By Omar Wally

Captain Malick Boye, a Jungler accused of killing a female soldier allegedly impregnated by former President Yahya Jammeh has been arrested and currently held under custody.

The suspect who was arrested on Friday, is said to have killed one Mariama Camara and her husband at Hamza barracks, when Mariam’s husband started “making noise”, about her pregnancy which Jammeh wanted her to keep in secret.

When contacted, the spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, Major Lamin Sanyang confirmed the story. He added that Captain Boye is currently under the custody of the Military Police.

By Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia and world football fraternity is mourning the demise of former Gambia Football Federation President Omar Sey. Sey died on Friday, March 2, 2018 at the country’s main referral hospital in Banjul.

The news of his demise came as a shock to many who knew the old man. Omar Sey had served in both CAF and FIFA with distinction. He was adviser to the current executive of Football Federation until his demise. Mr. Sey had also served as Gambia’s Foreign Affairs minister during the PPP regime of former President Jawara.

Hundreds including cabinet ministers, venerable religious leaders and football followers converged at the Pipeline Mosque along the busy Kairaba Avenue to pay their last respect to a man, who many said, have greatly contributed to the development of football and sports in the country.

The late Uncle Omar Sey was the President of the then GFA when The Gambia hosted and won the 2005 African U-17 Championship in Banjul. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Normalisation Committee that oversaw the transition from The Gambia Football Association to The Gambia Football Federation. He was an international FIFA Referee until his retirement when he took up an Executive position with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The late Sey was on the verge of becoming the President of CAF in the mid 1980s when Gambia’s first President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara pleaded with him to take up appointed as the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, paving the way for Issa Hayatou to take over the mantle of leadership of the continental football body.

He remained Minister in the Jawara Government until 1994 but never stayed away from football until his death. He was Adviser to the GFF Executive Committee.

GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo described Omar Sey as a father figure and mentor to him and many others in football administration. He credited Omar Sey for the many achievements in Gambian Football. On behalf of CAF President, Ahmad, Bajo extended CAF and FIFA condolences to the family of Omar Sey.

“Wherever I travel, the first person they ask about is Omar Sey. All they talk about him is his honesty and commitment.”

The GFF President said Omar Sey will continue to be remembered for his service to the nation. He prayed for him, describing him as a devoted Muslim.

MC Cham, a cousin to the late Omar Sey, described the demise of Sey as not only a lost to his family but the country at large. He said Omar Sey spent all his life serving humanity and prayed that his soul Rest In Peace.

Gambia and Africa best referee, Papa Gassama was also among the multitude at the burial. He credited former FIFA referee Omar Sey for his (Papa’s) success in refereeing. He reflected how the late Sey had encouraged and guided him through his journey.

Another Banjulian who had worked with Omar Sey is Mbye Chaw of Banjul. He also spoke highly of his former friend.

He calls him a “devoted Muslim”. “We will really missed him!” Omar Sey, born in 1941 in Basse was laid to rest on Friday evening at the Old Jeshwang Cemetery.

It is a big disappointment to learn that President Barrow visited Foni, Sibanor as part of reconciliation efforts where he met the traditional and Community leaders as if Foni is the Gambia’s problem. There will be no reconciliation when parts of the population is labelled as anti-government as a result of their tribe, culture, political ideology and geographical area.

Previously Kanilai 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 6^th 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 idiocy 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 came only civilians were injured and killed?

The question on  might be quick to ask shall be why should it took Barrow for one year to visit foni after all calamity that took place.  Barrow is the president which none of the Fonika’s denied. The Gambia belongs to The Gambian’s both those home and abroad. Therefore In rebuilding a new Gambia we all dream all regions need to be represented well and treated equally despite of political ideology. In a place where trust does not exist, love, respect and solidarity are also absent. The lack of trust destroys families, country, as well as social, cultural, and economic life.

The Faroto folks also demonstrated which ended to riot and resulted to the burning of cars owned by individuals. In Bakau the Police were also being attacked by the angry, irritated youth as a result of arresting the drug dealers. There was another bitter confrontation between the Police Intervention Unit Officers (PIU) and the people of Bakoteh which ended of dumping the collected waste at the Mayor’s office in Kanifing but to my surprise none were shot with a life bullet neither a tear gas was used unlike what was done to the people of Foni.

Barrow need to know that Foni is not the problem but the people who prevailed on Former President to subvert the will of the Gambian people are the problem. And those people should never be allowed at any cost to come near to the corridor of authority again.

One cannot use Foni to prevail with the excuse of cajoling for peace. We the sons and daughters of Foni can sort out any issue amongst ourselves in the spirits of one Gambia, one family and one people. In fact, there is no problem in Foni as most narrow minded think and want it to look like. Foni should not and cannot be a prolific ground for anyone to rejuvenate his or her political ambitions. We the Fonika’s are not sleeping and shall continue to rebrand the name of Foni for better. We 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 all what it takes to resolve whatever misconceptions or perceptions that exist.

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 the Barrow lead administration can successfully bring us the long sought dividend of democracy.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist

There is no doubt that language is not only the vehicle of culture, but of ideas as well. As we know that ideas rule the world in the ultimate analyses, it is important therefore to couch our language(s) whenever in a way that promotes cohesion, unity and reconciliation. The idea that languages play a fundamental part in shaping a society’s outlook towards a particular issue (or even people) is not farfetched. One has only to look at the recent history of the world to see that language plays a key role in either causing great harm; or, averting it.

Friedich Nietzsche, recognizing the power of language, once wrote: ‘Governments that seek absolute power over the groups they control use language as a principal support…’  In democratic societies, those in power maintain a duty of care towards the public, which amongst other things, include using language fairly and prodigiously, choosing words that unite and bridge communities rather than incite hatred and division. In the same vein, the use of vile language by a group of individuals – be they religiously inclined or otherwise – has the potential of causing a lot of harm to society. That is why the government of the Gambia, while protecting the rights to free speech, must seek to manage the way in which the media is used.

Political rhetoric like that of Marton Stride, member of the Swedish far right party forced to resign last month after referring to Muslims as not being ‘fully human’, is the antithesis of the principles of human dignity and civic virtue whereupon secular ideals have been constructed. We must be cautioned against the growing tide of hateful rhetoric lest semantic spur violence against vulnerable groups within society. We must also seek to manage the way our own ‘Marton Strides’ speak on our airwaves and prevent them from inciting violence.

Within this context, the news that your Cabinet in a meeting urged the minister of Information, Communication and Communication Infrastructure to engage the regulators and owners of radio and other media outlet to come up with mechanisms to ensure that no one uses their platform to incite hatred and violence is indeed commendable. Follow-ups should be made so that this does not only remain a rhetoric but is actually implemented. We must inculcate the culture of tolerance and reconciliation to move on. We must progress collectively.

Have a Good day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

By Sana Sarr

Thailand’s foreign ministry is reportedly upset with the Gambian government for offensive comments made by The Gambia’s Tourism Minister about Thailand. According to the “Bangkok Post”, Matichon Online reported that a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson has told them they have instructed Thailand’s embassies in Dakar, overseeing The Gambia and the Thai embassy in Malaysia, where the Gambian High Commission takes care of Thailand, to send letters of protest to their Gambian counterparts.

In a recent interview on Gambia’s national television, GRTS, our Minister of Tourism warned western tourists who are interested in sex tourism to stay away from The Gambia.

“We are not a sex destination. If you want a sex destination, you go to Thailand,”  Minister Hamat Bah, who is also the leader of the opposition party, NRP, is reported to have said on a televised weekly talk show.

To many Gambians, Minister Bah’s comments could not have come at a worse time. The country is trying to recover from the twenty-two-year dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh, a period that saw us isolated from the rest of the world due to our earned reputation for gross human rights violations and through unproductive unilateral decisions of our former president, including renaming the country an “Islamic State”, withdrawing it from the Commonwealth and his unsubstantiated claims to cure HIV/Aids using bananas.

After finally getting rid of the dictator through elections in December 2016, we have been trying to repair our image and regain respectability in the international scene. We celebrated readmission into the Commonwealth less than a month ago.

Economically, tourism is one of Gambia’s main foreign exchange earners and employs thousands of Gambians, so it only makes sense that the government has been looking to revive the sector. Gambians generally pride themselves on the peaceful and respectful nature of our people. Our nickname as The Smiling Coast of Africa, is partly due to the friendly and welcoming nature of our people, so to see our Minister of Tourism levelling such unwarranted insults at a foreign nation is highly embarrassing.

We urge Minister Bah to show humility with a sincere apology to the government and people of Thailand for his regretful comments. We also hope that all of our government officials realize the sacred duty they have to represent all Gambians in a positive light and to always endeavor to show our best qualities. Words, especially in international circles, can have far-reaching effects and our nation can ill-afford public officials making flippant comments. We ask our executive to remember this responsibility so they hire individuals based on qualifications and not only on political expediency.

Olof Njie neh, “lu waai di wuyoe, dakoi nuroo”.

“Honorable” is not just a title for our officials to answer to. It’s a quality that must be reflected in their actions and words.

The daily newspapers yesterday quoted you as saying that five years is not enough for you to complete your reform agenda. While this might be true as you put it due to the poor state of the economy you inherited, it is important to state that you and indeed all Gambians knew or should have known that the state of the economy is not good before you came into office. There is not even one Gambia who didn’t know that the former president Yahya Jammeh and his government were embezzling funds and carting away with our little resources.

During the campaign to get yourself into office, you made a lot of promises to put in place a comprehensive reform agenda which will put the country on a firm democratic footing. You promised to review the constitution and introduce term limits and so many other lofty promises. At one time, you promised to stick to the agreement with which you came into office. You said that even if it had to be the five years mandated by the constitution, you will go back to the people and consult them. Now, these statements coming from you that ‘it’s left to the people’, five years is not enough’ and so on have shaken the trust that many had in you.

Granted, everyone knows that five years is not enough for a president to do all that s/he wants to do; but the point is that no president can do it all. The work of government never ends. A president will do his/her part and go and another one will come and do his part. That is how it will continue till end of time. Presidents come and go but the nation remains.

In fact, my shallow understanding was that yours was to be a transitional government. It was not for you and your government to come and bring in any major developmental strides. What your role would have – should have – been was to come and level the playing field by reviewing the constitution, building the institutions and making it a nation based on institutions rather than on individual decisions. You were to bring in electoral reforms which will enable all Gambians to exercise their franchise without any difficulties. This would have been enough achievement for you.

If by these statements you want to hint that you want to stay for long, let me inform you that Gambians will really be disappointed if after twenty-two years of a dictatorship, our new president wants to cling onto power. So, the advice is that you should focus on the reforms and leave the rest to the next president to deal with.

So far, Mr President, you have conducted yourself honourably and have not shown any autocratic tendencies. We want you to remain so and ensure that when you leave office – be that after three or five years – your reputation and honour would still be intact.

Have a Good day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

To the casual observer, the recent contractual tussle involving the government of The Gambia, Semlex and Pristine Consulting, may seem just another spilled-over fiasco with origins from the ‘Jammeh years. To the serious analyst & those experts on Gambia affairs, however, there is more to the story than meet the eye. In this analysis, the idea is to unpack and debunk claims as to legal niceties, loopholes, and to lay the facts bare for the Gambian people to chew on.

Ladies and gentlemen – Welcome to the world of big government & the behind-the-scenes dealings by shady investors tricking clueless African executives into worthless business ties. Across the continent, it so often happens to be a case of ‘naivety’, ‘Belly-Politics’, lack of ‘Ethics’, but damn right ‘Greed’. In his article last week, Boor Sine, alluded to such ‘dodgy and worthless investors chasing quick profits would turn to foolish African leaders lacking business skills or the ability to distinguish between good or bad investment; thus exploit their ignorance and greed’.

The impending questions here begging for answers are:  Was ‘Due Diligence’ carried out on Semlex before handing them the multi-million dalasi contract; and if so, who or which government department conducted the checks? The Justice Minister went on air claiming that government has, in fact, contacted the Belgian authorities seeking clarify on its investigations into Semlex. Just a week later, he handed them the deal?! The so-called three-man ministerial task force set-up to assess & deliberate on the process was flawed on two counts. First, cabinet ministers have no constitutional ground to step on toes as such; a role and job strictly reserved for the procurement department (GPPA) to both assess and independently verify bids. Secondly, the Justice Minister decided to hand Semlex the contract, yet his own brother, Sheriff Tambadou, is the lawyer lobbying for that firm? If that is not conflict of interest, then what is? In the United Kingdom, he will have to resign or immediately face the sack.

The question even worrisome was who decided on the so-called task force when GPPA could have handled this squarely, but side-tracked? And comparatively, what was the contrasting offers as to price, job creation and trainings for young Gambian graduates? Which of the two bids offer value for money to the tax payer? And why decide to give Semlex the contract even though it had refused to submit any bid? What a scandalous mess, painted with untruths sold to the Gambian people. I demand a police inquiry, immediately, and to question Semlex officials, and all those involved. The problem of Gambia, today, faced with spineless lawyers devoid of moral fibre, only adds to its many problems dragging the country further back. Who is regulating this industry?

A warning to the Banjul cartel looking to sell off the country’s assets, we are watching ever closely, decoding on the basis of ‘national interest. A review spanning several countries in which Semlex operates found it has failed to live up to promise in regards to the size of intended investment, whilst committing fraud on diplomatic passports. Fellow Gambians, a deal still shrouded in mystery has thrown the country’s entire bio-metrics national security condition at risk to fraudulent abuse! A simple due diligence would have shown red-flag, yet the government decided to bypass a reputable Gambian company of Microsoft advances offering quality services ten times cheaper. I call for a parliamentary enquiry!

The issue here appears but for lack of proper comprehension as to what a national biometrics system truly entails. Cabinet, it appears, seem more concerned on the card than the system itself. The card is just an output of the system ladies and gentlemen: A research on Pristine Consulting reveal it had already conducted system evaluation on certain criterion, such as, Functionality, Scalability (how easily can the system be expanded), Ease of use, Interoperability (the ability of computer systems or software to exchange & make use of information), among others. It is also discovered that Pristine has already compiled biometric data of some eight-hundred thousand Gambians & aliens in the country – ready to partner with government transform the country’s entire information security apparatus.

Reaching out to a senior civil servant in the course of this piece, the official confirmed that Pristine Consulting had put in the best bid by a mile, even offering to train young Gambian I.T graduates into fully fledge Microsoft engineers among others. He expresses frustration at the manner …(). A telephone call to Pristine Consulting’s offices for details, a company employee did corroborate details, in fact, going on to say they were willing to train hundredths of young graduates, and to offer jobs and internships, as a Gambian company doing its fair share towards national development. When the writer placed a similar call to Semlex’s offices in Brussels asking questions, the only answer was ‘’no comment’’, before banging down the phone.

I will go on to add that, even had there not being a suitable Gambian firm to implement such an ambitious project, any wise government will invest in getting local I.T firms trained in implementing such solutions ensuring that national security details remain in safe hands. Take the case of ‘Morpho’, a French company that implemented biometrics projects in several francophone countries. The Paris government did invest in the company making sure the security needs of France are in safe hands. This is what I mean by foresight and vision – simply, looking ahead into the distant far ahead to the future. In a globalised world of technological advances, where conventional warfare has receded, information war has taken over posing major national security challenges to nation-states. Today, China, U.S, Senegal, Ghana and others dedicate large sums of their budget on cyber security.

In a recent interview, I was pleased to hear the president reaffirm that ‘government is about process’ in which every sector making up the ‘machinery’ has specific roles to play’. To that end, here is Boor Sine again, ’Consult [experienced] civil servants to research on projects before signing any deals. Otherwise the sweat & tears of the nation shall haunt your legacy’. And do let me interject in that another Commission of Inquiry is of vital necessity post-Barrow presidency. The leadership continues to preach that it cares, out to serve the national interest; yet time-after-time government is found wanting when it matters most. I urge him to challenge his ministers, governors and the entire civil service stream to level up & deliver as expected of each & everyone.

Why is the price of rice still constant, despite tax overtures from central government? And how many new jobs have been created since the coalition came to power? The minister for Trade, Industry and employment must shoulder the blame here. And the tourism minister is hereby reminded not to sell off all reserve lands to dodgy investors in his ear, rather, a credible & sustainable allocation policy for future generation of young entrepreneurs in the making. There is more to democracy than allowing free press. It is about observing ‘Shared Responsibilities’ and ‘Limits to Power’. But it is also about ‘Economic Justice’ where every citizen, from Kartong to Koina, feel a sense of belonging, to be given his/her fair share of the ‘National Cake’.

The new constitution under draft must reflect two very important elements. First, an independent ‘Nation Prosecution Service’, to scrutinise & assign criminal cases – away from the ‘partisan’ Justice ministry. Second, a permanent ‘Anti-Corruption Commission’ to keep oversight & watch on crooked officials, where citizens may report instances of corruption. With that, the office of the OMBUDSMAN is obsolete, a waste of tax payers millions, and should be abolished. I end to congratulate the presidency on the weekly cabinet meetings just announced; a welcome development indeed: But I still call on him to toughen up, and to be more vocal as to the direction of the country, if he truly wants to solidify & cement his status, and therefore, LEGACY.

Gibril Saine   Twitter: @gibbysaine

Mrs Ada Gaye, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture said she was scared to ask Kanilai Group International KGI to repay millions of dalasi taken from the Japanese grant. She made the disclosure at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial dealings of the former president and his close associates.

Mrs Gaye revealed that the Japanese government was providing food grant such as rice, flour and fertilizer to The Gambia Government for the needy farmers at affordable prices, saying the former president was the Agriculture Minister while his own business group, KGI was assigned to sell the consignment.

The former Agriculture PS said KGI was the sole contractor but could not tell how the contract was awarded to them. She mentioned 4 agreements made by the former president’s business group in respect to the sale of rice, flour and fertilizer consignments amounting to millions of dalasi.

She made mention of a D30 Million Dalasi default with a shortfall of D17 Million Dalasi plus an unauthorized expenditure of D92 Million for fertilizers.

“I was scared to ask KGI to further pay the millions taken from the Grant,” Mrs Ada Gaye said.

She was asked what scare her from requesting for the payment?

“I was told the former president was not happy when I asked for the payments,” she replied.

She added that the Japanese officials were not happy with the way the funds were managed but continued releasing grants.

Several correspondence from her office in respect to the Japanese grant were submitted and marked as exhibits.

Next to appear before the commission was Cherno Abdoulie Mballow, former head of Agriculture Business at the Department of Agriculture.

He was summoned in respect to the Japanese rice grant to the government of The Gambia. Mballow explained that his role was to coordinate all business activities of the Agriculture department which includes training of farmers and registration of cooperatives among others.

Mballow said the ministry was responsible for the Grant which was mainly in cash and there was an agreement that one of the Japanese agencies would handle the project, noting that they would do the clearance of the rice consignment at the ports while proceeds from the sale should be deposited at the Central Bank where monies were deposited by Kanilai Group International.

He confirmed that he was the focal person between the Ministry and Japan at the time, saying he witnessed only four consignments.

However, he said the terms and conditions on offers made to KGI was not cleared at the meeting, noting that any price proposals by the ministry at the time was forwarded to the Office of the President for approval.

Mr Mballow however disclosed that they did not make any follow up on KGI for the deposit of the proceeds but confirmed that KGI did not deposit all the proceeds at the Central Bank.

He added that whatever price was determined, there was always an approval by the former president as the Japanese government gave a time limit to every project but there was no audit report.

Meanwhile, the former focal person said the Japanese government claimed that KGI did not deposit all the monies from the consignments of the commodities.

Dear Mrs., Miss and Mr. at The Fatu Network,

I beg you to take note and publish the below statement. This letter is meant to be for the support of the Gambian people as it is of high importance that Gambia don’t sell out their values to foreign countries.

The Chinese fish factory at Gunjur and Kartong has been well described in numerous media, like Greenpeace, local newspapers, media within the EU etc.

The factory at Gunjur has been accused of and are responsible of pollution of the sea causing the death of thousands of fish which was washed ashore making the disaster visible.

There are more than 70 Chinese trawlers fishing in Gambian waters. Nobody is controlling them for license and/or what kind of catch they take on board. A short time ago Senegal control boats arrested 7 Chinese trawlers, who were fishing illegal in Senegal waters. It seems that Gambia do not have the means for controlling on high seas. Gambia’s territorial waters extends 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometres) from the coast line and out into the sea.

But – sadly enough – the local Gambian and Senegalese fishermen are delivering fish to the Chinese factories. The Chinese pay better than the local consumers. Therefore the local fishermen is contributing to overfishing. For these boats it may happen that the fish is dead before reaching the factory and the fish will be thrown overboard. In other cases the factory may not be able to handle all the fish brought to them wherefore the fish is thrown away somewhere in the vicinity.

Gambia’s Fisheries Minister, James Gomez has now ordered that 10% of the catch must be for the local market. That means 90% still goes to the Chinese factories. This is just not good enough.

This is all very short sighted. After few years the fish will be gone and the Chinese will leave. Meanwhile the tourists have left long time earlier. Nobody can live in the odour of stinking fish. The tourist did not spend money only for sight-seeing etc., but coming to the Gambia many saw the difficulties of the people and started to collect money in their home countries in order to send the money to schools, hospitals or for education of single persons.

They even build hospitals and schools. Many containers of all kind of goods were shipped to Gambia and distributed by the same people to schools, hospitals etc. This was all done privately. This kind of a human helping hand will be gone.

President Adama Barrow has signed different agreements with China. Hopefully this will not end as for many other African nations, who was dealing with China – they were all raped.

Just at this moment an other Chinese fish factory is being build at the coast of Sanyang, just 10 kilometres north of Gunjur.

It can be expected that same things will happen on this place like the other places where the Chinese have build their factories. But this factory is not operational yet. There is time to stop this adverse development.

Here your newspaper come in. It must be anticipated that also politicians read newspapers.

Have enclosed a map positioning the new fishmeal factory at Sanyang and some pictures showing the beautiful beach which now probably soon will be destroyed.

With best regards Gunther Petersen, Denmark

By Essa Bah

Land reforms are an important element in the process of sustainable development. It allows policy makers to directly observe how land is utilised to determine priority development areas and to avoid future land conflicts. Each region must find what works best for them despite the diverse land tenure system around the world, including in West Africa. The current conflict between pastoralists and farmers in West Africa could be addressed through the demarcation of land to distinguish its use for settlements, forestry, agriculture, industry and so on. Pastoralists could be allocated land with ranches where boreholes are dug, and sprinklers purchased to provide continuous grazing. This would remove the motivation to move around and consequently avoid conflict with farmers. ECOWAS members could exploit diaspora remittances to raise funds for the demarcation process. A 0.25 cent levy per US$100 remitted could raise more than US$65 million per year to finance the land reform process. However, more collaboration with the diaspora would be needed to build confidence that the finances will be used transparently.

Land is a central element in the production process and a source of inputs in the production of goods and services. It has been a source of discussion in economics since the time of the early economists such as Malthus. The prerequisite to sustainable development is to organise society in a way that will enable policy makers to assess progress and drawbacks in the process. The lack of practical land reform policy in Africa suggests that the take-off to sustainable development would be difficult to achieve.

The conflict between pastoralists and farmers has been a source of conflict in many parts of West Africa and it continue to do so. It has unnecessarily led to the death of thousands of people in the region. As a result, proactive measures are required in order to find a sustainable solution. Moreover, the solutions could have economic benefits and contribute to fighting hunger and improve other development indicators such as tackling climate change and affordable housing. Pastoralists need land to graze and derive economic gain from grazing. Farmers also derive economic gain from their harvest. Therefore, it is a matter of economics that each player wants to protect theirs’s and this could naturally cause conflict and consequently death for some. The deaths could be avoided in a region where there are expanses of under-utilised land that could be exploited for grazing, farming, forestry and settlements.

Western African nations could use one of two approaches or a combination of the two to resolve land issues and pave the way for a sustainable path to development and to preserve lives and loss of property to society. The first approach involves a proper national recording and land management system. The second approach is a regional land management system. Both approaches require demarcation of land to distinguish its use for settlements, forestry, farming, grazing and so on at the national and regional level. Given that ECOWAS has shifted emphasis toward integration rather than cooperation, regional land management system should further strengthen the integration process. Governments, pastoralists and farmers could all derive economic gain from land reforms if farms and herds are turn into viable markets. Moreover, turning informal economic activities into formal markets could contribute to poverty and hunger reduction in West Africa.

Farmers may need herds to provide natural manure by rotating farming and grazing if mobility is feasible. Where mobility is not feasible, pastoralist could be provided with ranches where boreholes are dug, and water sprinklers purchase for continuous grazing. This will remove the motivation for pastoralist to move around in search of grass and avoid future conflicts.

The governments through the ECOWAS commission could find ways to finance the demarcation process and beyond without borrowing. Domestic taxation could be difficult given that many countries in West Africa rely on donors to finance a sizeable percentage of their budget. Nonetheless, the West African diaspora could contribute, perhaps on the condition of transparency. The West African Diaspora remitted an estimated US$26 billion in 2014. A 0.25 cent levy per US$100 remitted could raise about US$65 million per year. There is no reason why this is not feasible given that West Africa has the experience to raise funds through the community levy. Furthermore, domestic initiatives such as banquets and sports events involving the citizens, especially our celebrities could raise additional funds.

The demarcation process does not imply that current land owners will lose their properties. The demarcation process should ensure that future land use does not reallocate agricultural land for settlements without due legal process. If the demarcation process means that some land owners could lose part of their property, the governments could initiate a compensation process.

West Africa needs to overcome conflicts associated with land, farmland, grazing and settlements in order to pave a path to sustainable development. It will be impossible to improve the standard of living of ECOWAS citizens as envisaged in article 2 of the 1975 treaty without land reforms. The developed world today resolved land issues which provided the platform to a sustainable path to development.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimated 1.5 billion cattle in the world in 2015 and 66.9 million (4.6%) of the total world cattle are in West Africa. If other regions of the World like Brazil, India, China and the USA which together account for 41% of world cattle have less of a problem between pastoralist and farmers, there is no reason why West Africa should have the problem given the vast expanses of unexploited land in the region.  “IT IS NEVER IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT IS DONE” (Mandela).

By Omar Wally

Lawyer Salieu Taal, one of the founders of#Gambia Has Decided, a civil society organization, has reacted to remarks made by President Adama Barrow in Turkey.

President Barrow made the remarks during a meeting with Gambians in Turkey where he said that it is very common now to find a whole space filled with ideas and criticisms.

He asked the whereabouts of some of those who are very vocal now adding that many of them were nowhere to be found when Jammeh refused to step down.

Reacting to President’s comments, Taal said he was surprised and disappointed listening to President Barrow speaking along those lines.

‘Even if a person or a group spoke lately, it is never too late to speak for what is right.’

As our leader and at this juncture in our nation’s democracy, the focus of the discussion should be on what we learned from the past, said Taal.

Taal: ‘We have to unlearn how we lived under Jammeh and learn how to live under a democracy. Gambia Has Decided played a pivotal role as a form of public defiance against Jammeh while he was in power.’

Taal said Gambians spoke very loud and that through the initiatives billboards were erected while Jammeh was in power; thousands of T-Shirts were printed and distributed mostly at their cost.

‘Because someone has been an activist for twenty years does not give them more rights and entitlements than the next person who started activism six months ago. Obama became President of US on the struggles of Martin Luther Kings, Malcolm X and many others. Rev Jackson has been in the struggle  longer but Obama was the one who enjoyed the fruits of the fight put up by African-Americans.’

When you fight for your country you fight for yourself, you don’t fight in expectation of any entitlement or benefits said Taal.

Taal added that what it takes to tackle dictatorship is different from what it takes to build a democracy. The Civil Society can only make Barrow a better president; it is in his interest to continue to engage the civil society.

‘Civil Society is not fighting with the president; civil society and the president have the same fight which is to develop the Gambia.’

We – as a people – must seek and find ways of reawakening the zeal to read in our youth. It is often said that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow; but, they need not wait for tomorrow. I say that the youth are the leaders of today! That should be the aim. The youth must take centre stage in the running of the nation.

The truth is that we need to create a ‘new Gambian’ in the New Gambia. The Gambian of yester years has woefully failed us. For, fifty-two years after independence, we have failed to create the Gambia we want. We have failed to create a national identity of which our young ones are proud. The Gambian of old has not been able to rise above self-love, above the benefit of the individual and embrace that of the society. He has not taken the chances that the new dawn has ushered into the world, or seized the freedom that is being offered by the proliferation of information.

The Internet and other technological advancements have made it easier to seek knowledge (developmental eduacation) and wisdom and create a platform for self-actualization. We need to create a New Gambian who knows his heritage, who knows his yesterday and knows his worth; a New Gambian who will not only think of his food for the day, but will work on planning for tomorrow and the decades ahead. We need a New Gambian who knows that failing to plan is planning to fail.

This ‘New Gambian’ will know that we cannot depend on foreign aid and handouts. We cannot depend on importation of basic commodities like food. He will know that for us to move towards our progress, we need innovation and creativeness and entrepreneurship. He will know that we need to invest in an education which will produce job creators and not job seekers. Thus, he will solve the unemployment problem and find ways of enabling us to feed ourselves.

We need to create a Gambian who is politically, morally, socially and spiritually aware. This New Gambian, though will not be irreligious, will not be a fanatic either. He will not see tribes and ethnic differences as divisions which can be harbingers of wars and genocides, ethnic cleansings and bigotry, but he will see them as a boon which can be exploited and used to develop our country in such a way that our future generations can be proud of; so that, in the future, they can stand tall among the comity of nations and raise their voices.

We need to create a New Gambian who is consciously aware of his duties and responsibilities to protect and defend human rights. He will be, as the common parlance goes, ‘his brother’s keeper.’ If we do this we will have a society which is developed, advanced, aware and just. After all these, we will have lasting peace and stability.

In this struggle, we need all hands on deck, so to speak. We need an inclusive outlook which embraces all and sundry. Every individual must be a defender of human rights and an advocate for the rule of law. We must seek genuine and sincere engagement with government and elected officials. We need to appreciate genuine efforts of our government when there ia any, but also hold them to account whenever and wherever they fail or falter.

Additionally, we need to inculcate a love of country which goes beyond personal desire or party afliation. We must make the nation a nation that we will be proud of; and our children will bask in the rays of progress and equality.

With Love

Tha Scribbler Bah

Banjul, February 15: The Gambia Press Union (GPU) welcomes the ruling made by the Abuja-based Ecowas Court of Justice on Wednesday February 14, on the legality of the laws of sedition, criminal defamation, false publication on the internet and false publication and broadcasting.

In 2015, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) along with four Gambian exiled journalists, namely Fatou Camara, Lamin Fatty, Alagie Jobe and Fatou Jaw Manneh, filed a suit against the Gambia government at the sub-regional court.

The complainants, in their prayers, sought an order from the court to condemn the Gambia’s criminalisation of speech through sedition, false news and defamation laws.

Following three years of deliberations, the Ecowas Community Court, in its ruling, ordered the Gambia government to repeal or amend the said laws.

The court held that the enforcement of these anti-free speech laws is a violation of freedom of expression and press freedom and are not in line with regional and international standards of freedom of expression.

“This ruling by the Ecowas Court is timely. It comes at a time we are working closely with the government and other media stakeholders with a view to reforming the media laws,” said GPU President, Bai Emil Touray.

“Moreover, these laws are also a subject of deliberation at the Supreme Court of The Gambia where we are expecting a judgment in the coming months. So, it is an important step in our drive to contribute to creating an enabling environment for press freedom as well as help the current administration to fulfill the promise it made to the electorate in the run up to the Presidential Elections held in December 2016.

He added: “The impact of the ruling goes beyond The Gambia. The decision will be a reference for countries across the Ecowas sub-region and hopefully, this will influence legal decision making on freedom of expression in other parts of the world.”

Meanwhile, the GPU wishes to express thanks and appreciation to its parent body, the Federation of African Journalists, for accepting to take the lead in this case. The Union also wishes to commend and congratulate the four Gambian journalists who took up the challenge despite repercussions to them and their families.

Moreover, the Union wishes to thank the UK-based Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) for the initiative and the commitment and dedication devoted to not only this case, but also towards the Gambia media. The GPU is proud to have been associated with the case and has worked closely with FAJ and MLDI on the matter.

Furthermore, the Union wishes to express appreciation to the Gambia government for its cooperation. We urge the government to not relent in our collective efforts to creating an enabling environment for media freedom and development by implementing in full and without undue delay the decision of the court. The Union wishes to also remind the Government of the commitment it has made towards fulfilling the previous Ecowas Court decisions in favour of journalists Deyda Hydara, Chief Ebrima Manneh and Musa Saidykhan.

Signed

Saikou Jammeh, SG, GPU

In response to the press statement issued by the Attorney General and Honorable Minister of Justice on Wednesday February 14th, 2018, we have the following statement to make .

“Pristine Consulting has a valid contract for the production of ID Cards and eBirth Certificates. In November 2017, we received a request for proposal signed by the Minister of Finance stating :

” due to non-compliance with our procurement laws of the purported contracts relating to the production of national documents, we (the new government of The Gambia) have arrived at the conclusion to initiate a new tender process to award the contract to the most responsive bidder”.

Pristine complied with the request for proposal and duly submitted its bid. It is instructive to learn through the Minster’s Statement that Semlex, the other bidder in the process, declined to comply with the request and instead of being disqualified, were in fact rewarded with a re-instatement of their contract, which had been terminated in 2016.

As far as we are concerned, our contract is still valid as it has not been terminated by the Government of The Gambia and Pristine is prepared to continue to deliver services in accordance with its contractual obligations”.

To learn more about our work on biometrics, please visit www.gambis.gm

By Lamin Keita

The Paradigm of Everybody runs away, People you play with abandon you, People you dine and wine with abandon you, People who tell you day-in and day-out that they support your philosophical and ideological political values all-ignore you and consider you a loser, political neophyte and a hater of one’s country.

People of all fate run away, Brothers, sisters, uncles, fathers, mothers, and half-brothers were all exploited to the core, only to satisfy the whims and caprices of the authoritarian leader.

Even the most holier-than-thou-sanctimonious religious figures were scared to death, corrupted, and goes against the core values of what their religion dictates.

Many, including the civil society, political parties, and security services, all shut their doors against the people looking to bring today’s solace we are all enjoying.

Intellectuals abandoned their theories and learning such theories also became a mere farce and a tautological undertone. Political science and law became mere mantra of dramaturgical platform where you see kleptomaniac and egoistic nature of man displaying all characteristics of Machiavellianism.

Our country became a place of personality trait where individuals were more focused on their own interests, they will manipulate, deceive, and exploit others to achieve their goals. WHOLE OR PART?

Rhetorically, who stays without running away?

The stark reality is, many who had the opportunity to talk or write to a newspaper in order to defy and denounce the dictatorship, shun away from their civic duties as either enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights or our national constitution.

If the defenders of our country were all cow-towed, succumbed to fear and state coercive apparatus, then we must hail the defenders who remain with high esteem. However, Mr. President, to consider political precedents, such political truth telling must not be used as carrot and stick against people who were quiet or dine and wine with Jammeh.

It is time for national healing from the hazards of the twenty-two years of authoritarian durability and alienation, which Gambians will never forget. It is time to move on, and lay legacies of parameters that will make such authoritarianism impossible and would never ever prevail in our country.

For the records, Jammeh used such narratives against PPP’s failures only to silence and manipulate majority of The Gambians. Telling majority of The Gambians to zip it because PPP’S 30 years of rule was a mishap and none of us talk about it or confronted Jawara. Ironically, Jammeh’s rule became a political macabre in the history of our motherland, and above all, antithetical to all the yard sticks you can think of measuring democratic values. Personally, those who are talking must be listened to and you have the option to ‘separate the wheat from the chaff.’

As an instrument for political prowess and expediency, it is important and fundamental as head of a state you inspire your citizens with words of inspiration, encouragement, valor and determination instead of words of despair for an unknown future in this era of our new democracy.

I believe that the difference between a democratic and autocratic government is that the democratic government listen to its citizens (more inclusive, receptive, and accommodating) more, and also simultaneously subjected to frequent constructive or not constructive criticisms.

Visiting some political theories relating to democracy, that often gloomily paint democracy in the realm as never a matter of contestation, but competitiveness that comes with the rule of the GAME-legitimacy, which you already possess and that enable you today to the rule The Gambia. In brief, the legitimacy to rule must also come with the legitimacy of the procedural definition of Democracy that include tolerance to public opinion, but not to heap barriers against the oppositions or critiques.

Therefore, good or bad-mouthed talks will make your government responsive, robust in areas where you need to acclimatize. In this critical juncture in the historical chronicles of our country, whoever respond to the above itemized needs of our citizens will be my hero.

I undoubtedly agreed that there were lapses before as succinctly stated in your truth telling speech, but is time to put these courageous deeds into actions and lay a solid foundation and legacy for democratization- for us and the future generations to come.

For these reasons, we need value change, tolerance and increase secularization, and these characteristics need inspirational leadership qualities, which our country lacks for twenty-two consecutive years. I also believe leadership is a learning curve, where you learn every day, but only narratives without implementation through inclusion or participation will result to abysmal failures.

Relatively, a veritable example is from Mandela who could have plunged the entire nation of South Africa into chaos, but back tracked and decided to reconcile South Africans, specifically for national interest, and I strongly believe with optimism you can do this.

President Barrow’s statement in Turkey is very disappointing, corrosive and imprecise. This is not what is expected from a president who claims, that there is democracy in the New Gambia. His speech was an embodiment of divisiveness and very misleading.

When things were tough during the impasse, President Barrow and his show-man Mai Fatty ran to Senegal. They were hiding in Senegal leaving Gambians in a state of limbo and uncertainty.

Gambians had already voted for Barrow and he should have make sure, he stood by the people during those trying moments for the nation, but he chose to exercise a cowardice action by self-exiling himself until calm and normalcy was restored and the eventual departure of Yahya Jammeh.

If it was not for the efforts and solidarity of the civil society organizations, Human Rights activists and groups, TANGO, the GPU, Gambia Bar Association, ECOWAS, AU, and Gambians in the Diaspora, etc,Jammeh would have forcefully stayed and it would have only mean One thing, either back to the polls or the bullet.

The president should be grateful to the civil society organizations because they have been fighting against dictatorship and tyranny since 1994. President Barrow must know, that a democratic state cannot be stable unless it is effective and legitimate, with the respect and support of its citizens.

The civil society is a vital partner in the quest for a positive relationship between a democratic state and its citizens. The president’s speech can be describe as an attempt to silence the CSOs (civil society organizations). We are seeing a similar playbook of pattern that Yaya Jammeh in his early days into office was playing to suppress dissent. Gambians voted for change to effect democracy, and that is why we have the freedom and liberty to express divergent views more than ever before.

Apparently, it seems that the president is aiming to veto public criticisms but this is just the beginning, it is not even the begining of the end but perhaps the end of the beginning. In the new Gambia our leaders must learn to accept constructive criticisms and freedom of expression.

Gambians of all and sundry, participated in the bringing about change by voting against Jammeh. So Barrow should seek to be politically correct to unite and reconcile our country rather than speaking in a way that will fan division.

I’ll conclude by saying bravo to the Gambian voters, our gallant CSOs, human rights activists and politicians for effecting change.

MC Cham Jnr National Youth Mobiliser GDC.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, February 14, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacar Tambadou has said that Pristine Consulting’s contract with The Gambia Government for the printing of biometric ID cards had expired in 2014.

He added that based on recommendations by a ministerial task force set up to look into the issue, the government made a decision to recognize and restore the existing June 2016 Contract with Semlex which he said was purportedly terminated by the previous government.

He explained that the principal reason why it took almost a year to reach this decision was because a Gambian-owned Company, Pristine Consulting was also involved in this activity but their contract had expired since 2014.

The Justice Minister posited that the government gave Pristine Consulting a fair opportunity to compete with Semlex and invited both companies to submit bids for the production of Biometric ID Cards.

He added that a ministerial task force was established which included him and the Ministers of Finance and Information respectively.

Justice Minister Tambadou said the task force arrived at two options, to either award the contract to Pristine Consulting and then face international arbitration proceedings with all attendants legal and financial cost or to recognize and restore Semlex’s June 2016 contract without any legal and financial costs.

He concluded that the ministerial task force recommended the second option to cabinet, which is to honor Semlex’s 2016 contract.

The Fatu Network will contact Pristine Consulting for their reaction to this story.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou has said that the questioning of Dr Ismaila Ceesay by the police did not violate his rights.

Minister Tambadou who was speaking to journalists at a press briefing held at the Victims Centre for Human Rights Violations said there are positive things to take from the incident including the fact that the civil society was galvanized.

“We want to make clear that Dr Ceesay’s rights were not in any way violated,” Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou said.

“The police have a duty to investigate if they have reasons to believe that a crime was committed,” he added.

Tambadou said it was his understanding that Dr Ceesay who was invited to the police responded to the invitation by driving in his own car to the police station, adding that when he was requested to go home, he refused to leave the station.

The Justice Minister said in the quest for a new Gambia where respect for fundamental human rights is sacrosanct, people must understand that the state also has responsibilities to maintain law and order.

“It is not the role of the civil society to determine what constitutes a crime or a violation of a right to freedom of expression,” Minister Tambadou asserted.

The Justice Minister highlighted the responsibilities of courts, saying that is how democratic systems all over the world function.

“I say this because some of the statements made in connection to Dr Ceesay’s matter are unjustified,” he said.

When asked whether the questioning of Dr Ceesay would not derail freedom of expression or deter others from speaking their minds, Justice Minister Tambadou agreed to some extent but added that it would be a challenge for them.

Reacting to the Minister Tambadou’s comments, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay said this.

“I am appalled to learn that the Minister of Justice Baa Tambedou, a man I have huge respect for, has attempted to mislead Gambians by claiming that I was just called by the police for questioning and that my ‘rights were not violated’. This is a clear distortion of the facts”.

Dr. Ceesay went further to explained what he said happened at the police station on that day.

“This is how the event unfolded: I was called for questioning at Police HQ in Banjul. Upon arrival, I was interrogated for 3 hours and then detained in a cell for 5 hours. I was then charged for Inciting violence.

He added  “If I was only called for questioning and then asked to go home, as Minister Tambedou purports, why was I charged and offered self bail as was claimed by the police in their press statement on the day I was released? It is disingenuous for the Minister to distort the facts of the events”.

“I think the Minister and the police should be honest to the Gambian people and endeavor to tell the truth”. He concluded

On 14 February 2018, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delivered a landmark judgment in which it found that the rights of four Gambian journalists had been violated by the actions of the Gambian authorities, and through the enforcement of laws criminalising speech. The judgment also recognised that the criminal laws on libel, sedition and false news disproportionately interfere with the rights of Gambian journalists and directed that the Gambia “immediately repeal or amend” these laws in line with its obligations under international law.

“This is a significant judgment, not only for the Gambia but also for the West African region as a whole.” Said Jonathan McCully, our Senior Legal Officer, who was present at the hearing, “the ECOWAS Court expressed in the strongest terms the crucial role that the media play in society, and unequivocally condemned the enforcement of criminal laws against journalists for carrying out this role.”

We worked with a team of international and Nigerian lawyers to file the case in December 2015 on behalf of four exiled Gambian journalists who had been arrested and detained by the Gambian authorities because of their journalistic work, and who later fled the country out of fear of further persecution. Two of the journalists were also subject to torture whilst in the custody of the National Intelligence Agency following their arrests. The case was also brought in the name of the Federation of African Journalists, which acted as a representative of all Gambian journalists whose rights have been, and continue to be, violated by the maintenance of criminal laws on libel, sedition and false news.

In its judgment, the ECOWAS Court held that the arrest and detention of the four Gambian journalists amounted to violations of their rights to freedom of expression, liberty and freedom of movement. The ECOWAS Court also recounted in detail the torture that was inflicted on two of the journalists, which included beatings, detention in poor conditions, and the infliction of electric shock. It relied on the testimony of the journalists, as well as independent medical evidence provided with the assistance of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, to conclude that there had been a violation of the prohibition on torture.

The ECOWAS Court also considered the “root” cause of the claims brought before it, namely the Gambian criminal laws on libel, sedition and false news. It quoted extensively from jurisprudence of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, in reaching the conclusion that these laws were “obvious” and “gross” violations of the right to freedom of expression. The Court indicated that it was particularly important that laws applicable to speech be “narrowly drawn” because of the “chilling effect” that can be caused by vagueness or imprecision.

“At the time this case was filed, the Gambian media were operating in a climate of fear with journalists being arrested, detained, tortured, and even murdered for simply carrying out their work.” Said Jonathan McCully, “this judgment is an important means to achieving redress for journalists whose rights had been violated under the previous regime of Yahya Jammeh, and for securing a favourable environment for journalists in the Gambia. We hope that the Gambia will implement this decision without delay.”

“This judgment provides an impressive overview of international norms on freedom of expression and the media,” observed Gabriel Baglo, General Secretary of Federation of African Journalists, who was also in attendance, “as reform is already underway in the Gambia, we hope that the decision of the ECOWAS Court will be fully taken into consideration by those responsible for reform of the media law.”

Noah Ajare, the lawyer representing the Applicants, said “this is a landmark judgment that will benefit journalists and freelancers across the continent, who have seen journalists systematically tortured and dehumanised over the years in the Gambia. I commend the boldness of the justices of the ECOWAS Court in delivering this extraordinary and epoch-making judgment.”

The Applicants were also represented by London-based barristers Can Yeginsu and Anthony Jones. For additional information, or to arrange an interview with a representative from MLDI, the Nigerian lawyer acting for the applicants, Noah Ajare, or a contact person from the Federation of African Journalists please contact Jonathan McCully on +44 7557 917 184 or send an email to [email protected].

Amicus briefs were also filed on behalf of REDRESS, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and a coalition of eight free speech organisations.

Source: MLDI