Issue No. 23/2005, 24-27 March 2005



Editorial

TRIBUTE TO DR. MAM BIRAM JOOF

A Torch of Passion for Knowledge and Innovation



He was a torch of passion for knowledge and innovation.  He had a scientific and inquiring mind.  He was involved in everything that could take the mind and society forward.  During his younger days he took pride in being a scholar’s scholar.  He was frequently invited as a leading educationist of international statue to give speeches on education policies.  He was always interested in giving a bird’s eye view of the field of education.

Dr. Joof left UNESCO not to relax as a pensioner.  The spring of knowledge nourished his mind and that of humanism nourished his heart.  He was keen in identifying people of talent and sought to create an intellectual community in The Gambia that pursued excellence and intellectual relevance.  This is what gave rise to his Feinnyal Project.

Independent Newspaper has taken ownership of the word “Feinnyal” to depict transparency and accountability.  Dr. Joof’s Feinnyal was designed to depict the torch of reason and excellence.

The intellectual community will definitely miss him.  Those who found inspiration in his ever youthful mind and spirit can never forget him.  He will remain a treasure in the chambers of the earth from which our generations and generations yet unborn can learn very valuable lessons.

Rest in Peace Dr. Joof, you have lived a fruitful life.  This is what one could ask for and nothing more.  We hope that the intellectual foundation you sought to promote for the Gambian Nation will continue to be built without break or hesitation.



President Contradicts SoS Finance

Which Information is Correct?



By Abdoulie G. Dibba

In his contribution to the adjournment debate, the Minority Leader and member for Serrekunda Central, Halifa Sallah noted that they are really making progress, as regards the activities of their select committees. He said the select committees were beginning to show the immense responsibilities of this National Assembly. Halifa noted that they opened up with the address of the president and that he wanted to make some recommendations that in subsequent addresses, previous addresses were consulted. Halifa argued that in the 2004 presidential address under Foreign Affairs, the president indicated that the Department of State for Foreign Affairs intended to seek the ratification by this Assembly during the 2004 legislative year of the following protocols:- The Protocol on the Court of Justice of the African Union. Halifa noted that this protocol had never been introduced in this Assembly even though the protocol was distributed to members a long time ago. The last protocol he said is
 the protocol to the African Charter on Human and peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa which was considered on that very day. He said that they are a bit late because this protocol should have been ratified since last year as it was one of the legislative agenda of the state.

Halifa said in his contribution that there was need for complimentarity between what they are told by the various institutions. “This is so precisely because”, Halifa said, “in the  budget speech of the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs under paragraph 132, the SoS said, ‘Gamtel is currently negotiating a D168 million contract with Alcatel to connect additional 2,500 customers in the Greater Banjul Area’ but in the presidential address on page 7, the president said, ‘Another contract for the sum of D168 million is being negotiated with Alcatel to provide connectivity to additional 25,000 (twenty-five thousand) customers in the Greater Banjul Area.’ “ Halifa then asked, which of the information is correct? Since one of them is wrong, he noted that it is very important that much consultation is done in presenting information to this August Body because sometimes they find these contradictions in information when they make reference.

FOROYAA has been making effort to get the right information and will make it available as soon as possible.



Two Deaths Linked To Witchcraft In Foni



By Surakata Danso

Two people, a man and a woman, are reported dead in the villages of Jifanga and Killing respectively in the Foni Bintang Karanai District while many other people have abandoned the villages of Kabokorr and Tampoto presumably for fear of witch doctors invited from Kombolly, a village in the Cassamance Region in Southern Senegal. The report was given to this reporter following receipt of a telephone call from Foni about this situation.

On Saturday the 19th of March, 2005, this reporter visited the area. At Tampoto, villagers told this reporter that the village Imam and some others had abandoned the village for weeks now because of fear for their lives. The villagers added that last year’s experience was fatal that four people died in Ginnack Village because of the same witch doctors medication. Most of those who fled into Cassamance and other unknown places are family heads and married women. At Killing this reporter was informed that it is true that a woman by the name of Sainabou Camara died after taking the medicine given to her by the witch doctors.

This reporter then moved to Jifanga, the village where the group of witch doctors met strong resistance. When this reporter met the village Alkalo he confirmed that one Sunkary Gibba, an old man with two wives, died on Thursday 17 March after taking the medicine and was buried the following day. He said that the witch doctors were invited into the village by Alhaji Babou Gibba, the younger brother of the deceased, with the help of the Alkalo of Kusamai, Alieu Jarjue. The Alkalo of Jifanga who is a young man (below the age of 30) claimed that he was first approached by the Alkalo of Kusamai who told him that he wanted to invite the group of witchdoctors from Kombolly in Cassamance but that his reply was that they would not come to Jifanga as the act is not only unlawful and irreligious but also that many people die on such occasions which causes family disintegration. He added further that the Alkalo of Kusamai during his visit had informed him that he was inviting them because his
 sister who is married to one Alhaji Babou Gibba in the village is worried about the condition of their daughter who had been sick for the previous four years. He said his reply was that the villagers do not want them in the village but Alhaji Babou said that if they come into the village they would stay in his compound and that he had got the consent of his own family members.

The young Alkalo reported the matter to the Chief of the District at Kaimo. According to Alkalo Gibba the group on their arrival at the outskirt of the village fired gun shots into the air and some villagers also replied with shots while saying “We will not allow nonsense in our village.” The elder brother of Alhaji Babou, Sunkary Gibba, was accused and was given some medicine to drink. He stressed that within seconds the old man got unconscious and started making wild statements even before he was taken out of the village where he was said to have kept the spirits of the younger brother’s daughter and grand child. That finally during the day they brought back Sunkary from the bush motionless and at night he was declared dead. The Alkalo finally added that during the process of debate between him and the Alkalo of Kusamai, a soldier was brought from Kanilai to impress on him, but he refused. This evidence of the Alkalo was corroborated by  many villagers some of whom also added that
 the Alkalo of Kusamai said he had informed the police at Sibanorr, a claim which the police denied.

The final stage of contact by this reporter was at the chief’s where a group of youths claimed to have been present in all the four villages. The Chief told this reporter that the deaths were public knowledge in Foni, noting that the act, “ENANKORAY” as locally called, is a strong culture in Foni. He also confirmed that the Alkalo of Kusamai visited him and asked him to give them permit to invite the witchdoctors. The group of youths indicated that village after village the occasion was always well attended like a LUMO. They claimed that they noticed a particular military officer from Kanilai and some police officers from Sibanorr in all the villages.



HAS THE APRC RICE PASSED THE TEST?

ON THE RULES GOVERNING

IMPORTATION

By Abdoulie Dibba

In his contribution to the adjournment debate, the member for Jarra West, Hon. Kemeseng Jammeh indicated that he prepared several questions regarding the APRC No Compromise Rice which he said he submitted to the office of the clerk.  But that to his surprise, during the question and answer session in the National Assembly, these questions never appeared. Hon. Jammeh noted that he raised the questions because he wanted to know the truth as to whether the importer of the “APRC No Compromise Rice has paid import duties and other costs. Hon. Jammeh said he wanted to know this because he has observed in his constituency that the Rice is sold to the APRC supporters and if one is closely identified as an opposition supporter one will not have access to the rice. Beside this, Hon. Jammeh said, “I realized that the price of this rice is lower than the market price.” Hon. Jammeh pointed out that even though they want to offer a price that is reasonable to the consumer, if there is a wide price
 margin in the rice, then there may be something fishy somewhere and we would want to know how it came about.”  Hon. Jammeh then requested to know whether the importer of the “APRC No Compromise Rice” did fulfill all the conditions that are necessary for the importation of such goods.



AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE



By Abdoulie Dibba



Churchill Falai Baldeh

In his contribution to the adjournment debate, the Majority Leader and member for Upper Fulladu West, Hon. Churchill Falai Baldeh asserted that a lot of loans have been ratified in the National Assembly and yet no impact has been seen on the beneficiaries who are the poor. Hon. Baldeh said that the main source of foreign exchange that Gambians have control over is the groundnut sector. He therefore said that the government should do everything possible to make the marketing of groundnuts creditable. He pointed out that this year’s trade season was a real failure because the Secretary of State for Agriculture misled them and the whole nation; that even the President, was misled. Hon. Baldeh asserted that the SoS for Agriculture deserves being sacked. Hon. Baldeh said that there are arrangements at the moment for other players to participate in the marketing of groundnuts.

On Education

Hon. Baldeh said that the educational sector is performing badly even though D143 million which is the biggest chunk of the national cake is put in that sector. He pointed out that the Department of State for Education should be challenged by the National Assembly Select Committee on Education. Hon. Baldeh called on the Department to train qualified Gambians and post them through the length and breadth of this country to teach our children. He said that we would have no education if we continue to employ teachers who are not qualified or are at the same level as the students. Hon. Baldeh pointed out that the 25 % allowance given to teachers in Western Division should be cut off and added to that of those in regions 5 and 6. Hon. Baldeh went further to indicate that the double shift teaching by teachers, is not working and needs to be abolished in the school system.

On Finance

Hon. Baldeh said that the inefficiency in the management of finances is the main reason why we are losing revenue in government departments even though heavy taxes were being imposed on the people.



Kebba Touray

On his part, the National Assembly member for Illiasa, Hon. Kebba Touray, re-echoed the need to control government vehicles. He pointed out that after working hours or during weekends, government vehicles are found in market places, beaches and so on and so forth. He said that the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs is controlling government vehicles under her jurisdiction and all the other departments should do the same to save revenue. Mr. Touray  pointed out that regional education officers throughout the country have only a single vehicle each. Hon. Touray called on the authorities responsible for national documents such as birth certificates, national identity cards and passports to decentralize the processing of these documents. He said getting those documents still remains a problem to his people since they have to travel all the way to Banjul to get them, which costs them fortunes.

The NAM far Illiasa who is also a member of the National Assembly Select Committee on Education said that the mode of salary payment for teachers needs to be reviewed. He pointed out that teachers need to be paid their salaries promptly and on time. He asserted that some teachers have to travel 10 or 20 km to get their salaries from their regional headquarters. Hon. Touray called on the authorities to review the situation of caretakers in the schools and be paid as soon as possible. Hon. Touray pointed out that he has been calling for the formation of a Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) that will look into the welfare of teachers. He indicated that a teacher who taught him in primary school in the early 50s has retired from service and is still renting. He stressed that this teacher has no house of his own.

On Agriculture

Hon. Touray asserted that there is need to re-structure the management of the tractors to make them easily accessible to the farming community. He argued that a mere breakdown, or shortage of fuel rendered the tractors inaccessible to the farmers for days as the operator would have to travel all the way to Banjul to address the problem.

On Transport

Hon. Touray called on the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) to re-activate river transport.



Fabakary Tombong Jatta

On his part, the National Assembly member for Serrekunda East, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta pointed out that the National Assembly is really taking up as it could be seen in the activities of the select committees. Hon. Jatta pointed out that he had a few points to raise one of which he said was on NAWEC. Hon. Jatta said that the charges by NAWEC to customers is exorbitant. He said those who used to pay D400 before are now paying D700 per month for electricity and water which is no longer a luxury but a necessity. “Electricity and water are necessary to the people but the average Gambians can no longer afford them,” he stressed. “The other point,” he said, “is about rent.” Hon. Jatta said that most of the employees in the urban areas are living on rent. “What happens these days,” he said, “is that landlords are charging a lot of money on their houses and sometimes they charge tenants in foreign currencies.” Hon. Jatta said that that is unfair and therefore called on the rent control
 tribunal to do something about it to save the tenants.

Hon. Jatta concluded his contribution by thanking the community of Tallinding and all those who contributed in one way or the other in making the Tallinding Police Station a success.



Kalifa Jammeh

On his part, the National Assembly member for Bakau, Hon. Kalifa Jammeh, indicated that they (the people of Bakau) have written two letters to the Department of State for Local Government and Lands regarding compensation to the customary owners of the lands taken by government in Bakau but to no avail. Hon. Jammeh pointed out that they should learn from the lessons of Zimbabwe and Kenya. He indicated that if the children of those landowners became executive members of the country and their parents were not compensated for the lands taken from them and decided to reclaim those lands, those who did not know about the history would start to blame them. He argued that to avoid such unfortunate situations the customary owners should be compensated. Hon. Jammeh indicated that all the land in Bakau had been transformed to layouts and that the people of Bakau have not benefited in any of these layouts. The member for Bakau said that there are some households in Bakau, whose children are
 sleeping on floors due to the lack of space for the expansion of their compounds.


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