Alagi Yorro Jallow

Everyone is gifted in speaking from both sides of the mouth. To succeed, it is a talent you must learn if it did not come as a gift from nature. The more notorious or demagoguery one appears, the more volume to wiggle your tongue either way on issues. We flip flop on issues depending on the size of the pay check or self-interest.

 President Adama Barrow like addressing issues peripheral to our daily existence. And we cheer him with glee. Today, Gambian youth are crying against unemployment and subjugation by politicians in our own country for survival. Gambians should be equally asking why we must be paying million in dollars every month for external debt servicing in next decades, on top of the expensive loans for constructions and rolling stock of Bretton woods and Chinese loans.

How is it that the construction of sixty mosques in the country seems not to have tickled president Barrow’s conscience within the last few weeks or so. Where is our national pride? Where is this animal called “Patriotism”?

 The Gambia is in urgent need of inspiration. If our rallying call is the “hustler” mentality, we are going to mislead a whole generation. The Gambia is in urgent need of genuine, honest and accountable leadership. This country needs hope and healing. Unfortunately, I do not see that in this man. I see a man in a hurry to make his point. I see an agitated man more visible than a president of the republic of the Gambia. I see a self-preservationist. I see political machinations. I see no servant leadership in this President.

The Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) has run outin the areas of essential drugs and medicines, health technologies, and human resources for health, also ran out of Herceptin, an essential drug provided to cancer patients in government hospitals for free. Why are we not engaged on the issues that are of concern to Gambians? What is this trans-formative nonsense about “change” and “development” if the sick cannot access healthcare and live in dignity? Who are we building these “mosques” for?

Why are we busy pontificating about imaginary political debts (rather than discussing our ballooning foreign debt) and justifying our empty rhetoric using the Holy Quran? This toxic mix of faux religion and politics will drive the country to the trenches. And the religious clerics seems to be the most recent endorser of this tightly knit club called “donations” from unexplained sources. Our mosques are a story for another day. If we do these mosque projects for another few years, we might be stating at an IMF bailout. If you think I am hallucinating, read Greece.

Religion have largely failed being positive examples in the country over the last decades. For many, especially in the third world, religion is nothing more but a coping mechanism to deal with the challenges of day to day life.

In public we present images of piety. Away from the confines of religion, we are very different people. And because of this duplicity, both Christianity and Islam are fast becoming nothing but a “fashionable” lifestyle. From the manner and content of “gospel” music and Islamic hymns, deceptive, manipulative preachers making a living from fake miracles in worship places and the clerics consorting with corrupt politicians.

The moral authority of Churches and Mosques is quickly eroding. Not only in the Gambia. Even in places like the US many people are questioning conservative politics that is corrupting Evangelicalism in support of Donald Trump. This brand of politicized Christianity, just like politicized Islam, does not have the intend spiritual impact towards human behavior. Instead, it creates religious bigots and politicians. ISIS is politicized Islam. Pastor John Hagee, the man who advocates for the killing of Palestinian women and children by Israel is nothing more than a bible quoting politician. And when we are unable to impact behavior through the wholesomeness of spiritual teachings and our own lives as examples, we resort to building appearances belong to the realm of politics. We have failed to plant conviction in the hearts of men and women, so we use religious coercion.

This trait is alive and well in our politicians as well as many “know nothings” roaming the streets. Supporters of the Barrow Youth Foundation for Development has always been duplicitous. They will openly condemn corruption in government, yet at the same time support its looting leadership. The same duplicity can be found in their social media postings constantly tweeting “Progressiveness”, yet they are part of the “system” that the fiery tweets from “idle, unemployed, disturbed youths” seek to tame.

There are still some supercharged fellows typing Barrow Youth Movement for Development. But again, our ballot induced psychosis and tribal mass hysteria could make him second term President. Voting without conscious thought, then complain later. What will be different then? I am still waiting for that son or daughter of the Gambia, irrespective of where they come from, who will convince me that they deserve my vote. I say this with the full knowledge that I only have one vote. Rest assured that I will not waste it on charlatans. The guy who collectively bewitched us died with together with the antidote.

Effective communication is said to be one of the most important components of governance. In fact, a good commination strategy can make a government appear to be doing far more than it is actually doing. It can present a government as having great achievements when in fact it’s not doing much. Any government that wants to succeed therefore must have a very good and effective communication strategy.

The current government; however, is having serious problems of communication. We observe repeatedly how this government does blunders in the area of communicating with the people. When something happens, we often hear the Press Secretary, Office of the President Amie Bojang-Sissokho make muddy the waters more in interviews.

For instance, when government appointed a spokesperson, it was announced on Gambia Radio and Television Services and carried by some of the newspapers in the country. Almost a week later, Mrs Bojang-Sisokho denied knowledge of the appointment in her weekly press briefings. People wondered how the president can appoint someone and his press secretary is not aware. This was later clarified by the minister of Information of national television.

Having appointed a Government Spokesperson in the person of Ebrima G. Sankareh, one would have thought that it will transform the way that government communicates with the people. However, since his appointment, Mr Sankareh has issued two press releases which raised more questions than they answered.

The first one was in response to leaked audios of former president Yahya Jammeh and his lieutenants here in the country. This was a completely unnecessary response as it just went into a diatribe against the APRC party which can even widen the gap between that party and the rest of the country. It would have sufficed to notify the International Community of this and ignore the rest.

The second one – released yesterday – was full of misinformation and deceit. Mr Sankareh failed to get the facts right and tried instead to window dress the issue of President Barrow announcing that he will construct sixty mosques every year. He tried to pin that down on the Barrow Youth Movement which was not actually what happened.

I had an argument with an American lady last year when she said that it is the press that is tarnishing the reputation of Donald Trump. I said that instead, it was Donald Trump who was tarnishing the image of Donald Trump in his tweets and other engagements with the media. Similarly, if Mr Sankareh really wishes to portray the President Barrow and his government in a good light, he should advise President Adama Barrow to be more measured when he speaks.

You see, now we live in the age of technology. Everything s recorded and stored away in the clouds, as it were. People can always bring out a statement said, or an image taken, any time. So, it is necessary that whatever one is saying, one needs to think twice before uttering any statement.

President Adama Barrow needs to measure his statements more carefully and weigh the pronouncements to avoid confusion. Otherwise, people will keep misunderstanding, misquoting or misrepresenting him due to the obfuscation in his pronouncements.

All in all, the government must rethink its communications strategy to ensure that effective communication with the public is forthcoming.

Tha Scribbler Bah

State House, Banjul, 25 July, 2018

H.E. Ambassador Alexander Laskaris, deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, United States Africa Command (AfriComm) has announced that the US is committed to supporting the Gambia’s Security Sector Reform program.

During a closed door meeting with His Excellency President Adama Barrow at the State House in Banjul on Wednesday morning, the one time US Ambassador to Guinea Conakry and deputy Consul to Liberia, Ambassador Laskaris, said they have formally re-established relations withTheGambia Armed Forces andgovernment withthehopeof progressing the security reformsagenda.

“It is our belief that the military should be a highly professional force that does not have to engage in politics or any civilian matters. We will be working in rebuilding the security forces of The Gambia and resuming our traditional relations with them in support of the democratically elected government of The Gambia,” Ambassador Laskaris said.

His Excellency President Adama Barrow welcomed the commitment of the US Military to supportthesecurity sector reformof his government.

Ambassador Laskaris and delegation were accompanied to thepresidency by the US Ambassador to The Gambia, H.E. Patricia Alsup, and members of the Embassy staff.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Alsup described security as important to Gambia’s development and expressed delight that the President agreed to a meeting despite busy schedules.

Alagi Yorro Jallow

People are catching feelings and spitting rage following President Adama Barrow’s Banjul -Barra bridge mega project announcement without National Assembly approval has exposed Adama Barrow’s shady and dodgy political propaganda. For one, what do you all expect from a sociopath who is brazen enough to tell you that the Gambia ’s biggest threat is corruption and incompetent leadership and thinks it doesn’t apply to him. As for the $1.5 billion cost of that Banjul- Barra mega bridge project, that’s the least of Gambia’s problems. One of the Gambia’s top sociologist and eminent political scientist Halifa Sallah has been telling you for years that you’ll pay for external debt with your first-born children. The only surprise here is that you’re surprised.

The Gambia government has a mounting debt of $ 1. 2 billion which is equivalent to 58 billion (Dalasi); 52 % of which is coming from external sources and 42 % from domestic lending. These debts according to Mr. Bai Madi Ceesay, the Director of Budget says it represents 122% of Gambia’s GDP owed to creditors and international lending institutions and countries.

But consider this. When Adama took power in 2017, the Gambia’s government incurred a debt of $1 billion, which would amount to 120% of the country’s GDP during the last decade of ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s rule, according to the IMF and World Bank. The IMF currently list the Gambia’s government debt as 99% of GDP, $881 million. The most recently available figures say that of Gambia’s government debt, around 54% is owed outside the country, and 46% within Gambia. This would mean that of $1 billion of debt, $540 million is owed externally and $460 million domestically. The most recent figures from the World Bank and IMF are that Gambia’s government external debt is $467 million. Of this: $349 million is owed to multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and African Development Bank, $112 million is owed to other governments, $6 million is owed to private creditors.

Total debt of the nation stands at about $1.9 billion, about the same net worth for the former President Jammeh. In 5 years, the debt is in trillion and counting. This year, the government will borrow supplementary of $2 billion just to keep the lights on. The question you should all be asking is what you have got for 1.2 trillion in 5 years. Fuel prices are rising, millions live hand to mouth with most not even having 100 dalasis in their name that they can rub together, the health and education systems are not fit for purpose, state coffers are being looted left right and center. If you think the Gambia will ever be capable of paying that debt while your great grand-children are still alive, then clearly, you’ve stepped out of your damn mind and lost your senses.

No, the Chinese and the government are not your problem. The country is a basket case. Nothing is going to change until people have absolutely nothing else to lose. When they’ve stolen everything from you, they’re going to come for the clothes on your back and grab the food from your child’s mouth. Nothing will change until you realize that even if you line up along the mega project bridge desperate to eat this bridge they keep harping on about, the lions and hyenas will be right next to you also looking for something to eat.

There’s all this talk about manufacturing; affordable housing; food security and affordable health care. More like the big mega projects to eat from before the lights go out. If you think it’s a joke, ask yourself why Fatoumatta have now diversified from providing mobile health clinics to providing affordable housing. In 5 years, our politicians will orchestrate a theft bigger than any government has in the last 50 years, including that of the original thief in Equatorial Guninea. No, the Chinese are not our problem.

The Embassy of the United States of America in The Gambia is pleased to announce the selection of three extraordinary young Gambian secondary school students and their teacher chaperone for participation in the 2018 Pan-African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP).  This fully-funded three-week program will take place from August 4 – August 25, 2018 at various colleges, universities, and institutions throughout the United States.

The young scholars are Nyajay Satta Braima, Fatima Samateh, and Ebrima Juwara, representing respectively: Tahir, Nasir and Nusrat Senior Secondary Schools.  The adult participant, Mr. Draman Janneh, represents Armitage Senior Secondary School.  They were selected from among almost 100 students from U.S. Embassy Banjul’s educational networks across the country.

The PAYLP program will host approximately 150 youth and adult participants selected from across Africa through a competitive and rigorous application process.

The Gambian scholars recently participated in an orientation session at the U.S. Embassy. Senior staff at the Embassy briefed the participants, congratulated them and wished them well in what should be a life-changing experience.  Participants are urged to apply their experiences in service to their communities when they return.

Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) supports U.S. foreign policy priorities by offering secondary school youth (ages 15-18) and adult educators the opportunity to explore priority policy themes such as conflict resolution, economic development, entrepreneurship, civic education, youth leadership, women’s rights, and respect for diversity.

Participants will engage in workshops on leadership and service, community site visits related to the program themes and subthemes, interactive training on conflict resolution, presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities, and homestays with local American families. Participants are encouraged to develop follow-on community-based projects in their home communities to effect positive change on their return.

The scholars will leave Banjul for the United States in August.

Bwiam, Foni Kansala, 24^thJuly 2018

President Adama Barrow has reaffirmed the commitment of his government to the promotion and advancement of religious tolerance and equality in the country. At a meeting in Bwiam, Foni Kansala, as part of the ongoing nationwide tour, the President said, from the onset, the government has always adhered to the practice of religious freedom and equality for all people of faith, including non-believers, as guaranteed by the constitution of the Gambia.

”We have different kinds of faith groups in this country, including atheist and followers of the African Traditional religion. We do not discriminate against any one religion because they are all part of my family, the Gambian family. All religions are equal in this country and I treat everyone equally. Even in my Cabinet, I have Christians that I have so much respect for”.

While saying that all religions and faith groups are safe to practice and have been catered for in the development strides of the government, President Barrow reemphasized that ”we are one people, and that tribes and ethnicities are not important”.

He added that he would remain committed to strengthening the secular republican status of the country, pointing out that was why within one week of assuming power, he reversed the declaration of Islamic statehood that was proclaimed over the republic by the former regime.

President Adama Barrow made these statements in response to what he called ”detractors and hate mongers” that are bent on planting the seeds of religious discord and conflict in the minds of unsuspecting Gambians by twisting his comments about the Barrow Youths for National Development.

Clarifying that funds from the Brussels conference will not be used by any non-government organization to promoting any one religion, he said the speculators and hate peddlers deliberately picked on the mosques construction issue to bring misunderstanding in the public. The President said he was shocked to learn in the media that he was engaged in promoting one religion against others or threatening Christian minorities.

Addressing the issue of the Barrow Youth Movement for National Development, he described them as a youth group that meaningfully wants to support his government’s development agenda. He was quite unequivocal in stating that he would embrace any other organization or individual that is serious about supporting progress and development of the country.

“I am open to anyone who wants to join me in national development. It’s in that spirit that we provided vehicles for all National Assembly Members, including the opposition, to honor and dignify the national office that they occupy. The vehicles would facilitate their movement and they don’t have to join passenger vehicles to get to work’’.

Following widespread allegations and mischaracterization of President Adama Barrow’s remarks in the North Bank Region about the planned construction of 60 mosques, The Gambia Government makes it categorically clear, that the reports were twisted and grossly exaggerated to instill fear and deep divisions in Gambian society and to potentially, malign the good reputation of the President and his democratic Government.

Therefore, The Gambia Government hereby reminds citizens, visitors, resident aliens, representatives of foreign governments and their diplomatic missions as well as members of all religious denominations, that The Republic of The Gambia remains a secular, constitutional democracy where all are free to believe and practice their faith and it is not Government’s business to interfere in people’s religious beliefs.

Equally, Government wants to make it abundantly clear, that the construction of religious houses was not its policy agenda nor development programme. Instead, President Barrow’s vision for The Gambia is to radically transform a country that endured two decades of dictatorship and maladministration to a nation of hope and progress that respects and protects constitutional due process, the rule of law and promotes a culture of religious tolerance and guarantees citizens of their unfettered freedoms.

The Government acknowledges that some volunteer youth groups among them, the Barrow Youth Movement and NGOs, have availed themselves to the President with promises of boreholes, farming implements, seeds and fertilizer to support his development initiatives as well as the voluntary construction of village mosques following requests by local worshippers.

However, these pledges and pronouncements by volunteers must not be confused nor misconstrued as a deliberate policy by the Barrow government to build mosques. President Adama Barrow remains focus on his National Development Plans.

The Government once again reiterates its commitment to the secularity of the state where all are equal before the law.

Signed:

Ebrima G. Sankareh

Spokesperson of Government of The Republic of The Gambia.

The Ministry of Justice wishes to clarify inaccurate reports in the media that the GDC member for Jimara Constituency Honourable Alhaji Sowe was acquitted and discharged by the Basse magistrates court, thereby giving the impression that Honourable Sowe was being prosecuted by the State. This is inaccurate.

Following police investigations into the violence that erupted in Jimara constituency during the local government elections, the Ministry advised that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Honourable Sowe. Consequently, the charges against him were withdrawn by the Police and Honourable Sowe was accordingly discharged by the Court.

The Ministry assures the general public that the days of politically motivated prosecutions in The Gambia are now over and that the Government of His Excellency President Adama Barrow is committed to upholding the rule of law and the democratic and fundamental human rights of every Gambian irrespective of their political or other orientation.

Furthermore, the Ministry wishes to encourage media practitioners and commentators on judicial matters to take advantage of the Ministry’s open door policy to seek confirmation of their facts before publications or commentary.

Ministry of Justice

This man Magistrate Omar Jabang. God bless his cotton socks. Omar Jabang must be protected at all costs. Magistrate Jabang once fled the country in fear for his life after a controversial decision against the previous government. Omar Jabang’s court yesterday, acquitted and discharged opposition Gambia Democratic Congress party National Assembly member and other party members.

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. We must refuse to glorify violence 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

 A man prepared to tell the political operatives who believe they own our predatory state “Put up or shut up”. Talk about telling the politicians “this is new Gambia”. If they don’t like the doctrine of an independent judiciary, tell the real owners of the country to abolish it. Stop intimidating the judiciary. “Recount the votes”! Do they realize that the law – their shield and defendant have the last laugh? A pertinent quote from Caroline Kennedy? “The bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and that means we have to have an independent judiciary, judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing. That is; unless you wish to emulate Teodoro Obiang Nuema Mbasogo the rogue of the Equatorial Guinea?

 Magistrate Jabang has acquitted and discharged the opposition GDC National Assembly member Alhagie Sowe with other members of the GDC party, who were charged for election related violence. Since the young magistrate was transferred to Basse Magistrate Court – people started stirring up hate against him questioned his impeccable honesty and integrity. He was accused of being a Mandinka and that’s why he is assigned to deal with the case. Magistrate Jabang proved all prophets of doom and shown judicial integrity not harming his judicial reputation.

During the previous government, Omar Jabang acquitted and discharged the former ombudsman, Alhagie Sowe who was falsely charged with theft, disobedience of statutory duty and neglecting official duty. And in 2016, Magistrate Jabang shocked everyone when he discharged another Gambian business man, one Yusupha Saidy, who was under the radar of former president Jammeh. He did not compromise his judicial independence under dictatorship.

What has happened yesterday following the ruling of the of the Basse magistrate court is bigger than any one man. What has happened yesterday was the biggest single decision of patriotism and justice that we have witnessed in 22 years of our existence during the second republic. It is a decision about respect for the rule of law, a decision about the intolerance of impunity, a decision about accountability of our institutions and the respect of our democracy.

Magistrate Omar Jabang must take his rightful place in the history of this country. Omar Jabang have to be recognized for his immeasurable contribution to saving this country from cannibalizing itself. His decisions and judgement has to be taught to every single Gambian child so that they learn the importance of the strict adherence to the rule of law and democratic accountability.

The decision yesterday is the beginning of the end for impunity and the “Sembocracy” culture. Now is not the time to celebrate and make merry. Now is the time to dig in and make sure that the politicians who believe they own the predatory state do not have a chance to fight back. We have to step on their necks with extreme prejudice while they’re down. We have to make sure that we kill and bury the demons of the hegemony, impunity and corruption that have plagued this country since independence.

Those demons have stolen the hopes and dreams, the aspirations and expectations of thousands of Gambians. Those demons have exploited the fears and insecurities of Gambians as a collective. We will never get another opportunity to crush these demons and start the process of building and shaping the Gambia to what we want it to be.

Magistrate Omar Jabang have done his job. It’s now up to us to do ours. It’s often said that politics has to be the second job of every single citizen. Yesterday’s decision will have sent shock waves within the political class. We need to use this as an opportunity to make sure these politicians know that this country has changed. That we will no longer be oppressed and abused by them. That we will no longer tolerate their impunity, theft of public resources, corruption, incompetence and malfeasance.

All of us, individually and collectively must take a concerted effort to ensure that the decisions politicians make, the decisions state and public officers make, the money that we entrust to them is used properly for the public good. They must be able to understand that they work for us and are not demi-gods. They must be able to understand that they’re public servants. We all must do our part to make them accountable.

We live in a country that has completely normalized dangerous levels of violence. From the way we do politics, to religion, to education, to healthcare, to public transport and even to our daily interaction online and offline- everything is wrapped in violence. Our tolerance for violence is so high that I doubt that there is a way out for our generation.

Yesterday was a good day for justice. God bless the Gambia, God bless the magistrate Omar Jabang of Basse Magistrate Court.

Less than two years ago, we had a common cause, almost all Gambians wanted one thin, and one thing only, to change our government and begin the arduous journey of (re)building and reforming our institutions and civil services. We came together, fought a bitter battle – in which some lost life and limb. Some lost everything they held dear just to ensure that we defenestrate that man who had hijacked our country for far too long.

While this struggle was going on, there was a section of the Gambian Society that was bent on frustrating our efforts. They wrote, spoke and met all in an effort to ensure that the status quo remained. They paraded themselves on television and radio to misinform the masses; to paint a picture that the Gambian electorate had been taken for a ride – that the result was actually cooked.

Some of these people went to the extent of declaring a state of emergency and extending their term of office, all this to find ways to subvert the will of the Gambian people. This was so intense and the fight so real that the fear of what could be, led more than a hundred thousand Gambians to be displaced and become refugees in the neighboring countries. All this has been documented in the past.

It is therefore strange to observe that some of those very people who went to these lengths to subvert our will are now hobnobbing with you. They kowtow to you and your government and want us to pretend that these things never happened. One wonders where is honour when you need it. Granted, we must reconcile as Gambians because we have one destiny; but, to see the architects of the impasse enjoying the warmth of our leaders – the stalwarts of the struggle – beats imagination.

Watching proceedings of the tour and some other forums and seeing former arch enemies of the Coalition heaping praises on Adama Barrow is indeed a wonderful Reality TV that makes most soap operas seem like jokes. How incredulous!

If we really want to reform our institutions and the civil service, we cannot – must not – cozy up to these people. Many of them have either been invited by the Janneh Commission or are accused of something or the other. If therefor they are within the system – with some level of power – isn’t it possible that they can work from within to thwart our efforts. Isn’t it possible that some of them are just presenting a red herring so they gain proximity to you and sabotage your efforts?

There is a proverb in the Fula Language ‘Mbo sobhaaki sobhtotaako’. (He who is not suspicious will not escape). You must therefor be very mindful of those people who would have loved to see you fail a year or two ago, and now proclaim to want you to succeed. I for one, I am wary of these ‘twofacers’.They present an enigma which should be studied cautiously before being dismissed as harmless.

These and some actions reminiscent of the dictatorship – the billboards, the religious rhetoric, the youth movements – send shiver my spine that perhaps we have lost track and are groping in limbo. Are we?

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

The market women who transport vegetables daily from the villages to urban settlements, locally known as ‘Jehnda Jaii’ complained about the difficulties affecting their businesses.

Many of these women struggle daily for transport with heavy baskets or bags full of vegetables in the early hours of the morning to support their families. Some of them say they live from hand to mouth, feeding on their daily earnings.

Aja Sanneh, a vegetable seller told The Fatu Network that she travels from Manduar everyday to sell at the Brikama Market. She sells carrots, garden eggs and bitter tomatoes. She said she gets supplies from a local producer.

“Whether we sell the goods or not we have to pay the money,” Aja Sanneh said.

“Sometimes, the goods get spoilt due to lack of timely transportation,” she added.

Aja said a bucket of carrots and garden eggs each costs D1, 500 Dalasi. She also pays a daily fares of D20 to Brikama.

“I buy breakfast and pay duty to the Area Council everyday”

She talked about the congestion of the market while the local rate collectors keep harassing them even after buying tickets.

She added that is one of their biggest problems. She also spoke about the difficulties she encounters in the rainy season, saying when it rains she cannot sell.

Fatou Jatta also travels from Busumbala everyday to sell onions and tomatoes at the Brikama market. She complained about suppliers who double their prices in the rainy season.

“I have to pay suppliers if the onions are not sold or get spoilt,” Fatou Jatta lamented.

Fatou said she buys onions from a local supplier in the neighbouring Cassamance, southern Senegal.

Binta Bojang, another middle aged woman comes from Lamin Village daily to sell potatoes at the Brikama market. She explained a similar experienced.

Meanwhile, these poor hardworking women told The Fatu Network that they are looking for support to promote their businesses.

Alagi Yorro Jallow

Sidia Jatta: Happy birth day to you, today, we salute you at 70 years. Che Guevara teaches us: ‘for the revolution, passion and audacity are required in big doses’. Street protester, past convict of conscience, these assets you have in plenty – in the land of “plenty be found within it’s borders”. Your DNA? Contrite, contemplative, consociational; conscientious – a consistent fighter for democracy and constitutional reforms; never, afraid. Elder Paddy, the impunity of yesteryears is still as plenty. Comrade, Bob Marley is telling us: “Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight”: For all your sacrifices and struggles for the Gambian people.

Happy birthday to you;

Mamudu: Sidia Jatta is in a class of his own. A man with an urgent mission. He is different from the current crop of other Gambian politicians, whose only mission is speaking from the side of the mouth while thinking with the stomach.

Sidia Jatta is not one to take injustice lying down. He fought both President Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh when they were busy annexing and grabbing land, corruption and bad governance. He refused twice ministerial position. He challenged and criticized both administration’s legal, political and economic policies. Even though President Jawara was his fellow tribesman, he did not hesitate to lay the facts bare and fight for what he believed was right.

Mamudu: Many times, his voice was always in the minority. He was and still not mesmerized by “tyranny of numbers” but reason. Sidia Jatta is no “political Jaliba”. He is not a sycophant. In parliament he neither sleep nor  clap in parliament chambers. Sidia Jatta is not a political “hustler” for human rights and not a self-styled tribal kingpin who mortgages his people to the highest bidder to facilitate his own penchant for primitive accumulation.

Sidia Jatta is a gentleman. Class Act. He is no lousy politician, he is not the vocal politician pretending to fight corruption while at the same time using corrupt means to avoid the law by legal technicalities. He saw politics as a means of public service and not an opportunity to further raw nepotism.

He never sold his conscience for money. He knew money could buy material things but at the same time appreciated that it is never everything. Sidia is a solid man. He didn’t need some “tribal” awakening to do that which is right. In style and substance, his commitment to his people is exemplary.

African youth today issued their rallying call to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in a generation by sparking one million conversations that break the silence that allows the practice to prevail.

As the largest African generation ever, the young people from all over the world have been speaking out, pledging to make theirs the generation that ends FGM. As part of this, they are calling on their peers and parents as well as leaders from their communities, religion and politics to join them in talking about the issue.

Aware that issues that aren’t spoken about prevail the longest, the young activists hope to spark a million conversations on FGM, whether these be people speaking out against it or survivors sharing their experiences.

To achieve this, the young Africans are posting videos on social media to raise awareness of the issue and inspiring others to show their support by also making a pledge to end FGM. The videos, which are on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with the hashtags #Ihavespoken and #EndFGM, seek to break the silence that surrounds the issue. “FGM ends with us”, the activists say.

In 2010, a UNICEF study found that speaking out in the media and discussions in the community and at home played an important role in moving towards the abandonment of FGM in five African countries.

Learning lessons from UNICEF’s study, the young campaigners have concluded that the culture of silence around FGM allows it to prevail and people’s reluctance to speak about the violent practice means that laws alone won’t end it. This campaign hopes to powerfully break the cycle of silence, encouraging everyone to play a part by speaking out and taking action.

The campaign is being supported by The Girl Generation, the world’s largest Africa-led global collective of partners brought together by a shared vision that FGM can – and must – end in this generation. The Girl Generation is proud to support the African youth achieve their aim by:

• Sparking conversations about FGM and breaking the silence which surrounds the issue
• Growing support for, and putting the spotlight on, the Africa-led movement to end FGM
• Unlocking further resource and policy commitments to end FGM

Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell, Global Director of The Girl Generation said:

“Today marks a momentous day in the global movement to end FGM. We’re so excited to watch this movement grow from the minds of young activists in Africa to a million voices all around the world.

“These young people are taking action by shattering the silence that surrounds FGM. By inviting and inspiring others to join the movement, they take a giant leap forward towards creating a world that is safer for our girls”.

Oumie Sissokho, End-FGM Youth Activist, The Gambia, said:

“I am a survivor of female genital mutilation and am a living testimony of the harm it causes.

“However, I am using my story in a positive a way. I have made a pledge to my daughter that I will protect her with my heart and my soul and I will extend the same protection to all the girls in my family and community.

“That’s why I am working endlessly, tirelessly, to ensure that the right people are speaking out against FGM, changing mindsets and attitudes so that we will be able to end it in a generation.”

Sise Sawaneh, Gambian activist and journalist said:

“Let’s teach our girls the good traditions without cutting them. The harm done is severe with lasting negative effects.

“This is why I use my voice and pen as a journalist to disseminate useful information on FGM.

“FGM indeed ends with me for I will not relent in my efforts to end it in my generation”

The importance of studying history is to learn from mistakes and not repeat them. In fact, the best history lesson is to learn not from your mistakes but from those of others before you. That is wisdom.

Yesterday, marked twenty-three years since that fateful day in 1994 when we lost our democracy and began the treacherous journey into dictatorship. We went through military rule for two years and then had a semblance of democracy for 22 years. This turned into an open dictatorship when we replaced the democratic  institutions with the ‘Individual’.

We danced to our tune and got a dose for our troubles. We resolved to change that and, on December 1 2016, Gambians – men and women, young and old – went out to vote for change; for freedom, for better governance. We broke the chanins, as it were, on that day.

We started the journey of reformation of our institutions though it is very slow. We envisaged a reformed constitution which would be inline with democratic practices. This would include cutting down the power of the executive and increasing the power of the masses. As I keep telling people, democracy is not about the president, the ministers or the national assembly members; rather, democracy is about the people, the masses of the people. We must give them their due.

In empowering the masses of the people, there are certain things which are inimical to progress. Any politician who fails to recognize those things is bound to fail and leave a bad legacy. One of those things is the promotion of cultism, cronyism, political patronage and lack of transparency. The forming of youth movements and Yaayi kompins is just another way of promoting the above.

The announcement that they will construct sixty mosques every year is another way of promoting misplacement of priorities. This is wrong on several fronts.

Firstly, our system of government is based on democracy and not religious. We have different religions in the country and the adherents thereto are all equally Gambians. So, the State promoting the construction of mosques is a form of marginalisation of the other religions.

Secondly, we have not been told where the funds are coming from which is not inline with transparency and accountability. Besides, we have pressing needs which must be fulfilled before anything else. There are enough mosques in this country already.

Thirdly, we have seen a proliferation of billboards with your picture spread in many parts of the country. Isn’t this one of the reasons we – including you – fought to end what uses to obtain here? This promotes loyalty to the president – one man – instead of the nation. People say that the Barrow Youth Movement is different because it focuses on development. Let me say to this that intentions are always good but translating them into tangible action is where the difficulties lie. That is why in a democracy there re checks and balances that are meant to curb the greed of man.

History is recording!

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen