By now you have had first hand experience of the farmers and grassroots pressing needs. Even though, the demands varied from one village to the other, one or two featured prominently in most places: water, electricity and good road networks. It was reassuring to hear that your government has entered a contract with the Chinese to the Basse-Pasamass road and other provincial road networks. Perhaps, I have missed your take on the request for regular and affordable electricity supply. Many are asserting NAWEC generators are old and not fit to be displayed in a meseum while others are resting the annoying power and water cuts on lack of fuel to run the bedridden generators. Whatever the reason, it is an open irrefutable secret that some NAWEC staff enjoy uninterrupted supply of water and electricity free of charge. Mr President please don’t tell me you are not aware of it. Yes, the co-operation has in the past struggled to recovery dues government owes to it but does that excuse the poor management and services? What is your government doing to arrest this deplorable situation?

Aha, Uncle Sidi Sanneh raised a pertinent question: “Can you afford to throw the baby with the bath water?” I don’t think any sane person would enjoy that act more especially a loving and caring parent. My only inference here is how Uncle Sidi felt your government is treating those who stood by and fought with you when the dictator manifested ownership of the Gambia and his unwillingness to handover power. Of course, no particular person or group of people can single handedly claim ownership of the victory against the repressive Jammeh regime except if that person is harvesting apples on an orange tree. Many in the diaspora felt marginalised particularly when they see people who were cosy with the dictator wine and dine with you as if there was no yesterday. Many of those who feel betrayed actually aren’t scavenging for posting but appreciation and recognition. Others a simple “Thank you” is enough which you did whereas a few just want their opinions sought in certain aspects they hold dear in their hearts. I guess that isn’t much to ask for. Naturally whatever is successful will surely have an owner. In other words, some of these cosy with you now claiming closeness and loyalty to you while they were standing afar watching you with disgust when you needed allies most.

The Jammeh farms and zoo in Kanilai. Has your government thought of what to do with them? It would be a disservice to Gambians if the farms, zoo and infrastructure in Kanilai are left to crumble in ruin. I heard the Minister of Agriculture intimating that some of the farms unlawfully acquired by the dictator will be returned to their rightful owners. Bravo. I believe the government and people of the Gambia can benefit greatly if those assets are properly managed by the state. The zoo, for instance, is a good fund generator through tourism and the farms. The can equally be outlets for employment. The buildings can be either used as University campus and/or science lab for agriculture. Kanilai is a gold mine if properly managed.

Hon Omar Jallow said he has no asset to declare because he has given all to his children. He further asserted he never wanted a bank account after his previous was frozen and now one of his children is designated authority for his salaried account. I find that dodgy and a cover up for illegal accumulated wealth. This rekindled the urgent need for the President and his cabinet to come clean in declaring their worth for accountability and transparency. Who knows how many cheques have past under diner and lunch tables. Are they cashed in sibling’s accounts to erase any tracks?

Sulayman Jeng
Birmingham, UK

By Musa Jeng

It is indeed a very strategic move for most political parties to hunker down and try to consolidate power, in order to be able to govern and pursue the very platform of the party. As I continue to discuss this theme with friends, we begin to recognize that consolidation of power can also become a scalpel capable of performing an abortion to a democracy in its early trimester. Interesting analogy I retorted, and maybe we need to flesh out where we are going with this.

 
In the early part of the Jammeh regime, APRC consciously engaged the citizens basically making pronouncements that people wanted to hear, but also understood their initial success could be based on to inherit the legacy of the previous government, notwithstanding what they thought of the PPP. Clearly, the very change that was being sold to the citizen had nothing to do with building democracy but rather to replace the Govt, and its success starts with consolidating power. July twenty second movement became the vehicle that was used, and they started to put in their own Governors, chiefs, Alkalos, village elders and opinion leaders within Yai compins. Interestingly, most of these people were recycles from the PPP and neither side had a problem with their new relationship. The APRC saw them as a means to consolidate power, and to these new hires it was a matter of survival. The only loser was the opportunity to build a viable democracy that could have given the Gambia a new start for better lives of its citizen.

 
Hmn, is history really repeating itself? Are the political parties of the day much more interested in inheriting the APRC structures all over the country as a way of consolidating power? Are they interested in wooing business elites from the APRC regime as a source of funding to consolidate their grip to power? The jury is still out on some of these questions and concerns, but the jockeying and the positioning from some of these parties is beginning to look like the movie we have seen before.

 
Of course, political realities dictate that all political parties will engage in expanding structures and support base, but looking at the journey we have taken, the sacrifice of people and the battle that have been waged, we cannot overlook the raison d’etre of the struggle. Some of these local opinion leaders that are being recruited all over the country, for twenty-two years were the same people very much willing and supporting the killings of their countrymen and neighbors; business and political elites willing to look the other way whilst their countrymen were being killed, maimed, tortured and deprived of their economic survival as a means of punishment.

To the parties I say, as you ponder to come up with strategies to consolidate, I would like you to remember few people: Deyda Hydara did not pay the ultimate price so that you can consolidate; Solo Sandeng did not pay the ultimate price yelling electoral reforms just so that you can consolidate; young school children never had the opportunity to get married or have their your own children, and now you are busy recruiting the very people that supported the ending of their lives so that you can consolidate; and entire civil service with their pensions and families destroyed by sending them to become refugees, and you reaching out to the very people who supported them so that you can consolidate.

In conclusion, anyone who was part of this struggle and really expected to be compensated with the spoils of war, either never understood what this fight was about, or saw this as a means to an end. But on the same token, any political party that conveniently adopted a strategy to recruit people who were very much part of subjugation of our people, just because consolidation is the most important thing, without a doubt ignores the sacrifices of the people. The fight and the sacrifice was always about change, and the opportunity for a new dispensation so that all our citizens can have the opportunity for a better live. It will be a very sad day that all of this come down to taking care of our own, and again to consolidate so that we can continue to take care of our own… I really hope not

By Madi Jobarteh

Indeed sooner than later it will be clear to all and sundry how Yaya Jammeh and APRC took liberty with the lives of Gambians. Humanity will not believe that indeed here is a society in which one minority group of her citizens just decided to rape, beat, torture and kill their fellow citizens for nothing. In contravention of our laws and the sacred norms of our culture and religions these minority citizens blatantly, without conscience or fear of God just wreaked havoc on their families and neighbours as if they are not Gambians.

 
It shall be said how could a person love power and privileges to the point that such a person could be prepared to sacrifice his or her fellow human beings. Yet this was what Yaya Jammeh did and aided and abetted by his cabinet ministers led by Isatou Njie Saidy and NAMs led by Fabakary Tombong Jatta with men like Yankuba Colley among many others over the past 22 bloody years. As they plunder and pillage, there are 30% of fellow Gambians who blindly stood with them as Yaye Compins, youth and women leaders, chiefs, alkalolu and imams in our villages and towns. Not the fear of Allah, not the love of country, not even our family ties and close-knit community and good neighbourliness were enough to restrain them from unleashing carnage on their fellow human beings with whom they share the Gambia.
To imagine that the Gambia would have among its citizens a few who would have the ability without fear or shame to abuse their office to rape a Gambian woman is a story future generations would not believe. To even imagine that a few Gambians would have the audacity to arrest and then kill a fellow Gambian and then throw the body to crocodiles or in abandoned wells or bury them like dogs just to serve one man will be a scar on the conscience of our nation till the end of time.

 
The Gambia is one big family literally. Yet how could we have among us a group which could totally disregard the deep social relationships and cultural connections we share but to inflict such atrocities that even the colonialists did not commit? The British came to dominate and exploit our resources and labour. In that campaign they oppressed with laws and institutions. They stole our money and denied us services with violence. But the British did not just go on the rampage to rape and torture and kill women and children and any adult Gambians for free. Yet even if they did we do not expect anything good from colonialism which is a crime against humanity. We never invited the Europeans to come to the Gambia in the first place and we never voted for them and of course they were no citizens.

 
But Yaya Jammeh and APRC are citizens. Our people welcomed AFPRC in 1994 and never resisted them. Our people voted for Yaya Jammeh and APRC since 1996. Our people gave them support and cooperation. Anytime Yaya Jammeh and APRC called the people answered in their thousands. Yet to imagine that this Yaya Jammeh and APRC will pay back the goodness and hospitality of our people with death and destruction is indeed betrayal of the highest level.

 
Yaya Jammeh did not only steal our money and but also denied us quality services just like the colonialists. This is inexcusable. Unlike the colonialists, Yaya Jammeh and APRC went further to rape and kill Gambian women and children and adults just to stay in power. This is indeed inexcusable, unacceptable, unforgivable and unforgettable.

 
After all this to now see a normal Gambian man or woman claim he or she supports APRC is indeed shameful and disheartening. Yet there are still Gambians who proclaim Yaya Jammeh as a leader who deserves respect and worthy of their affection. How? Why? Is it ignorance or is it dishonesty or is it both?
In Germany, folks are ashamed of Hitler. In Uganda, folks are ashamed of Idi Amin. In Cambodia , folks are ashamed of Pol Pot. Even in Nigeria, folks are ashamed of Abacha. Yet in the Gambia there are folks who are still proud of Yaya Jammeh after having raped and killed and looted and pillaged the Gambia.
They do not care that in this Gambia some mothers have not seen their sons since the NIA arrested them many years ago. They do not care that there are mothers who have been raped and weeping silently to themselves everyday. They do not care that there are wives who lost their husbands at the hands of Yaya Jammeh. They do not care that in this Gambia there are children in wheelchairs because Yaya Jammeh ordered soldiers soldiers to shoot them. They do not care that in this Gambia there are many men who have been made impotent because of torture at the NIA and Mile 2 and other torture centres. They do not care that there are some Gambians who died and were buried abroad because Yaya Jammh refused to allow their body to be buried in their home country. The list goes on….
Yet there are Gambians who support this National Disgrace called APRC.

God Bless The Gambia

Recent pronouncements from President Barrow and the Coalition leaders should be
encouraging to people seeking justice and accountability for the April 10 and 11, 2000
Massacre. Although the new government’s foray in the parliament was disappointing to
me – because I expected them to introduce a motion to strip the former president off his
immunity to stand trial for the Massacre – the government’s ideas about commissions of
inquiries are beginning to take shape. Apparently, the government does not view these
commissions as forums where all the crimes of the Jammeh regime can be resolved
once and for all. Rather, the government seeks to use these commissions to gather
evidence that could be used in future prosecutions. In other words, the commissions
are a means to an end; and not the end themselves.

 
The reason we even have to highlight this subtle difference is because the former
regime sought to use the coroner’s inquest and commission of inquiry that looked into
the April 10 and 11, 2000 Massacre as a ploy to escape criminal liability, by pretending
that those bodies had the last word in the matter. We must not allow the reports from
the coroner’s inquest and commission of inquiry to be the final word in this saga. As I
said before, these reports are a good starting point for any future prosecution. But
because both reports avoided pinning blame on the right culprits and making
recommendations for their prosecutions, the reports’ credibility is questionable.

 
At the very least, we need to know those who are responsible for this heinous crime,
prosecute them appropriately, and redress the victims. That way, no government official
will ever think that they can partake in the cold-blooded murder of innocent children with
impunity.

 
According to President Barrow, the commissions the government plans to set up are
merely for evidence-gathering. I reiterate that the April 10 and 11 Massacre need not go
before another commission. The government already has all it needs to prosecute the
perpetrators of this crime. A perusal of the aforementioned reports should give the
government a roadmap to the relevant witnesses. All it has to do now is to come up
with a legal strategy to successfully prosecute the most culpable person, in my opinion:
former President Jammeh. I am confident that Mr. Abubacarr Tambedou, with his
experience prosecuting human rights abuses, can get the job done.

 
If it takes cutting deals with less culpable actors, so be it. Jammeh must pay. Having
said that, we must remember that Jammeh still enjoys immunity from prosecution by
virtue of the Constitution. If Jammeh were to descend onto us in the Gambia today, the
authorities must make sure that they have all the necessary legal weapons in their
arsenal to deal with him. Otherwise, they will be scrambling, or worse, they will allow
Jammeh to live in the country unscathed and ready to destabilize the government.

 
That is why, from even a purely security posture, this government needs to ensure that
once Jammeh sets foot in the country, he is arrested. As we pointed out, the April 10
and 11, 2000 Massacre is the most heinous among Jammeh’s many crimes. Not only
was this a callous crime against the most vulnerable in our society, it is also clear that
Jammeh’s role in the matter is indefensible. I also believe that not even his stalwarts in
the legislature want to be seen as people who condone mass murder. Therefore, this
crime should form the basis for any strategy to hold Jammeh accountable for his actions
while he was president.

 
As a preliminary matter, the government should introduce a motion in the parliament,
showing that it is in the public interest to remove Jammeh’s immunity so he can stand
trial for this crime. It should not be difficult to make that case. This matter has been
discussed exhaustively in the media and the Jammeh government never attempted to
deny their culpability. Once this motion is passed by a two-thirds majority in parliament,
the government will then be in a position to arrest Jammeh if he sets foot in the country
and bring him before a court of law. The parliamentary resolution will also give the
government the leeway to charge Jammeh, and when the right opportunity presents
itself, call for his extradition or try him in absentia. In my humble opinion, this is the only
way Jammeh can be held accountable for this most heinous crime in the history of the
country.

 
Taking this matter to another commission of inquiry will be a gross waste of time and
resources. Additionally, it is also not clear from my reading of the Constitution if
Jammeh can be brought into a commission against his will. Therefore, if Jammeh does
not appear before a commission, admit his crimes, repent, and seek forgiveness from
his victims, then that defeats the whole purpose of forming a commission to resolve
once and for all the crimes committed on April 10 and 11, 2000.

 
One can understand the Jammeh government, which was interested in
self-preservation, obfuscating on this matter. With the Barrow government, this is their
best opportunity to hold Jammeh accountable and also send a strong message to our
children that we value their lives and their contribution to society. Successfully
prosecuting Jammeh for this crime also conveys to the whole world that we are a
civilized society that will never tolerate the cold-blooded murder of innocent and
defenseless children.

 
Muhamad Sosseh, Esq.
Washington, DC

By Madi Jobarteh

Is there a greater crime than to threaten the life of a citizen to the point that such a citizen has no choice but to run away from his or her home? Have you ever considered how painful it is to be unable to return to your home for fear of your life? Imagine how many Gambians had to leave their children, wives, husbands and parents behind just because of one man and his regime. In their absence, many lost their loved ones yet they could not bid them farewell as required by our culture and religion. For the past 22 years, there were thousands of Gambians who have been forced to flee their country and denied to come back home because Yaya Jammeh would have them arrested, tortured or killed. Yet we were supposed to be a democratic society with laws that protect fundamental human rights and freedoms?

 
Indeed it is even difficult to figure out what has been the greatest crime Yaya Jammeh and APRC inflicted on Gambians. Is it the summary killings of tens of soldiers on November 11 falsely accused of a coup attempt? Is it the murder of numerous individuals such as Koro Ceesay, Deyda Hydara, Daba Marenah, Enor Kolley or Elo Jallow just to cover up the abuse and corruption of the APRC Tyranny and further entrench Yaya Jammeh in power? Is it the massacre of 15 unarmed children and a Red Cross volunteer just for exercising their constitutional right? Is it the enforced disappearances of Kanyiba Kanyi, Mamut Ceesay or Ebou Jobe and many others? Or is it the murder of Solo Sandeng, Solo Koroma and Lang Marong among many others? Or is it the uncountable incidents of torture of citizens and the rape of our women and girls in these past 22 years? What about the summary dismissals, incarcerations and looting of public wealth? What is Yaya Jammeh’s greatest crime?

 
It is established in law that no person should be stateless. Section 8 of our Constitution established the citizenship of each and every Gambia. Section 25 subsection 2 gives the right to every Gambian citizen to move freely within the Gambia and to choose to reside in any part of the Gambia. Subsection 3 went further to state that every Gambia has a right to leave and return to the Gambia. Above all, Section 1 subsection 2 of the Constitution established that the sovereignty of the Gambia resides in each and every citizen of the Gambia. Hence no Gambia must ever be forced to flee or be refused to come back to the Gambia because that is an inalienable right.

 
Yet in the past 22 years, we have seen how one single citizen called Yaya Jammeh made thousands of Gambians homeless and stateless by either forcing them to run away or not allowed to return to their country of birth. And then we had these APRC parliamentarians fail to stand with their fellow citizens to defend and protect our citizenship. They watched and stood with Yaya Jammeh as Gambia’s sons and daughters were separated from their children, fathers, mothers, wives and husbands just because of one man! APRC NAMs defended Yaya Jammeh to even deny dead Gambian bodies to be returned to their motherland to at least get a peaceful resting place at home. What could be more immoral than to deny a person a home even in death?

 
Not only had Yaya Jammeh directly sent Gambian sons and daughters out of their homes and never to return, but he also indirectly banished thousands more of our youth to their death in the wilderness. Due to his brutal misrule and gross mismanagement of our economy, Yaya Jammeh forced a life of homelessness on our youth who could find no opportunities at home. Consequently thousands of young souls could not but flee across the Sahara and the Mediterranean in search of better lives only to perish in foreign lands. Yet there are Gambians today such as Yankuba Colley who claim that Yaya Jammeh deserves respect.

 
Had Yankuba Colley’s son starved to death in the Sahara Desert? Did Yankuba Colley’s daughter drown in the Mediterranean? Was Yankuba Colley’s brother ever forced to flee and never to return to the Gambia? Was Yankuba Colley’s sister ever been raped by the Junglers? Was Yankuba Colley’s father been beaten up as Yaya Jammeh’s thugs beat up Imam Baba Leigh or Imam Hydara or Imam Bakawsu? Yet Yankuba Colley and his ilk could stand in front of Gambians to tell them to respect Yaya Jammeh and support APRC.

 
If indeed Yaya Jammeh and APRC were right, why would Yaya Jammeh reluctantly leave the Gambia to go into exile? If any Gambian holds that the APRC was right, why do we have a death squad called the Junglers? If APRC was right, why were Gambians tortured and summarily executed consistently since 1994 by the NIA and the Junglers? Why should anyone respect Yaya Jammeh when his government killed unarmed and defenseless children of the nation? Could such a leader and his government deserve respect anywhere in the world? Could APRC supporters ask themselves whether it was right for Yaya Jammeh to butcher 50 West Africans to death after already arresting them alive? Which decent Gambian would respect a leader who steals public money and personalizes public properties throughout the whole country?

 
The fact that Gambia’s sons and daughters are coming home in droves today after years of exile is a clear testimony that Yaya Jammeh was brutal and criminal who deserves no iota of respect. When there is respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law, which citizen would therefore flee his or her country even if you are accused of a crime? The fact that citizens had to flee and never to return was a clear testimony that there was a regime in place that never respected human rights and its own constitution. It tells the fact that Yaya Jammeh was a violator who ruled the country with violence in impunity. That culture of impunity was imposed on us and perpetuated by Yaya Jammeh because APRC NAMs betrayed Gambians at her most painful moment.

 
A home is a birthright. Yet Yaya Jammeh and APRC denied Gambians their birthright. Who therefore would stand for or vote for APRC?

God Bless The Gambia.

Thank you Mr President for not only listening but acting on popular demand to remain impartial during your nationwide tour as it coincides with the NAM political campaign. I have always maintained the best among leaders is he who alerts and avails himself to his people’s needs. It is not disreputable to be alleged of malpractices but been found wanton of blatant maladroitness is detestable and bad leadership. I am not holding brief for you but it is emboldening to see you align yourself with popular demand.

 
The task of rebuilding a broken, impoverish and bleeding nation is daunting and titanic yet your government must deliver despite being saddled with Goliardic challenges. The political impasse coupled with few missed opportunities and procedural legal blunders had also made delivery of visual progress difficult. Thus, some tested what your government can point at as a manifestation of its achievement since assuming office. If such sceptics are scouting for physical development such as bridges, roads and an airport for Jarra, their bad, such aren’t available. Notwithstanding, successes had been and will continue to be registered. One which quickly springs to mind is a leadership which listens and takes on board its people’s demands. This is followed by the much sought electoral reform which slashed the draconian fees curtailing candidates’ ability to vie for political representation. Additionally, most of the cabinet and other department heads appointments were acclaimed as fitting. However, care and due diligence must be taken to cement these accomplishments with the appointing of a Vice President, introduction of a two-term limit for the presidency, setting of commissions of inquiries to look into truth and reconciliation, asserts of Yaya Jammeh, independent audit of state accounts including all line ministries, thorough reformation of the security services and drawing a sustainable government blueprint which will not only mend broken hearts but rejuvenates the economy, entrenches democracy and usher in sustainable development.

 
Like Jammeh was admonished, you must also appreciate a state is not administered like a corner shop and/or family affairs. Therefore, to snub popular demand to appoint a Vice President, albeit many are accentuating that there is no constitutional time frame stipulation for its appointment, insinuates an underworld selfish motive. Conversely, Abdou Jallow depicted his annoyance by mirroring the concern of many Gambians: “A government that doesn’t respond to the needs and wishes of its people is soon bound to degenerate into a dictatorship. Meanwhile, the seat of the Vice President is still deliberately left vacant whilst the appointment of political hacks as ambassadors-At-Large proliferate every facet of this coalition government. Our fight wasn’t about disposing a kleptocratic regime only to have it replaced with a leadership that is deaf, dumb and blind to our realities. History is keenly watching and nobody can take Gambians for granted again”.

 
The UDP has recently being subjected under plethora of attempts to throw it under the bus as a result of its surrogates’ malign tribal and profane politicking. Despite many believing such uncultured views are not representative of the party, it has disfigured its image in many quarters. Yanks Darboe’s admittance on Gainako Radio that UDP needs to appoint a spokesperson who will be speaking on behalf of the party has reassured many that the party actually isn’t synonymous to its surrogates and self-anointed spokespersons crude images. For some also to suggest it is not only the UDP that is guilty as charge and go further to fault others is not helpful. What UDP should concern itself is righting the wrongs committed by its surrogates and carrying out rigorous public relation campaign to revamp its tainted image. Yes, it is the biggest party but that alone doesn’t ascertain victory. The electorates’ trust and confidence must be rekindled to translate the numbers into votes for the party.

 
I am not a legal luminary but I don’t have to live in Dakar either to know Macky Sall is the President of Senegal. For instance if “a gentleman’s agreement” contravenes laws of a land, should the agreement or contract supersede the law? Similarly, if the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which gave birth to the Coalition 2016 stipulates when its Independent leader wins the presidential election s/he will only serve a 3 years term and the Gambian constitution mandates a 5 years term, should President Barrow honour his MOU agreement and disregard the constitution’s stipulation? Ok for the sake of argument, Barrow agrees to resign after three years there won’t be any presidential election unless the constitution is rectify to create a provision for a fresh presidential election as the constitution abundantly states in such an event the Speaker of the National Assembly assumes the presidential post for the rest of the remaining term. In sum s/he becomes president to the remaining two (2) years of the five (5) years term. Since Pata PJ and I agreed I have lost my marbles, can someone please help me with the logic of President Barrow resigning after 3 years just to allow the Speaker to complete his remaining 2 years as president? Furthermore, will the National Assembly which is not a baby of the MOU be also dissolve as our constitution requires a NAM election 3 months after the presidential? Just asking.

Sulayman Jeng
Birmingham, UK