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Driver on the run with suspected bags of cannabis dies in accident
A fatal car accident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning on Kairaba Avenue, opposite Latrikunda Upper Basic School has claimed the life the driver who was on the run while suspected to be in possession with five bags of cannabis, The Point has been informed.
The driver, who was driving a private Benz with the registration number BJL 1141Q was reported to be coming from the Traffic-light end with speed. As he was speeding, his vehicle tyres burst and eventually lost control. He hit a nearby pole resulting in an accident that claimed his life.
A source that earlier spoke to our reporter claimed that the driver was being pursued by officers of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG).
Meanwhile, the agency spokesperson, Ousman Saidybah, who was contacted for comments, dismissed rumours that suggest that DLEAG operatives were involved in chasing the driver. He said: “I can clearly tell you that our operatives were not involved in any operations in chasing a driver. We have contacted all our commands within the area but none of their officers were involved in such operation.”
PRO Saidybah added that immediately after the accident happened, DLEAG was contacted because there was some suspected cannabis found in the vehicle. “Our officers visited the scene and are working closely with our police counterparts. The matter is under investigation and when the investigation is completed, the suspected five bags of cannabis will be handed over to the agency.”
Lamin Njie, spokesperson of The Gambia Police Force couldn’t be reached for comments at the time of going to press.
SOURCE POINT NEWSPAPER
Pa Modou Bojang expresses dismay over radio closure
Pa Modou Bojang, manager of Home Digital FM which was recently closed by government has expressed disappointment over the closure of the two radio stations: Home Digital and King FM without following due process or giving any reason.
Mr. Bojang was speaking in an interview with reporters on Tuesday shortly after the government announced its decision for the reopening of the two radio stations and subsequently dropping all charges against their managers and staff who were arrested and briefly detained last month.
This decision came following the Gambia Press Union’s (GPU) and the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) collaborated efforts that led to a fruitful discussion for reopen on Tuesday.
“I am very disappointed with the minister of Information and Communication and The Gambia government at large for closing and reopening of our radio stations without giving any reason. We were expecting that the government will come up with a reason for shutting down our radio stations,” said Pa Modou Bojang.
According to him, he never had doubts about the reopening of two radio stations because they had done nothing wrong.
“The only thing I will emphasise is my disappointment with the minister of Information and The Gambia government in general because due process was not followed for the closing down of the radio stations.
child murdered by boyfriend In The Gambia
Police have arrested a woman over the murder of her 4 year old child;
According to sources the suspect is currently detained at the Bundung Police Station. Investigation continues and her boyfriend who is believe to be the culprit is on the run.
The woman was married before the incident but later got divorced. she decided to live her husband’s house and stay with her boyfriend along with her four year old daughter. Said our reliable source.
It is also revealed on the point daily newspaper that The boyfriend who is currently on the run has always beat up the little child and inflicted her with injuries.
On the day of her death, the man had beat up the child to an extend she was admitted at the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Centre. She later refereed to Kanifing General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
At the time of going to press, police were still hunting for the suspect who is believed to be on the run.
Our source further added that when the lady was arrested she attempted to cover her boyfriend, saying “she was responsible for the death of her child. However, after a marathon investigation by the police, it was realized that the boyfriend was the principal suspect in the case.”
Gambia should learn from Nigeria’s success in democracy
State House, Banjul, February 12, 2020 – His Excellency, President Adama Barrow has said that The Gambia should learn from Nigeria’s success in transitioning from military rule to a vibrant democracy through building of strong institutions and depoliticising the military.
The President made these remarks at the State House on Monday, when participants from Course 28 at the National Defence College in Abuja, Nigeria, paid a courtesy call on him.
The Course 28 group is on a research based mission in Banjul, on the theme: Tourism and National Development – Experiences of The Gambia.
“Africa should learn from Nigeria and The Gambia should learn from Nigeria’s success in transitioning from military rule to democracy. Nigeria has succeeded in building a great democracy through building strong institutions and depoliticising the military,” President Barrow told the delegation, citing the mutual experience sharing in the trip.
For The Gambia, the Barrow government’s pursuit of the security sector reform includes the establishment of Ministry of Defence, which for the first time is operating independent of the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Gambian Leader said the diversity of the corps of participants in this apex military training institution for the Nigerian Armed Forces, reflects a steady approach to integration of the continent.
The Gambia’s Minister of Defence, Sheikh Omar Faye said the military support from Nigeria to The Gambia dates a long time. He lauded the recent intervention of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in resolving the Gambia’s political crisis in December 2016.
`Minister Faye said it is not just a policy of the government but also a personal principle of President Barrow to put peace and stability at the heart of Gambia’s national development endeavours.
Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Massaneh Kinteh reiterated that Nigeria’s transitioning from military rule to a vibrant democracy has become a reference point for governance. Such a lesson formed the basis for The Gambia Armed Forces’ policy of “keeping the Army out of politics and politics out of the Army.”
As a Centre of Excellence, the National Defence College brings together representatives from countries in the West, East, North and Southern Africa.
2 died in course of soak away drill
Two people have been reported dead during the course a soak-away drilling along the busy Kairaba Avenue road. The Point Newspaper has reported on Thursday
The deceased, Ba Sainey a native of Wulli in the Upper River Region and Lamin Manneh, a native of Jarreng in the Naimina District of CRR died after slipping into a soakaway at a restaurant, La Parisienne.
A source familiar with the matter told The Point that the two youths were contracted by the restaurant owner to pull out the sand from the soakaway.
According to our source, it was Ba Sainey who first entered the soakaway but could not climb back. His friend Lamin also attempted to rescue him, but similar fate befell him too.
The deceased were both residents of Wellingara. Another source that spoke to our reporter said the deceased slipped into the soakaway at the La Parisienne restaurant.
The spokesperson of the Gambia Police Force couldn’t be reached for comments at the time of gathering the report. They said
UNICEF Donates Equipment worth D25 Million
The Health Minister Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh on Friday 6th February 2020 informed the National Assembly Select Committee on Health that UNICEF has donated equipment worth D25 Million to them.
The materials donated includes bed screens, curettes uterine, digital thermometers, obstetric surgical kits, oxygen concentrator, prongs nasal oxygen for adults and children, pulse oximeter, pump suction foot-operated, resuscitator hand operator for child and neonate, scale body electronics, sphygmomanometer for children, surgical instrument curettage vacuum extractor, bird, manual, compel, suction pump electric portable with accessories among others.
Minister Samateh said this donation came after his engagement with UNICEF on the kind of assistance the Ministry needs.
“In one of our engagements with the UNICEF, I told them that we don’t only have to be training our officers but we also have to equip them with the necessary materials they may need in the course of doing their work,” he said.
The Minister of Health said after their engagement with UNICEF they then receive this equipment, adding that the equipment will be distributed to all the health facilities in the country and will assist the officers in carring out their functions.
Hon. Ousman Sillah the Chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Health said the donation is timely and the partners need to be commended for their generosity.
“This shows how your Ministry has concerns when it comes to health, I am sure with these materials, it will minimize referrals of patients to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital as some of the equipment is mobile,” he said.
He commended UNICEF for the great gesture they have given to the Ministry of Health and urged the Ministry through the Minister of Health to make good use of the materials.
How GAF, Others Contain the Bush fire that Ravage Part of Jammeh’s Residence
Gambia Armed Forces Four Infantry Battalion Commander in Kanilai has confirmed that his forces, firefighters and villagers came together to extinguish the bushfire that burnt the former Gambian leader’s farm and park.
The bushfire which started from Allakunda spread to Kanilai burning the former Gambian leader’s mango and cashew plantations, part of the palm oil farm, the warehouse in the farm and one of the pavilions in the mini stadium.
Lt Colonel Ebrima Krubally said: “We had to switch off the electricity here so that the fire will not spread to the village. We used the branches of trees to extinguish the fire. The Fire and Rescue Service did not have the necessary equipment to respond to this situation. Only one of their fire tenders was working and it has capacity to carry only 800 litres of fuel.”
Jalamang Jammeh brother to the former Gambian leader rubbished reports that some animals including cattle and donkeys died as a result of the fire outbreak.
Jammeh said: “No person or animal died as a result of the fire incident. The fire did not spread to Yaya Jammeh’s house (mansion). We all came together to extinguish the fire. It was a difficult task, but we were able to contain the situation. We experience bushfire every year, but this one is very serious. Its magnitude is not in any closed to what we used to experience here. I am sad because the grass field where my cattle used to graze has been consumed by the fire. I do not have the means to buy hay to feed my animals.”
Jerreh Colley a ranger in the park confirmed that all the animals were safe.
Colley said: “The hyenas, the crocodiles, the birds, zebras and other animals are safe.”
The grass and trees closed to the crocodile ponds were burnt, but the crocodiles were seen diving in the pond.
Colley, who was smiling while looking at the hyenas, said the animals were hungry and needed food.
Gambian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia leads special envoy on bilateral mission
State House, Banjul, February 6, 2020 – His Excellency, Mr. Omar Gibril Sallah, The Gambia’s ambassador and permanent representative to Saudi Arabia and the Organisation of Islamic Conference, led a high profile Saudi delegation to meet with partners in government and non-government bodies in Banjul.
The delegation comprised Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed Almatter, director general of the International Relief Organisation. Mr Almatter was dispatched as the special envoy of the secretary general of the World Muslim League, accompanied by Mr. Abdulqader Ahmed Abobaker Al-Mashor, adviser to the secretary general of the World Muslim League.
Following their meeting with His Excellency President Adama Barrow at the State House last week, where the envoy expressed gratitude to the President for The Gambia’s stance on the Rohingya, they also met with Her Excellency, first lady of The Gambia, Madam Fatou Bah-Barrow at her office.
The first lady and the delegation held discussions around ways of enhancing the agenda of her foundation in support of the health of women and children to complement the efforts of the government of The Gambia.
The Saudi delegation met with the minister of Justice, Aboubacarr Tambadou to discuss the next steps in the peaceful resolution of the conflict besetting the Rohingya before the world judicial body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“The meetings were meant to further promote bilateral relation between Saudi Arabia and The Gambia, as well as engage religious groups in the country to promote religious dialogue among them,” Ambassador Sallah told the press before departure to Riyadh.
Gambia Celebrate fashion
Entertainment In Gambia
Ebrima John Jaiteh a veteran actor of the Gambia film industry becomes the winner of Fashion Award Gambia as the most stylist male actor 2020. congratulations!!!
Miss Mariam Colley; an actress, radio presenter, youth activist and founder of studio 411. comes out as the winner of the award, most stylist actress 2020. congratulations!!!
the event was held on Saturday 7th February, 2020 at pencha mi hall (paradise suit hotel) to celebrate and appreciate fashion in the Gambia.
16 DAYS TO NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA AWARDS – THE GAMBIA
NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA AWARDS – THE GAMBIA at the Ocean Bay Resort in Cape Point, on Saturday 23rd of November 2019 at 8pm. A memorable night celebrating the brotherhood between The Gambia and Nigeria. This event will have in attendance top Nigerian professionals who have contributed immensely to the legal, education, medical, commerce, diplomatic and military fields among many others in the Republic of The Gambia. Nigerians have rendered their support to this nation through the Federal Government Technical Aid Programme as well as through other formal and informal bodies.