By: Mama A Touray

During the president’s industrial tour at Sambuya, the general manager of G Farm, Ebrima Sima, highlighted the challenges faced by the farm.

G Farm operates within the poultry industry value chain, with a current capacity of 100,000 layers, 20,000 broilers, and a hatchery capable of producing 400,000 day-old chicks every month.

General Manager Sima, while addressing the challenges encountered by the poultry farm, said, “The main challenge we face has to do with the market, as a local poultry industry we are so constrained because we have lots of import of poultry products into the country both broilers, chicken, and eggs. When they come they are always with competitive price so we can’t sell at those prices because they are coming from multi-billionaire companies that can easily supply them at cheaper rates, whereas our costs will be much higher.”

Sima explained further that raw material is also a challenge as they cannot get most of the raw materials within the country such as corn, soya, amongst other raw materials.

He also told the press that they have a machine that produces 30 tons of feed a day, adding that they also supply the community day-old chicks and feed whereas they can grow chickens for four to five weeks and supply it to small-scale farmers.

He said after the production of the eggs, they sell it to hotels, supermarkets, and the local market as well.

Highlighting the importance of the President’s visit, he said the president came before and that his coming today to see how far they have grown shows that poultry farming is possible in The Gambia to help youth stay in the country.

He said they expect the president to take this visit as an opportunity to create more employment for Gambians as the farm is owned and run by Gambians.

He continued, “We want him to know our challenges and use it as an opportunity to help us expand it beyond what we have, if we can grow it to this level without support, I believe with his support we can have it bigger and support the industry.”

By Kebba Camara

Modou Sinyan, who began constructing structures on a plot in Bijilo — thereby blocking access to neighbouring compounds — has stated his intention to take legal action after the Physical Planning Department demolished his buildings, designating the area as a feeder road.

He said he acquired the land for his wife in 2016, with an Alkalo transfer from the Sukuta Alkalo and a sketch plan from the Physical Planning Department. He maintains that the land is not part of the feeder road and does not impede access to any compound.

“We were among the first to have land here. In fact, they call it Bijilo but this place is under Sukuta and [the] Sukuta Alkalo does not give lands like that.

“Physical Planning came here and demolished the place after working hours. I have all my documents and I will go to court to claim this plot again,” Sinyan said.

Ebrima Bojang, a land dealer who sold land to Mr. Sinyan, stated that the land is well-located and does not interfere with anything.

He mentioned that he has sold many plots in that area and that all the documents are in order. He also advised the complainant to lodge a complaint in court to reclaim the land.

It may be recalled that last month, Kebba Bojang, Eddy Saidykhan, Seedu Manneh, Yaya Jatta, and others filed a petition with the Gambia Physical Planning Authority claiming that Modou Sinyan had obstructed a road in Bijilo by erecting a fence, affecting access to several compounds. The Physical Planning Authority has since removed the fence.

By Alieu Jallow

In the face of life’s severe trials, Jamie Jallow endured the loss of her firstborn, Ebrima Jallow, to a violent thunderstorm in June 2020. The seventeen-year-old had gone to gather saba senegalensis, also known as weda or “kabba,” to help with the family’s finances since his father was ill and his mother was recuperating from a car accident. Tragically, while Ebrima was picking the “kabba” fruit from a tree in the nearby bush, a sudden lightning strike, followed by a severe thunderstorm, hit the tree he had climbed, leading to his untimely death.

Just five months after her husband, who had been battling a prolonged illness, passed away, Jamie was left to care for their four young boys, the youngest being only four years old. These family members were their sole support system.

Three and a half years following the loss of her eldest child and husband, Jamie finds herself reliant on the meagre income from producing charcoal, an occupation that subjects her to harmful conditions.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Jamie, with tears in her eyes, shared the struggles of raising four children alone, especially with her current health not permitting her to continue with charcoal production. She is seeking assistance from the government, individuals, and philanthropic entities, whether in cash or kind.

“As am speaking [to you right now], I have nothing to feed my children. In fact, these days I am not feeling well, and I find it hard to feed them.

“All my kids go to school and [are] expected to pay some money at school plus their daily upkeep, so I am humbly seeking support to help feed my kids and pay for their school fees. Please help me out for I am in desperate need of your help,” she pleaded.

For years, Jamie has struggled to earn a substantial income from her charcoal-burning business, often seen walking to the nearby bush in the early hours to provide for her young children who are unable to contribute due to their age.

Any assistance given to Jamie will significantly improve her and her children’s lives.
Those interested in offering support can contact these numbers 3802391, +220 274 3275, or 266 1211.

By Kebba Camara

At least 29 drivers employed by Riders For Health have voiced their grievances regarding what they perceive as unjust working conditions to the Department of Labour, insisting that management compensate them for “all past allowances, including overtime and risk allowance.”

Momodou Jallow, Chairman of the Ambulance Driver’s Association, has highlighted several challenges faced by them at Riders, leading to a report being filed with Labour.

Mr Jallow, representing the drivers, claimed that Riders have failed to compensate for overtime and public holidays. Typically, he noted, a single driver is assigned to a facility, resulting in an excessive workload. He further said drivers have been denied annual leave for several years, including weekends.

“So, we are demanding the management to pay us all previous allowances including overtime and risk allowance. Some of our drivers have contracted diseases during the job and some died,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the drivers, Mr. Fabakary Ndong, expressed similar concerns, accusing the management of Riders of overworking the staff. Mr Ndong stated that following their formal complaint to the labour department, the management reacted angrily and reassigned some of the staff to rural areas.

“Some of us have stopped reporting to our workplaces because the management is not happy that we went to labour. For me personally, they said they transferred me to Kaur and am not going,” he said.

Many who spoke to this reporter expressed that Riders had taken their staff for a ride, declaring that enough is enough.

In an interview at his office, the Administrative Manager of Riders For Health Ken Bugul Diko, said they have collaborated with drivers for over 22 years. He mentioned that Riders offer better compensation than the government’s pay scale, which attracts many drivers to their service.

He refuted allegations of overworking drivers, explaining that larger facilities are staffed with two drivers on a shift basis, while smaller ones operate with a single driver. For instance, in Brikama, drivers Fabakary Ndong and Lamin Sanneh work in shifts, and Mr Diko expressed uncertainty regarding their grievances.

“Look, we give them leave every year and we have that evidence in our files. We pay them allowances and this includes hardship allowance and overtime.

“Some of them don’t want to go on leave when their leaves are due.  We have that evidence too. To the best of our knowledge, we don’t owe them anything.”

In response to the question of why some drivers were suddenly transferred upcountry, Mr Bugut Mbye explained that it is a routine practice to transfer drivers periodically. He refuted the drivers’ claims that the transfers were being used as a form of punishment.

“Go and check the documents again, we did these transfers way before they went to the labour department. In fact, we want to believe that it is because of these transfers they ran to labour,” Mbye said.

Mr Mbye stated that they hold the labour department in high regard and will comply with any decision it makes. The drivers and riders have scheduled another meeting at the Labour Department on the 29th of this month.

By: Alieu Jallow

During the ongoing Forum on the Participation of NGOs in the 79TH Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights preceding the 79th ordinary session a special session on the topic “Contribution of Civil Society to the Promotion and Protection of Migrants’ and Children’s Rights” denounces several factors, including the limited availability of safe and regular migration pathways.

As development actors working alongside governments to achieve developmental progress, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) renewed their commitment on Saturday to addressing challenges hindering Africa’s educational system. The Gambia is currently hosting the forum on the participation of NGOs in the 79th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

This year’s theme is “Educating an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.”

Despite provisions in several human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the African Youth Charter, and the Maputo Protocol, the continent’s educational system continues to face stark realities such as access to basic education, inadequate educational materials, and resources, among others.

Mrs. Hannah Foster, Chairperson of the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights, underscored the need for collective responsibility in the protection of human rights, stressing the call for everyone to be involved in the process.

The Chairperson advocated for collaboration between civil society and government actors to achieve the collective goal of protecting human rights.

“It is evident that civil society has not rested on its laurels and has continued to play its role in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms to complement the efforts of governments and other partners. Consequently, it must be promoted and protected by everyone, everywhere, every time, and every day,” she emphasized.

Jannet Sallah Njie, Vice-Chair of ACHPR, called for collaboration to overcome the challenges facing the education sector and urged for the building of schools in rural areas.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Justice, Justice Isatou Jallow Sey described education not as a luxury but as a catalyst for sustainable development and societal cohesion that empowers individuals to claim their rights, challenge injustice, and contribute to their community.

“Investing in education is investing in the very fabric of society, paving the way to a brighter future. The role of NGOs in advancing this theme cannot be overstated. NGOs are the lifeblood of civil society, champions in championing the cause of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Africa. They are vanguards of change, courageous voices advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and catalysts for progress,” Justice highlighted.

The next three days will be critical as officials will hold panel discussions on the contribution of civil society to the promotion and protection of migrants’ and children’s rights, panels on the Protection of Human Rights by United Nations Mechanisms and by Regional Judicial or Quasi-Judicial Entities, and the Protection of Human Rights by UN Mechanisms: Impact, Challenges, and Best Practices.

By Mama A. Touray

Mam Sait Jallow, the former CEO of Brikama Area Council, has told the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that the Council’s overhead costs, including salaries and fuel, hindered compliance with the Local Government Act which provides that 40% of the revenue should be used in the council while 60% should be plough back for the development of the area.

During his testimony on sand mining, he revealed that although mining was occurring, the Council did not receive its due benefits. He noted the Geology Department oversaw the mining of sand and gravel, yet the Council saw no financial gain.

Despite engaging with the Government, the Council’s efforts to secure benefits from regional mining activities remained unsuccessful. He highlighted the Mines and Quarry Act’s provision for a 40% Council benefit from mining, which he affirmed was not being fulfilled by the Geology Department.

When asked why they did not adhere to the provision of the Local Government Act which provides that 40% of the revenue should be used in the council while 60% should be plough back for the development of the area, the witness said “The overhead cost such as salaries and other administrative expenses like fuel of the Council made it difficult to adhere to 40% and 60% requirement as contained in the Local Government Act”.

Lead counsel Gomez asked if it was normal to spend one million dalasi on fuel for a month and the witness responded “Yes, it depends on the circumstances”.

The witness was asked to provide the 2018 and 2019 financial statements, income and expenditure for the Brikama Area Council on or before his next appearance before the Commission.

Former CEO Jallow was informed about an audit finding that some of the markets have no toilet facilities and the vendors go to the neighbourhoods to use their toilets which he said is true.

He added that he was part of the committee but was quick to state that the committee was not active and that “Commitment was lacking from the members”.

Jallow agreed with Lead Counsel Gomez that the councillors did not represent their people well. Gomez further told him “It is unimaginable that some toilets do not have toilets when millions are being collected from the people”.

He said there was a means to construct toilets, but it was not constructed.