By Omar Wally

A mechanical engineering student at The Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), has invented a Pest Bird Control Device meant to help farmers get rid of birds.

The device, a Solar Powered Audible Bird Scarer and a mechanical Bird Scarer is designed to control pest bird invasions and is said to be effective in scaring birds away from farms.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Wally Saine, the inventor said he recently completed a diploma in mechanical engineering. He added that as an Engineering student, he was required to work on a project for his Diploma, during his final year at GTTI.

“ I decided to make a device that will help farmers in the Gambia control pest bird invasions especially those who practice small scale farming since most of them are unable to afford modern bird scaring machines.”

Saine said the Solar Powered Audible Bird Scarer emits a predator’s sound that would scare the birds away.

He added that the Mechanical Bird Scarer, which is less expensive and easily affordable, is driven by wind and as the wind drives it, it emits a sound disturbing the birds and eventually leading to their dispersal from that area.

Saine said both devices were tested and the results are positive, rice farmers are happy to see the birds being driven away by the device.

He called on the government to help farmers by providing them with bird scaring devices such as, the ones he invented, adding that it will eventually enhance food sustainability in the country and encourage farmers to cultivate more hectares of land.

‘I request for the government to support the Engineering students in The Gambia, since many of them have great ideas but are unable to due to financial constraints.’

Saine: I’m appealing to government to help me further my education at least to the level of a degree in engineering.

The Gambian authorities have called on international partners to sanction former ruler Yahya Jammeh as the country tries to recover funds reportedly looted by the former president.
At a press conference in Banjul on Friday, justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou has also asked the U.S. to extend its sanction to Jammeh’s wife Zineb Souma Jammeh.

“While we commend the US Government for this laudable act, we would like to encourage them to do more and I am therefore calling on the United States to include on this list some family members of former President Jammeh especially his wife Mrs Zineb Souma Jammeh.”

His comments came two days after the U.S. froze the assets of Jammeh and sanctioned him with his former spy chief Yankuba Badgie.

The minster further appealed to European Union and other international partners to help the country recover its stolen loot by placing sanctions on the former president and his associates.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Gambian-born retired US Army sergeant, Papa Faal, has claimed that the 30th December 2014 coup d’etat failed because Brigadier General Musa Savage snitched on them and that the 1st Infantry Battalion that was supposed to join them was a no-show.

On 30 December 2014, a group of Gambians, mainly ex-military officers based in the US, UK and Germany, headed by Gambian-American property developer Cherno Njie, attempted to forcibly overthrow the government of Yahya Jammeh. The attempt was thwarted resulting in the death of some of the attackers, including Lt Col Lamin Sanneh, a former State Guard Commander; Njaga Jagne, retired US Army captain; and Alagie Jaja Nyass.

Brikama-born Faal who travelled from the US to take part in the armed attack, speaking to the local media for the first time since the event, accused Savage – who brigadier general shortly after quashing the attempted coup – of betraying the plotters. He said Sanneh spoke to Savage while he [Faal] was standing “right next” to Sanneh when they were getting ready to move.

“We found out that Savage was going to be the commander at the sentinel. He [Savage] knew that we were coming. If Sanneh was not on favourable terms with Savage, he would not have contacted him,” Faal claimed.

He said owing to the agreement Sanneh had with Savage, he assumed that the coup would “flow freely” and that they would go into State House, disarm the soldiers without killing anyone or shooting any fire.

“[Apparently] the people Lamin Sanneh trusted were not people he should have trusted and it was not a coincidence that Savage was promoted from the rank of major to general [shortly afterwards],” Faal told The Standard.

Faal, a great nephew of former President Jawara denied allegations that he was motivated to remove Jammeh from power by any means necessary because he was smarting from his family losing power and prestige.

“I did not come to topple Jammeh because of my grandfather, Sir Dawda. The Gambia is bigger than Sir Dawda. We saw election after election being rigged, people being killed and [made to] disappear… The country was horrible and people were suffering and the president had become the sole provider of goods and services and he kept enriching himself. How can anyone who have a heart for the country, stay behind?” Faal posited.

He continued: “I went to Afghanistan and fought for the United States. When the call came, why won’t I fight to defend and pull Gambians out of the tragedy that they found themselves in? I will never shirk from my responsibility to help get Gambians out of repression. It is my civic and religious duty and I will not stand by and watch oppression.”

Faal denied claims by the former government that they [the plotters] planned to destroy certain strategic infrastructure in the event they failed in their attempt to dislodge Jammeh at the first onslaught.

“Does it make sense to take over the country and destroy the infrastructure? That would be madness. Denton Bridge was named. If we destroy Denton Bridge, aren’t we locking ourselves in Banjul?” he reasoned.

On the ‘New Gambia’, Faal said “it would only be promising as long as Gambians protect their own destiny and freedom, and not let any leader advantage of them again”.

Editor’s note: Read Rtd Gen Musa Savage’s response to Papa Faal in the tomorrow’s edition of The Standard and the full transcripts of the interview with Faal in the Bantaba column on Friday.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has officially opened the 3rd TAF Gambia Annual Networking Conference at the Sheraton Hotel, Brufut.

The TAF Africa Global is a housing scheme project owned by Mustapha Njie known as Taf, a Gambian Entrepreneur who is engaged in housing projects in The Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria and Ivory Coast among others countries in the African Continent.

President Barrow in his opening statements commended Mr Mustapha Njie for the successes made in Nigeria and several countries across the continent, saying he made every Gambian proud.

“We will create an investment friendly environment for investors,” President Adama Barrow said.

“We are here to create the enabling environment for you,” he added.

The Gambian leader challenged Gambians to change their mindsets as the development of the country is the ultimate responsibility of the citizenry. He advised Gambians to leave the past behind and walk ahead with the future. He called on them to unite for the development of the country.

“The new Gambia will create opportunities for all Gambians in the diaspora and at home to build the country,” he asserted.

President Barrow further reiterated that the TAF Gambia Annual Networking Conference is a very important forum that underscores the desires and hopes in building a better Gambia. He advised participants to familiarize themselves with the country’s Development Plan. He added that the new Gambia has challenges as well as opportunities that needs to be tackle by both the public and the private sectors.

Mustapha Njie, CEO TAF Africa Global thanked Gambia and Gambians for the successes gained in and outside the country through all these years.

“Everything I got today was given to me by Gambians,” Mustapha Njie said.

Taf Njie, a renown housing estate personality revealed his plans to build one million homes in Sub Saharan Africa starting with 10, 000 houses in The Gambia, saying housing is a basic human need.

According to him over $500 Million US Dollars will be raised to implement the project in the next 10 years. He revealed plans to build the TAF Africa Global headquarters in The Gambia in the next 6 months.

“We want to see The Gambia beyond political divide or religious and tribal difference,” he asserted.

Taf spoke about the launching of TAF Africa Foundation to build the capacity of the youth through vocational training skills.

Meanwhile, Ms Ndey Isatou Njie, a Retired UN Official chaired the forum. The program was attended by the Vice President Ms Tambajang, Cabinet Ministers, Dignitaries, youth organisations, civil society groups and the physically challenged among others. Several speeches were made by Dr Karamo Sonko and Rene Carayol.

By Alieu Ceesay

One of the aspirants for the 2018 Kanifing Municipality (KM) Mayoral Election, Papa Njie has vowed to make sports as part of his development agenda if elected.

Njie, a former footballer and Sport administrator is among many who expressed interest in running for the mayoral seat of the highly populated Kanifing Municipality.

Speaking in an interview with The Fatu Network on Saturday during a wrestling contest organized by Lamin Cham of Champions Sounds Promotion, Njie told Gambia Sports, “I am honored to be named after one of the ‘flags’ and it is an honor to be here. It shows that we need to honor our Gambian people as wrestling is very popular and need to be supported.”

The grand wrestling contest saw wrestler Hoyantan of Club Ndongo Ceesay defeat Gambian of Kharange Family after six minutes of fight. The much anticipated combat draw hundreds of people to the stadium in Bakau.

The turnout, according to Papa Njie, was good and showed that Gambians appreciate their sports. He called for more investment by the government and the Kanifing Municipal Council.

“We have a problem of sports infrastructure in KM and if this combat was stage in the center of Serrekunda the turnout would have been bigger than this,” he opined, while vowing to change the status if elected as the mayor of Kanifing Municipality.

Papa Njie, who is also the president of Gambia Basketball Association and former footballer said sports development is top on his agenda as he bid for the KM Mayoral seat.

“I am going to make sure KMC invest in sports for its development. KM has the talents” Serign Cham, President of The Gambia Wrestling Federation corroborated Papa Njie’s claim that there is the need for more investment in the promotion and development of sports, wrestling in particular.

“We are appealing to the government to empower the youth not to use the ‘Back Way’ through sports. We want to have our wrestling arena upgraded to have most of this combats stage there.”

Wrestling used to be the country’s most popular sport but after years of dormancy, efforts are well underway to revive the traditional sport with the private sector slowly coming in to consolidate the efforts of the promoters.

One of those private sector actors making a name for itself in the wrestling domain is Gam Housing Real Estate, who for the second time have allocated plots of land to wrestlers after winning their bout, staged by local wrestling promoters in the country.

The latest is wrestler Hoyantan after the Club Ndongo Ceesay wrestler defeated wrestler Gambian of Kharange Family on Saturday at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

Lamin Mboge, CEO of Gam Housing Real Estate said the love for wrestling in the country is growing among Gambians and as part of their social corporate responsibilities they deemed it fitting to support the sport.

“The Government cannot do it all alone and as a private sector, we deemed it fitting to come in and contribute our quota.”

He disclosed that the winner of Saturday’s contest (Hoyantan) would received a plot of land from Gam Housing at their Sanyang Estate.

“We want to see that wrestling is a lucrative sport for our young people like those making millions in football. Therefore, we are committed to this cause,” said Mbodge.

It was in July 2015 that KMC Mayor Yankuba Colley signed a 2.2. million euros contract with the CEO of JMP company Mario Pratolongo from Italy for a special project to address Bakoteh dumpsite. The National Roads Authority together with the Ministry of Works was tasked to oversee the implementation of the project. The singing ceremony was witnessed by KMC councilors and community leaders.

Yet more than two years down the line KMC now says they never received the 2.2 million euros! This information came out since March this year when Bakoteh and Manjai committee members confronted KMC for no action on the dumpsite.

Around the same time the Government of Adama Barrow decided to close the dumpsite after residents protested at the hazardous nature of the site. This was followed by dumping of waste in front of the Mayor’s office to further demonstrate the frustration of residents. The Government had said since early this year that they would identify another place or seek a solution to the problem. Since then nothing has happened. Meantime the indiscriminate dumping and lack of collection of refuse in markets and other places within the Kanifing Municipality is appalling!

Yet even though the site was said to be closed, it is now clear that indeed dumping continues to take place there. Consequently the dumpsite continues to release dangerous fumes into the SOS Children’s Village as well as in the surrounding communities of Bakoteh, Manjai, Dippa Kunda, Sanchaba, Sukuta, London Corner and beyond. Why is this taking place?

The continued presence of Bakoteh dumpsite and its attendant problems is a direct threat to the right to life and the right to health of Gambians within its vicinity. The Gambia Government has a duty by law to protect the lives and rights of Gambians hence this dumpsite is therefore nothing but a clear violation of the rights of Gambians to a healthy life perpetrated by none other than the Gambian State itself.

We cannot and must not allow Government irresponsibility to continue to damage the lives of Gambians. President Adama Barrow and his Minister responsible for the environment as well as the Mayor of KMC and the Director General of NEA and their families do not live within the vicinity of this dumpsite hence they face no threat from dangerous fumes. But they a have constitutional duty to make sure that no other Gambian citizen or families face such dangerous threat to their lives.

It is unacceptable that our public officers can secure clean and safe environment for themselves and their families yet allow other Gambian families to face direct and present danger to their lives. That is injustice and a violation of the human rights and human dignity of Gambians that must not be condoned in the New Gambia.

I therefore directly call on Pres. Adama Barrow and his Minister of Environment Lamin Dibba and the Mayor of KMC Yankuba Kolley and the Director General of NEA Muhammad Jama Suwareh to address this dumpsite forthwith.

Failure to do so, I call on all Gambians to rise up to protest at the utter irresponsibility and dereliction of duty by these public officers in contravention of our constitution.

Furthermore Bakoteh and Manjai citizens and their community associations must take this matter to court to demand urgent action. They must engage CSOs in the country so that we take the Gambia Government and KMC to court to fulfill their constitutional obligations as set out in our constitution and international law to which the Gambia is a party.

I am available for cooperation with any Gambian or group of Gambians that wish to pursue this matter to the courts immediately to ensure accountability.

For the Gambia, Our Homeland!

Isatou Auber Faal, former secretary to cabinet at the office of The President has been redeployed to The Gambia National Petroleum Company (GNPC) sources say.

Mrs. Auber Faal replaced Abdoulie Jarra as deputy to Mambury Njie, the current director general. Her appointment took effect two weeks ago.

Jarra who served as deputy director general since President Barrow took over power has been moved to The Office of The President as permanent secretary.

By Yunus S Saliu

The ‘all-inclusive package,’ which has become a controversy among some vendors in the tourism industry has been declared a tourism package that is ‘here to stay.’

Honorable Hamat Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Monday, told The Fatunework in a brief interview during the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and its satellite institutions’ retreat held at the Tendaba Camp that, “ The All-inclusive” package is here to stay.”

He stated clearly that 62 per cent of the entire world bookings today is all-inclusive and it is growing by the day.

According to him, nothing can stop tourists from going out and buying products but added that such products and services if provided should be of very great quality.

Minister Bah admitted that it cannot be business as usual, urging service providers to improve on their products and services adding “we are going for upmarket products of very high quality. Tourists want to enjoy quality services, too.”

He advised that anyone in the industry who wants to be counted must be ready to make available quality products and services.

Honorable Bah assured vendors and other service providers in the industry of his Ministry’s concern about their worries but assured and promise them of educating them on  ‘The all-inclusive package’ and how they can benefit from it abundantly.

Minister Bah finally said that his ministry will work with vendors in educating them on the all-inclusive package and how it can be beneficial to them.

Ms Veronic Wright, a Gambian Legal Adviser and Officer in charge of the Office of the Prosecutor, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunal has called on the Gambia Bar Association to watch every move made by the new government to avoid what happened in the past regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.

“We must watch every move of the government,” Ms Wright said.

“We must scrutinize their every action to make sure no one is operating over the law,” she added.

Ms Wright who was speaking to the country’s legal luminaries at the Lawyers Conference held at Kairaba Beach Hotel, said the bar needs to go back to the drawing board to look at its achievements and failures in the past 22 years under the former regime. She spoke about adhering to the fundamental principles of International Bar Association. She urged them to strengthen the rule of law and promote judicial independence in the country.

The two day conference was attended by Gambian lawyers both in and outside of the country to promote and create a climate of respect for the rule of law and constitutionality in The Gambia.

Ms Veronic Wright who was speaking on the agenda for adherence to rule of law and promoting social justice in a post Jammeh era proposed to form a strong independent Prosecutor Office like in the case of South Africa, saying that the former president used to undermine his office which she said should not continue with the new regime.

She questioned the number of Attorney Generals, Chief Justices and Judges hired and fired by the former dictator in the past 22 years. She spoke about the arbitrary arrests, detention without trial and disappearances including state security agents driving around town with tinted cars. She added that the new government needs to set high standards and prosecute any law enforcement officer who breaks the law.

She commended the country’s bar for taking up the stand against former President Jammeh when he rejected the last presidential election results.

Meanwhile, she called on the authorities to repeal the false information laws among other bad laws from the country’s law books.

A man who claimed to be working with Mercy Ship (Doctors Without Borders) has defrauded millions of dalasis and ran away.

Among the dubious activities he did included the unroofing of a Madarassa in Numuyel village that he promised to refurbish.

The suspect impersonated himself as Ebrima Jallow, and in some instances Kebba Jallow. He is currently on the run, our sources said.

He was lodging at Basse’s Agib lodge for 17 days where he took 29 rooms including executive rooms as reserve for his so-called friends and partners coming from the United States. His bills including food and 24 hours electricity supply, according to Agib’s general manager in Basse, Lang Saho, was about D900, 000. He was also inviting friends to be served food at the lodge on frequent basis, Saho confirmed.

Mr. Saho said that when he requested for the Man to pay some parts of his bill, he pleaded for time to be given to him as his partners were coming from the United States.

The Man, our sources added, had identified some people as subcontractors that he would be working with during his stay in Basse.

Our sources further revealed that the Man claimed that one of his uncles was working with Bill Gate, a multibillionaire in the United States for decades and that he was in the region to bring development projects to their doorsteps.

Sukel Baldeh, a native of Basse Mansajang who was one of the contractors identified by the suspect to work with him described the incident as ’unfortunate.’

Baldeh told our reporter that the ran-away Man went to one Mutarr Duga, a businessman in Basse and took 475 bags of cement, 6 new motorcycles with each costing D36, 000 and cash amount of D50, 000.

The motorbikes, he went on, the Man claimed were meant for the 6 contractors that he would be working with on his projects.

“He also asked me to give him D45, 000 of which I did, promising he would pay back when his uncle living in the USA sends the money back,” he disclosed.

Baldeh explained that out of the 475 bags of cements, 245 were taken to St. Georges Upper and Senior Secondary School as the alleged impersonator promised to build a multi-purpose center and and also fence the school.

He said the school authorities also went and brought 34 trips of sand in order to start working on the project, which he said cost them huge amount of money as they paid a contractor to bring some sand.

He further narrated that the suspect also went to St. Mbulumbas Senior School and also promised to build a teacher’s quarter and fence the entire school for them, and out of the 475 bags of cements that he took from Businessman Mutarr Duga, more than hundred bags were also taken to the school.

The Man, Baldeh added, went to Numuyel Arabic School in the Jimara District of URR and gave them 150 bags of cements. “He asked them to unroof the school as he was going to rehabilitate the entire school,” he said.

He stated that the school authorities also started warming up for the exercise, hoping that the project will soon kick-start. “The man also asked one Mr. Batata to arranged for 10 people; as his uncle who he said was working with Bill Gate had sent 10 vehicles so that they would go an bring the said vehicles.

“The accused went with Mr. Batata’s vehicle to Kombo and when he arrived in Kombo, he called Batata and told him that it was not necessary for those 10 people to come,” he said. ”We were calling him on several occasions but could not reach him.”

Efforts to reach the school authorities of St. Georges and St. Mbulumbas proved futile.

Source: The Point Newspaper

The head of states of the regional bloc, Economic Community of the West African States, have welcomed the establishment of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission to deal with crimes committed under the rule of Yahya Jammeh.
But the regional body also warned that The Gambia must ensure that the rights of people reportedly involved in past crimes are protected.

A communiqué issued at the end of the 52nd ordinary session in Nigeria said the conduct of the government should be in compliance with international standards.

Ecowas further said it welcomes the crucial role played by the ECOMIG in stabilising the security of the country. It instructs the President of the Commission to take all necessary measures for the effective implementation of the decisions of the 51st Ordinary Session held on 4 June 2017 in Monrovia, Liberia, with regard to the force’s mandate and capacity building.

The head of states also called for the International Community to support, in a coordinated manner, the efforts by the Gambian Government to ensure the economic recovery and stability of the country.

They instructed the Commission to work in collaboration with the United Nations and the African Union to set up and operationalise an International Contact Group on The Gambia, with the aim of monitoring the situation and coordinating partners’ support for the country.

Meanwhile, in conformity with the decision taken at the 48thOrdinary Session of Authority of Heads of State and Government which took place in Abuja on 16 and 17 December 2015, Authority confirmed the tenures of office of current statutory appointees which ends on 28 February 2018.

To that end, Authority allocates the position of President of the ECOWAS Commission to the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and approved the appointment of Mr. Jean Claude Brou as President of the ECOWAS Commission for a four-year term with effect from 1st March 2018.

Ecowas also expressed profound indignation at the inhuman treatment of African migrants and refugees in Libya as reported in the media.

It condemns in very strong terms the modern day slavery and is committed to working with partner international organisations to rapidly put an end to these barbaric activities.

Meanwhile, the Authority also expressed satisfaction at the favourable economic growth prospects of the region, with real GDP growth rate projected at 2.1% in 2017 compared to 3.1% in 2018, against 0.2% in 2016, due largely to the expected recovery in the prices of major exports by ECOWAS Member States, as well as improved security in oil producing regions.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The youth mobiliser of opposition GDC has reacted to Bakau politician, Dudu Kassa Jaata’s public ruing of his decision to join their party.

Speaking in a Standard exclusive published yesterday, Mr Jatta an erstwhile key member of the UDP, said his decision to abandon his mother party and join Mamma Kandeh’s party was “the biggest political mistake” of his life. He said GDC made him third-in-command but he left because “it [was] not the right party” for him.

But in a swift reaction, GDC’s youth mobiliser, MC Cham Jnr, said he wholly agreed with Kassa that the GDC was not the right party for him.

Asked why he would concur with Jatta who was clearly trying to denigrate his party, Cham explained: “We do not entertain any form of personal attack against any party leader or supporters of any party and we do not entertain criticism by insulting. Kassa Jaata was trying to use the GDC during the [2016] campaign period to attack Honourable Ousainou Darboe [personally]. On several occasions, Kassa tried to insult Ousainou Darboe at our rallies and we stopped him. We are a mature and disciplined party and we do not encourage such. So Kassa is right when he says he regretted joining the GDC because we did not allow him to use our platform to insult Ousainou Darboe.”

He added: “Kassa could only attack Darboe if he wanted to by criticising him but not by insulting him. Kassa claimed that his nephew, Yusupha Jaiteh, our party’s deputy leader was helping him and when he returned to the country [from exile late 2016], he decided to join us and we welcomed him, but Kassa was trying to use that opportunity to attack Ousainou Darboe and the UDP, because he was very angry with them but we stopped him.”

Cham said Pateh Jallow and Lama Barry, members of his party, were present when he was told not to give Dudu Kassa Jatta microphone again if Kassa was going to use the platform to insult Ousainou Darboe. “At the GDC, we don’t entertain insults, we discuss issues, policies and we criticise constructively and that is why he could not continue with us,” he said.

Cham said Pateh Jallow refused to give Kassa the microphone at many of their rallies whenever he wanted to insult Darboe and that Kassa became “confused” and eventually decided to go back to the UDP.

“Regarding Kassa’s claim that he was third-in-command at GDC, I will say with due respect that, that is not true. GDC only has a party leader and deputy party leader,” he clarified.

He said Kassa was in the logistics committee and was given the responsibility to handle the logistics arrangements such as the vehicles during the campaign period.
“GDC has a structure that has been in place well before Kassa joined us. His name is not at the IEC as part of those who registered the GDC and he was not third-in-command,” MC Cham refuted.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs has said that the performance of the energy sector has been disappointing, adding that with the generation capacity below the required 70 MW for supply stabilization, the Ministry has registered technical losses of about 26 percent.

Hon. Amadou Sanneh made these remarks at the National Assembly while delivering the Budget Speech before lawmakers on Friday.

“With the support from development partners, the government has prepared an electricity sector roadmap taking into account emergency plan measure for 2017 to stabilize the grid and chart the medium to long-term path to 2020 and beyond. By end December 2017, about 40MW would added to the generation capacity through engines rehabilitations and commissioning.

The second phase (2018-2020) will close the generation gap with a corresponding investment on transmission and distribution (T&D), as well as negotiating the first Independent Power Purchase (IPP). The third phase will scale up generation through IPPs to 300MW targeting energy mix 60:40 percent of HFO and Renewable Energy,” he said.

According to him, as part of efforts to maximize gains from their natural resources, the ministry has active joint venture partnership between Erin-FAR Energy, which is expected to finalize exploration and begin drilling next year.

He noted that the government is investing the activities of operators in minerals and sand mining including ilmenite, zircon, and rutile.

“The revelations of the Commission would lead to the regularization of the status of the licences in the interest of the Gambian people,” he added.

He told members that an MoU and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for electricity importation from Senegal was signed on 25 August 2017, noting that coverage would expand as some sections/gaps within the transmission lines (Illiassa- Farafenni) are connected and the inter-connection point of Amdalaye completed.

He stated that the Rural Electrification Extension Programme is progressing well which would see electrification of additional 44 rural communities by expansion of the network and add 2.5MW HFO generation capacity in Basse and Farafenni installed.

Furthermore, he continued the government of India has also provided a concessional loan of US$22.5 million to bring electricity to over 80 communities in Kiangs. The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) 2015-2030 is in line with targets of the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy and the Gambia intends to achieve 24 MW and 70 MW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2020 and 2030 respectively.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Police in Barra have arrested a boy for reportedly leaking the video of a naked woman on the internet without her permission, The Standard has been informed.

According to our sources, the boy, whose name is withheld, took the woman’s phone and went through it without her knowledge only to discover a video in which she is naked meant for her husband in Guinea Conakry.

The video, which went viral on social media especially on WhatsApp, led to the arrest of the boy.

The domestic violence and victim support unit of Barra Police said an investigation into the incident is underway.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The Janneh Commission, set up by The Gambia Government, to probe into the financial activities of the erstwhile dictator, Yahya Jammeh and his close associates, must be seen as a placard, directed at everyone of us, on WHAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

By Fatou Sowe

Baboucarr Njie of Sukuta Junction Ba and a photographer at the former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) now State Intelligence Agency (SIS) has told the high court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Kumba Sillah Camara that he together with his two junior officers took photographs and videos of Solo Sandeng and others at the NIA office in Banjul.

Information reaching this medium has it that hundreds of settlers at Jabang Village in the Kombo North District, mainly young people clashed with the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Officers who showed up with alleged land owners to evict them from their homes.

According to sources tension erupted after the alleged land owners started evicting them without giving any notice. They were asked to leave with their families and Some were allegedly kicked out in the streets with their belongings, sources say.

“No written document or authority was given to notify us,” One Modou Colley said.

“Many of us have spent nearly 52 years in this place,” he added.

He urged the authorities to address the situation as they are prepared to die in defense of their properties because they bought the land and were living with their families since the first republic.

A pregnant woman who was reportedly removed from her house was left in the street with her belongings crying out for help.

The police who were with the alleged land owners threw tear gas at the villagers who retaliated against the forceful eviction without any notice.

Police Spokesperson, Superintendent David Kujabi said the police were not carrying out eviction but only providing security.

“The Sheriff Division is the one responsible for eviction and the police only went to provide security to the people carrying out the eviction,” Superintendent David Kujabi said.

Superintendent Kujabi added that when the police realized that notice was not given to the affected parties they were asked to withdraw from the scene.

Meanwhile, the police spokesperson said there was no arrest.

“POLICE ACCUSED OF MALTREATMENT, DETENTION” – FOROYAA NEWSPAPER

The Gambia Police Force is appalled at the above sensational caption of a story published on the Monday 18 December 2017 edition of the FOROYAA newspaper. The caption is not only misleading but the story is not a true reflection of what exactly happened.

It is worth noting that the police have a responsibility to protect lives and property and maintain law and order. Furthermore, we must be cognizant that all individuals have rights but those rights cannot be enjoyed to the point of infringing the rights of others.

THE STORY: On Thursday 14 December 2017, Karamo Marong a 67 years old Gambian, walked into the Sukuta Police Post and reported that four years ago he bought a plot of land from one Kebba Khan of Sukuta for which he has all the necessary documents.

He indicated that he had started work on the said plot and was digging the foundation for construction when youths of the area attacked the workers who fled the scene leaving their tools behind. Mr. Saidy added that the said youths destroyed the windscreen of the caterpillar that was being used to level the ground, destroyed the foundation, burnt wheel tires on the road and took away spades and pickaxes belonging to the workers.

The Assistant Station Officer intimated on the complainant that considering that the accused were youths and were many, he should bear with them until the following day when he can get reinforcement in order to conduct arrests. The delay and need for reinforcement was due to the fact that residents of the area are uncooperative with the police and often resist arrests and in some cases assaulted police officers; on 19 August, 2017 two police officers were stabbed while carrying out their duties.

On Friday 15 December, 2017 Abdoulie Ceesay also visited the Brusubi Police Post and reported that the youths in Sukuta Bahamas had lit wheel tires on the road which prevented him from accessing his compound.

The Assistant Station Officer deployed CID officers to the area to conduct surveillance and report accordingly. That same night, with reinforcement available, the police conducted a swoop and arrested Muhammed Mballow aged 27, Yankuba Fatty aged 30, Buly Saidy aged 35, Ebrima Mballow aged 17, Ebrima Mballow (who sustained injury) and Afusainey Saidy reported to the station himself.

Ebrima had tried to evade arrest and the police pursued him and it was in that process that he fell and sustained a head injury.

Due the fact that Sukuta Police post did not have the capacity to handle the case, the suspects were taken to Brusubi Police Station where they were cautioned and charged on two counts: Willful Damage to property and Seizure.

Meanwhile, Ebrima Mballow was escorted to the clinic for treatment.

The following morning, a large group of community members stormed the police station were they made a lot of noise in a clear attempt to obstruct police work.

It must be noted that such action by community members of the area is common. It is regretful that FOROYAA which prides itself for being a champion of truth and fairness failed to portray this story in its true light but instead harped it on alleged maltreatment by the police.

The story fails to acknowledge the fact that the youths committed an offence by taking the law into their hands and should be held accountable for it. FOROYAA also failed in its responsibility to educate the people on what is right and wrong so as to maintain law and order.

As a matter of fact, the story line emboldens the youths to feel heroic and that could serve as an encouragement for others to behave same.

The Gambia Police Force commends the efforts of its personnel in Sukuta and Brusubi for its efforts in carrying out their work with professionalism despite the unfriendly and hazardous conditions in which they work.

Their gallantry may not have been unrecognized in the story but the people who understand the value peace and shun criminality are appreciative of their efforts.

As the body responsible for law enforcement, the Gambia Police Force will remain committed in carrying out its duty with respect of the rights of all.

The Gambia Police Force calls on members of the public to be law abiding and urge them to report all complaints to the police rather take the law into their own hands.