Italy today donated 40 pickup trucks to The Gambia – as the two nations ponder fresh endeavors to stem the problem of irregular migration.

The Italian government is seeking the support of The Gambia in dealing with a problem that has seen the country take in hundreds of thousands of migrants including Gambians over many years.

The vehicles are donated to the Gambia Immigration Department to boost the department’s border
security and migration management efforts.

And at a handover ceremony held yesterday at the GID Irregular Migration Monitoring Centre in Tanji, Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty presiding over the event said the development was in sync with the vision of President Adama Barrow. Fatty stated that, “The vision of the President is a Gambia that is strong; a Gambia that is secure; a Gambia that is prosperous; a Gambia where her citizens can build a strong and sustainable future; and a compassionate one where every citizens can find her/his place.”

And he added: “Beyond that, His Excellency believes in fostering greater collaboration between The Gambia and nations. Our special relationship with Italy is one of those that this government will nurture and will continue to consolidate.

“We believe that issues that confront nations generally are shared obligations that every nation must
contribute in its solution. Migration is just one issue. Irregular migration is one of international
concern and The Gambia has a role to play in its solution. That is why today is very significant. It is
significant because it demonstrates the commitment of two nations towards resolving this imbroglio.” Italy has said it can no longer be expected to deal single-handedly with the vast number of asylum seekers, most of them economic migrants, streaming across the Mediterranean.
And Minister Fatty who said The Gambia was ready to work with Italy on the issue said a solution can be found.

He said: “We have a vested interest in ensuring that conditions that are conducive for keeping our
nationals are evolved. The Italians and the Europeans have an interest in ensuring that their borders
are safe and people who travel to their country go there through the legal route. Both sides have the
moral and the legal obligation to ensure lives are protected – and that people who embark on these
perilous journeys are protected.

“The concern of the President is the lives that are lost along the way. This government wants to do
something about it. The evidence of our seriousness is that we are now working to create a migration policy. It has never happened in this country. When President Barrow was ushered in by the Gambian people, the Gambia had no migration policy.

The commitment of this government is reflected through the validation of a migration profile. Consultations are ongoing among all stakeholders both our local institutions and international partners such as IOM and EU in order to build a very strong migration policy. That is the first towards ending an endemic challenge. The consultation will be expansive and thorough.

We will come with a solution. “The President has made it clear to a visiting European delegation that for migration to be stalled, the economy has to grow and we inherited a bankrupt economy. The volume of our seriousness must match the compassionate understanding of our partners.”

Fajara, 8 August 2017

The new Gambian government continues to build its diplomatic relations
globally. President Adama Barrow today received letters of credence from the new ambassadors of
Turkey, the United Kingdom and Guinea Bissau.

President Barrow told all three envoys that The Gambia was open to all nations, and it sought
friendship and cordial relations with all countries. He said he expected The Gambia’s relations with
other nations to enhance cooperation for the socio-economic development of The Gambia and those
countries.

Presenting his credentials, Ambassador Ismail Sefa Yuceer of Turkey assured President Barrow that
during his tenure of service in The Gambia, Turkey would work with the Gambian authorities to
strengthen ties in education, health, fisheries and mechanised agriculture, while also looking at
investment in trade, energy and telecommunication.

Ambassador Yuceer has been a career diplomat since 1991 and has served diplomatic assignments in various countries. He arrived in the Gambia in November 2016 but the presentation of his credentials was delayed because of the political impasse in The Gambia early this year. His diplomatic tour of duty as Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia will be for two years.
Britain’s new diplomatic envoy to The Gambia, Ambassador Sharon Wardle, also presented her
credentials to President Barrow today.

Ambassador Wardle intends to build on the long-standing relationship between The Gambia and the
United Kingdom. She commended President Barrow and his team for their leadership, noting that
they had set an example of democracy worthy of emulation. She said The Gambia and the United
Kingdom enjoyed a long history of association, which would continue to flourish. Speaking with
reporters after her audience with the President, the Ambassador said Gambians could expect to see a boost in tourism from the UK, a sector that had always been strong, given the large number of
tourists who come to The Gambia from Britain. The tourism sector is expected to create jobs for the
youth.

Ambassador Wardle spoke of the UK’s continued support to The Gambia in higher education with
the Chevening scholarships. Other areas she highlighted for cooperation were justice, capacity
building for the Gambian legislature and women’s empowerment through the UK Department for
International Development (DFID).

The Gambia’s long-standing cordial relationship with the UK was disrupted when the former
Jammeh regime withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth in October 2013. Ambassador
Wardle assured President Barrow that the UK was fully supportive of The Gambia’s return to the
Commonwealth, and she confirmed that the process to make this happen was underway at the
Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Ambassador Wardle joined the Foreign and Commonwealth office in 1985, and has had diplomatic
assignments in Moscow, Beirut, Riyadh and Yemen, serving in various capacities.

The third and final credentials ceremony of the day was the presentation of letters of credence by
Ambassador Mailo Cassama of Guinea Bissau.The new envoy reiterated the historic ties between
Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, dating all the way back to the Kaabu Empire. He said he intended to nurture the continued ties between the two countries during his diplomatic tour of duty in Banjul.
Ambassador Cassama also spoke of the two countries’ membership in sub-regional and regional
bodies. He expressed confidence in a strengthening of bilateral relations in defense and security,
immigration, tourism and culture. He also said that the two countries could benefit from sharing
experience in cashew farming.

Ambassador Cassama started his career as a banker in 1982, rising to become a financial
administrator. He became Adviser to the Guinea Bissau President in 2013, and a year later moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before his appointment as Ambassador.

Several members of the Gambian Cabinet were present at the credentials presentations this morning. They were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Ousainou Darboe; Interior Minister Ahmad Mai Fatty; Trade, Industry and Employment Minister Isatou Touray; Petroleum and Energy, Minister Fafa Sanyang; and Fisheries and Water Resources Minister James Gomez. Other senior officials were Secretary to Cabinet Isatou Auber-Faal; and Permanent Secretaries Njogu Saeer Bah and Ebrima Ceesay from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, and the Office of the President, respectively.

It’s been months since your government through the minister for the Interior, Mr Mai Ahmad Fatty, announced the discontinuation of the issuance of the national documents, ID Cards and Passports. This has had some serious consequences on many folks in this country. For instance, one goes to a bank and is unable to withdraw any money because the ID card is expired. Or, one goes to a hospital and cannot enjoy the privilege of being a Gambian so one has to pay the fee foreigners are supposed to pay. There are many others to this effect.

Mr President, the public does not really know the reason[s] behind the discontinuation of the issuance of the national documents. The saying that many non Gambians were given these documents, or that some people have the ability to produce fake ID cards is not reason enough to stop issuing them to genuine Gambians. Why can’t the government find a way to produce ID cards which cannot be forged? Why can’t there be a mark which will differentiate between the fake and genuine one? There has to be way of doing it which doesn’t include denying genuine Gambians their right to obtain the national documents.

It is also said that the previous government signed an agreement with a foreign company for the issuing of biometric ID cards and biometric passports. It is said that in this contract, the government of the Gambia gains only D500 out of the D3000+ that passport applicants pay. I do not know whether this is true or not, but if it is, then it is ridiculous and that the government should terminate it forthwith. Certainly, there are Gambians who have the expertise to produce such documents. There is no reason why we should allow a foreign company to take away our hard earned money when our people can do it and the money remain in our country.

While we are talking about the national identity card, I want to suggest that we combine the ID card, the voter’s card and social security number in one. Let us find a way of making all these into one card. This has a lot of benefits for the country and will solve many problems for us.

Besides, the issue if the ID card expiring after five years should be revisited. Why don’t we have an ID which does not expire, or, at least let it last for a period if ten years. This will reduce the burden on ordinary citizens to be running around looking for ID cards every now and then.

The national documents are too important to be discontinued for this long. Find a way of surmounting this problem as soon as possible.

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

The Minister of Women Affairs and Overseer of the Office of the Vice President, Madame Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has said that truth is a bitter pill that is taken to get well from one’s sickness.

Madame Jallow Tambajang made these statements in a keynote address at the consultations on transitional justice in The Gambia held at the Paradise Suites, Kololi.

“The truth, they say is a bitter pill. But if one is sick and must take a bitter pill to get well, then one must be ready to take the pill,” Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang said.

The Overseer of the Office of the Vice President and Minister Of Women Affairs who was delivering the keynote address at the request of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies ACDHRS, explained that development cannot be achieved without peace so is justice and reconciliation without the truth.

Minister Jallow Tambajang said there might be challenges in the implementation of the TRRC, but such challenges she said can be overcome by commitment and dedication to the search for justice and accountability.

She reiterated the government’s commitment to the rule of law, democracy and human rights which are very important pillars for national development. She encouraged stakeholders to be engaged in the process as the search for justice and accountability is not the responsibility of the government alone.

The Chairman of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies ACDHRS, Mr. Andrew Chigovera in his welcome remark highlighted the importance of engaging women in the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations process.

“There can be no genuine reconciliation without truth,” Mr. Andrew Chigovera added.

The ACDHRS Chairman said The Gambia has won global attention in January when it peacefully resolved the political crisis that arose following the December, 2016 Presidential elections.

“The truth must be told and heard. It may not be pleasant but it is part of the healing process,” he asserted.

ACDHRS Chairman said there can be no development without peace. No peace without justice and no justice and reconciliation without the truth. He assured the Centre and its partners willingness to collaborate when the need arise. He emphasized that the outcome and recommendations must be implemented with support from donor partners.

Tabu Sarr spoke on behalf of Gender Action Team GAT on the role of women in the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations process in The Gambia.

As a network of civil society organization, she said they are closer to the grassroots as they are major actors with the required capacity to reach diverse areas such as, civic education, democracy, human rights, peace and conflict among other things.

The forum was organized by the ACDHRS and partners.

Members of the Gambia Armed Forces have embarked on a training session to broaden the intellectual competence of army officers on contemporary security, social, political and economic issues of society at the Joint Officers’ Mess in Kotu.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Masanneh Kinteh in his opening statement said that the session is meant to build capacity of troops to ensure that they effectively and efficiently perform their constitutional mandate and other assigned roles in support of national defense policy objectives which is a given top priority.

“Training is an essential ingredient and an indispensable tool in our drive to re-professionalize the Armed Forces,” Lt. General Masanneh Kinteh said.

Speaking at the opening, the Minister of Women’s Affairs and Overseer of the Office of the Vice President, Aja Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang commended the Armed Forces for demonstrating a high sense of responsibility during the political impasse and also recently disassociating itself from the July 22nd Coup, adding that their cooperation with ECOMIG Forces is a clear demonstration of their appreciation for new Gambia which will bring big changes in their welfare.

Mrs. Jallow Tambajang, further stated that the government values its citizens in uniform and very much clear with the belief that the future and lasting security of our beloved country lies in the hands of no other forces than her own sons and daughters.

“The military profession is a very noble profession, even God has counted them amongst the type of people whose eyes will not be burnt in the hereafter,” Mrs. Jallow Tambajang asserted.

“If you execute your constitutional duties honestly within your limits, you will not only reap the fruit of your labour in this world but also in heaven,” she added.

The Women Affairs Minister and Overseer of the Office of the Vice President urged the men and women in uniform who are in command position and in the various corps of the military ‘Think Tank’ to appreciate their roles in democracy.

Meanwhile, the ceremony was attended by the military high command, Inspector General of Police and SIS Director General among others.

Credible sources have informed The Fatu Network that Momodou Badjie former managing director of The Gambia National Petroleum Corporation has been deployed to the Asset Management and Recovery Corporation (AMRC) as financial director with immediate effect. Mr. Badjie is replaced by Mambury Njie whose appointment takes effective today, August 7, 2017.

Mambury Njie last served as finance minister during the Jammeh administration, he was later arrested and detained at the former national intelligence agency for a few months before he fled the country.

Mambury Njie has been appointed new managing director of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) with immediate effect, according to official sources.

Mr Njie served in the former regime in various posts such as: permanent secretary of the Office of the President; secretary general and head of the civil service; minister of planning and industrial development; minister of finance and economic affairs overseeing the Ministry of Energy; minister of foreign affairs; minister of higher education; chairman of Skye Bank Gambia; Gambian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and Taiwan; ambassador-at-large and advisor on economic and energy.

Mr Njie was removed from the previous government for opposing the execution of nine inmates in August 2012 by former President Yahya Jammeh.

Source: Point Newspaper

Arguably, the long-suffering Gambia football fans are the most unfairly treated group of loyal supporters one is likely to encounter anywhere in Africa. Despite decades of investment and passionate following putting up time & money as the Scorpions fan-base around the world – Gambians have been let down by the very people put in charge to run football affairs in the country. Without a doubt, football is the country’s favourite pass time, our national sport, yet riddled with failures on the international stage. To compound frustrations and anger of a fan-base hungry for success – we’ve tried to measure the sporting facilities Kabba Bajo is running his mouth all over of. Worryingly, our reviews found the facilities to be of poor-quality and poorly-financed projects with regards to all the millions spent.

Just the other day, Bajo was quoted by the Press saying ‘’… well government never put much into football, we had to depend on ourselves’’. Excuse me, but how do you think FIFA subventions amounting to millions of dalasi every single year came by? Plus the fact that GFF submit projects for funding on an entirely separate pot of cash from the World Football body. With extra resources from African Football bodies, explain to the Gambian people why the heck you expect more money from tax payers to fund your failures. Looking at the millions pouring in from FIFA, CAF and other bodies, how difficult can it be to build quality stadiums around the country, Football Academies of excellence in every Governorship, help rebuild school playgrounds as factories of talent? In recent weeks, it has come to notice that the level of mismanagement and waste undergone at this abysmal failure known as Gambia Football Federation may be impossible to quantify, or recover. But that should not stop the Ministry of Sports from conducting probe into the status of all the millions assigned to Gambian football over the years. A new chapter has dawned in the country’s history, and with it an era of scrutiny.

Watching his mannerisms and comments in recent weeks, it became obvious the man in charge of Gambian football is a bully, a manipulative conman willing to take covert operations against anyone dare criticise or challenged him on the poor direction and misplaced priorities of Football House. This manifestation showed itself when the Minister of Sports, Hon Gomez express concern at the obscene amount of money ascribed to repairs and the exorbitant fees of building projects not measuring to scratch. I say well done to the Sports Minister recognising the stakes therein and calling out failures for what it is. My message to GFF is to look at FIFA sponsored projects in Senegal, and Ivory Coast, and Ghana built to high standards on par with football academies in Europe. Gambian football fans and the aspiring youngsters coming through the ranks continue to be short-changed, quite frankly cheated by men in suits too busy enriching themselves through dodgy deals & false accounting. The Ministry of Sports must begin investigations in earnest scrutinising financial records over the many years. This Gambian thing of ‘’Mbokka Mbokka’’ quote-on-quote ‘’Maslaa’’ has got to stop if real progress if what we desire. Folks ‘’Maslaa Bi Deffa Doii’’. We got to stop dragging corruption and failures under the carpet and call it for what it is. Please, this ain’t about witch-hunt. My conscience is clear – the point being if we are to be successful in all that we do, and to be prosperous, and to establish trustworthy institutions for the challenges ahead – then let’s call a spade-a-spade.

I would have respected Kabba Bajo & perhaps argue for him to be given more time had he come out admit mistakes under his tenure: Had he admitted, for example, ‘’although we did a bit, we have failed the fans. But we have recognised those mistakes and are liaising with the line Ministry implementing new methods looking at successes in Senegal, Germany, and other countries in terms of modernisation of football in the country’’. I have always said that Gambians naturally are an understanding lot – but what angers me is when failures are defended with arrogance, disregarding public good, and an affront to the law. Despite overwhelming evidence, it is of great surprise the leadership refused to raise hands come clean to the public. The Gambia cannot properly move forward unless past mistakes & injustices are rectified before embarking on new steps.

I find it troubling that the management is using every excuse & trick in the book avoiding a press conference. My message to Football House is – putting up bricks and mortar with corrugated Iron on top declaring it cost twenty million won’t fly. Tabling Repairs that don’t match to scratch costing even more millions – where da heck do ya think we hail from, kanilai? To every governmental nexus – the days of business-as-usual is over. The Gambian people did not sacrifice lives and limb for a few at the top to live majorly. In an era of information technology, the young people are mobilised, empowered more than ever – judging your tenures through actions and deeds.

It is therefore no coincidence that failures have come to define Gambian football, looking at successes registered by Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast. The long suffering ‘Scorpions fans’ deserve better, Honourable Gomez knows it, the Diaspora knows it too, so does the fanbase, and I suspect the powers-that-be at GFF knew it too. President Barrow, on a recent interview with Eye Africa TV affirms his love for football and that government is looking at holistic approach to reform it, in fact all sports. If ever Minister Gomez needs an alibi to effect changes, there is your license – albeit THRU the due-process.

In terms of professionalization of sports from athletics, cricket, Tennis, Basketball, across the whole Olympic spectrum for an effective use of allocated money, those bodies must be summoned to Parliament to answer tough questions why they have failed so far. Gambia, we are in the big-time now, politics isn’t everything – Yes, we yearn for true democracy, desiring economic success, progress in agriculture and academic excellence with quality schools & colleges. Sporting success however leads to a feel-good factor. In England, for instance, when the National team achieves success the immigration topic or Brexit is related to the fringes of newspaper-headlines. National pride takes over the entire media landscape. And for a country as The Gambia, globally known as #DestinationTOURISM, big sports stars & sporting success will certainly help in terms of soft-power diplomacy attracting global media coverage, and even more tourists & investments into the country. The problem, and this is Africa-wide, the so-called leaders in charge of institutions and sports bodies are clueless as to how the international order relates in terms of government-NGO-Public Relations. The other problem is Gambian sports journalist showing themselves, failing the public by not putting the right questions to GFF. Watch this, as soon as the Ministry of Sports announce investigations into GFF failures, you shall see Kaba Bajo sprint out with accusations of government interference into how he runs Football. And writing to FIFA to protest as such. Well the public will be ready with an answer, and I have one too, which is – if you are so sure of innocence then why panic? With all the millions pouring in from FIFA, the fans deserve better – looking to a day when Gambian football shall get a fair deal as to quality football facilities up and down the country. In my opinion, Football-House need fresh ideas & to embark on a new direction of which the current leadership structure should play no part.

Gibril Saine, LONDON

Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubacarr Tambadou has Friday, August 4,  launched the National Consultations on the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

Minister Tambadou in his keynote address said the country must know the truth of human rights violations of the former regime of Yahya Jammeh who has ruled the tiny West African country with impunity for the past 22 years.

The Justice Minister said the government has taken his ministry as a focal point to launch the commission and its implementations with the broad objective to obtained the views and opinions of the Gambian public about the commission and sensitise the general populace on the concepts, issues, rationales and objectives of the commission..

“To maximize the effectiveness of our consultations, we shall include all the key stakeholders in this process,” he asserted.

Minister Tambadou said the emphasis of the government is to ensure that the processes and mechanisms put in place are inclusive, extensive and driven by the people in the hope that it will guarantee a transparent, credible and effective outcome.

“The process of the national consultations will no doubt lay a solid foundation for reconciliation in our communities broken and shattered by the atrocities of the last two decades,” Minister Tambadou asserted.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice who was a former prosecutor at a genocide tribunal said the consultations would bring together representatives of a cross section of Gambian communities including youth, women and children organisations, civil societies, religious communities, media, and staff of the ministry of justice who shall form the core team for the consultations. He stressed that the meetings will be open to the general public.

“The principal objective of the truth, reconciliation and reparations commission shall be to create an impartial historical records of the violations and abuses of human rights from July 1994 to January 2017,” he pointed out.

“We must know the truth as a first step to promote healing and reconciliation, responding to needs of the victims, addressing impunities and putting in place mechanisms to prevent recurrence of the past violations,” he added.

Minister Tambadou said the commission will seek to make known the fate of disappeared victims among other things. It will also give opportunity to the victims to relate the account of abuses suffered and recognized the sufferings to restore the dignity of the victims through granting reparations in appropriate cases.

“The Commission shall submit to the president a comprehensive report which will set out its activities and findings base on factual and objective information,” he said.

Minister Tambadou further stated that the commission would make recommendations to the president with regard to creation of institutions conducive to the development of stable and democratic society as well as the institutional, legislative and administrative measures which shall be taken to prevent abuses and violations of human rights in the future. The commission, he said shall recommend the granting of amnesty of persons in appropriate cases. It will be mandated to enquire into all manners of human rights abuses under former president Jammeh from 22 July 1994.

“This is not only about the recent victims of the junglers but it is for every single victim throughout the 22 years of former president Jammeh,” Justice Minister said.

The Minister said they might not be able to prosecute every single perpetrator but they must be encouraged to at least tell the truth about the abuses in a manner normal criminal proceedings would not permit. He said it will take different forms including guarantees against future prosecutions in appropriate cases.

“Perpetrators who does not come forward to tell the truth before the commission, will face prosecution should there be credible evidences of their involvement in any abuses,” he interjected.

The Minister reiterated that the commission will be guided by international laws in granting amnesty. He called on the support of the international donor partners.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Madam Ade Mamonyane Lekeotje commended the TRRC and the Gambian people for their patience.

“I’m confident the victims will be given the opportunity to express their problems,” UN Coordinator asserted.

She emphasised the importance of dialogue in the process.

Meanwhile, there were several stakeholders including victims and families of the victims present at the launching of the commission.

President Adama Barrow has said his government is open to any initiative that will bring peaceful resolution to the conflict in the south of Senegal, including allowing the rebel leader Salif Sadio to pass through The Gambia with his men to attend peace talks with the Senegalese government in Italy.

The Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) is the main separatist movement in the Casamance region of Senegal that has been fighting with their government since 1982.
Italy-based Community of Sant’Egidio, a Christian community with 50,000 members in more than 70 countries, has since brokered a peace talks between Senegal and the separatist.

In June, Salif Sadio told Zig FM that they want to reach out to The Gambia as a transit point to travel to Italy to have peace talks with the Senegalese government but Barrow said they are yet to make any official contacts.

“They have not made any official contacts yet. I have met an Italian priest who is involved in these peace talks and as far as we are concern, we will be part of anything that will bring peace in Senegal or its southern region Casamance,” Barrow told The Standard.

“It is in the interest of both The Gambia and Senegal. Without peace, nothing is possible. If there is anything like that, we will fully cooperate.”

The Gambia and Senegal have deepened bilateral ties since the fall of Jammeh, however, President Barrow promised The Gambia won’t be a party to a conflict it wants to solve.

“We do everything on principle. Principle is the guiding force behind whatever we are doing in this country… We want to do things that are correct and we want to make sure we protect the rule of law,” Barrow said when asked if Sadio won’t find himself in a trap if he attempts to transit through The Gambia given the very close relations between the two countries.

“We want to be judged for good things after office. If you want to solve a problem, you should not be part of the problem.”

“Jammeh gave us the facility to go through The Gambia to go to these negotiations in Rome,” Sadio had said.

“With the new authorities, we have not yet contacted, but the community of Sant’Egidio is worried.”

Source: Standard Newspaper

The mayor of Kanifing municipality has accused the National Environment Agency, (NEA) of trying to politicise the national cleansing exercise, set-settal.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Yankuba Colley said the NEA’s decision to organise last Saturday’s set-settal without consulting his office was an act of sabotage calculated to paint a bad image of his leadership.

“The NEA deliberately staged Saturday’s cleansing exercise ignoring my office’s suggestion to push to another weekend to allow us to mobilise more manpower. I am very disappointed with the NEA and I must admit that the situation is getting out of control. I don’t know, but maybe some people are just doing this to the [Kanifing Municipal Council] to sabotage my leadership because I come from the opposition APRC,” Mayor Coley lamented.

He said the majority of the KMC’s workforce is old people and the council had to cough up D200, 000 just to collect and dump the waste.
“At one point, we even had to seek help from the military. I want to make it very clear that, KMC didn’t organise the last cleansing exercise and that being the case, nobody should blame us for anything. We advised the NEA not to stage it at that time but they refused to adhere to our recommendation,” he grumbled.

He pointed out: “Gambians should recognise the fact that Kanifing is the biggest municipality in the country… and it is obvious that the Council don’t have the capacity to do it all alone.
“I would also like to call on all Gambians to put their political differences aside and focus on national development. Yes, I am from the APRC, but that doesn’t mean that people should work towards my downfall at the expense of the entire council and municipality. We have to be patriotic and rise above partisan politics,” Mayor Colley concluded.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The Ministry of Justice in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will conduct nationwide consultations on the establishment and implementation of a Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) in The Gambia from 14^th to the 24^th of August 2017. The national consultations will be led by the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubacarr M. Tambadou.

The main objective of the consultations is to solicit the views and opinions of Gambians on the establishment of the proposed Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission in The Gambia. Some of the pertinent issues to be discussed with public will relate to the proposed objectives and functions of the TRRC.

Objectives of the Commission

The proposed objectives of the Commission are to –

(a) create an impartial historical record of violations and abuses of human rights from july1994 to January 2017, in order to-

(i) promote healing and reconciliation,

(ii) respond to the needs of the victims;

(iii) address impunity; and

(iv) prevent a repetition of the violations and abuses   suffered.

(b) recommend the granting of amnesty to persons in appropriate cases;

(c) establish and make known the fate or whereabouts of disappeared victims;

(d) provide victims an opportunity to relate their own accounts of the violations and abuses suffered; and

(e) grant reparations to victims in appropriate cases.

Functions of the Commission

(1) The proposed functions of the Commission is to initiate and coordinate investigations into-

• violations and abuses of human rights;
• the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights, including the antecedents, circumstances, factors, context, motives and perspectives which led to such violations and abuses;
• the identity of all persons, authorities, institutions and organizations involved in such violations;
• the question whether such violations were the result of deliberate planning on the part of the State, its organs or other groups or an individual;
• the gathering of information and the receiving of evidence from any person, which establish the identity of victims of such violations, their fate or present whereabouts and the nature and extent of the harm suffered by such victims; and
• determining what evidence have been destroyed by any person in order to conceal violations and abuses of human rights.

(2) The Commission shall-

(a) prepare a comprehensive report which sets out its activities and findings based on factual and objective information and evidence collected, received by it or placed at its disposal; and

(b) make recommendations to the President with regard to the creation of institutions conducive to the development of a stable and democratic society as well as the institutional, administrative and legislative measures which should be taken in order to prevent the commission of violations and abuses of human rights.

The Government of The Gambia under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice will launch the National Consultations on the TRRC, at the Djembe Hotel on the 4^th day of August 2017. Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corp, Judges and members of the legal profession, international development partners, civil society organizations, journalist, religious/traditional leaders, youth groups, women groups, the victims association, etc. will be in attendance. The Minister of Justice will deliver the keynote address and perform the official launch of the nationwide consultations. This will be preceded by addresses from the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme of The Gambia and the Executive Director of Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA).

The Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters is expected to receive a US$30 Million Dollars investment from the West Africa Regional Fisheries Programme (WARFP) to develop fish landing sites in the country.

Hon. James FP Gomez, the Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters  made these revelations in his opening statement at a two day stakeholders retreat at the Djembe Hotel, Kololi.

Minister Gomez informed the participants that The Gambia has joined other countries and would benefit from the second phase of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Programme (WARFP).

“The expected investment for The Gambia from this programme is US$30 Million with justifications on developing the landing sites and adding value to the fisheries products for improved food security and poverty eradication,” Minister James Gomez said.

Minister Gomez further disclosed the formation of Project Preparatory Team (PPT) during the first quarter of the year. The team he said has started work in earnest, identifying and preparing for the project implementation with effect from January 2018 for 5 years.

He spoke about the project development objective of WARFP to improve the management of selected fisheries, increase the post harvest value of catch in targeted landing sites and improve an enabling environment for aquaculture development.

The Fisheries Minister further revealed another budget of US$442, 000 thousand dollars project secured from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations that is intervening in the Aquaculture sub-sector. He commended the support and collaboration of the European Union EU and the United Nations Development Programme UNDP. He also spoke about the Memorandum of Understanding MoU signed with the government of Turkey. He mentioned the bilateral cooperation signed between the Gambia Government and the Republic of Senegal.

The Food and Agriculture Organization FAO Representative, Dr. Perpetua Katepa Kalala commended the Ministry of Fisheries for bringing together key stakeholders to jointly discuss and identify the main challenges that the sector faces and map the way forward to improve the country’s development objectives.

“The sector has great potential which when attained will be a game changer for national development,” Dr. Perpetua FAO Representative said.

He added: “A major contribution to the Gambia’s socio-economic development is embedded within this sector which could help in poverty alleviation with 12 percent to GDP.”

Dr. Perpetua said FAO has been providing technical assistance and advice in the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies, programmes and projects in fisheries and agriculture sectors aimed at improving food security.

He disclosed that the FAO has recently supported the sector with three Telefood projects, through capacity building and provision of fishing boats with outboard engines, life jackets and boats to two inland fishing communities and ten boats to TRY Oyster Association and its fifteen affiliated villages for the sustainable and efficient harvesting of oyster.

She thanked the Fisheries Minister for signing the FAO Country Programming Framework and the preparation of the next cycle CPF 2018–2021 that has commenced.

Meanwhile, the specific objectives for organising the retreat among other things is to engage stakeholders and partners in sharing information relevant to improved planning of the management and development of the fisheries sector. The retreat would identify and prioritise issues affecting the contribution of the sector in national socio-economic development. He also highlighted that the government would collaborate with its development and donor partners to improve value chain for fisheries and aquaculture transformation among other principal outcome areas.