Alagi Yorro Jallow

“Build a dam to take away water AWAY from 40 million people. Build a dam to pretend to BRING water to 40 million people. Who are these gods that govern us? Is there no limit to their powers?” – Arundhati Roy (The Cost of Living).

Fatoumatta: How and when did President Adama Barrow succeeded to convince members of the National Assembly approved a multibillion dollar mega projects bridge construction between Banjul and Barra?  President Adama Barrow cannot be asking donors for money and fail to sensitize electorates but forgetting that citizens are getting to know faster than his political empowerment positioning can help us. So, President Barrow should be creating linkages and spaces more than coming with already-made agendas and saying that we are sensitized.

Fatoumatta: President Barrow and government institutions need adjust to current times. The days you could make decisions and not expect a public discussion, or not expect the news to spread, are long gone. People need to adjust to these new realities. Our constitution entrenches public participation in government policy decisions.

Fatoumatta:  You can’t even build a $1.5 billion bridge – I’m still scratching my head as to how a bridge costs $1.5 billion – Fatoumatta: You have no business promising the marble-mouthed developments from the National Development Plan blueprint 2018-2021. An incumbent government has no business promising new things when they can’t even show you HOW and WHERE they delivered what they promised in the last two years. Mr. President you promised before – ‘that no Gambian will ever die of hunger or famine again’.  Mr. President, you should have added – if we can’t get you bread, we’ll give you cake.

Fatoumatta:  If you can’t even afford 24 hours electricity and water supply that costs 1.2 billion, how many more dodgy projects are out there waiting to collapse?  Even if you must put a monetary value to navigation of the terrain during construction – building of bridges, environmental considerations, etc. – there’s still enough left for a proper heist. You know what they say, a billion here, a billion there and soon you start talking about real money.

Fatoumatta: At the heart of the persistence of mass poverty in the country, despite low rates of economic growth, there is the misconception of the political elite that development is synonymous with western lifestyles and physical infrastructure, as opposed to solving the everyday problems that improve the lives of ordinary people — for example, building 60 mosques and mega-projects instead of sewers and shallow wells, unless and until the big stink wafts into the National Assembly.

Fatoumatta: The reality is that as Gambians we’ve been conditioned in certain ways. We’ve accepted mediocrity and incompetence from constitutional duty bearers as a way of life. We believe that we are not capable of finding solutions ourselves and we need interventions from foreign powers and benevolent people to survive in life. We prefer to entertain thieves and call them heroes and entrepreneurs. We don’t want to fight for what is rightfully our birth right. We want to get into quick fixes and a thuggish deal culture designed for that “get rich quick” mentality. It’s a man eat dog society where we don’t give a damn or respect the value of community wealth and health and the conventional wisdom that if the community around you is prospering, then it works out that you will also prosper.

Fatoumatta: Gambians want saviors to come from abroad but refuse to take individual and collective responsibility to shape our well-being as a community. We need a paradigm shift in how we think about development and our individual and collective roles in them. If I was to give advice to Adama Barrow, I’d tell him to take the time to understand what the people he’s trying to help need, what is important for them. Don’t assume you know and laud it over people as if you were the god of development and have all the answers. Development is not a linear process that has a theoretical answer that can be imposed on a community. There are complex multi-dimensional reasons why we’re in the situation we’re in, and proclamations before the world media of what you will and will not do are unhelpful.

Fatoumatta: President Barrow’s electoral victory horse power will for sure bring the millions of dollars and euros from around the world, but those millions will never facilitate sustainable change if you don’t’ engage and involve the stakeholders you purport to support. The most important thing you can do in that process is to stop believing you have all the answers even before talking to the electorates.

Fatoumatta: The misguided self-righteousness of development in deciding our destiny to build mega projects was and still is palpable. You get to experience the sheer level of the ignorance when you’re in executive management and you realize the development industry has only one purpose. To perpetuate a self-fulfilling prophecy to guarantee that poverty will continue to exist. People in the industry have mortgages to pay, kids to take to private school, lifestyles to maintain, fat SUVs to drive. There is an arrogance when you consider that there is a white privileged elite enabled by local wanna be yes people believing that 1.9 million people in the Gambia cannot figure out what’s good for them and it is only they who can save the Gambia.

Fatoumatta: Government and other institutional heads should know that blasting public voices by calling them “activists” doesn’t work anymore. If you are a leader in an institution and you don’t anticipate being held by the public to account for your decisions, or if you expect no one to publicize what you’re doing, you should not be in that position in the first place. Telling people that they shouldn’t ask questions or report what is happening belongs to the Yahya’s era.

Fatoumatta:  Social media and internet makes news travel fast, so people can question decisions in real time before they are implemented. Information is also easily available, and people can google to research the strength of your decisions, and they can find out where else in the world similar decisions have worked or not worked.  At independence, the number of educated people within institutions was more than the number of educated people outside them. So, you could decide, and the public doesn’t question them. But now, the educated citizens outnumber the educated employees. So, the days when your decisions were not subjected to informed scrutiny are long gone.

The ongoing resistance to the painful but absolutely required change at the social security and housing finance corporation is partially attributable to the new MD’s lack of vision or inadequate communication of the thereof.

I have a keen interest in this institution because am using it as a test case in our transition to a “new Gambia”. The impulsive aggression, driven by prejudice and resentment for the staff is definitely not the best start in motivating and gaining their support in pushing the change agenda.

The corruption and nonchalant norm of the institution was due to the then favourable environment characterised by a notion of a blind leading the blind. Thus, MD Manjang must start in creating a picture of where the institution ought to be in the future, how to get there and why. I could not find this anywhere.

The rule of thumb is – in any credible transformation – if a leader cannot communicate a description of vision driving change agenda in five minute or less and get reaction that signifies both understanding and interest, such leader is in for trouble.

Human being are generally selfish despite the scientific finding of altruism to be more evolutionary ancient in the human brain and costs brain less energy in comparison to selfishness. Creating an attainable vision, road map with short term wins, recognition of staff and consolidating these short term wins in pursuit of the bigger picture, staff are more likely to comply and make that extra essential effort and sacrifices.

Consider these three scenarios:. Three groups of ten individuals are in a park at lunchtime with a rainstorm threatening.

In group 1, someone says: “Get up and follow me.” When he starts walking and only a few others join in, he yells to those still seated: “Up, I said, and now!” This is authoritarian Jammeh.

In group 2, someone says: “We’re going to have to move. Here’s the plan. Each of us stands up and marches in the direction of the mango tree. Please stay at least two feet away from other group members and do not run. Do not leave any personal belongings on the ground here and be sure to stop at the base of the tree, When we are all there . .

.” This is MD Manjang micromanaging. In group 3, someone tells the others: “It’s going to rain in a few minutes. Why don’t we go over there and sit under that huge mango tree. We’ll stay dry, and we can have fresh mangoes for lunch.” This is what Yunus wants

Research have shown scenario Group 1 and 2 to always fail due to employee reluctance and subversive effort in the change process. Even if successful, it is painstakingly slow in getting rid of all resistance. MD Manjang must endeavour to listen and work with his staff. He should consider their welfare and be encouraging. He must create that fresh page free from prejudice and public opinion. Create vision and lead the walk to achieve this.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and
Gambians Abroad (MoFA), is pleased to inform the general public that the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara, met the President of the Republic of Senegal, His Excellency  Macky Sall on Tuesday July 17th, 2018 at the Presidential Palace in Dakar.

Dr. Tangara was in Dakar as a Special Envoy of His Excellency
President Adama Barrow. Their discussion centered on ways to strengthen further the good bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal. Other areas discussed include strengthening regional cooperation and security.

The visit by the Gambian Foreign Minister was meant to enhance the relations between the two countries bearing in mind that upscaling of bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal is of immense relevance to both countries.

Present at the occasion were the Honourable Foreign Minister of Senegal, Mr Sidiki Kaba, among other senior Senegalese officials.

Information reaching The Fatu Network has it that the youths of Kombo Sanyang Village have ordered sand miners to stop operations at the quarry.

According to reliable sources, the youths have given an ultimatum to the sand miners to immediately leave the quarry alleging that serious environmental damages might cause some natural disasters to the community.

The actions of these youths have brought to mind the Faraba incident that resulted to lost of lives, injuries and damages of properties equivalent to millions of Dalasi.

It has been reported that sand mining operations at Sanyang quarry was stopped whilst truck drivers move to Tambana, at the outskirt of Brikama. There are more than fifty trucks at a time queuing for sand at Tambana quarry which is not the same quality with the mostly used beach sand. They are buying sand from the Chinese.

“Honestly, we have exhausted the Sanyang quarry,” Bakary Sowe, a truck driver said.

Sowe said the concerns raised by the youths are legitimate, saying the mining has almost reached a level that could cause a serious calamity.

“Nowadays, people are abusing democracy by taking the law into their own hands,” Ebrima Jallow, a truck owner said.

“They want to copy after the Faraba youths,” he added.

Jallow argued that nobody dare such a thing during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh who ruled the country with an iron fist.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Geology Director was contacted to shed light on the story but was reportedly out of the jurisdiction.

President Barrow has promised a new dawn for Basse, as he announces his government’s plans with the support of the Chinese to construct the Basse-Koina road, which is in a bad shape.

Also part of the plans, he told a meeting in Basse on Thursday night, are the bridging of the Basse-Wuli crossing point, Fatoto bridge and Chamoi bridge.

As part of his ongoing nationwide tour, President Barrow Thursday night held a meeting in the provincial town of Basse in the Upper River Region. The President is accompanied on the tour by senior government officials, former APRC National Assembly Members and members of the Barrow Youth for National Development.

Speaking at the meeting, Barrow says the backwardness of the country was largely due to the fact that everything was around the former president. National development, Barrow told his Basse meeting, cannot be realized by just one individual.

Barrow, who was brought up in Basse and attended Basse Koba Kunda Primary School, said he was happy to hold a meeting in the provincial town of Basse.

The tour, he said, is a constitutional requirement for the President to tour the country and dialogue with the electorates, to know their problems and needs with a view of solving them.

He enjoined all to join him for the development of the country. This, he said will benefit all irrespective of political affiliation. He preaches unity and oneness among Gambians.
Barrow announces an agricultural project for the people of Upper River Region. The French, he said are interested in irrigation farming, focusing on rice cultivation in the Basse and in weeks’ time, they will be in URR.

According to him, it is a pilot project and it will start in his region. He urged on the people of the region to be supportive to the French during their stay in the region to continue with the project in the event the French leave.

Many senior government officials in the past hail from Basse, but according to Barrow who is also from Basse, not much has change in the area. The progress of Basse should start now, he told the crowd.

The National Development Plan developed by his government, according to President Barrow, covers all the sectors of development. Therefore, the development plan, if implemented successfully, will impact on the lives of all.

On security, The Gambian leader called on the people to respect the law enforcement agencies.

“We don’t want to see people taking the law into their hands, the same power that the former government had is the same power that is still here,” he told the meeting.

Various speakers at the meeting spoke on the need to upgrade the Basse Major Health Centre a Basse General Teaching Hospital. The women also want the government support to develop the women’s garden. They called on the government to invest in mechanized agriculture.

Tourism Minister Hamat Bah announced government’s intention to build a hotel in Basse, which he decribed as a necessity. He used the meeting to denounce tribalism.

Agriculture Minister Lamin Nambu Dibba said the government will invest massively in agriculture, a sector he said is very important in the development agenda of the government. URR and CRR, he said are blessed with fresh water for all year-round agricultural activities.

Lands Minister Musa Drammeh said he wants to see a positive change in the running of Basse Area Council to meet the expectations of the tax payers. He called on the Council to come up with their challenges for solutions.

Basic Education and Health Ministers, Claudiana Cole and Dr. Isatou Touray, both outlined their ministries’ commitment to addressing the needs and aspirations of the people.

Alagi Yorro Jallow.

The Gambia rejoined the International Criminal Court. One of the slam-dunk foreign policy successes so far are the fact that many of the initiatives of the Gambia that pre-date President Jammeh have been reviewed and the government has rejoined the Commonwealth and restored Gambia’s membership in the International Criminal Court.

The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi should follow the Gambia’s example and work to strengthen the International Criminal Court. Is it only Africa the International Criminal Court is interested; and why Africa?

How is it that African presidents came together in a rare show of power and solidarity against International Criminal Court’s “imperialism”, threatened to pull out of the Rome Statute en masse, and now they don’t have the collective voice to stand up for Africa against continued imperialistic policies and demeaning attitudes from the west?

The answer is simple: they were on a mission to protect the rogues among their lot who were under ICC indictment– thugs and potential thugs protecting each other and let us remember that the only reason they ended up under ICC’s imperial chambers was that their own countries opted for it after failure to locally prosecute crimes against humanity.

Remember countries like Kenya spent millions on a global diplomacy that sent some of their smartest minds like former Ambassador Amina Mohamed to spray perfume where African presidents had defecated, and they pulled it off spectacularly, all under the pretext of upholding Africa’s sovereignty and honor.

Good lord they played that song-and-dance so well it was almost a tear-jerker to hear them talk of Africa’s dignity and sovereignty. How I wish this collective show of force by Africa’s presidents and diplomats could now be displayed for the good of Africa’s people, those who truly need their leaders to speak for them, address historical injustices, pull them out of the stench of poverty, save their dignity on the global stage. All but a few have failed the test of integrity.

African leaders adopted a strategy calling for a collective withdrawal from the international criminal court. It was an expression of impatience by African leaders with the court, which some say has focused too narrowly on Africa while pursuing cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Two years ago, South Africa, Burundi and the Gambia all announced plans to leave the court, leading to concerns that other states would follow.

Some African countries have been especially critical of the ICC for pursuing heads of state. Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has been wanted by the court since 2009 for allegedly orchestrating atrocities in Darfur.

The ICC also caused an uproar among some African nations by indicting Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta on charges of crimes against humanity for 2007 post-election violence in which more than 1,000 died. The case collapsed because of what the ICC prosecutor called lack of cooperation by Kenya’s government. Majority of countries also wanted the meaning of immunity and impunity amended in the Rome Statute, the treaty that set up the court in 2002.

The ICC portray itself as an apolitical institution that will act irrespective of their targets nationality or political position. Some people, particularly African leaders and post -colonial scholars, look at the Court’s caseload and wonder why, if that is the case, it’s only prosecutions have been of African nationals.

African scholars and Afrophiles portray the ICC as another way in which the West is establishing a neocolonial relationship in which Western countries, particularly those in Europe, using conditional support and military humanitarian intervention, maintain authority over their former colonies. They perceive the Ischial not as European per se, as an institution modeled on European principles and administered by a global elite inculcated in Western values and trained in the Western mode.

European countries and EU do not perceive themselves as imperial powers. Europe is the originator and a strong proponent of universal human rights and has fostered many institutions for their strict enforcement on the continent and worldwide.

It’s argued that the ICC is a part of a European imposed and implemented international human rights project which has a focus on Europe’s Africa colonies. The perception of the ICC as a European institution biased against Africa is predicated upon Europe’s perception and presentation of itself as a normative model for the international community, in whose reaction it can instruct others, which implies a sense of European superiority and conjures the specter of Europe attempting to remake Africa in its own.

Is it Africans who commit crimes only; the Office of the Prosecutor should explain to the world why they are overlooking other law offenders from other countries outside Africa.

By Alagi Yorro Jallow

Numuyel, Upper River Region, 20, July, 2018

President Adama Barrow has said that no one is above the law and that the police are constitutionally mandated to enforce it to the letter.

“From Ministers to Permanent secretaries and the common man…. No one is above the law,” the President said, maintaining that the new dispensation came through the rule of law and will continue to run government on its values.

Reinforcing the supremacy of the law and the role of the police in implementing it, President Barrow added that the Police, in the execution of their duties to maintain law and order, have all rights to arrest, detain, question or investigate anyone in connection to any crime.

The President said this to thousands of people gathered at a meeting held in Nioro Tukulorr in Nianijar District of the Northern Central River Region as part of his countrywide tour. He said there are many reports that indicate instances of people resisting arrests, physically confronting police officers or refusing to cooperate with the Police in their job.

“The Police are here to enforce the law, maintain peace and security. In doing so, we know that they are constrained by a lot of factors such as limited man power and lack of mobility which impacts their ability to effectively operate in many situations,” he indicated.

He urged the communities to give maximum support to the Police in executing their duties and keeping the country safe and stable. He also argue that the new found democracy in the country does not mean that people can break the law or resist its enforcement by the Police.

Reiterating the significance of the rule of law in Bakadaji, Upper River Region, the President told the community that the law is here to serve the people. Regardless of the circumstance, the law is here to protect you and can be used to seek redress at all times, he explained.

On lands Commission

President Barrow also announced that a lands commission will soon be set up that will look into the numerous land disputes registered all over the country.

He said there are over 40 land disputes registered by the authorities across the country and that the said Commission will look into these disputes, investigate and give recommendations that will amicably resolve these disputes.

“People must not take the law into their own hands, no matter the given situations. Upholding the law must be everyone’s job as rule of law is here to stay,” he maintained.

President Adama Barrow hails from Mankamang Kunda in the Jimara District of the Upper River Region.

Speaking at Bakadagy in Jimara on Thursday as part of his tour, he called for the people of Jimara to support him.
He made reference to former Presidents Jawara and Jammeh who, he said were both supported by their people of Niani and Foni.

Barrow urged the people of his district not to pay attention to people who will come to them with the intention of misinforming them about the realities in the country.
Politics, he said is over and that he is open to any meaningful Gambian who is ready and committed in joining him to develop the country.

Barrow’s popularity in the Jimara district has not been a popular one after losing to then APRC candidate-turned-GDC founder Mama Kandeh. Even after becoming President, Barrow’s party UDP were defeated by the GDC in the past parliamentary election.

To the people of Jimara, Barrow reminded them that he won’t lie to them about his government’s development plan. He renewed his commitment to the development of Jimara and Gambia In General.

He emphasied the need for unity among the people of Jimara and Fulladou, saying it was unity that removed the former president.

Basic and Secondary Education Minister Claudiana Cole says her ministry has plans of providing 400 scholarships annually to graduating students from Region 3 to Region 6. She added that 100 scholarship will also be awarded to teachers.

Regarding skills training, Cole says the government will give out 50 scholarships to students who want to undergo studies at the Julangel Skills Training Centre in Jimara.

Responding to locals demand for the fencing of the Bakadagi School, she promised that her ministry will look into it.

Various speakers including Julaba Drammeh, Aja Jarrai Jagana, Bakary Njie and Badiri Sillah, all commended Barrow for holding the meeting in Bakadagi.

However, they appealed for a Skills training centre, fencing of the Bakadagy school and more investment in the agriculture sector.

Professor Paulo Andrade, a Brazilian Scientist has said that the Gambia should adopt agricultural biotechnology to ensure food security in the country.

Professor Andrade was speaking at the Biotech Conference funded by the United States Office of Agricultural Policy. The Conference was held at the University Auditorium Brikama Campus.

“The Agricultural Biotechnology ensures food security in the world,” Professor Andrade told participants.

The Brazilian Agricultural Scientist said biotechnology is a contributing factor to food security, sustainability and climate change amongst others.

“It helps small farmers that makes food affordable to everyone,” he said.

He named the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India as the biggest Biotech crop growing countries in the world. He added that 67 countries have adopted Biotech crops since 1996.

“Agriculture is a good way of developing a country”

Professor Andrade has downplayed critics of biotechnology as fear mongers, saying possible risks could be manage through assessment mechanisms.

Bakary Trawally, former Permanent Secretary of Agriculture has a different thought saying that the Gambia is not fully prepare for the biotechnology which is beyond the local standard. He recommends tissue culture.

“There is great potential of tissue culture in The Gambia,” Mr Tarawally said.

Bubacarr Jallow, Head of Education The Gambia College also added his voice to encourage indigenousness of Agriculture. He commended the expert analysis of Professor Andrade.

Meanwhile, he called on the US Embassy to continue the support.

I have read with some disappointment the press release from the government spokesperson Mr. Ebrima Sankareh responding to the leaked audios between Yahya Jammeh and his lieutenants in the country. In that statement, he attacked the APRC in the strongest terms and hinted that your government will not allow such to continue.

If this was on your behalf (which it should be for otherwise wouldn’t he be operating outside the parameters of his mandate?). If that is the case, then I have to say that it is a waste of time and that you should look at the bigger picture and focus on (re)building our country. There are a lot of things that need your attention and thus, you should not belabor the point of the natural demise of the APRC party. It is like beating a dead horse.

I mean, it seems that Yahya Jammeh and his people have managed to control the narrative for far too long in the Gambia. When he was here as president, we talked about him constantly; we defenestrated him, and he still manages to control what we say daily. No conversation is complete without mentioning Yahya Jammeh. Why is it so important for us to constantly keep talking about a former president?

As president, you cannot respond to each and everything said in (and about) the Gambia. Certain comments are not worth responding to. If I were to advise you, I would say that those leaked audios should be ignored; for, nothing said there threatens the current status quo and as such, it should have been given the deaf ear,so the citizens will not focus on it but will rather keep working for the betterment of the nation.

As is observable, the bee is high in the hills or the trees, minding not what is happening on the ground and that is why it produces one of the most useful liquids known to man – honey. It is high up there so that no one can touch it and it only focuses on its work of preparing honey which benefits humankind. This does not mean that you should be aloof and oblivious of people’s opinions but responding to everything will seem petty.

Besides, your recent reported meetings with the APRC leadership and your interaction with some of their ‘fallen heroes’does not send a good signal to the masses who fought so hard to effect the change that benefitted you and all Gambians. No one is saying that they should not be allowed to participate in the development of the nation; but, it certainly should not be in our government which they did everything to prevent from coming to power even after it became clear that the Gambian people had given you the mandate to rule.

One can understand if you want to be inclusive, but it does not have to be in key areas which we should use to rebuild the country and reform institutions necessary for the nurturing of our nascent democracy. How can there be reform when the ones who corrupted the institutions are still running them? It is high time you made your position on this issue clear. At present, you are sending conflicting signals.

We are watching!

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

Alagi Yorro Jallow

They say that it takes a village to raise a child. But to raise a dictator and groom him for more than two decades in national leadership? That takes a whole nation. It takes a whole nation to remember, but also a whole nation to forget. The struggle over memory is far from over. We continue to decide what to remember and what to forget. But we must remember that what constitutes our national collective responsibility reveals who and what we are as a nation. Let the dead bury the dead, and the living move on with life. As Dwight D. Eisenhower said: “The history of free men is never written by chance, but by choice – their choice.” Those meant to uphold the values of life and liberty cannot remain silent over atrocity and injustice. We have become a nation of lambs led to the slaughter but must utter no word, silence, under Yahya Jammeh for 22 years. We were cowards, hypocrites and wronged because our ability to tolerate barbarity and tyranny was stretched to its limits.

“He who doesn’t know where he came from doesn’t know where is going,” says an African proverb. The Gambian intellectual community are lost; they don’t know where they are going. I shook my head when I read “It’s a patriotic duty to serve your country.” Serving a tyrant. It seems they are way behind the curve, late to the struggle for democracy and good governance in the Gambia and are only playing “catch-up” with proposed conferences, “belly politics” and the lure for ministerial and diplomatic positions. What is strange in the Gambia is those who have usurped the role of identifying themselves as intellectuals negotiating for dominance in the public space. The nature and role of intellectuals include searching for the truth, interrogating the meaning and knowing the implications of both public conduct and policy decisions.

Afflicted with “intellectual astigmatism,” our intellectuals cannot see with eagle-eyed clarity the injustices perpetrated against the oppressed by the dictator. But they are hopelessly blind to the equally heinous injustices committed by the dictator against their own people. Too many of them sold off their integrity, principles and conscience to serve the dictates of barbarous Yahya Jammeh. He seemed to always find intellectuals and sycophants to serve at his beck and call.

Some of them even preferred military to civilian rule.
When Yahya shamelessly pretended to return the country to civilian rule, religious leaders,Yai Compins, Youth leaders, community leaders and intellectuals began to point to the fact that military rule was the preferred option since civilians had not learned enough lessons to be entrusted with the governance of the country. Those people are called pseudo- intellectuals, individuals who take on the guise of the intellectual to promote embedded political tribalism.
Our faith in our nation is badly shaken.

Our faith in the sincerity of the Gambian people to protect our diversity in a secular nation has been called to question over and over. Our optimism in our constitutional republic is like the proverbial frog boiled gradually to death in a pot of warm water. The willingness of the people to obey unjust laws exposes them. Their ability to perpetuate the mass murder of the Gambian people, burying them in unmarked graves or feeding their carcasses to the crocodiles, speaks volumes of reckless brutality.

Every citizen at every level should have spoken and denounced the illegality of a coup and the continued suppression of our human dignity and humanity to reassure the Gambia that is worthy of our sweat, blood and sacrifice. Every Gambian should have broken the long silence and prolonged spilling of innocent blood under Yahya Jammeh in the name of “solders with a difference” that came with a heavy price to our country. Our country is no more sacred that the blood of our children.

The systematic humiliation, enslavement, subjugation and complete annihilation of a “lesser people” to allow for the forced acquisition of our land for whatever purposes – religious and tribal dominance and conquest – should be halted. Most Gambians remain silenced and continue to enable Yahya Jammeh in his thievery of our resources and killing of the people with impunity. Most Gambians, especially the police, the military and educated civilians who covertly sold their souls to the dictator, justified serving the tyrant in exchange of economic development toward civil liberty. Civilian intellectuals who commissioned, armed and appointed state ministers are just like the so-called Green Boys by doing these dirty jobs for the dictator; they must be brought to justice.

Those silenced when Koro Ceesay and journalist Deyad Hydara were killed as well as during the arson attack on the Independent newspaper, the torching of Radio One FM and the closure of Citizen FM radio are today the very social media fame whores who seek attention just for attention’s sake. They are those who flood our Facebook feeds just to feed their ego. They post, repost, share, reshare and comment because there is a need to, now more than ever. How can we – you – be silent when the voices of malicious misinformation and populist historical revisionism have grown louder each passing day over 22 years.

“Silence is golden” is a proverbial saying, often used in circumstances where it is thought that saying nothing is preferable to speaking. Who is fooling who? I am usually defiantly optimistic when I think of the Gambia, but even that has not been spared “change.” When Yahya Jammeh detained the opposition leaders and held them incommunicado at the notorious Mile Two Central Prisons, seizing their liberty, we all remained silenced. Yahya continued to kill politicians and, despite several court orders, expose our collective weakness of silence and complicity.

The progressive extrajudicial extermination of the Gambia exposes our silence and complicity. The willingness of our people to accept and condone injustice is not the attribute of a great nation and cannot be expected to last forever. Self-defense and self-determination are fundamental and inalienable human rights and legitimate options which the Gambian people and indeed all citizens should have pushed to consider.

Counsel and bitter truth are worth their weight in gold. So, those who love this country, like the Gambian people, should not have remained silent for 22 years. When those sworn to defend us are perceived to be complicit with murderers, they keep silent or rein in our rage forever, especially those in the police, in the military, the youth and our intellectuals, who are prostitutes of the highest order.

Many “untainted” political leaders and other journalists who were outspoken and challenged the dictator are detribalized, personable and humane. They have never remained silent; they broke their silence and joined great Gambians such as Halipha Sallah and his party, Ousainou Darboe and his party, Hamat Bah and Omar Amadou Jallow – those military people who resisted on November 11, 1994 – and some members of the private press to speak for restraint and challenge the dictator. They paid a heavy price but were never silent to the horror show of dictatorship.

The assumption that all military coups fit within this traditional, antidemocratic model pervades the legal literature of illegal and treasonable. According to the prevailing view, a democratic military coup is an oxymoron. For example, Richard Albert’s recent work on democratic revolutions states that “by definition, a coup cannot be democratic.” Military coups, according to Professor Albert, constitute “an affront to the democratic ideals of stability, consent, and legitimacy.” Andrew Janos likewise, has argued that a coup d’état “is the reversal hood’s or anybody else of the process of revolution.”

Other examples of this academic view abound. Federal law in the United States reflects the same disdain for military coups by prohibiting, with certain exceptions, any financial assistance “to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” The European Union made a similar commitment in 1991. Opposition political parties and some independent journalists never recognized the July 22 Revolution, but a section of civil society associations and groups all joined with their families and supported the bandwagon of the July 22 Revolution. Those supporters are the very people now distancing themselves from the dictator’s movement.

According to the proverbial saying, “you cannot divorce your husband and reclaim your virginity.” The July 22 Revolution has been illegal since day one. Why has it taken that long for the journalist, the police officer, the military officer and the fly-by-night activists who enabled the dictator and worked with the dictator to not question the illegality of the July 22 Revolution. Yet, our drama kings and queens of social media – those who lose their manhood and fertility for two decades – now become an apostle of democracy and constitutional governance. Therefore, it’s collectively profitable to stand up and speak out for a good cause.

Silence may be golden, but not in the face of oppression and tyranny. According to Professor Wole Soyinka, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” Bishop Desmond Tutu also accents that, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

The last time I checked, the Barrow led administration is a transitional government which main preoccupation is to make sure good institutions; that will address the rules and norms that will shape the public sector for a better Gambia, are created. It is on record that citizens were given bogus promises, including but not limited to, the reduction of rice from the current price to an affordable D500, increase of salaries, procession of jobs for young people, better health care among many others. Surprisingly enough, implementing these ambitious promises appears too farfetched.

The Gambia’s Public institutions such as the Police, Military and the Judiciary, that all served as stooges under Jammeh’s 22 years brutal rule, by oppressing their own people, should be rigorously reformed by the Barrow led administration, in order to rid the ‘bad cows’ off the system and bring about democracy and good governance, as we transit to democracy. Institutional reform as component of transitional justice is vigorous, it aims at acknowledging victims as citizens and holders of rights and to build trust between all citizens and their public institutions.

Institutional reform again, is not only a process of reviewing and restructuring state institutions so they respect human rights, it also preserve the rule of law and ensure, politicians especially, are accountable to their constituents. By incorporating a transitional justice element in our democratic transition, reform efforts can both provide accountability for individual perpetrators and disable the structures that allowed usurpation of power. (Phochan, 2015)

Furthermore, the University of The Gambia and the Gambia College, are in urgent need of learning materials. The lecture rooms in which lecturers and the students use, are not very conducive, they find it difficult to cope with the situation. However, if we want to have better educational system where students learn to develop themselves and strive hard to learn the values of life, we must focus our energy and resources on the university where it all began.

It is evident that; events of theft are on the rise in the new Gambia. Thieves get chances of stealing in the darkness and on a broad daylight, in one word, indiscriminately, because of the power shortage by NAWEC well as the fragile security situation. So brought about that kind of fear among people in The Gambia. I remember the president promised us of tightened security. Barely a month on, all I hear is one kind of killing, robbery and rape or the other.

The Gambia Health Sector is in serious crisis as a result of inadequate medical facilities and human resources. The mere fact that; the health care system is based on donor funds, has made people dying unnecessarily, whenever donor funds are unavailable when they are needed the most.

Of recent, President Barrow announced in his meet the People tour, that his administration will build a bridge across the mouth of the River Gambia between Banjul and Barra. Bridges, have no doubt proven themselves to be very useful to mankind.

However, there are many disadvantages to bridges, especially on our environment. Besides, the pollution of our waters by chemical waste from vehicles can contaminate the water via precipitation.  The construction of bridges alone, can drastically change the environment and impose serious health issues.

Furthermore, it is unrealistic and a misplaced priority to come up with the idea of constructing a bridge in the face of mounting challenges that continue to stall our growth and national development. The President is fully aware of these and knows that, they actually require swift attention than bridge he is talking about.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

Speaking at at Ngain Sanjal on Day Three of his nationwide tour, President Barrow called on Gambians to be law abiding and have respect for the law enforcement agencies.

The police, he says, play an important role in maintaining peace and order. He therefore advocates for people to respect the police.

He cites instances where people would attempt to obstruct the police while doing their work.

This, according to him, is not what democracy calls for.
People, he said, were arrested and prisoned [such as Lawyer Darboe and Hamat Bah] and in some instances some disappeared in the past government but people never protested.

But in this new dispensation, Barrow says, people are now in the habit of protesting without even following the due process of securing a permit.

The same power the past government had under Jammeh is the same powers his government has, he told Gambians. But his government, he told the meeting, will not abuse that powers by acting in manners outside the law as it used to be.
To journalists, Barrow advise them to be objective in their reporting.

He accused some journalists of being induced by some individuals to report negative news about other people.
He claims that some journalists have even asked him to pay them to be reporting only positive stories about him.
He vows not to give money to any journalist (s) to report good things about him.

On agriculture, he said, the sector is very important for the self independence of any country.

The Gambia, he told the Ngain Sanjal Meeting, is blessed with the land to produce rice more than any other country, but the country continues to depend highly on imported rice.
He calls for attitudinal change for the development of the country.

Here, locals lamented water, electricity, roads, farming equipment and fertilizer as the key things affecting them. They also appealed for  Skills Training Centres in the area to reduct the number of young people leaving for the Greater Banjul Area.

In respond, he promised that the government will address the concerns raised with the implementation of the 2018-2021 National Development Plan.

Momodou Badjie, President Barrow’s National Security Adviser has said that plans are underway to draft the national security policy to serve as a guideline for the sector.

Badjie, a former Deputy Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) told journalists that the basis of the Security Sector Reform is to transform the security sector into an effective, transparent, accountable and a civil authority institute. He adduced that the security sector in the past regime suffered due to an authoritarian rule.

“The security sector was not adhering to the core principles of the profession,” Security Adviser Badjie said.

The retired military chief made these statements at the mainstream gender training of the security sector at the Joint Officers Mess in Kotu.

“Gender equity is a target in the security reform agenda,” he added.

Badjie highlighted the nationwide assessments that revealed malfunctions, inadequate trainings, lack of transparency and gender bias amongst others in the country’s security sector. He added that the recommendations would stand as guidelines for the security sector reform.

“We are training the security on gender responsiveness”

PRESS RELEASE

Following his recent appointment and after taking the prescribed oath of office as the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, on behalf of the Central Committee and the entire membership, and sympathisers of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and on my own behalf as the Party National President, I feel highly honoured to most humbly and sincerely congratulate H.E A.N.M Ousainou Darboe the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia and the Leader and Secretary General of UDP for the new post and to profusely thank  H.E Adama Barrow President of The Republic of The Gambia for the trust and confidence he has bestowed on our party leader.

United Democratic Party since 1996 under his wise and able leadership, remains a vibrant and dedicated political party committed to the principles of democracy and rule of law in the strive to attain the new Gambia that we all cherish. UDP played an important role in the struggle to end the tyranny and dictatorship that characterised the former regime. The Fass standoff in 2015 and the 16th April 2016 peaceful demonstration by the UDP leaderships, clearly signalled the party’s total determination to end the two decades of oppression and suppression in the country come December 2016 Presidential Elections.

For the purpose of clarity, prior to his arrest and imprisonment, the Secretary General and Leader of UDP took a leading role in reactivating the Gambia Oppositions for Electoral Reforms (GOFER) and served as chairman. The group that later formed a coalition of seven opposition parties plus an Independent Presidential Aspirant and defeated the former ruling party in the 1st December 2016 poll whilst he Darboe was in prison. The rest of the UDP Executive members who stayed behind on April 16, acted as instructed by the leader to continue the struggle in the event anything happened to them. UDP as a party stood firm in solidarity with Darboe and co during the trial until their conviction and sentence before taking the political front to ensure the change of government and their release.

After consultation with my humble self, Hon. Halifa Sallah the Secretary General and Leader of PDOIS, convened a Conference of Presidential Candidates at Kairaba Beach Hotel to map out the strategies to select a single opposition candidate which involved only presidential candidates or their representatives. At its second meeting, a conference of GOFER was proposed and agreed to and also for the opposition parties that were non-GOFER members to be included as well. Two civil society organisations and two Independent National Assembly Members who were also in the struggle to unite the opposition parties were also invited to be part of the conference upon their requests. Henceforth, the third meeting comprised GOFER and the team of the Independent Aspirant Dr. Isatou Touray plus two civil society groups (The Concerned Citizens led by Madame Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang and the Inter-Party Committee for Opposition Unification led by Kebba Singhateh) and Hon. Buba Aye Sanneh and Hon. Muhammed Magassey. I was unanimously chosen as the Chairman in the absence of Ousainou Darboe. At our subsequent meeting I proposed that Madame Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang assist me as Co-Chair which was accepted. As the parties could not come to terms on a single candidate but decided to go for convention, I proposed that Madame Tambajang preside over the convention and the meetings there after as Chairperson. However, I remain as Co-Chair.

To conclude, I thank each and every political party, group or individuals for their efforts in effecting the change and the services they have rendered to the government of President Adama Barrow in one way or the other. I wish H.E Vice President Darboe good health, long life and success in his new office. I pray for H.E President Barrow long life, good health and for Almighty Allah to grant him wisdom and guidance to govern this country.

……………………………………………………

Hon. Dembo Bojang

National President UDP

President Barrow says politics is over until 2021, as he addresses a meeting in Farafenni on Tuesday night.

Barrow has kept repeating this statement in all his meetings.
Many say Barrow is using the tour to respond to those wondering whether he will step down or not at the end of Coalition-agreed three years.

Barrow also uses his meeting to commend members of media for the good work. He recalled in the past when journalists were merely arrested for covering such meetings.
This, he says, was as result of the lack of transparency of the former government.

“We are open to the media because we have nothing to hide from the Gambians.”

The media, he says, is catered for in the National Development Plan.

“All the laws that were put in place to restrict the journalists will be remove,” Barrow said.

Barrow, who claimed not to be on a political tour promises more development projects to advance the development of the provincial town.

Farafenni hosts many Senegalese. He therefore thanked President Macky Sall and Government for the support to providing uninterrupted power supply in Farafenni. This, he says, shows the unity between the two country. “Macky Sall was there for the country when it was tough. He contributed in having the Ecomig forces here.”

President Barrow also thanked all the ECOWAS Heads of States for joining efforts to have the ECOMIG Force.
He used the meeting to share with people the National Development Plan.

“It was was this Plan that we took to Brussels where we received a pledge of US$1.7B. Once the money comes into the country, even the cats will know about it.”

Barrow hit at the former President, Yahya Jammeh who had promised to transform the country into Dubai and Saudi Arabia. “I am not here to give you deceiving statements.”

“Whoever comes here, tell him or her that President Barrow says “Politics is over, you can join him at State House and work together for the development of the country””

Speaking earlier on, Alhaji Mustapha Dibba of Farafenni thanked the President for the uninterrupted power supply. However, he appeals for water and electricity for the communities that are without, especially border settlement of Kerr Ali and surrounding settlements.

He informs the President that the Farafenni Police is without mobility. Dibba also appeals for a milling machine and a tractor for the Nerica Rice Growers Association in Farafenni.
Staff quarters for custom officers at the border, Dibba says, is a need for officers.

On behalf of the women of Farafenni, Fatou Ceesay appeals for a market. The existing Farafenni Market is very small and cannot accommodate all the women. “We want the government to empower us.”

Malick Samba says rice is the staple food in the country. He urges President Barrow to reduce the price of rice to the affordability of everyone.

Sheikh Tijan Camara, a key witness in the Solo Sandeng murder trial said the late opposition youth leader was buried with a mattress at the NIA Training Camp at Tanji.

Camara, an NIA Agent identified the grave to the court where Sandeng’s body was allegedly buried after he was tortured to death in custody. He adduced that the body was buried in his presence.

“Solo Sandeng was
buried with a mattress,” Sheikh Tijan said.

“The body was lowered by Lamin Darboe, Babucarr Sallah and Lamin Lang Sanyang,” he added.

The NIA witness said the former Director of Operations, Sheikh Omar Jeng was present when the body of Solo Sandeng was buried. He identified the grave at the far right corner of the camp beside a cashew tree.

“I’m under oath as nothing is between the heavens and earth to lie against my former authorities or conceal the death of Solo Sandeng,” Camara said.

The witness further revealed that Lamin Lang Sanyang, the NIA Medic was the one who allegedly distributed white hand gloves to the officials that buried the body of Solo Sandeng.

Meanwhile, Dawda Ndure also gave evidence on the secret burial at the NIA Training Camp at Tanji.

President Barrow continues his tour with meetings in Baddibu Kerewan, Noo Kunda, Njaba Kunda and Farafenni on Day Two of his ongoing tour. President Barrow informs the locals that the dark days of The Gambia where everything was around one person is over.

Speaking at his first meeting In Kerewan on Day Two of his nationwide tour, Barrow thanked the people of Kerewan for standing by him from pre-election to now. The people of Kerewan, he says, stood by him to effect the change people are enjoying now.

He reminded the crowd at a late night meeting he had in Kerewan during his campaign which was equally well attended by the residents. Things, he says, look promising for the country in terms of development projects that will significantly transforms the lives of Gambians.

Barrow used his meeting to hit back at his critics, who describe him as unfit to rule the country due to his silence on certain issues. He says he is not a leader who beliefs in lot of talks, but action, he said, is what Gambians need from a leader. He described those people as narrow-minded people. Gambia after 22 years of what he calls living under a dictator, needs a focused leader who has direction and plans.

Regarding the concerns raised by the locals, Barrow says the 2018-2021 National Development Plan covers all the key sectors for a prosperous country. “My government will not forget the people of Kerewa in our development agenda,” President Barrow pledges. Kerewan is the administrative headquarters of NBR, but not much is happening there, as even the President sleeps in Farafenni when on tour.

Barrow says he was embarrassed by this and promised to spend the night in Kerewan in his next tour. Also speaking at Medina Serign Mass on his first day of the tour on Monday, President Barrow reassures his commitment to the development of the country. The days of unlawful arrest and detention are over, saying The Gambia will be a country where human rights are respected. Here, the people also appealed for electricity, water and the need for the construction of the road linking the village to Bangali on the main highway linking Barra and Kerewan.

Bai Lamin Jobe, Minister of Works informed the people of Kerewan that the road between Kerewan and Njawara will be constructed.

Dr. Isatou Touray says the problems raised regarding the Kerewan Health Centre are going to be given due consideration. The health sector, according to the new health minister, is high on the government’s agenda. She admitted that there are lack of enough well-trained medical personnel, drugs and enough facilities.

Agriculture Minister Lamin Dibba said the government will ensure timely supply of fertilizer at an affordable price to farmers. However, he warned against reselling the fertilizer at an unaffordable price.

Speaker after speaker including Hon Alhagie Jawara of Lower Baddibu, Chief Fabala Kinteh, Women Representative Fatou Jammeh and Samboujang Conteh, all used the meeting to bring to the President’s attention to some of the problems confronting the people. Among them were poor road networks, poor state of the Kerewan Health centre and the needs to refurbish the Governor’s office and resident.