Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 002/2008, 4 – 6 January 2008
Editorial
Salary Increase - A reality or Propaganda?
The Dangers of Arbitrary Rule
The President has made the announcement that salaries will increase by 20
per cent. This announcement may be appealing to the ear but, in economic and
constitutional terms, it should alert our minds to the dangers of arbitrary
rule. A government which is operating under the ambit of a constitution and
standards of best practice would have to honour the dictates of law and
reasonable and justifiable policy. Under such a government twelve months become too
long a period to leave a vacuum regarding the proper rewarding of the quantity
and quality of work done. It is unreasonable and unjustifiable for a
president just to announce out of the blue that there is 20 per cent salary increase
without basing his decision on assessment of the cost of living of the
salaries of the various income earners and the quantity and quality of work being
done by them. What the country needed immediately after the birth of the
second Republic was a salary and wages commission to assess the value of each work
being done by public servants and the cost of living and then accord salary
scale, according to the quantity and quality of work done. This should be
followed by the annual assessment of inflationary trend of the basket of
commodities and services, which are indispensable to daily survival and the
increment of salaries to be proportionate , at least, to the inflationary trends.
Such a standard of best practice would be complimented by bonuses for
exceptional performances and in the case of a better than expected financial
returns. Here is a government maintaining one of the smallest civil services in the
world, numbering nothing more than 16000 public servants, and who are on
starvation wages for over a decade, only to jump out of the blue to give
pittance as salary increase. (Foroyaa will give the exact number in subsequent
issues). What will the messenger earning 500 dalasis get as 20 per cent salary
increase if he is travelling from Barra to Banjul , daily, when the ferry
tariffs have increased from 5 to 7 dalasi? How much would it benefit the same
person when the prices of bread and many essential commodities have
increased? 20 per cent salary increase to such a person only means an additional 100
dalasi on top of his or her salary. The person earning 1000 dalasi a month
will receive an additional 200 dalasi. In short, most public employees will not
get even 300 dalasi added to their salaries at a time when the prices of
commodities and the tariffs of public utilities are skyrocketing.
The APRC regime is clearly out of tune with the realities of the Gambian
people if they consider it a new-year’s blessing to have salaries increased only
by 20 per cent. What is needed is salary revamping and not salary
adjustments by insignificant percentage points, which may be sweet to the ear of the
farmer who earns starvation income annually. They may even blame a son for not
increasing remittances, not knowing the insignificance of the increase.
Instead of serving as a propaganda tool, the Gambians should be awakened to the
fact that this “Alsamaday” government appears to be still walking in its sleep
and cannot properly conduct research to conceptualise the degree of their
suffering and take the desired measures to alleviate their poverty. It is
therefore necessary for the Alnya Yelle deh and Al kuning deh movement to grow in
2008 to give the people hope of a better future under a government which
shall reward them on the basis of the quantity and quality of their work. This is
Foroyaa’s New Year message to you.
Finally, it is important for the people to realise that it is not the
prerogative of the president to increase salaries under the constitution. Even the
president’s salary is determined by an Act of the National Assembly. This is
clearly stipulated under Section 68 of the constitution, which reads:
1. The President shall receive such salary and allowances as may be
prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly, and such salary and allowances shall
not be altered to his or her disadvantage during his or her tenure of office.
2. The President shall be entitled to such pension and retirement benefits
as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly and such pension and
other benefits shall not be altered to his or her disadvantage after he or she
has relinquished office:
Provided that no such pension or other retirement benefits shall be granted
to a President who ceases to hold office in accordance with section 67.
The same goes for the vice president and Secretaries of state under section
72 subsection (3) of the constitution, which states that “The Vice-President
and Secretaries of State shall be entitled to such remuneration, allowances
and other incidents of office as may be prescribed by an Act of the National
Assembly.”
Hence, it should be clear that the president has no power to increase his
own salary not to mention the salaries of public servants. Only an Act of the
National Assembly can give authority for salary increments.
This is clearly stipulated under section 151 of the constitution.
Subsection (1) states that, “No money shall be withdrawn from the
Consolidated Fund Except- (a) to meet expenditure charged on that fund by this
Constitution or an Act of the National Assembly; or (b) where the issue of that money
has been authorised by an Appropriation Act, a Supplementary Appropriation
Act or in accordance with subsection (4) of this section.”
Subsection (6) adds that, “Where money is charged on the Consolidated Fund
or any other public fund by law, it shall be paid out of that fund to the
person or authority to whom it is due.”
Hence, it should be as clear as noon day that the President is only
authorised by the constitution to cause the estimates to be prepared and laid before
the National Assembly for approval, which should be followed by the
introduction of an Appropriation Bill by the Executive for the National Assembly to
pass it. Once the Bill is passed, the president has no other mandate but to
send it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration of his observations,
which the National Assembly can overrule, or to assent and it then becomes the
law which determines salary scales and allowances for all public servants.
The Executive should respect these constitutional procedures and humble itself
to the role of public trustee and not elevate itself to the position of a
monarch with absolute power to make and enforce law.
Groundnut Trade Still In Limbo
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The 2007/8 groundnut trade season is still a dream for most farmers in the
Central River and North Bank Regions. Following the announcement that the
trade season would commence on the 10th of December 2007, most depots in the two
regions are yet to purchase nuts owing to lack of money at the depots.
On Monday 31 December 2007, this reporter visited the depot at Kuntaur and
found the place virtually empty and as quiet as a graveyard. The manager of
the depot, Mr. Ousainou Drammeh, lamented the lack of money at the depot. Mr.
Drammeh said most farmers’ preferred to sell their nuts directly to the depots
than to individual traders. Mr. Drammeh indicated that his team is ready to
start the buying of nuts if they have finance. He pointed out that they have
already cleared the depot and cleaned the ware house and groundnut stores. He
added that they have a standby generator for the commencement of the trade
season. He called on the concerned authority to speed up the disbursement of
monies to depots. He also opined that the delay in the disbursement of funds
might be due to the numerous public holidays. He pointed out the frustration
of the farmers within his jurisdiction. Mr. Drammeh said the quantity of
groundnuts produced by the farmers in CRR has superceded what many people
predicted. Mr. Drammeh also indicated that there were individual traders who
purchased groundnuts within his area. He noted that, so far, three traders had
informed him that they require license and money from GGC to enable them to
purchase nuts.
At the Kaur depot, some rotten nuts and groundnut shells could be seen
scattered within the depot. Mr. Buba A.S Manneh, the depot supervisor told Foroyaa
that they have about 30 tons of groundnuts in their store, which is awaiting
shipment to the GGC main depot. Mr. Manneh said the 30 tons were purchased
by a trader, but that they (at the depot level) are yet to commence buying
from farmers. Mr. Manneh said that they are expecting money at any time from
now. He attributed the delay in the disbursement of the funds to the numerous
public holidays. Mr. Manneh explained that many farmers confronted them on the
issue of buying at the depot levels; that their reply is that money is not
yet at hand at the depot. He indicated that two individual buyers, namely
Muhammed Nagib and Alagie Modou Njie, alias “Modou Jaggleh,” had started buying
nuts within the area. He lamented that many farmers explained that they are
more comfortable in selling their nuts directly to GGC depots. He added that
many farmers vowed that they prefer to sell their nuts to Senegalese buyers
than to individual traders if the depots will not operate. He asserted that the
depots need to operate before losing a good number of nuts to Senegalese
buyers.
The two depots in North Bank Region, at Kerewan and Barra were virtually
empty. No sign of groundnut trade was noticed within the entire area. Nobody was
seen to give information about the whereabouts of the managers. However,
most seccos, along the North Bank and Central River Regions, were left not
operating and their structures dilapidating. The secco at Njau, just opposite the
police station, was virtually left uncleared in the midst of thick bushes.
At Kaur, the secco was cleared but no sign of groundnut trade was noticed. At
Wassu, the secco was also cleared but nothing took place. At the Wassu “Lumo,”
dozens of Farmers were seen carrying their nuts on horse carts to be sold
at the weekly market day. Chief Tabora Manneh’s groundnut buying point at
Buniadu in Lower Niumi , is yet to operate. (See Page 3 for more on groundnut
trade).
Supreme Court Urged to Dismiss UDP/NRP Suit
By Bubacarr Sowe
Marie Saine-Firdaus, the Attorney General and Secretary of State for
Justice, yesterday, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the suit filed by the United
Democratic Party (UDP), the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the
Minority Leader of the National Assembly. She made this request to the court while
making her submission in support of papers she filed in court, which pointed
out that the court cannot hear this case.
The suit is challenging the recent amendments of the Constitution and the
Local Government Act, which have disqualified the election of council
chairpersons by universal suffrage.
It is also seeking an injunction restraining the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC), the second defendant, from holding the January 24 local
government and municipal elections.
The Attorney General, who is the first defendant, submitted that the suit is
improperly constituted; that the court lacks the authority and that the
plaintiffs do not have the right to bring the issue to court.
The Attorney General also submitted that the UDP and NRP do not have the
capacity to take the case to court, because they are members of an existing
political party, the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD). She
further submitted that only two members, Hamat Bah and Ousainou Darboe, have
resigned from NADD.
On the third plaintiff, Momodou Sanneh, who is Minority Leader at the
National Assembly, Mrs Saine-Firdaus submitted that he lost the vote at parliament
and is now seeking a judicial process to overturn the amendment. “He is
trying to bite the cake twice. He does not have locus standi (the right) to bring
this suit to court,” the Attorney General submitted.
Amie Joof-Conteh, who appeared for the IEC, submitted that the suit is
incompetent because it states no cause of action on the second defendant. She
submitted that the IEC has a constitutional mandate to hold or conduct public
elections and asking it not to hold elections is, in itself, a contravention of
the constitution.
Mrs Joof-Conteh further submitted that the plaintiffs, not being happy with
the amendments, cannot prevent the IEC from carrying out its constitutional
mandate. She argued that the plaintiffs’ suit is in contravention of Rule
46(1) of the Rules of the Supreme Court.
In his submission, counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Ousainou Darboe, noted
that the contention is not for the IEC not to hold elections, but that it
should not hold elections whose legislations are questionable. He submitted that
the submission of a no cause of action by the second defendant is not viable,
adding that it is discriminatory for electors in Banjul and Kanifing
Municipalities to elect their own mayors while the other councils do not.
While admitting that the IEC never participated in the amendment of the
Constitution and the Local Government Act, he argued that that does not mean
there can be no cause of action to be brought against it.
Mr Darboe also submitted that the IEC has not shown how the case should be
dismissed.
The case continues today at the Supreme Court, before Justice Abdou Karim
Savage, with the continuation of the submission being made by the plaintiffs
counsel.
Teachers Lament Unfulfilled Promise Of Salary Increase
By Modou Jonga
Qualified Teachers in Region 2, who spoke to Foroyaa on condition of
anonymity, have lamented the unfulfilled promise of the government to increase
teachers’ salaries in 2007. They complained that the said salary increment, to
their utmost surprise and disappointment, did not reflect on their pay slips.
Speaking to this reporter, a teacher posted to Kampasa Lower Basic School ,
in the Fonis, noted that he has noticed an increase on his zonal allowance
but not that of his salary. Another teacher, posted at Kabafita Upper Basic,
complained that the said salary increment did not reflect on his pay slip, but
that his transport allowance was increased from D150 to D250 last year.
Three members of staff of Kunkujang Keitaya Lower Basic School , also in
Region 2, pointed out that the salary increment is not reflected on their pay
slips. According to them, the announcement of a salary increment is an empty
statement and a political gimmick to down play the plight of teachers. They
informed this reporter that they had taken up the matter with the relevant
authorities, to effect the salary increment, but their concerns fell on deaf ears.
“We had on numerous occasions engaged the Regional Education Office and DOSE
on the salary increment but to no avail,” claimed the teachers.
Teachers on postings, in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6, have described the much
talked about ‘Hardship Allowance’ as unjust and without merit. They pointed out
that only few schools in this region are entitled to the said allowance,
whereas the conditions in, almost, all the schools in the regions, are similar.
They further urged DOSBSE to be resolved in order to readily consider their
plight. They also called for the payment of the ‘Hardship Allowance’, across
the board, for all regions.
Foroyaa will get in touch with the Department of State for Basic and
Secondary Education for their opinion on the issues raised.
DPP Fagbenle and Cassamance Insurgents
Address Court
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and two of the alleged Casamance
insurgents, on Wednesday, addressed the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on the mini
trial (Voir dire), which is meant to establish whether the statements of the
accused persons were obtained voluntarily by the State.
The nine alleged rebels are accused of spying, planning to launch an attack
on Senegal and unlawful possession of Gambian national documents.
Emmanuel Fagbenle, the DPP told the court that the statement of Nuha Jammeh,
the third accused person was not obtained as a result of inducement or
threat or force from any person or authority, but was voluntarily given by the
accused.
Mr. Fagbenle said in order to prove the prosecution’s case; they have
brought several witnesses to court. He said Amadou Sanyang, a police officer, who
obtained Mr. Jammeh’s statements and Tijan Bah, who was the independent
witness present when the statements were being recorded, testified in Court.
The DPP added that both Messrs Sanyang and Bah were cross examined by the
third accused person, but their evidence was “unshaken.” Mr. Fagbenle
submitted that the third accused person did complain about the yellow marks on his
statement, which were not initially there, noting that the marks were meant for
the investigators, who were highlighting the areas of importance on the
statement.
He said Mr. Jammeh’s complaint of being handcuffed, while in prison in Mile
Two to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was “appropriate” considering
the nature of the act he is accused of.
Mr. Fagbenle also said Mr. Jammeh feared a wire cable he saw at the NIA when
his statement was being obtained, but that was not meant to threaten or beat
him up with. Addressing the court on Abdou Salam Jammeh, the eighth accused
person, the DPP said the accused voluntarily recorded his own statement.
Mr. Fagbenle said the eighth accused person gave his statement in the
presence of the independent witness, Tijan Bah and the police officer, Amadou
Sanyang, without any threat or force. He said Salam Jammeh’s claim that
electricity shocks were applied on him to a state of unconsciousness could not be true,
since an unconscious person may not be able to tell how many times he
suffered the shocks.
The DPP submitted that the eight accused person, who could not tell the
court the time he left Mile Two and the time he spent at the NIA, should not be
taken seriously by the court. He added that Mr. Salam Jammeh, in his evidence,
said he was shown certain books by the investigators, but later denied it in
his cross examination.
Mr. Fagbenle finally told the court that the eighth accused person has not
provided any proof of the allegation of torture at the NIA, stressing that the
prosecution has proved its case in accordance with sections 33 and 31 (2) of
the Evidence Act.
In a brief reply to the DPP’s address, Nuha Jammeh told the court that the
statement tendered in court was the one he made just after his arrest, but the
others he was forced to make have not been brought to court.
The third accused person added that those statements were taken at the NIA
and that he was told that they will be brought to court. Mr. Jammeh also said
he was arrested ten months earlier, contrary to what is claimed in court.
The DPP responded to Mr. Jammeh’s claim, saying that those statements the
third accused person is claiming to have made are not in the case file. In his
address, Mr. Salam Jammeh described the investigators at the NIA as
unprofessional who cannot do their work. He accused them of “Moral, Physical and
Psychological torture” to obtain statements from him and others.
Mr. Salam Jammeh denied knowing the independent witness, Tijan Bah, who he
said was never present when his statement was being obtained. The eighth
accused submitted that Mr. Bah’s testimony was so contradictory when he said he
was not at the serious Crime Unit and later said he was there when he was taken
there for interrogation.
He said they (the accused persons)) can produce witnesses to prove their
allegations of torture, since the NIA will never allow anyone to know their “mis
deeds”. Mr. Salam Jammeh added that electricity shocks were certainly
applied on him, emphasizing that he has never put any date on his statement.
He finally urged the court to throw the statements away because the witness
was bias and was never present at the recording of his statements. The DPP
replied that the statement tendered in court is the very one the investigators
obtained from the eight accused person at the NIA premises.
Mr. Fagbenle said no statement was taken at the Serious Crime Unit and the
whole evidence of the prosecution is consistent.
Hearing continues on January 8.
Groundnut Buying Commenced At Basse Depot
By Lamin Fatty
Nearly two weeks after the announcement of the Agri-business service plan
association for the commencement of the 2007/8 trade season, buying of
groundnuts has finally started at the Basse Depot, on Saturday 29 of December 2007.
This reporter was able to see bags of groundnuts being brought by the farmers
at the said Depot.
However, the depot manager, said to be one Alagi Ibrahima Krubally, was
reported to be out of town at the time of the visit to the depot by this
reporter. However, one Lasana Krubally, said to be the son of the said Depot Manager,
when questioned, said he does not know how many tons of groundnut has been
purchased but that over a hundred bags of groundnut are already in stock.
A farmer, name withheld, also told this reporter that he still does not have
confidence in the 2007/8 groundnut season, even though buying has started on
cash basis.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
SENEGALESE SOLDIERS’ WITHDRAWAL FROM GAMBIAN SOIL CAUGHT GAMBIAN AUTHORITIES
BY SURPRISE?
With Suwaibou Touray
In the last edition of Focus, we have narrated the issues that emanated from
chieftaincy elections which had no basis as far as the laws were concerned.
We have stopped where we quoted the Foroyaa newspaper blaming the government
for not studying issues of National importance and taking a positive stand;
that it rather preferred to promote what it had inherited from the
colonialists, i.e. to rule by tradition instead of just democratic laws.
Let us continue from where we stopped.
By about 15th August 1989, there was intensive reportage on the
Senegal/Guinea Bissau dispute, that tension was building up between the two countries
over a border dispute.
This period also coincided with unofficial news that The Gambian president
sent a letter to President Abdou Diouf demanding that it was his turn to head
the confederation. This became quite a surprise because the confederation had
already lost steam even among the ordinary people.
So for president Jawara to now raise the tempo of the crisis by demanding
for rotation of the presidency was no misunderstandings by demanding for a
rotation of the presidency was no doubt a great surprise to many observers.
Some said the BBC broadcast of a report from a Senegalese Newspaper
indicating that Senegal was like a wounded lion being kicked from all sides; that
Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and that The Gambia that was in a confederation with
it were kicking the pride of Senegal was too much for some people.
Foroyaa dismissed the reports and said it was obvious that this could not be
true; that anyone with an elementary knowledge of the confederal arrangement
would know that the president of Senegal was forever the president of the
confederation. Hence, they wrote, it would be ridiculous for president Jawara
to write to ask for a turn to head the confederation when the provisions of
the confederal agreement remained the same. The External affairs ministry
finally confirmed that such a letter had never been written by president Jawara.
The disputed border area that lies between Senegal and Guinea Bissau was
said to have accumulated oil deposits. Foroyaa reminded the two countries that
if they continued with the war, it could in fact consume more wealth or
resources than what could be exploited from the strip of land.
It was also the belief of many that the Gambia was not really ready to
handle her security; that colonel Ndow Njie who headed the new Gambian army had
also headed the Gambia Gendarmerie which could not be. The Gambia at the time
had a confederal Gendarmerie and for the first time it had a gendarmerie of
its own being trained by a Senegalese. A British training Team was also here to
train the new national army. The idea was that the Gambian gendarmerie could
be either fused with the confederal gendarmerie as well as the National army.
In a press conference at state house at about 31st of July 1989, president
Jawara was asked to shed light on the confederation. Sir Dawda diagnosed the
confederation as suffering from what he called a ‘simple cold’ but opined
that it would soon get over it.
But what he did not know at that same time was that President Abdou Diouf
had already publicly said that the confederation was quite costly and
insignificant, and therefore the only logical solution was to dismantle what he called
this ‘white elephant.’
IS THE SENEGAMBIA CONFEDERATION DEAD OR FEVERISH?
By about the 1st day of August president Diouf pronounced the confederation
as dead, but Jawara adamantly insisted that it only had a minor ailment that
would require a pain killer to get rid off.
By the 22 of August 1989, Senegalese troops were seen withdrawing
unilaterally. Many of their troops took the trans-Gambia highway up to Basse. This
columnist followed the Senegalese troops up to Basse where they exited through
the border via the town of Wellingara in the Senegalese region of Casamance.
Both Foroyaa and the Nation opined at the time that the Gambian authorities
were caught quite unaware by the decision of President Abdou Diouf to freeze
the confederation just out of the blue, without consulting with president
Jawara as the vice president of the confederation.
That unilateral action of president Diouf, the nation posited, apparently
showed the privileged position that Senegal occupied within the confederation
and their lack of regard for the opinions of Gambia ’s political leaders.
The Nation equally argued that Senegal need not be blamed for assuming such
a posture because as it wrote, our leaders agreed to submit themselves to
such an inferior position when they negotiated and signed the confederation from
a position of weakness.
Some people however were of the view that Abdou Diouf may have realized the
mistake he made at the beginning when he could have easily demanded and
obtained something more concrete than a loose confederation from the Jawara
regime, because according to them, at that point in time, the Jawara regime
depended entirely on Senegalese goodwill to survive as a Government. The Nation went
further to assert that without the Senegalese intervention in 1981, the
regime could not have survived a day longer.
Many maintained that the confederation meant different things to different
people. To the Senegalese regime, it was meant to be just a first step towards
a complete union of the two countries, whilst the Gambian leaders saw it
merely as a marriage of convenience and fulfilling a pre-condition to the
Senegalese intervention in restoring the regime back to power after having been
almost completely uprooted by Kukoi’s men.
According to the nation, that was the reason why at the beginning, there was
very little if any resistance from the Gambian side, but as the regime
became more secured and confident they started putting up some resistance to the
Senegalese overtures and dragging their feet on a lot of other issues. This
created frustration on the Senegalese side especially the stiff Gambian
resistance to the implementation of the protocol on economic and monetary union.
The SeneGambia Confederation took eight years, from 1982 to1989 but came to
a halt when the Senegalese Defence minister came to the Gambia and told Sir
Dawda that the president of Senegal had decided that the confederation had
served no useful purpose, presumably to themselves and the millions of people
they believed to have been representing, the nation wrote. The confederation
was said to have consumed D77 million Dalasi annually from the tax payer’s
money of both Senegal and the Gambia in which the Gambia contributed 26 million
Dalasi annually and Senegal 52million Dalasi.
As the PDOIS party always put it, a huge bureaucracy had been set up which
included the presidency and vice presidency of the confederation, the
confederal security forces, and the so-called confederal parliament, who were all
given fat salaries and allowances.
So the lack of progress towards the set objectives coupled with the huge
wastage of scarce resources for both countries must have prompted president
Diouf to call it quit.
Many also attributed the down fall of the confederation to the systematic
criticisms of the PDOIS who focused on the inequalities apparent in the
protocol and the wastage of scarce resources of both countries but Sir Dawda
vehemently argued only few months before the demise of the confederation that only
a slim minority opposed the Government’s stance on the confederation. This
was why the Nation asked Sir Dawda how he knew that it was a tiny minority that
opposed the confederation when at the time, between July 1981 and 1982, the
leader of the opposition was in detention and there was no freedom of
expression during the state of emergency. They called on him to face the people and
tell them that they have failed to operate the SeneGambia confederation and
failed to manage the Government of this country.
See next edition of Focus as we surge forward into narration of events for
end 1989.
2007: A Flashback
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
As 2007 elapsed, Foroyaa takes a look at the major issues and events,
reflecting on the high and low points of the year.
In our first edition of the year, 2007, the Foroyaa asked in its editorial
whether poverty will be reduced by 2015, a target set by the United Nations at
the start of the Millennium. It went on to ask if the government can uplift
its employees’ lives whose average earning is less than one dollar a day.
In the same edition of Foroyaa, farmers expressed dissatisfaction over the
2006/2007 producer price for groundnut which was pegged at D6,500 per tonne,
noting that D7,500 a tonne for farmers who transport their nuts to the Gambia
Groundnut Corporation depots only benefit buying agents not farmers
themselves.
Saddam Hussein, who ruled Iraq for three decades before a US invasion
toppled him, was hanged at dawn for crimes against humanity. Saddam, 69, his half
brother, Barzan al Tikriti and a former judge Awad al Bander were convicted
for killing 148 shi’ite men from the town of Dujail following an assassination
attempt on him.
Nomination for the National Assembly Election was held in early January
which was contested by the APRC, NADD, UDP and independent candidates, all
numbering 103 contestants.
In its January 5 to 7 issue, the Foroyaa editorial called on the Secretary
of State for Health to visit the mortuary which was polluted by ordour of dead
bodies. Surprisingly the Health Department denied the editorial and flashed
pictures of the mortuary on television; in the third issue of Foroyaa,
January 8 to 9, a press release from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
in Dakar stated that the fees for a Schegen visa has been increased from 35
to 60 Euros.
The arrest of Nfamara Bojang the UDP candidate for Bakau, constituency in
the 2007 parliamentary elections was reported on Foroyaa’s January 10-11
edition. In the same edition it was reported that 30 people from Sandi-kunda in
Wuli East were left homeless by a Tobaski day fire, which consumed eighteen huts.
The January 12-14 edition of Foroyaa reported that Chief Ebrima Manneh,
reporter with the Daily Observer was detained at Fatoto police station. He was
arrested on July 7, 2006 and was still detained.
Mustapha Bojang an employee of Kanilai Farm admitted in court that he stole
D1,093,965 dalasis.
The Niamina East Independent candidate for 2007 parliamentary election was
arrested with eight of his supporters by the Jareng police, Foroyaa reported
on its January 22-23 edition.
Gambians went to the polls on January 25 to elect members of the National
Assembly among 103 contestants.
According to a press release, the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) and the Spanish government on January 24 signed an agreement whereby Spain
will provide 10 million Euros to the UNDP’s Democratic Government Trust Fund
in West Africa .
In early February, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon arrived in the
Democratic Republic of Congo for a five-day tour of Africa, taking him to the
African Union Summit in Ethopia and later to Kenya .
On February 2-4, we reported that the defeated UDP candidate for Lower
Baddibou , Kebba F. Singhateh and fifteen of his supporters were arrested by
officers of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU).
A press release by the government published by Foroyaa on its February 5-6
edition stated that Fatoumatta Jahumpha-Ceesay has been nominated by the
President as Speaker of the National Assembly. Other nominated members were Seedy
Bojang, Bala Musa Sanyang, Tina Faal and Oley Sey.
A press briefing announcing the establishment of a media non-governmental
organization, called Media Agenda was convened at its office along the Mamadi
Maniyang Highway attended by over a dozen journalists. Its Director, Madi
Ceesay promised that they would train 275 journalists in 24 months.
On Friday, February 5, nineteen water points were launched in Ebo Town
funded by UNICEF in collaboration with the Gambia government.
Magistrate Moses Richards sentenced one Ebou Sey to life imprisonment upon
his plea of guilty for raping a young school girl.
On February 18, the Gambia marked its 42nd independence anniversary in a
celebration presided unusually by the Mayoress of Banjul Mam Sai Njie-Sanneh
instead of the President.
Susan Waffa Ogoo, one of the longest surviving cabinet members in President
Jammeh’s government was relieved of her duties. She was at the time the
Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Employment.
In our February 23-25, we published an open letter from the Committee to
Protect Journalists (CPJ) to President Jammeh demanding an investigation into
the whereabouts of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a journalist working with the Daily
Observer.
In the March 2-4 edition of Foroyaa, the SoS for the newly created
Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, Crispin Grey Johnson
in an interview said the Department will focus on science and technology
policy formulation, planning and the extension of research to MRC and NARI.
On March 2, President Jammeh addressed the new National Assembly Members
comprising of five opposition, forty-two from the ruling party , four nominated
and one independent member.
The National Youth Parliament on March 7, marked its fifth anniversary at
the National Assembly grounds in Banjul .
Atleast forty two women were sent to jail for seven days after pleading
guilty to charges of rogue and vagabond, Foroyaa reported on March 12-13.
Michael Rossel Vante, a British who was incarcerated at the State Central
Prison, Mile Two, told the Kanifing Magistrates Court that 40 people have died
at the country’s main prison in sixteen months, Foroyaa published on March
14-15.
Foroyaa reported on March 23-25 that Tabara Samba is charged with the murder
of her husband, Ebrima Nian.
On March 27, Dr. Badara Loum and Suruwa B.H Jaiteh both ex-permanent
secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture were arraigned at the High
Court on an economic crime charge.
A US$2.5 million project took off the ground for the West Africa Journalist
Association (WAJA) at a ceremony held in Bamako , Mali on March 27. The
project is meant for training and supporting journalists.
On April 2-3 issue of Foroyaa, a report from our Basse correspondent said
that a sixteen year old girl from Basse Kaba Kama attempted to commit suicide
due to forced marriage.
Fatou Jaw Manneh, a US based Gambian journalist was charged with sedition on
April 3, following a six day detention at the National Intelligence Agency
(NIA) Headquarters.
On the same day, Omar Ndow, an ex-Managing Director for Gamtel charged and
arraigned on six economic crime charges at the High Court after a protracted
detention at the state central prison, Mile Two. Besides, the Kanifing
Magistrates Court on the same day granted bail to Lamin Sanneh, ex-Permanent
Secretary at the Department of State for Works and Infrastructure following five
months of detention.
On April 12, the National Assembly ratified a framework agreement on
cooperation between the Gambia and Venezuela .
April 16, the Kanifing Municipality got Alieu Momar Njie as an acting mayor,
following the sacking of Francis Gomez who was also an acting mayor.
On April 19, ten military officers were sentenced by a court martial for
taking part in the March 2006 coup attempt.
A number of 28 guns and some ammunition voluntarily surrendered by the
community of Koina were destroyed on April 21.
To be continued
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
“Too Late! He Lost Her”
Part 1
With Amie Sillah
Badou And Friend
Badou is a lawyer in a trio company partnership. He felt being cheated by
their senior partner, Barrister George. He opted out and started his individual
practice.
His Friend Joins Him
His other friend Arthur decided to join Badou to form another partnership.
They were the cheated ones. When they decided to form a partnership they
ensured that all policies were to be based on a consensus before execution. It was
a good deal for the partners. Their company was a leading firm in land
conveyance.
Isha From A Poor Household
Isha is a poor orphan being brought up by a poor paternal aunt. Her aunt,
Aunty Marie sells vegetable at the main market. She took good care of her
niece. She has no child of her own. Aunty Marie is a kind, generous woman. She
gets Isha educated through the proceeds from her petty trading. In the evening,
she cooks ‘ebeh’ (a cassava porriage) and ‘foofoo’ with okra soup. Her
dishes are delicious. She attracted customers far and wide in the community. Isha
helped her aunt run her petty business. Isha is hard working and
industrious. She also studied very hard and always tops her class. She attracted some
rich friends. She was generous in sharing her knowledge with them. They
nicknamed her scientist. Isha tops her class in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and
Biology; even the boys were afraid of her in these science subjects.
Rugi Invites Isha To Her Brother’s Birthday Party
Rugi is one of Isha’s friends. She is her closest pal. Rugi’s dad died
three years ago and left them with his vast wealth. Her mother is the first wife
with the sons. Her mother’s two co-wives have only daughters. When the wealth
was being shared her mum gained the lion’s share. Her brother Ismaila,
fondly called ‘Is’, now heads the family business. He is extravagant and lousy.
He threw an extravagant birthday party at his 25 years. He called it a silver
jubilee party. Is invited the cream of society. Rugi invited Isha to her
brother’s silver jubilee birthday party. Isha hesitated and started to give
excuses. Aunty Marie urged her to attend. “All work and no play make ‘I’ a dull gi
rl.” Reluctantly Isha accepted. “On Saturday next! Don’t afford to miss it!”
Rugi emphasized. “You will meet the cream of Gambian society. It’s no lie!”
Put in Rugi. She met Isha doing house work. “Work! Work! Work! You are a
workaholic!” said Rugi. “See your long manicured nails! Have you ever done
laundry?” “What laundry? Never! I take my clothes to the dry cleaners or to
our washing machine. Our housemaid, Haddy, has been taught to use it. I hate
house work. It will spoil my manicure.” Rugi argued. “You live an affluence
life. You can say that but for me I can’t. I am a poor orphan. I have to love
work and learning to make something of my life. I was not born with a silver
spoon. I want to get out of poverty and my education and discipline is my
passport.” “Well said!” Rugi mocked. “Don’t insult me. When the time comes I’
ll learn. My darling husband would understand. After all, I am not his
housemaid but his darling wife. We will go to restaurants. I’ll also employ a cook.”
Rugi argued. “Some husbands prefer only their wives to cook for them
remember. And it is a joy of a wife to cook for her husband. We are African women.”
Isha argued. “Enough of your granny lectures. See you Saturday next. The
future will take care of itself.” Rugi said.
Isha Visits Badara
Isha visited Badara and told him about the party. Badou asked Isha to be
careful. “You are going to a rich man’s party. The air will be quite polluted.
Don’t allow yourself to be contaminated.” Badou kissed her. “Remember my
bargain? I promise to be pure until marriage.” “Yes! I remember. I’ll never ask
until the knot is tied.” They both laughed over it.
The Party
Isha is a simple but a very beautiful and attractive girl. She wore jeans
and a long sleeve T-Shirt. She wore a mild make up and perfume. When she got to
the party all eyes were on her. Ismaila was attracted to Isha throughout the
night. Rugi became jealous. Isha noticed it. She quickly left as soon as
Ismaila went to the loo to ease himself.
The Duo’s First Deal
The duo had their first land conveyance deal. It was a good deal for both of
them.
Badou Sends Kolanuts
Badara sent kolanuts to Isha. Aunty Marie invited her paternal and maternal
aunts and uncles. Babou’s delegates gave the assurance that Badara will tie
the knot as soon as he got to the US and sent for his wife to join him. Isha
was on her medicine degree programme. She was advised to acquire her first
degree here and then proceed to specialization overseas. That was a good deal
between the lovers.
Badou Comes To Isha
Badara came to visit Isha but she was not around. She went to convey her
friend Rugi. As clara was walking back, Is came looking for her. They met at the
junction. He kept on chasing after her. “I am being engaged to my fiancé. He
had already sent kolanuts. He is traveling to the U.S and I am waiting for
him. As soon as he settles down I’ll go and join him there.” Isha clarified. “
He has not married you yet. He only sends kolanuts which is his intention. I’
ll still hussle. It’s a battle and I hope to win it. I love you Isha. I can
send you abroad for your post graduate studies. I’ll not interfere with your
career. You will be an asset to me and I’ll support you one hundred percent.”
Isha came back and found Badou still waiting. “I stayed for long.” Badou
said. “I went to Rugi. You know girls’ chatter. The discussion carried me
away.” She lied. Badou cautioned her. ‘Walls have ears. Just be careful. I have
just announced my intention. Don’t be a source of scandal. You are too
decent for that. Rugi’s character is questionable. Please note that. I’ll not
choose your friends. I love you and you know that.
Another Deal
The duo got another lucrative land deal. It went up to a million. The
partners are happy. The business is thriving.
To be continued
Inferno Ravages Three Shops to Ashes in Basse
By Lamin Fatty
A fire incident at Basse recently ravaged three shops belonging to three
business men. This reporter was at the scene at the time of the fire. In an
interview with the ex-chairman of the Nigerian community in Basse, Mr. Philip,
said the owner of the shop, Ogustin Enuma, had travelled to his native country
for the Christmas and New Year feasts. He pointed out that at the time of the
accident, his brother, Chigozie Enuma, was the one in charge of the shop. He
said over one million dalasi worth of goods were reduced to ashes.
Philip told this reporter that he is advising his fellow Nigerian business
men and women to insure their shops, in case of such accidents.
Another shop owner and victim of the fire, Musa Sillah, a resident of Basse,
said he was at home when the fire started. He said he was speechless when he
arrived at the scene and discovered that his shop was burning. He said he
lost over D250 thousand dalasi, worth of goods.
This reporter was shown 12 dozens of spoons, which were said to be recovered
by kids. For his part, Gibril Sidibeh, whose shop was also burnt to ashes,
said the cause of the fire was not known, but said he lost over D500 thousand
dalasi worth of goods. He said the fire officers came to the scene, but they
were unable to extinguish the fire.
CODEX Proposes A Five Year Food Safety Action Plan
By Ousman Sillah
A two day strategic planning workshop aimed at directing the activities of
the CODEX committee from 2008-2012 recently concluded at the NaNA Headquarters
at Mile Seven.
Addressing the workshop, Dr. Omar Touray, Chairman of the National CODEX
Committee, said “The NCC is mandated by the Food Act 2005 to be responsible for
the development of national food standards, guidelines, procedures and
regulations for ensuring Food Quality and Safety throughout the food chain.”
Dr. Touray said that the standards developed by the NCC are aim at
protecting consumers’ health and The Gambia’s economic interests and ensuring fair
practices in food trade.
He said that the purpose of the workshop is to prepare a strategic plan that
will come up with a practical action plan for a 5 year period and cost; that
once the plan is adopted by the government of The Gambia, the NCC will then
work closely with actors in the food industry, including concerned government
agencies, consumer associations and producers to mobilize resources for the
strengthening of the Food Quality and Safety system. The NCC Chairperson went
on to list the priority issues to be addressed by the NCC as:
1. Improvement in the current state of street foods.
2. Ensuring the importation of quality and safe foods.
3. Ensuring quality food exports from The Gambia, thereby reducing the rate
of rejections of Gambian agricultural and food exports reaching international
markets, particularly groundnuts and fish.
4. Ensuring that The Gambia’s testing and analytical laboratories attain
international accreditation. At the moment none of these laboratories are
accredited internationally.
5. Dedicate greater efforts to improving the legal, regulatory and
institutional framework of the National Food Quality control and safety system.
6. Greater effort dedicated to consumer awareness and education.
7. Development of a sustainable funding mechanism for the food control and
safety systems.
During the course of the two day session, specialist working groups were
tasked to come up with proposals on the different intervention areas that are
to constitute the five year Action Plan (2008-2012).
Other speakers included Mrs. Fatou Jasseh Kuyateh, Permanent Secretary
Office of the Vice President, Mr. Pa Modou Phall, Executive Director of NaNA, Mr.
Mamadi Ceesay, consultant.
It was attended by the members of NCC.
Sheriff Minteh’s Murder Trial Adjourned Again
By Saikou Ceesay and Musa Barrow
The protracted murder trial of Sheriff Minteh was, on 2 January, 2008 again
adjourned by presiding Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara, of the Bundung
Magistrates Court, to 7 January 2008.
The adjournment was caused by the failure of the defense counsel, the
prosecutor and the accused to appear before the court. The trial was scheduled to
resume on Monday 31 December 2007, but was later adjourned due to the public
holiday on Monday.
POLICE SEARCHING FOR MURDER SUSPECT
By Fabakary B. Ceesay and Awa Bah
The police spokesperson, Inspector Sulayman Secka, has told Foroyaa that
they are searching for a murder suspect, by the name Mustapha Jobarteh, alias “
Jobbs”. Mr. Jobarteh is accused of having murdered one Ebou Njie of James
Senegal Street in Banjul on 17th December. Inspector Secka calls on the general
public to assist the police in their search for the suspect,, whom he said is
at large, since when the incident occured on the 17th December. He said that
so far no arrest has been made in connection to the matter. However,
information reaching Foroyaa has it that one Ebou Jobe, a resident of Old Jeshwang,
at a place called “Galaxy”, who is said to be a close friend to the suspect,
was arrested at his residence. Ebou Jobe is said to have been detained at
the Serious Crime Unit at the Police Headquarters in Banjul .
The police PRO, however, denies having anybody in police custody in
connection with the murder. He strongly called for the cooperation of the public as
murder cases are on the rise in the society.
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