UDP MPs now have a mountain to climb after MPs of nearly all the political parties represented at the national assembly on Monday threw their weight behind a bill that seeks to accord elected local government officials greater freedom and independence.

UDP have since April been trying to push Brikama Area Council Chairman Sheriffo Sonko out the door after he allegedly strayed from the ’cause’ of the party.

UDP West Coast regional committee had brought a complaint before the party’s national executive that Mr Sonko was being oblivious to the activities of the party. They recommended that he be sacked amid huge suspicion he was building love relations with President Adama Barrow – an adversary.

The current local government act says an elected local government official shall cease to be an official of a local government council if his party sacks him. UDP had this at the back of their mind when sacking Mr Sonko.

But the initial firing of Mr Sonko in April misfired as the UDP admitted ‘errors’ were made amid Mr Sonko threatening to take the party to court. The party then retreated only to return with full force again. And as the battle reaches feverish point, a familiar man emerged.

Alhagie Jawara has his own history with UDP. He was a member of the party. In fact he has UDP to thank for being in parliament today.

Yet, he fell out with the party after he alongside seven other MPs allegedly behaved in ways that ran counter to UDP values.

He was then sacked but managed to remain in parliament following the cancelling of the piece of law similar to the one that affects elected officials of councils.

Mr Jawara has now cobbled a private member’s bill to amend the local government act to ensure what is certainly Sheriffo’s fate would not happen to any elected local government official, in future. UDP MPs have taken it personally because of its timing.

If he succeeds, future elected local government officials can do whatever they want without the dread of automatically losing their jobs simpy because their party sacked them.

And UDP will be left scratching their heads taking into account the amount of elected local government officials the party has. For Jawara, some form of victory and revenge there.

The writer, Lamin Njie, is the editor in chief of The Fatu Network. He has edited The Standard and The Voice.

If you hear the names Sheriff Touray and Pa Amadou Jobe, you might have already subconsciously categorize them to a particular ethnolinguistic belonging. Rightly or wrongly, it will be immaterial and you are soon about to find out why.

I had a conversation with these two gentlemen on how and why our social, political and economic fabric has and continues to degenerate to a level that has the potential to give birth to a Rwandan type genocide if we don’t collectively and decisively act. I am a convinced African republican, meaning I value nationhood that ultimately should yield power to an African continental government. This conviction is above all other considerations. The two mentioned gentlemen, probably even more than me, have placed their premiums on the cohesiveness of our country above their individual “ethnicities”.

I placed the word ethnicities in quotation marks because for them, the beautiful manifestations of Gambian languages and cultures should not be primary or even secondary factors to mark our identities. For them, what binds us as Gambians and Africans for that matter, is our common struggle for an equitable society firmly based on the ethos of justice and prosperity.

Between sips of coffee, I listened with all the attention I could muster as they took a plunge into the post-independence ethnic diversity of everything Gambian; from the composition of sports clubs in the 60s,70s and 80s, to how ethnic fluidity is to be found in families from Karton to Koina. Today, I know from my conversation with with Sheriff and Pa Amdou, ethnic and tribal considerations played no part in the battle for he independence and liberation of this country from colonialism and colonial exploitation. Essentially, a great sense of nationhood prevailed that made each and every Gambian to become a defender of justice and equal rights for everyone in the country irrespective of language, culture, trade or religious affiliation.

As the conversation progresses, I dumbfoundedly caught myself asking in my unconscious mind why and how has things taken a turn for the worst. Why and how is the renewed sense of ethnolinguistic belonging taking center stage in our national political discourse, both in the country and even amongst Gambians working and living abroad?

Perhaps there are more questions than answers at this particular moment. That however leaves us with one important matter at hand to be confronted head on. The complicity of many political party leaders in fermenting and fanning the tensions that all to well have come to dominate social media platforms since our supposed change from tyrannical rule to a semblance of a free society.

For the purpose of this opinion piece, I shall refrain from naming those political party leaders who has no policy messages, who has no messages on the importance of national cohesion to defeat the demons of corruption, who has no messages on how to end chronic poverty and our underdevelopment status. The vast majority of these political opportunists only guarantee to get to power or stay in power, is to breed hatred and ethnic animosity amongst Gambians. Sadly, it’s the same Gambians who have everything to loose should they begin to shed each other’s blood.

Those who first and foremost have put on the ethnic flames, undoubtedly, have either already planned their exits or have beforehand evacuated their immediate families to safer countries. This is what history has taught us.

According to Sheriff and Pa Amadou, these politicians are not even loyal to their ethnicities. Hi their intentions, acts and utterances are meant to play Gambian people against each other so as to concentrate power and privileges in their hands and their immediate families. That’s how and why our country has degenerated and is degenerating further in the political, cultural, social and economic spheres. It will be hypocritical of me not to agree with them.

For today, I am lucky to meet two Gambian men of outstanding convictions, who has given me hope that our ethnicities (languages and cultural practices) should be a source of unity worth celebrating and a source of resolution to continue the battle for our common good. The opposite will be a betrayal to generations gone and generations yet unborn.

Yours in the service of The Gambia and Africa, I remain.

The writer, Da One, is based in Germany

By Tony F Mendy

The assumption of power in the continent since the dawn of independence (with lessons to be best drawn from home) created a new phenomenon of struggle for freedom and justice and even the professed New Gambia is not spared. On the credit side, and maybe rather unconsciously or without a choice, the government of The Gambia has without much effort, laid the environment for freedom of expression which is ironically under review today. The review establishes the debit side of the deliberate attempts to undo the credits so recorded in the name of the same government. Not only is this ironically discordant but inflicts upon the citizenry a sense of betrayal to have “The voice of conscience” in the New Gambia, in the person of Mr. Madi Jobarteh arrested and charged for expressing his opinion in a purely human rights matter.

It is no exaggeration to say that Mr Madi Jobarteh is to some extent either by his noble ideas or consistence conduct, the best thing that happens to the democratization process in the so-called New Gambia. Within us, however, and across the political divide of the polite, we have manifested the ability to hate even men of high intellectual aptitude and integrity regardless of our own fallible nature. So, I will not in this piece in any way whatsoever, address some personal hatred that some people strangely, for whatever reason, have clung on against Mr. Jobarteh, because our conversation as a nation should at all instances be guided by ideas and it is inherent for those who wish to share these ideas to do so without personal sentiments.

It is indeed unprecedented and foolish action for a state, after all it has lost and invested in defense of democracy to, in rather a disgraceful and weak manner (in a case it has already lost before it commence) institute a legal trial against a citizen for expressing an opinion clouded with nought but the truth.

In spite of this manifestation of “dictatorial tendencies” and brick-bat by the Executive, the real problem in The Gambia is the high level of political ignorance or immaturity on one hand and opportunism” on the other. Not strangely enough, the latter which is caused by the failure of the education system has kept the masses of our people in the dark with little or no understanding of the power in their possession neither how to creatively use it. While the former (opportunism) is being practiced by few elites who, for example, understood the position of Mr Jorbateh in our society but chose to be deliberate and continue to tone it down with endless effort to silence noble men like him.

Evident that the majority of our population is kept in ignorance such that, they do not understand the basic dynamics of power and the potentials for the Executive, in such an environment to ‘uncreatively’ abuse it to the detriment of society and its people but for a few, we should not only direct our attention to holding the government accountable but also enlightening the masses of our people to understand the role of the ‘Madi Jobartehs’ in our society.

Mr Jobarteh’s understanding of politics, academic accomplishment, and sophistication in human rights matters and selfless character positions him as an asset to the nation. He is regardless of your opinion, not attracted by the economic or any rewards for his activities because he understands the pathetic graphic picture of our society and is continuously driven by the passion to change it.

He represents the voices of the masses of our people. Mr Jobarteh speaks, demands and questions to hold the powers that be to account not because it is rewarding to him, but he understands the necessity to and dares to represent those who are disadvantaged, don’t understand the worth of their voices, and the reason for the poor status of this country or how to change it.

Comparatively, Mr. Jobarteh is the contrast of any government. It is true that ‘all’ authorities (as a matter of generalization) love to cultivate the culture of or maintain the masses in ignorance, because it is politically gratifying for their continuous survival. Mr. Jobarteh doesn’t dwell upon such an exploitative political machinery. While our politicians revel in regal ostentation, monumental corruption and endless evil, Mr. Jobarteh educates and empowers the masses to stand against such ignoble acts. Consequently, one would understand why the state finds every reason to be discomforted by his activities! Evidently, it is his objectives that are right and relevant for the progress of this nation.

The Greek mythologies, have earlier accurately argued in descriptions of the ‘society’, that every society is composed of three idiots of which are the materialistic class or the bourgeoisie, who unjustly acquire wealth and ‘assume’ to isolate themselves from the society and matter that affect it. They do not care nor pay attention to the plight faced by the said society they are living in. So said the Greeks, the second category of idiots is the tribalists’ . Those who, for their weak intellectual capacity and general inability, do appeal to the sentiments and cultural diversity of cosmopolitan societies as a base to win favors from its section. The third class of idiots in this regard are the “citizens”. These are the people with rational thought and deep understanding of their responsibility as members of a society. They look into the greater good, uphold and respect the probity of the human being and contribute towards the general success of the society.

Of course, Mr Jobarteh belongs to the third category of idiots. He is a citizen and understands what it means to be a genuine member of any society. While I cannot realistically peek into his mind or prognosticate the future and see whether he will change or not, I have long comfortably assured myself that he is a noble citizen, a patriot, the type that the young should look up to if we mean change in our lives time and that of our makeshift society.

Mr Jorbateh represents the agenda of the much-needed re- liberation of the Gambian from the bankrupt system of governance and ceaseless exploitation of its people. He understands the cries of the woman gardener in the remotest hamlet of The Gambia who is not even spared from the exploitation. Thus, the continuous demand for genuine leadership. Most amazingly, he does not represent the much pathetic political groupings in this country.

Mr Jobarteh represents a liberated progressive mind and citizen, who values human life regardless of one’s political affiliation, sexual orientation, imaginary tribe or social stratification. He is as far as the embodiment of a genuine “citizen” is concern, one of the finest one could point to in The Gambia.

The past explains how we got here today, so I do not and no one (except those exploiters) should care when Madi’s fallible nature offends the establishment or the laws designed with the exact intent to suppress the voices of the oppressed! Consider it, for example, as the reactionary effects of the half a century troubled souls.

I know, I cannot amply or exhaustively demonstrate the value of Mr. Jobarteh for what he represents and I have no intention to either but the story is told of many a great man, who dared to be different in strange times in societies that are today considered as liberated and progressive. History is kind to them because they possessed the forethought and genuine intention to institute real change. At first, they were misunderstood only to be celebrated by posterity.

Mr Jobarteh has chosen that right path, that of the people’s fighters! So tell Mr Government, you cannot silence the People’s Fighter! He represents just but us! He is us and we are him! Oh yes I am Madi Jobarteh!

As the rains begin to fall for this much anticipated farming season, it has brought with it gusts of wind & downpours to rural Gambia destined to feed the nation. The administration has this year mobilised soonest to that effect given events at stake in the face of coronavirus. With the presidential seal of approval firmly affixed on food self-sufficiency, the line ministry to its credit is locked in arms to address crisis facing this most vital industry.

Speaking weeks earlier, the minister of agriculture, Amie Fabureh, spoke in glowing terms on food (rice) security through accelerated in-country production. While the usual mode was to critique govt at any given moment, I am, very much pleased to see the Barrow administration standing tall on commitments laying strong foundations on mechanization drives.

A bumper harvest is anticipated this year that hinges on a steady does of rainfall, even as talks in government circles on all year round irrigation measures gather pace. Minister Fabureh has also announced that cotton production will commence this year – a first in decades!

A new type of Gambian youth (self-reliant) is on the rise ready to pull themselves out of poverty. He/she is entrepreneurial, patriotic youths have come to the understanding of what it takes to uplift themselves and the country out of poverty. And we could do with a more of those: The potential for job creation in agriculture alone is major for which private wealthy Gambians should come on board invest in big irrigation farms.

On Border Control – The issue here has garnered so much heat of late. Despite repeated violations on boundary limits, national security implications are impacted here which the intelligence & service chiefs seem to take a lukewarm approach. Where is the anger in these men to raise the roof with regards to clandestine [rebel] movements looting shops on the ‘line’. Stringent measures will need to address the soft border if peace is to keep, and “Cassamance” is to resolve. It takes more than men to address national security – naivety wont do it – honest & difficult conversations will have to have with your opposite numbers in Dakar.

On Advertising Standards – recent advancements and changes in society has seen limitations with respect to the ‘socials’ dialled up a little notch. A slippery slope it seems unless govt adopts interest here. We have seen mobile companies break advertising standards with no questions asked, as with the profitable cosmetics industry gone rogue. The red lines on Tobacco Control are larxed – government also need address the menace of oversexualized music videos on our screens claimed for art:-

On Second hand (car) Imports – Driving through urban Gambia one is soon confronted by a dastardly flotilla of second hand garage sales littering the scene. Not a pretty sight I’m afraid, safe for concern on the environment for destination tourism soon to be known for old cars no one in Europe wants. While not to that as yet, the situation warrants enough attention from the regulators and for parliament desirous on auto vehicle importation. The law has to be explicit on a timeframe to curtail importation of old cars – with exception given to agricultural machinery.

On Public Health – Anyone cares to look closely will have seen that sale of over the counter Birth Control pills are out of control in town. The idea that the ‘virus’ is left unregulated in the hands of unqualified dispensers has created a major health hazard. The amount of pain & distress young girls & women are subjected to by unworthy pills has left a lot to be desired. Untrained pharmaceutical agents shouldn’t be allowed to dispense certain products to the general public without supervision. The health minister must stand firm ready to close down foreign pharmacies littering the high streets – Hubs of death & despair #MassLaaBiiDoiiNaa

On Cyber Crime – Now, here is an area you may as well familiarise yourself for it is likely to be with us as long as life remains. Cyber crime is a 21st century trick concerned with online fraud and criminality of the sort. Across Europe, banks and financial entities are known to lose millions every year as a result of online theft. The recent cyber fraud at Trust Bank by a Nigerian crime ring in the country has sent shockwaves among the population.
We have also seen the central bank of Bangladesh lost millions of dollars due to cyber fraud. The Gambia government has to prioritise cyber security in an effort to protect the country’s central bank, commercial banks and other financial institutions against major losses. It is therefore a pleasant surprise to learn that through membership of the #Commonwealth, The Gambia will soon benefit from a multimillion cyber security initiative to bolster the country’s institutions against cyber attacks.
Depending on metrics deployed, indications are that the incidence of #RAPE is still too frequent in the country. The upsurge, one would imagine, is resultant of the enabling environment women and girls now feel bold enough to report such violations. While that is a plus in a democratic environment, we cannot hide from the fact that rape cases still linger court rooms left to drag on for too long. The police and the judiciary will need to be better at handling victims; one the newly appointed minister need take a closer look toughen up sentencing guidelines, as well as compensation for victims.

Sunshine in the Middle of rain – Just a moment to applaud the appointment of Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney general and minister of Justice. Highly accomplished both academically & intellectually, as well as ethical. He personify the simple life, for one who sacrificed a career in the judiciary delivering impartial judgements which got him the sack during dictatorship. Without a silver spoon, he pulled himself up by the bootstraps through hard work & sacrifice to get him where he is today – a shining example to young Gambians as to what is possible with a little bit of hard work & life choices. Indeed, goodness bores good, for an appointment widely acknowledged. Wishing him much success in the service to the nation.

The writer, Gibril Saine, is based in the United Kingdom.

Experts and authorities from the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) and the United Nations (UN) respectively are projecting an eerie probability of an enduring scenario of the coronavirus epidemic, lasting longer than we expect or desire. That, given all the impeding factors from among superpower leaders in particular, essentially disuniting rather than uniting the world into a common endeavor to control the pandemic, they are predicting a worldwide resilient disease estimated to be around for another three to five years even in the wake of a discovered vaccine in 2020. Coupled with the emphasis that a vaccine does not necessarily guarantee hundred per cent effectiveness, multitude of conspiracy theorists are not helping by dogmatically entertaining the misconception that COVID-19 doesn’t even exist and that any attempt of a global immunization will be hazardous to human health and only beneficial to profiteers like Bill Gates, colluding with corrupt epidemiologists and pharmaceutical industries.

Besides, we seem cursed by powerful leaders like President Donald Trump sending fallacious messages literally trivializing the severity of the pandemic to skeptics and President Xi Jinping who until recently had opposed ventures by foreign independent specialists to visit China and investigate the source of the deadly virus. These leaders seem to be more concerned with their domestic political success than the existential threat posed by the unmanageable disease or than any need for an urgent remedial course.

Mark you, skeptics doubting the existence of COVID-19, are not exclusively American but are indeed spotted all over the world including many Gambians who as a result will never respect basic preventive programs. Even members of our national assembly tend to send unobliging messages about the seriousness of the pandemic when as lawmakers they fail to strictly enforce the simple and very important protocol of every one within the confines of the hall wearing face masks.

In short I simply want to subscribe to the W.H.O.& U. N. projection that COVID-19 may stay with us longer than anticipated and that some nations, typically the Gambia, need to adopt better sustainable approach of fixing the problem different from what obtain all along.

Sooner rather than later international air, land and sea traveling will have to be reopened in order to resuscitate the sluggish world economy in which infected people will move from one country to another. Mandatory quarantine of travelers with minimal or no testing as prevalent in the Gambia is certainly not effective, economical or sustainable. Rather than paying huge sums of money to hoteliers to quarantine passengers flying into the Gambia, I think, in a long haul, it will be more sustainable and prudent to improve the Gambia’s testing capacity which I understand is totally abysmal. In that case, guests arriving are immediately tested and those found negative allowed to go while the positive ones are advised to go into self-quarantine. Encouraging and not forcing positively-tested people to go home and self-quarantine is what New York City did, now a COVID-19-controlled state, less the trouble of lodging and feeding anyone. Now visitors from states experiencing resurgence of the virus are compelled to self-quarantine and violators fined to pay substantial amount of money.

We have to however bear in mind that there are more asymptomatic than symptomatic infected people, with the former blessed with immune systems that even if quarantined for a whole year will never develop the disease unless and until their immune systems are compromised by mostly preexisting health conditions. That is why young healthy people, identified as the most carriers of the coronavirus are hardly sickened by it but tend to spread it faster than any group of people. Whereas old age, obesity, diabetics, cancer, asthma, sickle-cell anemia, kidney failure and cardiovascular diseases happen to be key ailments exacerbating one’s vulnerability to the pathogen.

The pitiful shortfall of robust testing mechanism in the Gambia undeniably prevents accurate collection of a data base on how many symptomatic and asymptomatic persons are actually infected. Indeed a survey of the pervasive violations of all the recommended protocols, i.e, stringent social distancing, limited or controlled market and beach crowds, reasonable company at traditional and religious ceremonies, wearing face masks and maintaining proper hygiene, demographically illustrates a population overwhelmed with infections. In addition to credible reports of gross under testing in the country, several Gambians exhibiting symptoms of the disease often decline being tested for fear of the uneducated stigma associated with contracting the virus or being diagnosed positive. Typically as in the case of HIV or AIDS infection in its early emergence in the 80s.

But to further buttress the forecast that the pandemic may not go away anytime soon there are evidences of a new strain of the virus discovered again in China, described with potentials of another pandemic. People seem too fatigue to acknowledge or even monitor it closely. Let’s hope and pray that it doesn’t again escape out of the communist enclave.

Since the outbreak of the mysterious coronavirus, the W.H.O. for the first time have secured a permit to visit China and conduct studies on how and when the pandemic exactly started there. My question is will the secretive Chinese government honestly show and tell them everything they need to know? I have my doubts!

But even so, with no end of the pandemic on sight and nations having no choice but to reopen their borders to international business and travel, improvement of massive and rapid testing methods remain the only and best safeguards while scientists continue to search for a vaccine or cure. Authorities in the Gambia need to diligently educate everybody into accepting testing as the perfect way to go and the need to respect most of the preventive measure listed above. The least recommended are wearing face masks and maintaining proper hygiene. Take note Honorable Speaker Mrs. Mariam Denton. Don’t get me wrong, you are by my standard doing an impressive job. Cheers!

People, being tested positive doesn’t mean a death sentence or even getting sick. It fundamentally helps medical personal to help everybody and most importantly to contact-trace infected individuals in order to effectively protect the frail and elderly.

Whether true or false, the role of government to quarantine aircraft passengers arriving in the Gambia has in fact been allegedly attributed to massive corruption, outrageous wastage, practically unsustainable and above all, rather ineffective.

Thanks for reading. Till next time.

Samsudeen Sarr

New York City

The sixteen months my wife and I have lived in The Gambia have shown us why this is known as “The Smiling Coast” – from Kartong to Fatoto we’ve experienced unrivaled hospitality, vibrant and diverse communities, learned about the rich culture and history, and of course eaten the most wonderful Gambian cuisine. Our time here has also reinforced the importance and strength of the deep and broad relations between the United States and The Gambia, and we are privileged to further the ties that bind us together.

This Saturday, July 4th, the United States celebrates our Independence Day. Americans around the world stop to reflect on the importance of democracy, inclusive and representative government, and fundamental freedoms. With COVID-19, this year’s celebrations will look different. Here in The Gambia, our Embassy Team will not be able to host our annual event to celebrate the occasion with our Gambian friends. But one thing that remains the same is our unshakable commitment to the people of The Gambia.

The courage shown by Gambians to vote for peaceful, democratic change in December 2016 inspired the world. The commitment to publicly examine the truth of abuses committed and seek justice and reconciliation inspires the world. The ongoing efforts to reestablish the foundations of human rights and human dignity, of representative and accountable governance, of equal access to justice, continue to inspire the world. I commend President Barrow and the members of his Cabinet, the elected representatives in the National Assembly who are speaking on behalf of their constituents, and most importantly the people of The Gambia for your continuing commitment to peaceful, democratic change.

The United States continues its commitment to support The Gambia’s implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP), which is an ambitious roadmap for foundational change. Our shared goal is to see an independent, self-reliant, and successful Gambia, which serves as a pillar of stability, democracy, and economic vitality in the region. U.S. assistance is primarily targeted at improving the Gambian government’s ability to effectively deliver services to the Gambian people, and the Gambian people’s capacity to serve as drivers and architects of their own development trajectory. The United States’ vision of The Gambia of the future is a country that no longer needs aid and – thanks to the drive and capacity of the Gambian people – can respond to the needs and demands of its people.

Below are just a few examples of our robust engagement over the past year:

Building Government Capacity: Last year over 50 Gambian security officers attended training at the International Law Enforcement Academy’s (ILEA) Regional Training Centers. We sponsored Technical advisors to the Security Sector Reform and government budgeting and debt management reform efforts. Our programming is helping National Assembly Members represent their constituents and fulfill their constitutional duties.

Supporting Communities and Organizations: We provided over $750,000 to support The Gambia’s capacity to combat Trafficking in Persons. The United States also committed over $1 Million to support victims and encourage the participation of civil society in the TRRC. Mulitple villages through The Gambia have benefited from small grants to dig wells, purchase rice mills, or install solar power banks through our Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund. This past year our Public Diplomacy Section sponsored a computer lab at the school for the deaf, vocational training for marginalized women and girls, and a weeklong camp for young leaders from the rural regions.

Addressing Development Needs: The MCC concluded a comprehensive assessment of “binding constraints” to economic growth, and focused on supporting Gambian efforts to address inefficiencies in the generation and distribution of electricity, with accountability for revenue collection and energy sector investment. We hope to re-start the program now that The Gambian government’s work to combat trafficking in persons have resulted in lifted restrictions on assistance.

And of course we cannot overlook that the United States is the largest contributor to the budgets for most if not all United Nations agencies that are hard at work in The Gambia supporting the National Development Plan and related efforts, from agriculture to health, to security and justice sector reform, to education system improvements, and many more efforts.

I feel extremely privileged to be the American Ambassador to The Gambia at this unique and momentous time in Gambian history, and to continue the longstanding tradition of American support for the Gambian people.

(P.S. – our favorite Gambian dishes are chicken Domoda, Super Kanja, and Yassa…and of course Benachin. While one can find similar dishes across the region, the key ingredients which makes Gambian food the best are the warmth and hospitality of the Smiling Coast.)

The writer, Richard Carl Paschall, is the US Ambassador to The Gambia.