By: Alagie Cherno Suwareh

In interviews conducted with Gambian students studying in more than five countries, including Morocco, China, Russia, Turkey, and India, The Fatu Network discovered that the annual stipends they receive are insufficient to cover their living expenses in these foreign countries.

Gambian students studying in Morocco reported receiving $900.00 annually for those residing on campus and $1,200.00 for those living off-campus. Meanwhile, students in Russia receive only $400.00 per year, and those in India, China, and Turkey receive a meager $300.00 annually.

One student in India expressed their frustration, stating, “It’s embarrassing that what we receive annually is equivalent to what students from other African countries receive monthly.” They pointed out that students from Uganda and Mozambique, for instance, receive between $100.00 and $360.00 per month, a stark contrast to the $300.00 per year provided to Gambian students. In Russia, Angolan students receive $420.00 for BSc, $630.00 for Masters, and $1000.00 for PhD programs, all on a monthly basis, in addition to their institutional stipends, while Gambian students receive only $400 per annum.

The Fatu Network visited The Gambia Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Science (MoHERST) to gather facts and met with the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yusupha Touray.

Dr Touray clarified that “what the students receive is not a stipend but a top-up.” He explained that the stipends primarily come from their respective universities, thanks to partnerships between the Ministry and these higher education institutions. For instance, students in Morocco receive their monthly stipends from AMCI, while those in India receive theirs from ICCR. The Ministry provides a top-up to these students, and Dr Touray suggested that the students should convey this information to The Fatu Network. He noted that non-civil servant students studying in these countries, who don’t receive stipends from the host nations, receive approximately $500.00 per month. Dr Touray acknowledged that the stipend rates have remained unchanged for an extended period and emphasized the need for a review.

The Permanent Secretary assured that the Ministry is actively addressing the situation and working to make improvements, with the aim of achieving more favorable outcomes for the students. He mentioned ongoing reviews of the current scholarship policy documents and plans to enhance pre-departure orientation for students while also strengthening the relationship between students and the government.

Dr Touray urged the students to exercise patience and engage in dialogue when addressing their challenges, emphasizing the importance of character development alongside qualifications in their future careers. He regarded the students as part of the family and suggested that in the field of education, it’s crucial to navigate challenges without unnecessarily blaming the system.

“I see them as family, but in education, it’s not just about qualifications; character too is required to fit in their future workplaces. Sometimes, things do not go our way. This does not mean we have to take advantage of the situation and blame the system unnecessarily,” Dr Touray said.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Honorable Omar Ceesay, the former National Assembly Member representing Niamina East Constituency, has underscored the importance of term limits in contemporary politics. He proposes and hopes that the Gambian leadership incorporates term limits into the country’s constitution.

“In the case of The Gambia, President Adama Barrow should consider reintroducing the well-known draft constitution before lawmakers,” he suggested.

Furthermore, he stated that if the draft constitution cannot be reintroduced, a specific bill should be presented to lawmakers before the upcoming presidential election in 2026 to restrict any future president, including President Barrow, from serving more than two terms of five years each.

“My generation would view it as a potential coup d’état if one person remains in power for more than two terms without demonstrating substantial achievements,” Hon. Ceesay conveyed to The Fatu Network.

He emphasized that term limits are a crucial component of any democracy, asserting that their inclusion in the political system would hold national significance in preventing the emergence of another dictatorship or potential political conflicts.

By: Alagie Cherno Suwareh

A group of women from the Bundung Six-Junction area recently visited their National Assembly Member, Mr. Sulayman Jammeh, to express their dissatisfaction with the ongoing water crisis in their community.

In a move that appears to be more of a plea than a protest, they conveyed their frustration, as NAWEC (National Water and Electricity Company) has yet to provide a satisfactory response or effectively resolve the water crisis that has persisted for many years.

The representative of the women stated, “We simply don’t have access to water, and yet they continue to send us water bills every month. How can they expect us to pay for a service we are not receiving?”

Another woman shared the hardship they’ve endured due to the water shortage, saying, “We’ve been grappling with this water crisis for over two decades. I have to wake up my children early every morning to fetch water, which makes me late for work. Sometimes, we don’t even have enough water to drink, and some of our women have fallen ill as a result.” She pledged to their NAM to seek answers from NAWEC before September 27, 2023, when they plan to mobilize the entire Bundung community in their cause.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Old Yundum Constituency is undoubtedly one of the many urban communities grappling with poorly maintained roads, which have been causing traffic disturbances and thereby affecting the daily activities of road users.

Honorable Abdoulie Ceesay, the National Assembly Member representing the constituency, has decried the state of the roads in his constituency. He mentioned that they have reached an unacceptable level, causing distress and inconvenience to the constituents.

He called upon both the local and central governments to collaborate and address the ongoing road problems.

“The state of our roads has reached an unacceptable level, causing significant distress and inconveniences to the people we serve. It is now imperative for both the local and central governments to join hands and take immediate action to rectify this ongoing issue,” he stated.

He also added that several roads in his constituency are becoming inaccessible due to their current conditions: “They impact citizens’ everyday lives and hinder the economic growth of the constituents.”

To ensure a swift solution to this ongoing road network problem in his constituency, Honorable Ceesay urged the newly elected councilors in his area to join forces. He noted that his office would engage the National Roads Authority (NRA) for possible intervention as quickly as possible.

While the rain has affected many roads within the Greater Banjul Area, Hon. Ceesay emphasized that residents of the Old Yundum Constituency have endured for far too long with roads that are crumbling, riddled with potholes, and deteriorating at an alarming rate.

By: Dawda Baldeh

Momodou Mc Cham Junior, the newly appointed councilor for Business and Tailoring in Kanifing Municipality, has taken the initiative to establish a committee aimed at addressing challenges and devising strategies to facilitate smoother business operations within the municipality.

Cham, who was sworn in last month, believes that the establishment of this committee will significantly contribute to resolving issues faced by businesses and tailors in the area.

“As the newly nominated KMC Councilor for Business and Tailoring, I have established a committee and we’re excited to have our first meeting today. The committee comprise of dedicated personnels with verse understanding of the business and tailoring sector,” he announced.

He further elaborated that the committee’s dedication is geared towards enhancing service delivery to the residents of Kanifing Municipality.

Cham’s nomination to represent Business and Tailoring in the municipality was made by Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda of Kanifing Municipality.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) Public Relations Officer, Ousman Saidybah, has stated that they have made significant progress in combating the use, trafficking, and distribution of illicit drugs in The Gambia.

Mr. Saidybah was speaking to The Fatu Network on Sunday August 27 on the agency’s achievements, challenges, and way forward in their drive to make the country a drug-free destination. He confirmed making significant progress on both supply suppression and demand reduction of illicit drugs.

“We have disrupted illicit trafficking of controlled drugs through the postal services. One of our single biggest seizures was more than eleven thousand pills through the post office,” he explained.

He disclosed that they’ve effected other seizures of more than two hundred pills and also napped several individuals involved in such dealings.

Saidybah cited the post office as one of the means drug traffickers used to bring illicit drugs into the country.

He went on to say they have destroyed farms around border areas that were involved in the cultivation of cannabis and supplying the local markets.

Saidybah further spoke on their advocacy programs such as the establishment of drug-free clubs in different schools, community outreach, and radio programs to sensitize people on the negative impact of drugs.

Outlining their concerns and challenges, DLEAG said that combating drug trafficking, use, and distribution is a global challenge that needs concerted efforts.

To ensure the agency succeeds in the process of combating illicit drugs, Saidybah cited information sharing as key for them to perform their duties effectively.

“We need information to perform our duties effectively and take necessary actions. People need to share information but sometimes information is not forthcoming. Those in isolated areas also need to be very vigilant about the happenings within their surroundings and share such information with the agency,” emphasized.

Despite global efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of drugs which remains the most lucrative form of illicit trade, the agency spokesperson said much community support is needed, from logistical support, mobility, and financing, as the government cannot do it alone.

“We can make significant progress if we work together. Drugs are being abused in our settlements by our children. It is not only about enforcement and arresting but communities can come together and take affirmative actions against drugs too,” he added.

Speaking on the way forward for the safety of the agency and its members, Saidybah revealed that plans are underway to revise the Drug Control Act to put in provisions that will protect its officers.

“Fighting drugs is the most persistent phenomenon and is a dangerous trade because you go after people who under the influence of drugs can do anything,” he lamented.

He emphasized that the agency officials are always advised to use minimal force when effecting arrest which must be within the frame of the law so that they cannot abuse the law in the process of enforcing it.

By: Seringe ST Touray

Reports from the Spanish newspaper EL PAÍS shed light on a concerning trend involving large sums of money being transported from across Europe to The Gambia by immigrants, triggering the attention of Spanish immigration authorities.

While passengers claiming that these funds are intended for their families in their home country tells one side of the story, investigators are increasingly suspicious that this travel route might be exploited by criminal organizations engaged in money laundering.

Any traveler carrying more than €10,000 in cash is required to declare it to customs. Interestingly, official data reveals that The Gambia ranks as the primary destination for outgoing currency from Spain. 2019 even marked a new record, with 2,179 Gambian passengers collectively moving €73.4 million out of Spain within a single year, as documented by customs sources.

The scope of this issue goes beyond mere financial movements. “International organizations that fight money laundering also believe that The Gambia is a high-risk country in terms of drug and medication smuggling, arms trafficking, etc.,” reports EL PAÍS.

Digging deeper into the matter, investigators looking into the currency flow between Spain and The Gambia suspect the existence of a sophisticated criminal network systematically exporting funds potentially derived from unlawful activities. This assertion comes from a senior official at the Tax Agency, the revenue service of Spain, who shared insights with the newspaper.

By: Dawda Baldeh

The Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), Cadet ASP Muhammed Y. Darboe, relayed to The Fatu Network that a 20-year-old named Sulayman Cham, residing in Busumbala, is currently held in detention due to an alleged theft incident that took place on Saturday, August 26th, 2023, in Busumbala.

In a conversation with The Fatu Network, the Deputy PRO of the police revealed that the reported theft incident was brought to their attention by Dodou Ceesay, a 50-year-old individual living in Busumbala. Ceesay’s shop had been unlawfully entered, resulting in the theft of various items, including boxes containing mobile phones, among other belongings.

“The incident was reported by one Doudou Ceesay, a resident of Busumbala, who said his shop was broken into with three laptops and mobile phones stolen. He suspected one Sulayman Cham, a 20-year-old resident of Busumbala who was found loitering around the scene of the incident,” the police Deputy PRO told us.

The police provided further information, stating that three boxes containing mobile phones were discovered close to where the suspect was arrested. Subsequently, the suspect was taken to the station by the patrol team.

“The first box contains 23 laptops, 3 tablets, and a mouse. The second box contains 213 mobile phones, while the third box contains 157 mobile phones and 2 iPods,” the police detailed.