By Point Newspaper

President Adama Barrow starts his maiden nationwide tour today, Thursday, to “thank the Gambian people for voting him” and to campaign for the Coalition candidates in the April 6 National Assembly election.

According to a press release from State House in Banjul, the purpose of the tour, scheduled for 23 March – 2 April, is for Barrow to thank the Gambian people for voting for him as president in the 1st December 2016 election.

“The tour will also enable President Barrow, as Coalition leader, to familiarise himself with the political situation in the run-up to the National Assembly election in April this year,” the release issued yesterday stated.

During the nationwide tour, President Barrow will hold 36 general meetings in the seven regions of The Gambia.

“He will call on the electorate to vote for Coalition candidates for change so as to have a majority in the National Assembly. This will enable his government to implement its transition policies and programmes to effect the change Gambians have voted for during the December 2016 presidential election.”

The Office of the President called on all supporters to join President Barrow at the general meetings in their areas.

By Baba Sillah, Standard Newspaper

The case of Baboucar Jarju and Swandi Camara, who have been accused of kidnapping former Kiang East MP Mahawa Cham, has reached the court.

The state counsel in the case, Lamin Jarju, yesterday appealed to the High Court in Banjul to grant him an adjournment so as to enable him to make legal opinion in order to determine the criminal liability of the accused persons as spelt out in the bill of indictment.

Presenting his submission before Justice Oduma, the state counsel said he has received the case file of the two accused persons from the police prosecutors but he needs time to write legal opinion in order to determine the veracity of the criminal liability as alleged in the charge sheet.

Baboucar Jarju and Swandi Camara are being tried on charges of kidnapping for the purpose of murder, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense.

Mahawa Cham, a former APRC MP was reported to have been kidnapped from Senegal and brought to The Gambia where he and one Saul Ndow are believed to have been murdered.

By Standard Newspaper

Omar Suso, who said he is a taxi driver, yesterday walked into the offices of The Standard with a hand written note on his opinion on the current rift seemingly ripping the coalition government apart.
In the note, Mr Suso took issues with one of the Coalition leaders and spokesman Halifa Sallah. Below is the full write-up:

“Honourable Halifa Sallah is well respected and educated as regarded by many Gambians including myself. Nonetheless I have a problem with his actions prompting one to question his position with the present government.

Firstly, if one would recall that when our dear President Adama Barrow was in Senegal shortly before the inauguration, honourable Minister of Interior Mai Ahmed Fatty issued a statement indicating that former President Yahya Jammeh had embezzled Eleven (11) Million dollars and that the coffers of the government are virtually empty. To my surprise, Halifa being a member of the same Coalition, without talking with or verifying things with Fatty in close doors, instead chose to defend Yahya Jammeh by saying that there was no evidence of that.

That turned out to be the case because recently the finance minister disclosed to the entire nation that millions of dollars have been embezzled by the Jammeh government. I believe he should be among the people who should facilitate to recover those missing monies, but not to make it look like it is a mere allegation.

 
Moreover everyone knows that Yahya Jammeh will not leave this country without taking our money. Besides there are many places where Jammeh can take money from; namely: SSHFC, GTSC, GAMTEL, GPA, GCCA, GIA, GRA and many more. Everyone including Halifa knows that Jammeh took three (3) luxurious cars with him and also intended to take ten (10) more which were seized by the government. Again, Halifa never commented or wrote about that, even though he is a frequent writer.

My second point is, recently Halifa challenged the government that the way they conducted the issue of the age limit to the parliament is unconstitutional and wrongly done. Well he is the presidential adviser on governance and also the spokesperson for the coalition, one would assume that he should know about serious issues of this nature and guide his colleagues, not to make a mistake, rather he waited until the error is done and then he went on to challenge it.

Fellow Gambians, Halifa knew that the constitution requires a five (5) year mandate to an elected president but the agreement made by the coalition is three (3) years. So why did he never mention or challenge that also, since it is equally unconstitutional.

Recently he said that it was not necessary for our honourable minister of foreign affairs Lawyer Ousainou Darboe to publicly go to the media that it is unconstitutional for the president to serve for only three (3) years. It is quite obvious that a lot of people do not know about the constitution. Therefore that action made by our foreign minister is genuine, patriotic and necessary. I felt that honorable Halifa should have done that earlier since he is the spokesperson and also the pen and paper of this country as many viewed.

Despite mentioning earlier that Halifa is well educated, it should also be known that there are lots of Gambians who are more educated and also know our constitution far more than he does.
Finally, I believe that it is fair for him to clarify to the general public whether he is working for or against this government.
God bless the Gambia.”

By Lamin Sanyang

Roots of The Gambia, a film about the people and culture that Kunta Kinteh left behind, has narrowly missed the Best Documentary Award at an international film awards held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The film, written and produced by Ebou Waggeh, founder and CEO of WAX Media, had been nominated out of at least 60 films for the best documentary film category of the keenly contested 2017 Africa Magic Film and Television Awards.

Mr Waggeh, who was a producer at the GRTS television, one of the pioneer producers, recently returned to The Gambia from Lagos, Nigeria, for the awards night held earlier this month.

He was glad that the film that he initiated out of passion and love of culture and The Gambia has gone far in raising the flag of the country to higher heights.

“Though I missed out the award but I feel like I have won because the nomination alone is a big achievement,” said Waggeh, also a founding member of the jury of M-Net Africa Magic Film and Television Awards, the most prestigious film awards in Africa – the equivalent of the Oscars in America.

When the nominations were open for the award, at least 60 entries were submitted for the Best Documentary Award category alone.

Following series of screening processes, just 6 were nominated for the award and Roots of The Gambia was one of the films.

“So for me, for my film to be nominated out of 60 films from all over Africa means it has definitely stood out and that recognition alone, the nomination alone, is a big achievement for me and The Gambia as a whole because the film is a purely Gambian film, selling the culture and tradition of the country to Africa and the world,” the producer said.

The film, completed in 2016 after more than 10 years in production, is about the people and culture that Kunta Kinteh left behind in The Gambia when he was kidnapped in 1765 from his hometown of Jufureh in Upper Nuimi District. He was then transported across the Atlantic and later sold into slavery in America.

According to Mr Waggeh, the film shows the life and culture that Kunta would have followed as a young man newly initiated into manhood, if he was not ambushed on his way to find wood to carve a drum.

In ‘Roots of The Gambia’, 15 different cultural practices across the ethnic divide dating back to Kunta’s generation have been dramatised and their cultural and historical significance explained.

It is also one of the documentaries being screened at IREP, an international documentary film festival currently going on in Lagos.

It has also received high ratings at Freedom Park in Lagos where it was shown to Nollywood producers and actors at a club screening.

Something to be proud of

Following his review of the documentary, the director general of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Baba Ceesay, said he found it to be a very rich documentation of Gambia’s cultural heritage, both material and intangible.

“It covers a very wide spectrum of Gambian cultural heritage and traditions including, life cycle ceremonies, masquerade traditions, food culture, dress culture, traditional sports and heritage site typologies,” he said.

“There is no doubt that the film’s nomination for what is considered a very prestigious award is commendable and is something Gambia can be proud of.”

For Mr Ceesay, Roots of The Gambia is not only factual and educative, it can be also used for promotional purposes for the country.

By Point Newspaper

From now on, the Gambia Immigration Department will not be issuing any ID card or passport until further notice as the government embarks on “a comprehensive review” of the process of issuance of such documents.

“The Ministry of the Interior hereby informs the general public that it has decided to temporarily suspend the printing of national ID cards and machine readable passports,” a press release from the ministry said.

The release, issued yesterday, said the suspension takes effect immediately and “it seeks to protect and promote the integrity of our national documents”.

According to the statement, the interior ministry will be embarking on a comprehensive review of the entire process of issuance of national documents.

By Kaddijatou Jawo, Point Newspaper

Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has threatened to file petition against the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Mr Sallah, who is the PDOIS candidate for parliament in Serrekunda constituency in the April 6 National Assembly election, disclosed his intention to file the petition at a press conference held yesterday at the PDOIS office in Churchill’s Town, Serrekunda.

Sallah said people are aware that there is no television or radio coverage of the whole process of the elections as far as the State media GRTS is concerned, when section 41 of the Gambia Constitution guarantees equal access to facilities and the media by candidates under the public elections Act.

He further stated that the Act of the National Assembly can also be enacted to provide public access to facilities or the media.

“Section 93 of the Election Act makes it mandatory for the Independent Electoral Commission during an election campaign period to ensure equal access, as far as time is concerned, to each candidate and political parties on the radio and television, which is mandatory for them but none of this is happening,” he said.

Sallah threatened to write to the IEC if they didn’t take any urgent step to address the issue, as it is a violation of their rights as candidates to be heard over radio or television, for the public to hear and see them all clearly.

Under section 89 of the Constitution candidates are given rights of protection by the Independent Electoral Commission during political campaigns and are entitled to launch complaints at the IEC for any violation of their rights.

Sallah said the IEC is duty-bound to enforce the elections campaign ethics and to ensure candidates are protected from any abusive remarks or any insults during political campaign.

“It is important to bear in mind that the IEC is required under section 92 of the Elections Act to prepare code of conduct which all candidates should receive 15 days before the campaign period, indicating the moral and ethical conduct they should adhere to in carrying out their campaigns,” Sallah explained.

“Therefore, it is important that the public is informed by the candidates and the IEC of the essence of such code of conduct so that the public is provided with quality campaign messages on the basis of which they are able to make their choices.”

The PDOIS secretary general also warned political parties and their candidates to avoid any character assassination, saying: “During campaigns you will hear accusations of people not being born in a particular constituency; some are even telling people to go back where they were born to be able to contest elections.”

The Foreign Minister Ousainou Darboe said in an interview on the ‘Mengbe-Kering’ program with Pa Modou Bojang that there is no time stated in the constitution as to when the president should appoint a vice president. He said anyone who has seen the constitutional provision, which states the time, should show him. This gives the impression that therefore Chief Servant Barrow can appoint a VP anytime he desires. I completely disagree and I wish to show Mr. Ousainou Darboe that indeed Section 65 subsection 2 is the provision that gives the time when the president should appoint a vice president. It says,

“Whenever the office of President becomes vacant in the circumstance set out in subsection (1), the Vice-President, or if there is no Vice-President in office at the time, the Speaker shall assume the office of President for the residue of the term of the former President.”

 
The issue therefore is who knows exactly when the office of the president could become vacant? No one knows that. Of course we do know that the term of the president ends after five years. But in between the election to the end of that term, the office of the president can become vacant due to various reasons. For that matter alone therefore a VP is necessary right now.

 
The circumstances that could give rise to a vacancy in the highest office of the land have been addressed under Section 65 subsection 1. It says the office of the president could become vacant either through death or resignation, or on account of various constitutional provisions. These are, Section 63 on the expiration of the term of the president, or Section 66 on the removal of the president on account of mental and physical incapacity or through impeachment for misconduct under Section 67.

 
In fact according to Section 64, when there is a claim that the president is mentally or physically unfit to govern, it is the vice president or the Speaker who becomes interim president while that matter is investigated by the Chief Justice.

 
The question now is, what guarantee does anyone have that none of these scenarios could happen anytime? No one can tell when a person would die or suffer from a mental or physical incapacity or misconduct himself or herself. Any of these incidents could happen to Pres. Barrow right now. He could die from natural causes or foul play. He could suffer from a severe neurological disorder right now or encounter an accident that could render him completely incapacitated physically. Hence what will happen to the office of the president if any of these scenarios happen right now?

 
The answer to these questions is what therefore dictates that the first action of an elected president in the Gambia is to appoint a vice president. There should be no delay in anticipation of Section 65. In this case, I therefore state that this is the time set by the constitution.

 
Furthermore, the constitution says where there is no vice president, then the Speaker of the National Assembly will become the interim president. But soon the National Assembly will stand dissolved for the election. Is it not possible that something could happen to the president between the dissolution of the National Assembly and the election and swearing-in of a new parliament? Where there is no vice president and there is no speaker, who then becomes the interim president of the Gambia in the absence of the actual president? Is that not a recipe for national disaster?

 
Still going further, Section 70 states that the vice president is the principle assistant to the president in the discharge of executive functions. Right now, who is assisting Pres. Barrow in his functions especially when he travels out of the country? Section 73 subsection 1 further states that there shall be a Cabinet, which comprises the ‘president, vice president and cabinet minsters’. Hence there cannot be a cabinet without a president, vice president and cabinet ministers all together.

 
On the responsibilities of the Cabinet, Section 74 says,

 
“The Vice-President and Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the National Assembly for any advice given to the President in Cabinet, and the Vice President and each Minister shall be accountable to the President and the National Assembly for the administration of the departments and other business of Government committed to his or her charge.”

 
Here again we see specifically that the position of a vice president is non-negotiable. In fact in Section 77, the constitution says it is the vice president who will answer in the National Assembly for matters affecting the president, and that the president shall send messages to the parliament to be read on his or her behalf by the vice president.

 
Thus both the letter and spirit of the constitution make it crystal clear that the position of the vice president must be filled immediately a president is sworn-in. This is a requirement that feeds directly into every aspect of government functions and national governance. There are many other provisions and functions in the constitution which require a vice president. Thus Pres. Barrow does not have the liberty to take his time to appoint a vice president. It is already long overdue, dangerously.

 
I wish to state therefore that Mr. Ousainou Darboe is completely wrong in his analysis of the issue of the Vice president. Based on the letter and spirit of the constitution, it is very clear that as soon as a president is elected and sworn-in, the first move should be the appointment of a vice president. This means the time is definitely stated in the constitution, which is now and not later. This is a good governance and national security decision that ensures the peace, stability and continuity of the government at all times. At this very moment, the Gambia is in a very volatile situation simply because there is no vice president.

 
In fact, it is precisely because of this scenario why emerging democracies now adopt the concept of running mates so that a president and vice president are elected together. One reason is that in the event of a vacancy, the interim president would still be an elected officer just as the president; otherwise the vice president would become president without the mandate of the people. This is why we have seen countries like Ghana and Nigeria adopt that practice as in the United States.

 
I would therefore urge Pres. Barrow to exercise his executive functions as per Section 70 subsection 3 to appoint a vice president immediately. Without a vice president we do not have a Cabinet. Without a vice president we face a looming constitutional and national security crisis, which must be avoided. Without a vice president there is huge vacuum in our governance structure and no society can afford a vacuum in its governance system. Hence Barrow must appoint a vice president now.

 
I hope the Minister of Justice Abubacarr Tambedou would advice the president accordingly.

God Bless The Gambia.

By Lamin Dammeh

The legendary Irish priest cum Philanthropist, Rev. Joseph Father Gough, indeed a great
contributor to sports in the Gambia has died, aged 73. The veteran icon hugely credited for transforming sports and education in the Gambia, passed away at his native country, Ireland on monday, March 20, after a long battle with illness. Father Gough, a highly respectable figure across the globe, spent nearly four decades of tremendous investment in education and sports in the Gambia. His work includes but, not limited to the establishment of Father Gough artificial sports complex at Manjai Kunda and a well built basketball court in Banjul. The venue (in Manjai Kunda), was named after a legendary former Gambian international footballer Alhagie Njie, popularly called Biri Biri, in 2011, marking yet another great history in Gambian sports.

Mourners from within the Gambia upon receiving the news on the death of Father Gough, took to social media to express sadness over the demise of the man, widely admired for his tireless efforts towards the advancement/improvement of sports in the Gambia.

He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1944 and later proceeded to Rockwell College in Ireland where he secured secondary education.
He joined the Congregation of Holy Ghost fathers in 1963, and proceeded to University College Dublin, where he received his BA Degree.
The hardworking Irish man Mr Gough graduated from one of Ireland’s most decorated universities, and later went into teaching at Ireland’s most prestigious High School, Black rock College.

Mr Gough’s sojourn in the Gambia took him to Saint Augustine’s high School where he served as Principal of the school from 1978 to 1983. His four ( 4), year stint at the school saw him win the hearts and minds of Saint Augustine’s students with whom he remained an iconic figure and mentor until his demise.

Father Joseph has honorably served the government of the Gambia after he was appointed Gambia’s ambassador at large in 2009.
The appointment was in recognition of his invaluable service to the nation.

By Omar Bah, Standard Newspaper

The leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Omar Amadou Jallow alias OJ has launched a ferocious attack on Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP) accusing him of being more concerned about the survival of his party than the peace and stability of the Gambia.

He accused his ministerial colleague of being the cause of the division and bickering in the heart of the coalition government at his party’s political rally over the weekend in Abuko.

Party leaders of the Gambia’s coalition government are embroiled in a bitter political infighting following their failure to agree on a common platform to contest the parliamentary election.
“As the Coalition parties had signed an agreement to govern the country for only three years before holding fresh general election, I suggested to my fellow party leaders that we should put up independent candidates for the parliamentary election just like we did in the last presidential election,” he said.
He continued: “I made it clear to them that in my position as leader of the PPP, I will never hesitate to sacrifice my party for the interest and security of the Gambia. As a leader, I am more interested in the political stability of the Gambia and the safety of Gambians and my children”.

Mr Jallow added: “Sadly, my suggestion was flatly rejected by Lawyer Darboe on the grounds that his party, the UDP, would die if it does not contest the election. He [Darboe] insisted that he will put up UDP candidates for the election and this is the cause of our problem.”

Mr Jallow said he is struggling to understand how the UDP leader could love his party more than the Gambia.
“How can you have more love for your party than your country?” he asked. ” I want Gambians to know that the PPP is under the leadership of the coalition government of President Adama Barrow and we would never have been in this turmoil today if other party leaders have accepted my proposal.”

Lawyer Darboe and at least two other Coalition leaders had earlier said they believed the method of contesting election as independent will be chaotic at the detriment of the parties and partisan politics as the candidates would be loosed cannons with no sense of belonging. Mr Darboe also proposed a tactical alliance under which Coalition members would put candidates where they have the most strength to be supported by all. However that option has since failed with all parties going their own way and contesting against one other in most constituencies.

By Omar Bah, Standard Newspaper

Sulayman Sowe, a former soldier with the State Guard yesterday claimed he was wrongfully discharged from the army and subjected to unlawful treatment by former President Yahya Jammeh and his commanders at the State House.

Mr Sowe began his story with an incident about an unusual visitor who came to him while he was on duties at the State House main gate.
“I was on duties at my sentry post at the main gate at State House when one Gilbert came to me at around 8:00pm and asked me to give him my details. I asked him what was going on but he only told me it was needed by the big man (President Jammeh),” he told The Standard recently.

He said that’s the time he gave Gilbert his military details and continued on with his sentry duties until he closed for the day the following morning.
“The following evening whiles I was in my room resting, I was again called by one sergeant Kemo Manneh, the then guard commander at State House to go and answer to Colonel Umpa Mendy, the then plain cloth commander,” he explained.

He said upon arrival at Umpa Mendy’s office, he was asked to name the person he was talking to, whiles on duty the day before.
“I told him (Umpa Mendy) I was not talking to anyone, but he insisted that I have to tell him who I was talking to, or I will be buried six-foot deep. I couldn’t tell him because I was not talking to anybody in the first place”.
He continued: “But when I refused to talk he instructed one Abdoulie Jarju to take me to Fajara Barracks and detain me there until further notice. I was detainee at the Fajara Barracks for six days without the knowledge of my family, they seized all my telephones”.

“It was only after six days in detention that I was able to call my father and inform him about it,” he added.
He said the only thing the military told him during his detention was his arrest and detention was a directive from the former President Jammeh.

“But when I was tired of the talks of executive directive I decided to ask the officer in charge of my detention to call the State House and inform them that I said they have to choose; either they take me to President Jammeh, Mile 2, kill or releasing me or I will not enter the cell again,” he added.
He said immediately when the call was made at State House they ordered for him to be taken to then NIA director Lamin Jarju for interrogation.

“But upon my arrival Lamin Jarju told me, ‘Young man you have done nothing wrong and that Colonel Umpa Mendy, General Sulayman Badgie and Colonel Ansumana Tamba are like this, they have expel or kill all the good soldiers’,” he alleged.

He said from the NIA he was brought back to the Military Police in Banjul, “I can still remember when I arrived back at Banjul, I was taken to the MPs chief Alhagie Jobe who accompanied me with other military officers to my house to collect all the military belongings”.
“After that I was kept at State House for days and later told by the same Alhagie Jobe that my service was not needed in the army any longer,” he said.

By Lamin Sanyang

The Barrow administration was tasked by the United Nations Peacebuilding Support office to facilitate a nationally owned transitional justice mechanism to engender sustainability.

Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support who is currently on a two day visit to The Gambia told journalist that the key focus of the mission is to discuss the details of the initial support to be provided by the UN, based on recommendations of previous missions including the recent ones in the country.

“The support to an inclusive consultative process to facilitate a nationally owned transitional justice mechanism to engender sustainability was highlighted,” Mr. Oscar Fernandez- Taranco said.

Mr. Fernandez said the process could be initiated with key stakeholders meeting with participation of national and international experts on transitional justice. He underlined the importance of an inclusive process based on country wide consultations.

He disclosed the discussions held to support the justice sector particularly capacity building of the judiciary system.

“Strengthening of the justice sector will be a key element for strengthening the rule of law in the country and ensuring justice service delivery in accordance with international and regional standards, including crimes committed in the past,” he pointed out.

UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding highlighted security sector reforms, saying the UN assistance on security sector reform will include comprehensive assessment of the security sector covering all security and defense institutions. He explained the establishment of an Independent National Human Rights Institution NHRI as key oversight mechanism.

“The importance of building bridges between political, security, human rights and development interventions was stressed and the inclusion of Peacebuilding elements in the national development plan,” he asserted.

He further urged the need to identify a coordination mechanism for the assistance provided by international partners to The Gambia, adding that the UN supported similar coordinating efforts in other countries in the sub-region.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Cho Tae-yul, explained that the UN Peacebuilding Commission could contribute to efforts aimed at sustaining international engagement to supporting The Gambia’s peacebuilding priorities. He stressed the importance of the Peacebuilding Commission’s convening role, a platform that can mobilize deeper commitment and partnership between national stakeholders.

By Lamin Sanyang

The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission has allocated $ 3 million dollar to The Gambia Government for peace building fund.

Speaking to journalist at The UN House in Cape Point, United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support, Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, disclosed their meetings with President Barrow and members of his government including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance together alongside the Chief Justice and Security Chiefs.

“We discussed key priorities for sustaining peace in The Gambia, which will be supported with an initial USD 3 Million allocated by the UN Peacebuilding Fund,” Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said.

Mr. Fernandez said the money is already budgeted for and waiting for the new government to come with an action plan.

UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding told reporters that the visit came as a follow-up to the recent joint visit of the UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Mr. Jeffrey Feltman and the Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fernandez is expected to have meetings with the Independent Electoral Commission and representatives of Civil Society Organizations, The Diplomatic Community and The UN Country Team.