Halifa Sallah, leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has said that The Gambia is far from achieving targets in ensuring unity and progress.

Speaking at a press briefing at his office in Churchill’s Town on Wednesday, he said even though the leadership of the country has changed, there are lots more to be decided.

Mr Sallah, who is elected National Assembly member for Serrekunda Central, said people must change for the aspired changes to be realised.

He recollected that the agenda of forming the coalition government was to effect change of government and elect parliament that would review existing laws and make laws, which the government would implement presidential term limits, among others.

“We agreed in the beginning to elect a president that will not overstay, and after serving three years such person will not contest the next election. This is what Barrow agreed and was elected at the 1st December 2017 presidential elections,” Sallah said.

According to the new parliamentarian, the constitution requires the president to conduct elections three months before the end of his term in office.

He continued: “That was why Yahya Jammeh stayed three months to prepare to leave after he was defeated in election. He first accepted defeat, but later rejected. This led to intervention of the international community to ensure that Yahya Jammeh step down, and Barrow took over from him on 19 January 2017.

“We all agreed that President Adama Barrow be elected as an independent candidate to lead the coalition and to elect independent candidates as National Assembly members under the coalition government. But some parties insist that they wanted to sustain their parties that was why we contested under our individual parties, instead of contesting as independent candidates under the coalition, as we agreed upon earlier.”

“Our priority is building new foundation for The Gambia to ensure good governance, respect for human rights. However, we have not yet escape crisis. We have not yet escape the past dilemmas considering the way things are moving.

“The instruments for parliament are Standing Orders that should be built to ensure transparency and accountability. There need to be a legal person to help build the legal instruments. We need to educate members of parliament on the laws to enable them sensitise the people. There is need to build trust among members to avoid partisan interest to supersedes national interests.”

“The majority in parliament is the UDP and they using partisan politics. It wouldn’t make difference with the APRC government if they decide to be praise-singers only. We need to move from self-perpetuated government to building Gambia for Gambians. What we want is all Gambians to be winners.

“Our hope is that the new beginning will lead to us to the Third Republic. However what we had was partisan campaigns as the president went for campaign and some parties were using his image during the campaigns.

“The nation is still a divided nation.”

Hon. Sallah, who was the coordinator of the coalition, explained that even though UDP dominates in parliament that does not mean they carry weight more than the rest of the parties in parliament as they do not form 2/3rd majority which is needed for impeachment of president.

According to Sallah, considering the percentages at constituency levels, UDP might win the seats, but that does not mean they dominate results of all parties in a particular constituency.

“It is said that Gambia has decided, but Gambia has not decided because there are still partisan politics. We are demanding for equality, unity and work for a common good of the nation. As long as that is not achieved we have not yet decided,” he said.

“Yesterday we were called in parliament and there was no Speaker yet, the Chief Justice stepped in, but he had to operate based on laws; parliament debate on the rules and procedures.

He recommended that parliament need to hire a legal person that will draft legislative policy based on which the parliament operates.

Source: Point Newspaper

Fabakary Tombong Jatta, APRC Party Leader, has cast doubts on the result slips given to their party polling and counting agents.

He said the IEC agents were not giving their party polling and counting agents certified copies of the result slips., adding that their agents did not append their signature to some of the result slips given by the IEC.

Many of the results given to their agents were signed by IEC agents only, he alleged, saying they would gather facts to prosecute the matter in court.

Tombong Jatta, former Majority leader of the National Assembly, alleged that their supporters were molested and persecuted.

He said the APRC is not liable to allegation against president Jammeh, adding: “You cannot do collective punishment for people.”

“We believe that The Gambia should move forward,” he said, adding that government should work on the weaknesses and limitations of the APRC, and consolidate the way forward.

Gibbi Bah, APRC Latrikunda Sabiji candidate, said he didn’t believe he was defeated in the Parliamentary elections, because the results he possessed, and those given by the IEC did not tally.

Source: Point Newspaper

Gambia Democratic Congress leader Mamma Kandeh on Monday convened press conference, saying his party is maintaining its position on rejecting the election results until clarifications are made by the IEC regarding the alleged irregularities.

“Until we apply what we need to apply as a party, and of course to respect and apply the rule of law, the GDC position is saying no to many constituencies where declarations were made, or where irregularities happened,” the GDC leader maintained.

He said they would continue to do their ground work to be able to come up with concrete evidence, because they don’t want to violate any law, as GDC is known for being a peaceful party and one that respects rule of law.

Mr Kandeh said he is having issues with President Barrow’s meet the peoples’ tour during the campaign period, which he noted had influenced the voting pattern of the electorate, to go in favour of those regarded as coalition candidates.

His said his party will scrutinize the results, adding: “We will make sure whatever we put on the table is concrete evidence.”

Barrow, who is not member of any political party, went round campaigning for political parties’ so-called Coalition candidates.

Source: Point Newspaper

By Lamin Sanyang

Gambia’s veteran politician, Halifa Sallah, who was speaking at a press conference raised concerns as to whether the country has escaped from political parties having undue bearing on the decision making process of the executive.

“Have we escaped what we want to escape,” Halifa Sallah said.

Sallah talked about the composition of the Cabinet, National Assembly in terms of the nomination of members and Ambassadorial Posts, which he said should be transparent.

“Have we gone into technical consideration rather than partisan consideration. Are they being filled by obligations ought to the executive or obligations ought to the people?” he asked.

Sallah said he was not making condemnation but was only opening it to debate and urged the media to be vigilant in its oversight function. He said another thing that has been averted is the threatening of the executive by the legislative body. He asserted that the UDP with 31 seats cannot pass a ‘Vote of No Confident’ as it lacked 2/3 majority in the National Assembly.

“The composition of the National Assembly does not give the party with the highest number of seats the mandate to amend the constitution,” he pointed out.

Sallah explained that the 22 members that do not belong to the majority provide a leeway in balancing the executive when it comes to amending the constitution. He emphasized that the constitutional amendments can be done through a coalition which he said makes more sense. He added that if the 31 seats refused to passed any bill then it will not be pass by the National Assembly.

“We hope it will be united on purpose as we move to achieve the fundamental objective of the coalition that is to put an end to self perpetuating rule and consolidation of power,” Sallah said.

Meanwhile, Sallah has emphasized the need for reforming the institutions and building instruments to build a better country for all Gambians irrespective of their political, ethnic and religious affiliations.

The National Assembly has now been convened under a new situation of the country. The debate which has started proves that it will never be business as usual. The first debate dealt with the constitutionality of the proceedings.

The member for Serrekunda questioned the Chief Justice who presided over the opening session whether the proclamation for the holding of the first sitting of the national assembly was published in the gazette, which gives him legal authority to preside over the proceeding.

He declined to answer the question posed and passed it on to the Clerk of the National Assembly who claimed that he is not aware of any constitutional provision which made the publication of the proclamation of the executive mandatory. Halifa Sallah insisted that any proclamation from the executive is required by law to be published in the gazette before it becomes law. According to Halifa Sallah it is unconstitutional to observe any proclamation that is not published in the gazette. This debate was unsettled. The Chief Justice simply said that his point is noted.

Foroyaa will seek more clarification on this matter after been informed at a press conference to be held by noon today by Mr Sallah. The debate continues as the country opens up for more transparency and accountability in governance.

Source: Foroya

The Foni Bintang arrestees have been released on bail with no charges been made against them, according to the newly elected national assembly member for Foni Bintang constituency, Hon Momodou Camara in an interview with this medium on Tuesday.

Those arrested on Friday were: Buba Badgie- Sibanor, Momodou Colley –Sibanor, Sulayman Colley – Manyina, Tida Jammeh – Kamasorr, Alieu Jatta – Sibanor, Baba Jatta- Kusamai, Alfusainey Sanyang- Sibanor, Malang Badgie, Basiru Colley-Kaimo, Basiru Jarju- Kusamai, Malaine Camara-Killy, Sambujang Jarjue-Kusamai, Musa Gibba- Siwol, Amadou Camara-Sibanor, Mamina Jarju- Kusamai, Ensa Jarju- Sibanor, Ebrima BA Jarju-Sibanor, Jalika Nyass- Killy, Omar Jarju-Killy, Dembo Bojang, Lam Colley-Buram, Ansumana Jammeh-Buram and Imam Jammeh- Sibanor.

Those arrested on Sunday were: Ismaila Manyan- Sibanor, Bakary Jammeh-Manyina, Yusupha Sonko- Sibanor and Fatou Kanbuma Jarju- Sibanor.

Hon Camara revealed that the arrestees were asked to tender their national identity cards as evidence and report to the Sibanor police station on Tuesday, but when the arrestees reported, they were asked to report back today (Wednesday).

Hon Camara finally called on the electorate in his constituency to be united stating that no meaningful development can take place in its absence.

The arrest of these APRC supporters together with UDP supporters stemmed from a clash between supporters of both parties on Friday while the APRC supporters were celebrating their victory at the polls at Foni Bintang Constituency.

Meanwhile both the Minister of regional government and the Minister of the Interior convened a ‘peace and stability’ meeting in Sibanor to promote reconciliation and the re-establishment of the fraternal and family ties amongst the people of the Constituency “so that they see themselves as one people with a common destiny and that politics should not be a source of division for the community.” The response of community leaders was positive.

Community leaders at the ‘peace and stability’ meeting

Source: Foroya

By Lamin Sanyang

Honourable Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of PDOIS and National Assembly Member for Serrekunda Constituency has called for constitutional amendments to put an end to self perpetuating rule in The Gambia.

Speaking to journalist at the party’s bureau this afternoon, Sallah called on the country’s politicians to put aside ethnic, partisan and religious politics in the interest of nation building.

The outspoken politician has explained the different phases that the country has undergone to remove dictatorship ranging from the formation of the Coalition, political impasse and President Barrow’s assuming of authority to govern and the mechanism to contest the National Assembly Elections. He said the fundamental question that rise is the interpretation of the results and the composition of the National Assembly. He emphasized that the relation between the executive and legislature is of paramount importance.

“The fundamental objective of the Coalition has been to effect constitutional reforms to humble the executive which President Barrow agreed,” Halifa Sallah said.

Sallah went further to say that the first stage of humbling the executive should start with President Barrow adhering to a 3 years term as agreed by the coalition stakeholders which he said will set precedence to term limit whereas no leader in the future will be able to abrogate it. He said however, there is no constitutional provision to serve three years in office but was an agreement between coalition stakeholders that felt it necessary at the time. He added that the president as it stands has a 5 years term in accordance with the Constitution.

“Since the objective was to put an end to self perpetuating rule, we agreed to facilitate constitutional amendments so that we will be able to have term limits for the president,” he said.

He also talked about the agreement of security of tenure for the Independent Electoral Commission to avoid what was happening in the past empowering the president to appoint members of the election commission. He also said the same thing about the judiciary. He further mentioned the security of tenure of  National Assembly Members to avoid what was happening in the past empowering a party leader to dismissed a NAM from the party which also makes the NAM lose their seat in the National Assembly.

“How we prevent these abuses is through constitutional amendments,” Sallah pointed out.

The PDOIS Secretary General made mentioned the vulnerability of Chiefs and village heads. He called for the revaluation of the local government structures to ensure that the decentralization of powers becomes a reality. He reiterated the called for chiefs and village heads to be elected by the people so that they will be answerable to their people rather than selected and subjected to the executive.

Meanwhile, Sallah talked about key legislative packages including the empowering of women and urging  the inter-party discussions to ensure the right amendments.

The former Majority Leader and current chairman of the opposition Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation Construction, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, yesterday said that it is unfair to generally associate the party with allegations of wrong doing by former president Jammeh. “The supposed wrong doing by Jammeh was not done on behalf of the APRC as a party,” Jatta told journalists at a press conference last evening.
He said even if Jammeh is found wanting, that doesn’t mean he was acting under the party’s principle or its manifesto.

“Our message must be clear that all those alleged to have committed wrongs were not doing it in the name of the party and that include former President Jammeh. I believe if there is any wrong doing by Yahya Jammeh they should be directed at him as an individual and not the APRC in general because the party was not behind anything associated with the allegations,” Jatta said.

FTJ, as he is commonly called, also declared that if some members of the party are found wanting including Jammeh, then that is unfortunate and let them pay the price, “but you cannot impose a collective punishment by banning the party. Yahya Jammeh is not APRC, but only an element of the party. Can Yahya Jammeh get all what he got without the support of us all? So what I want to emphasize here is that Jammeh is only an element in the party, an important one for that matter but that’s all”.

Mr Jatta further said the allegations against Yahya Jammeh do not in anyway mean that there are no other good elements in the party. “I challenge anybody to tell me Fabakary this is what you have done wrong. We need to understand that in any party there must be people doing something bad, but that should not be blamed on everybody or the party as a collective body,” he said.

The former Majority Leader said he has nothing against people facing punishment if they are guilty of rong doing but it will be wrong to generalize blame.
On whether the APRC has any chance of winning election in the near future, Mr. Jatta said: “If you ask me, I will tell yes, possibly the next Presidential election because power comes and goes in a democracy and that’s what we believe in.”

Mr. Jatta also took time to criticize some aspects of the way and manner the parliamentary election was conducted.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Press Release, Office Of The President

His Excellency, President Adama Barrow has nominated the following people to serve as National
Assembly Members:

Ms. Mariam Jack Dention
Mr. Majanko Samusa
Ms. Ndey Yassin Secka–Sallah
Ms. Kumba Jaiteh
Mr. Momodou Sanneh

The public is hereby informed that any other information contrary to the above, especially as
published in the media on the 11th April 2017 is not from the office of the President. Once again His
Excellency President Barrow extends his congratulations to the newly sworn in members.

Amie Bojang-Sissoho
Director of Press and Public Relations

CC: Secretary General
file

Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty has called for peace and tranquility in Sibanor village in light of recent clashes between a group of the former ruling APRC party supporters and militants of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

The minister made this statement yesterday in an emergency stakeholders’ security summit at Sibanor village. The gathering brought together district chiefs, alkalolou, governors and community leaders and youth activists.

“Let’s maintain peace and harmony in the new Gambia; Adama Barrow is the new president and we have to accept the government of the day like in previous times,” Mr Fatty said, adding that people, irrespective of political affiliation, need to work together for the benefit of The Gambia.

He further urged the people of Foni Bintang to maintain law and order at all times as the new Gambia is headed by people who are bent on maintaining, safeguarding and upholding of the rule of law to the fullest.

The minister thanked the Police Intervention Unit for their swift response and also thanked the heads of communities and villages for responding to the call of reconciliation in Sibanor.

Fatty told the gathering that the defeated UDP candidate of Sibanor, Foni Bintang constituency, Assan Jobarteh, has been selected by Adama Barrow as one of the five nominated members in the National Assembly.

“The president has selected Assan Jobarteh as a nominated member; the people of Foni Bintang are lucky because you have two representatives in the National Assembly and this should bring you even more together,” he said.

In his remarks on the occasion, the minister of local government and lands, Lamin Dibba called on the people of Foni to drive the spirit of tribal politics out of The Gambia as it is very destructive to the development of any nation.

Source: Point Newspaper

Victorious National Assembly member for Serekunda Halifa Sallah of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism has said that he will be more influential as a parliamentarian than being a minister.

“I think the analysts got it all wrong when they questioned my decision not to take a ministerial position, because we are talking about building a new Gambia and for that to happen you have to build institutions and one of those institutions is the executive where I don’t want to be part of, rather the legislature is where I prefer to be,” he told The Standard in an exclusive interview Sunday.

Mr Sallah said his new role as a parliamentarian will avail him the opportunity to scrutinise and as well contribute immensely in the making of the country’s laws.
“I refused to take a ministerial post, because if I do so my ministerial colleagues may be doing other things that I may be adverse to, but I may not under those circumstances be able to scrutinise them because they are sovereign ministries,” he said.

He continued: “But in the National Assembly I will be able to scrutinise all the ministers without restriction and in this sense therefore winning the national assembly election is a greater victory for me and PDOIS.
“I must admit that having certain people winning in certain constituencies who may not be even PDOIS but can mount up certain scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability of the government will also help in ensuring transparency and accountability,” he explained.

He said it is crucial that the party which holds the majority avoid abusing its power to create a partisan government.

“Because that is not the government we want to build after the defeat of Yahya Jammeh. We want a community that would be able to work together in the interest of the citizenry,” he noted.
Asked whether the PDOIS will think of changing leadership in the near future, Sallah said: “The reason why parties stay for long and leadership also stands for a long period of time is because of the weakness of the opposition. But in the new dispensation I am certain that democracy will prevail at least in the PDOIS”.

Momodou Dodou Sey of Bakau who claimed to be an APRC supporter since 1994 has denied sealing a UDP ballot box at the Katchically polling station during last week’s National Assembly election.
Speaking to The Standard on the matter, Sey, a former APRC Bakau Katchically Ward mobiliser then went ahead to explain the story of how some people accused him of trying to stuff the UDP ballot bow with chewing gum.

“After casting my vote, a lady who was next to me too went in to cast her vote, but the marble she was given was too big to go through the ballot hole.

“When she realised that the marble couldn’t pass into the hole, she called the attention of the IEC officials on the ground who confirmed that the marble was too big for the hole and that nothing was put in the ballot hole. But because I was the last to enter before the lady, some evil people quickly and falsely spread rumours that I sealed the UDP ballot box with chewing gum so that no one else can cast their marble in it. This is too stupid and a cheap accusation,” Mr Sey said.

Sey said he felt very bad about this false accusation because some people are using it to tarnish his image.
“I want to make it clear that I have never done anything wrong and the IEC staff on the ground knows that this is false and I think that should be the end of this malicious allegation. I am worried about how people perceive me in the future and I want the IEC to come clean and tell Gambians that there was no chewing gum in the ballot hole in the first place,” he stressed.

He continued: “The message is very simple: I did not do it and I have no reason to do such a thing. Yes I support APRC, but I don’t think I would achieve anything from such acts. Am better than that,” he concluded.

Source: Standard Newspaper