Former President Yahya Jammeh has been summoned by the Janneh Commission, The Standard has learned.

A source close to the commission who preferred anonymity told this paper: “The former President, Yahya Jammeh, has been summoned by the commission through The Gambia Embassy in Ethiopia which is the nearest country to where he is in exile, since The Gambia does not have an embassy or diplomatic representation in Equatorial Guinea. We have received confirmation that the notice of summon has been delivered.”

The Janneh Commission is probing the financial dealings of Jammeh, his family and certain close associates. However, the source did not disclose whether the summons letter has been received by Jammeh himself.

During the testimonies before the commission so far, scores of witnesses have testified that the former president personally instructed them to withdraw monies amounting to millions of dollars from the national exchequer, among other things.

The summons has been issued for him to come and testify and shed light on the gross economic malfeasance and crimes he is being accused of.

However, President Jammeh is in exile in Equatorial Guinea and it is not clear whether The Gambia has any extradition treaty with that country.

But our source said Banjul should engage Malabo to ensure that Jammeh is extradited to face the commission.

Asset freeze extended

Meanwhile, in a separate development, this newspaper has learnt that the high court has extended the order freezing the assets of the former president by another 180 days. The judge issued the original interim injunction on 22 May 2017. It restrained Jammeh, his agents or associates from disposing off or dealing with all his listed moveable and immoveable properties pending the conclusion of the investigation initiated by the Attorney General into his alleged criminal conduct.

The state was represented by counsel Binqa D Esq. No one appeared for Jammeh.

Source: Standard Newspaper

The chairperson of the Coalition 2016 and now vice president, Fatoumatta Jallow, has confirmed that the term limit discussed among the Coalition partners for their presidential candidate to serve is three years.

This is the first time any senior member of the Coalition has commented on the issue since UDP leader Ousainou Darboe controversially suggested that no such agreement was signed.

According to the Veep who was addressing the Coalition 2016 anniversary ceremony at Talinding Saturday, the Coalition will enter into “family discussions” among themselves and the people to ask for their understanding to stretch the term limit to five years since that is what’s stipulated in the Constitution. “After that, we will leave everything to God from Whom we ask for good guidance for President Barrow to lead this country to prosperity,” she said.

The Vice President further reminded the audience that President Barrow was not selected by any one party but by seven groups all of which sent equal representation of 70 delegates to the convention that elected him.

“As the chairperson of that convention I will not put any party above the other as I am still committed to see the Coalition intact and progressive,” she said.

Source: Standard Newspaper

By Omar Wally

Tens of thousands of Gambians on Saturday, December 2, 2017, celebrated the downfall of former President Yahya Jammeh, who ruled the country for over 22 years.

On December 1, 2016, Gambians went to the polls to vote for their presidential candidate and on 2 December 2016, the Independent Electoral Commission declared Adama Barrow, coalition candidate as the winner.

The celebration held at the Buffer Zone brought together coalition leaders, cabinet ministers, wives of the President First Lady Fatou Bah and Lady Sarjo Mballow-Barrow, senior government officials, diplomats, regional governors, district chiefs, women groups and youth groups among others.

Upon arrival at the event, Barrow received a rousing welcome from the crowd; he waved and shook hands with supporters before taking his seat. A minute silence was observed for all those who lost their live during the Jammeh regime.

Addressing the gathering, President Barrow said December 2nd marks a significant day when great people of the Gambian came together and won a landmark victory against a brutal dictatorship, through a democratic process.

“One year ago, this nation took a stand and liberated itself from politics of fear, intimidation, division and embrace hope, diversity, respect for human dignity and the rule of law.”

The change he said has been dramatic and decisive with the people of the country resolving never again to return to the dark days of mismanagement and unconstitutional rule.

“Because of our determination, we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy base on justice, freedom, equality and fraternity”.

This glorious and victorious history did not just drop from the sky said President Barrow. “There are quite a number of courageous individuals, groups and partners both within the Gambia and abroad who contributed immensely to the success of a national struggle for democracy and good governance,” he concluded.

I came from the Kambi Bolong

I am the Smiling Coast

I am the Nyancho, I am the Guewel, I am the eclectic

I am Edward Small, I am the clarion call

I am Nyimansata Sanneh-Bojang, I am the first

Information reaching The Fatu Network has confirmed that President Adama Barrow has appointed Habib Drammeh, former director general of The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA), as the new Interior Minister.

On Saturday December 2 the Coalition and Pres. Barrow launched a massive celebration at the Buffer Zone marking the first anniversary of the end of dictatorship in the Gambia. As typical in our history, scores of citizens were transported from around the country to grace the occasion. The same musicians who sang and praised Jawara and then Yaya Jammeh were again on stage to sing the praises of the new dispensation. T-shirts and ashobi dresses bearing the head of the president were in full display depicting the same old practice of celebrating leaders in the name of the country. This is how personality cult and dictatorship are built and nurtured through patronage and sycophancy in any society.

I wish to therefore state my total opposition to this celebration because this is not what the Gambia needs. Yes we have ended 22 years of dictatorship but we are a nation of 52 years in which poverty, deprivation and inadequate social services remain widespread and supreme. The country faces so much dire conditions that the idea of celebration must not have existed in the first place. Rather our nation needed to mark this first year of democracy with a national stocktaking exercise.

I expected that Barrow and the Coalition leaders would have known that what we needed was a national conversation after one year in office. In the first place it was important that Barrow makes a national address and convene a press conference. This was necessary to report back to the people and address prevailing issues and concerns. Such national address and press conference would have provided assurances to the population as he lays out his efforts, achievements, challenges and the way forward so as to generate more confidence and hope in the people. But sadly neither the Government nor any political party made any public statement on the occasion of this first anniversary!

I expected the Government and the Coalition to develop an all-encompassing, relevant and inspiring theme for this one year anniversary as the platform to mobilize the people toward a common national objective. For that matter, what we needed were various public forums held across the country where political leaders and government officials report back to the people. This would have further strengthened this government and the leadership of Barrow. It would have promoted the culture of transparency and accountability as well as lay the basis for the building and nurturing of a democratic culture.

These public conversations would have engaged the people to speak to their issues and concerns and how and where they think the Gambia should go. Citizens would reflect on the gains registered so far and the issues that lie ahead so that everyone would have repositioned and refocused himself or herself in building a future where we can obtain both individual and collective prosperity. We must bear in mind that we still have many victims of the dictatorship who are still languishing in pain and misery!

It is therefore sad that a very huge opportunity has once again been lost to Barrow and his Government like many before. This Government and the Coalition needs to understand that they must first and foremost be seen to promote the supreme interests of the Gambia over their individual and partisan political objectives and future. They must not use national issues as a cover to promote partisan objectives or give their partisan interests a national character just to promote their individual political objectives.

This was the practice under Jawara and Jammeh where national events are celebrated under the cloak of their parties or they give their party activities a national character. Such practices must stop in the New Gambia! This is unfair to Gambians.

The brandishing of t-shirts and ashobi dresses bearing the face of Pres. Barrow is the same practice we saw in this country for decades at every national event. One year after the defeat of dictatorship the celebration should not be about Adama Barrow. It should be a national event. If one person’s face is to be shown on a t-shirt then all citizens faces must show on all t-shirts. Hence we do not need any person’s face on a t-shirt rather we needed to see Gambia T-shirts and Gambia Ashobi. Gambians defeated the dictatorship. It was Gambians who brought democracy and the anniversary of that event must be to celebrate the Gambia and no one else.

Now that the Gambia Government under Pres. Adama Barrow and the Coalition have misused a national event for their own individual and partisan political objectives, the time has come for the rest of the Gambian citizens to commemorate this anniversary in a better way. Let us open discussion forums to assess the Gambia one year after the fall of dictatorship. Are our expectations met? Is Pres. Barrow effectively responding to our needs and practically protecting our rights? Is the Gambia Government upholding the ideals of democracy and good governance? Let us ask ourselves about what did we decide for and against on 1st December 2016 and is that decision being upheld or betrayed? After one year, are we on track or is it more of the same?

Let the people engage their parliamentarians and public officers to ask the fundamental questions about bread and butter. Let us bear in mind that the protection of human rights and promotion of good governance will not be necessarily done by Pres. Adama Barrow or the Minister of Justice or the Inspector General of Police even though the law requires them to do so. We can only obtain good governance and ensure protection of human rights and the satisfaction of our needs when citizens become consciously vigilant and actively participate in the affairs of the nation.

Citizens must realize that in practice they are the leaders of the country and not the president. Let us make the president follow us in the protection of our rights and the satisfaction of our needs as spelt out in Chapter 4 of the Constitution. Democracy is a political system in which the will of the people determine the manner of governance.

Hence in a democracy it is the people who lead and rule. We must not follow leaders anyhow. Rather citizens must make leaders follow the will of the people. In its 50 years of independence, Gambians have only followed leaders. First Jawara ruled for 30 years only to deliver us to poverty. Next came Yaya Jammeh to also rule for 22 years of blood and tears. Therefore the lessons are too many for Gambians to once again follow any leader anyhow.

For the Gambia, Our Homeland!

Madi Jobarteh

By Jamal Drammeh

In the past; half of the world don’t even know how the other half lives. People in different areas of the world used to live so distinctively that they can hardly be classified into the same race. But today, technology has transformed our world into a global village. This makes every action or utterance far more consequential because of the speed by which it can reverberate at the other end of the world.

The advent of the railways took out all obstructions on the passage of trains – leaving nothing to conquer but the clear passage of its travels. Then the advent of the aircraft took out all the obstructions of the land and the high seas – leaving nothing else to conquer but pure space. But with technology and telecommunication, we transcend the space of this whole sphere – making our voice to be heard at every moment, from even the most remote parts of our planet. With that comes the responsibility for its proper use.

Who I’m I to advocate for prudence in our discourse, when this remains a direction at which I have so much work to do on myself. Yet I love facts even if it’s against my interest and hate lubricity and the farcical commentaries that passes for wisdom and truth in our discourse. Plus I’m not so fun of vain men that worship other morals like themselves, egotistical to their own whims, but condescending to those that dare to see things differently.

I write from aspirations, antagonism, observation, and very well from experience. At times, painting and writing of qualities I do not yet possess but aspires to possess, and challenging the reader to dream and aspire to a new and greater possibility for oneself.

Shakespeare told us to “assume virtue if you have not”…. because, he understands that the essential nature of man is good and virtuous, giving us every right to lay claims to virtue even before we can properly personify it. So I scrapped that Marxian notion that assumes that man is essentially evil. Man is essentially good, but sometimes have to be shaken up to bring forth our virtues. We can rightfully admire a quality or assume a virtue we have not yet possessed.

Even where we fall short, at every moment of the vicissitudes of life, we shall still communicate our whole ‘meat and bones’, and not the ‘shell’. So yes, I will write to these subjects as if it they are the breath in my lungs. Speaking against these dark elements in our social discourse like an Emmanuel Swedenborg, I shall – though I claim not his illumination or the wisdom illuminate. But, I shall do so from a point of perception and not with cheap opinions or base estimates. perception in a true sense – is the impression of the soul, and when communicated, it becomes the sensual side of the soul’s expressions. Even where it is wrong, it is still noble, because it comes from a positive degree and with sincerity.

Opinions are the base mendicants of our political discourse, and the foolish disguise in our social intercourse and the cheap cover for political posture. What a person projects but is not genuine, or doesn’t even truly understand, is only an extemporaneous half possession. We are becoming the guardians of such possessions with the free flow of ideas in the Internet. Every benefit we gain, a tax is levied; so the beauty of the Internet has a price also. It gives us innumerable half-truths and alternative realities at lightening speed. So in politics, we equally infect each other with these half possessions and alternative realities at lightening speed. We go about parroting on serious subjects without proper examination of context or any serious thought because we saw our friends did.

We go out of way to decry a thing by epitomizing the very thing we seek to so strongly condemn. We condemn hate speech with our own form of hate speech. We find ways to negatively classify anyone we have disagreements with; forgetting that we cannot throw dirt and our hands to still remain clean. We employ mean motives to classify our opponents with base estimates stemming from our own bigotry or ignorance that we are not even aware of.

How can you enlighten a group by tacitly condemning them as tribalists or ignorant or “unconscious”?

Why do we keep categorizing UDP as a Mandinka party when we know full well that both their leadership and rank and file constitute all the different tribes in The Gambia?

Why do we keep categorizing PDOIS as a Wolof party when we know full well that both their leadership and rank and file constitute all the different tribes as well?

The same is true for every other political party in The Gambia!

Naturally, there is closer affinity between people with more superficial commonalities – whether that has to do with economic status, origin, identity or some other common interests. This is a common phenomenon in every country, society, and in every sphere of our existence. Our special affinities will always create some disproportion in our every setting – political or otherwise. This is true in America and equally true in The Gambia. But if these disproportions are driven by those superficialities, is there anything inherently bad in that?

What is wrong with people being drawn more easily to groups they have greater natural affinity with or identify with better?

Even if you find something wrong with that idea, would it not be better to use tact and gentleness to win them over than with condescending attitude towards them?

Would insults, arrogance and condemnation help you win over anyone?

And last; why do we continue to do this deification of certain individuals in our political discourse as if they’re the only men with brain, or God himself brought them down to save us from ourselves?

Our days yield for us no Mandelas or Thomas Paignes or Lumumbas or Castros or Krummahs – even if we seek to super impose their images on our new icons. It is vain to try to make them who they’re not.

However, many of these men and women we celebrate today are great and noble in their own respect, but not because of our mechanical imposition and belligerence. We don’t need to go about skulking like interlopers in the Internet with cumbersome arguments as if the politicians we favor are some divine beings and beyond reproach.

Foolish people think that a Halifa or a Darboe can never utter nonsense. If they said something dumb, it is quickly rationalized to seem like something profound and intelligent by their cultist and political vanguards. They would stand to support their every utterance simply because it is theirs. These fanatical supporters feel obliged to defend every last verbiage of the politician they support with their own last breath.

Instead of truth, we make the defense of personalities as a solemn obligation. How much breaths will our best minds continue to waste on escapades in defense of particular politicians instead of honest erudition?

In our attacks on opposition, we label them with the very mark on our own foreheads. If we are obsessed with our tribe, we will only see tribalism everywhere around us. We guile our own sickness by labeling others as the “real tribalists”. But if you are a tribalist, no amount of cunning and linguistics super navigation can hide the venom you store in your breast. Most will not call you out and not all can sufficiently articulate their disgust for the ‘bile’ they see in you, but they can sense it very well. No metamorphosis can hide a filthy rogue from the world. You can call opponents out with every name you wish, but they can all see through you and can clearly read the mark on your own forehead.

The condescending nonsense we try to spew out with polite pretense will always be seen for what it is – by each one of the ‘village idiots’ we might label as ‘unconscious’.

Leave these echo chambers that sought to freeze your brain and implore you to walk the permitted lines. Examine what is said, and not obsessing over who the speaker is before you can use your brain. Simply do what you can, and attempt nothing beyond your practical force with false pretense. Our parroting of silly opinions of others without reflection is dangerous. Pretending as if those are our own ideas is a disease of the mind. It is poisonous to the elevation of any serious conversation.

I have only one point to make in this whole essay. Gambia is one nation and one people. More importantly, humanity is one. Let’s stop the nonsense of tribal politics!

By Alieu Ceesay

It was another bad experience for the U17 Women’s Team of The Gambia as they suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Ghana.

The Ghana Black Maidens’ Skipper Abdulai Mukarama scored five goals to see Ghana beat host Gambia in a spectacular style.

By Omar Wally

The government of the Gambia should do everything possible to evacuate our Gambian brothers and sisters who are suffering in Libya said Dr Ismaila Ceesay, Political Science lecturer at The University of the Gambia.

“The government must engage Libyan authorities through African Union to make sure our brothers and sisters are sent home.”

By Omar Wally

The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has said that Africa needs more entrepreneurs like Muhammed Jah to inspire youth to become entrepreneurs. “Africa is the continent of the future, but we can only translate the energies of our youth into something productive and creative for Africa when we have more people like Muhammed Jah.”

The Sierra Leonean leader made these remarks on Thursday, November 30, in Bijilo during the commissioning of Qcity.

President Koroma said Africa needs a great number of entrepreneurs so that they can help in the development process of the continent.

“We in government always trumpet out that yes as government, we have to create the enabling environment, but we also need the private sector to become the engine of economic growth.”

President Koroma said the launching of Qcity clearly demonstrates that indeed it’s the private sector that is required in Africa to become the engine of economic growth.

“With Qcity, we are guarantee of huge employment opportunities for our young people, new experts and it will provide for a good number of them.”

President Koroma describes Muhammed Jah as a compatriot and alumnus that they all are all proud of.

Sierra Leonean leader said Gambia and Sierra Leone share cordial relationship, strong historical, political and cultural links. “History tells us that in two separate periods from 1821-1843 and from 1886to 1888 The Gambia was governed from Sierra Leone.”

It is a fact that civil servants from Sierra Leone were seconded to The Gambia said President Koroma. “

This relationship succeeded for a very long time adding that even earlier history indicates that Creole of Freetown and Aku marabous of the Fourah Bay area in the east of Freetown have deep roots in the Gambia. “No doubt our people are related by blood, language and culture which makes the bond between the two countries even stronger.”

President Koroma said the relationship between Gambia and Sierra Leone has also been strengthened by trade, migration, diplomacy and religion.

He concluded that education is the light which continues to rekindle and further strengthen the historical ties between the two countries.

That Africans are enslaved in Libya should not be a shock to anyone if we are to be honest to ourselves. It is common knowledge that North Africa and Middle Eastern Arab-Muslim societies from Mauritania, Sudan to Egypt and the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia until today continue to practice slavery against Black Africans! African leaders, intellectuals and politicians as well as the African Union are indeed aware of this situation just as the West and their politicians and intellectuals equally know about it. Global Slavery Index reports that more than 40 thousand or 1% of Mauritanians live under slavery or some form of servitude and these are essentially Black Mauritanians.

By Omar Wally

Gambia’s first private television station was Thursday, November 30 launched at a colorful ceremony attended by President Adama Barrow and his Sierra Leonean counterpart Ernest Bai Koroma.

By Omar Wally

The president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma, has Thursday, November 30 arrived in The Gambia for a two day visit. President Koroma is the first head of state to travel to Banjul on a state visit since President Barrow was elected last December.

He was received at the airport by his Gambian counterpart alongside senior government officials and members of the diplomatic and consular corps.

In an interview with journalists shortly after his arrival, President Koroma said he is The Gambia to provide solidarity and support to a brother and colleague President Barrow.

“I will use my visit to strengthen the already existing excellent relations between the two countries.” He said.

President Koroma who will be stepping down next year said “I’m also here to provide support to one of the great entrepreneurs of The Gambia who is inaugurating a city for relaxation and amusement and to launch the Fourah Bah College alumni associations.” President Koroma added that a good number of Gambians attained their university education at Fourah Bay College at the University of Sierra Leone and other institutions of learning in his country.

“The visit is a home coming and an opportunity to further consolidate the great relationships and share experiences with my dear brother and colleague.”

By Omar Wally: A 15 year boy from Essau village, North Bank Region, has allegedly killed his 22 year old cousin.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, ASP Foday Conta, deputy police spokesman of The Gambia Police Force said the incident happened on November 24, 2017.

PRESS RELEASE: State House, Banjul, 29 November 2017

The Office of the President informs the general public that His Excellency, Mr. Adama Barrow President of the Republic of The Gambia will receive His Excellency, Mr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone, tomorrow, Thursday, 30 November 2017. President Koroma is expected to arrive at the Banjul International Airport at 12 noon.

He will be the first Head of State President Barrow will host since he was elected last December. The public is invited to give President Koroma a rousing welcome.

During his two day visit, President Koroma will join his host President Barrow at the launching of the QCity in Bijilo and a dinner in his honour at the 40th anniversary celebration of the West African Insurance Institute. The Sierra Leonean President will also attend a meeting with the Sierra Leonean Community on Thursday.

President Barrow and President Koroma will have a tête-à-tête meeting, followed by a press conference with journalists at State House, on Friday. Prior to his departure, President Koroma will commission the West African Insurance Institute building and attend the Institute’s graduation ceremony amongst other engagements.

President Koroma was amongst the ECOWAS head of states who worked tirelessly to ensure that The Gambia went through a peaceful transition and avoided bloodshed when the former president overturned his decision not to accept the 2016 presidential elections results, won by President Adama Barrow and led to a political impasse.

Sierra Leone and The Gambia have a long history of relationship, bound by colonialism, culture and intermarriage. The two countries have supported each other in difficult times during the war in Sierra Leone, the Ebola outbreak and in the recent flood in which many lives were lost and many maimed.

President Koroma is the 4th and current President of Sierra Leone and he is serving the end of his second term as President since he was first elected in 2007. He is amongst the African leaders who are promoting democracy and good governance by respecting term limits in Africa. President Koroma is not vying for the presidency in the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone. He is 64 years old, married with children.

Two senior military officers of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Colonel Essa Tamba and Captain Pharing Sanyang have testified before a military court martial against group of soldiers accused of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Adama Barrow.

Captain Pharing Sanyang in his evidence revealed a secret WhatsApp group that some of the alleged coup plotters belonged to known as ‘Ajamat’ with code names like Tiger, Lion, Eagle and ‘Esamai’, which means Tiger in Jola.

Captain Sanyang told the panel about the investigations on a Facebook photo of a pickup loaded with Timber with narratives to tarnished the image of Lieutenant Colonel Essa Tamba, who was the then Commanding Officer of the Guards Battalion at the Fajara Barracks. He informed that there was an instruction from the Defense Headquarters to set up a board of enquiry of which he was a member.

He told the panel that one of the accused, Corporal Emmanuel Jassey confessed to the investigators that he was the one who took photos on the orders of his duty officer Lieutenant Abdoulie Jarju (3rd Accused) who said he wanted to send them to his sister. He said Lieutenant Jarju admitted to the investigators that he ordered Corporal Jassey to take the photos. He adduced that Lieutenant Jarju told investigators that Sergeant Yusupha Jatta alias ‘Yorro’ posted the photos on Facebook.

When asked about the reason for posting the photo, Sanyang told the court that Lieutenant Abdoulie Jarju told investigators that he wanted to tarnish the image of Lieutenant Colonel Essa Tamba who shifted his loyalty from the former government to the coalition government.

“He said the former president was the one who sponsored his higher education,” Captain Pharing Sanyang told court.

“He said Lieutenant Colonel Tamba has betrayed the former president who sponsored his education that he said is worth tarnishing his image,” he added.

Later, Sanyang said Lieutenant Jarju apologized, saying it was the work of Satan.

Testifying further, Captain Sanyang told a crowded court room that Sergeant Yusupha Jatta alias ‘Yorro’ who is currently at large has admitted his involvement, but said the rest of the photos were supposed to be sent by Sergeant Bubacarr Sanneh. He said Corporal Sulayman Sanyang was also called for questioning but denied his involvement or knowledge of it. He added that the investigators allegedly warned him about the consequence of deviating the truth after knowing it.

Captain Pharing Sanyang said Sergeant Babucarr Sanneh ( 4th Accused) has confessed to investigators that he took photos through the windows of the Credit Union at Fajara Barracks.

“He [Babucarr Sanneh] said he sent the photos to Sulayman Shyngle Nyassi through Facebook,” he asserted.

The witness said the mobile phones of the accused soldiers were taken for further investigations.

“We found a WhatsApp group called ‘Ajamat’ which means true friends in Jola,” he said.

The senior military officer named accused soldiers Corporal Sulayman Sanyang and Lance Corporal Abba Badjie as members to the group, while others preferred to use code names.

He said that they claimed that the group was only for friendly purpose and they do meet at Buffer Zone to discuss.

Captain Sanyang told the court that the investigators have discovered several WhatsApp deleted text messages but the phones were handed to experts at Africell as the information collected were sent to the defense headquarters.

Colonel Essa Tamba of the Defense Headquarters who was the former Commanding Officer of the Guards Battalion at the Fajara Barracks also testified before the military court martial.

Colonel Tamba said he could vividly remember a Facebook photo of pickup truck with timber logs in June 2017. He said he was informed by his daughter when he logged on to Facebook he saw the post.

“The narrative on the Facebook post alleged that I was parading myself as a national hero for the ousting of the former president Yahya Jammeh that I am now a broke person because I have misused the D500, 000 that the coalition government bribed me and now I resort to log selling,” Colonel Essa Tamba told the court.

“I was completely shocked,” he added.

Tamba said he later summoned a general briefing with the battalion as he was quite convinced the person who posted the narrative on Facebook must be someone in their midst or within the barracks.

“I felt I was insulted as the image I have craved for 35 years of service has been brought to disrepute by mere false allegations,” Colonel Tamba asserted.

Immediately after the briefing, he said Corporal Emmanuel Jassey sought for his audience who confessed to him about taking the photos on the orders of his duty officer Lieutenant Abdoulie Jarju (3rd accused).

He said Corporal Jassey confided in him that the photos were taken and handed over to the accused who gave him an Africell number to forward the photos to. He added that as soon as Corporal Jassey left his office, Lieutenant Abdoulie Jarju came to apologize, saying he was the one who sent the photos to an online paper.

“Few days later, I realised he was uncomfortable within the barracks,” he asserted.

Colonel Tamba said he then wrote to the Republican National Guards Headquarters to redeployed him (3rd accused) pending an investigation but instructions were given for him to set up an enquiry.

The next prosecution witness to appear before court was Corporal Emmanuel Jassey who alleged that the 3rd accused Lieutenant Abdoulie Jarju asked him to take photos of the pickup truck and send it to his sister’s WhatsApp number. He said the profile of Sergeant Yusupha Jatta alias ‘Yorro’ surfaced on the Africell number where the photo was sent. He said the 3rd accused asked him to delete the number which he obliged as his senior officer.

The prosecution witnesses were cross-examined by the defense lawyer Sheriff K Jobe.

Justice Sainabou Ceesay Wadda, Judge Advocate earlier denied the bail application of the accused soldiers, Corporal Ebrima Jallow and Sambujang Bojang, saying the discretion of bail lies with the court and should be given judiciously as the accused are standing trial along with others who are facing treason. She said they might tamper with the witnesses and evidences in the trial. She added that the appellants have committed offenses to the GAF Act and should be tried by such.

Meanwhile, the case was adjourned to Friday, December 1, 2017.

By Omar Wally

The Police have arrested one Sheikh Hydara, for his alleged involvement in the death of one Miss Vanisah.

The fourth and final ordinary session of the National Assembly for 2017 opened on Monday November 27 to run up to 28 December. This particular session is very significant to the lives of citizens because of the number and kinds of bills that are tabled before the parliament. For that matter it is important that citizens engage their parliamentarians to ensure that they take the right decisions in the supreme interest of the Gambian people. It is also necessary that citizens go to the parliament to witness the discussions.

In this session parliamentarians will receive the national budget as well as the Constitutional Review Commission Bill, the National Human Rights Commission Bill and the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission Bill among other bills and decisions to take.

Of particular concern to me is the process by which the national budget is prepared and approved. Specifically, Section 152 of the Constitution provides that the Minister of Finance under the direction of the President will present, at least 30 days before the end of the financial year, annual estimates of revenue and expenditure before the National Assembly, which requires at most 21 days to approve the estimates.

For example the current estimates were placed before the parliament on November 27 for debate until December 7 for adoption. Then on December 15 the Appropriation Bill will be placed before the parliament in the form of a Budget Speech, which will be subjected to debate until December 19 for consideration. When this bill is approved it means money is now available to the Government to spend by 1st January 2018.

Given the importance and complexity of a budget, coupled with the fact that most parliamentarians are not financial or budget experts, it therefore means the timeframe provided by the constitution does not ensure effective oversight by the parliament. In practice lawmakers have limited time to critically review the estimates and approve. Thus this creates weaknesses in the whole fiscal transparency and accountability process.

The budget is the tool or resource that a Government uses to implement the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land where the rights and needs of citizens are spelt out so that the same constitution places an obligation on the Government to fulfil those rights and needs based on the budget. Hence the budget is the most important law after the constitution in any society.

In that regard if that budget is to be discussed it must be done in the most transparent and participatory manner with enough time and space. This means that one should have expected the constitution to state that the estimates should have been placed before parliament at least three months before the end of the year. This would have enabled parliamentarians to properly and adequately study the estimates in order to make informed decisions.

In studying the budget estimates it is important that parliamentarians to have conducted evaluations to determine how the previous budget was spent. For example they need to know if budget allocations did in fact reach or provide facilities, goods and services for which allocations were made. In order words parliamentarians must not just approve the budget just because the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs made a good presentation. There must be severe scrutiny to see how the budget had and will change lives and livelihoods of the people.

The constitution must also provide that the estimates are publicly available in all administrative regions before parliament debates and approves it so that citizens can see what are the revenue sources and expenditure areas of the government. In that way citizens would know whether their issues, needs and concerns are being catered for in order to ensure quality living standards. With such information, citizens can now engage their parliamentarians to ensure that they directly respond to the needs of electorates. This approach enhances transparency, accountability and efficiency hence good governance and sustainable development.

I hope that in the new constitution, we will have provisions that will address these issues so that the Gambia could have a more transparent, participatory and accountable budgeting process. Without a proper budgeting process, the Gambia cannot ensure fiscal disciple, combat corruption and ensure citizens enjoy widespread and efficient delivery of social services. This means we cannot defeat poverty or create wealth.

It is because of these issues that all citizens must therefore become interested in this parliamentary session by engaging their NAMs as well as attending parliamentary sessions to follow the debates and decisions. Citizens must hold the parliament to account by making them know that the life and death of Gambians are squarely in their hands.

If parliamentarians fail to effectively scrutinise the estimates to ensure that budgetary allocations are reasonable and sent to the right sectors, then they would have only served in perpetuating corruption and poverty. Wrong allocations to wrong sectors means waste of public resources, corruption and continued poverty and underdevelopment of the Gambia. Thus parliamentarians must scrutinise each and every budget line, amount and sector to ensure the right allocation is done.

For the Gambia, Our Homeland!