By Jamal Drammeh

“Did you hear about the Rose that grew from a crack in the concrete [?] Proving nature’s laws wrong it learned to walk without having feet.

Funny it seems but by keeping it’s dreams it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the Rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared!” -Tupac Shakur.

Since I was a little boy, this poem helped me see with certain peculiarity into dimensions that my peers show profound unconcerned for. Sometimes, they take more interest in parts of the same subject matter that I care the least about. In other words, this poem sharpened my perception in perceiving beauty in the essential nature of things rather than obsessing over the apparent ‘defects’. I often contemplate on the odds of the daily miracles happening before giving much thought to the defects, or why the miracles weren’t perfect after all.

When I think of this improbable twilight of ‘the new Gambia’ and our new democracy – I see a rose growing out of concrete. I’m left to wonder ‘how’ can we make it blossom some more, and not get too busy castigating each other for why this beauty isn’t perfect after all.

In quest to a greater end for our new democracy, we sometimes go to the extremes. Extremes produce defects by law. Sometimes we unwittingly asks for plebiscite instead of the republican democracy we have. A society of a dozen people can perhaps be governed through plebiscite; where every decision is subject to the scrutiny and the vote of each member of the society. Hence, a direct governance of the people by all its members, instead of a representative government elected to represent the people in government. A million people cannot be governed like that.

Its becoming common place to hear cries of foul play and allegations of abuse of power labeled against the executive body – because they simply carried out their executive functions in ways that didn’t please the ‘plaintiffs’. Even appointments to the executive branch, by the executive body, is suddenly turned into a ‘national scandals’ with loud protestations to decry the rise of a new ‘super villain’. When a decision is seen to be unwise or unfair – some would critique the fact that such vested authority of the executive is exercised by them. Like; “how dare they exercise their executive duty?”

Many others make genuine constructive criticism of the government, which is commendable, but some just disguise their disdain for certain party members in government with some form of patriotic duty to express dissent on everything and saw discord at every opportunity. We can seen through both very well, for we know each other very well. Idealism that grew out of contempt will always morph into some form of base fanaticism. No political metamorphosis can conceal the mean motives of a rogue. Self-righteous resentment is becoming a common ploy for intellectual dishonesty. But who are we fooling?

Even the honest critics see their idealism as the only form of pragmatism, forgetting that every ‘pragmatism’ rise out of opinions based on qualified facts. So who is to say their methods and doctrines are the only true pragmatism?

With the internet, one can easily be cocooned into information bubbles to reinforce own biases and be no longer amenable to reason and oblivious to facts. It is easy to live in echo chambers and live in blind adulation of foolish praise of empty words. Repulsion to opposing views and using profane labels to tag any who dare to differ is fanaticism. But the orients of such base methods will still claim their dogmatism is the absolute pragmatism. The ‘insane’ believes in his own illusions.

Lurking in the background; we have the new guards versus the old guards…. or should I say the new activists versus the old activists? Why do you need to so painfully protect the memory of your old glory even to the point of insulting others for expressing their opinions?

“The force of character is cumulative” said Emerson. All the foregone days of courage, virtue and resilience will come to your aid and defense at any attempt to minimize your honest efforts to end Jammeh’s despotic regime .

There is no need to feel threatened by the new breeds of activists in our new democracy. You do not need to waste your vital energy assailing anyone you don’t know to be conspicuously active in politics during the gloomy murderous regime of Jammeh. You don’t need to keep asking every other speaker ‘where they were during the Jammeh days’ to feel you’re still relevant. Real heroes have very little time for triumphing, and reminding folks that they’re the only “true heroes” of the revolution. The heroes are still busy working in the fields for yet a better and more prosperous Gambia.

To the new guards; Goliath is dead! No amount of political posturing and imaginary heroism can bring for you a new Goliath to slay. So to the new voices of activism and voices of reason in our political discourse; take an advice from Micheal Angelo – when he told a young sculptor not to be too concern with shining light on his own works, for the light of public square with test its value. So do your work and carry on – this is only a new beginning.

I’ve learned early on that around every circle, a greater circle could be circumscribed. Anything mundane that’s declared to be the pedestal is often only the point of a new beginning. The coming of new series. Life moves onward, so every ‘today’ gives us a chance for a better ‘tomorrow’. Everyday is a chance for you to do something good and noble for your country and countrymen.

To the disgruntled; Barrow is not Jammeh. Your moral equivalence and constant comparisons of the two regimes makes no sense and makes you sound bitter and at times like a shallow invalid. These false moral equivalences makes you seem like an intellectual prostitute. If you want to be taken seriously, stop relegating descent human beings or your political foes down to the level of a murderous despot – Jammeh & Co. It’s a cheap argument and make you seem foolish. Simply critique the government with facts and clear reason. That’s honorable.

In the new Gambia, we at times seem too busy asking ‘why this rose of ours, that rose against all odds, still have damaged petals?’. In our fascination with the apparent defects, we give little thought to the essential beauty of our new democracy.

No matter what you think of the vicissitudes of our new democracy, it is still the result of an unimaginable improbability. It is the “Rose that grew from a crack in the concrete.” So don’t ask me why it has damaged petals… ask me how we can make this flower of the new Gambia blossom some more.

Honorable Ndey Yassin Secka, Gambia’s first female visually impaired parliamentarian has challenged the country’s law makers to pass the ‘Disability Bill’ which is pending for 15 years now.

Hon. Ndey Yasin Secka who worked as a broadcaster at the Gambia Radio for many years, is among the presenters dealing with the perceptions on disability at the TAF Gambia Annual Networking Conference.

“The Disability Bill is still pending for 15 years and I raised it at the National Assembly but there is no sufficient answer,” Hon. Ndey Yassin Secka said.

“We want the bill to be passed so that we can show our talents,” she added.

The nominated parliamentarian has challenged President Barrow to take the matter of the disability because they also voted for him.

“Just taking Ndey Yassin Secka to the National Assembly is not all,” she asserted.

Hon. Secka highlighted the need to change mindsets towards people with disabilities. She argued that the disabled should not be deprived their share of the national cake. She added that disability is not inability.

“We have a regime change but we also need a system change as well,” she pointed out.

Hon. Secka took a backlash on the former Gambian President who she described as a “chicken with horns” turned to a bull by Gambians over time. She warned Gambians to desist from creating monsters otherwise they will suffer the same consequences as the past two decades.

“If we do not mind we will create the same thing again,” she interjected.

The parliamentarian further questioned the rehabilitation at the Social Welfare which she said has collapsed and nothing is being done about it.

Meanwhile, she called on all Gambians to work together to make the Gambia great again.

By Omar Wally

Cherno Njie, Gambian-American property developer has said that three years have now passed since December 30, 2014, when a group of Gambian patriots attempted with purpose and principle to overthrow the illegitimate and tyrannical regime of Yahya Jammeh.

“We paid a heavy price and in the process lost three of our compatriots: Colonel Lamin Sanneh, Captain Njaga Jagne, and Alhagi Jaja Nyass.”

Cherno Njie, the ‘financier’ of the attacks made these remarks Saturday 30, December 2017, at Banjul International Airport, upon arrival. Njie was accompanied on arrival by Alagie Barrow who was also part of the attack.

Describe by many as heroes, the two men were received at the Airport, by Omar Amadou Jallow, Minister of Agriculture, victims, family members, among others.

We came home to our beloved homeland to pay tribute to these valiant men, we return to commiserate with their families, and their loved ones, said Njie.

‘We return to pay our respects to all those who, before and after that day, fought for an end to the 22 years of Jammeh’s rule.’

Njie said there is nothing special about them adding that their imprisonment, the momentary loss of their freedom, in the United States was but a small price to pay to add their efforts to the long quest to halt the misdeeds of tyrannical power in the Gambia.

‘We recognized evil and, together, we made our own attempt to cast it from our homeland.’

Njie: Many before us tried to stop the despotic rule of Jammeh and his clique, a number paid the ultimate price, Basiru Barrow, Dot Faal, Ndure Cham, Saul Ndow, Deyda Hydara, Solo Sendeng, and countless others.

“The Jammeh regime imprisoned, tortured, maimed, and traumatized many; the list of victims, including Shyngle Nyassi, is tragically long. “

So, let it be known that these people and the victims are in truth the real heroes. They are the ones who struggled against evil, fought towards good.

A brutal state machinery had trapped them, yet each had the unwavering courage to stand, saying no to dictatorship, Njie stated.

“We are all victims of Yahya Jammeh. But Jammeh did not emerge out of a vacuum, he was in some way both a product and a symptom of our present society.”

Njie said Jammeh was enabled time and time again. ‘We cannot pretend to indict him and, at the same time, absolve ourselves of our ruinous mistakes.

Last summer – Paris St. Germain signed the Brazilian superstar — Neymar — for $258M – amid a lot of fanfare, exaltation by the Parisien faithful. My university — Virginia Tech — just posted their operating budget for the 2018 fiscal year in the amount of $1.5B – serving a student population of 33,000. In the same period – the Government of The Gambia released their numbers for the operating budget for the 2018 fiscal year — about $300M – to meet some of the demands, wants and needs of 2M of its inhabitants. Neymar’s price tag is almost the amount of our operating budget. The Virginia Tech operating budget is leaps and bounds ahead of the operating budget of our government. Let that sink in. At first blush – these numbers seem utterly jarring and crushing. It hits hard like a bus. It’s also a sobering reality of the herculean challenges facing the current administration – given the ouster of the administration of old. But with any change of government also comes high expectations – because after all the whistle-stop, the rough and tumble of politics, comes the hardest part of it all — governance. And, my people, Statecraft ain’t never easy – because governance is hard, it’s daunting, it usually deviates from expectations of the governed. But this sobering reality should also highlight, to all and sundry, that the government won’t be able to tackle most of our major problems – with such meagre resources at its disposal, for the foreseeable future; though it can do something within its means to fix some of its shortcomings.

Some Suggestions on the Way Forward:

The most important thing to learn from this budget is that, we are a very poor country, we are broke, we don’t have enough money, we are basically rationing to stay afloat. Nonetheless, given these jarring statistics – I think the times also call for a shrewd approach to the appropriation of these dwindling funds to yield a more efficient, effective government, by cutting (don’t confuse for austerity), trimming, and merging certain agencies, departments, ministries. Many ministries have similar portfolios, and/or even the same goals, so merging a handful of them, would, in turn, help in streamlining, reduce red tape, free up a lot of resources for many other agencies. In light of that, I think it’d be prudent for the government to consider the following:

Merge the ministries of Basic and Higher Education under one umbrella — a unitary Ministry responsible for education. This would save money, manpower, capacity, and reduce the bureaucracy and red tape.

Merge the Attorney General’s office and the Interior. There’s no reason why the country’s top cop shouldn’t be overseeing the Interior Ministry. Furthermore, Jammeh created a police state, thereby, bloating the security budget and expanding the security service. I don’t think we need all the security personnel, and as such, downsizing the police, para, immigration, drug squad, would free up money, and that money could be redirected toward employment, industry; the biggest problem facing The Gambia is not petty crime – but joblessness and lack of industries.

As a student of international relations – I know how important it is to have relations with countries around the world. But, I do also know that you have to live within your means – and make the most of what you have. Like the old axiom goes: “charity begins at home”. To that end – trim the diplomatic corps – the embassies, especially the ones in the Middle East. We have five embassies in the Middle East alone, one or two of the embassies could potentially serve all of these countries.

Merge Environment, Climate Change, Water Resources, and Wildlife with Fisheries and Water Resources. This is basically tautology. And, Petroleum and Energy could be an appendage.

The funds for Trade, Employment, Industry is awfully low; take some of the money from a department like defense and use it to create opportunities, avenues for more employment and industries. More employed people, more industries, more revenue, a bigger economic base, a bigger budget.

The defense department is one of those Jammeh babies that need to be awfully trimmed. Don’t want to sound radical – but slash that budget by half – we can’t afford to spend that kind of money on weapons and defense – when our people don’t have proper medical care and facilities, enough food, and enough jobs.

If the United States government – the biggest enterprise known to man can run their government with 14 ministries – I think we should be able to pull it off with less.

Finally- if you take a closer look at the budget – you’ll also see that the highest appropriation in the budget goes toward the servicing of our national debt. This, in toto, should be a learning curve, in that, we ought to know that we are not going to borrow our way into prosperity or out of the economic tumult. Meaning, we need a clear strategy to charter a path to graduating from this humongous behemoth. Last spring the minister of finance proposed a cut in spending to tackle the rising debt, which is a good starting point; however, at this juncture, and with such a small amount of money at our disposal, with an ever growing population, austerity is not the answer to our problems. I would love to see that money redirected to, say, education. My economic grounding comes from The Chicago/Austrian School; however, with such an informal, non-industrialized economy, the approach of across the board government cuts is simply a palliative. Notwithstanding, I do think that we can cut, trim, merge certain departments, ministries, agencies, use the resources to fix our dilapidated, crumbling health, education sectors, among other things.

Finally, let’s not lose sight of the fact that political change without economic development, absent for symbolism, seldom adds to much, apart from the aesthetics. It is about the economy. It has been about the economy and it will always be about the economy.

Albeit – there’s a lot to be hopeful about this new Gambia.

I am, as always, cautiously optimistic.

For Country —

Saul Njie

12.29.2017

The mayor of the Kanifing municipality, Yankuba Colley, Thursday bid farewell to his staff.

Delivering an emotional farewell address before a packed crowd of staff, council members and well-wishers at KM Hall, Colley who served two terms as mayor of the country’s most populous municipality, urged the councilors and municipal staff to continue nurturing the spirit of peace and unity.
“I am very proud of my staff and the people of KM for the support given to me over the past 12 years. I want to say thank you to all of you and at the same apologise to all those I have offended knowingly or unknowingly,” he said as tears streamed down his face.

“To say goodbye is the saddest thing in my life, but this is something I decided well before running for my second term. Those who attended my meeting at the Youth Monument when the youths were endorsing me can bear me witness that I did tell them this was going to be my last term in office.
“Lots of people have called for me to run for election again – even some of the opposition parties have urged me to contest – but I said no, because I believe everything has a time,” he said.

Mr Colley called on the staff to rally behind the next mayor in the interest of the municipality. “Be united and be your brother’s and sister’s keeper,” he exhorted.

He also advised the staff to avoid mixing partisan politics with their work and encouraged the revenue collectors to be steadfast in their work.

Colley, who is also the APRC national mobiliser, thanked former president Jammeh and current president Adama Barrow for the support they gave him.

Deputy Mayor Momodou Jaiteh, KM CEO Pa Kalifa Sanyang and other speakers thanked the outgoing mayor for playing a vital role in uplifting their lives over the past 12 years.

Source: Standard Newspaper

On Tuesday 4 April 2006, the Office of the President instructed the Inspector General of Police to issue a press release stating that former NIA director general Daba Marena and four other detained military officers escaped while en-route to Janjangbureh Prisons.

The arrest of the men followed the thwarting of a coup in March which was masterminded by former army chief of staff Colonel Ndure Cham who immediately fled the country. At least 19 suspected plotters were arrested and ten were sentenced from 10 years in jail to life imprisonment by a military court.

The statement from the IGP said five of them: Daba Marena, Lt Ebou Lowe, Lt Alieu Ceesay, Warrant Officer Alpha Bah and Staff Sgt Manlafi Corr, escaped from custody while being transported to an island prison 200km from Banjul.

Nothing was heard of them since, prompting fears from human rights and opposition activists that they may have been executed.

Following the ouster of President Jammeh in December 2016, the new government issued an executive directive in March 2017 to probe the “mysterious deaths” of Gambians during the Jammeh era. Consequently, some members of Jammeh’s death squad officially called The Patrol Team or the Junglers, were arrested and interrogated.

During the interrogations, Lt Malick Jatta from Tuejereng, a trained commando and member of the hit squad, revealed to the investigators that contrary to the government’s statement, Marena and others were in fact taken to a garden in Foni, shot and dumped into a well.

According to documents The Standard is privy to, Lt Jatta stated that on the fateful day, Marena, Lowe, Bah, Corr and Ceesay together with Masireh Jammeh and a lady identified as “Julia” were brought by Lt Yusupha Sanneh, Sgt Sainey Jammeh, Lt Saihou Jallow and Cpl Omar Jallow and handed over to the Junglers including himself Ismaila Jammeh, Michael Correa, Sanna Manjang, Alieu Jeng and others.

He said the five men and the woman were taken to a garden with a well. He said while he and Alieu Jeng stood aside, the orderlies who accompanied Daba and the others were led by Jungler Sanna Manjang in shooting the apprehended people. He continued: “Tumbul Tamba and Bora Colley were all present and they gave directives. During the process, Alieu Ceesay attempted to escape but was gun shot [sic] by Omar Jallow. One Julia, a lady, was killed by Sainey Jammeh and during their killing; they were all shot and thrown into the well.”

30th December attackers

In a related macabre testimony, another Jungler has revealed that the bodies of 30th December 2014 State House attackers, Lamin Sanneh and two others were removed from the EFSTH mortuary by a team of Junglers led by Major Nuha Badjie and transported to a range in Foni where one Major Landing Tamba had dug a hole and the bodies were dumped together and interred.

The Gambia Government had invited local and foreign forensic experts to locate and identify bodies buried in disparate locations mainly in the bushes in the Fonis. Details of their findings have not been publicly revealed.

Source: Standard Newspaper

Mai Ahmed Fatty has announced he will contest for leadership in the Gambia Moral Congress’s (GMC) forthcoming congress scheduled for Dec. 31, at Friendship Hotel, in Bakau. Two other people will be contesting for the GMC’s leadership.

In a press conference held at the party’s political bureau yesterday, Mai Ahmed Fatty said GMC is a movement meant for the people and their steps towards the congress is an internal democracy at work to bringing delegates throughout the Gambia to make important decisions about the future of their party by electing a leader. He said that the congress is also meant to validate and amend the constitution that is consonant with democratic dispensation of the country.

He added that the election will be free and transparent in which every delegate will have the power to contest for any position. “All the position will be open and candidate are ought to debate as to why they should be voted for,” he said. “There will be external observers like the civil society and diplomatic community and media to observe the transparency of the election process.”

He said that part of the programme for the congress was to hold a symposium, seminar, and debate to bring out new ideas for democracy to flourish in the country and challenges the country is facing and see what the future holds for The Gambia.

He said that as GMC is part of the Coalition government, they have contributed to the blueprint of the country which is the national development plan, and it’s the same manifesto that they will use for their party at the congress.

He added that it is a landmark event and called on the general public to come and witness. The GMC’s main focus, he said is to reconstruct their political structures to stand out for incoming challenges.

“The welcoming development of new parties is rich for our democracy,” he said. “The more political grouping we have, the more the people are informed and empowered. It will be a measure of success to Gambian democracy.”

Lamin Barrow, the chairman of the party said that GMC has taken a huge step in the political history of The Gambia, making their party as voice of the people and giving them the opportunity of who to elect to represent them internally prior to the presidentially election.

He said that President Barrow’s action in sacking their party leader was taken in good faith because the president has the constitutional mandate to sack and appoint anyone.

Alhagie A.F. Jallow said the congress is the highest decision making organ for the party to ratify elective decision towards the development of the party. He added that members will come from all parts of the regions. “The deliberation will be free and fair and all delegates will be given the right and opportunity to participate.”

Source: Point Newspaper

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