Someone once said that a nation needs leaders to thrive. Here, leader is not only referring to political office, but to the wider application of people who take centerstage and play a leadership role for others to follow. In other words, these are – will be – the trailblazer. Any nation that has a dearth of this type of leadership will not progress, or if it does, it will be a snail’s pace.

Though this is not a gigantic or unsurmountable problem, it requires a focused and concerted effort to solve. In The Gambia, one of the main problems we face and continue to face, is patriotism – or the lack thereof. Patriotism which will see a person prefer the nation over self; take risks even, just to ensure that the interest of the nation at large is protected, and the good image of the country preserved.

In order to do this and infuse love of nation in our people – particularly the young – we need to have mechanisms to make sure that they know their great ones and what they have done for the nation. They need to know that we have had great sons and daughters of this country who sacrificed everything to ensure that the country prevails. This is why it is important for us to rewrite our history and project our people in the right light. This means that we do not have to leave the writing of our history or the description of our nation to people like Berkeley Rice.

This is where Hassoum Ceesay comes in. Hassoum is a walking encyclopedia of Gambian history, as someone told me not long ago. He has been doing a great job of researching and documenting the traits and feats of some great individuals who trailed the blaze for many a young Gambian. I have read a lot about some very prominent Gambians and now know a little about them and their sacrifices, thanks to Hassoum Ceesay.

The latest such effort is on Pierre Sarr Njie commonly known as PS Njie. The book is entitled Founding Fathers PS Njie A Moral Biography. In this book, Hassoum has brought to life the great and significant contributions of this great son of the land. Reading this book, I was filled with admiration for this great man who until now, I didn’t know much about; quite like Edward Francis Small on whom little was – is – known. There is an acute need to shed light on the lives of these people. This is what will make the young have a focal point, so to speak, role models to look up to and aspire to be like.

It is avoiding the same pitfall we fell into regarding these stalwarts that I am writing this piece to shed light on Mr Hassoum Ceesay. Famara Fofana, author of When My Village Was My Villageand Recollections of an African Child, point out to me that there is a need for someone – or better still some young people – to follow on the footsteps of Hassoum Ceesay and understudy the great work he is doing. I totally agree with him because Hassoum is indeed a trailblazer like the great sons and daughters of The Gambia that he is telling us about. There should be some young people who follow in his footsteps so that they can continue from wherever he stops.

His personality is a pleasant one. He is a keen listener and is an inspiration to many young people in this country. He encourages and nurtures talent in whomever he spots it, and trust me, he has a keen eye for that. I am mostly speaking from personal experience here. Hassoum is very humble and unassuming despite his vast knowledge of the history of this nation.

Most of the time, when I visit Mr Ceesay at the National Council for Arts and Culture where he works, I find him buried in books and old newspapers from which he conducts his research of what used to obtain decades ago. I remember he showed me one particular passage from an old newspaper which was of the 1940s, if my memory serves me right, where great issues of national import were discussed. That is Hassoum for you, always seeking knowledge.

Mr Ceesay is humble and very open. Many new writers find an ally in him. Due to his tenacious support and encouragement, they have the courage and the zeal to continue and become published authors. Hassoum does not discriminate and gives each individual the ear to speak to, then offers valuable advice on how to move on.

His love for The Gambia is unmatched. Once he showed me an article published in the 1950s or around that time which was a letter from one of the colonialists talking about how groundnut crops cultivation was transported from the Gambia to the other colonies like Nigeria Sierra Leone and Ghana! He was beaming with pride that the Gambia was the country that gave the subregion what became the main cash crop. Here is a patriot!

It is for this reason that I reiterate a call I made earlier on for our education system to be reviewed to include subjects that will instill the love of nation in our young ones. One of the ways in which we can do that is to include the study of these people in our school system perhaps as early as in primary school. The books published by Hssoum Ceesay are based on very credible research and their inclusion in the books studied in school will be of great benefit to the country.

Hail hassoum Ceesay!

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

Alagi Yorro Jallow

Today the challenge of political courage looms larger than ever before,” Sen. John F. Kennedy wrote in 1956, five years before he became president. Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission Alieu Momar Njie and Halifa Sallah former spokesperson of the Coalition 2016 during the political impasse took principled and unpopular stands that put them at odds with friends, colleagues and constituents but that they felt were morally necessary for themselves and for the Gambian people . Extraordinary circumstances prompted acts of political courage. In the wake of the political impasse, Alieu Momar Njie sided with conscientious Gambians decided to side with the right side of history and unwilling to side with the wrong side of history.

Mamudu: The unprecedented complete wipe-out of Gambian power executives has got me thinking. We, as Gambians cannot build a corrupt free, progressive and prosperous future for our people if we institutionally condone, for political expediency, a dishonorable recruitment system for political leadership through a bidding process. Politics cannot be about public service for those who consider it as an investment or a profession.

Mamudu: Corrupt governments work like a system of gears. One gear spin another. Benefits of corruption is what keeps the system “lubricated.” One broken cog and the whole system comes to a halt. Sometimes it simply takes the courage of one individual in the right place and not a revolution to upset the apple cart.

Mamudu: Tell me why President Adama Barrow cannot read the Riot Act on Corruption. Why is Adama Barrow and his Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alhagie Baa Tambadou unable to apply the levers provided by the constitutional, political and personal soft power to weed this government of these corrupt maniacs on steroids, irrespective of rank, who are busy stealing money for our youth and farmers? Why are we not picking these corrupt men and women, regardless of their stature, religious political and tribal affiliation and prosecute them for economic hemorrhage. There is a huge disconnect somewhere.

In the political hinterland of the present-day new Gambia, with its political rhetoric, Alieu Momar Njie and Halifa Sallah reminds us that not to speak is to speak, and not to act is to act. For them, an act of political courage can only be a real choice made by a real person at a specific location or a specific time. As Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Alieu Momar Njie clearly decided which side of history he would be on. He made a choice of enormous courage. It was an action of the heart. His humanity was radiant. Alieu Momar Njie gave ‘joy and hope’ to hundreds of thousands who needed freedom and liberty. His political courage inspired a generation and led society to pursue the common good. This, by any standards, is an immense legacy.
In Gambia, it is one Alieu Momar Njie, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission that abruptly ended Yahya Jammeh bloody dictatorship. Yahya Jammeh was so confident of electoral victory that he allowed enhancements to electoral laws to bring greater “credibility” to Gambian elections. On polling day, voters overwhelmingly voted against him. He then tried to influence the electoral commission to announce him winner.

During the impasse and pressure from military figures and Yahya Jammeh, Alieu Momar Njie stood his ground. Threats were against his life. At some point he sought refuge in Senegal. Alieu Momar Njie’s conscience was one with most Gambians. It was time for Yahya Jammeh to go. Njie, true to his oath of office, announced Adama Barrow as the legitimate winner of the elections. Political moves that Yahya Jammeh and his military friends made after Alieu Momar Njie’s announcement only served to make President Jammeh the more illegitimate. In the end, Yahya Jammeh was humbled. He hurriedly went into exile in Equatorial Guinea.

Just thinking; is there a steak of Alieu Momar Njie in our Attorney General and Minister of Justice Baa Tambadou? Is he willing and able to indict ANYONE for economic crimes, irrespective of their stature in society? Can he withstand the pressure and threats that come with building cases against the Gambia’s High and Mighty? At this rate, it is only natural to assume that the corrupt elite will start ganging up against him. Does he have the wherewithal to move a notch higher, above arresting ordinary CEOs of government enterprises to raiding houses of very senior members of the executive?

Can the Attorney General and Minister of Justice say NO to the President, if, for example, the President, for selfish reasons, was to object to the opening of investigations against suspects close to him? Does the Justice Ministry or the Director of Public Prosecutor come with the courage to bring obstruction of justice charges against any senior member of the executive trying to influence his office against charging or investigating any specific persons?

I am waiting for another Alieu Momar Njie moment. The courage of one individual, doing the right job, in the right place in the interest of the ordinary man on the streets has the power to permanently change how leaders conduct the affairs of government.

With the current constitutional order, it could happen in our lifetime. Is the Attorney -General and Minister of Justice Alhagie Baa Tambadou the man? I do not know……..

We, the members of the National Food Security Council of The Republic of The Gambia, met in the office of the Vice President, at the emergency meeting of the National Food Security Council with development partners, to discuss the 2018/2019 rainfall situation and the effects on crops, livestock and the food security situation of the farming community and to explore appropriate policy responses.

IN VIEW OF THE FACT that:

1. Rains for this year (2018) started during the first dekad of June followed by dry spells and scanty rain falls in August.
2. This situation has eventually halted continuous sowing of major crops while also threatening the successful germination of seeds already sown.

• An agricultural District Extension Circle (DEC) had only 4 rainfalls from the last week of June to end of July cumulative of which was only 30.8mm whereas in the whole of August there were 7 rainfalls registering a cumulative figure of 197.4mm i.e an average of 28mm per rainy day.

1. The Department of Water Resources seasonal rainfall prediction for July, August and September 2018 indicated 45% chance of below normal rainfall, 40% chance of near normal rainfall and 15% chance for above normal rainfall.
2. Groundnut-out of the 61% of seeds sown, just about half (55%) germinated as a result of the dry spell. The area cultivated under groundnut drastically reduced due to lack of seeds because of last year’s poor harvest,
3. Rice-the staple food crop is below half both for area cultivated and germination nationally,

• Early Millet– crop is the least crops affected generally because it was dry planted and germination was therefore good. However, more than 50% of this crop is stunted countrywide.
• Maize– the area cultivated has declined by 39% and most of the areas cultivated this year were within the backyard, particularly areas that were tethered.

1. Cowpea-had an increase in area cultivated because of its climate smart traits in addition to increased demand for Home-Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP).
2. Livestock-Prolonged hunger due to long dry spell has exposed the livestock to loss of productivity and mortality

DECLARES that:

1. About 1,711,318 people will be under pressure throughout the year if the present rainfall situation continues up to the end of the cropping season.
2. Direct access to food and nutrition packages from Government of The Gambia and Development Partners to the tune of 200, 224mt of rice and 99,256mt of coarse grains in 2019 will be needed to help mitigate against the eminent food insecurity pressure.
3. Rice production is expected to drop by 45%, leaving production level at about 15,098 metric tons, which can cover about 8% of the rice needs of the regions leaving a gap of 92% (185,126mt). This shortfall is valued at 5.2 billion Dalasi or US$110.3 million.
4. Groundnut is equally expected to drop by 25,519 Mt with a cash value of D689, 103,000 or US$14.660 million.
5. Prolonged hunger due to long dry spell has exposed the livestock to loss of productivity and mortality, leading to a loss value of 1,554,739,952 Dalasi

RECOMMENDATIONS

• A preharvest and postharvest assessments be conducted in September and November 2018 respectively to validate the Assessment Report against the final production;
• Safeguard 200, 224mt of rice and 99,256mt of coarse grains as emergency relief assistance to 1,711,318 inhabitants in the 6 typical agricultural regions;
• Provide improved vegetable seeds for the Community Vegetable Schemes to enable farmers particularly women to enhance vegetable production and productivity;
• Aid farmers with 500 metric tons of feed concentrates, 20,000 5kg of multi-nutrient Blocks; and 1,100,000 doses of anthelmintic for both small and large ruminants.
• Aid farmers with 9990 metric tons of groundnut seeds, 3445 metric tons of rice seeds, 425,444 metric tons of NPK and 137,800 metric tons of Urea for groundnut and rice respectively
• Intensification of livestock production and breeding of drought tolerant breeds, establishment of 3000 small ruminant breeding and production schemes to replace the loss stock.
• Mass vaccination campaign against endemic diseases PPR (500,000doses), CBPP (300,000 doses) BQ (50,000 doses), HS (50,000 doses) and FMD (10,000 doses).
• Provision of livestock watering points (20 boreholes, hill side reservoirs and access ramps)

On behalf of the Government and the people of The Gambia, I make a passionate plea for assistance from all development partners and friends of The Gambia to help mitigate the effects of food insecurity that will affect over 1.7 million Gambians.

A.N.M. Ousainu Darboe

Vice President and Minister of Women’s Affairs

PRESS RELEASE

The office of the Inspector General of Police has noted with concern opinions of certain members of society alleging the Gambia Police Force for being bias and selective in effecting arrest and prosecution. This came in the wake of recent WhatsApp audios released on social media containing messages of hate and bigotry with potential to cause chaos and tribal conflict.

In this regard the Inspector General’s Office wishes to bring to the attention of the general public that through its information monitoring mechanisms, it has been following up WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Audios, videos and write-ups released on social media containing messages of attacks on personalities, tribes as well as the state are monitored.

Few cases in point include:

• Former NAM Ablie Saine in a 20 minutes WhatsApp audio, verbally attacked the Mandika/Sosseh using derogatory remarks, insults and bigotry statements.

Consequently, he has been charged and taken to court.

• Similarly, Lamin Jaiteh was heard in an audio release expressing solidarity with former NAM Ablie Saine on his audio of tribal bigotry messages directed towards Mandinkas/Sosseh. Lamin Jaiteh further abused high profile personalities, the UDP and the entire Mandinko tribe.

However, his address has been located at Mimers Vag 2, 145 70 Norbog, Sweden and serious efforts are ongoing to bring him to book.

• Similarly, Malang Fatty of Bakau also in a whatsApp audio attacked the Jolas, Foninkas and APRC.

However, police made efforts to arrest him within the country but proved futile. Malang Fatty is believed to be currently resident in Spain and efforts are ongoing to arrest him wherever he may be found.

The office of the Inspector General of Police reminds the general public that abuse on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram Twitter, among others has potentials to destabilize the peace, security and harmonious co-existence among the people of the Gambia.

Therefore, the Police will not relent in its efforts to maintain peace, and security, law and order, protect life and property as well as apprehend and prosecute offenders of the law as enshrined in section 178(1) and (2) of the constitution of the Gambia.

In this regard the general public is urged to cooperate, collaborate and partner with the Gambia Police Force in the fight against all forms of crime as well as maintenance of peace and security.

As we usher into a new era of democracy and development, the Office of the IGP solicits that we all strive to safeguard and nurture the ever existing peace, harmony and tolerance among people of the Gambia. Never must we allow anybody cultivate the seeds of tribal dispute and hate among us for the Gambia is our homeland.

ASP Lamin Njie.

Police PRO

For: Inspector General of Police

PRESS RELEASE

It has come to the notice of the office of the Inspector General of Police that some political party militants are planning to gather at the court premises in Banjul on Thursday the 20^thof September 2018 with intent to cause disruptions to proceedings in the case involving former NAM Ablie Saine.

The office of the IGP wishes bring to the attention of the general public that this case is not in any way connected to politics nor is it influence or motivated by politics. It is purely a criminal proceeding in court, hence a matter for the court to resolve according to the laws of the Gambia, with a view to maintain peaceful and harmonious co-existence among people of the Gambia.

Therefore, the public, party militants and sympathizers are strictly warned to stay away from the court premises especially those in party colours, T shirts, and logos. In this regard the public is hereby informed that strict security measures will be put in place to ensure the court carries out it sittings without disturbances or disruptions.

Furthermore, Persons with such intentions are seriously warned to desist from acting in such manner as to cause breach of the peace during court proceedings.

The cooperation of the general public is highly solicited.

Alagi Yorro Jallow

The Gambia needs to urgently to put in pace a sovereign wealth fund to manage her oil revenue before the commencement of crude oil exports. The sovereign fund model will allow the Gambia to invest her oil revenues for the future. The Sovereign Wealth fund must be structured in a transparent way and staffed by Gambian investment professionals of world class repute whose only qualification shall be experience, commitment and merit – not tribe, political affiliation or nepotism.

If we handle gas and oil revenue like we do with loans from foreign governments money, the oil will bring misery to many and wealth to a few well-connected government officials and politicians.

In his very private moments, what does President Adama Barrow think of Gambians? Are we his lovers because we agree with Geoffrey Chaucer, known as the Father of English literature, who said love is blind? Or are we Barrow’s fools because fools don’t see what their eyes see? Or are we both because, with enthusiasm, lovers do foolish things? Barrow sleeps and snores, we hail him; he sits up, we applaud him. We salute him even as he croaks and wheezes. He chose his government’s key men from his ancestral homestead and his political roots, we made excuses for him. Those are the ones he could trust, we bellowed at wailers. We said the appointees were the very best at that point in the geography of our politics. Every democracy has its aristocrats; it is their time, we said. If we handle oil revenue like we do with loans from foreign governments money, the gas and oil will bring misery to many and wealth to a few well-connected government officials and politicians.

President Adama Barrow, Gambians supports the presidency as the symbol of national unity. However, we will not sit back and cheer when the very pillar of nationhood threatens its very sustenance.

 Key words are RESPONSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, which are rare commodities in the Gambia’s public governance space. Instead of providing leadership, Adama Barrow and his lieutenants — the Cabinet and senior civil servants, National Assembly — have adopted a default campaign mode of regaling the public with tales of largesse to come. Ask most Gambians what perception they have of our gas and oil resources, and they’ll probably tell you that they have no idea apart from foreign media and social media news bots, is the most straight forward answer you can get. Is the Gambia’s mineral wealth a “get rich quick” scheme for certain privileged people? Exploration of mineral resources in Africa becomes the easy way to “eat” and do business as a tenderpreneur. The Gambia’s brand of politics is a legacy of a regressive patronage and clientelism system. A system where the political and business elite acquire power and access to resources mostly for personal gain and the self-preservation of the same. The people they supposedly represent are beholden to them, notwithstanding that they are constitutional duty bearers who are public servants.

 President Barrow, TRANSPARENCY and RESPONSIBILITY is the cure to Africa’s oil curse and surest methodology on the Gambia’s nascent oil and gas industry. If well managed oil could bring the Gambia prosperity and many blessings, but that depends on many variables, some in our control, others which we have no control over like the global price of crude. The global price of crude is not in a good place but expected to improve. The Gambia has also discovered oil when the world is making a transition to a non-carbon economy. That does not mean the demise of oil, but its global consumption as the key energy source may take a slump.

 President Barrow, these half-measures are harming the presidency and your authority as the First Citizen of the Gambia besides tormenting Gambians. Among other challenges, President Barrow, you, creates an impression of a reluctant leader, one who enjoys the trappings of office but is not ready to get the work done. Worse, it suggests that you are being held captive by some forces you cannot disentangle yourself from. President Barrow, you swore to uphold the national good, Adama Barrow, what is it that is holding you hostage not being transparent on the national wealth of gas and oil resources about to be explored by foreign companies?

President Barrow, Nigeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea are just a few examples how corruption has led to poverty and misery despite massive oil revenues. In places like Equatorial Guinea, the third largest producer in Africa, oil is the personal asset of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the man who overthrew and killed his uncle Francisco Macías Nguema to ascend to power in 1979. The Obiang dynasty’s murderous history is legendary. His son Teodoro Nguema Obiang, who happens to be Vice President, uses oil money to fund his expensive playboy lifestyle in places like Paris, France while majority of Equatorial Guinea citizens wallow in abject poverty.

With a population of approximately one million people, Equatorial Guinea ranks 138 out of 188 countries in the Human Development Index for social and economic development, despite a per capita gross national income of $21,056 in 2014, one of the highest in Africa. Norway and Qatar provide good models for managing oil revenues. In Norway, oil has changed the fortunes of the country and social security for every citizen. Norway is also realizing the bleak future of oil; her sovereign fund is no longer investing in oil stocks.

Nigeria woke up to this realization a bit too late. It established a wealth fund over five years ago. The country is struggling to restructure Nigeria National Oil Company, whose mismanagement has led to theft of oil revenues. Over forty years of oil money has been squandered. The damage is done. It will take the effort of a generation of recover from the opportunity cost of lost oil revenue. Nigeria’s stolen oil revenues have created an obscene gap between the rich and poor. People say that in Lagos, you are either, “rich-rich” or “poor-poor.”

The tragedy in all this is that Nigeria produces more oil than Norway at 1.9 million barrels per day, compared to Norway’s 1.6 million barrels per day. It is not the quantity of natural resources a country has, but the quality of leadership steering a nation. If countries got rich just by virtue of natural resources found within their territories, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo could have been some of the richest countries on earth!

In Norway, oil revenue finances pensions and social security. Norway’s oil fund has about US$1 trillion in assets, including 1.3% of global stocks and shares, making it the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. To put this in perspective, the Norway Sovereign Fund can pay for the Gambia’s annual budget of $25.1 billion. If Norway wanted, her sovereign wealth fund can finance the Gambia’s latest Eurobond issue, which raised US$251 mill.

President Barrow, hundreds and thousands of Gambians want to change this. They want our politics to serve the people equitably without fear or favor. They maintain the great hope that our new political leaders will anchor a new brand of democracy and promote our ideals and values as a nation. They hope that we have voted in leaders with integrity and respect for public service. They hope that our historical economic, social and political injustices will be addressed. People all up and down the country will be hoping that the choices they made after ending dictatorship will work for us to move things closer to our ideals as a collective.

The President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow has promised to act on the findings and recommendations made by members of the Faraba Commission.

President Barrow made these remarks after receiving the reports of the Faraba Commission at State House in Banjul. The report contains the findings and recommendations of the incident that resulted to the death of three civilian victims, several injuries and with many properties vandalised.

“My government will review the report to take action on the recommendations made by the commission based on the Constitution without fear or favour, affection or ill–will,” President Barrow said.

Barrow calls on people to turn a new page in the spirit of reconciliation.

Abubacarr Tambadou, Attorney General and Minister of Justice commended the commission members for coming up with such a report within a short period of time.

“Preliminary report indicates catalogue of errors and a lack of consultation between the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, Police, Geology, the Contractor and the Faraba Community,” Justice Minister Tambadou said.

The Attorney General expresses confidence in the findings of the report, saying it has shed more light on the incident. He added that the president would act on the findings and recommendations of the commission based on the Constitution.

Chairman of Faraba Commission, Emmanuel Joof, a renowned Human Rights Lawyer submitted the report to the President of the republic.

“Our mandate was to investigate the circumstances that led to the standoff, what lead to the death of civilians, who ordered the shooting, who carried out the shootings and who led the destruction of properties,” Chairman Joof said.

A total of 85 witnesses testified including the former and present IGPs, Julakay, Geology officials and Police Operations Commanders amongst others. The commission also visited sites at Faraba, Gunjur and Sanyang.

Meanwhile, the event also witnessed the swearing in ceremony of Ebrima . O Camara, Secretary General and Head of Civil Service and Ms Rohiatou Kah, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet respectively.

President Adama Barrow Monday, September 17, presided over the swearing in ceremony of five members of the Lands Commission at State House in Banjul.

Justice Raymond Sock was sworn in as Chairman of the Commission with four other members, Momodou S. Jobe, Nancy Nyang, Kemo Conteh and Buba Barry.

Land grabbing and disputes is one of the greatest challenges of the former regime of Yahya Jammeh who was personally involved in most cases. It could be recalled that when President Jammeh came to power, he took over the properties of former Ministers and senior officials of the ousted PPP regime. Some of the land disputes were politically motivated by the former regime.

Not long ago, the Commission of Inquiry probing into the financial dealings of the former president seized almost 180 landed properties allegedly belonging to Jammeh.

President Barrow after the swearing in ceremony told commission members that the tasks given to them is a challenging national assignment.

“You have been trusted to guide the government in the matters of land dispute,” President Barrow said.

Barrow highlighted the challenges of land disputes which he said were politically motivated by the former regime. He added that the challenges are a hurting experience to the country.

“The Commission is not a court of Appeal and it will not sit on matters that are before the court,” he added.

Shortly after taking the prescribed oaths, Justice Raymond Sock spoke about the mandate of the Commission which includes advising the Lands Minister on policies, land allocations and investigations amongst others.

“The Commission will advise the Minister on policy, land allocations, investigations and perform other functions assigned by the Minister,” Chairman Sock said.

Lands Minister, Musa Drammeh called on the Commission to expedite the findings and submit its report in the shortest possible time.

The residents of Brikama based in the diaspora have pledged $52, 500 for the rehabilitation of a Maternity and Children’s Ward at the Brikama Health Centre, West Coast Region.

The Brikama Society is a non profit organisation founded in 2009, in Washington DC, United States of America. It was incorporated in 2011.

“It is our goal to provide Brikama Health Centre and its staff with basic medical equipment and supplies to empower the facility for better treatment in the community,” said Lamin Jallow, one of the executive members.

Jallow told The Fatu Network that many of them are inspired by individual experiences. He disclosed that he lost a sister who died in labour due to lack of proper medical equipment.

He added: “The contract is already awarded to a construction company that offered the lowest bid.”

The Brikama Health Centre is a major health system service delivery in the West Coast Region. There is an estimated population of 300, 000 residents in Brikama.

The society closely and actively interacts with the staff of the Health Centre and stakeholders in the region such as the Brikama Pupils Society. It provides several container loads of medical equipment in the past years.

Members of the society say they have a vision for Brikama Health Centre and that is to make it a model of quality health care for Brikama and its surroundings by the year 2022.

President Barrow’s National Security Adviser, Retired Colonel Momodou Badjie has revealed the drafting of the first ever National Security Policy for The Gambia.

Badjie told journalists at a press briefing that the planned national consultation on the draft National Security Policy is scheduled for 19th and 20th September, at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Bakau.

“A total of 150 participants will attend the consultations,” Security Adviser Badjie said.

The programme targets participants from key stakeholders and government institutions including Civil Society Organisations, Ombudsman Office, Human Rights Institutions, Opinion and Religious Leaders, Academia and the Press.

Retired Colonel Badjie said the most critical deficits that perpetuated security malfunctions was the absence of overarching policies which describes the institution beyond the Constitutional provisions.

“The Government through the SSR Steering Committee had constituted a Drafting Committee for the purpose of drafting the first ever National Security Policy for the Gambia,” he said.

He added that the members of the drafting committee were drawn from seven security institutions in the country with technical expertise from the International Advisory Group from UN, AU, ECOWAS, EU and USA.

The National Security Adviser went further to explain the importance of security particularly human security which he said is fundamental to people’s livelihoods, poverty reduction and sustainable development goals amongst others.

“Democratic institutions cannot be strengthen to the desired level in the absence of security,” Badjie told journalists.

He highlighted the five thematic areas that they would focus on namely, Strategic Context, Threats and Challenges, Framework of National Security Policy, Gender mainstreaming in the security sector and security sector institution.

Ebrima Sankareh, Government Spokesperson on his part said one of the most difficult things that the country faced in the past 22 years was in the security sector.

“We know people were tortured, disappeared and women raped. Mile 2 became a concentration camp,” Sankareh said.

The Government Spokesperson said since the removal of dictatorship, the country with its international partners felt the need for security sector reforms.

Mr. President, quoting from Reuters news agency (Beijing) “Gambia President Adama Barrow told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday that his countries ties with self-ruled Taiwan had been a “huge mistake”, and he thanked China for all the help it had given subsequently, China said.”

Mr. President, to begin with, the cross-strait relationship between China and Taiwan has been sour recently after Taiwan losing four of its allies (Dominican Republic, Panama, El Salvador, and Burkina Faso) to China prompting the United States to recall its ambassadors from the Dominican Republic, Panama, and El Salvador over these countries decision to no longer recognize Taiwan. The US saw that “China was luring countries with economic inducements that facilitate economic dependency and dominance, not partnership.”

Mr. President, this relationship has a long history of tensions because China feels that Taiwan is inalienable part of China and the use of force to resolve the dispute over the island’s status is still an option and your showmanship of diplomacy to say that “the Gambia Taiwan ties was a huge mistake” to appease their President was pointless. Mr. President, you have to advocate for peace in that region and not to reignite tensions.

Coming back to my topic on why the Gambia Taiwan ties was not a mistake. Mr. President, this relationship wasn’t a huge mistake and here is the reason WHY;

The Gambia officially recognized Taiwan in 1995, from there on the relationship was further strengthened over the years in all government sectors (Agriculture, Education, Health, Infrastructure development, Technology etc.).

Mr. President, I would like to delve into key areas based on Taiwan contribution in developing the human resource capacity of the country. In this article, I would like to focus on the tailor-made programs sponsored by the Taiwanese government in the areas of Petroleum, Information Technology, Agriculture, Health, Civil Engineering, and Architecture.

Petroleum  

Mr. President, the Taiwanese felt that there was a growing need for the Gambia to train its citizens when the government was dreaming of the exploration of petroleum in the country. Who would have been the key drivers of this petroleum sector was a question that was hanging. It would have been easy Mr. President, for any company to hire professionals while not employing the citizens to take charge of that petroleum sector. The Taiwanese government felt it was important to train the citizens, believing that educated citizens will always drive the destiny of their country towards a positive path. Thus they decided to start a tailor-made program in petroleum engineering in 2004. They provided Twenty-five students full-time scholarships to study at National Taipei University of Technology which has later become home for all the Gambians in Taiwan. After the completion of their program, they went back home to work for the petroleum company. This is why today you can finally award a contract to FAR Ltd. An Australian company to start drilling in less than 40 days without the knowledge of parliament and the general public.

Information Technology (IT)

At your Brikama rally, you have promised the people of Brikama free street light with Wi-Fi. Getting anonymous donor funds and hire experts to install the free Wi-Fi for the community of Brikama is the easiest thing to do but maintaining the infrastructure is key.

In 2007, the Taiwanese government granted twenty-five students a full-time scholarship to study Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. This program was designed to tackle the lack of I.C.T officers in government institutions and the challenges of ICT that lies ahead with the rapid advancement of technology. Today majority of the I.C.T officers in various government departments are products of this program.

Civil Engineering

At your Numi rally, you promised to bridge Banjul to Barra. Yes, Mr. President, this time I will call it a metaphorical dream. Now, talking about the bridge one would ask whether the Gambia has civil engineers to build bridges of that magnitude? I will say yes, they have. In 2008, the Taiwanese government designed a civil engineering program that covers areas in Geotech, Structure, Water Resources, Environment, Construction Management and IT. The students were exposed to an engineering environment where solid infrastructures are built to resist natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes and are provided internships outside the university with industries to gain experience and work with professors to conduct innovative research.

Mr. President, before this program there were not more than 20 certified civil engineers in the country. After the success of the first batch, the Taiwanese government further requested another twenty-five students in 2012 to also pursue the same degree program.

Mr. President, we would not love to see were a country granting you loans for a project, have one of its companies bid for the project with 100% assurance of being awarded the said project, export its laborers to work on the project at the detriment of our laborers, when you vow to create job opportunities. In the end, the loan has to be paid by the tax-payers. Who is winning Mr. President?

Agriculture

After many years of sending Taiwanese experts to develop the agricultural sector in terms of rice production, horticulture, aquaculture etc and also transferring modern technology to the sector. The Taiwanese government further decided to strengthen the human resources base of the agricultural department. In 2009, a batch of twenty-five students was awarded scholarships to pursue a degree in agriculture in the most prestigious agricultural university in Taiwan, majoring in Animal Science, Plant Science, Soils, and Agricultural Economics. These students were well equipped in this program. They were well trained in first-class laboratories with high-tech modern equipment to conduct their research in their various specialized areas of study. Mr. President, your ministry of agriculture is headed by these students.

Health

Without delving in detail on the contribution of the Taiwanese government towards the health sector. Every patient in the country felt their contribution because drugs were never delayed, blood bags were always available throughout the country, and doctors never went on strike.

Mr. President, in 2010, the Taiwanese government awarded eleven students to pursue a bio-medical degree program in Taiwan. The program was designed to train the students to become experts in the field of medical laboratory science and biotechnology, an area in which The Gambia never had an expert.

Architecture and urban planning

Mr. President, you can’t talk about infrastructure without architectures and urban planners. Before 2011, there were only two surveyors in the country. With this number of surveyors, one would say that the country was in dire need of urban planning and design, environmental protection, infrastructure design etc. Mr. President, we are in the mid of the raining season and the place is full of “poto poto” and flood, and this is due to lack of urban planning. The Taiwanese government in the same way awarded a batch of twenty-five students in 2011, to study Architecture and urban planning. This was a very successful program, run and overseen by top Architects and professors. From modern home designs to mega building designs, planning and construction. Upon graduation, scholarships were awarded to three outstanding students to pursue a master’s degree in architecture and urban design.

Mr. President, I said initially that I was going to focus on the tailor-made programs but here is a brief summary of the overall student’s programs.

Mr. President added to the tailor-made programs, numerous students of various developmental programs were also given the opportunity to pursue their dreams through individual school scholarships and bilateral partnership scholarships such as MOFA, ICDF, and MOE. Most of the individual scholarships also helped Gambians earn degrees in key areas such as Economics, International Relations, Community policing and drug control, Military training etc. Mr. President the Gambia Taiwan relationship was fruitful as it helped develop and sustain some of the departments making progress in your government. Despite the wasteful demands and mismanagement of funds by the previous government, Taiwan goodwill gestures in cash had helped a lot in maintaining our health sector, agriculture, and national security sector. Mr. President, the majority of these students who have benefitted from these programs are today contributing immensely towards the social economic development of the country.

Mr. President, in a nutshell, Taiwan was paving the way for the Gambia to be self-reliant and realize the productivity of its own people. Finally, Mr. President, it wasn’t a “huge mistake” for the Gambia to establish relations with Taiwan and we will forever be grateful to Taiwan.

Mr. President, I wouldn’t do you justice without asking you a rhetorical question “Weh weh you” Mr. President, when all these were taking place?

Kofi.

Alagi Yorro Jallow

African Presidents lined up to get a doggy biscuit and a pat on the head from the new colonial master. Not nearly enough, because Africa, the richest continent in the world, are watching the recolonization and the “new scramble for African resources” of Africa, courtesy of the new breed African Presidents and the African Union. All this obsequiousness for $60 billion financing for Africa?

 The African Diaspora alone sends a recorded $60 billion annually in remittances to the continent, but the African Union is not smart enough to engage its Sixth Region (the Diaspora) in partnership for development, financing Africa’s infrastructure deficit and investment in Africa?

 Western critics especially the United States and the twin brothers, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group of Chinese investment in Africa are jealous. Now, international experts are mulling over the new Chinese proposals, which some fear will create a new debt trap for many African countries.

The United States, the IMF and the World Bank wish they were the ones leading the Second Scramble for Africa. It’s been sleepless nights in Washington D C where think tanks are sparing no brain cell trying to out-think China. Organizations with Africa Program departments are suddenly alive and alert and not in the least embarrassed about it.

Why African leaders are wrong about Africa -China Partnership: They thinks China is a friend of Africa because it’s not arrogant and pushy like Americans and Europeans. The United States and European Union loans to Africa have strings attached unlike China’s investment in Africa does not come with any political conditions attached and will neither interfere in internal politics nor make demands that people feel are difficult to fulfil. If there’s any African president unaware of the fact that China has eaten Africa for an appetizer, is eating Africa for its main meal, and is preparing to feed on Africa for desert, then those presidents does not deserve a second chance in office. Just to say that those Presidents knew about the nitty-gritty of the deals that look too good in the short-term and they don’t feel like fighting a benevolent scheming power.

Beijing is in active pursuit of new oil and raw materials and mining concessions for its manufacturing sector and Chinese aid will only go to countries that recognize it as the legitimate and only voice of the Chinese people.

What President Adama Barrow’s propagandists are not saying: There’s been new effort to manufacture a legacy for Adama Barrow. He’s being made into a hero for “initiating” exclusive partnership deals with China. They’re not telling you that the Gambia was on China’s crosshairs long ago after former President Yahya Jammeh rescinded diplomatic ties with Taiwan and restored diplomatic relationship with Beijing. For Beijing, it doesn’t matter who got into power. China was going to offer the Gambia a deal and plans to completely control the Gambia’s oil and gas resources as well as its seaport. Unless Gambians smarten up with the next leader. Study up on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and see that the main entry point in Africa is the Gambia. Sri Lanka and Zambia are another key point. Those two countries have already defaulted, and China is taking over its economic sovereignty. The fear is that many African countries will become stuck in a debt trap, undermining economic development, just 13 years after the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, which cancelled debt for countries that met economic-management and poverty-reduction criteria.

The Gambia is also one of the five most indebted nations in terms of money owed to foreign creditors such as IMF and countries like China — a total mounting debt of $ 1. 2 billion which is equivalent to 58 billion (Dalasi); 52 % of which is coming from external source — along with South Africa, Angola, Ethiopia, Zambia and Ghana.

 “China’s investment is often in the form of equipment, materials and a skilled workforce,” the Times newspaper said in an editorial. “But when it comes to paying back the debt it wants hard currency. Failure to pay a debt is already leading China to seize strategic assets in lieu.”

 Malaysia is another point and they got a new leader who’s saying heck no, take back your poisoned chalice China!

The high-level meeting between President Xi of China and 54 African nations, Beijing pledged $60 billion package of loans and aid create a new debt crisis for the continent for vitally needed infrastructure and investment for the African continent. Critics have hit out at China’s plan for $60 billion worth of loans to Africa saying there is a real concern that it could create a new debt crisis.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a development framework built around eight initiatives: Industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges, and peace and security.

The Chinese also pledged to support Africa in achieving food security by 2030, expand exchanges and cooperation in addressing climate change and create a joint peace and security fund. And there was, of course, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — the most ambitious global infrastructure project in history that involves 76 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Beijing suggested, quite reasonably, to formally link BRI with Africa’s continental infrastructure vision.