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Three Years Jotna expresses disagreement with Coalition stakeholders
We are totally against the decision championed by Fatoumata Jallow-Tambanjang to extend the coalition’s agreed term from 3 to 5 years, Said Hagie Suwaneh, vice chairperson of the operation at the press briefing.
He continued; “Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang individually tasked some members of the Barrow supported camp to join her on the issue of five years.
Mr. Suwaneh said it also came to their attention that some local parties have never supported the president’s five years mandate. “We will never recognize the announcement made by Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang and her co.”
“We are calling on Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang to withdraw her statement given on 27th day of September, 2019.”
DLEAG arrests 2 with cocaine
Both suspects, he said, are under their custody as investigation into the matter continues. “DLEAG will continue on our efforts in making the country free from drugs and its related issues.”
Commenting on the concealment method and the way the cocaine was discovered with the first suspect, PRO Saidybah added: “Some quantities were placed in socks, and hidden in his boxer around his private part and some other quantities in the socks he wore. Our operatives are well trained and are always on alert.”
On The second accused, he said, the suspected cocaine was hidden inside his boxer and placed around the many jujus he tied around his waist. “Both suspects have European residential documents. They were planning on traveling to Spain through Banjul International Airport. From their tickets they were booked with Binter Canary for Las Palmas from Banjul International Airport,” he said.
The DLEAG PRO added that Sequel Balde is a Bissau Guinean residing in France and also holding a Portuguese passport, while Seco Balde is a Bissau Guinean residing in Spain and also holds Spanish residential permit, adding that both suspects were on board a commercial vehicle.
It could be recalled that, Bakary Gassama, the director general of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) once hinted that The Gambia could be a target of Drug Trafficking Organisations who are taking advantage of her strategic location to both South America and Europe as a drug trafficking route.
He said there are indications that the country can be used as a transit point for drugs coming from South America and some parts of Africa to the targeted markets in Europe and U.S.A. “Therefore, it is imperative to prepare well in terms of both human capacity and equipment to respond adequately to the illegal and clandestine activities of these organisations.”
It could be also recalled that DLEAG, The Office Central de Re’pression du Trafic Illicite de Stepfiants (OCRITS) of Senegal and The Judiciary Police of Guinea Bissau two months back signed a ‘historic’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three countries. The MOU is aimed at combating drug trafficking, organised crimes and its related issues.
The MOU will enable the three countries to exchange information and intelligence, join training and border patrols in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. The MOU is also capable of tactically re-positioning their front-line officers in making the sub-region a hostile environment for criminals.
DR Congo to deploy second Ebola vaccine
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have said they plan to introduce a second Ebola vaccine to tackle the second-worst outbreak of the virus in history.
The team overseeing DRC’s response announced the move on Saturday but did not say when the vaccine – manufactured by the US-based firm Johnson & Johnson – would be introduced.
It will complement another vaccine produced by US pharmaceutical giant Merck which has been administered to more than 220,000 people since the DRC’s Ebola epidemic erupted in the country’s eastern North Kivu and Ituri provinces in August 2018.
The Johnson & Johnson product has been a source of controversy among DRC health officials.
Former health minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga, who was stripped of oversight of the Ebola response in July, opposed its use, saying it had not been proven effective and could confuse local populations.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires two injections eight weeks apart, unlike the Merck vaccine, which requires a single shot. The Merck product is experimental but is estimated to be 97.5 percent effective and , according to the World Health Organization (WHO), may protect a person for up to 12 months.
In their statement, the current Ebola response team said the Johnson & Johnson product was also safe for deployment and noted that it was already being trialled in neighboring Uganda and in the West African country of Guinea.
“It is a vaccine that other countries already use. Why can’t we use it in Congo to protect our population?” the statement said.
The statement added that health officials intended to start by offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to DRC traders who cross into Rwanda and then to residents of the province neighbouring the epicentre of the outbreak “to create a corridor of immunised people”.
First Lady Barrow receives distinguished global award for excellence at the UN
State House, Banjul, 22 September 2019 -Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, the First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia on September 20, 2019, was honoured with the Distinguished Global Award for Excellence on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly by the Global Empowerment Movement (GEM-USA). The award was in recognition of the work that she does to reduce extreme poverty, assisting marginalized rural women, girls and vulnerable children in The Gambia.
The First Lady was celebrated for her dedication and selfless work in various initiatives, including Children on the Move, to positively impact the lives of people ensuring that no woman, youth or child is left behind.
Madam Barrow has been exemplary at using her platform as First Lady to making a difference in terms of development and the protection of the rights of Gambian women and children with the support of various Government departments and development partners.
Present at the event were members of the Gambia mission and community, as well as representatives of the Nigerian First Lady amongst others.
GEM-USA is an international non-governmental organization that gives support to underprivileged women and families who are vulnerable to victimization/crimes of abuse, human trafficking, forced prostitution, and provides education to bring these heinous crimes to the attention of others.
The Gambia Government place a temporary restrictions on properties of former regimes associates
The Government has also accepted the Commission’s recommendation to immediately place temporary restriction on the properties of the following persons and institutions until further notice: Amadou Samba, Tarek Musa, Fadi Mazegi, Illija Reymond, Martin Keller, Nicolae Buziainu, Dragos Buziainu, Ali Youssef Sharara, Woreh Njie Ceesay, Tony Ghattas, Feryale Diab Ghanim, Trust Bank Ltd, Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Ltd and M.A. Kharafi and Sons for their alleged roles in one way or the other.
Meanwhile scores of former senior government officials including former vice president Isatou Njie-Saidy have also received lengthy bans from holding public office and in some cases asset forfeiture.
Among them are former SGs Momodou Sabally and Njogu Bah. Mr Sabally has been banned from holding public office for life after the commission found him to have facilitated withdrawals from the Central Bank among other things.
He told The Standard yesterday that he could not immediately comment on the matter, preferring instead to consult with his lawyer.
However, the government has come under criticism for rejecting the commission’s recommendation for the sacking of a number of senior serving officials.
Among them is current chief of protocol Alhagie Ceesay.
Critics say the decision to just warn Mr Ceesay and others amounts to selective justice.
Meanwhile, three former members of the junta: Ebou Jallow, Edward Singhatey and Yankuba Touray, have also been asked to pay a combined amount of $32,220,000 within thirty days, failure of which their properties shall be forfeited to the state and sold.
Jammeh gets life ban, faces criminal trial
The Gambia government has published its white paper on the Janneh Commission report which looked into the financial activities of former president Jammeh, his family and close associates.
The government accepted to seize assets of former president Jammeh to compensate for about a billion dalasi and hundreds of millions of foreign currency the commission found him to have taken from public funds.
According to the Janneh Commission, the damage former President Jammeh has caused to Government institutions, public resources and state-owned enterprises is of such serious nature that the government ought to introduce a motion before the National Assembly for charges to be brought against him for theft, economic crimes and corruption.
“The government accepts the Commission’s recommendation that criminal proceedings be instituted against former President Jammeh for theft, economic crimes and corruption,” the government said in the white paper that contains its decision on the Commission’s recommendations.
Government also said it has accepted the commission’s recommendations that former president Jammeh is banned from holding public office in The Gambia for the rest of his life .
According to the Accountant General, in July 1994 when Jammeh took over power, his salary was D2, 744.20.
However, during his tenure as head of state, Jammeh acquired 281 landed properties throughout the country and two properties outside the country (one in US and one in Morocco).
According to the Commission fifty-one of the 281 properties owned by Jammeh were purchased for the total of D195, 500, 000 despite the fact that his legitimate earnings were insufficient to acquire properties worth that amount.
Gambia, Qatar sign 4 new bilateral agreements
SOURCE: POINT NEWSPAPER
His Excellency, President Adama Barrow and the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani presided over the signing of four new Memoranda of Understanding and bilateral agreements between the governments of The Gambia and Qatar. The agreements entail mutual cooperation in the sectors of communications, judiciary, customs, and youth and sports. On behalf of The Gambia, the various ministers of Information and Communication, Justice, and Foreign Affairs signed the agreements with their respective Qatari counterparts in the following areas:
Communication: The two governments agreed to operate in each other’s territories in the service areas of satellite communication. Honourable Ebrima Sillah signed the agreement with the Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications, Jasim Saif Al-Sulaiti.
Mutual Administrative Assistance: Both parties have agreed to exchange information between the customs authorities of the two countries. The Qatari Minister of Finance, Ali Sharif Al-Emadi, signed with Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, Dr. Mamadou Tangara.
Legal Affairs: It involves capacity enhancement of the judicial systems of both countries, through experience sharing. The two countries also agree to cooperate and assist each other in the area of customs law enforcement focusing on two specific areas: “Administrative Assistance for Optional Application of Customs Law” and “the Repression, Investigation and Combating of Customs Violations”. The Minister of Justice, Aboubacarr Tambadou signed for The Gambia while Hon. Essa Saad Jaffal Al- Naimi signed for Qatar.
Youth and Sports: The Gambia and Qatar have agreed to promote friendly exchange of youth camps and football tournaments between the two countries. Minister Tangara and the Sport and Culture Minster of Qatar, Mr. Salah Ghanim Al-Ali signed on behalf of their respective governments.
Other engagements
Amongst the president’s other engagements on day two of the State visit in Qatar include a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Charity, where they discussed possible a partnership to have the organisation begin operations in The Gambia. The non-governmental organisation covers areas of health, water supply, and education.
President Barrow also visited the Qatar National Museum. He was encouraged by the display of the rich history and visionary leadership that laid the foundation for a modern Qatari state in the 21st Century.
Later in the evening, the president wrapped up the day with separate meetings with the chairman of the Arabiya Trading, Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, and Muhamad Sultan Al Jabeer of Jabeer Construction.
Gambian president visits Qatar
On the sidelines of the three-day official visit in Qatar, President Adama Barrow was taken on a conducted tour of facilities being built ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha.
President Barrow, who was visibly impressed with the tour, said his experience was inspiring and shall be a learning curve for him and the government in the effort to successfully organize the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit in The Gambia the same year.
“The coincidence that Qatar and The Gambia are both small countries but would be hosting two global events in 2022 is a blessing’’, President Barrow said. ‘’Key in the hosting of such events is the development of the road infrastructure to ease travel as well as the venues with modern facilities to host world-class events”
Accompanied by His Excellency, Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment, who is in charge of these infrastructural developments, President Barrow went to see an ultramodern train station, an arts exhibition center, and the headquarters of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body responsible for organizing the hosting of the World Cup, among others.
The Gambia Police Intervention Unit Accused of Manhandling
Police Intervention Unit (PIU) are accused of manhandling accused some accused persons as the case involving Killa Ace Gambian artist and 36 others.
The accused persons face eight counts including unlawful assembly, prohibition of conduct conducive to breaches of the peace, arson and rioters demolishing building.
Dozens of PIU officers were present at Tuesday’s court hearing at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, with some PIU officers spotted throwing some accused persons to a waiting police van within the court’s premises.
However, police say the accused resisted to board the waiting van.
Some angry youth were shouting and saying: “You guys should learn a lesson from the past regime. We are all seeing what’s currently going on at the TRRC. Before arresting people why not you tell us the people that killed Ousman Darboe,” they queried.
The late Ousman Darboe wife’s was also seen within the premises of the court.
Alieu Bah and some activists also took the main highway marching towards Banjul and demanding the unconditional release of all the 37 arrested youths.
“We will not allow anybody to take us to those days of Yahya Jammeh even if it means giving our lives,” Dabakh Malick, an activist said during an interview.
He said: “So many people have lost their lives and others went into exiles during the former regime and others lost their lives just to bring in Barrow’s government,” he added, saying that “if they think they are in power and that they have The ECOMIG and soldiers, we have our rights and we’re going to stand here in the Gambia and fight for those rights. Nobody is taking us back to the days of dictatorship.”
“I am not standing here to defend anybody who did arson, but even whereas the person is going through court process; even if he is guilty; he is a human being, he needs to be treated with utmost respect. However, you can’t be slapping and kicking people just because they’re inmates.”
According to him majority of the young people that were present on the ground were agitated because they don’t have jobs. “They’re agitated because they’re frustrated and they lost hopes in this country. Don’t allow the authority to use you and you are brutalising people.”
“Today in our presence, we saw you beating our own people. They’re accused persons and it’s wrong for you to beat them,” Kexx Sanneh said,
“We are ready to fight against dictatorship in the country and we’re not going to entertain it anymore. We are tired. We stood here when you people are supporting Yahya Jammeh and fought against dictatorship. In fact, most of you were enablers during the former regime.”
“We must all resist. Gambians youth must go out and take this country from our failed politicians,” Alieu Bah stated.
Rain destroy the Lamsar road living it’s people stranded
Lamsar is a small community in Tanjai Kombo South. The people off this community earn their living through farming and fish business. Tanji is a town in Gambia, along the Atlantic coast. It is primarily a fishing town with a population of 14,531 according to the 2013 population census. The population of the town has been growing dramatically due to both urban and rural migration. This is because of its attractive fishing industry and suitable location.
people travel from Madiana, Lamsar, Tujereng, Sanyang, Gunjur, Serekunda to Tanjai for different business. some are fisher men, some push wheelbarrow to carry people’s load from the seaside to the garage or garage to seaside, some have small shops selling food stuffs, farmers bring their harvest to also sell at the seaside. fish which is the main product of the town has given employment to 1000s of youth who are mainly from Senegal, Guinea, and few from rural Gambia.
the Lamsar road has been a bad road for years. According to residence the community leaders have been on the money given by government to build the road for easy transportation of people. during every rainy season people of the community suffer from lack of good road.
many young men who are public transport drivers are left jobless for the next 5 months of the season as they are afraid to journey the bad road which may cause serious damage to their vehicles. residence who have their own private vehicles find it hard to travel as the roads are inconvenient for their cars.
About 80% of the residence travel by public transport. because These transport drivers are not journeying into the community the people are left stranded. They walk from their various home to the seaside in the morning and walk back home in the evening. This has been inconvenient to many people.
“we get very tired from walking. when we go to the sea we move up and down for our daily sales, trying to get fishing from the boats, freezing the fish and then selling. After all these ups and downs you have to walk for 30 minutes or more to reach your house” Said Mariama, a fishmonger at the fishing centre.
“Sometimes we wonder if the government has forgotten this town, development is very slow here and the roads have been the biggest problem for years. Some say that our leaders are sitting on the money given to them by government to construct the road”. Said Neneh who is also a fishmonger.
However; there are still some public transports who journey into the small community from Tippa Garage which they call “Satehkonoh motto” which means the town car. These are bigger vehicles call “Gele Gele”. this helps the people who live the community to go to serekunda to sell. but again those doing their business at Tanjai itself are less privilege because only few of these “Gele Gele” come there and they increase the transport fee from D8 to D10. These cars are normally overloaded to the extend that people are made to sit on the top of the car and still pay D10. Is this safe?
“we have no choice but to park our cars during the raining season. Our taxis are so small to enter the big stagnant waters on the way. these water are very unsafe as it may cause serious damage to the engine of the car, this will cost lots of money to fix”. said Madi a Taxi driver at Tanji.
The lamsar community calls out to the government for help construct the roads.
“we were very happy when we saw sands poured on the road side few months before the rainy season. we thought this time we wouldn’t suffer from the damage of the rain this time around. but since those sands were poured there nothing was done again. they just pour a little bit and go their way. these were mud and have no use on the road because it is still as bad as ever.” lamin told the Afrinity TV yesterday and a discus.
D5 Creation