By Fatou Sowe

Lawyer Antouman Gaye the lead prosecutor in the Solo Sandeng murder trial against the nine former officials of the national intelligence agency (NIA) has said to the high court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara that defense lawyer C E Mene was abusing his advocacy license to cross examine the third (PW3) Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh.

He made this statement while raising an objection to a question which he considered irrelevant to the facts of the case before the court during lawyer Mene’s cross examination of the said witness.

Prosecutor Gaye in his submission to support his objection further stated that defense counsel Mene was overheating on issues that are not relevant to the case before the court. He said he does not subscribe to the saying that the sky is the limit in cross examination because relevance is the bench mark.

In his response to the objection, Lawyer Mene submitted that cross examination is meant to test the veracity of the witness and the objection of the prosecution is misconceived and only meant to shutdown the defense.

He went on to state that the defence is entitled to challenge the evidence of the prosecution brought in during PW3’s testimony in chief so the prosecution cannot complain about that because they presented the evidence in court.

“I will continue to punch holes into PW3’s evidence and I cannot be shutdown because that will amount to an unfair trial” he submitted.

Prosecutor Gaye in reply stated that Lawyer Mene’s allegation that the prosecution is in an attempt to shutdown the defense is wrong because it is the court that controls the proceedings of the case and not the prosecution. He also emphasized that section 192 (2) of the Evidence Act provides that cross examination must be relevant to the facts before the court.

In her ruling the presiding judge sustained the objection and said further that the line of questioning by Mene is absurd and that she was in disagreement with Mene’s submission that he can cross examine the witness on every piece of evidence because some issues are for the address stage of the case.

She said that the cross examination has gone way beyond the time the court expected it. Consequently, she directed Lawyer Mene to limit himself to the facts in issue before the court, after which the cross examination continued.

Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh while continuing his testimony under cross examination stated that it is not correct that the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers are specialized in handling riot and chaotic situations because they (PIU) are like every other police officer as they carryout functions like any police officer.

According to him, majority of those arrested at Westfield on April 14, 2015 were arrested by the PIU officers, adding that he does not know who led the PIU team to Westfield nor does he know the instructions they were given because they are not under his command.

PW3 denied knowledge of the fact that the PIU officers were in their riot gears while on operation at Westfield saying that he does not know how the PIU operates.

The case was adjourned for a continuation of the cross examination by Lawyer Mene.

By Omar Wally

The newly built airport in Dakar, Senegal with a capacity to accommodate up to three million passengers per year will be inaugurated tomorrow, December 9, 2017.

Among the world leaders expected to attend the inauguration is  the Gambian leader, His Excellency, Adama Barrow.

Blaise Diagne International Airport, is the largest and the second International Airport in Senegal. It is also one of the biggest Airports in Africa.

Located in Diass, in the Thies region, 50 kilometers away from the capital Dakar, the $575 million new airport will take operation from Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport, Thursday, December 7.

Background

The airport is named after Blaise Diagne a Senegalese born French political leader and mayor of Dakar. Diagne was the first black African elected to the French Chamber of Deputies, and the first to hold a position in the French government.

He studied in France before joining the French customs service in 1892. He served in Benin, Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Guiana.

Diagne was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of France in 1914 as Senegal’s representative. He was reelected several times, serving until his death in 1934.

A few days ago, Gambia’s new leader finally landed in Banjul a year after his dramatic accession to the throne following a political tsunami that had a billion-year dictator packed and left.  Mr. Barrow creatively and innovatively used a campaign slogan that ordinary Gambians found easier to associate with. He took advantage of the country’s deeply religious connection and hatched a slogan that asked citizens to emancipate themselves by joining Prophet Noah’s Ark. This Ark is familiar to both Gambian Muslims and Christians as history would tell us it salvaged Noah’s people from a devastating deluge that was sparing anyone but those who refused to get onboard.  The Ark’s door was open to anyone who wanted to be saved.  Just like Noah’s people, Barrow thought The Gambia was in a similar situation. He had asked Gambians to board the Ark to avoid an engulfing flood that was sure to be drowning only the brute leader and his followers. At the time, The Gambia was at a dangerous crossroad, held hostage by an enduring dictator who wanted to create his dynasty and in fact build castles in the skies. Freedom was restricted, liberty seized, opportunities squeezed, and Gambians just lived a state of despondency.  Citizens were at best arrested and at worst disappeared eternally without trace at the behest of a man who had always been agonised as if he was bereft of a proper childhood.  Rallying Gambians against these crimes, Barrow promised that his Ark would salvage Gambians and anchor them on safe shores where freedoms, liberties and prosperity would be the order of the day.

One year into this voyage, what is the direction of an Ark that took off with great optimism on December 1^st? Sailing through the post-dictatorship waves, Gambians have mixed reactions when it comes to assessing a year of the voyage.  To many a people, the Barrow government has delivered a lot under very difficult circumstances. The argument is that the coalition government inherited a country with only a two-month reserve; a highly polarized and heavily indebted nation whose institutional systems have been broken to a near irreparability.  They claim that the administration has created a freer environment where freedoms and liberties are guaranteed.  The press is writing headlines of their choices and the airwaves are entertaining civil discourses that hold the government accountable to the people. Social media is open for public discourse on issues that matter and people are just generally freely expressing their divergent views without any fear 0f government reprisal.  That government has shown commitment to repealing retrogressive laws that limit fundamental freedoms and even concede some in some cases.  That government has embarked on critical democratic reforms that would mark a significant departure from the past.  Such reforms, they claim, include the process of ensuring that the co-equal branches of the government – Executive, Judiciary, and Legislature – function collaboratively but independently of each other.  Key on such reforms, they trumpet, also include some pertinent pieces of legislations that show the government committing itself to establishing a Human Right Commission (HRC), a Truth, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC), and a Constitution Review Committee (CRC).  They claim a Human Rights Commission will ensure that citizens’ human rights are protected and not trampled upon by the powers that be. They claim a Truth, Reparation and Reconciliation Commission will ensure that the long-yearned justice is delivered to countless number of Gambians who were victimised by Jammeh and his cohorts.  Significantly, they rejoice that the Constitutional Review Committee will holistically look at the current 1997 constitution and make recommendations for a complete new state script that will usher in a Third Republic.  One cannot also talk to the Barrow disciples without them reminding you of how fast the country moved to repair its broken international relations.  At the time of Jammeh’s demise, The Gambia technically adopted an isolationism policy. The country was disconnected with the rest of the world because Jammeh was so paranoid that he thought his potential downfall would not be plotted by his own people but external forces. Even Gambia’s closest neighbour, Senegal, had a very distasteful tie with Banjul. Banjul isolated itself from the rest of sub-regional capitals and Gambia was virtually on its own. Jammeh pulled the nation out of key international organisations, notably, International Criminal Court (ICC) and Commonwealth. But a year into this voyage, Barrow pundits say international relations have been restored and Gambia plugged itself back into the community of nations. They say ICC membership withdrawal is cancelled and the process to rejoin the Commonwealth is in full swing, and that Banjul has now gained a good reputation on the international front. The Barrow Baifaals would provide you with a long list of accomplishments, including the provision of vital foreign aid needed to recover Gambian economy.

What Barrow Critics Think

The other side of the political divide holds diametrically opposing views.  A year into this voyage, they claim that the Coalition government only succeeded in a regime change and has not yet done any practical move to divorce from the norms that characterised Jammeh’s decades rule. They criticised Barrow’s administration for hastily tabled a legislation on an age limit clause to allow one of them take charge but slow in presenting a bill that will ensure that no future Gambian president serves more than two terms in office.  They claim that politicians are beginning to live fat on corruption and continue to ignore the provision of vital basic amenities.  For example, they decry the erratic power supply and insisted that a government that has been in power for a year has no excuse not to improve situations for a sector as vital as the energy. They are afraid that the government might not do much to protect citizens’ rights, especially the freedom to assemble and express opinion as guaranteed by Section 25 of the 1997 Constitution. They give the #occupywestfield power protest permit denial saga as a classic example of this, and stress that, that sort of attitude of the government cannot be condoned in new nation that freed itself from the brutal jaws of dictatorship. They advocate for stronger institutions that will hold the state machinery accountable and vow never to allow The Gambia degenerate into the past circumstances. This and many more are claimed against the new status quo.

Way forward

But going forward, the Barrow administration must seize all of the opportunities that present themselves.  This government needs to prioritise key sectors and quickly work on implementing the needed reforms that will propel our nation.  Without delay, the government must match its words with actions. One of the most important bills I personally think should be set in motion is that of TERM LIMITS so that never again will anyone Gambian politician perpetuate him/herself in power. The government must prioritise the health sector and ensures that hospitals and health centers are stocked with vital drugs and live-saving equipment.  It is traumatic to see a lot of Gambians helplessly lying on stretches in health facilities, enduring sicknesses that are treatable and curable. I cannot still get my head around the fact that Gambians would still have to travel to Senegal for treatable sicknesses. To date, this country has no MRI system for advanced diagnosis.  What could be more important to any government than ensuring that Gambians have access to proper diagnosis and treatment? How does any government that is serious about development neglect the health of its citizens? It’s not this government’s fault for the current problems in the health sector, but it must prioritise it. Education too must be prioritised to ensuring that when 12,000 Gambians sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, it is not just 500 that will have a minimum University of The Gambia requirement.  Power sector must be revolutionised to match our development aspirations.  Fact is, nothing works in the absent of power – health, education, investment and so on. Finally, institutions must be built and strengthened such that Gambians wouldn’t care if there are weak leaders governing them.

Congratulations Gambia and a Happy Democratic Anniversary!

Hatab Fadera is a Third-Year Student at the School of Journalism and Digital Media of the University of The Gambia

I thank the Almighty Allah for making us witness this momentous occasion marking the first anniversary since our beloved country witnessed the ushering in of a new democracy after 22 years of dictatorship.

Today marks a significant day in the annals of our history when the great people of this country came together and won a landmark victory against a brutal dictatorship through a democratic process. On that fateful day one year ago, this nation took a stand and liberated itself from politics of fear, intimidation and division, and embraced hope, diversity and respect for human dignity and the rule of law.

The change has been both dramatic and decisive with the people of the country resolving never again to return to the dark days of mismanagement and unconstitutional rule. Consequently, because of our determination, we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy based on justice, freedom, equality and fraternity.

This glorious and historic victory did not just drop from the sky, there are quite a huge number of courageous individuals, groups and partners both within the country and abroad who contributed greatly to the success of our national struggle for democracy and good governance.

This day therefore is quite befitting for us to assemble in this impressive numbers to once more say thank you to all Gambian women and men; our youth, Gambians in the diaspora, ECOWAS bloc, UN, EU and other development partners and friends of The Gambia who were at the forefront of the struggle to end impunity and dictatorship.

I must also commend the leaders of the political parties for setting aside personal ambitions in favour of national interest by uniting to support my candidacy as the flag bearer following my election at the convention.

While we gather to celebrate our great achievement, we must also remember, celebrate and pray for the brave and gallant Gambians who have paid the ultimate price for us to enjoy the freedom, democracy and rule of law that prevails today. They held the beacon of freedom and liberty high in the face of tyranny. We thank God for their sacrifice but let me say this and say it with the utmost conviction: their lives, pains, and struggles shall never go in vain.

We owe them a debt of gratitude and this must be manifested in our efforts to strengthen democracy, human rights and positive development geared towards improving quality of lives for the population irrespective of political affiliation, gender, ethnic or religious considerations. The strength of our nation lies in its unity in diversity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

My government owes you clear policies and practical measures to ensure that everyone particularly the youth and women contribute to and benefit from our new democracy.

This we have started to do; and today I am proud to announce that Our National Development Plan 2018-2021 has now been validated.

This plan has among other things mainstreamed youth development, gender and poverty reduction as well as sound fiscal and macro management policies with the tendency to grow the economy and create decent jobs for our unemployed youths and women.

Fellow Gambians, the challenges are enormous given what this government has inherited. Let me take this opportunity to call on all of you to stand as one and face the task ahead and turn these overwhelming challenges into opportunities in the new dawn. Let us make this the beginning of a genuine recovery and sustainable development for posterity.

One of the critical steps being taken by my administration is the implementation of specific measures to restore confidence in governance.

These measures will help create the right environment required to pull the country back on the path of development and growth. The efforts are in fact well in progress and the new policies and programmes of the government have started to bear fruits.

Since my inauguration as President, we have successfully ended The Gambia’s isolation from the rest of the world. There has been a rise in bilateral and multilateral cooperation as partners have regained confidence to engage the government.

This is reflected among other things in the increased economic activities as a result of the conducive business environment created by this government leading to the stability of prices of basic commodities which are in fact generally going down.

It is also important to note that resultant demands on the services of the Banjul Port far exceeds the current capacity thus the government has taken the decision for the port to operate 24 hours creating more employment and improving timely service delivery.

Furthermore, we have as a government reduced the price of fuel three times in less than a year in line with world market prices. This has positive impact on commodity prices and their availability across the country.

Another positive achievement of my Government’s ongoing policies is its commitment to fiscal discipline. This is reflected in the remarkable improvement on the country’s foreign exchange reserve of well over 4 months import cover in a short space of time, compared to less than one month when we took over government.

Fellow Gambians, I am pleased to inform you that Gambian legal experts continue to be steadily appointed in our Judiciary in line with our efforts to fully “Gambianise” the Bench.

My government values the role of women in development and places gender representation high on the agenda which is proven by the appointment of numerous female Judges at the superior courts.

The pursuit of justice remains a high priority for my government. Some notable achievements include the decongestion of the prisons, the establishment of a Criminal Case and Detention Review Panel, the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry to look into the financial and business-related activities of the former President and his associates. We also held a successful National Stakeholders’ Conference on Justice and Human Rights earlier in May.

The forum provided a unique opportunity for inclusive dialogue and consultations on key justice sector reforms, including plans for the setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation and Human Rights Commissions.

My government has received and continues to benefit from genuine and solid support provided by the UN in the area of transitional justice.

Tourism continues to be a key priority area of my government as it contributes significantly to our GDP.

It is an important source of employment and government revenue. Government through the Ministry of Tourism is actively engaging stakeholders and partners to continue to improve and diversify the product base of the sector, in the areas of eco-tourism, river cruising, cultural tourism, among others.

The Ministry has recently signed an MOU with a key partner (F. T. I.) who will potentially increase the number of arrivals and help build capacity through the Tourism Institute. These efforts are in line with the overall government policy of making the industry an all-year-round activity.

Ladies and gentlemen, agriculture constitutes the backbone of our economy; and yet the potentials of this critical sector remain largely untapped. It is not by accident that the agricultural sub-sector is among the top five priority areas of my government.

Mechanisation and value addition are central to the achievement of food self-sufficiency. As I have always said, it is the duty and responsibility of all Gambians – you and me – to bring about sustainable national development for our people; others can only help.

In this process, the youths who constitute over 60% of the population must play a crucial role. This is why I am always encouraged when I see talented, dedicated and disciplined youths coming together to advance the course of national development.

Today, I am particularly pleased and privileged to launch this youth group which is named in my honour, willing, able and ready to join hands with other youth organizations across the country in pursuit of national development. Essentially, it is through endeavours like this that we can progressively harness the demographic dividends of our gallant youths.

On this note it is now my honour to formerly launch The President Barrow National Youth Development Front. Let me end this address by once again advising this youth group just launched and those throughout the country as our future leaders to stay disciplined and focused on acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for nation building.

Thank you all for your kind attention.

THE END

NOTE: In subsequent editions we will be publishing the views of others on the first anniversary under this column.

By Omar Wally

Postmortem conducted on the remains of Miss Vanish has revealed that she was strangled to death, says Assistant Superintendent Foday Conta, deputy Police public relations officer.

On the November 26, 2017, the body of Miss Vanisha, a 26 year old Ivorian was found dumped along the streets of Manji Kunda.

Former President Yahya Jammeh has been summoned by the Janneh Commission, The Standard has learned.

A source close to the commission who preferred anonymity told this paper: “The former President, Yahya Jammeh, has been summoned by the commission through The Gambia Embassy in Ethiopia which is the nearest country to where he is in exile, since The Gambia does not have an embassy or diplomatic representation in Equatorial Guinea. We have received confirmation that the notice of summon has been delivered.”

The Janneh Commission is probing the financial dealings of Jammeh, his family and certain close associates. However, the source did not disclose whether the summons letter has been received by Jammeh himself.

During the testimonies before the commission so far, scores of witnesses have testified that the former president personally instructed them to withdraw monies amounting to millions of dollars from the national exchequer, among other things.

The summons has been issued for him to come and testify and shed light on the gross economic malfeasance and crimes he is being accused of.

However, President Jammeh is in exile in Equatorial Guinea and it is not clear whether The Gambia has any extradition treaty with that country.

But our source said Banjul should engage Malabo to ensure that Jammeh is extradited to face the commission.

Asset freeze extended

Meanwhile, in a separate development, this newspaper has learnt that the high court has extended the order freezing the assets of the former president by another 180 days. The judge issued the original interim injunction on 22 May 2017. It restrained Jammeh, his agents or associates from disposing off or dealing with all his listed moveable and immoveable properties pending the conclusion of the investigation initiated by the Attorney General into his alleged criminal conduct.

The state was represented by counsel Binqa D Esq. No one appeared for Jammeh.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The chairperson of the Coalition 2016 and now vice president, Fatoumatta Jallow, has confirmed that the term limit discussed among the Coalition partners for their presidential candidate to serve is three years.

This is the first time any senior member of the Coalition has commented on the issue since UDP leader Ousainou Darboe controversially suggested that no such agreement was signed.

According to the Veep who was addressing the Coalition 2016 anniversary ceremony at Talinding Saturday, the Coalition will enter into “family discussions” among themselves and the people to ask for their understanding to stretch the term limit to five years since that is what’s stipulated in the Constitution. “After that, we will leave everything to God from Whom we ask for good guidance for President Barrow to lead this country to prosperity,” she said.

The Vice President further reminded the audience that President Barrow was not selected by any one party but by seven groups all of which sent equal representation of 70 delegates to the convention that elected him.

“As the chairperson of that convention I will not put any party above the other as I am still committed to see the Coalition intact and progressive,” she said.

Source: Standard Newspaper

By Omar Wally

Tens of thousands of Gambians on Saturday, December 2, 2017, celebrated the downfall of former President Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the country for over 22 years.

On December 1, 2016, Gambians went to the polls to vote for their presidential candidate and on 2 December 2016, the Independent Electoral Commission declared Adama Barrow, coalition candidate as the winner.

The celebration held at the Buffer Zone brought together coalition leaders, cabinet ministers, wives of the President First Lady Fatou Bah and Lady Sarjo Mballow-Barrow, senior government officials, diplomats, regional governors, district chiefs, women groups and youth groups among others.

Upon arrival at the event, Barrow received a rousing welcome from the crowd; he waved and shook hands with supporters before taking his seat. A minute silence was observed for all those who lost their live during the Jammeh regime.

Addressing the gathering, President Barrow said December 2nd marks a significant day when great people of the Gambian came together and won a landmark victory against a brutal dictatorship, through a democratic process.

“One year ago, this nation took a stand and liberated itself from politics of fear, intimidation, division and embrace hope, diversity, respect for human dignity and the rule of law.”

The change he said has been dramatic and decisive with the people of the country resolving never again to return to the dark days of mismanagement and unconstitutional rule.

“Because of our determination, we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy base on justice, freedom, equality and fraternity”.

This glorious and victorious history did not just drop from the sky said President Barrow. “There are quite a number of courageous individuals, groups and partners both within the Gambia and abroad who contributed immensely to the success of a national struggle for democracy and good governance,” he concluded.

I came from the Kambi Bolong

I am the Smiling Coast

I am the Nyancho, I am the Guewel, I am the eclectic

I am Edward Small, I am the clarion call

I am Nyimansata Sanneh-Bojang, I am the first

Information reaching The Fatu Network has confirmed that President Adama Barrow has appointed Habib Drammeh, former director general of The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA), as the new Interior Minister.

On Saturday December 2 the Coalition and Pres. Barrow launched a massive celebration at the Buffer Zone marking the first anniversary of the end of dictatorship in the Gambia. As typical in our history, scores of citizens were transported from around the country to grace the occasion. The same musicians who sang and praised Jawara and then Yaya Jammeh were again on stage to sing the praises of the new dispensation. T-shirts and ashobi dresses bearing the head of the president were in full display depicting the same old practice of celebrating leaders in the name of the country. This is how personality cult and dictatorship are built and nurtured through patronage and sycophancy in any society.

I wish to therefore state my total opposition to this celebration because this is not what the Gambia needs. Yes we have ended 22 years of dictatorship but we are a nation of 52 years in which poverty, deprivation and inadequate social services remain widespread and supreme. The country faces so much dire conditions that the idea of celebration must not have existed in the first place. Rather our nation needed to mark this first year of democracy with a national stocktaking exercise.

I expected that Barrow and the Coalition leaders would have known that what we needed was a national conversation after one year in office. In the first place it was important that Barrow makes a national address and convene a press conference. This was necessary to report back to the people and address prevailing issues and concerns. Such national address and press conference would have provided assurances to the population as he lays out his efforts, achievements, challenges and the way forward so as to generate more confidence and hope in the people. But sadly neither the Government nor any political party made any public statement on the occasion of this first anniversary!

I expected the Government and the Coalition to develop an all-encompassing, relevant and inspiring theme for this one year anniversary as the platform to mobilize the people toward a common national objective. For that matter, what we needed were various public forums held across the country where political leaders and government officials report back to the people. This would have further strengthened this government and the leadership of Barrow. It would have promoted the culture of transparency and accountability as well as lay the basis for the building and nurturing of a democratic culture.

These public conversations would have engaged the people to speak to their issues and concerns and how and where they think the Gambia should go. Citizens would reflect on the gains registered so far and the issues that lie ahead so that everyone would have repositioned and refocused himself or herself in building a future where we can obtain both individual and collective prosperity. We must bear in mind that we still have many victims of the dictatorship who are still languishing in pain and misery!

It is therefore sad that a very huge opportunity has once again been lost to Barrow and his Government like many before. This Government and the Coalition needs to understand that they must first and foremost be seen to promote the supreme interests of the Gambia over their individual and partisan political objectives and future. They must not use national issues as a cover to promote partisan objectives or give their partisan interests a national character just to promote their individual political objectives.

This was the practice under Jawara and Jammeh where national events are celebrated under the cloak of their parties or they give their party activities a national character. Such practices must stop in the New Gambia! This is unfair to Gambians.

The brandishing of t-shirts and ashobi dresses bearing the face of Pres. Barrow is the same practice we saw in this country for decades at every national event. One year after the defeat of dictatorship the celebration should not be about Adama Barrow. It should be a national event. If one person’s face is to be shown on a t-shirt then all citizens faces must show on all t-shirts. Hence we do not need any person’s face on a t-shirt rather we needed to see Gambia T-shirts and Gambia Ashobi. Gambians defeated the dictatorship. It was Gambians who brought democracy and the anniversary of that event must be to celebrate the Gambia and no one else.

Now that the Gambia Government under Pres. Adama Barrow and the Coalition have misused a national event for their own individual and partisan political objectives, the time has come for the rest of the Gambian citizens to commemorate this anniversary in a better way. Let us open discussion forums to assess the Gambia one year after the fall of dictatorship. Are our expectations met? Is Pres. Barrow effectively responding to our needs and practically protecting our rights? Is the Gambia Government upholding the ideals of democracy and good governance? Let us ask ourselves about what did we decide for and against on 1st December 2016 and is that decision being upheld or betrayed? After one year, are we on track or is it more of the same?

Let the people engage their parliamentarians and public officers to ask the fundamental questions about bread and butter. Let us bear in mind that the protection of human rights and promotion of good governance will not be necessarily done by Pres. Adama Barrow or the Minister of Justice or the Inspector General of Police even though the law requires them to do so. We can only obtain good governance and ensure protection of human rights and the satisfaction of our needs when citizens become consciously vigilant and actively participate in the affairs of the nation.

Citizens must realize that in practice they are the leaders of the country and not the president. Let us make the president follow us in the protection of our rights and the satisfaction of our needs as spelt out in Chapter 4 of the Constitution. Democracy is a political system in which the will of the people determine the manner of governance.

Hence in a democracy it is the people who lead and rule. We must not follow leaders anyhow. Rather citizens must make leaders follow the will of the people. In its 50 years of independence, Gambians have only followed leaders. First Jawara ruled for 30 years only to deliver us to poverty. Next came Yaya Jammeh to also rule for 22 years of blood and tears. Therefore the lessons are too many for Gambians to once again follow any leader anyhow.

For the Gambia, Our Homeland!

Madi Jobarteh

By Jamal Drammeh

In the past; half of the world don’t even know how the other half lives. People in different areas of the world used to live so distinctively that they can hardly be classified into the same race. But today, technology has transformed our world into a global village. This makes every action or utterance far more consequential because of the speed by which it can reverberate at the other end of the world.

The advent of the railways took out all obstructions on the passage of trains – leaving nothing to conquer but the clear passage of its travels. Then the advent of the aircraft took out all the obstructions of the land and the high seas – leaving nothing else to conquer but pure space. But with technology and telecommunication, we transcend the space of this whole sphere – making our voice to be heard at every moment, from even the most remote parts of our planet. With that comes the responsibility for its proper use.

Who I’m I to advocate for prudence in our discourse, when this remains a direction at which I have so much work to do on myself. Yet I love facts even if it’s against my interest and hate lubricity and the farcical commentaries that passes for wisdom and truth in our discourse. Plus I’m not so fun of vain men that worship other morals like themselves, egotistical to their own whims, but condescending to those that dare to see things differently.

I write from aspirations, antagonism, observation, and very well from experience. At times, painting and writing of qualities I do not yet possess but aspires to possess, and challenging the reader to dream and aspire to a new and greater possibility for oneself.

Shakespeare told us to “assume virtue if you have not”…. because, he understands that the essential nature of man is good and virtuous, giving us every right to lay claims to virtue even before we can properly personify it. So I scrapped that Marxian notion that assumes that man is essentially evil. Man is essentially good, but sometimes have to be shaken up to bring forth our virtues. We can rightfully admire a quality or assume a virtue we have not yet possessed.

Even where we fall short, at every moment of the vicissitudes of life, we shall still communicate our whole ‘meat and bones’, and not the ‘shell’. So yes, I will write to these subjects as if it they are the breath in my lungs. Speaking against these dark elements in our social discourse like an Emmanuel Swedenborg, I shall – though I claim not his illumination or the wisdom illuminate. But, I shall do so from a point of perception and not with cheap opinions or base estimates. perception in a true sense – is the impression of the soul, and when communicated, it becomes the sensual side of the soul’s expressions. Even where it is wrong, it is still noble, because it comes from a positive degree and with sincerity.

Opinions are the base mendicants of our political discourse, and the foolish disguise in our social intercourse and the cheap cover for political posture. What a person projects but is not genuine, or doesn’t even truly understand, is only an extemporaneous half possession. We are becoming the guardians of such possessions with the free flow of ideas in the Internet. Every benefit we gain, a tax is levied; so the beauty of the Internet has a price also. It gives us innumerable half-truths and alternative realities at lightening speed. So in politics, we equally infect each other with these half possessions and alternative realities at lightening speed. We go about parroting on serious subjects without proper examination of context or any serious thought because we saw our friends did.

We go out of way to decry a thing by epitomizing the very thing we seek to so strongly condemn. We condemn hate speech with our own form of hate speech. We find ways to negatively classify anyone we have disagreements with; forgetting that we cannot throw dirt and our hands to still remain clean. We employ mean motives to classify our opponents with base estimates stemming from our own bigotry or ignorance that we are not even aware of.

How can you enlighten a group by tacitly condemning them as tribalists or ignorant or “unconscious”?

Why do we keep categorizing UDP as a Mandinka party when we know full well that both their leadership and rank and file constitute all the different tribes in The Gambia?

Why do we keep categorizing PDOIS as a Wolof party when we know full well that both their leadership and rank and file constitute all the different tribes as well?

The same is true for every other political party in The Gambia!

Naturally, there is closer affinity between people with more superficial commonalities – whether that has to do with economic status, origin, identity or some other common interests. This is a common phenomenon in every country, society, and in every sphere of our existence. Our special affinities will always create some disproportion in our every setting – political or otherwise. This is true in America and equally true in The Gambia. But if these disproportions are driven by those superficialities, is there anything inherently bad in that?

What is wrong with people being drawn more easily to groups they have greater natural affinity with or identify with better?

Even if you find something wrong with that idea, would it not be better to use tact and gentleness to win them over than with condescending attitude towards them?

Would insults, arrogance and condemnation help you win over anyone?

And last; why do we continue to do this deification of certain individuals in our political discourse as if they’re the only men with brain, or God himself brought them down to save us from ourselves?

Our days yield for us no Mandelas or Thomas Paignes or Lumumbas or Castros or Krummahs – even if we seek to super impose their images on our new icons. It is vain to try to make them who they’re not.

However, many of these men and women we celebrate today are great and noble in their own respect, but not because of our mechanical imposition and belligerence. We don’t need to go about skulking like interlopers in the Internet with cumbersome arguments as if the politicians we favor are some divine beings and beyond reproach.

Foolish people think that a Halifa or a Darboe can never utter nonsense. If they said something dumb, it is quickly rationalized to seem like something profound and intelligent by their cultist and political vanguards. They would stand to support their every utterance simply because it is theirs. These fanatical supporters feel obliged to defend every last verbiage of the politician they support with their own last breath.

Instead of truth, we make the defense of personalities as a solemn obligation. How much breaths will our best minds continue to waste on escapades in defense of particular politicians instead of honest erudition?

In our attacks on opposition, we label them with the very mark on our own foreheads. If we are obsessed with our tribe, we will only see tribalism everywhere around us. We guile our own sickness by labeling others as the “real tribalists”. But if you are a tribalist, no amount of cunning and linguistics super navigation can hide the venom you store in your breast. Most will not call you out and not all can sufficiently articulate their disgust for the ‘bile’ they see in you, but they can sense it very well. No metamorphosis can hide a filthy rogue from the world. You can call opponents out with every name you wish, but they can all see through you and can clearly read the mark on your own forehead.

The condescending nonsense we try to spew out with polite pretense will always be seen for what it is – by each one of the ‘village idiots’ we might label as ‘unconscious’.

Leave these echo chambers that sought to freeze your brain and implore you to walk the permitted lines. Examine what is said, and not obsessing over who the speaker is before you can use your brain. Simply do what you can, and attempt nothing beyond your practical force with false pretense. Our parroting of silly opinions of others without reflection is dangerous. Pretending as if those are our own ideas is a disease of the mind. It is poisonous to the elevation of any serious conversation.

I have only one point to make in this whole essay. Gambia is one nation and one people. More importantly, humanity is one. Let’s stop the nonsense of tribal politics!

By Alieu Ceesay

It was another bad experience for the U17 Women’s Team of The Gambia as they suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Ghana.

The Ghana Black Maidens’ Skipper Abdulai Mukarama scored five goals to see Ghana beat host Gambia in a spectacular style.

By Omar Wally

The government of the Gambia should do everything possible to evacuate our Gambian brothers and sisters who are suffering in Libya said Dr Ismaila Ceesay, Political Science lecturer at The University of the Gambia.

“The government must engage Libyan authorities through African Union to make sure our brothers and sisters are sent home.”

By Omar Wally

The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has said that Africa needs more entrepreneurs like Muhammed Jah to inspire youth to become entrepreneurs. “Africa is the continent of the future, but we can only translate the energies of our youth into something productive and creative for Africa when we have more people like Muhammed Jah.”

The Sierra Leonean leader made these remarks on Thursday, November 30, in Bijilo during the commissioning of Qcity.

President Koroma said Africa needs a great number of entrepreneurs so that they can help in the development process of the continent.

“We in government always trumpet out that yes as government, we have to create the enabling environment, but we also need the private sector to become the engine of economic growth.”

President Koroma said the launching of Qcity clearly demonstrates that indeed it’s the private sector that is required in Africa to become the engine of economic growth.

“With Qcity, we are guarantee of huge employment opportunities for our young people, new experts and it will provide for a good number of them.”

President Koroma describes Muhammed Jah as a compatriot and alumnus that they all are all proud of.

Sierra Leonean leader said Gambia and Sierra Leone share cordial relationship, strong historical, political and cultural links. “History tells us that in two separate periods from 1821-1843 and from 1886to 1888 The Gambia was governed from Sierra Leone.”

It is a fact that civil servants from Sierra Leone were seconded to The Gambia said President Koroma. “

This relationship succeeded for a very long time adding that even earlier history indicates that Creole of Freetown and Aku marabous of the Fourah Bay area in the east of Freetown have deep roots in the Gambia. “No doubt our people are related by blood, language and culture which makes the bond between the two countries even stronger.”

President Koroma said the relationship between Gambia and Sierra Leone has also been strengthened by trade, migration, diplomacy and religion.

He concluded that education is the light which continues to rekindle and further strengthen the historical ties between the two countries.

That Africans are enslaved in Libya should not be a shock to anyone if we are to be honest to ourselves. It is common knowledge that North Africa and Middle Eastern Arab-Muslim societies from Mauritania, Sudan to Egypt and the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia until today continue to practice slavery against Black Africans! African leaders, intellectuals and politicians as well as the African Union are indeed aware of this situation just as the West and their politicians and intellectuals equally know about it. Global Slavery Index reports that more than 40 thousand or 1% of Mauritanians live under slavery or some form of servitude and these are essentially Black Mauritanians.

By Omar Wally

Gambia’s first private television station was Thursday, November 30 launched at a colorful ceremony attended by President Adama Barrow and his Sierra Leonean counterpart Ernest Bai Koroma.

By Omar Wally

The president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma, has Thursday, November 30 arrived in The Gambia for a two day visit. President Koroma is the first head of state to travel to Banjul on a state visit since President Barrow was elected last December.

He was received at the airport by his Gambian counterpart alongside senior government officials and members of the diplomatic and consular corps.

In an interview with journalists shortly after his arrival, President Koroma said he is The Gambia to provide solidarity and support to a brother and colleague President Barrow.

“I will use my visit to strengthen the already existing excellent relations between the two countries.” He said.

President Koroma who will be stepping down next year said “I’m also here to provide support to one of the great entrepreneurs of The Gambia who is inaugurating a city for relaxation and amusement and to launch the Fourah Bah College alumni associations.” President Koroma added that a good number of Gambians attained their university education at Fourah Bay College at the University of Sierra Leone and other institutions of learning in his country.

“The visit is a home coming and an opportunity to further consolidate the great relationships and share experiences with my dear brother and colleague.”