Catholic Mission Teachers are preparing to embark on a sit down strike latest Friday, March 9, 2017.

In a letter addressed to the Catholic Education Secretariat, the teachers stated that their action is not against the school but it has to do with problems affecting them.

Below we produce the entire letter sent to the Secretariat dated March 8, 2017.

By Alieu Ceesay

In Gambia, Medical Doctors on Thursday began a sit down strike, demanding the Health Minister’s immediate resignation.

The practitioners on Tuesday gave Minister Saffie Lowe Ceesay 48 hours to resign over reported comments she made, alleging young doctors of holding back efforts in developing the health sector.

The Association of Resident Doctors-The Gambia (GARD) on Tuesday demanded for the resignation of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Saffie Lowe Ceesay within 48 hours.

This is in relation to a publication made by the Standard Newspaper captioned ‘Corruption hindering health sector’ published on February 28, 2018.

The paper reported that the minister revealed that efforts in developing The Gambia’s health sector are held back by corrupt and unpatriotic doctors.

“When you talk about corruption in the health system we all know how it is…these young doctors that will just go and practice pharmaceutics, some of them have opened their own pharmacies which the resources that we have. I am very sure of what I am saying because I was the PS,” she was quoted by the paper during a press conference.

GARD is also demanding that the Minister retracts her statement and apologize to the entire Medical and Health fraternity. The Association said if the demands are not met, they will resort to a sit down strike.

GARD is a representative body of all Resident Doctors with a current membership of 191 countrywide.

Information Minister Demba A. Jawo, has said that the Health Minister Saffie Lowe Ceesay has clarified that the statements attributed to her in recent newspaper reports were not accurate.

Jawo, who also doubles as the Government’s Spokesperson said this during his quarterly press conference on Wednesday at the ministry’s hall. Minister Jawo said: “She [Health Minister] however confirmed saying at the press conference organized by the WACS that the Health Ministry is facing a pilfering of Medical items that include drugs and that it is her responsibility to seek measures to address the access system so that such items do not find their way to private pharmacies and other private health facilities.

“The Health Minister has however expressed understanding of the quick reaction of the medical profession and would like to reiterate that she never attributed the pilfering to the medical doctors,” the Communication Minister told the press.

Dr. Neneh Bah the Vice President of GARD said the 48 hours ultimatum that was given to the Health Minister Saffie Lowe Ceesay to resign has elapsed.

The Association said the strike will be in different stages. To start with, it said there will be emergency doctors stationed in each medical facility, but she pointed out that there wouldn’t be any ward and outpatient services. During the course of the strike, ward and outpatient services would be closed to the public henceforth.

The second of the strike will mean shutting down the entire health system. As a result, doctors will not be available in the health facilities to attend to patients.

The unhappy doctors, under the banner of GARD, accused the Minister and for Permanent Secretary under Jammeh of being incompetent and unfit to run the Ministry.

“There is a significant increase in non-communicable diseases among Gambians, for which there are currently no specialists, diagnostic equipment, treatment guidelines, or medicines to diagnose and treat these conditions,” Dr. Ebrima Bah, President of GUARD said in a statement announcing the start of the strike on Thursday at the EFSTH in Banjul.

Medical doctors, they said, work under very unsafe conditions in which they are constantly exposed to infectious agents without proper protective wear leading to health risks to themselves and to patients they care for.

”In one year plus, the Ministry has been unable to clearly articulate a vision in how to go about transforming the health system. This was clearly manifested in the 2018 Budget speech in which we saw no tangible short or long term plans, such as a plan to provide universal health coverage for our relatively small population of 2 million people,” Dr. Ebrima Bah, GARD President remarked.

The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways. At its core is an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as a society.

Sustainable development, simply means, development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of sustainable development. One implication of not doing so is climate change.

In The Gambia, a country reeling from the damages caused by irresponsible leadership resulting in major damages to the body politic’, toxic environment pollution and crisis within banking, a bottom-up approach to development is the surest way to remedial solutions.

Let it be known the focus of sustainable development is far broader than just the environment. It’s also about ensuring a strong, healthy and just society. This means meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal opportunity. That calls for courage and vison, and the reason why one calls on parliament to scrutinise and debate the National Development Plan (NDP) identify gaps, where so.

A sustainable development approach can bring many benefits for The Gambia, saving the tax payer millions each year. It is a case of implementing smart policies and finding better ways of doing things, both for the future and the present. I call on the authorities to regulate tree cutting causing damage to the rain forest. The Gambia, alone, cannot satisfy the world with its demand for logs. The forest must be allowed to grow green and breathe.

Sustainable development approach makes for better decisions on the issues that affect all of our lives. We should all realise the way we approach development affects everyone. The impacts of government decisions and that of our own individually have very real consequences. Take the most populous city, Serekunda, for example, poor city planning and lack of investment in local communities has led to a reduction in the quality of life for residents

By designing smart cities with desirable leisure parks, high streets, brand new roads + pavement, LED solar street lights, with free wifi internet access for schools and colleges, whilst incorporating primary health plans for local communities, we can enhance the quality of life of all Gambians.

Today, poor town and city planning continues to add significant stress to land allocation for residential, commercial and farming purposes. The country needs to redesign and rebuild it cities, Serekunda, Brikama, Gunjur, Basse, especially Banjul. A potential for desirable sprawling cities to house the population on a par with Kigali, Dakar, Nairobi or ‘Dar es Salaam’ – and to designate the countryside an agricultural zone.

Government has to prioritise agriculture, foremost, and to ensure a sustainable food supply chain ensuring The Gambia produces enough rice and vegetables all year round. Please, let Gambia be that farmland to supply and feed Africa and Europe with its fruits and sunny delights.

To be fair, every Gambian has a part to play in sustainable development, it requires each one of us. Small actions, taken collectively, can add up to real change. However, government role to achieve sustainability in The Gambia. If one may appeal to the administration to look through the UN Sustainable development Goals, and to its own development blueprint, and deliver big on promises.

A few – To do-list

• The weekly press briefs from the presidency was received to widespread acclaim; so was the announcement to Cabinet meetings.

• But, please, what is happening within agriculture? Why the great silence? Will someone explain what good, if any, is in motion towards mechanised agriculture, land reforms, rice cultivation, peanut farming, horticulture and such irrigation best practices? Tell us more!

• On the issue of ‘National Security’, not impressed, by CDS, asking for more money on camera. On what? Weapons? The Gambia should return to the basics – reorganise, restructure & retrain its military, which must not exceed two-thousand personnel. Let police reform be the focus strategize a new path to reclaim & restore Gambia’s streets to safety. It requires stricter gun laws. And who is the interior minister? With the country’s fishery products subject to daily theft costing injury in lost tax revenue, the navy must upend and mobilise defend Gambian waters. But they need training first, and smart weaponized boats to be effective; collaborating with regional maritime posts. Can the army come off barracks, start working on bridges, road construction, help clear parks and forests and some other damn fine jobs that secure and strengthen the nation in various sustainable turns sic.

• The new constitution under draft – ready yet? Will it be put through a referendum on the day as nationwide local government elections? Helps save time and money to the tax payer. Let parliament stay up all night debate points if needs be. Work THRU a weekend too where needed to meet this time frame. Since everyone in government is talking about national interest, show your sincerity!

• President Barrow & his Cabinet should look to replace the ‘Dalasi’ bank notes for quality polymer technology that cannot be counterfeit. The Gambian currency needs to reclaim its value & status.

• On a lighter note – Parliament should install a gym; so is the presidency. Simply because despite politicking, we care for our leaders wishing them to succeed & live long. A little run & sweat helps for a healthy living. Hence, true democracy come in the form of a ‘Social Contract’, we, the tax paying public, are happy to fork out that maintenance, as long as the actions of politicians reflect that of the ‘National Interest’.

Gibril Saine    Twitter: @gibbysaine

The Managing Director of Trust Bank, Ebrima Sallah Thursday faced the Janneh Commission to explain the deduction of funds from various accounts relating to the former president and Jammeh Foundation for Peace among other accounts.

Mr. Sallah in his evidence confirmed the deduction of over $100,000 transferred to various accounts, noting that Jammeh was a signatory to all the accounts that funds were deducted and transferred from.

He however told the commissioners that he had not seen the facility letter indicating the terms and conditions of the loan with regard to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace accounts; adding that no correspondence was shown to him and concluded that the document was not at their office.

According to him, Jammeh was the one administering and giving instructions transactions on the Foundation’s accounts and other related accounts

Mr. Augustus Prom Junior also faced the commission with regard to the Westwood Company and told the commission that they have given BPI Tourism Services officials access to the records of Westwood Company for the exportation of timber.

He gave summary of the timber exported by the company from 2014 to 2017 and the total container of timber exported he said, was 13,000 containers valued at $39,084,000.

He also provided the loan agreement between Westwood Company and its other agencies, testifying that the sum of $5million loan was in respect of Ocean Bay Hotel while the sum of$ 2million loan was in respect of Sun Beach Hotel and there was another loan of $500,000.

Mr Prom Junior testified that the said loan agreement was a 3- year grace period with no interest, further stating that the sum of $7,810,115 was paid to Kanilai Family Farms as advance dividend by Westwood Company from the years 2015 to 2016.

Junior Prom also told the commission that he has the tenancy agreement between BPI Tourism Services and Westwood Company and the sum of $40,000 was the annual payment agreement.

Further testifying, he said The Gambia Revenue Authority is claiming the sum of D253, 000,000 from Westwood Company and out of the sum, the company only paid the sum of D70, 000,000 with regard to tax and Maersk Line Shipping Agency is claiming the sum of D11.2 million for the containers used for shipment while GIEPA is claiming the sum of $5million for the warehouse at the airport.

Anthony Panetta, consultant for BPI Tourism Services also reappeared to shed light on the Westwood Company and tendered the memorandum and article of association of the company and other relevant documents and information about the company which were admitted in evidence.

Meanwhile, the commission is in recess till March 19, 2018.

By Omar Wally

The Fatu Network has been reliably informed that forty five Gambians have been deported from United States of America. The deportees include men and women most of whom spent decades in America. They arrived in The Gambia on Wednesday evening.

Saikou Ceesay, communication officer Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the reason for their deportation is that they have been living in United States illegally.

‘Those identified as Gambians were provided with emergency travel certificate to enable them travel to Banjul.’

Ceesay said it is important for Gambians abroad and in the country to know that the welfare of those deported is the concern of the government of the Gambia.

‘Remember, this is not something new, people have been deported to the Gambia before and Gambia deports people too, it is a normal routine.’

The immortal words of the bard of Avon, William Shakespeare, suffice for solace in the matter of our inevitable ultimate call, death. Indeed Shakespeare is right, as he penned in Hamlet: “There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.”

The late Abdoulie is my cousin, his mother being a younger maternal sibling of my late father. Being much older than me and having lived abroad for many years, I did not know much about him until recently when he returned home. He would occasionally visit and hold long conversations with me and my wife, Jai. And he had more chats with Jai than me but everytime he visited in my absence and Jai narrated the content of their discussion, I was impressed by Abdoulie’s sense of love and compassion for both humans and animals.

He would give detailed narrations of horses he had been handling when he worked in America, handling prime race horses. But Abdoulie did not work with horses for the mere accumulation of money. His passion for animal husbandry was inborn. It is a habit he nurtured from his early childhood in Farafenni.

Abdoulie also had a deep sense of civic responsibility; he was a significant force in the last Presidential campaign as he rallied voters in the North Bank region in favour of the coalition. Even when he was advised to take it easy for fear of reprisals from the incumbent, Abdoulie never relented.

When the political impasse was finally resolved and calm returned to Banjul, he came to visit me. We had a good chat and he shared his experience during the past campaign. I was impressed. He asked me to work on a project which I started, only to halt it after a few weeks. I had just taken up the task again to complete it as he suggested when a call came through to announce his demise.

I rushed to Farafenni to attend his funeral and the testimonies I heard about the love and compassion demonstrated by the late brother was unrivaled by any I ever heard. The imam spoke about Abdoulie’s devotion to prayers and his bond with animals, specifically narrated how the deceased took care of a little donkey that lost its mother through a car accident; he personally took care of and nurtured the foal to maturity and the foal became so close to him that even if Abdoulie was going to the mosque to pray it would follow him. He narrated how emotional it was to see the foal jump on Abdoulie as if to hug him.

As I listened to this and many other testimonies to the kindness of Abdoulie and the love and respect he showed his relatives, especially the elderly ones, who he regularly visited in nearby towns and villages, my sadness melted into appreciation of a life well-lived.

There are several narrations of the heavenly rewards of showing loving kindness to people, especially relatives in the Islamic tradition. And there is a specific narrative from the prophetic tradition that a man went to hell fire because of cruelty he meted out to a cat and another was sent o heaven for giving water to a thirsty dog. All these thoughts reinforced my faith that the departed would did live a life worthy of emulation. And as Shakespeare rightly observed, what is to be will be; so all that is important is “the readiness”!

As I bid my brotherhood farewell at the cemetery in Farafenni, another set of lines of the great William Shakespeare come to mind: “Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade / When in eternal lines to time thou growest.”

The power of words/poems could immortalise people. So to his eternal memory I penned:

Adieu Abdoulie

Gone into the soft winds

Riding on angelic wings

Adieu my brother Abdoulie

You lived a life spiritually high

Served love from far and nigh

You were a torch in our night

To The Merciful Lord I  cry

To lift you higher in heavenly light

Adorn your abode with lovely stars

Remove all past worldly scars

Keep you in the company of the saintly stars

Adieu our kindly loving star

By Momodou Sabally

PRESS RELEASE

BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

An Equatorial Guinean court on March 7, 2018 released an artist imprisoned on dubious charges for nearly six months, 18 human rights groups said today. The prosecution dropped all charges against Ramón Esono Ebalé, a cartoonist whose work is often critical of the government, at his February 27 trial after the police officer who had accused him of counterfeiting $1,800 of local currency admitted making the accusation based on orders from his superiors.

It is a huge relief that the prosecution dropped its charges against Ramon, but they should never have been pressed in the first place

“It is a huge relief that the prosecution dropped its charges against Ramon, but they should never have been pressed in the first place,” said Salil Tripathi, chair of PEN International’s Writers-in-Prison Committee. “We urge the authorities to guarantee his safe return to his family, allow him to continue creating his hard-hitting cartoons, and ensure that Equatorial Guinea respects the right to freedom of expression.”

The global #FreeNseRamon coalition, consisting of hundreds of artists, activists, and organizations devoted to protecting artistic freedom, freedom of expression and other human rights, carried out a campaign to direct international attention to his situation.

“Ramon’s release from prison is a testament of the power of collective work of hundreds of artists, concerned citizens, and NGOs,” said Tutu Alicante, director of EG Justice, which promotes human rights in Equatorial Guinea. “But we must not forget that dozens of government opponents who are not as fortunate fill Equatorial Guinea’s jails; thus, the fight against human rights violations and impunity must continue.”

Esono Ebalé, who lives outside of his native Equatorial Guinea, was arrested on September 16, 2017, while visiting the country to request a new passport. Police interrogated him about drawings critical of the government, said two Spanish friends who were arrested and interrogated alongside him and were later released.

But a news report broadcast on a government-owned television channel a few days after the arrest claimed that police had found 1 million Central African francs in the car Esono Ebalé was driving. On December 7, he was formally accused of counterfeiting. The charge sheet alleged that a police officer, acting on a tip, had asked him to exchange large bills and received counterfeit notes in return.

Ramon’s release is an important victory against repression

“Equatorial Guinea’s government has a long record of harassing and persecuting its critics,” said Mausi Segun, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Ramon’s release is an important victory against repression.”

At the trial on February 27 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea’s capital, it became clear that the police officer who had made the accusations had no personal knowledge of Esono Ebalé’s involvement in the alleged crime, according to his lawyer and another person present at the trial. After offering details that conflicted with the official account, the officer admitted that he had acted on orders of his superiors, they said. The prosecution then withdrew the charges.

“We are delighted that Ramón was acquitted and is finally free,” said Angela Quintal, Africa Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists. “The fact that the state’s main witness recanted, underscores the point that authorities manufactured the charges in the first place. Ramon should never have spent a single day behind bars and we trust that he will not be subjected to any further reprisal.”

“Now that Ramon has been released, the authorities must launch a thorough and effective investigation into whether the charges against him were fabricated, and ensure that the criminal justice system is no longer misused to target and harass human rights defenders,” said Marta Colomer, Amnesty International’s Campaigner on Equatorial Guinea.

The human rights groups are : Amnesty International, Arterial Network, Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, Asociación Profesional de Ilustradores de Madrid, Cartoonists Rights Network International, Cartooning for Peace, Committee to Protect Journalists, Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, Jonathan Price and Paul Mason, Doughty Street Chambers, UK, EG Justice, FIDH, within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Freemuse, Human Rights Watch, Index on Censorship, PEN America, PEN International, Reporters without Borders, Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace, World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.

In the past week or two, reports have been circulating on social media and the local newspapers that there is a scrimmage between the Minister of Health Mrs Saffie Lowe-Ceesay and the doctors in the country. It is reported that the ruckus began when Madam Ceesay made remarks which were seen as disparaging by many doctors in the country’s health sector.

It was reported that the minister’s statement that corruption is hindering the country’s healthcare delivery system, sparked a lot of condemnation. The ministry officials initially wanted to portray that their Honourable Minister might have been misquoted but, according to The Standard Newspaper which broke the story out they arranged for officials of the ministry to listen to the recorded tapes which made it clear that she was in fact not misquoted.

Now, Mr President, the Gambia Association of Resident Doctors is calling for the resignation of the minister in forty-eight hours or else they will consider going on a sit-down strike. This has become more serious than I thought. It is important that a solution is found as soon as possible. Someone must do something about this before it gets out of hand.

The Gambia has changed dramatically, and anyone who holds office – or wishes to hold office – in this country must recognize this and work and act accordingly. The Gambia of today is not the Gambia of yester years. The time has come when citizens, be they doctors, teachers, nurses, clerks and others will not take some statements lying down. They have found their voices, and no one will make them silent again.

It is becoming a routine that government officials make statements only to realize that it is unacceptable, and that people will not accept such anymore. When the Teachers for Change called for a sit-down strike, the Minister of Education threatened that they would be punished only to realize that she did not do the right thing. They ended up negotiating a solution. Mr Hamat Bah’s sacking has been called for by some activists (myself included) and the government had to apologize for his statements.

Your ministers must realize that they have to weigh their words from henceforth because Gambians have broken the chains and will not sit by and see their rights violated or, being disrespected by government officials. A sit-down strike by doctors would be catastrophic at this stage. Yet, we cannot prevent them from doing it if their demands are not met. So, we must seek to negotiate with them.

Doctors also know that what they signed up for is to protect life at all cost. They protect – or should protect – lives at even if it means that they have to sacrifice their leisure, their time with family and other needs. Thus, a statement from one person even if s/he is the minister should not make them lose sight of their sworn duty which they certainly value, judging by their track record so far.

Thus, it seems to me that there is room for a fruitful negotiation and doing it now will save us a lot of trouble; and perhaps, save Gambian lives!

Have a Good day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

The Government of The Gambia has identified and eliminated potential ‘ghost workers’ from its payroll, recover wrongful salary payments and updated the personnel records of Civil Servants and Security Agencies among others.

The nationwide staff audit of civil service and security agencies which was conducted by the Personnel Management Office PMO in collaboration with IFMIS is said to have revealed series of payroll malpractices.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Mr Demba Ali Jawo, Minister of Information said the exercise revealed series of payroll malpractices which includes a total number of 3,146 absentee employees.

“The total payments for absentee employee salaries amounts to D10, 445, 612 Millions per month and D125, 347, 346. 76 Millions yearly,” Information Minister Jawo said.

The Information Minister quickly added that the payment of these salaries have been stopped since June 2017.

As part of the exercise, he said a total of D124, 612.8 have been recovered from employees who were seconded or transferred whose names still appeared on the payroll leaving a balance of D779,901.71 to be recovered.

Meanwhile, the Minister also spoke about the issuance of a TV License to Paradise FM among others.

By Alieu Ceesay

Information Minister Demba A. Jawo, has said that the Health Minister Saffie Lowe Ceesay has clarified that the statements attributed to her in recent newspaper reports were not accurate.

Jawo, who also doubles as the Government’s Spokesperson was speaking during his quarterly press conference on Wednesday at the ministry’s hall.

Minister Jawo said: “She [Health Minister] however confirmed saying at the press conference organized by the WACS that the Health Ministry is facing a pilfering of Medical items that include drugs and that it is her responsibility to seek measures to address the access system so that such items do not find their way to private pharmacies and other private health facilities.

“The Health Minister has however expressed understanding of the quick reaction of the medical profession and would like to reiterate that she never attributed the pilfering to the medical doctors,” the Communication Minister told the press.

The Association of Resident Doctors-The Gambia (GARD) on Tuesday demanded for the resignation of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Saffie Lowe Ceesay within 48 hours.

This is in relation to a publication made by the Standard Newspaper captioned ‘Corruption hindering health sector’ published on February 28, 2018.

The paper reported that the minister revealed that efforts in developing The Gambia’s health sector are held back by corrupt and unpatriotic doctors.

“When you talk about corruption in the health system we all know how it is…these young doctors that will just go and practice pharmaceutics, some of them have opened their own pharmacies which the resources that we have. I am very sure of what I am saying because I was the PS,” she was quoted by the paper during a press conference.

GARD is also demanding that the Minister retracts her statement and apologize to the entire Medical and Health fraternity. The Association said if the demands are not met, they will resort to a sit down strike.

GARD is a representative body of all Resident Doctors with a current membership of 191 countrywide.

Delivering a statement on behalf GARD at the Conference Hall of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul on Tuesday, Dr Ebrima Bah, President of GARD said: “We unreservedly condemn in the strongest possible terms, these defamatory remarks and find them very disappointing.”

He explains, “We understand, following subventions from the Ministry, whether adequate or not for a budget proposal, drugs are procured and stored at the Central Medical Stores from where distribution is done to the various government hospitals and other health facilities on a quarterly basis and sometimes on demand.

He said at the health facilities, drugs are entirely under the control of the Pharmacy head of department.

“Drugs are dispensed from pharmacies following a Medical doctor’s prescription per diagnosis made, either for out-patient cases or administration within the wards for in-patients depending on the treatment plan.”

“If the Minister does not understand these basics from budgeting, drug procurement down to dispensing, then it shows her incompetence at her job. Unless she is deliberately scapegoating, knowing where the problem truly lies,” he said before cheering crowd, chanting “she must go!!”

Dr Bah said, the doctors understand that The Gambia is a resource limited country adding that it is the responsibility of the Minister and her administration to prepare proper and comprehensive budget proposals for the health sector and to also ensure that a wise and transparent allocation is done in all health areas.

“However we expect inefficiency in such the Ministry is administratively challenged. Hence a total restructuring, with proper schemes and policies in place is required to rehabilitate our debilitating health system.”

Former Secretary General, Momodou Sabally has said that the former Commander of the Republican National Guard, General Saul Badjie was more powerful than the then Vice President of The Gambia.

The former outspoken Secretary General made these revelations among others before the commission of inquiry probing into the financial dealings of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel.

“General Saul Badjie was more powerful than the then Vice President,” former SG Sabally said.

“As Secretary General, I received calls from General Badjie with instructions allegedly from the former President,” he added.

The former SG said sometimes he would make queries to the former president who would confirm to him that the instructions were given by him.

When asked by Commissioner Bai Mass Saine whether the former General was a Co–President, his answer was in the negative but added that the former Army General was more powerful than the then Vice President.

Sabally said the former General was a very close confidant of the former President, noting that there were consequences for defying his instructions.

The former Secretary General Sabally was summoned in connection to the International Gateway contracted to MGI.

Sabally recalled that the former president summoned him to a meeting at Kanilai where he met the former General Saul Badjie, former Gamtel MD Babucarr Sanyang, Bala Jassey and a gentleman from Switzerland. He added that the former president decided to handover the International Gateway project to MGI while terminating Tel Company’s contract. He said the former president instructed him to work with Gamtel on the said project.

“I believe General Badjie had influence in the contract,” he asserted.

The former SG Sabally spoke about Mobisel, a company belonging to Bala Jassey that was working on the former President’s telephone sets to divert international calls without passing through Gamtel, noting that the impression given at the time was that it was based on security reasons.

Sabally told the commission about the relationship between Bala Jassey, Babucarr Sanyang and General Saul Badjie.

The Former SG said he raised concerns with the former president about the diversion of revenues from the project but his concerns were downplayed and he was later sacked.

“The circumstances were murky,” he said.

Sabally said he believes partly that his dismissal had something to do with the concerns he raised about the diversion of revenues generated from the Gateway project.

“I was told anytime the Gateway is shifted to a new management the SG is fired,” he added.

The former Secretary General said he believes the former president has something to benefit from the International Gateway project.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of GAMCEL also testified before the commission.

By Alieu Ceesay

The Association of Resident Doctors-The Gambia (GARD) is demanding for the resignation of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Saffie Lowe Ceesay within 48 hours.

This is in relation to a publication made by the Standard Newspaper captioned ‘Corruption hindering health sector’ published on February 28, 2018.

The paper reported that the minister revealed that efforts in developing The Gambia’s health sector are held back by corrupt and unpatriotic doctors.

“When you talk about corruption in the health system we all know how it is…these young doctors that will just go and practice pharmaceutics, some of them have opened their own pharmacies which the resources that we have. I am very sure of what I am saying because I was the PS,” she was quoted by the paper during a press conference.

GARD is also demanding that the Minister retracts her statement and apologize to the entire Medical and Health fraternity. The Association said if the demands are not met, they will resort to a sit down strike.

GARD is a representative body of all Resident Doctors with a current membership of 191 countrywide.

Delivering a statement on behalf GARD at the Conference Hall of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul on Tuesday, Dr Ebrima Bah, President of GARD said:

“We unreservedly condemn in the strongest possible terms, these defamatory remarks and find them very disappointing.”

He explains, “we understand, following subventions from the Ministry, whether adequate or not for a budget proposal, drugs are procured and stored at the Central Medical Stores from where distribution is done to the various government hospitals and other health facilities on a quarterly basis and sometimes on demand.

He said at the health facilities, drugs are entirely under the control of the Pharmacy head of department.

“Drugs are dispensed from pharmacies following a Medical doctor’s prescription per diagnosis made, either for out-patient cases or administration within the wards for in-patients depending on the treatment plan.”

“If the Minister does not understand these basics from budgeting, drug procurement down to dispensing, then it shows her incompetence at her job. Unless she is deliberately scapegoating, knowing where the problem truly lies,” he said before cheering crowd, chanting “she must go!!”

Dr Bah said, the doctors understand that The Gambia is a resource limited country adding that it is the responsibility of the Minister and her administration to prepare proper and comprehensive budget proposals for the health sector and to also ensure that a wise and transparent allocation is done in all health areas.

“However we expect inefficiency in such the Ministry is administratively challenged. Hence a total restructuring, with proper schemes and policies in place is required to rehabilitate our debilitating health system.”

Amidst reports that the management and staff members at the Central bank of the Gambia are set to increase (triple actually) their emoluments [the reports are yet to be confirmed though] the issue of having a minimum wage for workers both in the public and private sectors is set to receive a new impetus. Whether it will yield any fruits is something else altogether.

Reports have it that a recommendation to this effect was made but deemed to be ‘not sustainable’ by a section of the government. This is indeed worrying as in my view – which happens to be the view of many in the embattle civil and private service – even a minimum wage is not enough to bridge the gap (between rich and poor) and bring the poor working class even close to being satisfactorily paid. We view it as a first step towards making live better for the ordinary hard-working Gambians.

Thus, it is clear that government functionaries saying that it is not sustainable to increase salaries says that there is no political will to pull our people out of the quagmire they find themselves in. This would have been understandable if the gap in pay between the so-called CEOs, government ministers, directors, managers on the one hand, and the ordinary people on the other, wasn’t so glaringly wide.

Every country, company or corporation depends on its workforce – the ordinary workers in most cases – to succeed and make profits. But the capitalist system thrives on that, the exploitation of the poor and weak, for the advancement of the few on top. This is what we observe everywhere. It is seen in individual companies and corporations, it is seen in government departments, it is seen in international relations between nations and everywhere else. This is what leads to massive uprisings in various parts of the world and in various forms.

The time has come, Mr President, to think outside the box, so to speak, in order to come up with ways to not only increase the salaries of ordinary workers, but to massively reduce the cost of living: cost of food, education, transport, medical care and other things essential for a comfortable living.

This cannot be done solely on grants and loans from international donors, it must be from wealth generated within. We must find a way of fulfilling the needs of our people. This is the primary reason why we have governments in the first place. So, government should find a way of levelling the playing field and opening the country for business. Support the local industry and enable the citizens create the needed wealth to foot all the bills.

Have a Good Day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned citizen

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Assan Jallow has denied reports of telephone insults to the process server at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial dealings of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates.

The Permanent Secretary appearing for the first time before the commission was questioned by Lead Counsel, Amie Bensouda about his alleged telephone insults but he repeatedly denied insulting the Process Server at the Commission.

“I did not insult his mother,” Permanent Secretary Jallow said.

Mr Jallow said he does not insult people, saying the Process Server called him at late night around midnight as a result he could not sleep after talking to him on the telephone.

The Agric PS was summoned in connection to the Japanese grants but failed to produce certain documents requested from him.

The Commission’s Counsel, Amie Bensouda told the commission that the witness failed to furnish certain information as requested but added that the witness said he thought the commission was going to contact the records office to get the said information.

At this juncture, Surahata Janneh, Chairman of the warned the witness about the powers of the commission to deal with witnesses, saying if he fails to produce the said information the commission would deal with him.

Counsel Bensouda told Chairman Janneh that the commission would need all the closed files regarding the Japanese grants from 1998 to date, list of Japanese aids, accounts of all the proceeds from 1998 to date, all contracts signed with Kanilai Group International KGI, reconciliation of supplies made to KGI, and amounts paid by KGI into the Central Bank Account and any other relevant document.

At this juncture, Chairman Surahata Janneh issued an ultimatum to the witness until March 20, 2018, to submit the documents required by the commission and was told to liaise with the secretary of the commission if he has any excuse.

Meanwhile, Ms Isatou Auber, former Secretary to Cabinet failed to appeared before the commission after she was served with a summons.

She was summoned in connection to the payment of D7 Million Dalasi to MRI. Counsel Bensouda urged the Commission Chairman to warn the witness, noting that a bench warrant will be issued if she fail to appear on Thursday.

By Omar Wally

Captain Malick Boye, a Jungler accused of killing a female soldier allegedly impregnated by former President Yahya Jammeh has been arrested and currently held under custody.

The suspect who was arrested on Friday, is said to have killed one Mariama Camara and her husband at Hamza barracks, when Mariam’s husband started “making noise”, about her pregnancy which Jammeh wanted her to keep in secret.

When contacted, the spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, Major Lamin Sanyang confirmed the story. He added that Captain Boye is currently under the custody of the Military Police.

By Alieu Ceesay

The Gambia and world football fraternity is mourning the demise of former Gambia Football Federation President Omar Sey. Sey died on Friday, March 2, 2018 at the country’s main referral hospital in Banjul.

The news of his demise came as a shock to many who knew the old man. Omar Sey had served in both CAF and FIFA with distinction. He was adviser to the current executive of Football Federation until his demise. Mr. Sey had also served as Gambia’s Foreign Affairs minister during the PPP regime of former President Jawara.

Hundreds including cabinet ministers, venerable religious leaders and football followers converged at the Pipeline Mosque along the busy Kairaba Avenue to pay their last respect to a man, who many said, have greatly contributed to the development of football and sports in the country.

The late Uncle Omar Sey was the President of the then GFA when The Gambia hosted and won the 2005 African U-17 Championship in Banjul. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Normalisation Committee that oversaw the transition from The Gambia Football Association to The Gambia Football Federation. He was an international FIFA Referee until his retirement when he took up an Executive position with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The late Sey was on the verge of becoming the President of CAF in the mid 1980s when Gambia’s first President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara pleaded with him to take up appointed as the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, paving the way for Issa Hayatou to take over the mantle of leadership of the continental football body.

He remained Minister in the Jawara Government until 1994 but never stayed away from football until his death. He was Adviser to the GFF Executive Committee.

GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo described Omar Sey as a father figure and mentor to him and many others in football administration. He credited Omar Sey for the many achievements in Gambian Football. On behalf of CAF President, Ahmad, Bajo extended CAF and FIFA condolences to the family of Omar Sey.

“Wherever I travel, the first person they ask about is Omar Sey. All they talk about him is his honesty and commitment.”

The GFF President said Omar Sey will continue to be remembered for his service to the nation. He prayed for him, describing him as a devoted Muslim.

MC Cham, a cousin to the late Omar Sey, described the demise of Sey as not only a lost to his family but the country at large. He said Omar Sey spent all his life serving humanity and prayed that his soul Rest In Peace.

Gambia and Africa best referee, Papa Gassama was also among the multitude at the burial. He credited former FIFA referee Omar Sey for his (Papa’s) success in refereeing. He reflected how the late Sey had encouraged and guided him through his journey.

Another Banjulian who had worked with Omar Sey is Mbye Chaw of Banjul. He also spoke highly of his former friend.

He calls him a “devoted Muslim”. “We will really missed him!” Omar Sey, born in 1941 in Basse was laid to rest on Friday evening at the Old Jeshwang Cemetery.

It is a big disappointment to learn that President Barrow visited Foni, Sibanor as part of reconciliation efforts where he met the traditional and Community leaders as if Foni is the Gambia’s problem. There will be no reconciliation when parts of the population is labelled as anti-government as a result of their tribe, culture, political ideology and geographical area.

Previously Kanilai bigot the unusual as a bitter confrontation between the peaceful protesters and Senegalese soldiers at the entrance of the village letting to bloodshed. Residents of the rural settlement and the Foni environs demanded the immediate evacuation of both the Gambian and Senegalese soldiers in Kanilai. The protesters were shot on their route to Kanfenda leading to some civilians sustaining injuries and death of one civilian by name Mr. Haruna Jatta who was later laid to rest on the 6^th June, 2017.

It was narrated that the ECOMIG soldiers from Senegal were informed to shoot the protesters as they are rebels from Cassamance? If that is true then it is complete idiocy to allow any nation, regardless of the external generosity to fight their enemy within your land, and knowing very well and with supreme belief that the aftermath can be life threatening.

Many will asked this question. Why the heavy deployment of soldiers in one part of the country concisely Foni stuck in the minds of most Gambians? To protest again external forces is not a crime as it happened in Congo, Haiti and many more. In Senegal the last time I checked the number of protest occurred is uncountable but none of the protesters were shot to death with a life bullet. But why on the Fonika’s? Also if protesters were armed with weapons as claimed by the then minister of Interior Mai Fatty. How came only civilians were injured and killed?

The question on  might be quick to ask shall be why should it took Barrow for one year to visit foni after all calamity that took place.  Barrow is the president which none of the Fonika’s denied. The Gambia belongs to The Gambian’s both those home and abroad. Therefore In rebuilding a new Gambia we all dream all regions need to be represented well and treated equally despite of political ideology. In a place where trust does not exist, love, respect and solidarity are also absent. The lack of trust destroys families, country, as well as social, cultural, and economic life.

The Faroto folks also demonstrated which ended to riot and resulted to the burning of cars owned by individuals. In Bakau the Police were also being attacked by the angry, irritated youth as a result of arresting the drug dealers. There was another bitter confrontation between the Police Intervention Unit Officers (PIU) and the people of Bakoteh which ended of dumping the collected waste at the Mayor’s office in Kanifing but to my surprise none were shot with a life bullet neither a tear gas was used unlike what was done to the people of Foni.

Barrow need to know that Foni is not the problem but the people who prevailed on Former President to subvert the will of the Gambian people are the problem. And those people should never be allowed at any cost to come near to the corridor of authority again.

One cannot use Foni to prevail with the excuse of cajoling for peace. We the sons and daughters of Foni can sort out any issue amongst ourselves in the spirits of one Gambia, one family and one people. In fact, there is no problem in Foni as most narrow minded think and want it to look like. Foni should not and cannot be a prolific ground for anyone to rejuvenate his or her political ambitions. We the Fonika’s are not sleeping and shall continue to rebrand the name of Foni for better. We will take the lead and government must recognize that. Strangers cannot be talking to our people as if we the Foninka’s do not have all what it takes to resolve whatever misconceptions or perceptions that exist.

The real trick to good governance is to place the needs of the masses above everything else, to lead not just with words but with action. Actions define priorities. It’s the only way the Barrow lead administration can successfully bring us the long sought dividend of democracy.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Political Activist

There is no doubt that language is not only the vehicle of culture, but of ideas as well. As we know that ideas rule the world in the ultimate analyses, it is important therefore to couch our language(s) whenever in a way that promotes cohesion, unity and reconciliation. The idea that languages play a fundamental part in shaping a society’s outlook towards a particular issue (or even people) is not farfetched. One has only to look at the recent history of the world to see that language plays a key role in either causing great harm; or, averting it.

Friedich Nietzsche, recognizing the power of language, once wrote: ‘Governments that seek absolute power over the groups they control use language as a principal support…’  In democratic societies, those in power maintain a duty of care towards the public, which amongst other things, include using language fairly and prodigiously, choosing words that unite and bridge communities rather than incite hatred and division. In the same vein, the use of vile language by a group of individuals – be they religiously inclined or otherwise – has the potential of causing a lot of harm to society. That is why the government of the Gambia, while protecting the rights to free speech, must seek to manage the way in which the media is used.

Political rhetoric like that of Marton Stride, member of the Swedish far right party forced to resign last month after referring to Muslims as not being ‘fully human’, is the antithesis of the principles of human dignity and civic virtue whereupon secular ideals have been constructed. We must be cautioned against the growing tide of hateful rhetoric lest semantic spur violence against vulnerable groups within society. We must also seek to manage the way our own ‘Marton Strides’ speak on our airwaves and prevent them from inciting violence.

Within this context, the news that your Cabinet in a meeting urged the minister of Information, Communication and Communication Infrastructure to engage the regulators and owners of radio and other media outlet to come up with mechanisms to ensure that no one uses their platform to incite hatred and violence is indeed commendable. Follow-ups should be made so that this does not only remain a rhetoric but is actually implemented. We must inculcate the culture of tolerance and reconciliation to move on. We must progress collectively.

Have a Good day Mr President…

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

By Sana Sarr

Thailand’s foreign ministry is reportedly upset with the Gambian government for offensive comments made by The Gambia’s Tourism Minister about Thailand. According to the “Bangkok Post”, Matichon Online reported that a Thai foreign ministry spokesperson has told them they have instructed Thailand’s embassies in Dakar, overseeing The Gambia and the Thai embassy in Malaysia, where the Gambian High Commission takes care of Thailand, to send letters of protest to their Gambian counterparts.

In a recent interview on Gambia’s national television, GRTS, our Minister of Tourism warned western tourists who are interested in sex tourism to stay away from The Gambia.

“We are not a sex destination. If you want a sex destination, you go to Thailand,”  Minister Hamat Bah, who is also the leader of the opposition party, NRP, is reported to have said on a televised weekly talk show.

To many Gambians, Minister Bah’s comments could not have come at a worse time. The country is trying to recover from the twenty-two-year dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh, a period that saw us isolated from the rest of the world due to our earned reputation for gross human rights violations and through unproductive unilateral decisions of our former president, including renaming the country an “Islamic State”, withdrawing it from the Commonwealth and his unsubstantiated claims to cure HIV/Aids using bananas.

After finally getting rid of the dictator through elections in December 2016, we have been trying to repair our image and regain respectability in the international scene. We celebrated readmission into the Commonwealth less than a month ago.

Economically, tourism is one of Gambia’s main foreign exchange earners and employs thousands of Gambians, so it only makes sense that the government has been looking to revive the sector. Gambians generally pride themselves on the peaceful and respectful nature of our people. Our nickname as The Smiling Coast of Africa, is partly due to the friendly and welcoming nature of our people, so to see our Minister of Tourism levelling such unwarranted insults at a foreign nation is highly embarrassing.

We urge Minister Bah to show humility with a sincere apology to the government and people of Thailand for his regretful comments. We also hope that all of our government officials realize the sacred duty they have to represent all Gambians in a positive light and to always endeavor to show our best qualities. Words, especially in international circles, can have far-reaching effects and our nation can ill-afford public officials making flippant comments. We ask our executive to remember this responsibility so they hire individuals based on qualifications and not only on political expediency.

Olof Njie neh, “lu waai di wuyoe, dakoi nuroo”.

“Honorable” is not just a title for our officials to answer to. It’s a quality that must be reflected in their actions and words.