By Sulayman Gagigo

As things stand, UDP has the highest chance to win an election under a single party contest. The past local government and parliamentary election results served as enough evidence to prove this claimed. Both APRC and NPP have recognized this political reality and the danger of watching that to happen.

Because UDP constitutes hate, aggression and arrogance. And as highly predicted, allowing the party to win the election on December 4th will mean endorsing revenge, minority oppression, Barrow’s and Jammeh’s prosecution. Not only that, the worst also awaits Foni, APRC and the NPP heavyweights.

To avert these fears, many more threats pose by a UDP government, APRC and NPP showed the need to settle all past differences, strike a compromise, unite efforts and defeat the UDP to save the nation from division, suppression, ethnic tension, aggression and hate. This is the basis for inItiating the NPP – APRC talks.

The whole rationale is to bar UDP from forming the next government so that revenge, tribalism and oppression will be averted. While averting this national tragedy on December 4th, new space will be opened to foster reconciliation and social cohesion under a climate of humility, peaceful environment.

APRC recognized the challenge she, her based and supporters continue to face under Barrow, most of which are the results of UDP early yrs in government. Fonis militarization and the selective removal of her natives from the civil and public service were the making of UDP and GMC.

Similarly, the experienced of coalition 2016 has been noted. The party is also aware of the lack of enforceable legislative provisions in the 1997 constitution to obligate the executive to respect gentleman arrangements over national constitution.

That is why, to commence this process, the party has smartly put forward unnegotiable demands to NPP as preconditions for coalition talk. In addition, other accountability, control mechanisms like a 50-50 parliamentary seats are being studied too.

These demands are being reviewed and how Barrow handles them will, to a greater extend, decide the coalition. In fact, safe to say that its these demands that are being discussed, not coalition.

A major beneficiary of this coalition, if succeed, will be president Jammeh and Foni whose faith are strongly anchored on the December 4th election. How?

The prosecution of Jammeh, a section of Foni citizens, and the continuous militarization of Foni rest in the decision of December 4th. We APRC supporters must realize this fact, learn very fast to catch up with the prevailing realities. Sentiments and emotions can’t never be solutions.

God forbids, this coalition fails, UDP ascends to power, APRC and Jammeh should prepare for prosecution, suppression and even lifetime opposition. Because once UDP ascends to power, expect that all apparatus of government will be changed to suit their rigging system so as to enable them cling onto power forever.

Hence, those claiming that this coalition isn’t in the interest of Jammeh and APRC should visit the coalition formula  properly.

As an adversely mentioned perpetrator in the 1995 gruesome murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay; the then Finance Minister, Yankuba Touray was availed of the opportunity to give his side of the story to prove his innocence or accept culpability. The former Local Government Minister was ill-advised and continued to be under the illusion that the so-called constitutional immunity was enough to barricade him from testifying at the TRRC and any subsequent prosecution for the wanton act that snuffed the life out of Koro. He resorted to a contemptuous behavior that left the Chairman of the TRRC with no choice but to order for his arrest. This contemptuous behavior ignited a chain of events that emanated from the TRRC, rippled around the metropolitan area, and ultimately changed his life.

Two years from his arrest, Yankuba Touray would be convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The strong reactions from his family, friends, and loved ones clearly show that they are struggling to come to terms with a conviction they see as unfair and outrageous. That kind of reaction from the groups of people mentioned above is to be expected and understandable. However, it is important for all and sundry to exercise restraint and allow the justice system to address such issues that have legal ramifications. There is another option at Yankuba’s disposal, and his lawyer did say that they are going to file an appeal. That is an alternate legal route they can take, the outcome of which again will be determined by the courts. The truth be told, Yankuba did not get engulfed in this sticky situation by accident. Therefore, he cannot be absolved of responsibility because his disobedience or disrespect towards the Commission in the form of behavior that opposes or defies the authority of the TRRC expedited his prosecution even before other adversely mentioned perpetrators would learn their fate nested in the TRRC recommendations which are in the offing.

Many people argued that the conviction of Yankuba is unfair to him because he is not the only adversely mentioned perpetrator in that gruesome murder, or that he did not act alone. Well, an opportunity was given to most if not all of them to prove their innocence or accept culpability, but he is the only one that chose the constitutional immunity route, even when offered unsolicited legal advice from the lead counsel as to how his contemptuous behavior could boomerang on him. He was determined to stand his grounds, again under the illusion that the constitutional immunity barricade was enough fortification against all possible legal actions. It is often said that a house built on a weak foundation will always crumble.

What the families, friends, and loved ones of adversely mentioned perpetrators ought to understand though is that those they are trying to defend are alleged to have participated in wanton acts that snuffed the lives out of others or ravaged them beyond repairs. So, there have been irretrievable losses and irreparable damages and the sad reality is that many grieving families still do not get closure. Pronouncements or actions that are uncompassionate and inconsiderate are not recipes for reconciliation and will not heal the wounds either. A lot of heinous crimes and gross human rights violations have occurred in The Gambia between 1994 and 2016, and the perpetrators are our very own people. While your family member, friend, colleague or loved one may be your hero, they are some other family’s worst nightmare because their ferocious predatory actions irreversibly changed that family’s life. We cannot change the past unfortunately, but we can certainly right the wrongs of the past and most importantly, learn from it. Getting closure for grieving family and serving justice are pivotal in this arduous journey. No judgement or ruling will be seen by all and sundry as justice served because our expectations and preferences are different.

By Dibba Chaku, United States

By Madi Jobarteh

The public holiday announcement by the State House is unconstitutional. The State House must realise that there is a Public Holidays Act which specifies who can declare a public holiday and which days are to be declared a public holiday.

In the Act, the President can only declare a public holiday for days marking Eid-il-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha and Maulud Nabi. Period.

The other statutory days are New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Independence Day (Feb 18), Feast of Assumption Day (Aug 15), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). For these days, it is the Minister who declares them as public holidays. For any changes to these days, whether to drop an existing day or include a new day as a public holiday, it needs to be gazetted.

Therefore, even though Section 76 of the Constitution confers Executive Power on the President, this section cannot however be relied upon to declare a public holiday since there is already a distinct and definite act for that purpose. So, let us tell the President and his technocrats to follow the law.

Hence the latest press release from the State House that the President has allocated two days for the observance of Tabaski and Koriteh is unconstitutional and illegal. Similarly, the Public Holidays Act has not provided any public holiday for Boxing Day.

Therefore, let the President be advised to review the Public Holidays Act so that it is amended in line with current realities. Until then, the several declarations of public holidays in the country by both former Tinpot Dictator Yaya Jammeh and current Pres. Adama Barrow are unconstitutional and illegal.

That aside, the Public Holidays Act in itself needs urgent review. It was created in 1904 and last amended in 1965! It is utterly outdated. We are in 2021 today.

For The Gambia Our Homeland

By Madi Jobarteh

After spending few days in prison so far for the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, Yankuba Touray will now have realised that impunity does not last. Never. If he were a thinking being, he would have realised that no one single person has power but the people. The power that Yankuba and his AFPRC Criminals were brandishing in those days was nothing but the power of the people entrusted to him and his co-criminals. Today, Yankuba will learn that when the people entrust you with their power, do not usurp it and then transform it into a weapon against the people. It will not last.

Therefore, to Yankuba Touray, I wish him a reflective stay in Mile 2 so that he will think all over again about his life as a human being, a citizen, a State officer and now a convict. Yankuba, just like his co-perpetrators, especially those who constituted the Junta, had the unique opportunity to lead their people to the promised land. The masses of Gambians welcomed the coup hoping that they will see a transformation of their lives for the better.

Instead, Yankuba and his co-Junta Criminals sought to hoodwink the masses with meaningless statements like ‘soldiers with a difference’ and hypocritical slogans like ‘transparency, accountability and probity’ when, in fact they were the most corrupt and immoral souls on earth! People wholeheartedly gave them support and willingly followed them, not realising that these ‘soldiers with a difference’ were indeed greedy traitors; the scum of the scumbags of the earth.

So, let Yankuba blame no one but himself!  Even though he cannot now face Koro Ceesay to repent. But he has the family of Koro here. He has Gambians here. Instead of continuing to wallow in the arrogance that landed him in Mile 2, he needs to have some self-esteem and begin the process of repentance and apology to his victims and the generality of Gambians. That might not pull him out of Mile 2, but it can reduce the heavy load of self-inflicted arrogance, hatred and vain anger that now engulf him.

To those Dictator Lovers who seek to distort, rationalise, deny and mislead about this case, one can only pity them and hope they will have the courage of their convictions to recognize Yaya Jammeh and his Regime as evil to be rejected for good. Yankuba had the unique opportunity to come before the TRRC to narrate his story even if it would be a mere cock and bull lies like that of Edward Singhateh. But he would have the benefit of going home for a while to wait for the TRRC to conclude and see what the recommendations would be for him. But sheer arrogance and ignorance can make a person destroy his life and this is what Yankuba did to himself.

No one should engage in such analogies that claim that this ruling is not fair simply because Yakubu’s co-perpetrators are walking free. Some even refer to the ‘freed’ Junglers to claim that what happened to Yankuba is a farce. Far from it. What happened to Yankuba is bound to happen simply because he failed to face any form of accountability. And so, if he refuses to testify before the truth commission surely, he must face accountability elsewhere because Yankuba was adversely mentioned for this murder. He is not a sacred cow!

Of course, one of the most ludicrous stories comes from the usual suspect Ebou Jallow who dishonestly claimed that Yankuba did not kill Koro and in fact Yankuba was fooled into taking part in the crime. It is not that Ebou is ignorant of the law that aiding in any way in a crime makes you a principal actor. But this unconscionable Champion Lover of the Dictator knew that that heinous crime was committed in Yankuba’s house who never attempted to stop it as soon as he knew about it. Since then he also never did anything to ensure that there is accountability for that crime. Yet Ebou Jallow thinks Yankuba is innocent. What a warped mindset!

Let the Lovers of the Dictator rant and fret. Let them continue to ridicule TRRC, but justice and accountability shall run their natural course. Those who concocted and imposed that warped narrative on society yesterday because they were in power, cannot and will not continue to determine that same warped narrative today. For 22 odd years, they abused and misruled this society at unimaginable cost to life and dignity. Today, 26 years after the killing of Koro, the day of reckoning has begun and will never stop until Yaya Jammeh is captured, tried, convicted sooner than later and dumped in Cell Number 1 in the Maximum Security Wing at Mile 2 for life! This is the verdict of history.

For the Gambia Our Homeland.

In my canon of  political science, a lot is placed in the supremacy, centrality and, to a certain extent, the idealization of political debates and logical conclusions. For example, a good many political scientists, analysts, and observers tend to idealize that, somehow, the best arguments in political debates will appear right to everyone. Thus, voters would choose the best candidate based on the winning argument. This is, arguably, the biggest fallacy in politics. This is not how people function. This is not how people react to politics. This is not how people view and digest politics. People are attuned to the drama, fear, and, in a hyper-polarized environment–put on steroids by FaceBook and WhatsApp–the divisions become more sensationalized and ominous.

A functioning political system requires several things including, but not limited to, organization, grouping of people, and interest groups to push agendas, interests and persons to administer the affairs of the state, localities, and municipalities. In this process, especially in the West, these groupings take place in the form of ideological politics–the Left and the Right. In the West, specifically the United States, these organizations, groupings, and interests have morphed into identity politics. Put simply, they have become “tribal” in their orientations. In “tribal” politics, “othering” and winning become supreme and central. Politics becomes a sport–a pep rally–victory for the home team becomes the rallying cry–identity being the organizing creed. The winners see themselves as such and the losers would have to fight back–because they need to win or else face annihilation from their enemies–the other “tribe”.

In the case of The Gambia, political organizing and interests have also become “tribal”–ethno-linguistic groupings. Many would argue that this has always been the case, while others would argue that Jammeh started it. Notwithstanding, in a political system that has been erected on the cult of the person and patronage –mostly bereft of ideas and policies–how, exactly, do we expect people to organize and marshall their interests and vote?  The question, in my view, is not whether people are proponents or opponents of candidates mostly based on ethnolinguistic affiliations. The question is, if they do not organize and vote for, or against, candidates based on ethnolinguistic affiliations–how do you expect them to vote in a political space that is bereft of ideas and policy debates–rife with mudslinging and diatribes? Is it “tribalist” for someone to vote for, or against, a candidate mostly based on ethnolinguistic affiliations? If so, how? We need to be specific. Seems like everyone throws around the “tribalist” word like a piece of candy nowadays.

It is scary, I know, but any political system–absent one-party states–requires diverse interest groups to organize and participate in the political process. In our case, the interest groups are not divided among Left or Right, or Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, or Pro-Brexit or Anti-Brexit. Today, our interest groups are divided among ethnolinguistic lines. Lest we forget that in a democratic society,  people can vote for anyone of their choosing and no matter how we detest their choices, their choices are their choices and, in 2021, a plethora of Gambians are going to vote for, or against, a candidate because of their ethnolinguistic affiliations.

I just hope that Gambians of all ethnolinguistic groups can soon admit our common humanity, but also our shared frailty and begin the hard work of addressing our diversity–especially in politics–in healthy ways in our own households, platforms, and communities. Because, folks, the notion that we are all one and that we all intermarry, and that we are all Gambians is not going to save us from a potential post-election macabre. I have said this before, but remember that generations of Gambians to come will one day, ask of us living, what have we done with our time? Hopefully, we will answer that we have mastered our destiny–that we have contributed to the peaceful advancement of The Gambia. That, in essence, should be our summons to “The Gambia ever true”. May we, the citizenry, appeal to each other’s better angels, and may peace be.

A better Gambia is ours for the asking–

Sulayman Njie, PhD

Dallas, Texas, U.S.

BARROW MUST PARDON YANKUBA TOURAY – IF TRRC LETS THE SINGHATEH BROTHERS GO SCOT FREE!

Justice Jaiteh @ 1hr 54mins 42secs of his judgment says this:-

“I believe the testimonies of Alhagie Kanyi, Essa Mendy, Hamat Changam, Lamin Ndure, Pa Habibu Mbaye, Mohamed LK Bojang, depicting the true picture of how Osman Koro Ceesay was murdered in cold blood”.

Edward & Peter Singhateh:

If Jaiteh’s conclusion on the truthfulness of these witnesses is not overturned on appeal, the judgment remains a record of fact for eternity … and damns the Singhateh brothers as being guilty of killing Koro Ceesay. TRRC cannot come to any conclusion other than that Edward and Peter must be tried for Koro’s murder; afterall, Yankuba Touray has been sentenced to hang on the same facts as found by Justice jaiteh … and those facts apply to Edward and Peter.

Rule of Law:

These are incredible times in The Gambia as the Judiciary bravely sets out to firmly uphold the Rule of Law. But not just in The Gambia: in South Africa too where the Judiciary’s determination to uphold the Rule of Law is being violently resisted as we speak. And in Kenya where at this very moment the courts are challenging Uhuru’s attempt to subvert the Constitution.

I wish the judges all the very best in their brave attempts to uphold the Rule of Law – and the judges will come under the attack that Justice Jaiteh is subjected to as I write.

Nevertheless, the strongly held sentiments of Yankuba Touray’s supporters outside court (at the end of this video) cannot be minimised: they say Edward Singhateh is the mastermind of Koro’s murder for which Yankuba Touray is to hang. They want Edward Singhateh and Peter Singhateh tried.

TRRC’s “Bell Of Justice” Must Toll For The Singhateh Brothers! IF the TRRC Commissioners and Lead Counsel Essa Faal, in their infinite wisdom, decide that Edward and Peter should NOT be tried for Koro’s murder, THEN President Barrow must offer Yankuba Touray a full pardon.

The law must not “consume” only Yankuba Touray when the crime was a “joint-enterprise” with the Singhateh Brothers. Kanyi and the lower ranks were forced to partake.

Dida Jallow-Halake

Notting Hill, London.

By Zakaria Kemo Konteh

In a day like today, we celebrate the triumph of justice and affirm the condemnation of a convicted criminal. We remember the life of a promising young professional tragically and brutally cut short in the service of his country. We rejoice with Koro’s family as they come to terms with today’s guilty verdict, commiserate with them for their long agonizing journey and thank them for their unwavering faith and tenacity in pursuit of justice. We hope this marks an important step towards closure and healing.

As a convict of capital murder, Yankuba Touray is deserving of whatever punishment prescribed by law under the penalty of his conviction. He was given a chance to defend himself against charges through a transparent due process. His victim, Ousman Koro Ceesay, was not accorded that chance and that humanity. Instead, he was bludgeoned to death leaving the entire nation stunned and a family in horror for decades.That kind of  horrendous crime is beyond everything human and everything we stand for as a people and deserves no mercy.

To Yankuba Touray’s collaborators and accomplices in the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, you are being put on  unmistakable notice: That your day of reckoning is coming faster than you can ever imagine and you will neither hide nor escape from the firm, unyielding and tenacious arm of justice. Your days of impunity are numbered. When you kill our people, we will find you and we will bring you to justice no matter how long it takes.

May Koro’s soul continue to rest in peace. Ameen

By Basidia M Drammeh

As the nation reels from an agonizing and nightmarish natural disaster, certain members of Gambia’s business community are taking advantage of the calamity to hike the prices of construction materials. Even the price of an essential commodity like bottled water has been increased due to the challenges NAWEC has been facing in restoring regular services.

It’s disgusting and disheartening that members of Gambia’s business community are in the habit of exploiting people’s suffering by hoarding commodities at times of dire need as a pretext to hike prices. During the holy month of Ramadan, prices of all basic commodities skyrocket beyond the means of the average Gambian who struggles daily to make ends meet. When Eid Al Adha approaches, prices of rams shoot through the roof to the detriment of disadvantaged members of the society who form the bulk majority of the country. In other parts of the world, the business community is conscious of its corporate social responsibility and therefore contributes its quota towards national causes. Unfortunately, our businesspeople are more particular about making a profit rather than sympathize and empathize with their needy kinfolks.

Our businesspeople should have turned this unprecedented calamity into an opportunity by selling building materials and other basic commodities at affordable prices as a way of contributing towards alleviating the suffering of thousands of citizens affected by the disaster. Though the authorities have expressed willingness to help, we know the limitations of the government; hence everyone is duty-bound to come to the aid of the disaster victims in any way possible. The business community is no exception. It’s a matter of fact; they should take the lead in helping the victims. It’s a humanitarian situation and should be dealt with in this context.

A heavy windstorm swept through the Gambia on July 7, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

By Momodou Ndow

I hereby vehemently condemn the sharing of photos of anyone’s child, disabled or not! We all have the responsibility to protect our children, and if we can’t do that, then we are failing as a society! That is absolutely unacceptable!

We have been crossing many lines lately, and are now close to the last line at the end of the cliff, and there are big and sharp rocks ? waiting for us on impact. No amount of vote ? is worth unraveling the fabric of our society. And even if you win, you will be unable to govern such a society.

Even when Goloh was killing people, no one had the right to share photos of his minor children. I remember getting pictures of Goloh’s kids many times during the struggle, but never, in my wildest dreams, would I drag them around. It is indecent and pathetic! We all have an obligation to protect our children. Children are not responsible for the actions of their parents, and the sooner we recognize that, the better we will be as a people and society!

If you are a political leader and have been hesitant or afraid to address this issue, please step up now! Tell all your supporters engage in this politics of decadence to withdraw their support for you. Trust me, you don’t want to govern a society where decadence is normalized and reward, it would be a failed venture. As a matter of fact, all the political party leaders should put their differences aside and jointly come out to address this issue as representatives of the people! Act like the leaders you claim to be! Responsible leaders who care for their people, don’t sit on the sidelines and watch their society disintegrate! You have been sitting on the sidelines for far too long. Act now and take ownership of your leadership!

By Madi Jobarteh

Did I hear some NAMs lament on the floor of the National Assembly that Gambians in the diaspora will not vote in the December polls? Why are they lamenting? Are they serious? If not them, who is to blame? The truth is, no one is failing this country other than NAMs and political parties, especially those parties that have representatives in the National Assembly.

Let’s check the history. When the Minister of Finance brought the 2021 budget estimates to the National Assembly in November 2020, NAMs saw the budget for the IEC. If they were interested in diaspora registration and voting, they would have made sure that the money was there and given to IEC. Instead, NAMs decided to slice the budget of the IEC, claiming it was too much.

But at that time, the Minister of Finance did say that the budget included money for the registration of Gambian diaspora. But several months later, the same Finance minister told NAMs that such money was not allocated after all. Right there and then, NAMs should have scolded the Finance minister to produce the money or sack him by using Section 75 of the Constitution. But NAMs failed to do that. Why?

Since 2017, this Government has brought several supplementary appropriation bills before NAMs which they approved. The Government brought those requests for projects that they were interested in. But no NAM ever asked the Government to also bring a supplementary appropriation bill for the diaspora registration and voting. Why?

Every NAM has a right to present a private member’s bill to either amend the Constitution, or the Elections Act or create a whole new law. Hence any NAM or a group of NAMs could have proposed a bill that sought to make sure the right kind of law is created just to ensure that diaspora is registered and vote. But no one did it. Why?

Furthermore, any NAM could propose a motion on the floor of the National Assembly to ask that the Gambia Government provide the money to the IEC to make sure the diaspora is registered and vote in December and all public elections. But no NAM ever did that. Why? Yet we know that NAMs have placed many motions on the floor of the parliament that got supported by everyone. Therefore, why was there no motion for diaspora voting?

Yet all of these NAMs are from political parties, but we have seen no party that had ever asked its members to pursue the above actions. Not UDP, GDC, PDOIS, NRP, APRC, PPP, NPP, and the Independents. No one ever suggested to their NAMs to take action. Why?

Any NAM or any relevant parliamentary committee such as the human rights and constitutional matters committee could have summoned the President under section 77(2), or summon the Vice President or any minister under Section 77(4) to question and demand them to make sure the diaspora register and vote. But this was not done even though NAMs have that power. Why?

Also, any political party could have gone to the High Court or the Supreme Court to seek an order for the Government and the IEC to make sure the diaspora register and vote. But no party did that, ever. Why?

Also, any political party could have asked its supporters to protest in the middle of Banjul to demand that the diaspora register and vote. But no political party ever did that. Why?

Also, any party could have written to the President to demand him to ensure that the diaspora register and vote. But no party ever did that. Why?

Above all, NAMs have the power and the opportunity and the resources to have amended the Constitution or the Elections Act since 2017 to ensure that the diaspora register and vote. But no such amendment ever took place even though NAMs did amend Section 91(1)(d) to secure their own tenure, made through a private member’s bill proposed by the Minority Leader Samba Jallow, the NAM from NRP. We also saw the Executive propose the amendment of Section 62(1)(b) to remove the upper age limit for president as well as Section 141(2)(b) to remove the same upper age limit for judges. Why not for diaspora vote?

But here we are in July 2021, at the very eve of the December election, NAMs could not even still pass the elections bill so that we have a new elections law in time for the presidential election! For several months now they have this elections bill with them, and even went around the country with it for so-called public hearings, yet the session ended yesterday without passing the elections bill. Why?

But they have the time and the temerity to stand up in the adjournment debate to lament the lack of diaspora voting! Seriously?

Indeed, no NAM or political party and the Executive have any moral authority to complain about the lack of diaspora voting. This is because they killed it. They have the power, the opportunity and the resources to make it happen. But they flatly refused to make it happen yet they want to lament here as if they ever cared. How?

Stop the lip service. Hold your NAMs and Political Parties Accountable.

For The Gambia Our Homeland