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As We Mourn Winnie Mandela, We Celebrate a Heroine You Probably Never Heard Of

Fatu Camara
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As We Mourn Winnie Mandela, We Celebrate a Heroine You Probably Never Heard Of

Africa has always had its female heroes, some were celebrated, others less so, but the tenacity of the African woman is as old as the hills. Today, we introduce Queen Nzinga.

She lived in the 17th century, in the region of what can now be identified as Angola. It was a time when the British and French were marauding for slaves. The Portuguese wouldn’t be left out. They had the whole of Brazil to supply, so they advanced deeper into Nzinga’s territory, at a time when she was only a girl.

When Nzinga’s father died, the throne passed on to her brother, Ngola Mbandi. Unfortunately, he was as weak as his sister was strong. He lost battle after another, and the Portuguese encroachment became even more pronounced. He was highly suspicious of his sister, but Nzinga wasn’t to be sidelined. She made her first remarkable achievement when she represented the kingdom in negotiations with the Portuguese.

The Governor, Mr De Sousa approached that meeting with disdain. He didn’t even offer the queen a seat, while he sat on a high chair. Queen Nzinga sidestepped the mat and asked her servants to go down on all fours, then she climbed on their backs. With one move, she set the stage in her favour, demonstrating loyalty from her subjects, the kind that Mr. Sousa could only dream of. She left that meeting having secured very favourable terms and conditions.

It is believed that Queen Nzinga learned her astuteness from her father. How do you engage with your daughters? Who are the Queen Nzingas of The Gambia?

HELLO MR PRESIDENT… The Poor Ferry Services Amount to Marginalization of the People of the North Bank region…

Fatu Camara
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HELLO MR PRESIDENT… The Poor Ferry Services Amount to Marginalization of the People of the North Bank region…

HELLO MR PRESIDENT…

The Poor Ferry Services Amount to Marginalization of the People of the North Bank region…
As I have said before, the Gambia Ports Authority is the worst service provider in this country. The Authority has repeatedly failed, woefully for that matter, to offer satisfactory services to the people of the country. The people of North Bank Region are almost cut-off from the rest of the country and find it very difficult to come to Banjul. This is a form of injustices which is harming the economy of the nation.
Last week, I traveled to the provinces and while returning, I spent more than two hours just to reach Banjul from Barra – a distance not more than four miles. This was because the ferry was not plying the sea. The only reason given by officials of the GPA is that there was low tide and that the ferry will not be able to dock safely. So, I had to join the boats like hundreds of others in the same ilk.

Now, I read in the local newspapers yesterday that because of this problem of low tide, the schedule of the ferries will change for the next week or so. According to the new schedule, the first ferry from Banjul will now leave at five thirty in the morning while the one from Barra will leave at six o’clock. Then the ferries will be out of service till 18:45. This means that during the whole day, people will be packed there without having the chance to cross, safely. The only option will be to board the rickety boats which is really not safe.

Mr President, this is not a new problem. It has been here for the past fifty-two or so years. All three government since independence have failed the people of the North Bank Region as if they are a separate country all together. No one from any other region in the Gambia suffers as much as the people of North Bank Region just to come to Banjul or the Kombos. Naturally, Banjul being the capital city of the nation – with most government services not decentralized – people from all the regions regularly have to come to the city for one reason or the other. The time being wasted by the people of the NBR just to come to Banjul could have been used productively to make money which will benefit the country.

It Is unfathomable that the Ports Authority bought these ferries without doing a feasibility study to understand what they need in order to operate efficiently. If this was done, they would have known that work needed to be done at the landing areas to ensure that whether there is low or high tide, the ferries will still be able to berth. Had Gambia Ports Authority properly managed the amount of money they collect from passengers and vehicles every day, they would have solved this problem long time ago.

As it stands, what we observe in the operations of the Authority points to either one of two things: ineptitude or economic mismanagement. If the Authority cannot run the ferries efficiently, a separate entity called Gambia Ferry Service should be created. This will be independent of the Ports Authority. Or, it could be placed under another government agency. Both these options failing, there should be a probe into the activities of the Ports Authority and the leadership sacked if found wanting. The people of North Bank Region are part and parcel of the country and should not be left behind in the development process.
Something needs to be done, and fast!
Have a Good day Mr President…
Tha Scribbler Bah
A Concerned Citizen

This Letter Will Make You Cry: The Late Winnie’s letter to Her Late, Ex Husband

Fatu Camara
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This Letter Will Make You Cry: The Late Winnie’s letter to Her Late, Ex Husband

My Husband,

I can only hope that the guards do not completely destroy this letter. I have recently been released from Pretoria central prison. They called me a terrorist Nelson; I was only doing my job, and speaking on behalf of the ANC. They kept me in solitary confinement for a year, but I never stopped thinking about you and our girls each day while I was in there. I knew that the girls were safe away at boarding school, but still I constantly worried about you. In prison, they treated me like an animal Nelson, they tortured and humiliated me. Those first few days are the worst in anyone’s life—that uncertainty, that insecurity. The whole thing is calculated to destroy you. [I was] not in touch with anybody. And in those days all I had in the cell was a sanitary bucket, a plastic bottle which could contain only about three glasses of water, and a mug. The days and nights became so long I found I was talking to myself. [My] body [became] sore, because [I was] not used to sleeping on cement. I know that your conditions at Robben Island are not much better, but my days in jail only made me stronger.

I want to fight Nelson; I want to free our people from the this government. The police continue to harass me all the time. Each day, I wonder if I will be able to return home to see our girls. Nelson, your daughters live in fear each day. They have already lost the presence of their father; they cannot lose me as well. Even though Zindzi is a year younger than Zezani, she has really taken over my role as the mother of the house.

Our girls have your heart, especially Zindzi, she talks about wanting to bring about change, and fight for your freedom and for our people. I don’t know how our girls have continued to be so strong, especially while both of us were locked away. They no longer allow me to continue my duties as a social worker, so I am only focused on my role in the ANC. My love, we are so lucky to be blessed with friends and neighbors who are helping us during this difficult time. How do the police expect me to feed our girls with no income? I am just thankful for the help from our people.

Nelson, I have had such little time to love you. But our love has survived all these years of separation so far. I long for you all the time. When I do get to have visits with you, I can only touch your hand. I want to kiss you; I want to be able to converse with you without hearing the white guards shout “Politics” to cut off our conversations. I want to watch you be a father to our children. But most of all Nelson I want to fight. I want to hurt these people, the filth and disgust that they have put us and our people through. They must pay for everything that they have done. You were right when you said “I had married trouble,” because trouble is what I am going to give them. I will continue to fight each day for our people.

Until I see you again my love,

Winnie

Yet Another Murder In The Gambia!

Fatu Camara
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Yet Another Murder In The Gambia!

Baboucarr Faal, 24, has handed himself to the Bakau Police Station after allegedly stabbing 28 year old Cherno Jammeh to death. The incident happened Thursday 4th April, between the hours of 10am-12pm in Bakau.

When Fatu Network contacted Superintendent David Kujabi, Police Public Relation officer, he confirmed the story, saying the suspect and deceased were molding blocks when a quarrel ensued between them. ‘The deceased, running from the assailant tried to scale the fence, when the attacker caught up with him.

Baboucarr is currently helping the police with their investigations. We’ll keep you updated with this story.

Armed Forces Mounts Investigations Into Mysterious Death Of a Soldier

Fatu Camara
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Armed Forces Mounts Investigations Into Mysterious Death Of a Soldier

By Omar Wally

The Gambia Armed Forces, has launched an investigation into the death of a soldier whose body was found dumped in a well in Madiyana village.

Major Lamin K. Sanyang, Gambia Armed Forces, spokesperson told The Fatu Network, that the body of Corporal Baboucarr SM Bah, was discovered on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

Armed Forces spokesperson disclosed that the remains of Bah was taken to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, adding that they have started investigations in to the matter.

The Fatu Network will keep an eye on this developing story.

Gambia College Students Complain of Deplorable Conditions on Campus

Fatu Camara
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Gambia College Students Complain of Deplorable Conditions on Campus

The college students have once again raised concerns over the poor dormitory conditions at the Brikama Campus.

“There is scarcity of mattresses at the dormitory, yet we pay the college for these services” He cried.

Students are deducted D50 Dalasi from monthly stipends of only D400 Dalasi. They complained of bed bugs and

Overcrowding, citing that up to three people share small rooms at times.

The students whined about the terrible conditions their toilets are in. Apparently, the plumbing has major issues

and it has not been fixed since. There are serious hygiene concerns.

The lady in charge of dormitories, Madame Colley, could not be reached for comment.

The CEO of GCCI blames the former President for the Bad State of Gambian Businesses

Fatu Camara
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The CEO of GCCI blames the former President for the Bad State of Gambian Businesses

By Arfang Camara

The Chief Executive Officer of The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Alieu Secka has stated that businesses in the country have been hindered by the 22 years of dictatorship. Mr. Secka was speaking during an interview with Fatu Network at his office in Bijilo, on Thursday.

The GCCI CEO stated though, that we have come a long way since, that the environment is now more conducive to business. He harped that the signs of progress he’s seeing is an indicator of major milestones for Gambian businesses in the very near future.

According to him, one of the more apparent signs of achievements is the disappearance of fear, which means people can operate openly without apprehensions of reprisals. He however cited that a major challenge facing businesses in the country is the issue of taxation. He commended the government for the recent reduction of VAT on essential commodities including rice.

“There are still many challenges and key among them is the energy crisis.” He spoke on their mandate, and clarified that they do not receive any funding from government.

“The work we do benefits every business, big or small, because we advocate and represent businesses on a day-to-day basis, receiving investors, inquiries, meeting stakeholders and international organizations.” His great pride and satisfaction is to see businesses grow from one level to the other.

The Million Dollar Question the Ministry of Tourism Needs to Answer

Fatu Camara
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The Million Dollar Question the Ministry of Tourism Needs to Answer

The honourable minister of tourism has had many gaffes since the beginning of the year. The ministry of foreign affairs has been busy, trying to undo the damage he has made on a couple of occasions. First, it was “You Senegalese talk too much,” and a quick apology was aired, to appease our neighbours, even before they lodge a formal complaint.

Hot on the heels of that was the “If you want sex, go to Thailand.” The Thai foreign ministry raised issues with their Gambian equal, and the department had to publish another apology!

However, the ministry which should be taking issues with the Minister of Tourism is the one for Trade, Industry and Employment. The small businesses which depend on tourism have been deeply affected with the reintroduction of the All Inclusive Package. This allows the tourist to travel without any need for money, as all expenses to be incurred on holiday are taken care of by the tour operator.

As a result, the businesses in the Tourism Development Area have become dormant. Lamenting on the terrible state of their yield this season, Bakary, a taxi driver cried. “We take loans in the off season and pay when the tourist season begins, this year we’re still taking loans when the season has all but finished.”

A female vendor submitted that she pays her children’s school fees from gains made in this period, but business has been so bad she has not been able to save anything. Other small business holders in the TDA highlighted similar concerns. It can be recalled that the All Inclusive Package, after its introduction was quashed by the former president for this very reason. When money is paid, straight to the hoteliers, even the government does not benefit.

The minister of Tourism in a previous interview insists the holiday package is here to stay, as it is gaining ground around the world. In light of the harm it causes the tourism industry in The Gambia, we wonder why we have to put up with it!

The Undocumented Story About The Cassamance Rebellion!

Fatu Camara
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The Undocumented Story About The Cassamance Rebellion!

The Casamance Conflict is a low-level conflict that has been waged between the Government of Senegal and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) since 1982. The intensity of the conflict has varied over the years. Occasionally there have been violent flare-ups. The areas in which armed robberies/attacks take place have also changed over the course of time. Up until 2000, for example, most of the Kolda region was not an area in which attacks took place. Increasing frequency of cattle rustling and banditry from bands of armed people who routinely fled into Guinea-Bissau resulted in closure of the border with Guinea-Bissau in September 2000.

 

Throughout the history of the insurgency, there have been few incidents of fighting within the city of Ziguinchor and the resort area of Cap Skirring. In recent years, however, rural areas have been the sites of sporadic violent attacks on Senegalese military and civilian personnel and, on rare occasions, tourists.

 

The conflict has taken a hard toll on the population living in the Casamance. Normal means of livelihood (rice farming, other agricultural activities, etc.) are no longer possible for a high percentage of the population who no longer have access to their land or who have lost materials due to theft. Normal markets have been disrupted, and many normal services (such as financial services, health posts, schools) have been suspended or ended.

 

In December 2000, the Government issued a general warning to the national press that the dissemination of communications from the MFDC would be considered attempts to derail the Casamance peace process and would be prosecuted under the Penal Code. On the same day, the publisher and managing editor of the newspaper Le Populaire were summoned and interrogated for 7 hours by the criminal investigation division after the newspaper published a review of the 19-year-old Casamance conflict; 3 days later, they were arrested and then released on the same day after being charged with “disseminating false news and undermining public security.” In January 2001 the cases were dropped.

 

Sporadic fighting continued during 2001 in the Casamance area in the southern part of the country between the Government and the secessionist Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC). The incidence of violence in the Casamance region increased during the year, particularly in June and July, and reportedly resulted in some deaths. The military zone commander for the Casamance region made an effort during the year to reduce the number of human rights abuses committed by security forces under his command. During 2001, the press continued to report on frequent small arms attacks, raids, ambushes, and clashes with military forces by suspected MFDC gunmen, with continuing military and civilian fatalities.

 

 

In March 2001 the Government and the MFDC signed two peace agreements designed to end the 20-year insurgency; however, these agreements were ineffective and fighting continued in Casamance. Following a change in MFDC leadership in August 2001, new talks were proposed but had not taken place by year’s end.

 

During 2001 Human rights NGO’s in Casamance reported a decrease in the number of detentions of suspected MFDC rebels reported by local families; however, in January Amnesty International reported that 30 MFDC sympathizers remained in detention in Dakar and Kolda without trial. According to Amnesty International, the sympathizers were arrested in 2000 because of their Diola ethnic origin; they were charged with compromising state security, but no evidence was provided of their involvement in any acts of violence. Following the signing of a peace accord with the MFDC on March 16, on March 19, the Government released 16 of these prisoners; the remaining 14 prisoners remained in detention at year’s end.

 

According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), during the first 2 weeks of May 2002, approximately 2,000 civilians fled the country to the Gambia following clashes between government security forces and MFDC rebels in the Bignona area of northwestern Casamance. The UNHCR reported that 70 percent of these refugees returned to their villages by early June 2002. The numbers of refugees outside the country fluctuated according to the level of violence in the Casamance region; at year’s end, it was estimated that several thousand refugees remained outside the country, mostly in the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. A UNHCR census in January 2002 counted 7,000 Senegalese refugees living in the north of Guinea-Bissau.

 

On 26 May 2003 separatist rebels in Casamance announced the death of Sidi Badji, a hardline leader who had held out against any compromise with the government on Dakar. The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) has confirmed the death of Badji at the age of about 83. Despite his advancing years, Badji had remained, at least nominally, the head of the MFDC’s military wing and commander-in-chief of its guerrilla army. Badji and his supporters opposed the softer line taken by MFDC’s veteran President, Augustin Diamacoune Senghor, a Roman Catholic priest who had shown a willingness to settle for a modest degree of autonomy for Casamance. Over the past two years there had been a concerted campaign by local non-governmental organisations and other would-be peacemakers to improve relations between Diamacoune and Badji and to send an unequivocal message of peace to MFDC combatants in the bush.

To be continued………

 

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist

[email protected]

Generals, Umpa Mendy and Tamba had their hopes dashed again!

Fatu Camara
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Generals, Umpa Mendy and Tamba had their hopes dashed again!

The Court Martial in Yundum Barracks constituted by a panel of six members has ruled on the objection raised by the defence counsel for General Umpa Mendy and General Ansumana Tamba on the jurisdiction of the said court to hear the case.

This issue arose when the defence counsel for the two generals, Captain Jammeh raised an objection on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case, given the fact that the Gambia Armed Forces had already stopped their salaries after they left, confiscated all their army materials and did not publish them in the A-roll.
The defence submitted that as such, the accused persons cannot be subjected to the court martial because they are already civilians by virtue of the actions of the GAF.

The judge advocate Amina Saho-Ceesay in her verdict overruled the objection of the defence, citing that a failure in administrative procedure does not rob the court of its jurisdiction to hear the case. She submitted that as per the Gambia Armed Forces Act the accused persons were not discharged, (honourably or dishonourably) neither were they dismissed, nor transferred to the reserve, so she concluded that they were still military men, and not civilians as suggested by the defence.

After the ruling, the court observed that the accused persons were not in military uniform. The defence counsel quipped in that all their military gears were taken from them upon arrest.
At that juncture, the President of the court Commodor Madani Senghore ordered that the accused two should appear in uniform on the next sitting. The case was later adjourned to the 25th April 2018 for the hearing of any objection on the members of the court and possible plea taking.

It can be recalled that the two Brigadier Generals, Umpa Mendy and Ansumana Tamba, were on Wednesday 21st March 2018, charged with the offence of desertion but they are yet to enter a plea. The duo left Gambian with ex-president Jammeh to Equatorial Guinea, but later decided to return to the Gambia. They were eventually arrested in their homes on Sunday 21st January 2018.

Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment brief President Barrow

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Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment brief President Barrow

State House, Banjul, 4th  April 2018 – President Adama Barrow received the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment as part of the first quarterly sectoral briefing on their engagements with the National Development Plan.

 

The President thanked the sectors for their briefings and reiterated the need to align their activities towards the realization of the national plan.  Commenting on the presentation, President Barrow cautioned that attention should be given to the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security.  He advised the ministries to look for alternative innovations and urged people to take advantage of the land and water resources.  The President emphasised that the country should also take advantage of its youthful population to partner with stakeholders for resource mobilisation and knowledge transfer. President Barrow called on Gambians to actively engage in the fishing industry whilst adding that he was impressed with the transparency the Fisheries Ministry demonstrated in eliminating the cash payment system and cited similar best practice in Rwanda.    The Gambian leader called on all to support and collaborate to succeed with the NDP.

 

In its briefing, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that it has completed the review of its ten year policy for the period 2017-2026, launched a national investment plan –GNAIP and the revitalization of its database.  For the period under review, Japan and China have support for the Agriculture sector.  The Ministry also reported on its tidal irrigation projects and the strategies to add value to local products.   It was also reported that negotiations are on for mechanization of agriculture as well as engaging the Gambian Diaspora to invest in commercial agriculture and empowering the youth through agriculture.  It was also reported that the ministry of Agriculture engaged stakeholders to improve on poultry farming and food hygiene as well as provided seeds to farmers.

 

The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly matters reported that its policies were revised, and has realized an increase in the fish resources.  Twenty-five communities have been provided with solar powered water systems, twenty youths trained on aquaculture and women were also trained on improved techniques in fish processes.  The ice plants in Gunjur and Tanje have been repaired and it has a refrigerated truck to reduce post-harvest lost in the fishing industry. Fisheries reported that between January and March this year it generated 50 million Dalasi paid to the Ministry of Finance.   It also supplies fish to prisons, hospitals and the Army. It also generated support from FAO, AfDB, World Bank, and Saudi.

 

 

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry reported that it has completed a strategic plan; the forestry Act 2018 has been enacted and in partnership with agriculture developed the Agriculture and Natural Resource Policy. It also reported on projects to develop community forest parks, biodiversity, and on environment threats in the coastline areas.  It has intercepted a container loaded with plastic bags to enforce the ban on plastic bags.  A strategy for biodiversity to encourage women into bio-entrepreneurship was also shared.  The Environment Ministry clarified that it is the municipalities that are responsible for waste collection.  It however shared strategies being employed in the management of waste at the Bakoteh dumpsite.

 

Another presentation was on the OMVG energy project and the Sambangalo dam.  The President was briefed on the state of the energy project and its plan to provide electricity in rural Gambia.  President Barrow is the current chairman of the OMVG and its members are The Gambia, La Guinea, Senegal and Guinea Bissau.

 

Other comments ranged from the cross sectoral issues relating to agriculture, fisheries and the environment and their linkage with the tourism sector.  Vice President, Fatoumata Tambajang advised of on mainstreaming gender in the sectoral programmes and policies. The briefing continues on Friday at the State House.

YouTube shooting: Female suspect found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound, 4 others shot

Fatu Camara
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YouTube shooting: Female suspect found dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound, 4 others shot

Terrified employees fled as gunfire rang out at YouTube’s sprawling headquarters in San Bruno, California, shortly after midday Tuesday, prompting a massive police response and evacuation as victims were transported to nearby hospitals.

San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said one female suspect was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Four people were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds.

Heavily armed police surrounded the facility, with armed SWAT vehicles stationed outside. Police officers could be seen patting down employees evacuating the campus to a nearby parking lot, where they were surrounded by police cars.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said President Trump has been briefed on the shooting and they are “monitoring the ongoing situation.”

Mr. Trump took to Twitter, offering prayers to those affected in the shooting.

The San Francisco Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said it was responding to the scene.

Several employees tweeted they heard gunfire Tuesday afternoon. Vadim Lavrusik said he barricaded himself and others inside a room before they were able to escape safely.

Google, YouTube’s parent company, said in a statement that they are “coordinating with authorities and will provide official information here from Google and YouTube as it becomes available.”

The headquarters is about 12 miles south of downtown San Francisco, close to San Francisco International Airport. It encompasses about 200,000 square feet, and YouTube leases the building from Gap, Inc., according to a 2017 article in the San Francisco Business Times.

Google says there are more than 1,100 employees at the office and that YouTube is San Bruno’s largest employer, with a variety of people dedicated engineering and sales.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Source: CBS News

Re: Gambia Accuses Ex-President’s Supporters Of Sheltering Rebels

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Re: Gambia Accuses Ex-President’s Supporters Of Sheltering Rebels

Reference is invited from the deceitful article published by the guardian newspaper on Sunday 1st April, 2018. “Residents of Foni, the Gambian region where Jammeh had a vast farm and allegedly “bunkers and treasure”, have been hosting members of a rebel group that for three decades have been fighting for the secession of their region from Senegal”.( The guardian, 2018)

 

The aforesaid immorality article by the guardian newspaper co-authored by Saikou Jammeh a Gambian nationality was a hateful fabrication of intolerable huge lies, extreme dislike and deep-rooted, mathematically calculated wrongly with the intended to portray Foni in bad light and to maliciously destroy the dignity and impeccable honor, which the region is known for.

 

Saikou Jammeh, though he have the “right of freedom of speech and expression” and “right of academic freedom”, which are expressly guaranteed by section 25 (1) (A) and section 25(1) (B) respectively, of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution. But that doesn’t mean that one have to fabricate unfounded and baseless stories.

 

The last time I checked Foni bigot the unusual as a bitter confrontation between the peaceful protesters and Senegalese soldiers at the entrance of the village letting to bloodshed. Residents of the rural settlement and the Foni environs demanded the immediate evacuation of both the Gambian and Senegalese soldiers in Kanilai. The protesters were shot on their route to Kanfenda leading to some civilians sustaining injuries and death of one civilian by name Mr. Haruna Jatta who was later laid to rest on the 6th June, 2017.

 

It was narrated that the ECOMIG soldiers from Senegal were informed to shoot the protesters as they are rebels from Cassamance? If that is true then it is complete ridiculousness to allow any nation, regardless of the external generosity to fight their enemy within your land, and knowing very well and with supreme belief that the aftermath can be life threatening.

 

Many will asked this question. Why the heavy deployment of soldiers in one part of the country concisely Foni stuck in the minds of most Gambians? To protest again external forces is not a crime as it happened in Congo, Haiti and many more. In Senegal the last time I checked the number of protest occurred is uncountable but none of the protesters were shot to death with a life bullet. But why on the Fonika’s? Also if protesters were armed with weapons as claimed by the then minister of Interior Mai Fatty. How come only civilians were injured and killed?

 

 

“The Gambia’s new government has accused supporters of the former president, Yahya Jammeh, of welcoming foreign rebels into their homes in an attempt to destabilise the country”.                           (The guardian, 2018)

 

Presumption of innocence is under Section 24 (3) of the 1997 Constitution. Besides Foni is not the problem but people who prevailed on former President to subvert the will of the Gambian people are the problem. One cannot use Foni to prevail the hearts of the new leadership with the excuse of cajoling for peace. Foni should not and cannot be a prolific ground for anyone to rejuvenate his or her political ambitions. We the Fonika’s will take the lead and government must recognize that. Strangers cannot be talking to our people as if we the Foninka’s do not have what it takes to resolve whatever misconceptions or perceptions that exist.

 

In 2006, there exists a bilateral agreement between the President of Senegal, then Abdoulie Wade and the rebel group with the object of laying down arms and join together to form one great Senegal. But then, some of the rebels thought it wasn’t a great idea to abide by the proposal brought forward by the Senegalese government which led to division among the rebel groups as they have different aims and objectives in the struggle. Those various divided groups were led by Sirlif Sarjo, Kamugai Jatta, and Paul Sambou etc. But among all groups, the one led by Sirlif Sarjo became the strongest group with the strongest motive of leading Cassamance to independence at all cost resulting to war for decades. Sirlif became the headache of the Senegalese since he stands firm and mastermind the revolution that is still fighting for the liberation of Cassamance with his rebel group, Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC)

 

Sirlif is a reasonable man who drew my attention the day he released about eleven arrested Senegalese soldiers during the brutal invasion. The event was then witnessed by the Gambian government under the leadership of former President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh and Amnesty International. He spoke at length about the purpose of their existence claiming that the Senegalese government only sent the natives of Cassamance residing in the Senegalese forces to invade Cassamance resulting to brothers picking up arms and fighting against each other. Sirlif further stated that since the rebellion was formed, known of the international Medias went to Cassamance to ask about what conspired between them and the Senegalese people but rather depends on the information provided by the Senegalese which he strongly advocated that would not end the war in Cassamance. He also opened rooms for dialogue to end the long existing chaos that Cassamance is subjected to for decades.

The real trick to good governance is to place the needs of the masses above everything else; to lead not just with words but with action. Actions define priorities. It’s the only way politicians can successfully bring us the long sought dividend of democracy. It is time for all Africans to come up with tangible solutions in order to safe Cassamance. What this tomorrow looks like depends on our action today. And by using our voices on paper, exercising our power and demanding action through nonviolence can help restore peace in Cassamance. NOW!!

 

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist

[email protected]

“Some Senior ‘Junglers’ Still Working In The Army,” Military Source

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“Some Senior ‘Junglers’ Still Working In The Army,” Military Source

A senior member of the former President Yahya Jammeh’s hit squad has raised concerns over his arrest and detention while the people who committed crimes with them are still walking free in the streets.     

 “Do you know that some senior ‘junglers’ are still working in the army,” The former ‘Jungler’ said.

“Why should they detained us and leave others,” he asked.

This military source who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed names of senior ‘Junglers’ whom he said allegedly participated in the torture and extrajudicial killings of Gambians on the instructions of the former President Yahya Jammeh.

‘’My brother, Junglers are still in town working freely in the system while others are locked up at military barracks. Is that fair?” He asked The Fatu Network.

According to information privy to The Fatu Network, Major Salifu Corr, brother to the late jungler Sergeant Malafi Corr, WO2 JK Mendy and Lt. Anthony Mendy are all said to be members of the jungler patrol teams who allegedly participated in deadly operations.

The Source said Major Salifu Corr left the team after the former President ordered for the killing of his brother along with Daba Marenah and others.

The source further revealed that Major Salifu Corr was posted at Kanilai but was later moved to Yundum and WO2 JK Mendy was the Christian father at Defense Headquarters in Banjul while Lt. Anthony Mendy is now posted at Basse.

‘’This trio have participated in so many crimes under Jammeh. Lt. Anthony and WO2 JK Mendy have contributed in the execution of Daba and Co. You can ask WO2 Abdoulie Jallow, aka ‘Jallino’ who is currently detained at Yundum,’’ he said

Meanwhile, the source said the arrest of Captain Malick Boye was a set up by senior Junglers working in the army. He said he has been in the killing squad for many years but has never met Malick Boye.

President Barrow sits through first sectoral briefing session with Education and Information Ministries

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President Barrow sits through first sectoral briefing session with Education and Information Ministries

State House, Banjul, 3rd April 2018 – President Adama Barrow had briefings from Higher Education, Basic and Secondary Education and Information ministries on activities related to  the implementation of the  National Development Plan 2018-2021.

 

Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education gave an overview of the school going age based on the lasted census figures of 2013 and elaborated on the efforts to align gender disparities and rural urban divide by reducing access to schools from 3 kilometers to 2 kilometers.  The other issues raised in the presentation included quality of education and retention of girls to complete the cycle of basic and secondary education.

 

The Higher Education ministry focused on scholarship awards at tertiary institutions, regional distribution of Centers of Excellence and prioritising professional specialisation.  It gave priority to capacity development and Institutional strengthening such as transforming The Gambia College and Management Development Institute –MDI to universities.  Technical Vocational Education training is decentralized at the regions.  The Higher Education Ministry also has plans to work with the private sector on the needed skills.  It took innovative steps to fund higher education.

 

The Ministry of Information and Communication technology outlined it strategies with targeted timeframes to enhance e-government, Cyber security and liberalise the international gateway. It also reported on progress on a National Information and Communication Policy and strategy.

 

President Barrow commended the ministries and urged them to improve.  He added that the NDP is the guide to all government sectors and they should work to achieve its targets through innovative means.

 

The group presentations were followed by comments and contributions on the state of alignment of the sectoral policies and plans in line with the NDP.  It also provided opportunity to monitor the coordination of sectoral activities on cross cutting issues and cabinet decisions.

 

The three briefing sessions were witnessed by Vice President, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, Secretary General, Habib Drammeh and technical staff from the Office of the President and the Ministries. The Secretary to Cabinet, Ebrima Ceesay moderated the meeting.

 

The Million Dollar Question The Ministry Of Agriculture Needs to Answer

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The Million Dollar Question The Ministry Of Agriculture Needs to Answer

We have many failings as a people. Chief among them is this: How can a people who have fertile land, own a fresh water river that runs through half the country, heavily dependent on rice, yet import rice and complain about drought? We’re introducing a column that will look at the issue of food self sufficiency

“In McCarthy Island, Growing rice was a second religion. There was a time when everybody grew rice — even those who want only to turn it into denpenteng. That was the Seventies, and food was plenty and the islanders major source of calories was always assured. Sulayman-Lay, Tubu, Ngapato-kotto, Badalla, no place was spared to grow rice during the rains.

When it was not raining, irrigation machines kicked in at the World Bank, and other river banks — as production must continue. During the rains some people went further, they looked for ‘Dallol’ (ponds) and grew their rice; and in the ensuring harvest the evenings rang with the sounds of pestles as young girls, and the occasional brave lad, took to pounding the freshly roasted rice hastily thrown into the mortar. We didn’t know it then but that method of taking off the yellow rice shell ensured that the rich nutrients encased in the tiny film that covers the rice inside the shell was retained; and we benefitted.

Rice was McCarthy’s identity and someone was bound to be cultivating it, always, some twice a year. The Co-operative union had an office closed to the market on Queen’s street that did a brisk business buying surplus rice produce for onward sales to other parts of the country. There was abundance then, something that most people would have taken for granted.

Fast forward 40 years later…

It is worth suggesting today that everyone should go to bed each night reflecting on why we are not rice sufficient. Out of that agitation, great minds will find a solution to make our country rice independent; and that would be true independence.

The Distribution of the Transport Allowance is Injustice…

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The Distribution of the Transport Allowance is Injustice…

I welcome the increment in transport allowances for the civil servants in the 2018 budget. This is long overdue as there has been no increment in salaries which are the poorest in the sub-region. Salaries in the Gambia are so low that it is virtually impossible for someone to live a decent life with it. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we see corruption seemingly on the increase.

Thus, when it was announced in the 2018 budget that there will be an increment in the transport allowances, civil servants received it with joy and some form of contentment. However, the distribution is very unjust and should be revisited. According to the current distribution format, civil servants of Grade One through to Grade Nine receive a transport allowance of D1500 (one thousand five hundred dalasis); those in Grade Ten receive an amount of D2000 (two thousand dalasis). Directors, deputy permanent secretaries, permanent secretaries receive D8500 and D10, 000 (ten thousand dalasis) respectively.

One can see that this is far from being just and equitable. One can understand that there cannot be equality as the responsibilities vary very much from one civil servant to the other, but there can – and has to be – equity in the increment. Transport is transport whether one is an ordinary civil servant of Grade Three or a deputy permanent secretary of Garde Twelve, they both use the same means of transportation. They pay the same fares if they don’t have a car or buy the same amount of fuel if they do.

It is unfathomable therefore that there is a three hundred and twenty-five percent difference between those in Grade One to Nine and those categorized as directors, deputy permanent secretaries and permanent secretaries. For instance, we know that some senior masters in schools and principals are in Grade Twelve, but they do not enjoy what those categorized as directors, DDPSs and PSs enjoy. All these are civil servants and their work is as important to the nation as the work of the others. Why then do some civil servants receive two thousand and others receive eight thousand dalasis? This is a form of injustice that has to be addressed immediately!

No nation can develop without the input of the ordinary workers. It is the ordinary workers that generate the income of the nation, generate the goods and services to be utilized by the citizens and thus, they deserve to enjoy the fruit of their labour to the fullest. The top officials cannot – should not – be allowed to formulate policies which are only for their own benefits to the detriment of the common man. It is high time we recognized the contribution of these people and treat them equitably, if not equally. The alternative is a recipe for instability. As it is said, peace is not the absence of violence but the presence of justice. If we want peace, we must ensure justice and fairness!

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A concerned Citizen

Writer Accused GNPC Of Corruption; The Corporation Denies Allegations

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Writer Accused GNPC Of Corruption; The Corporation Denies Allegations

A local supplier has written to The Fatu Network accusing The Gambia National Petroleum Company (GNPC) of serious corruption practices. Below, we produce the letter from the said supplier and a reaction from GNPC after The Fatu Network contacted them for their side of the story

I am one of the hardworking Gambian suppliers who has put in a bids for GNPC furniture for Petroleum House and I have been surprised at the level of corruption in that organization headed by the very corrupt aide of the former dictator, who is no other person than Mambureh Njie. Pa, I was very surprised at first until I remember this is the former Jammeh SG who is used to such corrupt practices under his former Boss. I will not blame him but the current government for recycling such stinky potatoes back into the government.

Since October, my company put in a bid for a major project worth tens of millions of Dalasis for the furnishing of Petroleum House which was advertised in the papers. It is now March, 5 months later and we have heard nothing from GNPC about the position of the contract. They have not written to us or even return our bid security.

Sir, which bidding process takes 5-6 months for you to explain?

All of us who bided knows that it is because their preferred supplier who they made a deal with could not be given the contract because they will be exposed. We make noise about this to many people in the government and the Ministry, and it reach their ears so they decide to let it cool down hoping that we will forget but I am letting them know that there will be no retreat or surrender.

Sir, can you imagine that after putting in our bid which says clearly that transportation and insurance costs should be included, they turn around and write a so called clarification letter to all the companies that they should clarify whether we included transportation and if not what is the transportation cost?

When my company receive this strange letter and replied that of course our prices, we did our investigations and contacted the other suppliers and find out that we all stick by our initial price except one company who they already had a deal with to increase their price by one million dalasi under the excuse that this was the transportation cost?

We also found out that this one million dalasi was to be the ‘cut’ the cut for former hungry baboons of Dictator Jammeh who wants to make GNPC their Banana farm (Mambureh Njie and his Finance guy Amadou Jobe).

Sir, this is illegal and against GPPA in the Gambia. Everyone knows that you cannot increase your price after your bid has been opened. These peoples did not just increase the price but they went on and recommend to give the contract to that company.

To my surprise one of our contacts told us that until we were prepared to give a cut of more than the one million dalasi already offered and accepted, we cannot have the contract. We refuse because this is New Gambia and corrupt people like Mambureh Njie cannot spoil the Gambia durig Jammeh’s time and still continue to spoil the government of Adama Barrow too. We are hardworking Gambians who deserve to win contracts in a fair and balance way without taking millions out of our hard owned monies.

Sir, this is daylight corruption and bribery and need to be exposed.

GNPC Reacts

The Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) wants to clarify that the Corporation has not awarded the above-mentioned contract for the furnishing of the Petroleum house to any supplier.

It would be recalled that this procurement process started in October 2017 for the above-mentioned contract however, there are procedures that need to be followed before a contract can be finally awarded to the most responsive bidder and it was the same procedures which were followed.

Any procurement within the threshold of D10,000,000.00 (ten million Dalasis) should be submitted to GPPA for approval or disapproval at every stage of the procurement process. While any procurement above D10,000,000.00 (ten million) has to be submitted to the Major Tender Board (MTB) for the review and approval or disapproval at every stage of the procurement.

Based on the procurement guidelines and procedures on the 30th October 2017 GNPC sent their evaluation report for the procurement of furniture for Petroleum House to the Major Tender Board. The Corporation received a letter dated 12th December 2017 disapproving the GNPC’s evaluation report and advised the corporation on the following:

  1. Cancel the current procurement process and inform bidders accordingly
  2. Re-launch a new procurement process immediately
  3. Use the GPPA bidding document for Goods and sample evaluation report and apply appropriate evaluation criteria for procurement of goods.
  4. Re-submit the new Bidding document for the Board’s approval before proceeding.

The reasons given for disapproval of the evaluation report by the Major Tender Board(MTB) were the following observations:

  1. There is no evidence of conducting a Technical evaluation for items to be procured. Which should have the main purpose of the evaluation.
  2. The different evaluation methods used within the report. This is inconsistent with the instructions stated on Page 19 of the bidding document.
  3. The evaluation and qualifying criteria used of allocating scores is more of consultancy/civil works than Goods Procurement

Finally, The Gambia National Petroleum Corporation(GNPC) has not awarded any contract to any supplier for the furnishing of the Petroleum house based on the advised from the Major Tender Board.

GNPC

NAM Ceesay urges Gov’t to come clean on Semlex

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NAM Ceesay urges Gov’t to come clean on Semlex

The National Assembly Member for Serekunda West, Madi Ceesay, has vowed to initiate summoning of the Gambia government before the national assembly if it fails to immediately launch an independent inquiry into the awarding of the country’s national documents to Semlex.

“My position in the whole saga is that the government should have a private inquiry into the awarding of the contract. But if they insist that they will not comply, I can rely on the national assembly executive powers on section 77 subsection 4 to summon the ministry responsible,” he told journalists recently at his Manjai residence.

 Source: Standard Newspaper

The Doctors’ Strike: A failure of leadership

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The Doctors’ Strike: A failure of leadership

It is about a month since the resident doctors embarked on a strike, following allegations of theft by their minister. There has been a series of meetings, but a breakthrough is still illusive. Meanwhile, the damage it is causing the populace, in terms of lives and revenue can only be guessed at.
What makes it particularly sad is, the impasse could easily have been avoided. Civilized people, do not make allegations without proofs. Instead of the lady tagging our young doctors with the ignoble thief label, she could have used the government machinery at her disposal; the SIS, the police, the sister ministries to check:

Location of pharmacies
Whether registered
In whose names
Their drug import license
Pharmacies without license
Young doctors dispensing medicine in their homes
Take samples from the pharmacies and crosscheck with hospital supplies
Tally hospital purchased drugs with actual dispensed

Armed with that evidence, much needed reform at the health sector will take off, and the doctors would have no choice but to be compliant. Indeed an illness diagnosed is half cured. The failure of the minister to do her homework and going on the attack in the absence of evidence is very Gambian. People who are supposed to know better, would, on a whim, in the absence of any survey or statistic, quote a certain percentage and expect everyone to believe it. We still do not understand, that our opinion does not qualify us to say “90 percent of Gambians want the minister to go,” unless there’s actual evidence of that, after a poll. Then again, Saffie, the minister is Gambian too.

With a president such as the one we have, getting the right advice is the best we can hope for. However, some people have since lost hope on that front and rightly so, when a convicted felon was hired as adviser to the president! It seems those with access to his ears are asking him not to budge, lest other sectors follow suit with their own demands to see their ministers off! The cabinet is made up of ministers, what do you expect? Brothers take care of each other of course.

Our last resort would be to provoke the conscience of the doctors. It’s clear that the minister, Mrs. Ceesay has a deficiency of that vital element. While the first phase of the strike is still on, doctors are betraying a caring attitude by seeing to emergency patients. That’s more than can be said for Saffie, the cabinet and their boss, who’s currently on tour. We wonders how she continues to hold that position at the cost of lives.

In this saga, two things stand out: The honorable minister, Ba Tambedou is a man of honour for resigning when his brother made the faux pas, and Halifa Sallah’s rejection of a ministerial position needs to be appreciated all over again. Mrs. Ceesay can learn a thing or two from these gentlemen.
The second point is, since participating actively in avoidable loss of lives of is not sufficient crime to get fired, one wonders what Mai Fatty, former interior minister, must have done to get sacked?

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