By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT

Gambian President Adama Barrow announced earlier this week that his government has entered into an agreement with Israeli company International Medical Services to build a €220 Million state of the art hospital in The Gambia. At this stage little is known about the agreement, however, it appears as though this is the type of investment that the country needs. Currently, many Gambians travel abroad for health services. According to IMS President Ovadia Yardena, her group is committed to promoting health tourism in The Gambia and will build a modern 350-bed hospital. Ms. Yardena has a good relationship with the Government of Equatorial Guinea.

On the IMS official website, it highlights their “long-standing activity” with the people of Equatorial Guinea. This led to the appointment of Ms. Yardena as an Honorary Consul of Equatorial Guinea for Israel. Equatorial Guinea is currently the country of refuge for former Dictator Yahya Jammeh and their President is one of the longest-serving Dictators in West Africa having taken power since 1979. This may be irrelevant to the subject matter but the involvement of an Israeli medical company IMS in The Gambia requires significant attention, especially from Gambian health professionals.

Figure 1 – President Barrow and representatives of IMS

Medical tourism is when foreign nationals travel to other countries for cheaper, quality health services. These services range from cosmetic surgeries, low-cost dental services, and organ transplantation. These services are primarily provided by the private sector and payments are mostly out of pocket. Private healthcare providers have little incentive to consider population-wide based services, however, the general public must be served through public health interventions focused on the health needs of the entire population or population groups. Individual healthcare, population health, and public policy decisions must, therefore, be premised on best available evidence to avoid poor and inappropriate interventions. This article aims to highlight the pros and cons of health tourism and the involvement of Israel in this booming industry.

Pros of Medical Tourism

There are significant benefits in favor of medical tourism in The Gambia. Patients traveling to Gambia for treatment helps to clear backlogs in sending countries and eases pressure on the demand for health services in sending countries. New health services will now be available to Gambians that can afford it. Previously such services would have to be accessed abroad.

For receiving countries, it will create a new stream of revenue via private-public partnerships and helps to stimulate trickle-down economics by increasing the inward flow of foreign currency. The delivery of construction services for the €220 Million hospital will have a positive impact on the local economy especially if Gambian businesses can feature prominently in construction projects. Revenue generated can be used to improve public health services for the greater population.

Another advantage of health tourism is the importation of new medical technology. The presence of a state of the art hospital can help to provide best practice benchmarking for local health services. A state of the art medical facility will also attract the latest medical technology to The Gambia which could benefit the University and public health delivery.

A thriving health tourism industry will require experts to manage and run daily operations of the hospital. Although this is a private venture Gambian medical experts working abroad could be lured back home, thereby reversing the brain drain of the country’s medical professionals.

Cons of Medical Tourism

In receiving countries, medical tourism contributes to the creation of dual health delivery system, one for rich foreigners and one for poor locals. It leads also to draining of public sector funds and implementation of policies biased to commercial medicine. There are many risks around health tourism such as no congruent treatment and continuity and patient follow-ups. It opens up the possibility of illicit medical practices like illegal organ trade. There are many advantages and disadvantages but the most serious concern is that medical tourism encourages illicit organ trade in poor countries.

According to the WHO’s Veronica Riemer, “while most countries in the developed world have a legal system of oversight for organ transplantation, the fact remains that demand far outstrips supply. As a result, a black market has arisen in many poorer countries enabling those who can afford to buy organs to exploit those who are desperate enough to sell them. Sometimes, people travel to other countries specifically to buy organs they can’t find at home.”

The Royal Society of Medicine highlights the “many risks accompany the inclusion of organ transplant packages among the medical procedures sold to international patients. These dangers are magnified in countries where kidneys are purchased in underground economies or black markets. In these settings, promoting organ transplant packages to international patients’ risks escalating the number of kidneys purchased from poor citizens. Growing demand for transplants prompts organ brokers to increase the number of kidneys bought from impoverished individuals and sold to international patients.”

According to the Royal Society of Medicine study, in the Philippines, poor organ donors sell their kidneys for as little as $2,000. Proponents of commercial organ transplantation argue that poor individuals should be allowed to profit from selling a kidney. However, several studies indicate that the money poor individuals expect to obtain from selling a kidney goes to debt collectors.

Figure 2 – Typical seller and buyers

Israeli Connection

In 2014 the New York Times published a report headlined “Transplant Brokers in Israel Lure Desperate Kidney Patients to Costa Rica”. The demand for organ transplants is on the rise and this demand will follow hospitals that offer cheap organ transplantation. Many organ transplant experts and journalists highlight that Israel contributes significantly towards the highest receivers of organ transplants. They also have a thriving organ brokerage business with networks across the globe.

According to “a Times analysis of major trafficking cases since 2000 suggests that Israelis have played a disproportionate role. That is in part because of religious strictures regarding death and desecration that have kept deceased donation rates so low that some patients feel they must turn elsewhere. “When someone needs an organ transplant, they’ll do everything in their power,” said Meir Broder, a top legal adviser to Israel’s Ministry of Health.”

In South Africa, the Guardian reports that “Netcare, which also runs hospitals in Britain, took part in an international scam that allegedly saw poor Brazilians and Romanians paid $6,000 (£3,840) for their kidneys to be transplanted to wealthy Israelis.” It’s reported that kidneys “were initially sourced from Israeli citizens, but later Romanian and Brazilian citizens were recruited as their kidneys were obtainable at much lower cost than those of the Israeli suppliers.” This took place in “South Africa’s biggest private hospital group” which admitted to “receiving R3.8m (£342,000) from an illegal organ trafficking scam that included the removal of kidneys from five children.”

Conclusion

Although there is no reason to assume that IMS has or will conduct organ transplantation in The Gambia, significant evidence indicates a heavy Israeli presence in the illegal organ trade. The Gambia has a youthful population and an unemployment problem. This makes them an easy target for organ hunters who usually target young healthy people. It’s not uncommon to read of migrants exploited for their organs. According to the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, “selling purchased organs to medical tourists, organ transplant facilities and transplant procedures should be excluded from medical tourism initiatives. Including organ transplants among the procedures marketed to international patients risks undermining health equity and reducing the number of citizens who have access to organ transplantation.” Countries like Israel that conduct organ transplant have strict rules incorporated in their Organ Transplant Act. This helps to regularise the activities of organ transplant and deters illegal black market activities.

Figure 3 – Kidney Donors in Philippines

Could it be that the Government, Health and Tourism Ministry, in particular, are not aware of the pros and cons of health tourism? A thorough review of the impact could help the executive make an informed decision for The Gambian people. Health tourism should not be promoted to the disadvantage of public health services. It is possible to strike a balance, however, the dangers of exploitation and the health impact it can have on poor people who donate their organs due to financial constraints can be significant and poses a moral and ethical problem.

Most countries that practice organ transplantation only permit altruistic organ donations and ban commercial donations. This often leads to a black market prompting experts to recommend legislating and regulating commercial organ donations to eliminate the black market. What is certain is that the Gambia will need the right legislation and vigilant monitoring if organ transplantation will be permitted. For The Gambia to make this public-private venture a success, commercial organ transplantation should be excluded from health tourism packages. The government will also need to designate revenue generated from this venture toward improving the delivery of public health services.

Even with rigorous monitoring and the right legislation, there are concerns raised by the Guardian that Israeli pathologists harvested organs without consent. This does not give confidence that Israeli Investors will play by the rules. After all, a €220 Million investment will be expected to generate significant profit.

In one of the most anticipated speeches of his political career amidst fellow world leaders and a public tuned-in-wait, the Gambian leader delivered a flawless masterclass to the UN General Assembly in laying out his government’s foreign policy priorities. Sandwiched between the address by the president of Afghanistan and that of Bolivia respectively, President Barrow took to the stage after the clock had struck midnight Banjul time in his maiden address on the supranational stage of international politics. The speech started slow, understandably nerves, perhaps, but then got better & better the more he went on.

Approaching his first UNGA, I was expecting a rather restraint speech from the president, but no, he went at it quite strongly, albeit, in a measured tone portraying his vision for a more benign world. Well done to him representing the Gambian people in that speech as reflected in the reactions from the nations in audience. And in breaking with the past, a pat on the back to State House media mogul, A.B Sissoho and senior civil servants at the Foreign Ministry also for lining the much-needed transformation from a confrontational, to a more cooperative diplomatic foreign policy. But the day belong to the President. He has acquainted himself well amid the glare of worldwide press, and the Gambian people will have been proud for the possibilities this new Gambia represents.

However, major challenges remain as he has perfectly alluded to in that speech. The President mentioned the energy crisis facing our region, in which the Gambia is faring worst, aha NAWEC. He lamented lack of jobs for the youths, yet his government is still to come up with large-scale job creating measures. He also cries domestic industry in the same breath his Interior Minister, Mai fatty, is conniving to throw away I.D card and Passport production to a foreign firm in SEMLEX – when Gambian firms can do an even better job, at a cheaper cost to the taxpayer. The price of rice is still unaffordable for the average Gambian salary which I hope the administration will address soonest.

The President’s comment on the Middle East peace process will certainly makes headlines around the world. And if twitter feeds are anything to go by, appreciations are pouring in from I.O.C member countries and Muslims around the world. In all honesty, his was one of the best speeches so far calling on the world’s conscience to do more for the poor. He challenged his fellow leaders to give diplomacy a chance in the face of complex challenges facing mankind. And for the wealthier global north to do its fair share of lifting for a balanced global economy, for a fairer, inclusive, and for a more just world.

Gibril Saine   Twitter: @gibbysaine

The former National Assembly Member NAM for Foni Jarrol, Borry Colley has said that he was dismissed as National Assembly member (NAM) by the former President Yahya Jammeh.

The former Foni Jarrol NAM said he only served two terms but could not do a third term because he was expelled from the then ruling APRC Party by the former President which automatically made him lose his seat at the National Assembly.

Colley was later appointed by the former President Jammeh to served under him as the Deputy Chief of Protocol at the Office of the President.

He was summoned to the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former president and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

The former diplomat was summoned in respect to the payment of €100, 000 Euros from the Vision 2016 Account at the Central Bank of The Gambia. He said he was directed by the former president to the Central Bank. He confirmed his signature and a copy of his identity card attached to a memo which allowed him to receive the said amount.

“I received the money and handed it over to the former president himself,” Borry Colley said.

He answered in the negative when the Counsel for the Commission, Amie Bensouda asked whether any witnesses were present at the time of handing the money to the former president.

“How do we know you gave the money to the former president,” Lawyer Bensouda asked.

“Between me and God I gave the money to him. That is why I swore on the Qur’an,” Colley responded.

Colley earlier on said he has briefly served as deputy ambassador to the Republic of Guinea Bissau.

Meanwhile, Yankuba Colley, the Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council KMC was supposed to testify before the commission but was not present due to lack of communication.

by Alieu Ceesay

The president of Real De Banjul Football Club has in the strongest terms refuted claims made by some ‘football stakeholders’ that The Gambia Football Federation has spent D1M on the Banjul based and Gambia’s most successful club CAF Champions League Campaign in 2015 whilst refusing to support another Gambia League Champions.

Willy Abraham reacted: “The facts are Real de Banjul as League Champions represented The Gambia in the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds against BYC FC of Liberia in 2015.

The first leg (CL39) was held in Banjul hosted by Real de Banjul. During this period CAF has suspended football matches in Liberia due to the outbreak of Ebola in the country thus BYC was to find an alternative venue for the return leg (CL40).

BYC and CAF communicated to Real de Banjul and the GFF that the match shall take place in Bamako first and later changed the venue to Abidjan which was also cancelled as both venues could not be secured.

In both instances Real de Banjul made arrangements to travel by booking for air tickets, paying deposits for hotels, camping and other match related cost. CAF through the GFF appealed to Real de Banjul to host BYC FC again in Banjul promising to refund our club the extra expenditure incurred due to the two cancellations.”

Clarifying further, the Real De Banjul boss said Real De Banjul duly complied with the CAF request and the return leg (CL40) was played in Banjul and a claim formally sent to CAF accordingly. He said Real De Banjul defeated BYC FC to proceed to the second round of the CAF Champions League and played Entente Sportive de Setif of Algeria.

“Due to delay in receiving the agreed refund from CAF, Real de Banjul asked the GFF to partly finance the cost of the air tickets for our delegation to Algeria. For the records, we would like to categorically state that CAF have paid Real de Banjul and the GFF duly refunded.”

Some stakeholders on Sunday convened a press conference to expressed their dissatisfaction with the way football is being administered by Lamin Kaba Bajo led executive.

The stakeholders as they called themselves alleged the executive of financial mismanagement and poor performance of the Scorpions. The GFF is yet respond.

Describing them as ”so-called stakeholders who do not represent GFF member clubs, Regional Football Associations or Allied Associations”, the unhappy Willy Abraham, said such groups cannot tarnish the good image of Real de Banjul a Club which has been at the forefront of Football Development in the Gambia for over fifty decades.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Mr Amadou Colley has said that the former President Yahya Jammeh who ruled the country with an iron fist for the past 22 years does  not reason like normal human being.

Governor Colley made these revelations at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

“We were dealing with a person who does not reason like normal human beings,” Former Governor Amadou Colley said.

Governor Colley who was summoned in respect of the opening of accounts by the Office of the former President at the Central Bank has admitted that the process should have been done by the Ministry of Finance and not the other way round. He confirmed the opening of the Sand Mining Account, the International Gateway Account and Special Project Vision 2016 Account all of which the former president was the sole signatory.

He further confirmed withdrawals made from these accounts by the former Secretary General Sabally, former Military General Saul Badjie, one Lt. General Nuha William Jammeh and Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol at the Office of the former President without any documentation.

“How could you allowed soldiers to withdraw $30 Million US Dollars without any signature of the signatory to the account,” Counsel Amie Bensouda asked.

Colley responded that he was not working in a normal situation under the former President Yahya Jammeh.

“I have not meet the president for 3 years,” Colley told the commission. “How would you know he was the one who authorized the withdrawals without his signatures,” Bensouda asked.

The former Central Bank Governor then explained the difficulties he encountered to an extent he wanted to resign but could not as a result of fear. He discussed it with the former Ministers of Finance Mambury Njie, Kebba Touray and Abdou Colley respectively. He added that they too lamented on their frustrations to him.

When the Chairman of the Commission, Surahata Janneh asked what were his fear to resign which he spoke of possible detention or disappearance and safety of his family.

Colley was further quizzed by Lawyer Bensouda about the withdrawals and payments made to soldiers at the Office of the former President.

Colley gave instances where protocol officers and soldiers from the Office of the former President would come to the Central Bank with information that they were directed by the former president to make withdrawals. He said that was the practice before he became the Governor. He said he could not provide evidence from the records.

“This is a fact finding commission and will not accept anything but facts,” Bensouda asserted.

The former Central Bank Governor made scores of revelations about the SMS text messages which he received from General Saul Badjie to withdraw monies under the directives of the former president. He also spoke about the telephone calls he received from Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General to make payments of millions without proper documentation. He said he made the payments with the believed that the proper documentation would be provided later.

Counsel Bensouda asked him about the policy guidelines of the Central Bank to open government accounts.

“There was no policy. I have never seen any policy document,” Former Governor Colley asserted.

He spoke about the Constitution, Central Bank Statutory and Old Banking Manual were used as guides.

Colley admitted that the Accountant General was the authority to request the opening of the government accounts but the proper procedure was not followed in this particular case. He further admitted that the opening of accounts by the Office of the former President was not compliance with the Central Bank Act. He agreed it was not normal.

“We were dealing with a situation at the Central Bank that was not normal,” he disclosed.

Colley earlier said he became Central Bank Governor from 2010 to 2017. He explained the functions of his office as the highest decision making body by chairing board of directors meetings and monetary affairs of country among others. His main function was to ensure financial stability.

Meanwhile, two former Central Bank Deputy Governors in the names of Basiru Njie and Oumie Savage Samba testified before the commission.

Njie who was deputy governor 1 said he spent 25 years at the Central Bank, saying his primary responsibility as deputy governor was to deputised for the governor as well as make sure there is financial stability.

Mrs Samba said she does not know any law that allowed the president to be a signatory to accounts. She spoke about the trying times she encountered at the Central Bank, adding that she was helpless.

“Sometimes I used to blame myself, with all my university education I was still sitting there helpless,” Former Deputy Governor Samba s aid.

She lamented about her helpless situation under the past regime saying she has been in the banking industry since 1984. She spoke about the soldiers and other individuals from office of the former president who used to withdraw cash. She said it was pathetic.

New York, 18 September 2017   
 
President Adama Barrow said The Gambia’s support to Morocco is to promote African solidarity and to improve relations with The Gambia. He made these remarks during a courtesy call by the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, an envoy of His Majesty, King
Muhammad IV, while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.   
 
President Barrow recognized the Moroccan support during the political impasse in The Gambia, which he said was an African problem, addressed using an African solution.  He told the diplomat that The Gambia has turned a new page in its history to bring in new laws that would promote 
equality and justice. Their discussion also emphasized the importance of security in achieving other development goals.  
 
The Gambian leader congratulated the Moroccan Foreign Minister for his appointment and extended his gratitude to the King of Morocco for building a new office complex for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Gambia, contributing to the infrastructural development of the country.  He called on Morocco to invest in other areas and concluded that through integration they could understand their mutual concerns and work together to further strengthen their cooperation. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita thanked President Barrow for the support The Gambia accorded to Morocco in ECOWAS and at other regional and international forums. He also spoke of the deeply rooted relations between the two countries, saying they wish to take it to a higher level at a time when The Gambia is entering a new phase in its political life. 
 
He promised to expand technical and economic cooperation between Morocco and The Gambia. Minister Bourita informed President Barrow that Morocco would continue to provide support and will increase scholarships from its current figure of 40 to 70 in 2018.   
 
The Gambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Honourable Ousainou Darboe said in an interview that the bilateral and multilateral cooperation span various fields.  Minister Darbo elaborated on how Morocco could support the development process currently ongoing in The Gambia particularly 
security reforms, scholarships for training of diplomats and investment opportunities for Moroccan businesses. He emphasised that through robust investments The Gambia could reduce its dependence on aid. Mr. Darboe also revealed that President Barrow will visit the Kingdom of Morocco to further cement ties between the two countries. 
 
End 

Mrs Sira Wally Ndow Njie, former Minister of Petroleum has said that she was helpless towards directives given to her by former President Yahya Jammeh.

The former Petroleum Minister made these revelations at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

She was summoned in respect to the withdrawals of payments from the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Accounts at the Guaranty Trust Bank.

“I was very helpless,” Former Minister Sira Wally Ndow Njie said.

She added:”I wish I could have said no to him. I have gone through painful situation. Imagine what would happen if I had said no?”

Mrs Ndow Njie who was a co signatory to the GNPC Account at the Guaranty Trust Bank with the former president said she became Minister of Petroleum in 2015. She claimed the former president has instructed her to become a signatory to the account.

She admitted that ministers were not suppose to be signatories to accounts but asked him to channeled it through the Central Bank.

“I was not comfortable so I took a photo of the form before signing it,” she disclosed.

She alleged the former President directed her to signed because he was the minister of petroleum while she was a deputy minister at that time.

There were several withdrawals part of which was $500, 000 US Dollars, 358, 000 US Dollars and 297, 000 US Dollars among others. Some of the money she said was received by Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol.

The transaction accounts were admitted and marked as exhibits.

The former Petroleum Minister said she was only aware of the US dollar Account and not the Dalasi account. She mentioned another account at the FIB Bank. But stressed that she never came across the Dalasi Accounts.

When asked by Amie Bensouda, Counsel for the Commission the reason for opening these accounts she said the former president told her that it was for government projects.

She also claimed that some of the withdrawals were made in her absence.

“I made several attempts to not be a signatory but it all failed,” she added.

Mrs Ndow Njie said while she was away many of the transactions were done by Sana Jarju, former Chief of Protocol at the Office of the President.

Meanwhile, the former Petroleum Minister was asked to leave but was told she would be recalled whenever she is needed.

By Omar Wally

Jaliba Kuyateh, one of Gambia’s greatest musicians couldn’t perform hajj this year .The king of Kora left The Gambia for Germany in August for his European tour after which he was to proceed to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Jaliba said his flight from Germany to Saudi Arabia was schedule for August 27, but a day before his departure, Germany closed their airport for Hajj flights.

” I wanted to go through Egypt but I know is not ordained by God because when I was leaving, I have everything in tact.”

Jaliba: I have intended to perform Hajj more than five times but its not been possible for now. “ By the grace of God I will perform the Hajj and will do for my late parents too.

They delayed and derailed and fooled Jawara only to destroy him! They exalted him like a god and claimed a Gambia without Jawara was inconceivable. In the end a humble and decent man was trapped in deception such that he could not salvage his people! Then they abandoned him.

It is these same people in the name of party and ‘patriotism’ who transformed a young lieutenant with probably good intentions on July 22 into a monster 22 yeas later. In the end he has to exile himself from his country of birth, abandoned! Where are those gathering at his solidarity marches and festivals? Many of them are around you now! Today some of them are exposing him at the commission.

This time is your turn! Do not seek for praise singers and those who would call you “No Faulter” as they called Jawara. Listen to diverse and divergent and even unpleasant and dissenting voices for your own good and legacy and for the good of the country.

Do not let these sycophants make you believe what you are not. Do not let them make you do what is not right. Do not let them paint you in the colour they wish. Do not let them separate you from the true interests and concerns and aspirations of your people, The Gambians!

Insist on inclusion and accountability and performance. Free yourself from partisan and any other sectarian considerations to which these sycophants would want to confine you. Let them not put you in a box but equally seek independent voices and perspectives to get a good grasp of issues for the good of The Gambia!

Remember! Just like Jawara and Jammeh the day of reckoning shall come.

I love you and wish you success for that is my success too!

God Bless The Gambia.

Madi Jobarteh

By Yunus S Saliu

In spite of arguments that the political impasse hampered the last 2016/2017 winter tourism season in destination Gambia, some stakeholders in the industry still insist that inadequate marketing of the destination culminated to the decline of the arrival of tourists to the country.

Speaking to The Fatu Network, some of the stakeholders said they will continue to blame the authorities for the decrease because they are doing just little or nothing, especially this year, to improve on their past record when it comes to the number of tourists arriving in the country.

For now, “there is no adequate preparation for the season nobody heard anything from the Ministry itself or from the Gambia Tourism Board about the season. All we hear is their endless travels around the world.

According to them, when the season is around the corner just like now, in the middle of September, there is always a sign of good season as indirect information about the number of flight to the destination will be circulating around, with that “it gives hope for a good season.”

Visiting the tourist’s taxi driver park at the Senegambia, the heart of the tourism development area, it was a mix-opinion. The drivers lamented on the poor marketing of the destination which they said is one of the reasons that caused reduction in the number of tourists.

The decline in the number of tourist arrival is a challenge to the tourist’s drivers who referred to themselves as tourism ambassador since they are the people who take tourists around when they arrive the country and as well bid them goodbye when they leave the country.

Waiting for the season to kick off soonest, one of the tourist drivers’ said expectations are still high.

Among their appeals to the government especially the Gambia Tourism Board, is to further intensify marketing the destination for pluralism of tourists to the destination.

By Omar Wally

BLEEDING BLADE a new Gambian feature film on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) written, produced and distributed by Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu, will premiere in The Gambia on September 30, 2017.

The film was shot at Gambia College Brikama Campus, Joboro Attaya Cafe and Tintinto directed by Bakary Sonko.

The film is about a young Gambian girl Sir (played by Ma Awa Barry) who sacrifice against FGM in her community.

The event will be held at the headquarters of GAMCOTRAP the Gambia’s leading civil society organization advocating for an end to FGM. It will then go on a screening tour across all communities in and out of the country where FGM is of concern.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Prince Sankanu, the producer said he is redirecting the narrative because professional filmmakers have been missing in the FGM debates.

“We have seen countless documentaries and reports about FGM activities but we are yet to see professional cinematic sensitization work on the fight against FGM from the perspectives of the affected young women generation.”

Sankanu said FGM will add value to the on-going sensitization campaign on the relevance of anti-FGM as the practice is now underground. “My film is about generic women empowerment.”

Sankanu, who is inspired by Sembene Ousmane, the father of African cinema MOODALE (2004) film on FGM, revealed that he set himself a target of seeing at least 10 Gambian films made during the course of 2017 as part of his new wave of Gambia filmmaking.

Sankanu: During the reception I organized the Role of Filmmakers in New Gambia at the Rock Garden Apartments in Kerr Serring on February 24, 2017. “I set myself a target of having 10 new Gambia films ready for the 3rd edition of our premier annual Cinekambiya International Film Festival (CIFF) between December 25 & 30,  2017.”

I am humbled that apart from the five that I directly produced, other comrades of the New Gambia cinema have pushed the number above the benchmark of 10 features Sankanu noted.

He said the annual PAN AFRICAN SCREENS AWARD component of the film festival will take place on the December 30 to recognize excellence in filmmaking

By Yunus S Saliu

One of the places in Greater Banjul Area where people cannot access the road freely to their houses when it rain is Tallinding Kunjang and it is also a place where people live in midst of a lot of garbage.

To be explicit, Tallinding Kunjang has only two constructed sub-roads which are Churchill Town to Tallinding Police Station, School Road and Churchill Town to Buffer Zone Road.

In spite of the other roads, Tallinding Kunjang has one road which came direct from the highway of the Tallinding Market and from that Highway junction the road goes straight to the river known as bolong.

The deplorable condition of this road from the highway down to the Farokono riverside in Tallinding Kunjang presently makes pedestrians wobbling in the road when going in and out of the streets. This long road full of mud left and right, potholes and even pits in the middle has no alternative road that the residents of Tallinding Kunjang particularly those at the Farokono can use.

Commercial vehicles – taxis or vans plying the route can hardly travel about 10 electricity poles before their wheels start sinking in the mud.

This road replete with mud and potholes is not only dangerous for the taxis or private vehicles at its present situation but to the residents especially children of 10-years-old and under.

Parents cannot send these children to the nearest kiosk or shop to buy their immediate needs because there is tendency of them sinking in the mud one way or another.

A visit by Fatunetwork to this road and environment has revealed the famous Tallinding Kunjang especially the Farokono side as an eyesore that residents there are living the lives of people in the slum. The residents lamented on the poor condition of this road which was last leveled with red sand and gravel in 2014.

Expressing concern on the condition of the road and the environment is a young woman named Awa Dem as she almost lost her five years old son in the mud. She was there on a visit and hence there was no taxi to go down the road she decided to walk with her little son, her foot slipped and the young lad got inside the mud but quickly saved by bystanders.

Demba, a resident of this area said when it rains the road is dangerous for vehicle driving because no driver can drive smoothly talk less of safely.

He added that the erosion from the main highway which supposed to go direct to ‘bolong’ cannot because there is no drainage or gutter in both side of the road and the houses are also very close to the road.

Modou Cham, in his ordeal, explained that each time a resident comes back from work in the evening they cannot go out till the following morning to avoid falling in the mud.

He disclosed that taxi driver who may want to drive passengers on a town-trip from the highway, normally charge D100 compared to the normal fare of D7.

People in this area are calling for support both financial and in kind to help them remedy the condition of both the road and the environment.