Media Advisory

State House, Banjul, 16th April 2018– Office of the President informs the general public that His Excellency, Mr Adama Barrow President of the Republic of The Gambia will attend the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting taking place in London, United Kingdom and the United Nations General Assembly High Level meeting on Peace Building and Sustaining Peace to be held in New York, United States of America.   This is the first time The Gambia is attending the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting since its withdrawal from the Commonwealth organisation in 2013.

President Barrow will meet Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the British Prime Minister, the Commonwealth Secretary General and other dignitaries.  He will also share The Gambia’s story towards sustainable progress, commitments on Malaria elimination and environmental protection during the Commonwealth meeting.  While in London, President Barrow will also meet the Gambian community.

In New York, President Barrow will deliver a statement on peacebuilding and sustainable peace, and he will also attend an advocacy meeting on the International Conference on National Development Plan 2018-2021 scheduled to take place in Brussels in May 2018.

Accompanied by First Lady, Fatou Bah-Barrow, President Barrow and his delegation will depart Banjul International Airport, tomorrow, Tuesday, 17^thApril 2018 at 11:00AM.  Those invited to see him off are requested to be at the airport half an hour before departure for the usual ceremonies.

End

The Minister for Information, Demba Ali Jawo who also doubles as the spokesperson for The Gambia Government has confirmed to The Fatu Network that the Government is no longer going ahead with The Multimedia Gateway International (MGI) deal.

The deal was expected to give MGI, a Swiss-based company the exclusive management of Gamtel’s International Voice Gateway.

The issue brought mixed reactions among Gambians with many saying that since MGI is facing the Janneh Commission, any contract with them should wait until the commission finalizes its findings.

Meanwhile, the managing director of GAMTEL, Sulayman Suso has been asked to go on leave while an inquiry is open to investigate the activities of the company.

Information reaching The Fatu Network has confirmed that the Government is not happy with the amount of money coming in from GAMTEL. Suso is also said to be blamed for not giving the correct technical advice to the executive.

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has threatened to arrest the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor if she visits the Philippines to probe his war on drugs.
Last month, the president revoked the country’s membership of the court, saying the treaty that established the court’s jurisdiction in 2011 had not been properly published in a government or commercial publication.

Speaking at a press briefing in Davao City today Friday, he said: “So you, Ms Fatou [ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda], ‘do not come here, because I will bar you. Not because I am afraid of you, I said, because you will never have jurisdiction over my person, not in a million years.

“You cannot exercise any proceedings here without basis. That is illegal and I will arrest you.”
The president added that he was not afraid of an investigation but “you can never call me to the ICC simply because your position is flawed”.

“It cannot be corrected anymore. So stop your nonsense,” he said.
In withdrawing the Philippines’ membership in the tribunal, Duterte cited “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” against him.

Source: Standard Newspaper

It has been reported recently that the newly elected councilor of Julangel Ward was arrested along with a few other supporters of the Gambia Democratic Congress. This created a lot of debate in the country as some people saw it as harassment of the new, and now second largest party in the country. The said councilor has since been released but instructed to report to the police on Monday.

In politics, information is crucial. It is information that forms the perception of the people which is very important as it informs the support or otherwise of the people of a particular party or individual. This is why it is very important to ensure that the right and accurate information is always relayed in an accurate and timely manner. The Gambia Police Force has therefore to work hard to ensure that information is made available to the people periodically.

Of course, it is to be expected that when the law is broken, someone should be held accountable. It doesn’t matter who it is, law breakers have to be taken to book. Good governance demands that we do away with impunity. No one should have the right to do as they please regardless of what the law says. Whoever breaks the law must be arrested.

However, when it comes to politics, then care must be taken as whatever the police do will be viewed as political. When an opposition leader (or simply an opposition bigwig) is arrested, people tend to associate it with political intimidation. They then proffer theories of how the government is pressuring the police to do their bidding in order to cripple the opposition and give them an edge over their opponents.

This is where transparency comes in. the police must understand that it is not enough just to hold that they are doing their work in accordance with the law, rather, they should use PR expertise to ensure that the right information is relayed to the people. In fact, that is why we have Public Relations Officers. It is important.

Meanwhile, opposition party leaders and office-bearers must understand that they represent the people. They must be exemplars for their supporters and ensure that they always behave in a way that is within the confines of the law. For, if they don’t they will be setting bad examples for their followers. If they happen to fall on the wrong side of the law and are arrested, their followers will be offended and that can cause chaos in the country which everyone should avoid at al cost.

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

Studying closely the way and manner in which the increment in transport allowances is distributed among the civil servants, one is compelled to remember a reading of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. In this book of political satire, Orwell implicitly compares the prevailing political conditions at the time with an imaginary society of animals. In it, some animals are given more regard and opportunities than others. A mantra was ‘All animals are equal but some are more equal than others’.

The current distribution of the increment in transport allowance is a classic example of how some governments portray this despicable reality. As I have highlighted in another write-up last week, the fact that civil servants from Grade One to Nine of government pay scale receive D1500, Grade Ten receive D2000, then directors, deputy permanent secretaries and permanent secretaries receive D10, 500 respectively in lieu of fuel coupons is a form of injustice.

But worse than this is the fact that one section of the country receive this increment as if they are better than the others; or, as if they are more deserving than the rest. I have discovered that schools in provincial Gambia are not receiving any amount from this. This is wrong. All workers of government should be governed by the same laws; enjoy the same facilities and benefits. It should not matter whether someone is posted in Allen Street, Banjul; or, in Numuyel, Upper River Region. They are all Gambian workers. If anything, the one who has sacrificed and went to the provinces to serve his country despite all odds is more deserving of these benefits than those in Banjul and its environs.

Some are said to receive hardship allowances but that is just that – words and not much more. These hardship allowances, some as low as D250 are a joke, if you ask me. What can two hundred and fifty dalasis do for an individual? These people live in the worst possible conditions, no electricity in most cases, no pipe borne water, health posts are kilometers away, no medical insurance and so on and so forth. This is the real sacrifice.

So, someone sitting in an airconditioned office in Banjul should not dictate what they get without having a real feel of what they go through. This must change, if we are to progress.

Another aspect of this injustice is the fact that in some areas – schools especially – the increment took effect in January and others in February. There are those schools in which it began in March with a drawback of from February 2018. What kind of distribution is that?

Does the government not know the number of employees in each area; or do they not know where these workers are stationed? Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.The disproportionate distribution of this increment; and the exclusion of some is injustice.

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others comes to mind.

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

The article critique the existing paradigm of state, society and power by recounting the fallacy of binary oppositions such as state vs society and public vs private. The reason for is that the concepts used in opposition are not actually exercised in such an antithetical form. Authority, for instance, is not exclusive to government, nor are the individuals subject to it. Although the government and society differ by nature, people take part in government’s operations in various forms of alliance, depending on their varying strategies.

The problematics of government, in concept terms, involves political rationalities and governmental technologies enhanced by non-governmental forces in a particular composition. The argument here is aiming to move beyond the fixed definition of ‘’state’’, since non-governmental actors play key roles in a democracy, so true of The Gambia.

The state is merely an abstraction and is not as operable as some people think. For instance, it is government that makes various forms of alliances possible in terms of foreign policy. In this respect, one arrives at the conclusion that the state, society and power relations is the problematics of government, which can be analyzed into political rationalities & governmental technologies.

On the one hand, political rationalitiesinclude conceptualization of power exercise in the changing discursive fields – moral justification in the manner power is exercised by diverse authorities, forms, objects and limits of politics. The recent missile strikes on Syria by the U.S, Britain and France came to mind. Or perhaps the intervention of Senegalese and ECOWAS forces in The Gambia at the height of the political impasse – a scenario ‘Jammeh’ and his APRC crowd cried foul as a ‘domestic issue’ needing no foreign intervention.

Governmental technologieson the other, include a National Development Plan, calculations, technics, procedures, documents & programs designed by the administration to realize a vision. The discussion of governmental technologies focuses on ‘power’ in relation to the diverse forces taking part in operating that element. Power is not necessarily a tool for any one single forces of technologies to operate, rather, it is the effect of the composition of these forces in the way they complement & react to each other. The argument here, simply, implies that power is not to be centralized or monopolized – but shared.

The state, in of itself can be classified as a discursive codification of government and as a way of setting political sphere apart from the non-political. The ‘state’ is also the framework that defines relations of the government to other states in the international domain through such complex lenses of diplomacy and military force; the operability of which resides in the hands of government, nationally but also trans-nationally.

The problematics of government, simply means that programs are developed upon the problematization of government, which requires a certain knowledge of the problem needing attention. There is a simple saying that ‘before embarking on fresh steps, one needs reflect on journey-past’. Hmm the ‘wolof’ translate sic. Put it this way, when the issue came up whether he was looking to remarry, an old chap once said to me he, first, has to do some soul-searching reflect on his past mistakes, arrogance in check, learn to compromise in relationships, develop ‘humility’ and ‘faith’ before embarking on fresh steps; He meant taking a new wife.

The same could be said of government in the manner it goes about creating & conducting an accountable machinery, responsibly designed, sustainable in deed. An advice for the ‘Banjul government’ – Murders must serve a prison sentence, and are all those found to exploit and steal tax payer’s money over the past so many years. Let ‘Truth’, first, establish & rain down before we may shake hands on ‘reconciliation’ – pardons can wait.

There appears to be an argument out there gathering storm in liberal circles that entities like state and society are separate, ever adding mystery to a somewhat settled ideological quarrel. I urge Gambians to reflect on history see how the ‘Welfare State’ transformed Britain & Western Europe after WW2 – in the context of problematics of government. The Gambia, today, should be looking towards the creation of a welfare state where those at the very bottom of the social ladder receive monthly payments, and that the elderly or retirees paid stipends. And at a time of high unemployment & struggle, there should have been workshops all across the country on ‘public ownership’, ‘environmental economics’, ‘Access to quality & affordable housing’, ‘Equitable health-Care’, ‘Strategies to revive local manufacturing + Processing’ and so on in how can we develop and strengthen our country. The various governors need to stand counted better represent local communities within boundary limits. As for the everyday Gambian, we should remind ourselves that it is incumbent upon government to deliver B.I.G whilst creating an enabling environment and the necessary conditions for every citizen to succeed & thrive. That is what a true democracy amounts to – all under the banner of the ‘Social Contract’.

Gibril Saine   Twitter: @gibbysaine

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has today, Friday 13th April recognised Musu Bakoto Sawo, of Gambia as the 52nd Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service promoting women’s empowerment and fighting to end Female Genital Mutilation.

In the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London on 19-20 April, Her Majesty The Queen – as Head of the Commonwealth – is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond.

By sharing these stories of service, the Heads of Government meeting will celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.

Musu Bakoto Sawo lends her expertise as a law lecturer to organisations advocating against FGM. In The Gambia, more than 75% of women and girls in the country have undergone FGM and Musu was also subjected to the practice as a young child. In 2015 she began tackling this issue by volunteering as the Programme Manager for ‘Girl Generation’, the largest global collective working to end FGM. Musu provides advocacy and support to the initiative’s 700 members which are based across the ten countries in Africa most affected by the issue. She is also the National Coordinator for ‘Think Young Women’, a non-profit organisation which promotes women’s rights. Musu draws on her experience of being married at the age of 14 to discuss child marriage.  Last year she was awarded the ‘Vera Chirwa Human Rights’ award for making an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa.

Each Commonwealth Point of Light will receive a personalised certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. The award for Musu Bakoto Sawo will be presented on 13 April 2018 at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Cape Point, The Gambia by the High Commissioner, Sharon Wardle.

Musu Bakoto Sawo said: 

“I am very humbled and delighted to have been selected as a recipient of this award. When I started this journey, even as a child, my mission was to influence change in my community and the world. This remains my focus, especially for girls and women in The Gambia. This award encourages me to keep pushing hard to ensure sustainable results in respecting and fulfilling the rights of women and girls. I wake up every morning looking forward to changing someone’s life for the better. I remain committed to ending the cycle of female genital mutilation and child marriage in my lifetime. I know this is possible because I have already started it. Grateful to the teams I work with at Think Young Women and The Girl Generation for the support and I look forward to more innovative transformations for girls and women. Thank you for this award.”

Sharon Wardle, British High Commissioner to The Gambia said:

“Musu’s dedication is an inspiration and truly deserving of this recognition. She is emblematic of a Gambian sisterhood that is resolute in the fight for women and girls empowerment.  Together with the continued support of role models in the Government including Vice-President Fatoumata Tambajang and Minister of Trade, Dr Isatou Touray, this is a fight that Gambian women can and will win.”

The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 53 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The Heads of Government meeting will bring together leaders from all the 53 Member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people. Voluntary service is a vital part of this agenda, which is why Her Majesty The Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way.

– ENDS

For more information, please contact  Fatou Jassey, Press & Public Affairs Officer, British High Commission Banjul [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH POINT OF LIGHT AWARD

1. The Point of Light awards recognise outstanding volunteers every day of the week – people whose service is making a difference in their communities and whose story can inspire others to creative innovative solutions to social challenges in their own communities and beyond.

2. Points of Light began in America under President George H. W. Bush and today over 6,000 US Points of Light have been recognised. The scheme has the support of all living US Presidents.

3. Since 2014 the UK Prime Minister has been recognising a daily Point of Light from the UK, with almost 900 now recognised.

4. Commonwealth Points of Light is a continuation of this programme – with a special series of awards recognising inspirational volunteers throughout the Commonwealth in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April. One volunteer will be recognised from each of the Commonwealth countries in the 53 week days preceding the Heads of Government meeting.

5. More information can be found on the website:www.pointsoflight.gov.uk

About the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

In April 2018 the UK will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where leaders from across the Commonwealth will gather in London and Windsor. With the theme of ‘Towards a Common Future’ they will work to create a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for the Commonwealth’s 2.4 billion citizens, particularly its young people.

For further information visit www.chogm2018.org.ukor follow on Twitter @commonwealth18.

The spokesperson for The Gambia Police Force, Superintendent David Kujabi has explained the reasons behind the arrest of honorable Alhagie Sowe, National Assembly Member for Jimara Constituency, the newly elected councilor, Ebrima Manneh and two Alkalos all members of the opposition, Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC)

Speaking to The Fatu Network, PRO Kujabi said NAM, Alieu Sowe allegedly mobilized his supporters to assault a man while he Sowe waited in his car.

The said man whose identity is not disclosed reported the matter to the police and that brought about Sowe’s arrest. Kujabi said.

Sowe has been granted bail and is asked to report to the police station on Monday morning to allow the police continue with their investigations.

On the arrest of the newly elected councilor for Julangel ward, Ebrima Manneh and two Alkalos, Superintendent Kujabi said the three were involved in an assault in Koro Jula Kunda, URR. He added that they allegedly attacked the family home of one Do Sano and the case was reported to the police which warranted their arrest.

Officials of the GDC who were detained at the Basse Police Station have been granted bail last night.

Hon. Alhagie Sowe, National Assembly Member for Jimara, Julangel Ward councillor Ebrima Manneh, the two Alkalos (Village heads) and their families are urged to report to the police station on Monday, April 16.

Update By MC. Cham, GDC Youth Mobilizer

The GDC National Assembly Member for Jimara Constituency Hon. Alhagie Sowe who was invited for questioning this afternoon following the arrest of the newly elected GDC Councillor for Julangel Ward, has finally being detained at the Basse Police Station.

Hon. Alhagie Sowe, Makang Sabally, Alkalo of Sare Mansong village and Chilel Jamanka, also an Alkalo of a particular village (name of the village not yet confirmed) in Julangel Ward and the family members of Ebrima Manneh, the newly elected GDC councillor for Julangel Ward have all been arrested and detained at the Basse Police Station.

According to our party sources, Chief Alhagie Kanimang Sanneh of Jimara District ordered for the arrest of Makang Sabally, Alkalo of Sare Mansong village and Alkalo Chilel Jamanka.

Our sources also hinted that the police who went to arrest them had an accident on their way whilst heading back to Basse Police Station with the arrested village heads (Alkalolu). The two Alkalolu were rushed to the hospital as they were reported to have sustained injuries.

As we speak, the councillor Ebrima Manneh, his Ward Chairman and others are all kept in the police cell. We were informed that the decision for their arrest is an executive directive from Banjul but the police have not yet said anything about it, despite our efforts to reach them.

We strongly condemn their arrest and call on the government to release them immediately without delay.
We will keep you posted as we receive more information on their arrest.

MC Cham, Youth Mobilizer for the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has said that the newly elected councilor for Julangel Ward in the Jimara Constituency (URR) and three others have been arrested by police Saturday evening.

Cham broke the news on his Facebook page a few hours ago.

Below we produce the full statement posted on his Facebook:

The newly elected GDC councillor for Julangel Ward in the Jimara Constituency in URR and three (3) others have been arrested by the police in Basse few minutes ago.

Ebrima Manneh, GDC Councillor for Julangel Ward; the Ward Chairman of Julangel and two other male supporters of GDC, are all detained at the Basse Police Station for reasons yet unknown.

GDC NAM Alhagie Sowe is also being questioned at the Basse Police Staion at this present moment, whilst the others have already being detained.

Our sources on the ground said the police told them that they got orders from Banjul that they should arrest and question the said GDC councillor and his supporters.

We would also like to inform the general public that our newly elected councillor is the winner of the Ward (Julangel) of President Adama Barrow’s village Mankamang Kunda in Jimara Constituency.

We strongly condemn their arrest and call on the government to release them immediately without delay.

We will keep you posted as we receive more information on their arrest.

Dear Editor,

My first analysis of the results are:

1.The winner for me is GDC, a party less than three years but doing well although unfortunately too on tribal lines. If you can lay hands on the comprehensive election results by ward, I will show you how the data speaks to this. You may see similar trends with UDP and APRC results.

1. UDP have not done well as anticipated in my opinion although they were able to garner 50% of the seats. They could face serious challenges in upcoming polls if they fail to play their cards rights especially should GDC and APRC come together.Also it will be interesting to see the electoral map of results by ward or aggregated at district level. I could do this with the data if i have.

2. The APRC performance for me is an indication that Gambian voters have disconnected Yaya Jammeh’s atrocities away from the APRC, meaning they see the country’s 22 year dictatorship as a one man affair and not linked to their party. In this regard, APRC may still improve in subsequent polls if the other parties did not work on how to discredit the party base on the past atrocities.

3. Disappointely again, PDOIS have not done well at all. This shows that Gambians may listen to them and probably admire their knowledge in discussing key national issues but are not convinced that they can lead the country. Their performance from these and previous polls as being oldest political party speaks volumes. They need to change their strategies in order to improve

4. GMC won only one seat probably from the head of their party’s area.

5. If you check the total votes won by GDC in these polls both by numbers and percentages, they should be proud of their performance.

These are my thoughts for now. The detail analysis of the results could bring more to light.

A Concerned Gambia

Thanks.

By Fatou Sowe

Two independent candidates in the mayoral contest for the Kanifing Municipal Council have joined alliance with team Bakary Badjie as the race within the municipality becomes tighter.

The candidates namely Sheikh Omar Saho and Momodou Jaiteh have both said at a press conference held at Badjie’s office at Kanifing that they have similar if not the same vision for the Kanifing Municipality which matches Badjie’s.

According to Saho there is no condition attached to the alliance rather he joined hands with Badjie to bring about effective change in the municipality as outlined in their manifesto and to as well change the norm of using the council as a political bureau.

Similarly Jaiteh expressed similar reasons for joining the “Team Bakary” campaign and further said that Bakary is a young man with a very clear vision for KMC which was similar to his manifesto so he supported Bakary based on ideology and with no condition attached.

For Badjie in his reaction to the move made by Saho and Jaiteh, said the alliance has and will add value to his campaign because his support base would increase significantly as the supporters of these two people will add on to his supporters which will eventual consolidate his victory in the race.

Dr Sidat Yaffa an associate professor of agronomy and acting director of the University of The Gambia Farafenni Campus was also in attendance and pledged to support Badjie in the race and ensure his victory come May, 12, 2018.

Dr. Yaffa said he was active in the formation of the coalition that ousted the former president but did not support any of the parties in the KMC because he believes in “Team Bakary”.

“ I went through Badjie’s manifesto and I know for a fact that his vision for KM is clear, this is a  political revolution”. He concluded.

By Omar Wally

United Democratic Party has emerged victorious in Thursday’s local  council elections. 409 candidates drawn from nine parties and dozens of independent candidates contested for 120 seats.

Like parliamentary election in 2017, the voter out was low in some polling stations especially in the Greater Banjul Area.

United Democratic Party, won 62 seats, out of 120 seats contested, APRC won 18, Gambia Democratic Congress 23, PDOIS 7, National Reconciliation Party 5, Gambia Moral Congress 1, People’s Progressive Party 1, GPDP and NCP did not win any seats, however three independent candidates won.

Speaking shortly after announcing the final result, Alieu Momarr Njie, head of the electoral commission, extolled Gambians for maintaining peace throughout the function.

‘Our mantra is fairly done, freely and transparently. The only setback we had was the low voter turnout.’ He concluded.

The Police PRO, David Kujabi, has, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, issued a press release. The wording is as follows.

Following the recent string of violent crimes which include the armed robbery at the Jah Oil Fuel Station in Brikama New Town, the Office of the Inspector General of Police wishes to make it clear that such acts of lawlessness will not be condoned and it has resolved to use all its legal powers to ensure strict compliance of the law.

Henceforth all check points will be mounted and 24 hour patrols will be conducted across the length and breadth of the country. The Gambia Police Force will use all resources at its disposal to hunt down criminals wherever they may be and bring them to book.

The general public is implored upon to partner and cooperate with the police by providing information that would help in this drive. Policing is a collective responsibility and all are urged to join the fight to rid The Gambia of criminals and hoodlums.

The Office of The Inspector General of Police wishes to reassure the general public that the peace and tranquility known for this country will be maintained and all are urged to go about their business without fear.

David Kujabi (Supt.)
Public Relation Officer (PRO)

FOR: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE

The Fatu Network has been reliably informed about the appointment of Mr Yankuba Sonko, former Inspector General of Police as an adviser to the Ministry of Interior.

Sonko served as Inspector General of Police twice under the former President Jammeh until his removal in 2017. He was succeeded by Landing Kinteh a trained human rights lawyers, who is still the Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force.

The Gambia Police Spokesperson, Superintendent David Kujabi has confirmed Sonko’s appointment as adviser but declined to comment saying he cannot speak on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Ministry proved futile.