Twelve soldiers of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) who were alleged to be part of a ‘WhatsApp group Conspiracy’ were arraigned before a general court martial at the Yundum Military Barracks.

The alleged soldiers who are escorted with handcuffs under heavily armed security guards are Captain Yaya Jammeh, Captain Abdoulie Jarju, Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh, Sergeant Babucarr Jammeh, Sergeant Malick Bojang, Corporal Sulayman Sanyang, Corporal Lamin Gibba, Corporal Ebrima Jallow, Lance Corporal Samboujang Bojang, Lance Corporal Abba Badjie, Private Mbemba Camara and Private Alieu Sanneh.

They were arraigned before a panel of ten juries who are sworn in to take the case including a Judge Advocate, Sainabou Wadda Ceesay. Colonel Salifu Bojang is the President of the Panel and Lieutenant Colonel Seedy Joof, Major Abdoulie Manneh, Major Lamin K Sanyang and Major Basiru Sarr are all part of the panel.

The hall was almost full to capacity with security personnel and families of the accused persons.

The accused soldiers are facing nine counts including treason, concealment of treason and mutiny among others.

When the case was mentioned Friday morning, November 17,  the Lead State Counsel M. B Abubacarr who was assisted by A. Yusuf appeared for the state while the following officers Lieutenant Alieu Sanneh, Captain Bubacarr Bah, Captain Ansumana Sanyang, Captain Suwaibou Jammeh, Captain Momodou Demba and Captain Abdoulie Conteh among others appeared for the accused persons.

Before applying for an adjournment the state counsel urged the court to remand the accused soldiers to the state central prisons due to inadequate facilities at the military detention centers. Captain Suwaibou Jammeh made an objection saying the accused persons might not access their counsels and families at Mile II Prisons. He also made an objection to remove one of the assisting prosecutor who was part of the board of investigators in the case.

“We have not been serve with the sim card registered details and WhatsApp chat audios,” Captain Suwaibou Jammeh said.

The Lead State Prosecutor Abubakar said the evidences and witness statements would be provided to defense as the case proceeds. He also submitted that section 98 of the Armed Forces Act does not affect the assisting prosecutor. He urged the court to overrule the objection.

Meanwhile, the court has overruled the objection made by the defense to remand the accused soldiers to the state central prisons. It ordered the accused soldiers to be remanded at the central prisons. It further ordered the state to provide evidences and witness statements to the defense.

Subsequently, the case was adjourned to November 27. The accused soldiers were escorted to a awaiting military coaster van which rushed them to the state central prisons. Family members of the accused could be seen crying when the military coaster was leaving Yundum Barracks.

Birmingham City University has donated more than 350 books to a new research institute in The Gambia which is hoping to advance education and academic research in the African country.

The Institute for Academic Research is situated in the urban centre of Serekunda and has been set up by Birmingham City University postgraduate student and Visiting Lecturer Lamin Daffeh to support students and academics at the University of The Gambia.

The contribution from Birmingham City University’s School of Law will provide law students, bar students, lawyers and legal researchers in The Gambia with invaluable knowledge to help further their careers and academic output.

Elsewhere, the Institute holds academic books in the fields of agriculture, economics and medicine, for example, as well as materials relating to English language skills, research methods and statistical analysis. The Institute hopes to grow this collection through further acquisitions and donations going forward.

Independent

Created by the Alliance For International Development, Education and Research (AIDER), the Institute opened on 6 October 2017 and is the first independent research institute established in The Gambia.

Lamin Daffeh, a PhD candidate and Visiting Lecturer in International Business and Human Rights Law, Birmingham City University, said:

“This generous gift from my alma mater will make significant contributions towards education and research practice in The Gambia, and we are all truly grateful of this considerable gesture.

“Whether someone is a student wanting to pass their exam, write an excellent essay, conduct substantial research or just simply wants to be ahead of the game within their area of expertise, the Institute for Academic Research will play a significant role in supporting learners, researchers and other professionals in The Gambia to access substantial and current academic resources, computers and a reliable internet service for academic research purposes.

“The Institute encourages students and professionals to undertake extensive research in their areas of interest, to broaden their knowledge and understanding of their chosen subjects.”

Alumnus

Lamin graduated from Birmingham with a master’s degree in International Human Rights Law in 2014 and is now studying for his PhD at the institution, with his research addressing the cultural and political barriers preventing people in Ghana from accessing education.

Jon Yorke, Professor of Human Rights and Director of the Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, Birmingham City University, said:

“When we heard that Lamin was planning to open the Institute of Academic Research we wanted to help in whatever way we could and I immediately offered our surplus collection of legal literature. We hope this donation marks the start of a fruitful academic partnership with The Gambia.

Lamin’s charity work outside academia is truly outstanding and it is very admirable that one of our fellow colleagues and students is having such a positive impact on the right to education in The Gambia.

Education

Born and raised in Kwinella in The Gambia, Lamin himself had to walk 10 miles a day for school. Recognising the importance of education from a young age, he moved to Worcester in 1999 where he studied towards a BSc in Crime and Criminolgy.

As a result of a trip to The Gambia in 2006 with his wife, Rebecca, Lamin set up the Fresh Start Foundation (FSF), which works to alleviate poverty and make access to education achievable to vulnerable children and young people in his native country.

Initially supporting one school in The Gambia, following an iconic appearance by Lamin on Channel 4’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ to raise awareness of the Foundation, the charity has gone on to support thousands of school children in The Gambia across 11 schools. With his charity a success, Lamin is now turning his attention to higher education and lifelong learning with the Institute for Academic Research.

Location

The Institute for Academic Research is situated near the Brusubi “Turn Table” Tranquil, in The Gambia.

Future cooperative plans with Birmingham City University include potential student exchanges and co-taught postgraduate and professional development courses.

Jamal Drammeh

For a simple mind, there are no practical difficulties in discerning what is right from wrong. We import the difficulties by our prejudices. These foolish imports interferes with the optimism of nature, thwarts our natural magnetism, and creates intellectual obstructions that has no place in us.

In every constitution, there always remains to be residuals it could not resolve. The most inundated legal minds cannot craft laws or constitution that would be immune to exploitation in some way by the very law makers that are supposed to uphold them. If writing new laws and constitutional reforms should be the solution to our every problem, then we will keep doing it forever. What is the point of perpetually amending laws, if the law makers are bent on betraying the spirit and intent of the laws? Spirit or intent cannot be wholly legislated so will forever remain elusive to our written laws, but the law of consciousness abide.

So let us draw some lessons from nature. Water only rises to the level of its source. The source of government being the society — can only be elevated to moral heights of the society. It is the qualities of the society that is magnified in government. We the people; are the essential measure of right, of truth, of love, of beauty….. And yes, of our laws and constitutions!

We are wiser than we project in our discourse, and we know each other very well! Truth and reality never escapes our apperception. No amount of written laws and constitutional stipulations can change reality. We should become thinking people; not clinging to the idle notes of the Jeffersons and Madisons, or our contemporary legislators — as if their uttered syllables or texts are divine doctrines that God Himself brought to humanity.

Let us stop this domestication of the foreign and the worship of the old — and bring forth the vitality of the best in our culture and virtue, now. We also live with God, right now; and can look inward and produce works and write laws just as great in this twilight of our democracy to rekindle the spirit of our common dreams and aspirations.

The best constitution — used at a negative degree will still oppress the masses. We must not be the fanatical guards of the laws and constitution, but rather be guides for them; the redeemers. The lawyers are trained to defend the text — unless it suits a client to distort them. So let the lawyers and politicians cling to their trifles; twist their lips even to indignation to redefine every letter of the alphabet.

A simple mind is royal; royalty makes habitual its own estimates of laws and affairs of men. We the people, must make habitual our own estimate of what is right and just, then demand it!

Laws of the land must be respected. But the slavish overestimate of the laws and constitution will always make us vulnerable to be oppressed or be victimized. So we should also avail ourselves the option for direct action in the course of justice and liberty through civil disobedience. Justice, we can perceive, and not in the whimsical but in eternal sense. We also know truth like we are aware that we are alive.

Civil disobedience: If history taught us any profound lessons about changing a government or system; is the irresistible power and the influence of civil disobedience. From every generation, the message of this solemn thunder is duly renewed and passed down to the next.

The reverberations of this immensity, has always transcended time and space with unfathomable results. From Hendry David Thoreau, to Leo Tolstoy, to Mahatma Ghandi, to Martin Luther and so many others before, after and in between — we’ve seen its doctrine preached and demonstrated to accomplish the “impossible”.

This cathartic virtue has done more in shaping history than any laws man has ever made. It will serve the course of the nation much nobler than any laws or constitution if the government loses its moral compass.

Democracy has too many slippery slopes; it is treacherous like the skating ring. And “when skiing on thin ice, your safety is in the speed.” So no; don’t appeal for silence and patience of the dissenters — but you can ask for decorous in their rage. We must be responsive and act quickly to counteract the excesses of any government. Patience and silence are no remedies for the expediency of government.

People have to rise up, demand and personify the change they want to see. Transparent persons are rare in politics; so it is futile to wait for politicians to act in ways that would curb their own power or change the power dynamics that’s disadvantageous to themselves. But no government is strong enough to resist a sustained pressure or popular uprising for a just course if enough people demand it. Sustained pressure always works in politics; civil disobedience — the most effective tool.

Separation of powers: For society to save herself from her own misgivings — creates the government. Government in its own turn to save itself from its own misgivings — divides itself into three branches, in a democracy. The aim is to put checks and balances on one another, and to prevent any one of the branches from usurping its authority. Success in more manure democracies, depends largely on this self-regulating and self-correcting mechanism of the separation of powers. In new democracies, these are formalities, mainly.

Nevertheless, the public holds the informal but solemn oversight authority over these three branches of governments. Government and its institutions should be rightly supported for doing its job, but a slavish respect for government that seeks to place it beyond reproach is the recipe for the destruction of a democracy.

Like man, government offers itself to be judged — though involuntarily. We need only watch and let it unfold itself and reveal its follies — if it has any. In politics and government; every day is a Judgment Day, so we must judge and act upon it responsibly but with promptitude.

We don’t need to be perplexed by the textual protestations of the laws or constitutional super navigation of the politicians or by the legal experts. Let us do and say simply what appeals to our nature and it’s morally right or just.

No citizen is too wise or too foolish to not participate in a constructive discourse of a nation. To remain silent while you watch a nation charter a dangerous territory or head for failure — is no mark of wisdom. Oracles speak! What you have done…. Will define you. Not what you gained, but what you’ve done for your fellows in truth — is your true worth.

Good as laws can be; conscience is better. Nothing can maintain peace and bring prosperity but ourselves. Only through the triumph of principle and the citizenry holding government accountable can we ensure the liberty and the dignity of every member of the society. The masses remain to be the ultimate ‘exchequer’ of our ‘practical’ laws and constitution. That is my central argument.

My last appeal to you, my reader; is to not settle any claims by my protestations, or put disproportionate value to these opinions. I’m only an experimenter, communicating my observations and hypothesis. Using an imperfect instrument called language — to describe a profound combinations of nuances of “The machine called government vs. people and their conscience”.

Simply think — is my appeal.

A former Military Police Sergeant, Modou Lamin Bah alias ‘ML Bah’ has said that he knows where the former President Yahya Jammeh’s personal bodyguard Almamo Manneh was assassinated and buried.

“I know where Almamo Manneh and Corporal Dumbuya were killed and buried, I am the only one who knew where they were buried,” former Sergeant ML Bah said.

He added: “I really want to help the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission with many evidences. Their bodies need to be exhume and investigations should be conducted before giving them proper muslim burial.”

Bah also spoke about the assassination of Deyda Hydara, a veteran journalist and co-founder of the Point Newspaper, saying he knows members of Jammeh’s hit squad assigned by the former president.

“I can be a very useful witness to this new administration,’’ he said.

The former Military Police Officer told the Fatu Network that he was part of the Special Force Commandos at State House in 2005. He allegedly refused to join the hit squad because he felt it was wrong professionally to assassinate innocent people. He was allegedly transferred to Yundum Barracks for refusing to join the hit squad.

‘‘I was transferred to Yundum Barracks, where I served as Station Officer at the Military Police until my fall-out with the regime,” he asserted.

ML Bah said he was wrongfully dismissed from the army, was arrested and detained at Yundum Barracks for 6 months without any trial in 2008. He alleged that the directive came from the high command. He complained about the unconstitutionality of his dismissal without a due process.

“I have a right to fair hearing but I was sent out just like that,” he asserted.

‘‘I’m not an ordinary soldier, I’m a non-commissioned officer so I cannot be dismissed like that. If you have to dismiss me there are procedures to follow,’’ he added.

Bah explained that he was taken to the Police headquarters in Banjul, where he spent 4 days before he was arraigned at a lower court and charged with conspiracy and robbery.

‘’The charges were a surprise to me. I was remanded in mile prison for 4 years 6 months. I was brought back to the court, where I was acquitted and discharged,’’ he explained.

After his acquittal, he added that he went to a legal counsel to write to the army for his reinstatement but he received a threatening letter to be rearrested and taken to military court martial. He fled into exile to Senegal, where he spent 3 years until after the change of government. He said he met President Barrow in Senegal after his swearing-in and he told them to come back and work for the country.

Meanwhile, after his return from exile most of his colleagues were reinstated except him. Whenever, he visited the headquarters they would tell him that they are not ready. He expressed his frustrations. He complained about his plight, family and school going children.

Information reaching this medium has it that the government sponsored students at the Gambia College has overwhelmingly dropped compared to the past years leaving many without much option but to start paying as private students.

The President of The Gambia College Student Union, Bakary Kujabi has said that the number of private students have overwhelmingly increased especially in the school of education compared to the previous years.

“The number of government sponsored students though have significantly dropped compared to the previous years,” Bakary Kujabi said.

“The list of private students have overwhelmingly increase in the school of education,” he added.

The Gambia College Student Union President explained the challenges facing private students who are paying tuition fees of D7, 000 per annum plus transport and assignments among others. He said many of the students at the College are from the provinces. He urged the government to support them because it may need their services later.

“If the government fails to invest in the students when they graduate they may choose to work for private entity,” Kujabi asserted. “That is their sole right,” he added.

When asked about the reason for the increase of private students he said they heard the government could not sponsor large number of students.

“Some students have even decided to back down,” he said.

The composition of schools in the college are Schools of Education, Agriculture, Public and Environmental Health and Nursing and Midwifery. Many of these students were government paid students with the exception of the School of Agriculture which has 95 percent private students.

The Gambia College Principal, Abubacarr Jallow was contacted but declined to comment on the matter.

It is believed that the situation was triggered by the sit down strike of college lecturers for salary increment. The college lecturers shortly before registration of new intakes embarked on a sit down strike. The general complained is said to have centered around poor salaries.

Some analysts say the problem has to do with policies. Unless the policies are changed it will continued to affect the human resource particularly in the area of quality education at public schools.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information Demba Ali Jawo has said in his monthly press briefing that the government does not have the ability to sponsored many students.

Former Interior Minister, Mai Ahmad Fatty has denied receiving any bribes from Semelex, a group that provides identification and authentication using biometric information.

Here is Mai’s message posted on his Facebook page Tuesday evening.

The allegations are concocted and contain no fiber of truth. The alleged meeting and settings were all lies, with no foundation and I challenge them to prove me wrong.

It is an orchestrated smear campaign of columny designed to ruin my reputation. I am ready and willing to subject myself to the most expansive, thorough, independent investigation ever in the history of The Gambia on this matter.

I am confident that I am innocent.

Final note: my family and I need our privacy. We take refuge in Allah as our strength and are grateful for all the support and love. Thank you for your understanding.

By Fatou Sowe

Lawyers CE Mene and EE Chime, defense counsel for Yankuba Badjie the former director general of the national intelligence agency, have yet again failed to appear in the Solo Sendeng murder trial before Justice Kumba Sillah Camara of the high court in Banjul.

These two lawyers representing Badjie have been absent in court and according to the judge without excuse. When the matter was called the presiding judge realized that the said lawyers were absent, which prompted her to ask Badjie the whereabouts of his lawyers. Badjie responded that he does not know why his lawyers were not in court. The judge further queried that the said lawyers will not hold the court to ransom.

As a result, lawyer Antouman Gaye the lead prosecutor then expressed that both lawyers had appeared in different courts for their respective cases in the morning. So, he said they should not be allowed to contemptuously hold the court to ransom.

Gaye then applied for the 1st accused person (Badjie) to be served with the documents earlier served on each of the defense team. He further urged the court to invoke its power in this circumstance, as the said lawyers are officers of the court.

The defense lawyer I Jallow for the 3rd accused ( Saikou Omar Jeng) was likewise not in court. The presiding judge in her ruling stated that the said lawyers are absent in court without any excuse and that will not hinder the progress of the case because they have decided to abandon their clients in a heap of a criminal matter.

She ordered for all the documents due for service to be served on the 1st accused (Badjie) himself in court and such shall be deemed as sufficient service. She further ordered that both Yankuba Badjie and Saikou Omar Jeng have up to Monday to regulate the status of their legal representation.

At that juncture the case was adjourned to November 20, 2017.

By Alieu Ceesay

Lamin Sanneh, manager at The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) Hotel located at the FIFA Funded Goal Project in Yundum has explained the reason for denying lawmakers access to the hotel.

Reports say there was a stand off on Monday between the staff posted there and members of the National Assembly Select Committee on Sports.

The lawmakers, according to information gathered, were led to the place by GFF Secretary General Abass Bah and Technical Director Ebrima Manneh. Both Manneh and Bah have not been frequent at the Football House, as they have been forced to stay home. Their contracts with GFF end at the end of December.

The NAMs who were said to be on an inspection visit had a standoff with the staff on duty who denied them access because they have no approval. They were denied access and went home.

In an interview, Manager Lamin Sanneh said he was not officially informed about the visit of the committee prior, therefore could not allow them access.

Sanneh said he was out of the jurisdiction at the time of the visit, adding there were guests in the rooms and thus could not allow inspectors.

The select committee is said to have visited the place without informing the GFF Executive, which has been ‘suspended’ by the National Sports Council pending an investigation into its financial dealings.

However, the GFF says it is not recognizing the suspension and has continue with their work.

“The Select Committee said they are not speaking to a suspended executive,” a source familiar with the story said.

On Dec 1st 2016, Gambians voted against tyranny, dictatorship and wanton disregard for our fundamental rights as citizens. As a people, we voted for a #NewGambia that will protect its citizens and uphold our inalienable fundamental human rights.

On 31st October 2017, a group of young Gambians under the banner #OccupyWestfield applied for a permit to hold a peaceful assembly at Westfield. The Inspector General of Police after screening the organisers of #OccupyWestfield rejected the application.

#GambiaHasDecided engaged the Inspector General of Police on Monday, 6th of November, after we learnt that #OccupyWestfield’s application for a permit to assemble at Westfield was denied. Our objective was to convince the Inspector General of Police to reconsider his decision and convince his office that a peaceful assembly can take place without any breach of the peace. We reminded the Inspector General of Police that Freedom to Assemble peacefully is a fundamental human right guaranteed by section 25 of our constitution, which takes precedence over the Public Order Act. We further acknowledged their duty to safeguard the peace of the nation, which in our view is not in conflict with the right to assemble. The Police assured us that they would revisit their decision after a subsequent meeting scheduled on the following Wednesday with the #OccupyWestfield organisers.

#OccupyWestfield was subsequently granted a permit on Friday, 10th of November to hold a peaceful assembly between the DHL and NAWEC feeder road after the organisers were screened by the Police. On Saturday afternoon, we were subsequently informed by the organisers of #OccupyWestfield that their permit was revoked on national security grounds. The Inspector General of Police also issued a strongly worded release prohibiting any assembly at Westfield.

On Sunday, 12th of November #OccupyWestfield in exercise of their constitutional rights, peacefully assembled at Kairaba Avenue, off Westfield to issue a public statement without the use of a Public Announcement System. #OccupyWestfield deliberately kept the crowd small and only informed a few stakeholders including the press to attend the press briefing. This was done to avoid any confrontation between the security forces and a potential big crowd in the absence of police protection. The gathering of #OccupyWestfield was peaceful and controlled without any incident of a breach of peace.

It is unfortunate that the Police Intervention Unit was dispatched fully armed to disperse the peaceful assembly of #OccupyWestfield without any incidence of a breach of the peace. The presence of armed PIU was very intimidating and aggressive to the peaceful citizens who conducted themselves responsibly at all times.

#GambiaHasDecided in solidarity joined and stood by #OccupyWestfield in support of their right to assemble peacefully.

#GambiaHasDecided is of the view that the revocation of the permit for a peaceful assembly is a violation of the fundamental rights of #OccupyWestfield guaranteed by section 25 of our constitution.

#GambiaHasDecided stands in solidarity with #OccupyWestfield in support of their right to Assemble peacefully without fear of intimidation and arrest.

#GambiaHasDecided condemns the deployment of armed Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to disperse an assembly of citizens peacefully exercising their constitutional right to do so.

#GambiaHasDecided appeals to the Government of the Gambia to promptly repeal the repressive Public Order Act which has no place in #NewGambia

#GambiaHasDecided for respect of our inalienable fundamental human rights

#GambiaHasDecided for peace and stability of our dear nation

For the Gambia Our homeland, we remain ever true.

#GambiaHasDecided

Gambian business tycoon, Amadou Samba has said that his longtime associate the former President Yahya Jammeh was an ‘inconsistent friend’ as he managed to survive the past 22 years under his regime.

The former state counsel cum businessman made these revelations at the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

When asked by Commissioner Bai Mass Saine whether he was a close associate of the former president he answered in the negative.

“He was an inconsistent friend,” Amadou Samba told Commissioners.

The business tycoon refuted the allegations of being a business associate of the former president saying their relationship was based on friendship which he describe as ‘inconsistent’. He explained how he managed to survive the former President’s 22 year regime. He added that he was not his business associate and had never interfered with his power politics.

“That was how I survived his regime,” Mr Samba asserted.

“If you were his business associate he will take everything and send you to jail,” he added.

Samba described his relations with the former president as one that was only based on social relationship.

The business tycoon said he was already successful in business before he met the former president, saying he started cement importation since 1986. He explained several businesses he had including fishing with Moroccan partners saying they had 5 fishing trollers trolling the waters of Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau exporting the catches to Las Palmas.

The lawyer turned businessman repeatedly complained about the speculations people are making about his past relations with the former president which he said is not fair because the former president used to take advantage of him which has cost him a lot.

“He will make unnecessary demands by asking me to borrowed him money which he will not return,” he said.

Mr Samba refuted the allegations of managing the former president’s businesses but instead was managing him to save his own life from danger.

“I never had any business relation with the former president or worked with him,” he interjected.

The business tycoon told the commission that the former president after he fell out with the late Baba Jobe wanted him to continue with the importation of rice, cooking oil and onions among others. He said the president told him that the Governor of Central Bank would facilitate things. He added that after the meeting with the former president, he went straight to the office of the then Governor, Clarke Bayo telling him to count him out.

“People always make allegations against me saying I have $900 Million of the former president,” he interjected.

Samba refuted this allegation saying it is unfounded for he had never shared accounts or transfer money to any of the former president’s accounts.

“It is my enemies who want to assassinate my character,” Amadou Samba told the commission.

He added: “That is money laundering.”

The former state counsel cum businessman confirmed to the commission that the former president was the one who purchased the Kairaba Beach Hotel, denying his involvement in the transaction. He refuted the testimony made by Momodou Lamin Sonko of M.A Kharaffi and Sons. He denied playing any part in the sale of Kairaba Beach Hotel to M.A Kharaffi and Sons. He said he never met Mr Sonko to discuss the sale of the said hotel.

“It has never happened,” he told the commission.

Samba said he is surprised how Sonko could put him in the picture when it was Lawyer Edu Gomez who signed the document.

“People always want to use my name,” he said.

The business tycoon revealed that the hotel was purchased through late Baba Jobe who appointed him as symbolic chairman of the hotel. He said the hotel was run by Baba Jobe and Robert Aswande.

Samba tendered bundles of documents including assignments, transfer shares from Baba Jobe and Lang Conteh to Millennium Industrial and General Trading Company, a company owned by the former president among others were admitted and marked as exhibits.

Mr Samba confirmed his membership of the former president’s political party and his financial support to the party.

When asked by Commission Counsel Amie Bensouda about the D3 Million transferred to his account from the Kanilai Festival tribute to Michael Jackson, he said it was used to purchase CFA for former president.

Meanwhile, former Solicitor General Pa Harry Jammeh and former GNPC Managing Director Momodou Badjie both appeared at the commission.

By Omar Wally

Three men have been arrested by personnel of Gambia Police Force, for allegedly stealing fuel at NAWEC Kotu Power Station.

Superintendent David Kujabi, Police public relations officer told The Fatu Network that following a tip off by a concerned citizen on suspected theft of fuel at NAWEC (Kotu Power Station), The Gambia Police CID in Kanifing mounted surveillance in the area.

“During the early hours of Monday 13 November, the professionalism and patience of the officers finally paid off.”

Kujabi said they arrested three men with five drums of 20 litres of gasoil loading them into a taxi with registration number BJL 9612 M. The suspects are, Essa Mbenga (Principal Suspect – Permanent Staff NAWEC), Lamin Samateh (GTTI Student on internship at NAWEC) and Yunusa Sowe (Taxi Driver).

Police PRO noted that the three suspects are in police custody and are currently helping the CID with their investigations. “Base on prima facie evidence at hand, the accused persons have been charged with Stealing, Contrary to Section 252 of Criminal Code, Cap 10:01 Vol. III Laws of The Gambia 2009.”

Kujabi: The Gambia Police Force reassures the general public of its unrelenting stance in ensuring the protection of lives and properties of all. He added that the Police will continue to count on the support of the citizenry in policing their beloved Gambia.

By Omar Wally

Superintendent David Kujabi, who served as Police public relation officer, from 2012 to 2015, is back as the new Police public relation officer. He replaced Assistant Superintendent Foday Conta, who is now his deputy.

David was credited for improving the relationship between the media and the police during his time as PRO.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, the outgoing PRO Conta now deputy PRO, said the reason for David coming back as PRO, is geared towards fulfilling the promise made by the Inspector General of Police to expand the Police PRO unit, during his first interview with GRTS.

“ With David’s experience, it is wise to bring him back in that position, so that I can work closely with him.”

Assistant Superintendent Conta said they are recruiting other people so that they can decentralized their regional spokespersons.

David’s Bio David holds BA English Language & Sociology – University of The Gambia 2005 – 2009 •

Higher Teacher’s Certificate – The Gambia College – April 2004

• Senior Secondary School Certificate – Fatima Senior Secondary School – 1998

• Certificate, Cadet Officers Course – Ghana Police College – August 2012

• Certificate, Cadet Development Course – The Gambia Police Academy – April 2011

• Certificate, Basic Police Training Course – The Gambia Police Academy – November 2010

• Certificate, International Police Officers Course (IPOC)-SWEDINT – 16 – 27 February 2015

• Certificate, Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers to Implementing Partners (HACT), Sponsored by the UNDP, UNICEF & UNFPA Banjul, The Gambia – 24 – 25 June 2014

• Certificate, Training on Capacity building on Legal Matters affecting The Police – 9 – 11 June 2015

• Certificate, Integrated Induction Training – Elfasher, Darfur, Sudan – 26 to 29 July 2105 • Certificate, Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE) Training – Elfasher, Darfur, Sudan – 05 to 06 August 2015.

This correspondence occurs in response to a recent article by Madi Jobarteh impressing on the president to fill the aforementioned ministerial post as a matter of urgency. His was an insightful argument based on superbly constructed points rich in law. That said, my response is neither to disparage, nor a rebuttal per se, rather to construct a counter-narrative of institutional & portfolio arrangements in view of the country’s unique situation.

To back up his claims, Mr Jobarteh relied on section (71) of the constitution which concerns the appointment of Ministers. He rightfully argued that a President and a Minister cannot share the same position, hence those are ‘’mutually exclusive’’ cabinet posts. He also quoted sub-section (3) which authorized the President to appoint cabinet Ministers hence the President, nor his ministers should occupy more than one post at a time. He went on to draw attention to separate the vice-presidential portfolio from that of women’s Affairs – both vested in one as it stands.

Mr Jobarteh appeared quite hysterical in laying down his claims; but I suspect he is perfectly aware of further provisions within the statutory book drawing on secession. May I remind him that liberal democratic tradition and Gambian law dictates that in an event of unfortunate proportions, the president shall be succeeded by the vice president, or Speaker of parliament in that orderly. The Gambian people need to bear in mind that the constitution is entirely under review in an effort to iron out discrepancies and unjust laws arbitrary put. That calls for patience, since the final cut shall be subject to parliamentary debate and public plebiscite before adoption:

Still writing in the article, Mr Jobarteh paid particular attention to the vacant defence ministerial post. He seems convinced that the position must be filled, and that power removed away from the presidency. I, for one, see no urgency, or utility for The Gambia appointing a Minister of Defence. Folks, let’s be realistic, and to survey and prioritise needs in view of total transformation in motion. For starters, The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in the world, surrounded by Senegal on three sides. A peaceful, friendly and partnership growing stronger by the day. There is no need for military build-up or a hard-border line. As for in-coming threats from foreign fishing trawlers via the Atlantic Ocean, the Gambia need to rebuild & equip its navy in all aspects of strategic surveillance over Gambian waters.

For a new-Gambia, the emergent army should engage their Senegalese counterparts in collaborative training and cross-border security partnerships for a safe and secure region. In an unprecedented attempt at history – I call for the signing of a Senegambia Security & defence Pact. This shall encompass total protection of both countries and to come to each-others defence should a mutiny or foreign force invade. Such a pact is a deterrent to coup de’etat, drawing inspiration on the NATO alliance, albeit entirely drawn on separate terms based on international law and values underpin by local history.

I have always maintained that The Gambia does not need a large military force. To hasten professionalisation of the Security apparatus, the country need to build separate police, navy and military training academies of success. Another idea being for the Interior and Defence portfolios to be amalgamated into one post – ‘Ministry of National Security & Planning’. However, institutional separation of the army and police must maintain, with the new emergent army refocused on modern military methods in peace-keeping and peace-building duties supporting AU and UN missions around the world.

Gibril Saine    Twitter: @gibbysaine

By Alieu Ceesay

#OccupyWestfield Team said they remain firm and resolute in their resolve to exercise their right to assemble peacefully as guaranteed by section 25 of the constitution.

It was on October 26, when the #OccupyWestfield Team issued The Declaration of the Occupation of Westfield.

A statement was read on the urgent need for stability in the current water and electricity situation in urban Gambia. It then called on the public to converge with the team at Westfield to vent their frustrations in the form of a peaceful protest. This was to be the official birth of #OccupyWestfield as a team.

“After that call, the response has been immense. It trended on social media and across the streets. We then realized the need to get police clearance and permit for the occasion. We applied for a permit which was submitted at the police headquarters.

We were called in the following day for screening from the intelligence office. Again we were then called to meet with the IGP and Co. We held discussions on security details. But at the eleventh hour, our permit was denied,” Alieu Bah, a member of Team read out in a media statement on behalf of the Team on Sunday evening at West Field where the proposed protest was to take place.

The Police denied the Team permit to protest twice. During the process of reading out the statement, armed riot police arrived at the place, ordering the Team to dispersed with immediate effect amidst threatening words of arrest if they insist on staying.

Prominent among the Team were Rapper Killa Ace, Paradise FM Proprietor Haruna Drammeh, Salieu Taal and Raffie Diab of #GambiaHasDecided Movement.

Alieu Bah added, “Relentless in our call, knowing full well that ours is a right guaranteed by the constitution. We continued pushing for #OccupyWestfield even as the odds stacked against us.”

The day after meeting the Police chief, Bah went on, they were again ushered into another meeting. This time with the then Interior Minister, Mai Fatty.

A long negotiation ensued for the postponement of the protest. Citing security reasons again. He said they conceded and postponed; acting as responsible and mature citizens of the land.

“The following week we again met the minister but was cut short because he got called to an emergency meeting. We then rushed to the police headquarters where we had earlier in the day submitted a letter requesting security protection for our protest slated for this Sunday, the 12th.” Bah added that they again went through the screening process but this time around a clearance plus security protection was afforded for their proposed protest.

It was a joyous occasion for them all, he said, for they felt the constitution have been honored, which is what New Gambia should be about.

“On Saturday whiles we were busy preparing the logistics for the protest, a call came in from the office of the IGP. Again we have been summoned to a meeting. We got to the meeting only to be given excuses of counter demonstrations, the beach boys said they too are protesting at the beach in solidarity with us.

It was a shifting argument of excuses from the Security heads. A constant invention of boogeymen. Our clearance was then revoked.”

The revocation happened within 24 hours of its reception of the clearance. The excuses advances by the police, according to Bah, were neither genuine nor firm in the denial of their constitutional rights.

“We remain firm and resolute in our resolve to exercise our right to assemble peacefully as guaranteed by section 25 of the constitution. The police continue to invoke Section 5 of the Public Order Act which itself is unconstitutional and has been challenged in the supreme court of the Gambia.” He concluded, “We won’t cow down at the eleventh hour and let draconian laws win over the constitution.

We stand in solidarity with the supreme law of the land and most of all our human right to gather in peace and protest.”