By Musa Bah, The Watchman

I have learnt from a very reliable source that a faceoff between the State (through the Ministry of Health) and the National Association of Gambian Nurses and Midwives is imminent. This cannot augur well for the population, especially at this challenging time of COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, every effort must be made to avert it. What is the genesis of this problem and how can it be resolved?

In May of this year, the National Association of Gambian Nurses and Midwives held a series of negotiations with the Office of the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service on the issue of the payment of their allowances (risk allowance, on-call allowance, special allowance).

The meetings bore fruit when the nurses were told to give the government time to complete computations of these allowances so it could be done properly. All parties agreed that the payments would commence in August 2021.

The Office of the Secretary General then wrote a letter to both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance authorizing them to begin paying these allowances by August 2021. In June, an email was sent to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health to remind them of the agreement. He replied the next day to say that they (MoH) were working on it.

On 24 August 2021, the Ministry of Health sent a letter to the National Association of Gambian Nurses and Midwives requesting another grace period of one month to complete the computations and pay the allowances.

I have seen a letter, which replied to that plea of MoH, rejecting this request. The reply of the nurses further pointed out that between May 11 and August 24 is 100 days, enough to do any computations had they been serious and concerned about the health of the population and welfare of the nurses.

The National Association of Gambian Nurses and Midwives is threatening to go on a sit-down strike from 1 September 2021 if their allowances are not paid by 31 August. It is fair to say that the nurses have been patient and steadfast enough and that the Ministry of Health should have made serious efforts to pay these allowances by now.

If therefore their demands are not met and they go on a strike the consequences thereof will squarely be on the shoulders of the Ministry of Health.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to justify the lack of payment of the allowances of the nurses considering the important role nurses play in the healthcare sector of the country. In fact, nurses are indispensable and anyone who has even a rudimentary understanding of healthcare delivery can understand that without nurses the entire sector will collapse leading to devastating consequences.

It has now emerged that the top echelon at the Ministry of Health seem to more concerned with how much they can earn for themselves than the welfare of nurses and the health of the population.

A report of the Malagen online newspaper published on August 27 alleges that, “… the ministry made reported excess expenditure of at least $1.2m (approx. D62.7m) and $565, 827 (approx. D28m) from the purchase and transportation of the medical items, respectively. This totals up to D90m, more than the annual budgetary allocation of ministries of information and tourism combined.”

It is not clear what really went on in that saga – or what the State will do about it -but it is evident that had the ministry been serious about the welfare of the nurses, and concerned about the Gambian population they would not have been unable to take care of these allowances. I tried reaching officials at the ministry via email but could not get any response until at the time of going to press.

That is another problem at this particular ministry, they hardly reply to email enquiries.

It will be devastating if, during these times of rising coronavirus transmissions and the alarming increase in the number of deaths being reported, the healthcare sector were to be shut down for that is what a general sit-down of the nurses will cause. Both parties are therefore urged to return to the negotiating table so that we can avoid the unnecessary loss of lives.

How riveting can it get with less than 100 days to election?

Essa Faal said he felt great when I asked him how he felt as he entered through the back door of the American International University lobby on Friday evening. It looked so.

It will take some time before some Gambians fully get what this man is trying to do here. Essa wanting to run for president is one thing that has divided opinion. The people I saw him with last night think he is the deal but one critic told me he is an opportunist. There are many more who believe he used the TRRC to launch himself to fame.

The last few months and weeks have seen a lot of Gambians express interest in becoming the country’s next leader in December but I don’t really remember anyone who has done so with so much style. But that’s typical Essa.

Yet, Essa took to that podium and declared he will win. With his expensive car collection on display and saying with confidence that he is the best out of the lot, Essa’s entrance into the political fold borders on bravado.

On Friday evening, Essa began his speech by first thanking God. He then turned to man. That is his deceased parents whom he said approved of his political endeavour and his friend James Bahoum who was initially chosen to introduce him to the nation.

But while Essa has not officially unveiled his manifesto, only the not-so-smart will not know this man’s campaign will largely be about victims of former President Yahya Jammeh.

“There is one very important issue that is very dear to my heart. For 22 years, from 1994 to 2017, Gambians suffered. There are too many victims. I would make it a crusade to ensure justice for the victims. I know it would come with a price but justice would be done,” Essa said about the victims.

Jammeh did a lot of bad things and if there is one person who can truly bring him to account, it’s Essa. I want the victims to know this.

And if APRC contingent are jittery about UDP going after Jammeh, they should reconsider their stance. Essa is the man to be worried about.

Lamin Njie is the editor-in-chief of The Fatu Network. The views expressed in this opinion piece do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Fatu Network.

By Madi Jobarteh

The passing of the Access to Information Bill by the National Assembly and its signing into law by the President marks one of the most significant democratic gains registered by the new Government since 2017. With this law, the Gambia has now joined 10 other west African countries that have all created this law. This is indeed a significant democratic achievement for which the National Assembly and the President deserve the utmost commendation. I hope the Government will waste no time but to go ahead to urgently establish the Information Commission and ensure the full implementation of the Act.

Access to Information (ATI) or Freedom Information (FOI) law, also called Sunshine Law, is one of the most instrumental tools necessary to strengthen democracy, good governance and development. It is a law that recognizes and guarantees the right of citizens to access information that is in the custody of public institutions or even private companies or entities which utilize public resources or deliver public services.

To ensure public access to information, the law requires either that public authorities proactively publish information about their activities or members of the public can request information from public authorities, or both. It is pertinent that citizens and the Government bear in mind the issue of proactive disclosure by public authorities to highlight the obligation of public institutions to share information even before citizens request such information. This is provided for in the Act.

It is important to also bear in mind that the law does not state that every information shall be disclosed or provided to citizens. Rather, it has indeed exempted certain information from disclosure so as to protect the privacy of individuals as well as protect information whose disclosure may undermine the country’s security, economy and other vital interests. The procedure for the request and disclosure of information is however quite explicit as to prevent any doubts.

Public officials particularly must be educated to better understand and appreciate the value of freedom of information law as a tool that can only enhance their professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness in delivering public services. Therefore, public officials must recognize first and foremost, that the sovereignty of the Gambia resides in the people of the Gambia; that public institutions derive their authority from the people and perform their duty for the people. This is the language of the Constitution which provides the rationale and the obligation for public institutions to enforce this law.

Secondly, public officials must know that the Government receives public resources from the taxes that citizens pay and the loans and grants it receives on behalf of the people. The Government engages with other countries in the name of, and on behalf of the people. Citizens, businesses, organizations and institutions register, apply and share information with public officials every day. From birth to death, a citizen gives a lot of personal information to public institutions. Hence public officials must know that the information generated in the course of their work does not belong to them, rather these pieces of information are public properties that must be protected, and shared with the public according to the law.

Now that there is the Access to Information Act, let all citizens familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Act, and make use of it in their own interest. The benefits of this law are that it sheds light on the work of the Government hence it is useful in preventing and combating corruption, abuse of office and poor performance by public institutions and officials. Without citizens making use of the law, it will be rendered useless.

The Act has provided for the creation of an Information Commission to oversee the enforcement of this law. It has provided that within 18 months of the coming into force of this law, public institutions should provide an operational plan to the Commission stating how they will implement this law. From the President’s Facebook page, this law came into being on 25 August 2021, hence on or before 25 February 2023, all public institutions should provide their operational plans to the Information Commission. Let’s track and monitor them.

The Access to Information Act is not for only journalists and civil society. This law is for all Gambian citizens. Let us utilize this law and make sure that the Gambia Government is open. Freedom of information is a fundamental human right that is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is one of the first rights expressed by the UN General Assembly in 1946 as necessary and instrumental for all other rights.

While we commend the Gambia Government and the National Assembly, it is now incumbent on each and every citizen to make use of the law as well as demand that public institutions re-organize themselves in order to better and fully implement this law.

For The Gambia Our Homeland

By Sariang Marong

Corruption as the name implies is an enormous obstacle to the realization of human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural, as well as the right to development. Corruption violates the core human rights principles of transparency, accountability, non-discrimination and meaningful participation in every aspect of the life of the community. Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.

For the past two years, Gambians have sounded the alarm of corruption and ineffectiveness of their government led by President Adama Barrow. Conversely an incompetent government who time over time failed to deliver on its basic obligation should be a concern to all citizens. We have seen major projects which cost taxpayers millions of dalasi’s just to find out the architecture was poorly planned as well as executed. The government procurement process was full of kickbacks and back door deals which breeds inefficient execution of project management methodology.

Corruption affects human rights both directly and indirectly, for example corruption in our government can impact the proper and efficient execution of public policy initiatives. But also contributes to an environment in which our government cannot function in carrying out its basic mandate. When many of us decided to join the fight to uproot dictatorship in the Gambia, we want a better and a prosperous Gambia where its citizens will enjoy twenty first century amenities. In hindsight, who could have thought our current situation will threaten our peace and security? Who would have thought those who have given all to salvage our country from the brink of civil war will be forgotten too soon? Who would have thought President Barrow will continue to appoint his friends and close allies who lacked the experience to function in key positions in our government? Who would have thought President Barrow will appoint four presidential advisers who lacked the necessary requisite to be advisors?

Our country needs reforms for our government to function properly, the notion that we need to proof that there is corruption in Barrow administration is laughable. The proof is in the projects they have undertaken so far; check the quality of work on the end product after millions of dalasi are spent. The upcoming Presidential elections should be an indictment of Barrow administration; from millions of taxpayer money spent on the various commissions without implementing the commission’s report! Can we ask ourselves are we better off now than four years ago? These elections should be about the future versus the status quo; a more transparent and efficient government that will serve the interest of all Gambians versus a government that serves the interest of few individuals. The elections should be about recruiting technocrats and experience professionals who understand the function of a government against an administration who filled key positions with friends and allies who cannot deliver on key government functions.

I will urge all Gambians to look beyond the idiosyncrasy of their political beliefs and vote with their conscience to effect change. Our people, our country need all of us to create a path for equality and economic prosperity. We have few months before Gambians cast their votes, reflect on those shared values; the right to a better healthcare, the right to cleaned water, the right to stable electricity, the right to better education system, and the right to equality and good governance. As I conclude this writeup; can we collectively effect change come December and fundamentally change the direction of our country for good. I believe we can for a path forward.

May God bless the Gambia and her people.

The writer, Sariang Marong (pictured below), is based in the United States. 

It’s a good day out in the political field for UDP. Getting Ramou from NPP is big, as big as Suku Singhateh leaving the party and heading the other way.

UDP have taken their revenge on NPP. And with style. Having hundreds of UDP supporters gather at Ramou’s house to escort her to Manjai just goes to show how much this means for UDP. NPP took Suku from them and they responded in kind by taking Ramou. A tit-for-tat.

The last time I spoke to Ramou, there was nothing that suggested she was having issues in the party. She only spoke about how much President Barrow respected her. The president always called her ‘sister’ – and she was even planning a big rally for the president in Sabach Sanjal. But when I listened to her swear on her deceased parents, I realised how complicated this really was.

Momodou Sabally is happy. He has been bringing a lot of people to UDP but getting his own sister onboard is perhaps his greatest contribution to this party. That’s my man, there.

Ramou joining UDP has filled UDP folks with renewed confidence. Darboe speaking at his meeting with Ramou said UDP was winning by 55% but with Ramou coming, he has just taken that up to 66%.

But while NPP is poor for Ramou’s departure, it is not big enough to deny an NPP victory. My view of this election remains the same. Even if I will be accused of being bought by NPP.

By Zakaria Kemo Konteh

Oftentimes, we call out the President for his manifest betrayal of our trust, for glaring incompetence of his administration and for his gleefully naked political ambition to seek another term in office. We do so without malice but out of concern for the country and people we love dearly. We have been short-changed big time in ways unimaginable and this makes the betrayal all the more tragic, sad and unforgivable.

The collective euphoria, hope and optimism that buoyed Barrow’s campaign and paved the way for the ouster of Yahya Jammeh, in 2016, was painfully short-lived as it dissipated under the ignominious weight of greed and hunger for power. The ensuing five (5) years has been nothing short of chaotic governance, corruption on steroid in public institutions, impunity on methamphetamine, general freezing of life-changing developments, increased wasteful spending of public resources, high cost of living and an emboldened criminal activities. Arguably, these are as a result of a President consumed in power consolidation, incapable of understanding the awesome responsibilities of the office he occupies and presiding over a government lost in its track with little or no direction, all of which come with enormous cost for Gambians.

Through various decisions, we could understand the mindset of a President solely focused on political survival even when these decisions are tangential or in direct conflict with the overwhelming national interests.

Barrow’s decision on the Janneh Commission’s Report was a text book definition of how he intended to fight corruption and mismanagement: rehire, retain, reward and elevate indicted financial criminals who have remorselessly, dishonestly shamelessly demonstrated political, ethical, legall and moral malleability.

The President’s covert collusion with some members of the National Assembly in the form of financial inducement and other underhanded political maneuvering to torpedo the people-endorsed Draft Constitution is a testament of Barrow’s zero commitment to get rid of both the colonial-era and Jammeh-era anti-democracy and anti-Gambians laws.

Through Mamburay Njie and his Supplementary Appropriation Bills, we could understand the nefarious and wasteful schemes of the sitting President to defraud Gambians in broad daylight for political purposes.

Through Bai Lamin Jobe, we could discern the willingness of President Barrow to award shady government contracts and kickback to his donors.

Through Dr. Lamin Samateh, we understand the President’s absolute lack of care and diminishing priorities for our healthcare systems which has seen recent spike of maternal and infant mortalities our hospitals.

When Gache company imported hundreds of lethal weapons into our country for private use, we realized that Barrow would go to any length to compromise National Security in order to satisfy any compensate his financiers..

And Barrow’s non-commitment towards justice and victims of the former regime’s decades long terror campaign is on full display when his NPP, in an act of political desperation, has turned to APRC for possible alliance the cornerstone of which will all but certain be about shredding of the TRRC’s findings and the potential criminal indictment of Yahya Jammeh for mass murder, torture and crime against humanity.

Thus, with these and so many other examples out there of tragic political, legal, economical and governance failures that have defined Barrow’s Presidency in the last five years, it would be a betrayal of conscience, delusional naivety, rewarding and immunization of wholesale incompetence to give him another chance in office. We should have the presence of the mind and care for the future to recognize critical danger zones and red flags in Barrow’s leadership and commit to ending it on December 4th, 2021.

Making Barrow a one termer would place him in the categories of fellow failed leaders in other nations around the world who have placed personal interests above their people’s, who have squandered historic opportunities, who have shattered the optimism of their constituents and who have failed to deliver for their country. Time to send clear, unmistakable message to our non-performing Commander-in-chief that his days in the State House are ending faster than he’d bargained for, that betraying Gambians comes with a cost and that the only thing in store for him post election is to go back to climbing his 500m Kabaa Tree in Jimara…

By Madi Jobarteh

Look at these expensive vehicles posed in front of muddied lakes in our communities as if shooting of a Hollywood action movie is about to begin. These is how politicians hoodwink and exploit their people. They keep them so impoverished, uninformed and destitute and then appear before them in shiny hardwares and in immaculate dresses as if they are not from those people.

What is President Adama Barrow trying to prove here? For over one year, public announcements and advertisements are bombarded on our radios and television about OIC coming to build 20 new roads as if that will make The Gambia look like Dubai! Yet where are the workers and equipment to build the roads? OIC summit is in November 2022 yet the construction of 20 new roads, not to mention building hotels and hospitals, are yet to start. It is less than 20 months to November 2022. Is it that in every month a new road will be constructed?

What’s the value in visiting it these roads? Is it only to dirty expensive vehicles bought with poor people’s money? These pictures should make the President ashamed to realize that the masses of our people live in these communities thanks to Government failure.

People have to be jumping like frogs amidst these lakes of mud in our streets just to avoid being stained and dirtied. People have been struggling to get to and from home because of these muddied waters because they don’t have such vehicles that the President and entourage are brandishing here like movie stars in an action thriller.

To bring these vehicles here is utter mockery, insensitivity and blatant display of opulence! Utterly irresponsible and unnecessary! This is nothing but a show to wow the people into believing mere propaganda!

Instead, let the President respond to the leakage at the airport. To spend 14 million dollars on such a edifice only to have it leaking is unacceptable.

Let the President respond to the bad roads that are said to be newly constructed such as the Ice Man road or the road connecting LK Sabiji market to Coastal Road in Wellingara or the never-ending construction of the road from that same market going into Sukuta.

The road from Jokor Westfield to Abuko via Talinding and Faji Kunda is horrible. These are among many public works that are substandard yet millions are spent on them. Let the President address that. All of these roads indicate bribery and corruption and inefficiency.

Finally before coming here, let the President address the poor drainage and sewage systems all over the greater Banjul area.

The Minister of Health has just announced a polio outbreak precisely because of poor drainage and sewage. The polio virus were discovered in Banjul and Kotu yet the President has not even talked about that!!!

Polio is a more dangerous situation than COVID because it targets children by making them physically disabled hence undermining their growth, denying them opportunities and equality in future!

Let the President stop the foolery and respond to urgent national issues. If you have already secured funding for 20 new roads, then let the work begin than taking expensive vehicles to dirty them in the mud for nothing. Stop playing with public resources!

For The Gambia ?? Our Homeland

By Cherno Baba Jallow

In the presidential elections of 2016, Gambians were presented with a Hobson’s choice: return an erratic dictator to power or hand the presidency to an inestimably inexperienced candidate.

Enter President Adama Barrow.

Gambians were never in doubt about Barrow, the man they were going to entrust with the custodianship of their national affairs. He was a complete greenhorn in statecraft. He knew nothing about governance, about government, this sprawling industry of institutions and personalities and policies and ideas.

Getting rid of Jammeh was key to the Gambian voters. It offered them a much-needed springboard for a fresh start, a new direction. Jammeh had to go. The country had to be pulled back from the looming possibilities of societal disintegration. But the voters were also hopeful that his replacement, though woefully ill-equipped, would do better at some point in the long-run.

How? First, by surrounding himself with the right people, the people with the ideas on the knots and bolts of governance. And second, by the gradual process of self-inculcation, learning on the job, immersing himself in the conceptual and deliberative processes of decision-making, understanding policies and messaging, presentational and aspirational leadership.

Gambian voters didn’t expect Barrow to be proficient in his job as soon as he entered the State House. But they expected him, and time permitting, to master, at least, the rudiments of leadership, and in consonance with the aspirations of the people who voted for a change.

But like a man caught in a quicksand, Barrow is either stuck or drowning. He has been unable to impress with any new-found skills. It’s not even the fact that he has been snail-slow in the leadership-learning process. It’s the fact that he hasn’t learned anything at all. There are many factors to account for that, but his failure to thrive is mainly because he has had advisers who don’t know anymore than he does. It’s the blind leading the blind.

Consider Barrow’s recent proclamation that he would stop political rallies if he won the forthcoming elections in December. No leader who had been well-served by his advisers and who understood the basics of electioneering, would reveal such a hostile mindset, and certainly not in an election year.

Barrow, in barricading himself and in a desperate attempt to mollify our fears over his recent faux pas, can’t do himself any good by hiding behind the recent press release of his spokesman or by expecting us to accept the famous quip that leaders should never be judged by what they say but rather by what they do. This is no waiting game.

This is a matter of immediacy. A leader threatening to end political campaigns —- the lifeblood of any democracy —- shouldn’t be ignored. He should be put under the microscope. All the way to Election Day. Gambian voters shouldn’t wait until Barrow acted on his threat before they took him seriously. They should. Now.

Banning political errands or speech is the legerdemain of dictators or leaders hankering after power, the concentration of its allocation and the pervasiveness of its reach. It is dictators like Saddam or Jammeh or Hoxha who show such perniciousness. Leaders, like Barrow, whose ascendancy arose out of the crucible of democracy, and who, in particular, defeated one of Africa’s last hold-outs of dictators, ought to know better. They are expected to be staunch allies of democracy, promoting and strengthening the ideals of free speech and association, the rule of law and citizen-sovereignty.

But Barrow has gone off-tangent. This is the first time he has shown flickers of arrogance of power. This is out of character. Until now, Barrow had carried himself well. He hadn’t cared publicly about the acerbic criticism, ridicule even, some in the citizenry had been throwing his way. He knew how to tune it out. He didn’t howl back. He didn’t arrest or detain journalists or opposition leaders. He just kept to himself, taking the vitriol on the chin and moving on and confounding his critics with his reticence.

Going into the elections later this year, Barrow’s strongest suit has been his tolerance for dissent. The Gambia is enjoying an unprecedented level of freedom of speech. Barrow isn’t the provider of this freedom. This was earned. But in Barrow, a man known for his humility and not easily thrown into irritability, The Gambia’s new-found and healthy expressiveness has found the right ally.

No longer? By his recent pronouncement, and which was, by no means, an unforced error in political speechifying (he was both blunt and precise), Barrow has begun squandering away his most substantial political capital. And on this issue, he has both shaken the confidence the people had in him and gifted the opposition a strong talking point going into the elections.

Should he lose in December, Barrow should look back on his recent speech as the catalyst for his political demise. We will find out in the coming months.

About the author: Cherno Baba Jallow is a native of Basse and currently lives in New York City. You can personally write to him at: [email protected]

By Basidia M Drammeh

A troubling image making rounds on social media of the Banjul International Airport inundated with water speak volumes of the country’s state of affairs. The reported leakage at a recently renovated airport to the tune of $14 million reflects the poor maintenance quality due to suspected corruption. Incidentally, a friend of mine who recently visited the Gambia relayed his impressions about the much-vaunted face-lift of the airport. He told me that the tiles are of poor quality, insisting that he would prosecute the tile layer for corruption if he were President Barrow!

Corruption is endemic and pervasive across all sectors in the Gambia in the form of bribes, kickbacks, favouritism, nepotism, and the embezzlement of public funds. No official has ever been charged or indicted for corruption despite reported corruption cases since the Barrow Administration came to power in 2017. A recent survey by Afro Barometer has found that the Majority of Gambians see corruption increasing and the government failing to fight it. According to the report: “Over the past three years, citizens’ perceptions of widespread corruption among public officials have increased significantly. It also noted that a substantial number of Gambians report having to pay bribes to obtain public services, and only half believe they can report corruption to the authorities without fear of retaliation.

Likewise, the United States has recently issued a scathing and damning report accusing the Gambian authorities of turning a blind eye to corruption, lamenting the Government’s inaction to combat graft.

In the same vein, the Kanifing Municipal Council has been mired in corruption allegations, with the CEO put on administrative leave as investigations proceed in financial misappropriation. The Deputy Mayor also resigned, citing family reasons following a report published by the Freedom newspaper alleging that the Deputy was caught on a leaked tape involved in a bribe of about one million dalasi. Observers believe that the alleged corruption at KMC only came to light because the Freedom newspaper decided to blow the whistle; otherwise, everything would have been normal.

To stem the cycle of rampant corruption in the Gambia, the long-awaited Anti-Corruption Bill should be passed by Parliament to ensure that alleged corruption cases are fully and thoroughly investigated and that those found wanting face the full force of the law.

Back to the airport saga, we don’t need another toothless and ineffective commission of inquiry. Instead, all the officials involved in the renovation project must be suspended immediately and questioned by the police. Anyone found guilty of dereliction of duty and corruption should be fired and prosecuted, and there must not be any sacred cows!

Until this Thursday morning of August 19, 2021following eleven hours of beautiful uninterrupted rain, I indeed tried to ignore the ongoing argument surrounding the controversial statement made by President Adama Barrow that he alone cannot grant former President Jammeh amnesty from his interview with Pa Nderry Touray of Paradise FM Radio.

In the first place, the idea of Jammeh yearning for amnesty as if he had already been convicted of committing any crime is a flawed notion entertained only by consumers of the Essa Faal Kool-Aid; and I believe Mr. Touray has proven his overdose from the concoction. As a matter of fact, nowhere in the interview did President Barrow say anything about granting amnesty to former President Jammeh after Mr. Pa Nderry Touray fired him the unfair question which he perfectly answered by clarifying how a democratic government and president function on the matter. By merely implying to Mr. Touray that his government is waiting for the TRRC report-that is yet to be completed and submitted for review-which will require comprehensive evaluation from all branches of government including expert appraisal and advice before he can finally do anything tells a different story from the misinterpreted words of the president. Barrow somehow indicated that the “White Paper” that will be produced after everything is said and done will ultimately reveal the position of his government hinged on a purely democratic process.

I don’t know how else President Barrow could have responded to Mr. Nderry’s question who in my view asked that unwarranted question to perhaps corner him in a tough spot in the middle of a prospective APRC-NPP coalition talks. No wonder the intellectual fraudsters and the low IQ analysts and activists grabbed the poisonous red meat for the hungry gullible wolves.

For the deceivers to say that the APRC executive were asking for Jammeh’s amnesty and Barrow saying that he alone cannot grant Jammeh one is both inaccurate and unconscionable.

What we need to teach the “Jammeh doctrinaires” is that Barrow cannot govern like Jammeh because the two systems of government they superintended are totally different in principle and style. Jammeh as a soldier had seized power by force of arms in 1994 while Barrow contested an election and won in 2016. I know that my good brother and wonderful friend Malick Mbye will argue based on my own previous revelations that Barrow had won an election rigged by the IEC which was illegal; but by the same token, my other friend and government spokesman Ebrima Sankareh still cannot be convinced of the legitimacy of Jammeh’s ascension to power by overthrowing the democratically elected PPP government in 1994. Who is right or wrong in this intriguing dilemma or squabble reminiscent of the age-defying altercation over whether the end justifies the means or vice-versa will in this case be argued by scholars up to the end of time.

From my understanding however, the APRC Executive is pursuing the same arrangement that during Jammeh’s era had facilitated and brought about the successful return of former President Sir Dawda Jawara back home following his voluntary or involuntary departure from the Gambia on the very day of the 1994 coup. Jawara was indeed accused by the Jammeh government of committing many crimes and gross abuse of power during his 32 years in power of which if a TRRC was commissioned to at least look into the atrocities of his government in 1981 with the involvement of Senegal it would have probably been characterized as genocide. Anyway after everything that had transpired Jawara was never convicted of any crimes although given the unceremonious way he had departed the country in 1994, his coming back home required an executive endorsement that also entailed an orderly process. By the way, how long did the APRC government take to finally see the need to allow Jawara to come back home in the orderly manner it was conducted? Besides, it had to be done contingent to the national security of the nation, a politically profitable outcome or both. Essentially if Jammeh hadn’t realized any political benefit in allowing Jawara to return home and instead saw it as an existential threat to the national security of the Gambia he definitely wouldn’t have agreed to the old man’s return. So the question is, will Barrow be that politically naive to disregard all unfavorable probabilities to his government by allowing Jammeh to come back home after the latter’s unceremonious departure in 2017? I don’t think so; nonetheless I can categorically say that if allowing Jammeh to come back home today adds to his vision of establishing and reinforcing a good and sustainable government in the country he will without hesitation do so. Courting the APRC for a coalition seems to be edging towards that expectation.

Notwithstanding, let us not behave too unsophisticated and expect Barrow to govern in the way Jammeh used to govern and expect him to survive in this modern era.

Because of his distinctive military orientation or style of governance Jammeh could wake up and say that he alone could bring back Jawara-not necessarily an amnesty-and make sure that he gets all his entitlements as a former president and nobody in the country would question or challenge it; Jammeh could wake up and declare the country an Islamic State without consulting any branch of government or anyone in the country and it will happen; Jammeh could disregard all medical ethics, risks, implications, rules and regulations, declare himself a bush-doctor, open his private clinic, manufacture his own drugs and start treating patients suffering from different ailments and no Gambian dared to challenge or question the logic; Jammeh could invite strange foreign sorcerers into the country and order them to hunt for witches and exorcise the compelling monster in them that makes them feed on human flesh and it happens only challenged by Halifa Sallah, Sam Sarr (PDOIS not me) and Sidia Jatta, three people in a population of 2 million inhabitants; yes, Jammeh could do a lot of normal and weird things without the endorsement of any Gambian, his cabinet, his judiciary and the parliament. Was that a proper way of governing a democratically elected president guided by a reasonable constitution? I will leave the readers and our hotheaded Jammeh Doctrinaires to toy with that answer. What is evident however is that most Gambians had lived through those events including the top critic of Jammeh Essa Faal and had behaved as everything was cool and dandy.

President Adama Barrow cannot and will not behave that way unless he wants the IEC Chairman Alieu Momar Njie to come up with two sets of results in the December 2021 presidential election declaring him loser in both. I don’t know about you guys but Samsudeen Sarr is not flying out of the Gambia with any ex-president going on exile to Equatorial Guinea or even China.

Samsudeen Sarr

Banjul, The Gambia.

By D. A. Jawo

President Adama Barrow was quite well known for being a humble person who hardly spoke much when he first assumed the presidency. However, he seems to have now changed quite drastically, becoming not only quite outspoken, but also giving too much credit to himself about almost every achievement registered by Coalition 2016 as well as his administration.

Also, as a result of some of his unguarded utterances, he had been causing some controversy, the latest being his threat to “order” the Inspector General of Police to deny permit to all political parties to hold rallies after he wins the forthcoming presidential elections in December. However, after a lot of noise about that threat from virtually all sectors of the Gambian society, the Government Spokesperson, Ebrima Sankareh came up with a press release to try and give it a different interpretation.

Of course, Mr. Sankareh was quite in order to issue such a press release because by the very nature of his job, it is his responsibility to do everything possible to always give a positive image of the administration as well as the President. However, he needs a lot of help from President Barrow himself if he is to succeed in portraying a positive image of the administration. If President Barrow continues with his present attitude of using his frequent meetings with various ethno-linguistic and other parochial groups at the State House on weekends to freely tell all kinds of stories and making unguarded comments without considering the implications, it would be hard to see how Mr. Sankareh or anyone else would be able to continue to brush his image. He speaks in a language that virtually everyone understands and it would therefore be quite hard for Mr. Sankareh to convince people that he meant something else and not what he said.

While we can understand that President Barrow is still learning on the job and he needs to be given chance to adjust to the situation, but, after almost five years as head of state, everyone expected him to have learnt the rudiments of protocol and know that as head of state, his every action and every word he utters would be subjected to scrutiny. Therefore, he should stop talking freely in such gatherings as if he is in a village bantaba where he can say anything and no one would hold him to account. He should understand that even though he is a good story teller, usually punctuating his stories with innuendos and cliches, he needs to understand that as head of state, it is not always to his advantage to narrate everything he was involved in. For instance, his recent stories about being indirectly involved in desecrating graves to use spiritual means to help obtain the release of Ousainou Darboe and his colleagues, as well as narrating how as a child he used to climb 500-metre tall ‘kaba’ trees, were subjects of public ridicule which he should try and avoid.

Therefore, in order to minimize such gaffes and controversies, President Barrow needs to often consult with the Minister of Information and/or the Government Spokesperson before any public speaking engagement so that they can guide him on what areas he should avoid. This is particularly important for this period when the elections are less than four months away.

By Amran Gaye

I don’t know who this Sankareh guy is writing press releases for the State House, but he really needs to be replaced. Even apart from the amateurish writing and terrible proofreading, this continuously petty, whining and defanteh tone is not fit to be the voice of our Government. I’ve also noticed that he has a very narrow and simplistic view of what democracy is – you can see it in the half-baked arguments he makes as he tries to defend Barrow’s actions.

I finally had enough today after seeing this latest press release claiming that what the president said about “no political activity” was “exaggerated”, while also threatening (I don’t know what else to call it) that the president would silence people who use “insults and foul language” by working with the National Assembly to draft laws against such words.

Meaning of course that Sankareh and his boss get to choose what constitutes “insults and foul language”. Imagine an NPP rally where someone is insulting UDP or PDOIS – you really think they will be stopped or arrested under these new laws? Meanwhile imagine it happening in the opposite direction, with someone being vehemently critical of NPP at an opposition rally or even online. What do you think will happen then? That’s ALL these kinds of laws are for. They come wrapped in sanctimonious prose about “being civil to each other” etc. But it has nothing to do with that – all it is is giving the incumbent the power of censorship, and therefore the power to control the conversation. These same laws are present in every single dictatorship on earth.

What it comes down to daal is this: We are ADULTS we do not need the government to regulate what we can and cannot say; we don’t need Barrow or any president to approve our words before we are allowed to speak them; he is not our parent or guardian. It is long past time we move past this nonsense of thinking of our leaders as elders we cannot speak honestly with or challenge. We literally elect these people and are paying for their salaries, feeding, housing, travel – every single thing.

Barrow, Sankareh, and everyone else who works under him are our public SERVANTS not our masters. I think Sankareh and Barrow himself would do well to remember this, as they seem to have forgotten as he becomes more comfortable with power.

We chased out one dictator, we’re not going to watch a new one build himself up before our eyes. VOTE WISELY IN DECEMBER. That is the only way out of this.

By Madi Jobarteh

Fellow Gambians, regardless of any party or politician one supports, the time to stand up to defend democracy is higher today than ever. Because of our ignorance, dishonesty, indifference, and lethargy hence our silence and apathy we gave fertile grounds for the growth and development of dictatorship from 1994 to 2016. The price we paid for our dishonesty, ignorance and indifference is all too clear to us.

Today, we are seeing the same scenario repeating itself and we have no one to blame but ourselves. If the emergence of dictatorship took us by surprise yesterday, today we cannot claim the same excuse.

On 15 August 2021 the President unambiguously and directly and specifically stated in a public event at State House that come December 4th, if he wins the election, he will close down political activity. To strengthen that resolve, he said he will ask the IGP to not issue any permits to anyone for political activity. That statement by the President is the greatest threat posed to our democracy and Republic. It is a direct violation of the Constitution for which he should have faced impeachment if The Gambia was a normal country!

Effectively, the President intends to turn The Gambia into a one-party state under a tyranny never seen before. This is because when you deny every citizen and every political party to freely and openly participate in the affairs of the country, it means only the President will be left to engage in political activity together with those who support him. That’s the definition of a one-party state!

President Adama Barrow wants to bring back that Yaya Jammeh style of governance where only he and his party engage and participate. In that system, there will be many parties but they conduct politics at a cost to their lives and limb. It means any citizen who wishes to hold the Government accountable does so at his or her own peril. In other words, the country will be claimed to be a democracy but in fact it is a one-party authoritarian state as we had under that Tinpot Dictator. Resist.

The press release issued by his Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh has given us enough information that indeed the President intends to close this country down. Read the last paragraph of that press release to see the true intention of the President and his Government. They are now saying that they will go to the National Assembly to create a law to effectively close down or control social media.

The threat against social media has been ongoing since this Government took over. But remember that if you control, limit or close down social media then it means you are attacking free speech. It also means you are attacking free and independent media. It also means you are attacking freedom of assembly and the rest of our fundamental freedoms.

I am very worried, scared, concerned, angry and disturbed at the idea of controlling social media. This is the only marketplace where citizens have to express themselves hence participate, influence and determine the political life of their communities and country. If you close this space then it means popular participation, transparency and accountability are dead hence corruption, ineptitude, abuse and violations will go unnoticed and unchallenged.

If indeed the President’s concern was only about the insults spewed from mainly political opponents, then the President should be the first to address his supporters to stop insulting. NPP and Barrow supporters in general are among the leading insulters in the country. But the President has never stopped or suspended or expelled any supporter because of insults. Therefore it is false to claim that the President is concerned about insults on social media.

Therefore, all Gambians must now recognize that President Adama Barrow poses a clear and present danger to democracy and the peace and stability of the Republic. The President is the leading threat to human rights contrary to his oath of office and the Constitution.

Citizens must be ready to stop him. Let us not allow party politics, tribalism, indifference and other sectarian considerations make us ignore the national threat we face from none other than the President himself. This President wants to turn this country into a dictatorship. All citizens have a historic and constitutional right and duty to resist that. 100%.

Stand up against Tyranny! Defend Democracy.

For The Gambia ?? Our Homeland

By Madi Jobarteh

The press release of the Government Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh seeking to clarify the anti democratic comments of the President is unnecessary and not true. To claim that the President’s remarks came about because of his concern about insults in political discourse is unfounded. This is because President Barrow was a witness when his ministers, surrogates and supporters have used his own political rallies to rain insults on his opponents.

During his meet the people’s tours, the President sat in rallies as his supporters released missiles of insults without him taking any step to stop them right in the middle of their tirades. If he were concerned, he would have made sure such people are stopped ASAP and reprimanded. That’s what responsible leaders do.

Rather, we saw how the President was giggling when his Minister Henry Gomez was ridiculing opposition leader Ousainou Darboe in their Brikama rally in 2019. Just a few weeks ago, Barrow was again smiling as Minister Hamat Bah called political opponents rats. Barrow never stopped them rather he enjoyed the show.

There are uncountable media platforms in support of Barrow where his supporters continuously insult, ridicule and abuse individuals they disagree with or oppose. I have been a subject of such ridicule and insults from prominent Barrow supporters which are shared in his social media platforms. https://youtu.be/VesV5Snr01I

Therefore if Sankareh is claiming that the President is concerned about insults, I wish to state that Ebrima G Sankareh is indeed speaking bongums. What the President said about shutting down politics, whatever that means, is not a slip of the tongue or a concern about insults or anything. Otherwise we would have seen Barrow cleanse his own social media platforms first and publicly sanction supporters who indulge in insults and abuse. But he never did.

Indeed what the President said is the imagination and advice from his technocrats including the Minister of Information Ebrima Sillah and his Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh and others in State House. That’s the only interpretation we can give otherwise Sillah or Sankareh would have told the President to avoid such undemocratic statements. But this is their thinking that they are hellbent on implementing someday.

This threat to clamp down on political activity and freedom of expression is a calculated attempt to silence citizens. It is intended to shield the President and his Government from public scrutiny. It is a means to prevent anyone from holding Barrow and his Administration accountable hence serve to perpetuate corruption, cover up ineptitude, abuse of office and human rights violations.

Therefore Barrow and his Ministers, technocrats and advisors know very much what he is talking about. Just because they have failed to control the narrative, now their strategy therefore is to silence every voice so that they would become the only source of opinion and information in the country. That’s the definition of dictatorship.

Therefore let Sankareh shove this nonsensical press release to where he wants it, but no Gambian should waste time to even give it the benefit of doubt. Rather all citizens must become alert and vigilant that this unconstitutional and undemocratic words of the President are indeed the voice of a dictator! We must resist! Now.

Therefore, on my part, I wish to send Ebrima Sankareh to both Pres. Adama Barrow and IGP Abdoulie Sanyang to tell them that we The Gambia people shall not allow and will resist to death their diabolical attempt to close our mouths and our eyes! This country does not belong to them and they are not the kings of The Gambia!

The sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the People of The Gambia and all State organs, institutions and public officials derive their power, legitimacy and authority from we the People, and all State organs, institutions and public officials perform their duties on our behalf and for our welfare. This is the language of the Constitution that Adama Barrow swore to uphold and defend on the 19 January 2017 in Dakar, Sénégal.

A word to the wise is enough!

For The Gambia ?? Our Homeland

By Dibba Chaku

It has become apparent that one thing that continues to reverberate in President Barrow’s ears is the notion that he and his administration are the ones that allow freedom of expression and politicking in our new dispensation, and this is far-fetched. Mr. President is being ill-advised that the presumed autocratic powers that his predecessor had and used to stifle dissent and abrogate the rights of Gambians are the same powers at his disposal. Hence the recent premonition that political agitators on the other side of the aisle will be barred from navigating the political landmines after the December polls in which he is anticipating victory. Will this be the beginning of the erosion of democratic principles, or is it just an incumbent drenched in a pool of paranoia trying to resuscitate a re-election agenda that appears to be on life support? Either way, democracy appears to be in danger.

Should we remind Mr. President that the freedom that Gambians are enjoying today was not conceived and born within three months? Matter of fact, it had a twenty-two-year gestation period that ravaged families, consumed lives, incapacitated many, exiled others, disenfranchised a lot, and irreversibly changed lives. So, when the Gambian people voted for change in 2016, it was not because we saw a would-be quintessential leader in Adama Barrow. Instead, we knew we had a situation that decelerated from bad to severely messed up, and that the status quo could not be allowed to continue in perpetuity. That was a common denominator that bound us together as a unifying force to take on a dictator who thought his military might and spiritual capabilities were enough fortification against all forces. This freedom of ours was never given to us on a silver platter, it was earned and will be safeguarded against usurpation.

It is my fervent belief that the powers vested in Mr. President today will be the exact same powers that he will have after the December polls should he win the elections. So why wait until December to use those powers? If they are advising you that you have both manpower and firepower to stifle dissent, why not act now? You can go ahead and instruct your Inspector General of Police to start dancing to your music if the choreography is indeed lively. It would be interesting to see if the IG and his men will be coerced to stifle dissent by any means necessary as a way of appeasing their commander-in-chief who is now averse to multiparty democracy and dissenting views. Watching that crowd erupt in a clapping frenzy as Mr. President vows to stop political opponents from holding rallies and other political activities after the December polls is just mind-boggling.

A great writer once wrote that “the mind is a powerful force. It can enslave us or empower us. It can plunge us into the depths of misery or take us to the heights of ecstasy. Learn to use the power wisely.” Do not be misguided by those who know better, but just will not do better like they have done when your predecessor was at the mantle of leadership in The Gambia.

By Benjamin Joof

The impulse reaction of the cynics would be to dismiss the headline as “apples to oranges”, but the political journeys of Obama and Dr. Ceesay are mirroring each other by the day. The promise of hope, confidence and charisma, youthful exuberance and overly professorial add to their charm while on the campaign road for the office of the presidency.  Obama may have overcome the odds in the United States, but the political reality of the Gambia remains far removed from looks and books.

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay Citizen’s Alliance plans offers change to the chronic economic hardship the people of The Gambia endure daily, and that is the same hope Barack Obama campaigned while seeking his first mandate. CA’s manifesto spells out strategies to build housing units, uplift the citizenry by bringing economic prosperity, restructuring the NAWEC nightmare, good health system, eliminate corruption and most importantly, introduce security measures to protect lives and properties of Gambians. The hope and promise of a vision to be delivered by the Citizen Alliance sound exactly like the Obama “change” slogan.

If Ceesay walks into any ad office, creative directors can draft at least ten storyboards in one sitting.  This is because of the vision he lays out for Gambians are pragmatic and promising, therefore, his tone, character, and temperament may well be tolerated by even the uninitiated. In the same vein, Obama’s long shot care act, infrastructure plan, clean energy, climate activism and uplifting the middle class became after all what the voters wanted.  The play book of Obama’s 2008 campaign is directly in the hands of Dr. Ceesay, and he is exploiting the spoils.

“You never have a second chance to make a first impression”, that may be a bit of a cliché, but Obama rose to the ranks at the 2004 Democratic convention as key speaker and gained support, while Dr. Ceesay handled himself well on the primetime Paradise TV debate on the woes of the Coalition Government. Additionally, on the same faceoff with respected P.D.O.I.S leader Halifa Sallah, he set the stage and propelled his political growth.  He has broken the myth and stood equal with the veteran politician at the end of the debate, and that won him the hearts of many at least for the time.  Similarly, Obama too became politically matured when he rivalled Hilary Clinton for the Democratic Primaries in 2008.  What a campaign it was!

Ceesay has a gift of communication, and as tutelage of Gambian politics, he is able to simplify himself without being overly professorial.  And for the local language audience, he speaks with absolute clarity, articulate and boisterous. His spoken Wollof is “tallif” (poetry) sounding like a man who may have been breastfed by a “Ndarr” mother or raise as a member of the Diocese of Banjul Lector’s Group. Up close, his speeches and interviews may as well be renditions of Obama’s big moments.

With these beaming similarities, the effects of Obama may be brewing in the 2021 presidential campaign in The Gambia. And just maybe, on that voting December day, Ceesay’s ballot box may load enough marbles voted by friends, foes, and even the somnambulists, giving him the benefit of the doubt. “You have done what the cynics say, we couldn’t do” (Obama) words of thanks after winning the 2008 New Hampshire primary. Are we in for a surprise in Banjul? With undisclosed campaign chest to spend, the wind is gravitating towards the Dr. Ceesay and his Citizen’s Alliance.

By Madi Jobarteh

It is not only ignorant but equally arrogant for a sitting President to claim that there is a time when politics should end. It is even more unconstitutional for such a president to threaten citizens by saying he will order the IGP to refuse permits to citizens to exercise their right to freedom of assembly.

The right to freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right that is entrenched in the Constitution. No person or authority can take away that right except the people themselves in a referendum. Hence for President Barrow to threaten citizens that he will seize this fundamental right clearly indicates his dictatorial tendencies.

I call on all citizens to stand up to stop the Barrow Tyranny from blossoming in our land. We must not allow another tinpot dictator to emerge in this country. By his remarks in this video, Barow has finally and unambiguously and forcefully told us that he is a tinpot dictator waiting to explode!

Politics is the process through which citizens manage the affairs of their society. It is through politics that Barrow was elected. It is trough politics that Barrow conducts his meetings at State House and holds press conferences and tours the country. Barrow has uncountable associations and media platforms that are engaging with communities and spreading unpleasant and insulting messages against his opponents, daily.

Yet Barrow has not stopped these activities but he has the audacity to tell citizens to stop politics. What does Barrow think he is? We govern and develop this country through politics. Hence politics is the life of a human being and society. To tell a human being to stop politics is like taking a fish out of water! Resist.

I urge all citizens and more so the political parties, CSOs, and the National Assembly to scold Barrow until he chokes to swallow back those despicable, undemocratic, unconstitutional remarks that he utterred in a meeting with a group of people from Jeshwang at State House!

Let the IGP Abdoulie Sanyang be on notice that as IGP he is under no obligation to serve the personal political objectives of any president. If he does so, he will be violating his obligations to uphold the Constitution. In that case, none but him alone shall pay the price.

For The Gambia ?? Our Homeland.