I am writing this open letter not to sympathies with your ministry; I am doing so, to irritate an urgent reaction from your office, in the wake of what appears to be a serious wane in performance in the recent 2018, West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. I learnt with dismay that over 70% of the Gambian students, who sat for this year’s WASSCE, have miserably failed beyond human imagination. The students failed most of their subjects, particularly English language and Mathematics

Ma, I’m with the conviction, that this piece will trigger a rude awakening in your institution, so it can make a rethink about ways and means of rescuing our already compromised education sector from further calamities.

Besides, I’m fully aware of the laid down agenda in place, however, I am more concerned with facts and realities on hand that have been debilitating performances at schools. These facts are evident and as a concerned citizen, I deem it fit to add my voice to the chorus of advises directed at your office. More often than not, public schools across the country lack learning materials, Teachers on the other hand have been protesting over low salary. These two, though urgent remain unsolved. Now why would you not expect these results to be the way they are?

I believe it is obligatory upon you as a public servant to consider the outcome of the results as a catastrophe facing our educational system and chart a holistic approach that will introduce about competitiveness and seriousness in Schools across the country.

Madam Minister, I am sure that you received advice from all stakeholders on what needs to be done to advance The Gambia’s education system. Unlike rocket science however, almost everyone has an opinion on what works best for a better education sector.

Furthermore, the last time I checked over 50 years since independence, The Gambia as a sovereign nation has not been able to raise technical and vocational schools to the levels with which they can contribute profoundly to the economy. We can draw programs from China, Malaysia, Ethiopia and South Africa that embraced technical education long time ago. Most of these countries now have higher GDPs and per capita income due to the significance with which they gave to technical education long time ago.

I submit to you that the challenges faced by our education sector are like Abubakar Shekau of Boko Haram in Nigeria trying to bomb the White House in America.

Surprisingly enough. The Gambia is yet to be part of the 21st Century through the use of modern technology to ease education. The Gambia have been using chalks and blackboards since the colonial era which reduces teacher confidence and causes a lot of distractions to the teaching learning process.

I am therefore by this letter appealing to your high office to consider switching to the use of white boards and markers to boost teacher confidence in front of the class. A confident teacher is more likely to attract the attention of the students which would go a long way to ensure good grasp of what is being taught in the classroom. The role of education in the age of globalization ought to be to broaden the horizons in the minds of people and there ought to be equal access to opportunities for this exposure.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

Gambia Democratic Congress PRESS RELEASE

The entire membership of the Gambia Democratic Party (GDC) and I, Honourable Mamma Kandeh would like to express our profound and heartfelt condolences to the Jammeh, Bojang and Manga family over the death of Aja Asombi Bojang, who passed away last Friday in Malabo—Equatorial Guinea.

The GDC shares the grief that the former President and his family are feeling and we send to them our prayerful thoughts and sympathetic sentiments at this difficult moment.

May Janatul Firdaws be her final abode—Amen.

Signed: Honourable Kandeh..

It is rather sympathetic and disheartening that most African leaders are of the myopic thoughts that a country could only be developed through the promotion of science and technology, failing to realiz that science and technology cannot effectively take its due in a country which is economically paralyzed and the Gambia is not an exception to this.

This tragic perception was strongly married to by two of Barrow’s predecessors in the names of His Excellency Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and His Excellency Yahya Jammeh, and the Barrow led administration is also following the same trend and yet the development of the country is still snail crawling.

The billion dollar question one might tend to ask is: why is it that the Gambia still remains as one of the poorest countries in the world when her leadership, for almost fifty (50) years, have been at the forefront in the promotion of science and technology?

The simple answer is: science is too expensive; science is all about innovation; hence for any to effectively register unprecedented development, there must be a genuine unprecedented developmental cycle comprising of social scientists, economists, and scientists.

Facts of history taught us that most developed countries today were able to get to the mountain top by making sure that there is “political will”which allows social scientists to enact and make informed policies that helps in resource generation (it is the stage when economic growth starts to take its cause); then the economists ensures that there is sustainability and proper management of the resources generated as a results of the informed policies made by the social scientists; as years pass by, when there is a lot of economic growth, then the resources generated could be used in the promotion of science and technology. Therefore, for science and technology to be able to effectively take its due, both social scientists and economists have a very pivotal role to play. Hence, the belief that a country could only be developed through the promotion of science and technology is a misrepresented one.

Barrow must also strengthen education, especially tertiary institutions with critical focus in the University of the Gambia if he really wants to register sustainable development for the Gambia.  Development as technocrats put it “cannot be sustainable it is it not back by education”. Empowering the University will allow the state to produce technocrats in all spheres of development; from civil engineers, enough professional Nurses and Doctors, professional and a disciplined security force etc. In that, the republic will not rely on the Chinese and Indian engineers for our infrastructural needs; Cuban and Chinese Doctors for our critical health needs, and above all not cross borders for simple treatment.

Barrow again should pay a huge attention to the department of social sciences in schools for they have the cure to the major ills facing our country today which is the cause of our slow development drive.

The sickness that is holding our development process is our parochial political culture. It has caused the current division in the Gambia both politically and socially. In the Gambia, one could deduce that there is no tribalism but there is what we call “political tribalism”. Believ us even Lord Regard or Magret cannot take this country forward with the current political and ethnic misrepresentation.

The political executive should also take full control of the Republic’s sovereign wealth that will support the development process and not only look for loans or aids. The Republic should not put more concentration on the tax base as revenue, but together with the non-tax base of our economy/ national endowed (God giving) wealth.

It is shocking to learn that other mining sites have been given to profit grabbing capitalists at the expense of the state. This is unwise and non-developmental.  All mining of our blessed soil must be control by the state for the benefit of all.

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara in 1975 asserted that

“It is our effort far more than what happened outside the Gambia is the principal determiner of our failure or success” 

In essence, outside efforts are only needed to compliment ours. That is to say, development must be domestic driven.

For example, let’s take the Republic of Burkina Faso as a case study during Thomas Sankara reign from 1983 to 1987. To mark his first year in office, Sankara changed the country’s name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning “the land of the upright people”. In contrast with most African leaders who exploit their country’s merger resources for their personal gains, Thomas Sankara launched upon a series of measures unheard upon the continent, his first move; to cleansed the power structures of all social injustice; he reduced the salaries of ministers and chief public servants starting with his own; he also made sure that public servants were no longer seen in expensive Mercedes but in cheaper cars, not a single privilege remained to government officials; members of the security forces were well trained as per their roles and duties in a Republic, as in one of his famous quotation he said

“A soldier without any political or ideological training is a potential criminal; he ensured that the national endowed wealth was strictly utilized for the development of the state. All the measures taken were geared towards rapid economic growth because Burkina Faso was economically paralyzed when he took over through a coup in 1983.

Measures implemented by Sankara, unreservedly, changed the face of the country. Within four years, he was able to transformed Burkina Faso from being an economically dependent country to an economically independent country; coupled with that, Burkina Faso was able to attained food self-sufficiency during his tenure.

If Burkina Faso was able to attained food self-sufficiency within four years why not the Gambia? It is rather ironical when the Barrow led administration keeps on singing that they inherited a broken economy when the chief servants are scrambling for per diems like the way Europeans where scrambling for colonies during the partition of Africa in 1884.

Thus, if the Barrow led administration wants to paint her name in our history books, then they have to be very much cognizant of the challenges facing our country today. We should know where we came from; where we are; and where we heading to.

In that, appropriate policies should be put in place to help guide the crusade. The Barrow administration must make sure that national interests guide their actions otherwise all lofty presumed developmental hurdles crippling our country shall one day become mere illusions.

May God bless the Gambia.

Sheriffo Sanyang and Sanna Badjie

Political science students

University of The Gambia

Alagi Yorro Jallow

Mamudu: Do not take our silence as cowardice? In a country faced with horrible repression, carried luggage of betrayals, pain, woundedness, cattle rustling, land- grabbing, protesters by youth pro-democracy activists, unemployment and mega-sleaze. Speaking for some inept institutions is an executive urgency? It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “you can tell the greatest of a man by what makes him angry”. Our American-educated Prezzo, some civic education? The basis – the bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law.

We are a country living in such a deep state of collective trauma and the pain of this trauma is beginning to surface through tribalism, misogyny, internalized self-hate, corruption, acceptance for mediocrity etc. We must name things as they are- and name the impact those things have had on us.

Mamudu:  Care to listen to Caroline Kennedy? “We have to have an independent judiciary and judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing”. That is; unless you wish to emulate Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – the rogue of the Equatorial Guinea?

Mamudu: Gambians are a peculiar people. Why are folks catching feelings about some public officers in the previous regime accused in alleged theft of public funds who aided and abetted former president Yahya Jammeh of pillage and plunder as well as extensive corruption, economic atrocities and thievery of our national treasury. It appears the legacy of the former strongman pervades and still inspires pride in the civil service and government of president Adama Barrow.

Instead of due process of the law, President Barrow offered some Yahya’s enablers to run the highest institutions from diplomatic, ministerial and senior government positions who are accused of being thieves? Talk about a suspected or convicted rapist being put in charge of running a rape crisis center.

Mamudu: What did you all expect when you hire former dictator’s enablers to the highest public offices in the land? It’s not like they were accused with stealing chicken feed. They used to be Yahya Jammeh’s most trusted enablers, economic and political hackers. Think about it, you would never in your life employ a house maid or a chauffeur who has even been suspected of stealing from a previous employer or accused of violence against the previous employer and their children, notwithstanding that they were innocent until proven guilty, yet you step outside your goddamn minds and employ those accused of economic crimes to lead your country’s development agenda with governance reforms.

Mamudu:  We should be aiming for good enough governance, selecting a few imperatives from a long list of possibilities that is effective, legitimate, responsive that provides untold benefits, especially when compared to the alternative: inefficient governance, cronyism, and corruption. The conclusion is clear the development agenda and governance reforms of the new government should not be overloaded with unscrupulous bureaucrats or political hacks in government.

Mamudu: You cry that corruption will kill us instead of removing your head from the sand and acknowledging it’s already killing us. You mock God by praying for divine intervention, yet you don’t want to do anything to stop a predatory state from cannibalizing itself and its people. If you want to know what the problem is, look in the mirror. You’re the biggest culprit. You won’t even have an answer when your kids and grandkids ask you, what were you doing when this country went to the dogs? “Fatoumatta knows?”, will probably give you an answer.

Mamudu: Where is the law and due process that is hostage to the corrupt and powerful business and political elite, the country must survive first before the law becomes relevant? The Gambia is a country that has completely normalized dangerous levels of confusion. From the way we do politics, to religion, to education, to healthcare, to public service and even to our daily interaction online and offline- everything is wrapped in confusion. Our tolerance for confusion is so high that I doubt that there is a way out for our generation. Corruption and theft of public funds must stop.

Mamudu: The Janneh Commission of Inquiry set up to probe into the assets tied to Yahya Jammeh and some of his close associates under his alleged directives appears to be troubling with revelations that have left many people wondering whether those enablers deserved employment in this new government.

In Kenya many years ago, a Central Bank Governor was imprisoned for accepting unlawful instructions from his then President. The President [then out of office] denied he issued such an instruction. The Central Bank governor died in prison.

Mamudu: In my view, the government need to enact for legislation that impose harsh penalties on educated professional civil servants and ministers who accept unlawful instructions which are detrimental to the national interests.
Why not the Janneh Commission of Inquiry offer them a 90-day amnesty to all Yahya enablers to come forward and report all unlawful instructions they received from the APRC administration. Now that would put the proverbial “cat amongst the pigeons”! Hearings could be held by special courts in camera, under the protection of the National Assembly.
This would be a game changer and then those innocents could be allowing to work in government. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last until you stop it.

Finally, we must refuse to glorify bad governance in whatever form it manifests itself. We must remember that those in political power rely on you being broken, fragmented, being traumatized and being completely disconnected from your humanity to help propagate their violent neoliberal agenda.

Following his recent appointment and after taking the prescribed oath of office as the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, on behalf of the Central Committee and the entire membership, and sympathisers of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and on my own behalf as the Party National President, I feel highly honoured to most humbly and sincerely congratulate H.E A.N.M Ousainou Darboe the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia and the Leader and Secretary General of UDP for the new post and to profusely thank  H.E Adama Barrow President of The Republic of The Gambia for the trust and confidence he has bestowed on our party leader.

United Democratic Party since 1996 under his wise and able leadership, remains a vibrant and dedicated political party committed to the principles of democracy and rule of law in the strive to attain the new Gambia that we all cherish. UDP played an important role in the struggle to end the tyranny and dictatorship that characterised the former regime. The Fass standoff in 2015 and the 16th April 2016 peaceful demonstration by the UDP leaderships, clearly signalled the party’s total determination to end the two decades of oppression and suppression in the country come December 2016 Presidential Elections.

For the purpose of clarity, prior to his arrest and imprisonment, the Secretary General and Leader of UDP took a leading role in reactivating the Gambia Oppositions for Electoral Reforms (GOFER) and served as chairman. The group that later formed a coalition of seven opposition parties plus an Independent Presidential Aspirant and defeated the former ruling party in the 1st December 2016 poll whilst he Darboe was in prison. The rest of the UDP Executive members who stayed behind on April 16, acted as instructed by the leader to continue the struggle in the event anything happened to them. UDP as a party stood firm in solidarity with Darboe and co during the trial until their conviction and sentence before taking the political front to ensure the change of government and their release.

After consultation with my humble self, Hon. Halifa Sallah the Secretary General and Leader of PDOIS, convened a Conference of Presidential Candidates at Kairaba Beach Hotel to map out the strategies to select a single opposition candidate which involved only presidential candidates or their representatives. At its second meeting, a conference of GOFER was proposed and agreed to and also for the opposition parties that were non-GOFER members to be included as well. Two civil society organisations and two Independent National Assembly Members who were also in the struggle to unite the opposition parties were also invited to be part of the conference upon their requests. Henceforth, the third meeting comprised GOFER and the team of the Independent Aspirant Dr. Isatou Touray plus two civil society groups (The Concerned Citizens led by Madame Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang and the Inter-Party Committee for Opposition Unification led by Kebba Singhateh) and Hon. Buba Aye Sanneh and Hon. Muhammed Magassey. I was unanimously chosen as the Chairman in the absence of Ousainou Darboe. At our subsequent meeting I proposed that Madame Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang assist me as Co-Chair which was accepted. As the parties could not come to terms on a single candidate but decided to go for convention, I proposed that Madame Tambajang preside over the convention and the meetings there after as Chairperson. However, I remain as Co-Chair.

To conclude, I thank each and every political party, group or individuals for their efforts in effecting the change and the services they have rendered to the government of President Adama Barrow in one way or the other. I wish H.E Vice President Darboe good health, long life and success in his new office. I pray for H.E President Barrow long life, good health and for Almighty Allah to grant him wisdom and guidance to govern this country.

……………………………………………………

Hon. Dembo Bojang

National President UDP

By Fatou Sanneh

The new National Women’s Council was inaugurated on Monday, July 30 at kairaba beach hotel, Senegambia. The council consists of women councillors from all around the country.

The council was created by an act of Parliament in 1980 to serve as an advisory body to the government on women issues such as gender equality, women’s right as well as enhancing economical and social growth of women in the country, especially the rural women.

The vice president and minister of women’s affairs, his Excellency Ousainou Darboe, graced the event. He assured the council of his office’s unflinching support in making sure that women are empowered politically , socially and economically.

The 38th women’s council is expected to continue the work of empowering and promoting women issues in the country. The new council has prepared an action plan for the first time in the history of the country, this action plan will serve as a guide to achieving the council’s goals during their tenure.

The resident representative, UNDP, Mrs Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje, advised the national women’s council to use the opportunity of the new democratic dispensation to further advance women’s agenda and ensure that both government and society are accountable on gender issues.

State House, Banjul, 31 July, 2018

President Adama Barrow has called on his colleague heads of state in ECOWAS and the East Africa Economic Community (ECCAS) to send a clear message of warning to all extremist groups that the blocs are united and resolute in fighting and defeating terrorists and criminals.

The President is currently in Togo to participate in the joint ECOWAS-ECCAS SUMMIT on Peace, Security, and the fight against Terrorism and Violent Extremism. “We are resolute in our pursuit of and the elimination of all threats to our security,” the President indicated, in presenting his government’s position on the topic of terrorism and violent extremism.

“Certainly, the subject of peace and security is so important because no region or country can achieve development and prosperity when the tenets of peace are eroded, and when instability, violent extremism and terrorism are allowed to flourish,” he said.

President Barrow also commended experts and ministers of the two regional economic blocs for their extensive deliberations on the innovative measures that could be implemented towards making the two regions more secure, safer and peaceful. It means they can also be better equipped or prepared to pursue desirable economic prosperity through sustainable transformations.

Gambia is a beneficiary of ECOWAS’s actions to restore peace and tranquility in the aftermath of the Presidential elections in December 2016. Hence the President assured the Summit of his government’s readiness to work collaboratively with both ECOWAS and ECCAS towards implementing the recommendations that have emerged.

Dr. Omar Janneh (Phd)

Yes, we need justice and we need it NOW, but critical analysis of the events over many months suggests that in seeking to document, address through reparations the heinous rights abuses of some 22 years of brutality under Jammeh, we must proceed with caution. We must be confident that we can address potential security, and apparent capacity (e.g., competency issues) challenges before we embark on a process as complex as the TRRC.

When the reports of the continuous injustice – unlawful arrests, beatings, violations of human rights, land disputes, and unjustified use of lethal weapons on unarmed civilians by the security services (who we cannot yet trust) and with some instances of civilians taking the law into their own hands with bloody consequences are put into context, the conclusion I reach time and again is that we are not yet ready to embark on the TRRC. Indeed, one would be justified in asking if this government has the moral authority to preside over such an exercise, given that these events are happening under its watch and or elements within it may be complicit in these crimes. In other words, as time goes by, we see apparent signs that some individuals who may well have some questions to answer for the wrong doings of the former regime have reconciled with this government or vice versa. Is this not a mockery of the work of the Commission? This tells me we are yet to have individual(s) with the correct educational qualifications and skills and with limited or no conflict of interest to oversee the work of the Commission.

A poorly managed TRRC could create far more social unrest than we already have. The reason is that this government is not yet able to recognise and deal with the most basic of issues, i.e., security, affecting its own existence never mind preside over such a complex matter. This begs the question, is the copycat state truly at it again? Further, the manner in which it goes about appointing individuals to the Commission are non-competitive, in cases where it should have been (TRRC Act, sections 22(7) and 24(1) or do not follow the spirit of the TRRC Act, 2017; section 24(4)(b). If we cannot even follow these very basic processes properly, is there any chance that the TRRC can be successfully executed to deliver restorative justice?

Indeed, I wonder if we have the capacity to support the victims and their families (TRRC Act, 2017; sections 34-35). For example, can we do enough to adequately provide psychotherapy and psychosocial support for the victims, protect the perpetrators, informants and witnesses (TRRC Act, 2017; sections 34(3)(a) &(b); section 35), etc.? It is my view that verification of the many and potentially varied rights abuses would require experts that may not be easily sourced and composed (TRRC Act, 2017; section 20(1). This work needs much more than listening to the victims’ claims of rights abuses and taking notes. Needless to say, it also needs victim-centred counselling for the rights abuses which may need to be addressed in a tribe-centric manner; what if children dragged into the Commission’s work [TRRC Act, 2017; sections 34(3)(a) & (b) and 35(3)]? In order to do some of that work more effectively, it is important to recruit highly-skilled personnel – it may well be necessary for such individuals to speak the language of the affected individuals, rather than rely on (untrained) interpreters and unskilled personnel. It is my hunch that without adequate safeguards, the process could be ugly and crude: a victim recounts his/her (horrific) story, notes are taken/recorded, etc. and s/he is left unsupported or with minimal support for days and weeks. It is a sad fact that our attitude to the urgency of time needs a radical calibration.

It is my view that unless we can have confidence in the security services, embarking on the TRRC will be a big mistake. Of course I get it that the victims of Jammeh’s 22 years of tyranny want to see justice served and justifiably want to see it served now. However, what this government must do is to make sure that it meets the expectations of the people by doing the right thing in the right manner. As I see it, we do not yet have the capacity to embark on the TRRC. The security concerns make it a particularly toxic and risky exercise to embark on.

Further, I worry and wonder in equal measure if we have sufficient attitudinal transformation in the country to allow democracy and the rule of law to prevail. This may be alarmist, but please allow me to explore this scenario with you: Given the security challenges we have had for some time which shows little or no sign of easing, I wonder what would be one’s reaction if it became apparent during the TRRC, for the first time, that a family member did not only endure beatings, but was subjected to other serious (and perhaps repeated rights abuses) than was previously known to the family – you are at liberty to allow your imagination to take you places or not (TRRC Act, 2017; section 15(4)(b). As the current climate appears to tolerate individuals taking the law into one’s hands, how would affected individuals or their families react if they could come in contact with the perpetrator(s) of that crime – having just recounted the wrong doing? Among the many issues this government inherited which required urgent attention, stabilising our security challenges should have been at the top of its list of things to do, before touching such a complex and potentially toxic project we have no capacity to deal with. Of course, stabilising our security challenges is a massive task, which will take time to address. And understandably many affected individuals do not have the appetite to wait and allow the security issues to be addressed before the TRRC can begin its work and offer reparations/justice to the victims, which may hopefully offer the nation the opportunity to heal, and say never again.

And when I hear of exhumations, I shudder and also wonder if we have the necessary resources, expertise and support for the individual(s) involved in such exercises. Do/will the staff involved in such difficult work have the necessary training and professionalism to painstakingly look for and document the evidence in detail [TRRC Act, 2017; section 14(1)(a-e)]? Will they ensure that the remains of the victims are given the dignity they deserve pre and post investigations? In fact, are any of the suspected burial sites/crime scenes (being) protected [TRRC Act, 2017; sections 14(1)(f) & 15]? Forgive me for repeating: The work of the Commission cannot be considered professional if the appointments to the Commission do not follow the spirit of the TRRC Act, 2017. There is much to be desired in the appointments made so far (TRRC Act, 2017; consider sections 22 and 24(1) & (2). If we embark on the TRRC without the necessary safeguards in place, and it goes wrong as it is very likely to, it may tear apart the very fabric of the foundation of our new democracy or be a total waste of public funds which could be spent elsewhere. Without adequately addressing the security challenges and increasing our capacity to do this complex work well, embarking on the TRRC now will be tantamount to putting the cart before the horse with potentially explosive consequences. Is it worth the risk? Are there other sound and legal instruments that can be used to try the rights abuses – do we not know many of the victims, the perpetrators of the crimes and those who aided and abetted in the crimes? If we must do the TRRC, it is not too late to rethink the timing of it so that we can do it well.

A lot has been said in the past few days about the accusations Pres. Adama Barrow levelled against some ‘unknown’ journalists. He claimed that they approached him and asked him to give them money so that they can write and say good things about him. Many analysts and commentators see this statement as worrying indeed and have raised concerns over its possible repercussions on the media and the free press.

Freedom of expression and of the media are the cornerstones of a democratic society. Indeed, it is safe to say that without a free press there is no democracy. It is equally true that without a free and vibrant press no country can progress. The media has therefore been referred to as the fourth estate in a democracy, and rightly so.

This is why this statement and recent events in the country have cast doubt on the president’s and the government’s readiness to tackle the issue of corruption and malfeasance. These two – corruption and malfeasance – are a cancer which can derail the progress of any nation and put its citizens on a path of want and extreme poverty.

I mean some journalists can be scrofulous like any other human being but then when they are found to have behaved unethically, the person they approached or showed that proclivity will then have a moral – if not legal – responsibility to hold them to account. In such a case, the person should report the illegal act to the authorities for necessary action. Thus, I contend that Pres. Barrow should name those journalists who did that heinous act.

In a case where he doesn’t (name these people) due to some sense of wishing to shield them from the wrath of the law, or the people, he would be compromising the relationship between the media and the masses. He would thus be participating in eroding the integrity of all journalists which will weaken the media, impacting negatively on their ability to hold government to account.

The possibility of this happening should propel the Gambia Press Union to look inwards and scrutinize their members and see if indeed some of them have behaved in an unseemly manner. It should prick the collective conscience of the media fraternity into trying to find ways of ensuring that they hold to account any among them who crosses the ethical line so as to safeguard their reputation. Perhaps they should review the way that they admit journalists into their fold.

This case, if left to go like that, will serve as a harbinger of bad times for not only the media but also the nation. As I always say, it is the media that stands between us (the citizenry) and abuse of power, corruption, malfeasance and total disregard of the rule of law. If we don’t have the media to check officials, then we are doomed.

The other thing that can have serious consequences on our development and democracy is the issue of the president realizing that someone is doing something wrong and then relieving him/her from office and not bringing out whatever the individual might have done. For instance, a few months ago, Pres. Barrow relieved Mai Ahmad Fatty, the erstwhile minister of the Interior but did not tell us why. A few weeks ago, an official from Statehouse said in one of the newspapers that if he (Fatty) does not keep quiet, they will spill the beans.

This innuendo suggests that Mr Mai Ahmad Fatty was guilty of doing something that was wrong, but they did not go into detail of what is was. Herein lies another action which can undermine accountability. Again, we were told that there was corruption at the Ministry of Agriculture as expired fertilizer was sold and officials there were accused of it. These included the minister in the accusation. Whether that was true or not we may never know because even the investigation that was said to have been conducted was never made public.

These actions are inimical to accountability and transparency. The president has to take the lead and show a culture of transparency so that the rest of the nation can follow. Sunshine, it is said, is the best detergent.

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing into the Faraba incident has on Monday, July 30 visited sites at the village and interviewed some residents.

It could be recalled that the Faraba incident resulted in the death of 3 youths and caused serious injuries and destruction of properties. According to the villagers, it emanated from a sand mining deal contracted to a private businessman, Ansumana Marena alias Julakay without their consent.

Emmanuel Joof, Chairman of the Commission informed The Fatu Network that they have visited the village three times and interviewed several people.

“Today we will talk to women who have rice fields at the sand quarry,” Chairman Joof said.

Before their visit to the women’s rice fields at the quarry, the Commissioners went to inspect vandalised properties of the chief, the village head and some elders amongst others.

Chief Sanyang’s three bedroom was allegedly vandalised with glass windows, household items, mattresses and dressing cupboards taken out and burnt to ashes.

The house of Jung Conteh, former Chief and National Assembly Member was entirely burnt. His car was also burnt to scrap.

The house of Malanding Jambawutu Sanyang, one of the village elders was burnt down, household materials burnt at the bantaba and money stolen from the house.

Meanwhile, the commissioners went with the women to their rice fields where they took turns in explaining how the quarry is affecting their fields. Some of these women gave evidences before the commission presided by Emmanuel Joof.

The recent remarks by the Vice President Ousainou Darboe against social media because of fake news and unpleasant criticisms against individuals is indeed a huge concern as it could lead to the Government restricting social media. For that matter all citizens must be alert in defending a free social media. While we agree that there are fake news and some individuals do engage in nasty behaviour on social media we must however not allow any Government attempt to limit or close social media in the Gambia in anyway. The remark by VP Darboe is not new in Africa where some governments have already restricted access to social media.

For example, in April 2018 the Government of Tanzania imposed a law that requires online radio and TV stations as well as bloggers to register. In this month, July 2018 alone, the Ugandan Government created a new law that imposes a daily tax, (200 Ugandan shillings) for anyone to use Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any other social media platform. Two weeks later we saw a similar law in Egypt where any individual with a following of more than 5000 people on social media will be considered a media outlet and therefore to register accordingly. With the use of taxes and registration it means the governments of Uganda, Egypt and Tanzania have severely curtailed the right of citizens to access and use social media. We must not allow those draconian laws to come to the Gambia.

I totally condemn fake news and insults on social media. But I also totally condemn attempts by any government to use laws in various ways just to limit the use of social media. The impact of such laws is far greater than the impact of fake news and insults. It must be recognized that many other governments and citizens in general employ better measures to confront fake news and foul language than to outrightly impose restrictions.

When we impose such restrictions, the impact goes beyond fake news and insults. Rather such restrictions go further to limit genuine users of social media. Furthermore, such limitations also deny the benefits that social media brings to citizens. For example, through social media, citizens have been able to find jobs, obtain education or healthcare, expose abuse, corruption and seek justice and protect vulnerable people among other good causes and opportunities while within the confines of their homes, schools, work places or communities.

With all of its negative aspects, social media has shown that it is the greatest single tool in the hands of ordinary citizens to bring about lifetime changes both at the personal level as well as community level. We can all recall the huge role and contribution of social media in the Arab Spring that ended up freeing millions of people from the clutches of decades of tyranny, poverty and deprivation.

In the Gambia itself, social media was the major deciding factor in empowering the Coalition and citizens to defeat tyranny. Through Facebook, WhatsApp forums and online radio stations, Gambians were able to mobilise voters, resources and share information that the APRC Dictatorship never wanted to reach citizens. While that regime controlled or closed down several media houses in the Gambia, social media became the only avenue through which Gambians got to hear and see the reality of their country.

Hence the Coalition Government and our political parties and politicians including Ousainou Darboe himself became major beneficiaries of social media. For that matter, we cannot come this far only for Darboe to now express discomfort with social media just because of the unpleasant criticisms against him or the government.

What we need to inform Darboe about is that most of the unpleasant language spewed over social media against politicians is indeed the fault of the politicians and their parties themselves. Those who perpetrate such bad language are usually and generally party supporters, sympathizers and surrogates. Furthermore, party leaders have seen such language being used by their supporters against their opponents, but they did very little to address it.

We have not seen any party issue a policy or code of conduct for its members on the use of language in politics. We have not seen any party reprimand or dismiss any supporter for using foul language on social media. We have not seen any party issue an apology to citizens or other parties or leaders for the foul language used by its supporters.

While in the past we have seen few of the party leaders such as Darboe himself make appeals to their members to exercise decorum, but the fact remains that not enough measures have been taken by these parties or leaders to discipline its uncouth members. For example, what has APRC done to reprimand Omar Touray since his nasty outburst against the person of Adama Barrow and Ousainou Darboe? Nada!

Hence what we should propose to Darboe is rather than seek to threaten citizens’ rights to use and enjoy social media let him use his leadership and party laws and structures to inculcate discipline within their ranks. If these policies, laws or structures do not exist in one’s party then create them. If UDP takes such leadership and responsibility I have no doubts that other parties will also emulate. If they fail, citizens must be able to impress on those parties to also do the same.

Social media must be left free, open and accessible to all Gambians as it is, at all times. The Gambia Government must not take the path of Tanzania, Uganda or Egypt to restrict access and use of social media. Any attempt toward that direction will only lead this country to yet another dictatorship sooner than later. It will place government institutions, public officials, political parties and leaders above public scrutiny which is a recipe for corruption, abuse of office and poor performance.

Let our Government and political parties adopt the practice of issuing rejoinders or rebuttals or condemn any abuse on social media rather than to seek to limit social media. Social media is the only peaceful, nonviolent and legitimate weapon citizens have to hold the government, political parties, politicians and indeed everyone in our society to account despite its shortcomings.

Stand up and defend a free, open, and an unrestricted social media in the Gambia.

For the Gambia Our homeland.

State House, Banjul, 29 July, 2018

President Adama Barrow has promised the Mayors or Kanifing and Banjul that his government will do a massive roads, drainage and sewage construction exercise that will help the cities’ transformation and ease challenges to roll out their respective development plans.

The President said he has a got personal connection to the capital city giving that he has lived and work there both as a student and a businessman. Those experiences, he added, exposed him to the first hand environmental and infrastructural problems that Banjulians grapple with on daily basis. “The problems of Banjul can all be summed up into three: roads, drainage and sewage’’.

President Barrow revealed that the issue of Banjul has been always been his priority in terms of development: “In fact, when I assumed office, I wanted to bring an international real estate investor to lease out Banjul for a complete reconstruction of the city… But such a project will take time and planning. In the meantime, the Ministry of Works, through Gamworks, has already contracted projects for roads’ construction in Banjul’’.

While stating that he would ever remain grateful to the people of the city for making him the first Presidential opposition candidate to win there, the president assured the Lady Mayor that, being the first female mayor-elect in the history of Gambia, the government will stand by her in drives to realize her dreams for Banjul.

Mayors Rohey Malick Lowe and Talib Bensouda both decried the low standards of infrastructure they inherited as newly elected representatives, and managing them has overwhelmed their current capabilities. The two mayors had their turns to discuss these with President Barrow at the end of the countrywide tour that took him to remotest settlements in The Gambia and back.

“KMC has a half million population. We have entire Gambia residing in this municipality. We deserve to be the best city in this country. I am appealing that 90 per cent of all urban road contracts signed by President for the OIC Summit be constructed in this city,” Mayor Bensouda said at the Buffer one meeting to the President Barrow.

Mayor Lowe complained that a series of government agencies and ministries that are based in the capital do not honor their obligation of paying tax, and contribute no percentage of their revenues to the city’s development. Thus, she requested the president’s intervention in ameliorating the problem.

Minister for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, Bai Lamin Jobe assured the Mayor of Banjul of government support with roads, drainage and sewage. “Banjul receives 100, 000 visitors daily – excluding the Niumis and the Badibus. All of them produce garbage yet pay no taxes towards its management,” Minister Jobe said.

The Minister explained that the Banjul-Barra Bridge is a mega-continental project that was designed from the level of the African Union. It is meant to connect Banjul with other sub regional cities, open the continent for trade and expand commerce. Hence the Banjulians must take the project serious.

State House, Banjul, 28 July, 2018

Following news of the demise of Aja Asombi Bojang, the mother of former President Yahya Jammeh, His Excellency President Mr. Adama Barrow, on behalf of the people of the Republic of The Gambia, the first family, and on his own behalf, expresses condolences to the family of the deceased.

According to family sources, she passed away in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. While expressing his heartfelt condolences to the family, President Barrow prays for Allah to grant her eternal peace.

State House, Banjul, 29 July 2018

Following a brief inspection tour of the infamous Bakoteh dumpsite, His Excellency President Adama Barrow has suggested a lasting, sustainable solution to the environmental hazard posed by the waste disposal ground. He said the satellite communities suffer a great deal from the dangers of the dumpsite, not least the children’s orphanage just opposite it.

His cabinet members accompanying him to the dumpsite included Dr. Isatou Touray, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Lamin N. Dibba, Minister for Agriculture, Claudiana Cole, and Minister for Education, among other top government officials. The Mayor and his Senior Management Team were also at hand and they engaged in fruitful exchanges on the way forward.

“It is best if we hire a consultant to conduct a study and call a consultative workshop to map out a solution,” President Barrow said, telling the Mayor not to despair as promises made during campaigns come face-to-face with realities once in office. In the informal conversation that ensued between the President and Municipal officials, a visibly concerned President Barrow even proffered recycling of the waste into organic manure as an eco-friendly solution to the problem.

Speaking at a meeting held at Buffer Zone, the Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Ahmed Talib Bensouda, said government’s support in handling the issue of the Bakoteh dumpsite is quite urgent. According to him, the Municipality is host to half-a-million people, with 50, 000 households.

Mayor Bensouda described President Barrow’s visit to the dumpsite “historic” as no other Gambian head of state ever did it despite reaching a crisis situation over a decade ago. The President wrapped his nationwide tour with meetings in the cities of Kanifing and Banjul.

“Waste management is our biggest problem in the municipality… KMC used to have a fleet of 30 tractors. Now, it is just 12 to serve the half-million residents,” Mayor Bensouda decried. He explained that is why the council needs government’s help to control the indiscriminate dumping around the city. The waste also clutters gutters and causes flooding, which is a source of public health menace when it rots within communities, he said.

“It costs the municipality D200, 000 per week to clear illegal dumpsites. This is why we are trying to acquire the 35 tractors under the jurisdiction of the Commission of Inquiry. When we do, it will create 1,000 jobs and facilitate door-to-door collection of waste in the municipality,” he added.

In Banjul on Friday, Mayoress Rohey Lowe lamented similar waste situations. Minister of Local Government, Musa Drammeh revealed that a site has been identified around the coastal settlement of Sanyang for a new waste dumpsite. Minister Drammeh assred that the new site will not only be used for a dumpsite but also as a recycling facility for a sustainable management.

Dear Editor,

May I indulge your attention to the recently announced WAEC exams report for The Gambia making waves online. From what one gathers thus far, I’m afraid the results aren’t good enough, further reflecting poorly on the country’s overall image.

I am stunningly disappointed and quite frankly betrayed for the worst exams results of its kind in the subregion, being a source of major embarrasment to government and people. Even more surprising is the fact that gocernment has being silent on the issue, still yet to address CRISIS and REFORM in the country’s Educational system???

One would have thought ‘His Excellency, the president’, will have addressed issues therein by now, or at least the Education minister bother with a press conferences or speech on the matter. What is going on, and why is the domestic media silent on failures within education???

From an intellectual standpoint, ‘silence’ should never be normalised or allow to fester in a true democrati system. What that means or ask simply amounts to curiosity, asking questions and to demand answers in a true democratic fashion. Government is about processes, and that each jolt to the bolt has roles, explicitly specified or not, to contribute in the smooth flow of the government machinery.

So the question to the administrators tonight really boils down to this: What are your plans or resolve to fix holes in Gambia’s education system, so that the system works better for the students and teachers alike – so that our young people may compete on a level playing field with their contemporaries in the region and around the world. Today, Gambian students and educators aren’t getting a fair deal, because government doesn’t care enough or just do not get it. The Gambian public need to respect the crucial role our teachers, nurses and police continue to exercise in this new dispensation and Honour them high, please!!!

Mr president, Education minister(s), will you allay public concerns hold a press conference on the urgency of the matter??? Ultimately, admitting failures whilst striving to learn from mistakes improve for the better doesn’t signal weakness – That is what Leadership is all about!!!

Gibril saine

Anguish to the nation that succumbs to cynicism. It is a poison that suffocates hope, extinguishes the light of intelligence, and severs the common bonds of humanity. I fear we are facing an epidemic of cynicism in the Gambia and it is an infection that could put our democracy on life support.

President Adama Barrow is not an angel. Adama Barrow is not beyond criticism, especially when he has influence and power. We’re citizens, not subjects. We have the right to criticize government without fear. President Barrow, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism” and “unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth”.  Adama Barrow unless you are an enemy of truth, you should be able to handle criticism. Unless Gambians being told you are a sourpuss and a weakling that must be protected from criticism.

President Barrow, former American president John F. Kennedy eloquently opined decades ago that “without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed — and no republic can survive”. That is why the Athenian law maker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. Teddy Roosevelt chronicled on freedom of expression and of the press in 1918: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about anyone else.”President Adama Barrow, had you not stepped in the State House no one would have made noise about you or criticize you. Adama Barrow, the right to criticize public officials is clearly established. Additionally, the right to speak at public forums or designated public forums free of content-based restrictions is also clearly established in our democracy.

I believe that when citizens lack even the most fundamental access to what its governments are doing in their names, then they cease to be involved in the act of citizenship. There is a bright distinction between citizens, who have rights and privileges protected by the state, and subjects, who are under the complete control and authority of the state.

A leader should not be cynical, but skeptical and mature. There is only one president in the country. If one occupies that seat at the State House, he ceases to be an ordinary citizen and becomes an extraordinary person. That means he loses the right to do the things that ordinary people do, like affirming their rights in a world that denies them. If one is president, his job is to defend the rights of all ordinary citizens, not to claim those rights for himself. That’s what a tragic consciousness means. President Barrow, you suffer because your suffering matters. A leader who doesn’t have a tragic consciousness, who whines “even me… me.. me…” is puerile, to say the least. Adama Barrow, if you don’t want to be criticized by the Gambian Diaspora critics on social media, Mr. President, you should vacate the office. Only then your voice will be credible. Why you be afraid to be criticized. Mr. President?

President Barrow, you tell Gambians that you are a victim of oppression by social media from the Diaspora community, and because you never used to be a victim like other politicians. But, politicians like you are screwing up our hospitals and schools as they seek treatment abroad and send their children to private schools. So, Mr. President Barrow, Gambians have the right to criticize you, your government, your policies and your style of governance, if we want, but you don’t have the right to be mad at Gambians considering that you are not an ordinary person. President Barrow, your responsibility is to accept criticism in good faith and defend your integrity, not be a sourpuss. Adama Barrow, you lost the right to ridicule the Gambians in the Diaspora when you and your coalition partners accepted to use our campaign fund contributions for your elections.

What is expected of Diaspora citizenship: One of the role of Diaspora citizenship is to be skeptical but not cynical. And it turns out this approach to life doesn’t just benefit Diaspora citizenship. I have heard some version of it from lawyers, sociologists, scientists, economists, judges, great leaders and so many others.

Webster dictionary defines “cynical” as: “believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest.”

Webster’s defines “skeptical” as “having or expressing doubt about something (such as a claim or statement).” That seemed to be the job of a leader and a good citizen, saying “I hear what you have to say but I am going to check it out.” I was happy to march under the banner of skepticism, and I have ever since.

 Cynicism is a downward spiral. Skepticism is a healthy way to find truth in a complex world. And yet today, we, as a nation, are in danger of losing the battle to cynicism. We have a broken government because some have decided to play to cynicism for their own political gain. We have a press corps that has too often confused cynical slogans with prescient analysis. We have had the motives of experts from science and industry challenged with cynicism by those who do not like the conclusions based on fact.

I believe that when citizens lack even the most fundamental access to what its governments are doing in their names, then they cease to be involved in the act of citizenship. There is a bright distinction between citizens, who have rights and privileges protected by the state, and subjects, who are under the complete control and authority of the state.

 President Barrow the Gambia urgently needs legislation to protect the public’s right to know, free speech and a free press, to protect them from the actions of the executive branch and to promote the integrity and transparency of government. These measures would go far – toward ensuring that citizens can continue to be able to question and criticize their government without fear of being publicly humiliated and prosecuted by their government. It would also set a clear example to the rest of the world that, the Gambia is a truly modern democratic republic, the suppression of dissent and sources by criminal prosecutions cannot be tolerated. The Gambia shall no longer be a repressive government.