds by their ability to fly at the level of butterflies, there will always be daily occasions to celebrate the soaring prowess of every bird.

The Appointment of Alagie Barrow in the TRRC is Legal and Legitimate!

The fact that ECOMIG forces entered the Gambia on 19 January 2017 and still maintain bases in our country is an indication that Gambian votes on 1 December 2016 did not remove Yaya Jammeh. What removed Yaya Jammeh was ECOWAS and its intervention forces because Yaya Jammeh had already rejected that vote. Without international diplomatic and military intervention Yaya Jammeh would still be the President of the Gambia even if the country would have been in a civil war. Yes, ECOMIG entered our territory with our verdict as the reason but that verdict was rejected by Yaya Jammeh.

What this point seeks to highlight is that Yaya Jammeh had long since rejected the sovereignty, dignity and the Constitution of the Gambia and Gambians as the source of his power and authority as president. For that matter Yaya Jammeh had long lost the legitimacy to govern the Gambia, if he ever had one in the first place. He had constantly and consistently violated every rule of the Constitution and every right of Gambians. When governors suspend or abrogate their contract with their people they lose the legitimacy and legality to govern those people.

According to Section 6, subsection 2 of our Constitution every citizen has a right and a duty to defend that Constitution by resisting, to the extent reasonably justifiable in the circumstances, any person or group that, by violent or unlawful means seeks to suspend, overthrow or abrogate the Constitution. It says further under subsection 3 that any person who resists the suspension, overthrow or abrogation of the Constitution as spelt out in subsection 2 commits no offence.

Since 1994 Yaya Jammeh ensured that all rules and mechanisms to hold him to account are closed. He had directly interfered with the independence of the Judiciary and curtailed the powers and authority of the National Assembly in total contravention of the principle of separation of powers. For that matter, under his watch, any Gambian who sought to hold him to account by peaceful and lawful means have been subjected to violent crackdown leading to arbitrary arrest, torture and death in most cases.

In those circumstances the actions of the Heroes of December 30 are therefore utterly constitutional because they were resisting the abrogation of the Constitution by none other than the elected head of state of the Gambia. Their means of resistance was ‘reasonably justifiable in the circumstances’. This is because citizens who sought to resist the abrogation of the Constitution were met with violence from the State on the orders of Yaya Jammeh. Hence it is reasonable that anyone who sought to resist Yaya Jammeh must employ weapons and violence otherwise you will also be met with such violence that would take your life.

It is therefore utterly frightening and dishonest for any Gambian today to condemn the December 30 Resistance. If Yaya Jammeh had not been using weapons and violence to attack citizens who sought to resist his abrogation of the Constitution, then December 30 would not be justified. But Yaya Jammeh had used weapons and violence against unarmed, nonviolent and peaceful citizens who were only seeking to defend the Constitution. Only a fool and a dishonest person would therefore claim that December 30 was not reasonably justifiable in the circumstances.

Alagie Barrow and his Comrades deserve the highest honour by the Gambian people. They have taught Gambian citizens that they must be prepared to pay the ultimately price to defend their Constitution. But at the same time, they teach the powers that be to realise that when they use weapons and violence against unarmed and nonviolent citizens seeking to defend the Constitution then they are automatically asking citizens to also use weapons and violence to defend our Constitution. No one has the monopoly of violence!

Alagie Barrow has the qualification, knowledge and skills relevant to the position of Director of Investigations and Research in the TRRC and his appointment is legal and legitimate. He has the moral upstanding and patriotism beyond measure that indeed he will be faithful to the ethics and standards of his function. The claim that he was a victim hence conflict of interest is misplaced for we know Desmond Tutu was arrested and jailed and his passport confiscated by the Apartheid regime several times, yet he became the Chair of the South African TRC!

Indeed, one has the right to disagree or criticise the appointment of Alagie Barrow based on his qualification or the process of recruitment or whatever. But it is utterly dishonest and self-insulting that anyone would seek to ridicule his appointment on the false narrative that December 30 was a criminal activity. It will be ungrateful for anyone to condemn Alagie Barrow and Comrades as criminals. On that fateful day of December 30, I know that patriotic Gambians spent that entire morning praying for their success. To now arrive at this stage only to impugn that historic day of patriotism and heroism is the height of dishonesty and ignorance.

Let us be clear: Yaya Jammeh was not a democrat. He was not a leader who respected and protected the rights of citizens. He was not a leader who honoured and defended the Gambian Constitution and the sovereignty of the people. He was a despot who employed every means to suspend, overthrow and abrogate the Constitution and the sovereignty and dignity of Gambians.

Just because Yaya Jammeh was elected does not give him legitimacy when he consistently abrogated the very Constitution under which he was elected in the first place. We know that dictators are scattered all over the world who continuously win up to 99% of the vote. Kim Jong Un of North Korean, Al-Sisi of Egypt, Saddam Hussain of Iraq and Isaias Aferwoki of Eretria are few past and present examples. Yet there is no doubt that these are despots without legitimacy in the eyes of democracy and good governance. Hence it is utterly insulting that anyone would consider Yaya Jammeh a legitimate leader of the Gambia just on the basis of an election.

Congratulations Alagie Barrow!

For the Gambia Our Homeland

Dr Omar Janneh (PhD)

It will be difficult to address the issue of (alleged or perceived) conflict of interest if the conflicted individual(s) claim to be or other individuals claim on their behalf that the conflicted is/are morally upright, fulfil the essential and desirable criteria of the post and that all will be well. There is a generally accepted view that the appointment of a conflicted individual to a public office (could) influence the individual’s decision-making process even if s/he fulfils all of the essential and desirable criteria of the post and is morally and ethically upright. Citizens should at the very least trust the people in public office, but I do not think it is possible to trust those in public office if their professional service/judgement can be affected by personal and or private interests because of being conflicted. There is also the issue of perception of impartiality and fairness. Trust in the TRRC by the Gambian people would, out of necessity, need to build on the foundation of a TRRC that, at the very least, appears to be fair. Anything short of this would be a TRRC set up for failure from the onset.How is it that most of us do not see this, or is it the Gambian way to carry on regardless – that the proof of the pudding is in the eating? If that is the Gambian way, itwill not and does not wash at all, not under the law. International standards require limited Executive involvement in Commissions. As many may know, the TRRC Act, 2017 is problematic with extensive Executive interference/involvement (TRRC Act, 2017). Therefore, be it the (Surahata S.) Janneh Commission, Faraba Commission, or the TRRC, the themes of fairness, honesty, independence, impartially, effectiveness, consistency, confidence, capability, transparency, and credibility must be seen to be followed, and maintained (click hereif you want to learn more).

It’s not good enough to plough ahead regardless by giving some feeble excuses that we cannot address the issues of (the rampant) conflicts of interests because we are all conflicted in The Gambia by virtue of intermarriages, etc. If indeed, this is the position of majority of Gambians, does it not therefore mean that we must have the conversation about the type of Commission we want, the constitution of that Commission as well as the need for greater involvement of experts in that Commission? Worryingly, the TRRC Act, 2017 does not appear to make allowances for that.

Once impartiality is undermined, it becomes a (near) total waste of public funds to plough ahead. The inability of the Commission to hold responsible the absent perpetrators of crimes. You see, one cannot reconcile with the absent/missing/dead, etc.; the incapacity of the Commission to question the displaced, etc., and the failure of government to implement the Commissioners’ recommendations are some the reasons why many Commission reports are collecting dust on shelves- Yes, they are toothless bulldogs. For a country with so much else to address and a government already in bed with individuals who may be perceived or alleged as culpable of past rights abuses, could a different way of looking at the past rights abuses deliver a more desirable outcome, more cheaply – I don’t only mean financially? I wonder if some of the victims or victims’ families find it desirous that this government is undisturbed by being close to some individuals who are part of the previous regime, the rights abuses of which the TRRC is set up to investigate. Has anyone cared enough to find out? Could that and the other observations made here and previously (click hereand here) make this Commission an equally futile exercise?

The point must be emphasised again that international standards require limited Executive involvement in processes such as Commissions. The Gambian situation is bizarrely unique because we do not only have extensive Executive involvement (TRRC Act, 2017), but to a large extent, the involvement of conflicted executivein the recruitment and selection of staff to the Commission. If we want to project a positive image of The Gambia and avoid a vortex of national shame, we have to be prepared to subscribe to internationally accepted standards. However, if we are interested in doing things the Gambian style, then let us pay for things ourselves. But what can we afford to pay for ourselves? The answer is probably not very much. The truth – in general, is we like to beg; travel abroad on business class and claim unjustifiable per diems, often bringing back nothing of value to The Gambia. We take more out in per diems than we generally put back in. When we go on such trips to beg, our polite hosts would often give us big pledges, but often with conditions, to which we turn a deaf ear. We come home to make fat promises (like hippos in tights) on the back of those pledges – this is gullibility at its best. Nauseatingly, even those individuals who are seemingly enlightened fall for these fat promises – because they propagate them like wild fire.Perhaps the gullibility gene (WTF1) truly exists.

On the recent appointment to the TRRC. The recent announcement to the post of Director of Research and Investigations Unit of the TRRChave much to be desired. It appears that there is a failure in processes and procedures and seems therefore unprofessional to appoint someone (click here)as head of a Team to investigate past rights abuses, with seemingly much less due diligence than one would have expected. What guiding and supportive roles is the UN playing in the recruitment and selection of staff to the Commission as was the case in Liberia, Kenya, Sierra Leone and elsewhere? The Gambia is small and lacks capacity, so we need good strong people of all faiths, support from the UN, and regional partners when it comes to appointments to the Commission. Another important question that must be asked is whether the vacancies are advertised widely, so that as many people as possible can see and apply for the posts?

It appears that a new culture that should ensure that effective processes and procedures are followed to identify and avoid conflict of interest (in the new Gambia) have seemingly been ignored in regards to the recent appointment(s). Given the apparent disregard by the TRRC Secretariat and the Justice Ministry to give the issue of conflict of interest the attention it deserves, it may be quite difficult to address the concerns of perpetrators/victims, the UNDP/international donors, regional partners, etc. who may want to see justice served following due process. As a consequence, donors could be reluctant to fulfil pledges. Of course, the option to use funds from corrupt officials from the previous regime is a plausible onewhich was used by some Commissions (click here), but that path may be littered with obstacles – in regards to process, cost, legality and ethics. In my view, it takes a leader with an intuitive mind to see blind spots (e.g., conflict of interest) and take corrective measures to address them before they become a serious hindrance to the work, under their responsibility. Given the requirementsfor administrative and management skills that come with the duties and responsibilities of the post of Executive Secretary, I think a simple google search of the applicant(s) could have giventhe interviewers some background information about applicants.Could it be that the panel members need more guided support than is provided for them? A strong leadership team that includes, e.g., representatives from the UN, regional partners, respected elders of various faiths, etc. may ensure the partiality necessary in the team to help recruit suitably qualified individuals to such a difficult task – we are too small a nation, without capacity, to handle this complex process on our own; this is a reality we must accept. Of course there are cases when qualified candidates may be considered for employment even if conflict of interest may be an issue (click here), but these are very rare cases; and if done, effective procedures are taken to resolve them, but these can be very difficult to address in a commission of this complexity and potential for toxicity.

It is not too late to work towards preventing conflict of interest from making the TRRC an impartial process.  Perhaps there is still time for the Commission to recruit other staff who can neutralise the views of some of the seemingly conflicted staff so far employed (click hereand look at pages 5-6). Lessons are not only learnt in classrooms, but can be learned from our own mistakes (institutional shortcomings) and from the mistakes of others before us (click hereand here– I think this is a must read for anyone interested in truth Commissions).

I think it is worth making the following observations: I would like to caution anyone involved in Commissions to act responsibly. I have heard far too many promises from people who should know better. If we cannot even afford to invest properly in education, health and some basic infrastructure projects – using even a bit of our funds, how can we fulfil the promises implied in the TRRC Act, 2017? The expectations of the victims may be so complex that even donors and well-functioning governments cannot fulfil the promises implied in the TRRC Act and mentioned by some Commission staff. How does he TRRC intend to hear from displaced victims and perpetrators as well as from the Diaspora? This is a very complex and quite costly process. We must be aware, lack of funding is a contributing factor to the failure of some Truth Commissions (click hereand refer to page 32). Pledges by donors are just pledges. Indeed most, if all, pledges are only fulfilled if donors are convinced that certain conditions are or can be met and this piece attempts to deal with some these issues.

In regards to the recording of information and conducting investigations, we must recognise that some individuals are untrainable because certain basic academic skills and or prior experience must be in place to enable most, if not all, training to be successful. I think it is fanciful to think that individuals can be trained to do a task and once released, they can go onto serve with distinction. The TRRC is a time-limited investigation which is complex. Inappropriate recording of narratives, contamination of evidence and many other issues must be critically looked into. Because of real funding constraints, the TRRC needs people who need minimal briefing/training to do the work.

Finally, it appears to me that for the purpose of political expediency, we are making the mistake of doing the right things at the wrong time. We gain nothing by doing things for the sake of political expediency. To the contrary, given the security concerns in the country, doing the right thing at the wrong time could lead to failure, national shame, and potential for social instability which does nothing to facilitate healing, reconciliation and peacebuilding.

Finally, I suppose if others can do it reasonably well (click here, hereand here/here/herefor more information), we can too – if we take the trouble to not only hear what some are saying, but listen to what they are saying.

The Gambia Police Anti Crime Unit has arrested sixty three teenagers in the Greater Banjul suspeccted to be involved in armed robbery.

According to police reports, the arrested teenagers were engaged in pickpocketing, breaking into homes and other crimes. They are said to have a criminal network headed by a twenty year old, some of them have served jail terms.

The suspects are allegedly armed with live bullets, knives and cutlasses amongst others. They have allegedly stolen flat screens, smart phones and sewing machines amongst other valuable material.

However, the suspected criminal ring leader attested to the police some of their criminal activities, saying his boys do whatever he ordered them. He added that they consume and smoke cannabis to do their operations.

“My boys will attack President Barrow if he is on the streets by himself,” he told the police.

The Deputy Police Spokesperson, ASP Foday Conta raised concerns about the teenagers, saying the best way to resolve the situation is transforming the prisons to a correction centres. He called on the community at large particularly parents to take their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Gorgie Mboob head of the Anti Crime Unit has emphasised that the newly built office is not a secret detention centre.

By Wally Omar

Three military officers from Gambia Armed Forces, arrested for ‘trafficking cannabis’ have been dismissed.

Military spokesperson Lieutenant Malick Sanyang, confirmed to The FatuNetwork that Warrant Officer Class 1 Lamin Jatta, was dismissed yesterday (Wednesday) while Staff Sergeant Karafa Bojang and Lance Corporal Sanna Jatta, were dismissed today (Thursday).

Sanyang said the dismissed officers have been handed over to the drug squad, adding that The Gambia Armed Force, has zero tolerance for dealings in drugs.

Acting in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the TRRC Act, 2017 the Executive Secretary of the TRRC has appointed Mr. Alagie Barrow as Director of Research and Investigations for the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission. Mr. Barrow will oversee and direct the work of a team of researchers, investigators and statement takers and work closely with the Executive Secretary and Commissioners to deliver on the mandate of the TRRC.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Alagie Barrow (no relation to President Adama Barrow) holds a BSc. degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University with a minor in Psychology and an MA degree in National Security Studies from the American Military University in Charles Town, West Virginia. Alagie served over a decade with the US Military where he rose to the rank of Captain before resigning in January of 2014 (honorable). Mr. Barrow also possesses diplomas in counterintelligence, civil disturbance and physical security through his work in the US Military where he held other responsibilities including Career Counselor, Program Manager, Public Affairs Officer and Executive Officer. Through the years, Mr. Barrow served the US military as Victim Advocate, Suicide Prevention Officer and Unit Prevention Officer (illicit drugs). His duties included conducting investigations through interviews, gathering facts, retrieving records, analyzing information, and writing reports and recommendations. He has also worked as an investigator and security consultant for security organizations in the US and as a short-term contract field investigator here in Africa. Mr. Barrow has volunteer experience as a Juvenile Justice advocate with the Nashville Juvenile Justice Center where he worked with troubled youths. He has also worked as an instructor of military courses at Vanderbilt University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and has been to various leadership schools in the U.S. military, the last being the Captain’s Career Course where some of the courses taught included Casualty Assistance and Operations, Counterinsurgency and Full Spectrum Operations.

Alagie Barrow recently relocated back home to The Gambia and has been working as a Country Director for a Gambia consultancy firm with oversight of the Anglophone sub region until his appointment with the TRRC.

Reacting to his appointment, Mr. Barrow remarked: “I am grateful to the TRRC team for this opportunity. It is a monumental task and I am profoundly humbled by the trust and responsibilities that come with the position. I am confident that as a team we will do what is right by all victims and what is right by our country to ensure that we will never have to establish such a commission again.”

“We are convinced that Barrow is the perfect candidate for this very challenging and crucially important position,” said TRRC Executive Secretary Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow. “We interviewed many excellent candidates but Barrow just stood out and we are very happy to have him on our leadership team.”

The Principal of Model Senior Secondary School, Isaac Acque has accused Ms Claudia Cole, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) of forging her late husband’s signature to obtained power of attorney.

Mr Isaac made these accusations while entering his defence in a single count of false information presided by Magistrate Ben Faal of the Brikama Magistrates Court.

“The purported power of attorney was taken to an expert who  confirmed that the signature was forged,” Mr Isaac said.

According to him, the late William Cole, husband of Minister Cole personally confirmed that the document was forged by his wife when he refused to go with her to Busumbala Village to claimed ownership of the school. He was asked to call the expert to tender the affidavit of the false power of attorney.

Mr Isaac added that he obtained the school’s title deed with a sum of D500, 000 Dalasi which he said was paid in installments to the Village Development Committee (VDC) of Busumbala Village. He tendered copies of the receipts and transfer of ownership which was admitted for identification purposes until the defendant provides original copies from the high court.

The middle aged Nigerian filed a civil suit against Minister Cole claiming ownership of the school premises at Brikama High Court.

However, he further told the court that the late William Cole has abandoned the school when he could not pay rent and the school staff due to financial problems that resulted to him (Isaac’s) acquisition of the land to relocate the school to Busumbala Village. He added that Minister Cole was at that time a Regional Education Director at Basse.

Mr Isaac made a lengthy explanation about his encounters with Minister Cole prior to her cabinet appointment. He alleged that he was taken to the NIA and Police Headquarters where investigations were conducted into the matter. He tendered copy of the NIA report which was admitted until he provides the original copy from the high court.

“I was detained in a cell at Brikama police”

He mentioned the meeting held at the Ministry of Justice where they were told to settle the matter out of court.

“Ms Claudia Cole has signed an agreement to pay me D3 Million for the land,” he asserted.

Mr Isaac told the court that the agreement was signed in the presence of their lawyers Badou Conteh and Moses Richards respectively. Unfortunately, he said the woman refused to honor the agreement.

He also mentioned another agreement signed at the office of Mr Babucarr Suwareh, former Regional Education Director at Brikama. It was agreed that the two of them worked as partners but then it also failed. He tendered the said agreement.

“The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has decided to close the school even though the school is 100% private,” he told the court.

The Model senior school Principal said before handing over the school, he told the then regional education director that he is a family man and depends on his salary for their up keep. He was promised of salaries till the problem is resolved but they failed to honour that agreement too.

Meanwhile, the matter was adjourned to August 28, 2018.

By Adama

Honorable Ousman Sillah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul north on Wednesday inaugurated a scholarship fund for Banjul.

According to him, the scholarship package is aimed at helping resident-students of Banjul north at the senior schools.

“This scholarship fund is aimed at providing scholarships for senior school students in grade 10 and 11 to enhance easy learning for the residents of Banjul north constituency,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hon. Sillah said in order for one to be eligible for the package, he/she must be a resident of Banjul north and must be academically sound.

He further assured the residents of Banjul that the selection process will be transparent and fair, and urged eligible students to apply for the package.

Adama Jimba Jobe, deputy permanent secretary at ministry of basic and secondary education, revealed that 40% of household fundings are spent on education.

He also urged the people of Banjul to support honourable Sillah in what he says is some good work.

April 10/11 Memorial Foundation
Press Release
/08/2018

We believe that the victims of the former regime deserve recognition in the new dispensation; which is why during the first commemoration of the April 10 and 11, 2000 Massacre in the post-Jammeh era, we petitioned the Barrow administration “to recognize April 10/11 as a public or school holiday.” We are yet to receive a response from the government.

We believe that the dates of April the 10th / 11th mark a low point in the annals of Gambian history, and whilst specifically remembering the massacre of the children, it symbolically remembers ALL of Jammeh’s victims, both before and after.
When the April 10/11 heroes took to the streets on April 10 and 11, 2000, they came out to denounce impunity in our society, because two of their schoolmates were abused by the security forces in the country and nothing came out of it.
Judging by the names of the deceased victims, it appears the victims came from a cross-section of the society, representing all tribes, religions, and economic backgrounds. Below we reproduce the names of the victims and the cause of death as established in the “Commission of Enquiry Report into the April 10/11 disturbances”

http://(http://www.april1011gambia.org/news-events/95-commission-of-inquiry-report-into-april-10-11-public-disturbances-public-release).

1. Reginald Carroll, student of La Fourmi Institute, died of gunshot wounds

2. Karamo Barrow, former student of the Institute for Continuing Education, died of gunshot wounds

3. Lamin Bojang, student of Nusrat Senior Secondary School, died of gunshot wounds

4. Ousman Sabally, student of Brikamaba Upper Basic School, died of gunshot wounds

5. Sainey Nyabally

6. Ousman Sembene

7. Bakary Njie

8. Claesco Pierra, resident of New Jeshwang, died of gunshot wounds

9. Momodou Lamin Njie, student of Gambia Technical Training Institute, died of gunshot wounds

10. Wuyea Foday Mansareh, student of Tallinding Islamic Institute, died of gunshot wounds

11. Bamba Jobarteh, Bansang

12. Momodou Lamin Chune, student of Latrikunda Middle School, died of gunshot wounds

13. Abdoulie Sanyang, from Old Jeshwang, died from accidental trampling

14. Babucarr Badjie, 10-year-old student, died of gunshot wounds

15. Omar Barrow, journalist

16. Unknown Child – body never identified

We implore the government to declare April 10 a National Martyrs Day holiday and erect a fitting and lasting memorial, not just as a tribute to the fallen heroes of April 10 and 11, 2000, but as a tribute to ALL those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of The Gambia during the dictatorship years.

Declaring April 10 a National Martyrs Day holiday will unite us in remembering all the victims of the dictatorship and inculcate in our youths the notion of sacrificing for the common good. This will also bring some solace to the families of the deceased, who to this day have not received justice from the authorities. None of the victim s have been compensated.

To this day no Gambian has been held responsible for the massacre of the heroes of April 10 and 11, 2000, despite the findings of the commission of inquiry set up by the government in the aftermath of the massacre and the naming of some of those responsible.

April 10th a fitting date to remember ALL our brave Martyrs

Signed……
Abdou Karim Jammeh (Survivor)

On behalf of the April 10/11 Memorial Foundation

Alagi Yorro Jallow

In Gambian life, there is no creativity, no aspiration, no vision, no mission, no genius, and no dream beyond joining Mansa-Kunda civil service or political appointments without any particular attachment to a public service ethos.

There are two types of Gambians: those in government employment and those awaiting their turn in government appointments. Forget all the talk about the size and potential of the Gambia’s economy. Forget all the talk about business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the rise of a vibrant new demographic of creators defying the odds to crystallize into a 21st-century transnational elite.

That is all puff and powder for there is only one business in the Gambia and it is called “The Gambia Government Civil Service”. Everybody is just really waiting for and on government appointments. Every other sector and sphere of Gambian life and all the players in all those private spheres and other sectors are merely waiting on and for their turn in government employment.

The sum total of national life is nothing but an endless footsy playing between those in government and those outside, hoping to cajole them to be let in or scheming to shove them out and take their place. Either by election or appointment, a Gambian has no greater definition of success and life fulfilment than a political office, no matter how paltry and insignificant.

This atrocious national sociology of course has consequences. It is at the center of the Gambian tragedy. At the personal and national levels, it stifles growth, initiative, and development because the citizen and his nation are defined exclusively by prebend. The citizen destroys all regenerative and innovative possibilities because his or her creative energy has only one purpose: profit from government prebend (if he or she is already in government) or aspire to profit from government prebend (if he or she is awaiting his or her turn in government).

The Gambia is the only place where the path to building a global business brand, powered by genius, innovation, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and drive can be abandoned midway to serve as a Permanent Secretary or Special Adviser on Miscellaneous Matters in the Presidency. The owner of a flourishing innovation hub or a growing e-commerce outlet will drop all that creative energy and suddenly become a Permanent Secretary or Special Adviser to the President or Minister.

Sarcastically, only in the Gambia, do not be surprised to wake up to news that Gambian business tycoon Mr. Muhammed Jah CEO of Qcell and Quantum Net is abandoning the Qcell Group to run to become Special Adviser to the President. Instead of joining Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos on a panel in Dubai, do not be surprised to hear that the CEO Mustapha Njie of TAF Africa Homes Construction has accepted an appointment as Special Advisor to the President on mega infrastructural projects.

In essence, any Gambian great news on the innovation front is only great until government appointment happens to it because every other sphere of agency in the Gambia is tentative and aspirational in a move towards government and mediocrity and corruption.

It is true that many of the Gambia’s most accomplished abandon potential global brands for life in government because of the belief that they will loot with impunity and divert public funds and government patronage to their businesses.

They forget that all their stealing and looting has never taken any of their businesses to a truly global dimension because no truly global brand can be built on a foundation of such brazen rottenness. The money they steal and infuse into their businesses is only Pyrrhic victory.

There is also of course the story of businesses private enterprises   innovative business brand that government office happened to and destroyed. The business people are not the only class affected by this Gambian disease. Generations of the country’s brightest minds go to government, when they leave government, they do not return to any worthwhile ventures and activities that could uplift the country because they understand that life in the Gambia is divided into two strict phases: life in government and life spent awaiting life in government.

I live in a part of the world where people have time for short spells in government appointments before returning to other spheres of nation building. Academia is a very popular destination for people after government office. They come and join us in training the next generation. Look at journalism and mass communication schools in the US and Canada. Very often, people quit influential government spokesperson positions to become Deans or Chairs of such schools or programs. They don’t have to be academics. Universities negotiate with them based on their profile and experience.

You come to the Gambia and you get smart people (names withheld) brilliant first-class minds that any school of journalism or mass communication in the country or abroad should be privileged to engage as Dean or Chair. What are they doing? They are roaming social media to maintain relevance in preparation for any possibility of returning to government anytime. One of the Gambia’s best minds now understands that there is only life in government and life spent awaiting a return to government.

There are as accomplished Gambian scholars falls into this category. Before they discovered the tragic duality of Gambian life, they are actually bright minds on the rise in the United States. Now, they too are roaming social media, carefully curating their nuisance value to maintain visibility ahead of the possibility of a return to government at time given chances, accompanied by their fellow vermin.

Think of Mamudu; think of Fatoumatta in some innovative new program in any of our Universities. No matter what you think of them, they would serve Gambia’s future excellently in such stations. Sadly, they are like fish out of water, unable to conceptualize agency and nation building outside of the sphere of government crumbs.

I have used Maimuna and Fatoumatta to illustrate the crematorium of talent and innovation that is the Gambia. Once you leave government, you are pretty much useless to the Gambia because your brain is colonized by the singular desire to return to government. You cannot even sustain a business after life in government. Look at Fatoumatta and Maimuna, thrashing around like somebody high on Vicodin because there is no life for them outside of government. They are desperate to return. We need to revamp civics to achieve this mental rewiring.

The 15^thExecutive Council of the School of Business and Public Administration of the University of The Gambia, under the leadership of Ebrima L Dampha, wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the relentless services they are rendering to The Gambia and her people.

However, with reference to the press release from The Gambian embassy to Dakar through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 6^thAugust, 2018, the Executive members of the said association hereby write to express dismay and utter disappointment in the said release and debunk some of their claims. It is indeed unfortunate to learn that the release has put the integrity of the University at stake, and thus the need for clarification.

Firstly, the release clearly states “…the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that on the 8^thJune 2018, the Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia received an email from one Ebrima L Dampha, who claimsto be the president of the School of Business and Public Administration of the University of the Gambia, requesting the Embassy to provide accommodation for 60 Gambian students in Dakar.”

From the above statement, it should be clear that our first email wasn’t sent on the 8^th  of June, as per the press release, but instead on the 31^st  of May. On the said date, we wrote to ask for their advice , guidance and counselling as the embassy responsible to represent the Gambia, which they chose to ignore for whatever reasons, until we had to lobby for help from a friend who knows someone from the embassy, who advised that if we write again, she would do the follow up. Then we wrote the second letter which happened to be on the 8^thof July, and not the 8^thof June as their release stated.

On the third paragraph of the press release, it is stated, “ On the 9^thJune 2018, the Ambassador of the Gambia to the republic of Senegal, His Excellency Ebou Ndure, convened a meeting with staff of the embassy to discuss the email and agreed that the Embassy should look for some hotels in Dakar as requested by Mr. Dampha. On the 10^thJune 2018, the embassy replied to Mr. Dampha’s email conveying that the piscine Olympique De Dakar was identified for possible accommodation of 60 students but unfortunately they wanted free accommodationwhich the embassy cannot afford due to limited resources.”

From the above, we want to make it crystal clear that we never requested for free accommodation from the embassy. We also neversaidhotel, but motel. What we requested was for the identification of an affordable accommodation. We see no reason why the embassy should confuse the identification of affordable accommodationand provision of free accommodationfor 60 students. This we think is utterly unfair.  In fact, for the purpose of clarity, the embassy never replied on the 10^thJune, as they claim, but instead, 10^thof July. There is a difference!

Moreover, in one of the emails sent, we stated that we were to send our advance team to have a direct surveyof the places we intended to visit, and then we solicited for them to host the two-man advance team for the period of two days. They never did, and we never blamed them for it.

The press release further stated that we went on to circulate an unfounded article. The article released by the Secretary General of the association is based on experience and not anything defamatory. This said article is suggesting that expatriates need to serve the needs of the ordinary citizens, otherwise there is no point having them at all.

The 15^thExecutive Council of Economics and Management Students’ Association of the University of the Gambia wants to register its utmost disappointment in the press release, which is full of unfounded accusations, and is with the opinion that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through which the press was released should have at least heard from the other side with regards to the contents of the report from the embassy. This would have given the Ministry the opportunity to strike a balance on the issue.

Notwithstanding, we would like to bring it to your notice that we are currently camped in Senegal for a research purpose on the theme: The socio-economic relationship and currency impact on the rebirth of Senegambia. On our return to The Gambia, we would make more clarifications on the issue when and where necessary.

On the same vain, the 15^thexecutive Council, wants to use this opportunity to caution all students of the university of the Gambia, particularly the students of Business and Public Administration to remain calm and  refrain from all sorts of improper conducts. We are duly elected to preside over your affairs, and by God’s grace we shall never relent or deviate from such a course.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (ECOMANSA)

UNIVERSITY OF THE GAMBIA

Having gone through the explanations given by MoBSE at the press conference they convened today, I have come to conclude that instead of really appreciating the severity of the problem at hand, they have gone into defensive mode and started to cover themselves.

Breaking down the analyses of the results and highlighting isolated successes in some schools is not the solution at all. Unless one admits that there is a problem; a challenge, one cannot begin to truly seek solutions. The results are clear; there is a serious problem with our education system and whoever denies this fact is simply trying to take us for a ride.

Out of 13, 335 candidates that sat to the exams in 2018, only 475 had five credits including English Language and Maths. This is the minimum requirement for admission into the University of the Gambia and most other universities in the world. Of course, there are others – many others – who had six, seven, eight or nine credits but didn’t get either Maths or English Language. But that is the point; they can’t go to university or find a job.

It is true that in some fields, one can be admitted into the university without a credit in Maths but that is new and how many students can they take anyway? By all standards the results this year are a national tragedy.

The question many are asking is this: What plans are there to integrate these students who have all but failed into the education system? We have very few tertiary institutions, technical ones even fewer. Government must understand that without quality education to back up development plans, we are making any progress anytime soon. For there to be development, we need a well educated and skilled population and the fastest way to do that is through education.

This problem is so serious that the president should even make a statement on it so that everyone knows that government is serious about education. This will put everyone in the sector on their toes so that we begin seeing changes geared towards bettering our education.

The National Assembly Select Committee on education should invite the minister to answer questions as to how this tragedy happened. They must be seen to be doing something. Why is there a serious national discourse on education steered by the government? We need to do something. Now!

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

Essa Njie

I have promised myself not to be involved in unhealthy debates, but circumstances will not allow me to relax my muscles in these trying moments our country is going through. I do not intend to provide a lengthy write-up but to respond to certain claims. It is indeed irrefutable that the Gambia is at a crossroads and our transformation journey will be trickery if the current situation persists. It must be understood that nations are built on ideas and ideas deserve a space of lassie fairewhere each is at liberty to opine his/her views deemed relevant to national development. The Gambia’s predicament has not been on anything but the existence of a citizenry that has been living in self-denial even when the truth is presented on the national table for all to see. As a matter of fact, an uneducated citizenry does not only serve as a threat to national development but to human consciousness, thus the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the same citizenry will be at risk.

The past days have been sad moments for me; for the fact that I am seeing my country heading toward an unknown destination where unhealthy debate is preferred to a healthy one. Dr Ismaila Ceesay has been the subject of an emotional/sentimental debate for expressing what one may describe as a subjective opinion; subjective in the sense that his views are not binding and therefore should be subjected to agreement and disagreement. Inasmuch as Ceesay has the right to express his views on national issues, others hold the same right to disagree with his views. From a personal point of view, I believe there are so many ways to counter Ismaila’s opinion which would have led to an intriguing national debate.

However, sadly, those that went on the other side of the coin never oppose the man’s view but ended up attacking his personality for expressing a personal opinion which is the least we expect in the so-called new Gambia. This is the altitude of not only ignorance but hypocrisy in a small country like the Gambia. I have heard and seen people asked what I consider the most unpatriotic question; “where was Ismaila when Jammeh was here”? I have come across rebuttals including that of Sait Matty Jaw, setting the record straight about what Ismaila has been doing while Jammeh was president. Those of us who were taught by Ismaila at the UTG would attest to what he has been saying and doing in exercising his academic freedom within the university setting.  However, just like Ismaila himself refused to be dragged into such a conversation, considering it as ‘childish’, I would also not want to be hauled into the same conversation because I consider it not only childish but a distractive conversation that will not add value to the best we want for the Gambia. My respond therefore to such an unpatriotic question is, one of the primary reasons why we voted out Jammeh was to have a say in our affairs. Therefore, whether Ismaila was talking during Jammeh’s era or not is immaterial to me and in this present circumstance. What matters most to us is the fact that every Gambian citizen deserve the right to express his/her views and nothing on the face of this earth should and can stop that.

On the issue of academic qualification for presidency, again I consider it the height of hypocrisy when people claim that setting a university degree as the prerequisite for presidency constitutes discrimination against those that do not acquire or cannot afford to acquire a university degree. Ask yourselves whether the current qualification for a secondary school certificate is not also discriminatory to those that could acquire only GABECE certificate. Again, ask yourselves whether the minimum age requirement for presidency is not also discriminatory to those below the age of 30. Today, a healthy, young and brilliant Gambian at age 29 cannot contest for presidency even with a university degree because the constitution is exempting him/her from seeking the office of the president based on age, but a 99 year old Gambian with a secondary school certificate whose thinking capacity is not apt could contest for presidency. I am not insinuating that university degree is the absolute guarantor for an impeccable leadership. Essentially, I am trying to make those who claim the issue of discrimination to ponder over these questions and be the judges of their own. If we could set a minimum financial requirement for presidency, what is stopping us from setting a minimum academic requirement for the same position to meet the standards of global dynamics which is changing on a daily basis? Again, I am not insinuating that every country in the world today has its president graduated from university but I am trying proving a point that the secondary school certificate requirement in our constitution was put in place based on our educational circumstance at the time.

On the issue of Ismaila ‘harsh’ in his language toward Barrow, I have spotted yet a notch of hypocrisy and insincerity. Those arguing from a so-called moral perspective that Barrow is a president and does not deserve such ‘harsh’ words, I challenge you to reflect to the era of Jammeh when you were insulting Jammeh, forgot that despite all odds, he was our president and deserved the ‘respect’ that you think Barrow deserves from every Gambian including Ismaila. I personally do not consider Ismaila’s language discourteous in tone; certainly, it was his opinion that Barrow lacks the ‘intellectual disposition/pedigree’ to run the affairs of the Gambia. Again, it must be understood that Barrow holds the highest office of the land, thus he is no more an ordinary citizen from the perspective of responsibility and therefore deserves public scrutiny. As a matter of fact, Barrow needs informed guidance on how to run a government because it is a well-known fact (no secret) to all Gambians that the man does not possess what it takes to transform this country. It might be bitter but the fact.

The fact that Barrow can stand in front of Gambians and promise to provide public Wi-Fi to a community in the presence of a deteriorating health care system, a seemingly collapsed education sector, agriculture, dilapidated road infrastructure and a close-to-dead economy is the biggest slap on the face of Gambians and the greatest insult to the integrity of poor and vulnerable Gambians. It only shows that the man does not either understand the plight of Gambians which reflects the lack of intellectual pedigree that Ismaila insinuated, or he is taking them for granted. But pathetic about this was to see Gambians show appreciation for such a promise. Barrow must not easily forget that Jammeh made series of unrealistic promises to Gambians for more than two decades without implementation. Therefore, we must exercise the highest form of sincerity by speaking the fact and let Barrow know that it is not business as usual.

Finally, to those that have taken personal attacks including Barrow himself as the tool or an attempt to discredit concerned citizens, kindly note that silence is no more an option. No one is here to be anyone’s spokesperson. Therefore, do not expect to hear what you want to hear but expect to hear what people want to say for themselves. Ismaila like any other Gambian will continue to express his opinion without remorse. We will speak! It is the slogan of Barrow himself ‘no retreat no surrender’ against dictatorship. Similarly, no retreat no surrender against mediocrity.

This is state business and not estate business!

State House, Banjul, 7th August 2018–

The First Lady of the Republic, Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow has said the Gambia is making a steady progress in the fight against breast and cervical cancers, despite the high infection rates being registered across the sub region.

Speaking at the Seminar of First Ladies from member countries of the Africa Group of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Cancer held in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso on the 1^st – 2^ndAugust 2018, First Lady Barrow said that despite these high figures – 80% of which is due to late diagnosis and treatment– breast cancer is a disease that can be prevented and treated when detected early.

Outlining that the Gambia is steadily winning the fight against breast cancer, the First Lady announced that most of the medical facilities necessary to diagnose breast and other cancers are now available at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul. Lady Barrow explained that health care professionals throughout the Gambia are always on hand to provide support and counseling on this deadly disease to people that are in need.

Despite the giant strides being registered in the push against breast cancer, the First Lady observed that there are challenges to be overcome.  “Unfortunately, The Gambia, like many poor countries, is neither able to provide affordable cancer services, nor meet the increasing demand for such services. In fact, more than half of the OIC countries lack the capacity to tackle chronic diseases or address their major causes,” the First Lady observed.

Giving the high financial cost involved in accessing cancer services or treatment, particularly in developing countries, she explained that her foundation – Fatou Bah-Barrow Foundation – decided to take a stance and complement government’s efforts by supporting cancer treatment services and awareness raising activities in The Gambia.

The first lady added that ‘’there is an urgent need to support poor countries in Africa to overcome the

major challenges linked to both detection and treatment services”.

Health systems in poor countries are too weak to support the basic care and services linked with

cancer. A significant increase in investments involving a broad range of partners is necessary to

improve the quality of life of cancer patients and strengthen national health care systems.