By Madi Jobarteh

The population of The Gambia is approximately two million with a land size of 11 thousand square kilometers. The country is a largely flat terrain with limited adverse weather conditions that cannot severely affect GSM and Internet connectivity. Based on the geography of the country, it is therefore expected that GSM and Internet communications would be greatly accessible and strong and of the highest quality. However, users of mobile phones and Internet services experience incredibly poor network even within the Greater Banjul Area. For all the networks, contrary to their advertisements, there are vast areas of the country in which connectivity is almost non-existent. Furthermore, GSM termination costs within a network and across networks remains largely expensive. Why?

Why is mobile telephony and Internet service terribly poor in this country despite the many government projects and huge investment that has been made in this sector so far? Even when GSM and Internet companies generate huge revenue from customers yet the quality of service remains erratic, poor and unavailable to majority of Gambians who continue to pay a lot for these services? Why are these companies not making adequate investment to upgrade their systems? It is high time Gambians demand from both the Government and GSM and Internet service providers to explain and address this unbearable and unfair situation in order to ensure affordable, high quality connectivity and accessible services to all. Or we sue them!

Telephony and Internet services are fundamental drivers of the progress of society and economy in all facets: from employment, health and education to leisure, security and business among others. Hence the need for quality services must be a top priority of any government and society.

From the look of things, it is clear that the only reason the Gambia faces such a poor telephony and Internet sector is the lack of strategy and leadership at the level of regulators and service providers. The law empowers PURA to ensure that service providers perform in the best interest of society and economy. The Ministry responsible for communication infrastructure and technology is expected to back and enforce the recommendations of PURA. GSM companies themselves are expected to abide by the best practices and high ethical business standards and operations. The question is, are all of these entities performing their functions as required by law and ethics? It appears this is not the case. Their failure is because the citizens are not taking them to task.

Gambians must understand that the Government, through MOICI and PURA has a duty by law to do their jobs perfectly. They do not give us charity, rather they are here to defend our fundamental human rights of access to quality products and services based on value for money. Hence MOICI and PURA must not allow any private entity to provide poor quality services to Gambians yet who are forced to pay for those poor services. It is clear in the law as to what PURA, backed by MOICI should do when a GSM or internet company fails in providing quality products and services. Therefore we expect nothing from MOIC and PURA but to enforce the law.

In early 2016, the regulatory authorities in Nigeria and Sierra Leone imposed a fine of more than seven million dollars on GSM operators for just providing poor quality services. Has PURA ever imposed such fines on GAMCEL, QCELL, Africell and Comium? Have these companies ever fulfilled such fines? Thus Gambians must ask the fundamental questions knowing that what we are dealing with here is about our lives, rights and destiny. So far the quality of services is unbearable, unfair, expensive and erratic. This is unacceptable.

In building the New Gambia, citizens must demand that the Government set high-level standards in both the public and private sectors in the delivery of goods and services. This is a fundamental human rights issue. We must not allow private GSM and Internet service providers to rip us off of our hard earned money! Unless we are able to set and enforce those standards in our institutions and processes for the delivery of goods and services, this country shall remain an impoverished and underdeveloped country. Let us refuse to buy empty excuses and false rationalizations that governments and companies like to always spread around in order to run away from their responsibilities.

The Gambia Government has all the legal powers, competences, capacities and resources to make sure citizens enjoy the highest standard of living in all aspects. Hence let us demand that the Government exercise those powers within the limits of the law to protect our rights in all respects. The current and continued poor quality of GSM and Internet services in the country is a direct violation of our rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness as captured and espoused in the letter and spirit of our Constitution under Chapter Four. Let us not allow the Gambia Government and private companies to perpetuate this injustice anymore!

If these poor and expensive services persist, citizens must, sooner than later resort to civil disobedience including going to court to sue the Government and these companies in order to force them to serve us adequately and protect our rights. Our GSM companies have lavishly spent millions of dalasi to satisfy Yaya Jammeh and his immoral and anti-Gambia celebrations when they should have invested in upgrading their systems for the benefit of their customers. They made those millions out of us, The Customers! Therefore they have no excuse and we must not accept any excuse from them.

Let us be vigilant and know our interests bearing in mind that everything is about our lives, rights and future, and not about the president or the government or companies who are only our servants.

God Bless The Gambia

by Omar Wally

An ambulance carrying a patient from BajaKunda health center in Wuli East to Basse major health center got stuck in the mud for hours before villagers could get it out.

The poor road network in that area gets worse yearly especially during the raining season, forcing many people to result to bicycles and motorcycles to get to the regional capital, Basse.

Couple of days ago, a passenger vehicle locally known as Geleh Geleh, which was carrying over forty passengers had an accident at Chamoi Mbunda culvert wounding scores of people.

Sarjo Jaiteh of Bantunding village development committee said when the ambulance got stuck while making referrals and it took them time before they could get the ambulance out. ” The ambulance usually carry women with complicated labor cases.”

Jaiteh said even the commercial vehicles that transport food stuff to their far out villages and the ones carrying passengers many at times face similar challenges.

After the incident three villages came together in a combined effort to fix certain parts of the road he said.

A Senegalese vlogger living in the United States has been expelled from the country.

Assane Diouf is known for his regular posts on YouTube and his outspoken criticism of both President Macky Sall and Senegal’s religious and political authorities.

Mr Diouf, who says he supports Macky Sall’s predecessor Abdoulaye Wade, is among a number of Senegalese citizens to have been kicked out of the United States because of their status as illegal residents.

Senegalese police have confirmed on local radio that Mr Diouf is being held by criminal investigators in the capital, Dakar.

Source: BBC Africa

By Yunus S Saliu

One of the first programs to have a Masters level and a degree program at the University of The Gambia as far back as 2007 is history and it is one of the first programs to have a professor at the university to coordinates the Master’s program which is in its fifth year.

Hassoum Ceesay, an Adjunct Lecturer of History at the University of The Gambia in an interview with this reporter stated that no country can build patriot without historian.

History as one of the programs to reach masters level at the University, he said needs to be given a priority rather than discouraging intended students as they were not giving scholarships to study the subject.

He said the number of students enrolling for the subject are declining compare to the past the reason being the fact that priorities are given to the science students “even teachers studying education will tell you that I chose history but there is hardly any sponsorship,” he lamented.

This, according to him, is the reason why students are not majoring in history but as an elective subject to be fulfilled as a requirement (but not as to major it).

It is a disaster, he said, to have just few people Majoring history because every country which The Gambia is not excluded needs historians, researchers to tell and write the past of the country. He affirmed that “everyone is complaining that The Gambia history is not written, and a country without history is doom because you cannot build patriot if you don’t have historian. It is historians who mentor patriots that love their country and want something for their country.”

As every effort is being made to upgrade history program in the university especially now that the university authority is planning to have a PhD program. Ceesay called on both private sector and government departments to help students studying history with scholarships because “it is a very important subject.”

Among other importance of history highlighted, is that it discloses the identity of a nation, though scientists are needed “but we need Gambia identity to nurture and this can only be done through research, writing and history.”

He emphasized that history can create lots of jobs opportunity like other courses a few examples are  tourism, heritage site, museum, and most of the tourists that visited the Gambia are attracted by our culture and history.

Therefore, by studying history at the university, he continued, you can as well fit in any sector or even help to develop both private and community museums. You can also work as archaeologist, tour guides etc to name a few.

In addition, he argued that most of the efficient administrators The Gambia ever have were historians.

By Alieu Ceesay

The football fraternity is mourning the demise of ex-Real De Banjul and Gambia National Team Defensive Midfielder Pa Mundow Gomez, who passed away on Monday, August 28 after a long illness.

Survived by a wife and kids, Pa Mundow is described as an illustrious player who rose to the ranks of Gambia’s generation of players during the 1970s and 80s and was described as one of the country’s finest players at his time.

Believed to be in his 60s, he is said to be one of the longest serving players of Real De Banjul. He was part of the Real De Banjul’s Technical Committee until his demise.

Reacting to the sad news, GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo said the demise of the former player is a great loss to Gambian football. “Pa was a strong pillar to football development and has spent all his time to nurturing young talents transferring his knowledge and experience. May his soul rest in peace,” he said on GFF’s Facebook Page.

The former Tallinding native is described by his colleagues as amiable, jovial but dedicated to the services of football.

Pa Yusupha Samba is the 1st Vice President at Real De Banjul. He describes the demise to The Fatu Network as a “great lose to the club”. “Pa was a key figure at Real and he served as mentor to many players.”

He will laid to rest next Monday.

By Yunus S Saliu

The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has expressed dismay over the closure of the Daily Observer newspaper, the biggest and widely circulated newspaper in The Gambia.

The Observer Company, publisher of one of the most famous newspapers in the country on Wednesday, 23rd August, 2017 suffers another closure being the second time in less than sixty (60) days.

The company which has over one hundred staff was temporarily closed Wednesday, 24th June, 2017 by officials of the Gambia Revenue Authority as a result of an accumulated tax of D17, 473,584.47 (Seventeen million, four hundred and seventy three thousand, five hundred and eighty four dalasis and forty-seven bututs) but was later reopened by GRA on Wednesday, 28th June 2017.

But Monday, 31st July, 2017 GRA sued Observer Company to court and claimed the above sum for failure to pay its corporate income tax, sales tax, value added tax and payroll tax from January 2007 to December 2016 and judgment was entered in their favor. Observer was also awarded a cost of one hundred thousand dalasi on top of the over seventeen million tax claimed.

On a visit to the Gambia Press Union office located at Fajara, Emily Touray, President of the Union said the closure of the Observer Company is unfortunate and it is not serving anybody’s interest.

In solidarity with the workers of the Observer newspaper he said GPU will continue working with both GRA and the State in order to find a reasonable and final solution to the situation.
He said Daily Observer newspaper is the biggest newspaper in the country considering the fact that it provides jobs for over hundreds of people and also indirectly to some other individuals such as technicians, vendors, suppliers.

Sincerely, he said, the closure of the newspaper will undoubtedly harms the earning capacity of descent young men and women who are making a living not only for themselves but for their family members as well.

He stressed that these young men and women have chosen to stay and work in their country rather than joining the bandwagon of those people that travel through the ‘back-way’ to Europe and perished in the Mediterranean Sea in their quest for a better life and greener pastures, President Touray added that, these young people needed to be encouraged as they are willing and ready to continue contributing their quota to the socio economic development of this country in their own descent ways.

He again appeal to the concerned authority to have a second thought over this issue because the closure is not in anybody’s interest “there is need to work out progressive solution to this issue for the interest of the Gambia people, the GRA and State to realize our dreams and aspirations. He reiterated that the Gambia Press Union is really disturbed by this development.”

by Omar Wally

It is that time of the year when hundreds of people living in the Greater Banjul Area commute to the rural part of the country to spend Eid prayers locally known as “Tobaski”, with families, friends and loved ones. Over the years, those who embarked on such journey face lots of challenges, such as inadequate transportation, drivers charging extra fees, pick-pocketing among others.

But with the coming of Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC), those challenges seem to be over. Since last week, GTSC has been dispatching twenty one buses daily to transport people across the length and breadth of the country.

GTSC marketing manager Fabuka Njaay, said 2017 service is different from previous years adding that this year they introduced pre-payment. He noted that the pre-payment entails customers coming to the depot a day before their trips to buy their tickets in advance, this makes their travels easy and convenient. “We dispatch twenty one buses daily and commuters’ perception towards GTSC has been boosted.”

Njaay said the pre-payment erased the factor of pick-pocketing and other challenges faced by commuters and as a marketing unit he went on to say that are dedicated to excellent customer service. “I can confidently tell you that the marketing unit has been tasked to come with a platform whereby our booking systems and methods of payment will be easier come next year.”

Njaay stated that with the new method people can buy tickets without coming to the depot; they can go to agents who will be selling tickets for GTSC that is the level GTSC is heading to.

By Fatou Sowe

Mr Cherno Marena the solicitor general and legal secretary at the ministry of justice wednesday, August 30, faced the commission of inquiry probing into the financial activities of former President Jammeh.

The appearance of Mr Marena was for him to give testimony in relation to the Carnegie Minerals case against the Gambia Government.

While answering to questions with regard to the said case, Marena said following the termination of the mining license of Carnegie Minerals by the Gambia, they instituted an arbitration proceedings against the Gambia at the ICSID Tribunal.

He informed the commission that the case was decided in favour of Carnegie Minerals and damages were awarded against the Gambia Government as it was held by the tribunal that the license was terminated without legal justification.

He outlined that the government was ordered to the sum of $15, 658, 358 to Carnegie Minerals in breach of the mining license, an interest of $993, 653, and an arbitration cost of $445, 860.

According to him, there was a legal cost of £2, 250, 000 which makes it a total of about $22 millions. However he added, the award to Carnegie Minerals was not paid because the government also instituted another proceedings to annul the award and such proceeding is still pending before the tribunal, as a result of which there is a stay of execution of the award.

Whan asked about what the government seeks to achieve in pursuing this annulment, Marena responded that his ministry is currently reviewing all legal.proceedings the country is involved in and this review will facilitate an informed decision on the issues.

He disclosed that the government was represented by Mayer Brown legal firm, but they were unable to trace evidence of payment of legal cost by the Gambia Government.

He continued that after he got in touch with the lawyer, the 10 invoices that were sent to the office of the president were sent to him. in addition he said the lawyer sent his office an email saying that the legal fees of €971, 000 was paid by one Muhammad Bassi through one of his companies Euro Africa Group.

“Why did Mr Bassi pay the legal fees for the Gambia?” Counsel Amie Bensouda asked. Marena replied “It is also a mystery to me, because this claim was against the Gambia Government so when I got the information that Bassi a businessman paid the legal fees, I was at a loss as to the connection.”

He concluded that Mr Bassi would be in a better position to state reasons why he actually made the payment on behalf of the Gambia Government.

By Alieu Ceesay

It is that period of the year when muslims in The Gambia join muslims across the globe to observe the Muslim feast of ‘Eid-ul-Adha.’ ‘Tobaski’ as it is called in the Senegambia region, ‘Tobaski’ is a period of sacrifice and jubilation for Muslims.

It is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims to honor the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his first son Ismail as an act of submission to God’s command and his son’s acceptance to be sacrificed, before God intervened by providing Ibrahim with a sheep to sacrifice instead.

Preparation for ‘Tosbaki’ has never been easy. In The Gambia, preparations reach its climax about three weeks to the celebration.

During this period from morning through night, people walk round the Serrekunda market to buy the best clothes to wear in observance of the celebration. This, therefore also provides income for many people including tailors.

“I am here to buy clothes for myself and my children. I hope I can get what I want because prices do go high during this period,” one Binta Drammeh told The Fatu Network.

“Business is going on fine, customers are coming and we pray we witness a blessed feast,” Ebou Jobe, a shopkeeper said.

The former Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority, Muhammed Lamin Gibba has said that  presidential directives limited his obligations to serve the country without fear or favor during his tenure in office.

“I always endeavor to serve my country without fear or favour,” former MD Muhammed Lamin Gibba said.

Mr. Gibba who was the former managing director of the country’s port authority said he has limitations to carried out his work without fear or favour under the former president Yahya Jammeh.

Gibba made these revelations before the commission of inquiry set up to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

“The former president personally called me to rebuild the Kanilai Cultural Centre at Kanilai Village,” he disclosed to the commission.

The former Ports Managing Director confirmed the sale of CFA to the Office of the former President, saying he received a phone call from the former president himself demanding from them.

He explained to the commission the responsibility of the committee in the system that look at the tenders made for the CFA exchange that was usually sent to him for approval. He said the former president made verbal demands. There was an outstanding balance of D6.9 Million.

The documents representing financial transactions between the former president and ports authority were admitted and marked as exhibits.

Gibba told the commission that the money was escorted to the Office of the President by Ousman Jobarteh, the Deputy Managing Director who delivered it to General Saul Badjie and Major Yusupha Sanneh.

Former MD Gibba explained his difficulties to contact the former president to settle the outstanding balance of D6.9 Million for the CFA Exchange.

“I can only talk to him when he calls because I don’t have his private number,” he interjected.

He was questioned about the importations made by the Kanilai Family Farm which he said were owing outstanding bills to the ports authority.

“I reminded the president but he only laughed,” he added.

Gibba said he does not know much about the Youth Development Enterprise YDE. He said he was never sworn in during his appointment as Managing Director of Ports. He added that he only took the oath of office when he was appointed Minister of Local Government.

Meanwhile, he spoke about the development he brought to the country’s ports authority during his tenure in office. He was released but told he would be recalled when he is needed for clarification. The sitting are now adjourned to Monday, 4th September.

By Omar Wally

Salimatou Fatty, an activist and founder of Salimatou Foundation for Education (SaFE), a right to education charitable foundation is listed among 100 Most Influential Young African by Africa Youth Awards.

It’s in recognition of the efforts of young achievers across the African continent. The initiative is noted to be the biggest and most respected across the continent with participation from over 140 countries globally.

The list which was restricted to age limits between, 15 & 36 had a coverage of 28 countries on the continent with Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya leading with 19, 18, 10, 7 representatives respectively. The list was compiled and approved by the awards Jury made up of young Africans from across globe after public nominations were received and reviewed.

In an interview with The Fatu Network, Salimatou said for the award, “I am overwhelmed and feel more passionate to do what I love to do.”

Salimatou: This is advocating for human rights focusing on quality education and gender equality.

“I can’t say much, I owe this to each and everyone who believes in me, I appreciate every single person who took time to nominate me for this prestigious award.” For the award, I am overwhelmed and feel more passionate to Salimatou Foundation for Education volunteers and my beloved family, they all contributed in making this possible for me she concluded.

By Jainaba Sonko

Child Protection Alliance (CPA) has condemned child labour in the strongest possible terms.

In a recent interview with Lamin K Saidy an official at CPA, he said child labour refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially and morally dangerous to children and interferes in their education and development. He said child labor has different forms such as involving children in petty trading, street begging among others.

“Once people are poor they use their children to make ends meet” Mr Saidy said.

According to him poverty is the main cause of child labor but was quick to add that over population and parental negligence are also contributing factors to child labour. The CPA official called on parents to educate their children in order to break the cycle of poverty and prevent child labor.

Mr. Saidy stressed that there are laws in place to punish people who subject children to child labour. He stated that many a time some people try to connect child labour to religious beliefs. Mr saidy called on the security of The Gambia to enforce the child labour laws.

He said the laws are there and they need to be enforced, “The courts will never arrest anyone,’’ he said. Mr. saidy pointed out that The Gambia is a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of the child which prohibits child labour.

By Fatou Sowe

The managing director of Skye Bank, Mr Doyin Adegbulugbe has informed the commission of inquiry probing into the financial dealings of former President Jammeh that the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has four accounts with his bank.

He revealed that the corporation has two US dollar accounts, a dalasi and pound sterling account with his bank.

Mr Adegbulugbe was recalled to the commission to produce documents on the bank accounts of Gambia National Petroleum Corporation.

He disclosed that the dalasi account was opened in 2012 and at the time of the opening the signatories were Teneng Ba Jaiteh, Momodou OS Badjie and Fafa Sanyang (current Energy Minister). According to him the shareholders of GNPC are the Gambia Government 80%, NAWEC 10% GAMTEL 4%, GIA 3% and GPA 3% and is as per the memorandum of association.

He further produced the account opening information with respect to the dalasi account and statements of accounts from 1st January, 2012 to 21st August 2017.

Account opening information and statements of accounts were admitted as evidence. He said one US dollar account was opened at first and that the second one was opened on the 30th May, 2012 with the same signatories as the dalasi account.

However, he said on the 13th August, 2013, the bank received a letter instructing the change of signatories to ex- President Jammeh and Momodou Saballly and the change was effective the next day.

Mr. Adegbulugbe further testified that at the time of changing the signatories the balance in the account was $4, 215, 329.28.

While giving evidence on the withdrawals that were made on the second dollar account number 1770031538 the witness disclosed that a cash withdrawal of $650,000 was done by Momodou Sabally on the 14th of August 2013 and on the 16th of August of the same year, Sabally withdrew the sum $150,000.

He adduced that there was another cash withdrawals of $650,000 on the 20th August, 2015 by Madun Sanyang. There was another withdrawal of $450,000 and $100,000 by Madun Sanyang again. On the 23rd of September, 2013, the bank received instructions from Office of the President (OP) signed by Momodou Sabally and the ex-President to the transfer of the sum of $224, 900 from this dollar account to the Organization of Islamic Corporation (OIC).

According to Skye Bank boss there was another withdrawal of $200,000 in December by one Sanna Jarjue; adding that the sum of $77,288 was debited in July 2015 to BPI Tourism and Services.

He highlighted among other transfers made to individuals like Teneng Camara, Ahmed Gitteh and Sheikh Omar Bittaye as tuition fees and stipends among other enterprises from this account.

Former Managing Director of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporations GNPC, Momodou OS Badjie has said that the corporation spent over D600,000 to purchased 11 air tickets for the late Jamaican Musician Frankie Paul Dance Band.

Badjie made these revelations before the commission of inquiry set up to look into the financial activities of the former President Yahya Jammeh and his close associates at the Djembe Beach Hotel, Kololi.

According to Mr. Badjie, the said directive came from the Office of the former president which he said was paid without delay.

The former GNPC Managing Director told the commission that they are a public enterprise owned by the government before changing into a corporations as it was a registered company.

Former Managing Director Badjie admitted to the commission receiving directives from the former President Yahya Jammeh. He revealed several requests from the Office of the President to provide $1 Million and $45, 300 to the President Empowerment for Girls Education Project PEGEP in 2006 respectively. He also mentioned a $20, 000 to the Office of the President plus $303, 000 to Calabasas, California, saying he does not know the purpose.

Badjie further revealed another sum of D10 Million to Dr. Njogu L. Bah, former Secretary General for the rehabilitation of the prisons in 2012.

“I don’t know whether the money was spent on the prisons rehabilitation,” Former MD Badjie said.

Badjie said he could not recall who the Director of Prisons was at that time.

He made mentioned of another directive from the Office of the President to provide a sum of $500, 000 handed over to Momodou Sabally, former Secretary General and Nuha Touray, former Secretary to Cabinet. He said the duo have signed for the money. He added that the documents could be traced at the office.

“We asked the Office of the President to allow us monies recovered from the companies dealing with oil as grants,” Badjie disclosed.

He was questioned about the said recoveries from companies which he explained as rentals, prospective licenses, sales of data and bonuses among others.

“The President gave directives to hand over all the accounts of funds from 2013,” he asserted.

Badjie disclosed to the commission names of banks they had accounts at including Guaranty Trust Bank, Trust Bank and Skye Bank among others, saying a sum of $7.3 Million was the total balance handed over to the Office of the President in 2016. The signatories to the dollars accounts were changed to the former President Jammeh and Secretary Generals at different times, he added. He told the commission that from that time they no longer had control over the the revenues coming to the said accounts.

“The Petroleum House was built by our resources with nine fuel stations in the country,” Badjie told the commission.

The financial activities of GNPC as transfers, withdrawals, prison rehabilitations and other relating documents were admitted and marked as exhibits.

The next witness was Mr. Ousman Jobarteh, the Deputy Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority. He confirmed the former president Yahya Jammeh’s financial activities with the country’s port authority. He mentioned some outstanding money owing to them.

Jobarteh spoke about the ports spending on the Kanilai Cultural Arena at the Kanilai Village. He also mentioned about an outstanding balance of D6.9 Million.

Meanwhile, the deputy Managing Director of the Port Authority was ordered to reappear before the commission Wednesday morning, August 30.

By Yunus S Saliu

Tourism one of the sectors that has steadily contributed to the growth of the Destination Gambia GDP for some decades was seriously hampered during the last 2016/2017 Winter Tourism Season due to the unexpected political circumstances in the destination.

Adama Njie, Director of Marketing Gambia Tourism Board in a brief interview stated that the last season, at the beginning was very promising but the political situation the country faced hampered the season.

“As we are all aware,” he said, “the first quarter of the season was very poor, of course, many flights were cancelled as almost all the major charter flights repatriated their guest back to their respective markets (destination.)”

He noted that if it wasn’t the political impasse the country’s tourism should have been in a very strong position but nonetheless it was actually beyond everyone.

Njie explained that during the last season they were having an average of about 25 flights a week which excluded the interruption of the political impasse. But in the upcoming 2017/2018 Winter Season, “we are hoping to get good season compare to the last season in particular that the country has gained a very democratic system because it will give the destination a stronger footing.

He however expressed optimism of the GTboard and other stakeholders in the upcoming 2017/2018 Winter Tourism season as he disclosed that “in 2016 many things were happening then that many investors interested in the country were sceptical but such environment is past now and the board and other stakeholders are very optimistic about the upcoming season.”Without fear, he said tourists will like to return to destination Gambia especially that everything has gone back to normal.

He went further to say that the major tour operators like Thomas, Gambia Experience among others are all coming back and the signs they getting from the booking are very impressive.

Tourism, he reiterated, is key to the development of any country particularly The Gmabia and GTBoard, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture or the tourism fraternity cannot do it all alone because it is everybody’s business “but if we all work together for better Gambia we will see a different tourism image to the Smiling Coast.”

By Fatou Sowe

“Maligam was under investigation at the NIA so I do not have any documents on Maligam.” Ansumana Jammeh, owner of Maligam said to the commission of inquiry.

He was initially asked to bring in numerous documents on the several companies he mentioned last week. During Monday’s proceedings, Ansumana brought with him the annual bank statement of transactions of the Patriot Insurance Brokers from the 31st December 2015 to 31st December 2016.

However, he failed to bring the documents regarding the Royal Africa Capital Holdings on reasons that his request was refused because he is a minority shareholder. He then produced a letter written and signed by one Prince Ebrima Sanyang saying that he cannot get the documents unless the commission writes to request for the documents.

Maligam he said was under investigation with regard to its financial transactions as a result of which he was taken to mile two prisons.

“I was charged and taken to the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on allegations of financial misappropriation. I was prosecuted and convicted in 2016 and later pardoned by the president.”

He said he was the Gambian ambassador to Qatar for 6 years and that he was there with M S Njie who was the deputy ambassador also responsible for the finances.

He revealed that he does not recollect any $4 million Grant to the Gambia. When asked by counsel Amie Bensouda about what benefits the Gambia gained during the 6 years he served as ambassador, Jammeh said many Gambians went to Qatar and got employed and they are still there and it was during that time that the Qatari government appointed an ambassador to the Gambia.

He said that APAM and the Patriot Insurance Brokers companies were operating in the same office at the Standard Chartered House in Fajara which he believes was owned by the Former President.

Lawyer Surahata Janneh, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry has told Dr. Njogu Bah, former Secretary General to name any of the close associates of the former President Yahya Jammeh to the commission.

The former Secretary General when asked to name any close associate of the former president kept quiet for a moment before suggesting to the chairman of the commission to rephrase the question. The chairman refused to rephrase the question, saying he only asked a simple question. He repeated the question again.

“I did not ask any legal jargon,” Chairman Surahata Janneh said.

Former Secretary General Bah smiled at the chairman of the commission of inquiry who asked him about the reason for his smile saying, the commission is very serious about things but the witness said he was smiling at his own dilemma.

Chairman Janneh then questioned him about the reason for his dilemma while reminding him to tell the truth as he was sworn before the commission.

“Who do you know who were frequent or close associates of the former president during the time you were Secretary General,” Chairman Janneh repeated.

The former Secretary General appealed to the commission to allow him to refresh his mind before his next appearance.

Meanwhile, he was ordered to come to the Secretariat tomorrow relating to files from the office of the president.

By Omar Wally