By Standard Newspaper

The Gambia government has rebuffed as unfounded allegations that it has entered and agreement with European Union to send back Gambian hustlers into the country in exchange of money.

 
Saikou Ceesay, the press officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad said the repatriated Gambians selected to come back home on their own accord from Libya where they have been living in horrendous conditions. “The Gambia government as a responsible authority has to act to protect Gambians wherever they are and so through collaboration with International Organisation for Migration, some 140 migrants including three Senegalese arrived back in the Gambia,” he said.

Mr Ceesay said Government is obliged to answer the call of its citizens at any time and it will continue to do so whenever the need arises.

 
Meanwhile speaking to journalists on arrival at the airport, Bakary, a native of Tallingding said he has been in detention in Libya for months and in very poor condition, including lack of food and other essentials. “I have come back and I think Gambians should have faith and stay and work here. I thought the back-way was going to be good but it was terrible and very risky,” he said.

Another, who would not give his name, narrated similar ordeal on the back-way.’ ‘I suffered so much on this back-way and I was imprisoned in Libya,” he said.

 
According to Mr Ceesay, the IOM facilitated the repatriation and also provided each returnee with some D2500 pocket money to help them settle down back in their community. He said the returnees have all been cleared by the Immigration and have since re-joined the families. He said the Senegalese nationals among them are being helped by their Embassy in Banjul.

By Sainey Darboe, Standard Newspaper

Former Vice President and Finance Minister, Bakary B Dabo, has dismissed as “mischaracterization” allegations that he betrayed Jawara by serving as Finance Minister under Jammeh.
In an interview with former Standard editor from his base in London, Mr Dabo elucidated:

“Well, ‘betraying Jawara’ is a mischaracterisation, likely arising out of a misunderstanding of the relevant issues and the circumstances that prevailed at the time. We must remember that at the material time, our country and helpless people stood on the precipice of what those with the right level of awareness saw as potential disaster. At the time I saw the prospect of military rule as a recipe for catastrophe for our fragile country and poorly mobilised society. My personal experience of military rule in several parts of West Africa, with associated pervasive mistreatment of defenceless citizenry was fresh in my mind.

“Of course, events were to show that even that experience could not have prepared me for what our people were to encounter under our own ‘soldiers with a difference’, I knew Sir Dawda too at the time harboured similarly grave misgivings over the turn of events. Like me, and like some other Gambians too, he felt at the time that the greatest danger our country courted was for military rule to take root. For both of us, anything that could be done to undo the coup, or to at least make military rule last the shortest possible life span, was viewed as worthwhile”.
He added: “My acceptance of the invitation to take up office under the junta was no more than a desperate attempt to spare our country from such a fate, when all other attempts at the time had proved fruitless.

Furthermore, I set out and proceeded on the basis of a clear agenda to devote what influence I could muster from within to work for the earliest possible exit of the military from our public life in order to limit or contain potential, indeed likely, damage in order to spare our country from precisely became our plight. Prospects for our country looked gloomy; I saw our situation as desperate and did not hesitate to try what I saw as possible option thrown up, however slight the chances, after securing pertinent assurances from the junta. The issue was never perceived in terms of whether the move represented loyalty to, or betrayal of, the person of Jawara or any other individual, for that matter”.

Mr Dabo added that the actions he took were not fundamentally different from the approach of then deposed president Jawara, saying: “Sir Dawda did not at the time advocate or pursue any other option incompatible with the approach I tried. In the event, the junta lost little time in displaying insincerity and bad faith over the assurances given and, once I sensed there was no chance of success for my agenda, I saw no point in continuing my association with the junta, hence my resignation two months after accepting their offer.

“That I failed to achieve the objective I pursued is, and will always remain, a matter of deep regret, [you just have to cast your mind back to all the mismanagement and mistreatment suffered under Yahya Jammeh and his militaristic system during these long twenty-three years, and how good it would have been to have spared such horrendous experience!]. But I have no regrets to have stepped into the ring, at the cost of considerable personal risk, to see if the military could be convinced to restore genuine and early constitutional rule. To reduce my action at the time to betrayal is to miss the point altogether; the suggestion can only arise from ignorance, at the least, or cynicism”.

By Rohey Jadama, Foroyaa Newspaper

The Secretary General of People’s Democratic for independence and Socialism (PDOIS) has said that deception will no longer be possible, that they have been patient for too long and they will no longer be patient with the truth.

“All presidential candidates for 2016 went on tour to sell their candidates. Were they able to sell their candidates? They were unable to sell their presidential candidates, that is the fact. Now if you can write fiction after success has been made, it is now time for fiction writing. People can now write their own history. Unless Gambians start to write their own history, they are doomed; doomed to tyranny, doomed to poverty because no single party or political party aspirant could sell to the people their candidate, that’s why all of them came to the negotiation table”, he said.

The PDOIS Secretary General made those remarks during a press conference at the PDOIS Office in Churchill’s Town.

“The people told the parties, ‘unless they go and form a coalition don’t come to us’, that’s what they were told. Some of these people should tell their leaders what people told them when they were in prison, when they went to sell their candidate and party. Let them tell them the truth, PDOIS will no longer compromise the truth. We have been patient for too long and we will no longer be patient with the truth. Deception is no longer possible”, said the PDOIS Secretary General.

According to Mr. Sallah, they sat down on the negotiation table sometimes with representatives and they had an impasse at a given stage. He said some felt that the other parties were isolated and were protesting and some felt that stakeholders in civil society like Fatoumatta Tambajang were isolated but that was a tactic of their own.

According to him, they felt to settle with a presidential candidate, they should have an idea of what is possible before they invite other stakeholders and that was done under the umbrella of Gambia Opposition for Electoral Reforms. According to PDOIS’s Secretary General, to enlarge the representation they invited Fatoumatta Tambajang, and all other groups to enlarge the group and made it more holistic and everybody became a participant and continued the dialogue.

He continued, “Eventually we began the process of convergence , compromising until ultimately we all agreed that we will hold a convention and all parties and stakeholders will have ten representatives per region, seventy for all the regions and we will assemble at Kairaba Beach Hotel and decide; whoever is selected will be accepted as a presidential candidate. He noted, “If some were so mighty, why did they accept? They could have left and gone their way and showed their might in politics but because the people humbled the mighty they had to humble themselves and accept the dictates of the regions and consequently we succeeded in coming up with one candidate.

“We agreed that the candidate will be an independent candidate so that we can take ownership of that candidate and the process and that was done. We eventually had a presidential candidate who was independent and we went to campaign, everybody campaigned for that presidential candidate”, he said.

PDOIS SG added that he will not disclose “the figures that PDOIS deposited for the deposit of the presidential candidate, what PDOIS contributed in the campaign, the funds that PDOIS mobilized for the campaign, if any leader ever said that PDOIS is the enemy of the coalition we will reveal what those figures are compared to what they have done. Then you will know clearly who the real enemies of the coalition are and who are the real opportunists and I am not calling anybody an opportunist at this moment but then when they again attack the integrity of PDOIS or me, I will also be stating facts and the facts will accuse them. I will not accuse people with insults; I will accuse them with facts.”

He said they “strengthened the campaign and got the ideas that inspired the population so that they can come together as one Gambia, one Nation and one people, where does that slogan come from? So that the sovereignty of our people will be affirmed and we will unite in sovereignty, communities of sovereign Gambian citizens, irrespective of our ethno-linguistic distinction, gender, religion. We implanted that in our campaigns to combat the dire tribalism that had emerged, provoked by Jammeh and responded to by those he insulted to a point that the society was moving more into civil war rather than National Unity.

“We used national unity as an instrument to unite the people so that we can effect the change that we have advocated. If it was left to some other people that unity would have never come about and that change would have never happened. We succeeded and consequently the incumbent initially by virtue of the composition and quality of the coalition, was overwhelmed and the world was overwhelmed. In the past, during the campaign of the opposition parties they were beaten, incarcerated to weaken them but in this instance nothing of that sort happened. Young people were properly guided, where they made mistakes they were corrected until we delivered Gambia on the 1st of December, 2016”.

He said eventually the incumbent refused to accept the results and took the country on a war footing. “In his latter statement he said he had annulled the results and said ‘I will not allow any demonstration.’ His anticipation was demonstration; [with] soldiers in the street, sand bags in the street waiting for the demonstrators, insults between ethno-linguistic groups had reached a [high] level; they saw that any case could lead to threat [of conflict]. Knives, cutlasses were bought in preparation for self defence. Some even had identification tags so that you can identify who is who. This could have been put in the media it was the truth.

TO BE CONTINUED

By Bruce Asemota, Point Newspaper

The Swiss authorities have indicated that the former Gambian minister of the Interior, Ousman Sonko, who was arrested in Switzerland recently, would be released if no one proffers any evidence and cases against him.

In one of the Swiss Daily Newspaper reports on 10 February 2017, it was reported that the Swiss authorities are asking for names and cases on the alleged crimes committed by the former Interior minister in ex-president Yahya Jammeh-led government, since 1994 to 2016.

The paper reportedly disclosed that if no accuser comes forward, the Swiss authorities would have no grounds to hold Sonko, but to release him.

Meanwhile, the Gambia Government is seeking the repatriation of Ousman Sonko for his alleged crimes committed during the Jammeh regime. This was revealed by new Interior Minister Mai Ahmed Fatty in his Facebook.

By Njie Baldeh, Point Newspaper

Mamma Kandeh, leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has urged the coalition government to stick to the constitution.

He argued that the appointment of some of the cabinet ministers and the vice president contradicted the constitution of The Gambia.

“The vice president was not eligible at the time of her appointment, and some ministers were convicts,” Mr Kandeh said while addressing his party supporters at a rally recently held at Tallinding Buffer Zone.

He stressed that Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang should not have been allowed to represent The Gambia at the African Union summit in Ethiopia, without being sworn in as vice president.

“This was unconstitutional as it is contrary to Section 62 of the Constitution,” he said.

The GDC leader further blamed the government for amending Section 63 of the Constitution, saying it was amended to suit one person, the vice president, Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang.

Also, Mr Kandeh called on the government to explain how the bridge that is being built in Farafenni is going to be built.

“The bridge should not be built in a way that would discourage river transportation,” he said. “We also demand explanation in terms of who is going to fund the bridge and what are the terms and conditions of the project.”

Meanwhile, Kandeh commended the Ecowas security force in the country for maintaining peace and stability during the political impasse.

However, he warned them not to arrest timber dealers in the country, saying the timber business is a source of income for many Gambians.

Yusupha Jaiteh, GDC deputy party leader, said GDC would launch water projects to build boreholes at Kerr Pateh and Kerr Malick to help the communities to have access to clean drinking water.

“The water project will be extended to West Coast Region very soon,” he said as he called on the people to put aside political differences and work together for the development of the nation.

By Mahamadou Camara, Point Newspaper

The use of government vehicles and other state resources for purely partisan politics will not be condoned, stated a press release from the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure.

This stance follows an “inadvertent request recently made for government vehicles to partake in the ongoing campaign for the National Assembly elections without any authority or clearance from the office of the President”, the release stated.

According to the release, this act “will no longer be condoned” by the new government, as it “is quite at variance with the policy and comportment of this government and, therefore, as soon as it came to the notice of the competent authorities, the two vehicles in question were immediately withdrawn and returned to their respective units of assignment”.

The release quoted the Information Minister Hon. Demba A. Jawo, saying: “On behalf of the government, I wish to make it categorically clear to all concerned that there should be a clear distinction between State matters and partisan politics and, henceforth, the two should be treated as separate entities.”

The release stated further that the use of government vehicles and other State resources for “purely partisan politics is a thing of the past, which shall no longer be condoned”.

By Lamin Sanyang

The government of President Adama Barrow has still remained silent on former President Jammeh’s alleged properties after taking office for almost two months now.

The new government has so far not issued any statements to shed light on the state or former President Jammeh’s “private” owned properties feeding into rumors circulating about what became of them. Former President, Jammeh was a serial land grabber, which was so pervasive, Gambians could at some point not distinguish what belonged to him and what belonged to the state – a distinction he was never willing to make.

So when he (Jammeh) was forced out by ECOWAS and hurriedly flown to Equatorial Guinea after losing the elections to current president, Adama Barrow, speculations and rumors started to spread even alluding to people laying claim to those lands without any proof of ownership.

The alleged properties of The Gambia’s exiled former dictator in Farato Farm are secured by soldiers of The Gambia Armed Forces who are acting as guards. The soldiers are guarding the place around the clock with guns. It is not clear whether the properties belong to the state as the soldiers are paid by the taxpayers or belong to former exiled president.

Jammeh built a multimillion dollar animal farm at Farato Village. Sources say he reared crossbreed animals from different countries over there. The property is situated on the Highway closed to Nyambai Forest.

Lieutenant Colonel Lamin B Bojang, Spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, when contacted, said he could not ascertain whether the properties belong to the state or dictator Jammeh. He could not explained the reason why soldiers are guarding the places. He promised to find out but until going to press, he didn’t get back us.

Jammeh has another property close to The Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) also known as ‘Saroo’ in Banjul. There too, paramilitary officers were securing the place as guards but have reportedly been removed from the place.

In fact, the former president allegedly ‘owned’ several properties throughout the country including the central Abattoir in Abuko, Sifoe Farm and Kanilai Farm amongst others. It is alleged that some of these properties were forcefully taken from people.

The properties in his native village of Kanilai were abandoned without security guards except for a handful of youths who are guarding the place. The state has withdrawn its security forces without actually stating the ownership of the properties. It has left the place exposed to all kind of threats.

The Sifoe Farm is situated between the villages of Kitty and Sifoe in the Kombo Central District. The two villages have disputed over the ownership of the land before it was illegally taken by the former dictator. It is one of the biggest lands seized from the villagers.

Security sources inside The Gambia Armed Forces have revealed that the former exiled president’s properties are under the watched of two senior military officers. They are Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Jatta and Major Gibril Jammeh. It is not clear whether the two officers were assigned by the state or by former dictator, Yahya Jammeh.

There are reports of several state vehicles going missing during the political impasse. The police have issued a press release asking the public to returned the said vehicles, urging compliance of the law.

Meanwhile, ASP Foday Conta, Police Spokesperson confirmed the return of some vehicles but said there are still others out there.

By Lamin Sanyang

The Criminal case involving 24 APRC supporters who attacked the coalition convoy at Kafenda was struck out based on humanitarian grounds at Brikama Magistrates Court. . The APRC supporters were accused of using abusive words against one Lulu Sanyang and some others when they were going back to their respective destinations from the Independence Celebrations and the inauguration of President, Adama Barrow.

 
When the case was called, Inspectors S. Sanyang and Gibba along with Sergeant Jaiteh announced their appearance for the Inspector General of Police while Ibrahim Jallow represented all the accused persons. The criminal proceeding was well attended by APRC party supporters as well as relatives and sympathizers of the accused persons. The accused persons are Banna Kujabi, Sunkau Bojang, Aminata Bojang, Amie Saidy, Hawa Manga, Sohna Bojang, Hawa Badjie, Mai Dampha, Yamundow Manga, Nyara Yanga, Rabiatu Bojang, Mai Daffeh, Mai Gibba, Sunkau Wodeh, Wudeh Bojang, Fatoumatta Sidibeh, Sarjor Daffeh, Lamin Manga, Lala Saidy, Sireh Jatta, Sainey Camara, Mai Manneh Sulayman Manga, Madiba Manga and Sira Bojang.

 
The 24 supporters of Gambia’s former governing Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC) party who were accused of using abusive or vulgar words against Lulu Sanyang and some others with intent to provoke a breach of peace on February 19 at Kanfenda checkpoint in Foni Kansala District have been acquitted by Magistrate Cham at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court following prosecution’s application for the matter to be withdrawn from court.

 
Inspector S Sanyang said in court on Wednesday that he was applying under Section 68 of the Criminal Procedure Code for the case to be withdrawn before the court base on humanitarian grounds.
Magistrate Cham granted prosecutor Sanyang’s application and acquitted all the accused persons. He also advised the accused persons to maintain the peace, saying, “‘we are all related and peace is always number one.”

Letter writer defends former managing director of The Social Security & Housing Finance Corporation, Edward Graham calling his dismissal a witch hunt by senior government officials in the Barrow administration.

Below we produce the whole letter:

My fellow  Gambians,

He who runs away from fighting has to fight another day. We cannot allow the Fraudster and devious Saihou Sanneh, Former senior Audit Manager of SSHFC, whose services were terminated by the Board of SSHFC for lying n giving misleading information about his MSC Finance Examination results. SSHFC spends nearly D3,000,000 for Saihou Sanneh to pursue his Masters Degree in UK which he failed and thereafter lied to management that he passed his Masters., thereby deliberately misleading management which eventually led to his services being terminated . Thus Saihou Sanneh is the main architect in spreading false rumors about our Managing Director, Edward Graham on social media,

For instant he is claiming that our MD Graham gave free land to top Government officials. This is a blatant lie, it was the then President YAHYA JAMMEH, who gave executive Directives to God fearing and hard working then Minister of Lands Mr. Aki Bayo to allocate land to some Civil Servants. Minister Aki Bayo then solicited the services of SSHFC Housing Department to do the demarcation and apportionment. (Kindly refer to attach letter from Lands)

We have decided to make it known to the whole world how Mr Graham, our hardworking MD mustered his courage to write to then President Yaya Jammeh to pay the Loans given out to Government under Executive Directives(Please see attached letters) In response to our MD’s Letter the then President set up a Task force to direct all Concerned Institutions , like GRTS, NAWEC, GGC, Ministry of Finance and Office of the President to pay their loans. Please Find attached some of the supporting document

Why this witch hunting? Why is Amadou Sanneh, Mai Fatty and Osainou Darboe witch hunting our erudite and competent MD, Mr Graham on adhering to Executives Directives, when his Predecessors like Tumbul Danso, Mr. M L Gibba and Mr Andrew Sylva also adhered to Executives Directives and Tumbul Danso had unprofessionally released cash to the tune of US$ 1,000,000 (one Million Dollars) to the office of the president (see Attached Documents), While Prematurely interdict our MD Mr. Graham with suspension on half salary pending investigations. When current SG Fadera and all those Ministers who were adhering to Executive Directives to arrest, dismiss, and terminate the services of innocent people.

Is this not witch hunting? Mr Amadou Sanneh, why jump the gun and start with parastatals Managing Directors and choose to Spare the kinds of Mrs. Iatou Njie Saidy, who was second in command form such probing and investigation? . It is because her Late Husband MR Jay Saindy financed the cost of your education and that of Ousianou Darboe, is this not blatant nepotism and Favoritisms?.

By Madi Jobarteh

The greatest betrayal of trust and confidence inflicted on Gambians since independence came from APRC National Assembly Members. The National Assembly represents our collective will and power and the primary defender of the people. It is the only institution vested with the power to monitor and restrain any other power or authority or person in a democracy in defense of the supreme interests of the country and the rights of citizens. Hence when the National Assembly fails to perform that function, then there will be carnage and impunity in that society.

 
When we elect a parliament we hand over our lives and rights to them to protect. We hand over our national wealth and destiny to them to manage and defend. This is why in our constitution for any act or decision the Executive should take, they have to get the approval of the National Assembly first. Whether the National Assembly agrees or not, it means we the people have so decided. Yet in the Gambia, since 1997 the APRC NAMs deliberately, consciously and irresponsibly decided to surrender our will, our voice and our power to one single man to abuse and misuse anyhow. This is indeed betrayal of the highest level.

 
Here is how the APRC NAMs betrayed and endangered our lives by allowing one armed robber, Yaya Jammeh to rape, loot, plunder, torture and kill Gambians for nothing.
First. These APRC NAMs approved each and every bill tabled by APRC Ministers to either amend the constitution or create new laws that disempower and take away the rights of Gambians. As they take away our rights and power, they handed it over to Yaya Jammeh as a single person to use it to harm fellow citizens.

 
Second. APRC NAMs failed to protect our public wealth. They consistently approved the budget without any question and anytime the government needs more money Isatou Njie Saidy would go to the parliament for them to give more money. The APRC NAMs failed to exercise their oversight functions to ensure that our money is not wasted with impunity. They allowed and watched as Yaya Jammeh lavishly dished out our money as he wished.

 
Third. The APRC NAMs failed to protect our human rights and sovereignty as they allowed Yaya Jammeh to use henchmen from the NIA and other security agencies to arrest, detain, torture, rape and kill Gambians with impunity. The National Assembly has a constitutional role to check and hold to account the Executive. Yet the APRC NAMs instead closed their eyes and ears to the abuses of Yaya Jammeh against innocent Gambians when they had the responsibility to defend our rights.

 
Fourth. The APRC NAMs did not just watch and allow Yaya Jammeh to damage our rights and plunder our national wealth, but they went further to defend Yaya Jammeh for committing those crimes against Gambians. Hence the APRC NAMs once again failed their duty to our country and people as they allowed and defended one single citizen to sit on top of our heads only to break our necks with impunity.
Fifth. Yaya Jammeh was not only destroying the rights of Gambians or killing innocent citizens, but he also went further to ridicule the very name and reputation of the Gambian nation thus making the Gambian a laughing stock of the world. By claiming to cure HIV/AIDS and pulling the Gambia out of the Commonwealth among numerous stupid dramas, Yaya Jammeh soiled the good name and stature of the Gambia. The leading institution that had the power and authority to put a stop to such ridicule and disgrace was the National Assembly. Rather, what we saw was how the APRC NAMs stood with Yaya Jammeh to defend him in his blatant and rude manners in disrespecting the good name of the Gambia.
How therefore would any Gambian in the first place consider standing for APRC in this election? Of course there are always human beings who lack conscience and sense of honesty and patriotism hence such people will continue to support and stand on the APRC ticket. But should you as a citizen go to vote for such a person?

 
Yes, every citizen has a right to freedom of association and to take part in politics. Hence any Gambian has a right to stand for or vote for APRC. Even though APRC as a ruling party committed heinous crimes in this country, they have a right to exist until banned through due process. But they cannot and must not escape accountability. Hence there is a need to set up a commission of enquiry to hold individuals within the APRC to render account for their individual actions in damaging the rights and lives of Gambians and endanger national interests.

 
But until the Barrow Administration set up an enquiry on the APRC, for the meantime the greatest court to which we must subject APRC is the court of public opinion. Every Gambian must ask himself or herself whether one would vote for or join a party that killed one’s father or brother? Who would vote for or join a party that raped one’s mother or sister? Who would vote for or join a party that tortured one’s friend or uncle? Would you vote for or join a party that ridiculed and disgraced the name of your country? Would you vote for or join a party that decided to just damage every human rights and every rule in our constitution for their own selfish interests? These are moral, legal and political questions that each and every Gambian must ask himself or herself.

 
Our answers will show that there are two categories of Gambians:
1. Gambians who are honest and patriotic, and
2. Gambians who are dishonest and unpatriotic.

To which category do you belong?

God Bless The Gambia.