Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 015/2007, 7-8 February,  2007

Editorial

DOES HIV/AIDS HAVE A CURE?
THE CONTROVERSY LOOMS
Gambia has now  become the focus of world public opinion because of the 
current claim that  HIV/AIDS patients are being treated by President Jammeh.
Diseases are enemies  to human kind. Every effort must be made to wipe them 
from the face of the  earth. What is important is for a scientific approach to 
be taken to come to a  definite conclusion as to whether HIV/AIDS can be cured 
or not.
First and  foremost, a laboratory test is necessary to confirm that a patient 
is infected  with HIV/AIDS.
Since the Gambia is now the focus of world public opinion The  Gambian 
authorities should now involve the MRC and the WHO in the whole process  of 
identifying those infected with HIV/AIDS, monitor their blood samples as they  acquire 
treatment and inform the world if the blood samples no longer indicate  any 
infection after treatment.
The integrity of the programmes of the  National AIDS Secretariat is at 
stake. The whole world is also observing the  situation. Scientific methods should 
be utilised to study, validate or  invalidate claims of HIV/AIDS cure.
This is a very urgent enterprise. Foroyaa  will keep the Nation informed of 
all attempts to reach a conclusion on the  debate.
We hope that the World Health Community will put an end to the  speculation 
and create a programme that will enable them to assess all the  claims and 
state the facts as they are.
Is President Jammeh helping HIV/AIDS  patients to live better as patients or 
is he curing them? The world needs an  answer. The World Health Organisation 
needs to give the world an  answer. 

HALIFA SALLAH ON KEMESENG’S RETURN TO THE UDP, HIS  ELECTION RESULTS AND THE 
WAY FORWARD FOR NADD
Foroyaa: In the debate between  the Clerk of the National Assembly and the 
IEC Chairman on who should have  revealed that Kemeseng had written a 
resignation letter to the Executive  Committee of NADD, it was mentioned that the NADD 
executive was better placed to  inform the National Assembly. What is your view 
on this?
Halifa: Kemeseng was  facing an election. We had indicated that we would not 
do anything to undermine  his chances of victory. We were not legally obliged 
to reveal the content of his  letter to any authority. To have done anything 
that would have brought  controversy at the time would have put NADD in a 
negative light. There was  nothing to be gained by publicising Kemeseng’s 
resignation. This is why we  remained mute about it.
Foroyaa: What were the implications?
Halifa:  Kemeseng must have sought legal advice to write his resignation 
letter. It is  now elementary knowledge that once a person ceases to be a member 
of the party  of which one was a member one equally ceases to be a member of 
the National  Assembly. I guess Kemeseng waited until the last minute to resign 
from NADD and  rejoin the UDP so as to have a smooth transition after the 
National Assembly  election.
Foroyaa: It is claimed by SoS Yankuba Touray that he attended a  meeting of 
the ECOWAS parliament after his resignation from NADD?
Halifa:  Kemeseng and the clerk of the National Assembly are in a better 
position to  explain such matters. NADD does not want to be dragged in this  
controversy.
Foroyaa: Serrekunda Central was seen as a secure seat for NADD,  what 
happened?
Halifa: The drama during election eve when every Gambian  should have been 
sleeping confirms the anxiety of the APRC regime. Never in my  life could anyone 
have convinced me that there are Gambians, elderly women, who  will leave 
their children at midnight to build sand mounds in the street and  raise their 
clothes to expose their nakedness for the sake of an election. I  underestimated 
the level that the APRC was willing to go to take the seat. When  I heard 
that the youths were being dragged into a football tournament I felt  that once 
they came to the voting booth they would decide wisely. I did not  contemplate 
that they would not even appear to vote at all. If I did my homework  well, I 
could have rescued the youths from their political malaise. I was misled  by 
the emphasis of the youth and the reports of how tormented the APRC campaign  
team was during the campaign period. My supporters promised me a land slide  
victory. Well, the result is different. Many did not vote. Some tell me that the 
 cards were bought. I do not want to use this as an excuse. In my view 
anybody  who allows his/her card to be bought is not a sovereign Gambian who can be  
relied on by any political force as a supporter. I accept the result as I see 
it  but I am still concerned that I have a strong political base in 
Serrekunda  Central. The general reaction of shock after the results is a clear 
testimony  that the outcome should not be interpreted as a rejection by the  people.
Foroyaa: Some claim that the UDP and APRC conspired to get rid of  you?
Halifa: Quite frankly, the UDP candidate was not visible throughout the  
campaign. My supporters assured me that he would not get his deposit. This  proved 
to be true. He never posed as a threat. Infact, the UDP vote was split  into 
four. Some voted for him. Some abstained, some voted for me and those who  
were really hungry for my down fall voted for Sainey. The facts on the ground  
however revealed that I did not get more votes because many Gambians prefer to  
vote by mouth than by ballot tokens. Praises every where but little action to  
back words with deeds.
Foroyaa: What do you mean?
Halifa: Just consider  the statistics! The voter role for Serrekunda Central 
is 30,805 persons. Only  12,230 persons cast their votes. 6,386 persons voted 
for the APRC candidate and  4,302 persons voted for me, 1,548 persons voted 
for the UDP candidate. Over  18,000 people did not vote. This is the reason why 
there is no much uproar but  bitterness because many of these people have now 
woken from their slumber and  are now voting by mouth after the fact. They 
just cannot believe what has  happened.
Foroyaa: So you are not blaming the UDP for your  results?
Halifa: The spirit of multi party politics is that each party has a  right to 
put up a candidate where it thinks it can win. May be the results of  the 
presidential election gave the UDP the notion that it can win in a National  
Assembly election. It is not for me to judge the UDP. It is for the UDP members  
to decide whether their leaders had made the right decision to put up a  
candidate in Serrekunda Central or not. I am sure the results will provide  lessons 
for all of us to learn from. The NADD leadership made the wise decision  not 
to put up candidates or campaign against Kemeseng or Hamat Bah. In Niani,  one 
of the candidates gave way to an independent candidate. In Sami, the NADD  
activists supported Lamin Ceesay, a former PDOIS supporter and in Niamina East  
Jokadu and Kombo South they supporter the Independent candidates.
Foroyaa:  What about the claim that Juwara supported the APRC candidate in 
Niamina  Dankunku?
Halifa: Lamin initially called for a tactical alliance so that he  could 
stand as a candidate in Dankunku. However, when it became clear that the  NRP 
would put up a candidate he gave up. I am not sure what role he has played  in the 
constituency. He is in a better place to explain. I am sure he will  accept 
to be engaged by the press to clear the air. The NADD executive will meet  soon 
and will issue a press release on developments.
Foroyaa: What is the way  forward for NADD?
Halifa: We will decide in the near future. I have already  prepared my report 
on the way forward. Once it is discussed it will be published  accordingly. 
It will address all the burning issues of the day regarding  NADD.
The End

BAIL APPLICATION FOR UDP CANDIDATE
Lawyer  Ousainou Darboe has informed this paper that a bail application for 
the release  of the defeated UDP candidate in Lower Baddibou, Kebba F. 
Singhateh and seven  others will be heard by the High Court. 
Mr. Darboe said the application was  filed on Tuesday. The arrest of 
Singhateh and his relatives came in the wake of  a brawl involving UDP and APRC 
sympathizers. Suku Singhateh, the Member of  Parliament for the aforesaid 
constituency was accused of spearheading the  arrests of Singhateh and others. But this 
claim was dismissed by Suku. The  latter said he was not aware of the problem. 

MEDIA NGO  ESTABLISHED
By Bubacarr Sowe
Media Agenda, a Non-Governmental Organization  aimed at strengthening and 
promoting the welfare of the media has been  established recently.
Haddy Sillah-Ceesay, deputy directress of Media Agenda  told reporters at a 
press conference on Tuesday that the principal objective of  the organization 
is building the capacity of Media practitioners and  institutions in the Gambia 
and within the sub region. Mrs. Ceesay said Media  Agenda will facilitate the 
training of journalists, lobby lawmakers and  politicians in the formulation 
of media laws and to develop the prestige and  enhance the social role of 
journalists thus maintaining the standard of the  profession. She also said that 
Media Agenda is a non- political and non-profit  making body, and is 
principally concerned with the development of the  media.
Ceesay went on to say that the organization will help build the  capacity of 
media organizations in Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra  Leone as 
well as in the Gambia.
The organization’s Director, Madi Ceesay who  also doubled as the president 
of the Gambia Press Union said training for  Journalists will commence in June. 
He added that about 275 journalists will  receive training in various fields 
within the next 24 months. The main fields of  study includes basic 
journalism, economic and financial reporting, investigative  journalism, sports among 
others
Asked who the financial backers of the  organization are, Mr. Ceesay answered.
That all the efforts are solely being  done by himself.

POLICE COMMISSIONER TESTIFIES IN
OLD YUNDUM  COURT CASE
By Modou Jonga
The Police Commissioner of Western region, Mr.  Mamud Jobe, on Tuesday 6th 
February, 2007 testified at the Brikama Magistrates’  Court.
The Police Commissioner was testifying in a criminal case involving  
seventeen accused persons said to be residents of Old Yundum village in Kombo  North.
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty are arraigned for acting  without 
legal authority in a manner that is calculated to lead to incitement of  
violence, destruction or damage to property.
In his testimony, the fourth  prosecution witness, Mr. Jobe said on Friday 
1st December last year, he led a  security team comprising  officers of the 
Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to  old Yundum football field. Upon reaching the 
said field, the witness stated, he  instructed the removal of the goal posts 
erected there. The reason behind this  order, as he said, was that the football 
field was to be used as a market. After  the removal of the goal posts on his 
instructions, the fourth witness said, he  and his security team further went 
to a temporal site which was used as a market  by the women of Old Yundum.
According to the fourth witness, upon arrival he  found women selling in the 
said market; that he then identified himself as a  Police officer and informed 
the women that the market is not an approved site  for a market.
At this Juncture, continued the witness, he saw the first  accused (Mustapha 
Jadama) coming to the site and started telling the women to  stay and sell 
come what may.
Speaking further, the witness said he ordered  for the arrest of the first 
accused as the latter’s intervention was  troublesome. The said accused, stated 
the witness was there and then arrested  and put on board the Police vehicle 
to Yundum Police Station where he (the first  accused) was cautioned, charged 
and detained. While at the Yundum Police Station  in the afternoon of the same 
date, said the witness, he received information  that the accused persons 
standing trial have removed the goal posts of the  approved football field. And 
that those responsible are marching towards  Wellingara.
According to the witness, he and his security team then departed  to the Old 
Yundum football field where he confirmed that the goal posts were  removed: 
that from there he and his team proceeded to Wellingara where they  found the 
accused persons chanting that they were fighting for their rights:  that the 
traffic was, as a result, obstructed: that this prompted him to give  orders for 
the arrest of the sixteen accused persons; that the accused persons  were 
further charged at Yundum Police Station for incitement of  violence.
Testifying further, the Police Commissioner at Western region said,  as a 
result of a limited detention facility at Yundum Police Station, some of  the 
accused persons were detained at different stations on Friday. The witness  said 
that they were then arraigned in court on Monday 4th December last  year.      
                                                                              
     The case was adjourned to Wednesday 21st February, 2007 for the accused 
persons  to enter their defence.

WHERE IS THE MUSIC GONE?
In our last  issue Ousman Sillah started an interview with Oko Drammeh, the 
renowned Gambian  International Music Promoter. The Foroyaa has been cruising 
with Oko through the  times and exploring such areas of interest as his 
professional background and  the history of music in The Gambia. We stopped at where 
Oko Drammeh indicated  that the music from The Gambia, at the time, was so 
popular and had reached  every where which gave so much pride to Gambians. 
However, this maestro in the  art of music promotion added that notwithstanding this 
appreciation of Super  Eagles music by the throng of fans both at home and 
abroad, the musicians  themselves felt unaccomplished and unfulfilled by virtue 
of the fact that they  were playing imitation music. This sudden realization 
of their inadequacy in  terms of originality, said Oko, was what had led to the 
formation of Ifang Bondi  which marked a complete beginning for the band with 
a new cultural  orientation.
Join us to continue Ousman Sillah’s interview with Momodou Oko  Drammeh who 
was so open, passionate and full of verve in this  encounter.
Foroyaa: You mean the Super Eagles musicians were hurt by their  music? 
Oko Darmmeh: Yeah, Because Super Eagles at that time thought they  were 
playing imitation music and this is not justice to themselves, this is the  first 
point. Secondly, they’ll never make any money because they are copying  other 
people’s texts. So they did a review of themselves.
This was how it  transformed into Ifang Bondi whose mission was to undertake 
a cultural  renaissance by playing music through our own languages.
Infact with this  rebirth, many Gambians felt offended by the fact that the 
Ifang Bondi is playing  music in Mandinka, Fula, Jola, etc. Haha….. But well 
arranged music just like  the way the Rolling stones and the Beatles arranged 
theirs.
For me, I was a  Disc Jockey (DJ) at the time. And as a DJ I hear Ifang Bondi 
playing a better  music than the ones I play in the Night Club. Being a DJ I 
was able to have my  own independent income, so I could stay in the Arts. I 
also did not come from a  struggling family, as my mother was running a well to 
do programme for our  social, educational and sporting life. This had enabled 
me to channel myself  into the Art and my mother approved of it.
I became the first Gambian to have  Rasta hair on my head and you know this 
was a tough thing to carry at the time  giving the social stigma associated 
with the appearance. I didn’t drink alcohol  or do any thing, but I was kind of a 
social reject. But I was able to have a  strong economic life to be able to 
support other projects, for example, managing  the Ifang Bondi, becoming a DJ 
and a contributor to newspapers. So I became a  strong force to say: “Ifang 
Bondi I can manage you and your concept and I can  take it international”.
Foroyaa: So having said all these, seeing the glory  days of Gambian music 
enjoying international appreciation, what is your  impression of Gambian music 
today compared to yesterday? This impetus is no  more, it is almost dead. So 
what is wrong with Gambian music? 
Oko Drammeh: I  will support you. You say it with your own mouth and I 
support what you say. It  is dead. I asked myself “Where is the Music gone?” 
Because, the sub-region, from  Nigeria to Gambia, we taught them music, basically 
speaking. We, as Ifang Bondi,  taught the sub-region how to tune guitars, how to 
tune drums and how to choose  effects which we learnt from England. Because 
Gambians were very fanatical and  advanced in effects and when we go to Senegal 
we press our effects and they have  to watch. We have been prescribing for 
bands like Bembeya Jazz, which was among  the top in Africa, about P.A system 
and how to set-up the speakers.
As for  Gambian musicians of today, I appreciate one thing that is they are 
still  continuing the art of singing and dancing but at the end of the day it’s 
a copy  of what Gambians are doing now. I would not blame them for it because 
the Radio  and the Television have to set the tone. What the Radio and TV 
play are what the  night clubs play. 
See next issue for continuation.

POETRY  CORNER
Dr. Waaru
A rear ilk of his kinds’ time
Dresses in a garment of  superstitious pride
Graduate from imaginary institution
Outstanding in  faculty of impossibility sciences
Majored in psychological  acrobacy
Producer of thoughtless thoughts
Self-righteously gifted  leader
Announced his doubtful alarming ability
As curer of the  incurable
Leaving murmuring and gossips
In homes, streets and  ghettos
Hospitals availed with his secret herbs
Administered on desperate  patients
Doctors’ sham medical niceties 
Is all to aid him
Write his  own history
By playing Kata-Kata
With precious lives
Building a  mountain 
Out of an anthill 
Let credible Doctors answer
The medical  questions
Of the nation

OPINION
A Post-mortem of the National  Assembly Elections
(Part II)
The National Assembly elections are now  history, the victors are celebrating 
while the vanquished and their supporters  are leaking their wounds. 

Leaking their wounds indeed, as there  have been reports from various parts 
of the country that several opposition  candidates and their supporters are 
being subjected to arbitrary arrests and  detentions by the police, most of the 
time for very flimsy reasons, and in  certain instances subjected to 
intimidation and harassment by APRC supporters.  This is yet another indication of the 
type of democracy operating in this  country, where it seems to be an offence 
to even sympathise with the opposition,  let alone manifest one’s opposition to 
the regime.

The APRC has won  with a “landslide” while the opposition has been 
humiliated, no doubt due to  several factors, including the unprecedented low voter  
turn-out.

Therefore, what is now left is for the political  leadership to sit down and 
reflect on the situation. While the APRC may be  basking in glory for their “
landslide” victory, but they also need to reflect on  the cause of the 
ever-increasing voter apathy. It is certainly a symptom of  something, which should be 
of concern to all Gambians, no matter on which side  of the political 
spectrum one may be.

However, the biggest  reflection should come from the opposition, which has 
been humiliated twice  within three months. It is therefore time that they sat 
down to evaluate  themselves if they still want to remain relevant in the 
Gambian political  terrain.

Indeed, there appears to be a general consensus that the  problems of the 
opposition are mainly self-imposed, even though the political  playing field in 
this country is far from ideal. The very fact that President  Jammeh has 
assumed the power to hire and fire members of the Independent  Electoral Commission 
and the police can still arrest opposition candidates duly  nominated to 
contest elections, sometimes for very flimsy reasons, is an  indication that the 
opposition have a formidable task to make an impact in the  country. It is 
indeed hard for anyone to imagine that it is only the opposition  candidates and 
their supporters who cause problems and the APRC candidates and  their 
supporters, despite all the power and influence behind them, are angels  who are always 
law abiding. The reality on the ground is of course a different  matter 
altogether and a good manifestation of the type of democracy operating in  this 
country.

While the problems of the opposition started since  the assumption of power 
by this regime, especially when President Jammeh seems  to regard everyone who 
opposes his policies as “unpatriotic” and an enemy of the  state, but the 
opposition’s down-ward slide actually began in 2006 when the  National Alliance 
for Democracy and Development (NADD) collapsed, as a result of  the decision by 
Ousainou Darboe and Hamat Bah to pull out their parties from the  alliance, 
thus effectively dashing any hopes of a united opposition to fight the  APRC 
hegemony.

It is indeed still hard to comprehend the  justification given by these two 
former political heavyweights to  unceremoniously quit the alliance. While it 
is possible that they had genuine  grievances for taking the move that they 
took, but there is a general consensus  that it was quite an unwise move to split 
the alliance at that crucial period  when the presidential elections were 
just around the corner. 

While  at the time the two politicians were beaming with confidence that as 
the leaders  of the two biggest blocs, they have dealt a death blow to the 
alliance, but they  seem to have failed to realise that through their action, they 
had also  destroyed any chances the opposition ever had against the APRC. 
There is no  doubt that before the split, the alliance had a good chance of 
dislodging the  APRC either in the presidential elections or at the National 
Assembly elections.  This was even manifested by the low turn-out in both polls, a 
majority of whom  no doubt were opposition supporters who became disillusioned 
with the split and  decided not to come out to vote. It is therefore very 
likely that if NADD had  not split, a great majority of those people would have 
voted for the opposition  and in that case, the outcome of the election would 
have been very  different.

However, to show their over-confidence, the UDP and the  NRP were making 
claims that as the two biggest blocs of the NADD alliance, they  were capable of 
going it on their own; referring in particular to their combined  votes in the 
last presidential elections in 2001. Hamat Bah was even quoted as  saying that 
all that they needed was an additional five per cent on top of  whatever they 
had in the 2001, as if that figure was already securely tugged  somewhere for 
them to collect. 

Therefore, even after they were  humiliated during the presidential 
elections, they did not seem to have learnt  any lessons and they instead again 
rebuffed any calls for a tactical alliance in  the National Assembly elections. 
Instead, they even went on to duplicate efforts  by putting up candidates where 
NADD had already got candidates. In the end, the  results were not only worse, 
but in the case of the NRP, it seems to have been  completely annihilated. It is 
quite hard to see how it can resuscitate itself  after its failure to capture 
even a single seat, after spending no less than  D40, 000 in the payment of 
deposits alone.

Indeed, there are  already calls for the present opposition leadership to 
call it quits and give  way to a new breed of leadership. It is quite obvious 
that the leadership has  lost all credibility in the eyes of the Gambian public 
and no matter what other  strategy they may employ, it is hard to see how they 
can regain the people’s  confidence. Therefore, the only answer is for them to 
step down and hand over  the mantle to a more determined crop of leadership.
By Demba  Jawo

8 YEAR OLD GIRL NEEDS PLASTIC SURGERY
By Musa  Barrow
Fatoumata Jaiteh, the mother of one Jabounding Jawara, an eight year  old 
girl with severe burns has appealed to all to help her daughter to receive  
overseas medical treatment.
According to the young mother who resides in  Brikama-Jamisa, little 
Jabounding, a student at Jamisa Lower Basic School, got  burnt in a fire accident 
almost eight months ago. It was caused by fire from a  Kerosene lamp she was 
handling which resulted in severe burns that disfigured  the young girl.
Mrs. Jaiteh further told this reporter that immediately after  her little 
daughter underwent this agonizing experience, she was rushed to the  Royal 
Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) where she received medical  attention.
However, a medical report recently issued by RVTH on the eight  year old girl’
s condition states that, “the above named patient suffered from  burns 18% 
eight months ago. As a result of the burns healing, she developed  contracture 
all over the wounded area and now she is not able to straighten her  right hand.
”
The report further indicated that, “Jabounding Jawara needs to  undergo 
plastic surgery and this kind of treatment is not available in The  Gambia at the 
moment, and is therefore recommended for overseas treatment.”  
Fatoumata Jaiteh further implored all to come to the rescue of her daughter.  
She said the plastic surgery prescribed by doctors is an absolute necessity 
for  her little daughter to recover, both physically and psychologically. As 
she puts  it “If the scars on Jabounding’s body are not treated it might 
continue to hurt  her throughout her life.”
Anyone interested in extending a helping hand to  the young girl whose 
condition needs urgent attention can either call 4485029 or  9884486 for more 
information. 

THE “TREATMENT” OF AIDS PATIENTS BY  THE PRESIDENT
Dear Editor
Please help me clear my confused state of mind.  The issue surrounding the 
treatment of Aids by the President of the Gambia is  gaining popularity.
The following points are my headache regarding the  issue.
1. Is it prudent to declare a cure for AIDS without scientific  people?
2. Is it medically ethical to expose the victims of the  disease?
3. Is the success of the treatment measured by the CD4 count or by  the 
individual’s status as zero-negative or zero-positive as par diagnose  stage?
4. Is it correct that an AIDS patient can gain 7-10 kg of weight  within a 
period of 10-14 days after being sick for over 10 years with one  cardinal sign 
which is weight loss of up to 20% of body weight? And how correct  is the 
rapid shooting up of the CD4 count on someone whose immune system has  been 
compromised for a long period?
5. In malaria and other diseases like TB,  one is declared cured when there 
is no parasite seen in the blood film sample or  no AFB seen in the spectrum 
spear. Does the same apply in the cure of AIDS?
I  would have thought that our medical personnel would have given advice to 
the  president or any other person involved in such a situation as to how to 
deal  with a sensitive issue of this global nature, when the Reinhard Bunke 
scenario  has taught us lessons. I do hope the same will not happen here.
I would have  expected the SoS and any other medical personnel involved to 
act responsibly by  conducting the treatment as a trial with the involvement of 
line agencies and  organisations like the W.H.O which is responsible for all 
global health issues,  especially AIDS and terminal diseases. I am not a 
scientist but in the case of  AIDS I would hope that there should be trials and 
curative treatment which makes  it mandatory to act sensitively.
These patients treated with those  concoctions should be closely monitored 
and followed up for a long time. This  should involve blood sample collection 
and analysis under ELISA at a reputable  institution.
It will be good for every Gambian to achieve treatment for AIDS,  especially 
when it is discovered from the small Gambia but the organisation of  the whole 
process to me seems manipulated. It should have taken a better  form.
Waiting for your response to the above mentioned request made.
Thank  you 
Yerro 
Serrekunda 

EDITOR: Mr. Yerro, Foroyaa will make  effort to talk to the medical 
personnel, AIDS workers and the Secretary of State  to shed light on these issues you 
have raised. 

SK CENTRAL, A  GLOOMY FUTURE AHEAD
The just concluded National Assembly Election has been a  sad moment for the 
people within the constituency of Serrekunda Central. The  cause of this 
sadness has shocked everyone in The Gambia, especially we,  students. Halifa is a 
man who loves his country and also has concern for The  Gambia, in particular 
and Africa, in general. He is a man who has contributed a  lot to national 
development because he has initiated a computer training school  where Gambians 
are freely trained in computer studies and created a trust fund  from which many 
people have benefited in terms of scholarship, micro-finance  scheme to 
empower them, especially women and so on. He established a centre,  called the 
People’s Centre, which has served as a social clinic where numerous  aggrieved 
people have had their problems addressed through his personal  intervention, to 
mention but a few. 
In the five years, in the National  Assembly, Halifa has scrutinised bills 
word for word and clause by clause to  expose their weaknesses; this is how an 
MP should perform his duties. To be an  MP requires a high level of knowledge 
skills. An MP should not be a dummy. He or  she should talk and give out his 
frank opinions. When people are electing their  representatives in the National 
Assembly all the communities in that district  should meet and choose a 
competent person who can protect their interest but  they should not select a person 
whose educational career has stopped at the  primary or secondary level; or 
whose motive is to enrich himself/herself or  serve another individual.
The majority of the MPs tend to serve an  individual’s interest and their own 
selfish interest, but not the interest of  the country. We have seen 
situations in the National Assembly where some MPs in  the ruling party condemned 
Bills during the Debate but voted for them in the  end. Is that not double 
standard? Are they afraid of being driven from the  party? Such people demonstrate in 
practice their lack of faith. What they should  understand is that all the 
selfish things they are doing, they are going to be  accounted for in this world 
and the Day of Judgment. Halifa always speaks the  truth and raises the 
consciousness of the people about their rights,  responsibilities and progress.
A concerned citizen.

AN INTERVIEW  WITH THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN NIAMINA EAST
MR. EBRIMA MARENAH
Foroyaa:  Mr. Marenah you have been aspiring to be the National Assembly 
member for the  Niamina East Constituency, but unfortunately the I.E.C has 
declared Foday Jallow  as the winner. What do you have to say about the outcome of 
the  election?
Marenah: Well the I.E.C has declared Foday Jallow the winner that  is one 
thing. But whether he has won or not is another. Because winning an  election 
should be base on a lot of things particularly the level playing field  during 
the period of the election.
Foroyaa: Are you trying to say that the  election was not free and fair?
Marenah: Frankly as far as I am concern, the  election was not the least free 
and fair.
Foroyaa: Why do you think  so?
Marenah: Because there were lot of intimidation that the A.P.R.C Party  was 
involved in for example the A.P.R.C campaign team in Niamina East headed by  
the chief, Alhagie Kebba Touray and one Fofana, an NIA Officer at Jareng Police  
Station, did not only stopped at campaigning for the A.P.R.C, but were going  
round intimidating people within my constituency. Even myself, I was 
intimidated  at one point when some of my supporters were arrested and taken to the 
Jareng  Police Station threatening them that if I should win they will be in  
problem.
Foroyaa: So you are trying to give the impression that because of  
intimidation that is why you were defeated?
Marenah: Exactly so. Because for  instance the area called Jokni and also 30 
mile which are one of my strongest  bases, the people there have been 
intimidated and seriously harassed. That is  why when the results were announced, I 
have the conviction that because of these  intimidation there was going to be a 
low voter turn out in those  places.
Foroyaa: Where do you think most of your votes came from within your  
constituency and why?
Marenah: The entire Niamina has already shown their  support for me because 
over 2401 people left all what they were doing, just to  go and vote for me. 
Definitely those people need to be commended. And these are  the people who know 
their civic and political rights as far as national  development, in general, 
and the development of Niamina East, in particular, are  concered. This is 
why they have the believe that the person identified by the  A.P.R.C is not 
capable to be a National Assembly Member.
Foroyaa: But do you  think if he is not capable as you are saying, he would 
not have defeated you in  the elections?
Marenah: This election as I said was between Ebrima L.S  Marenah and not 
Foday but the A.P.R.C machinery as a whole. An example is that  on the Monday of 
15th January I was supposed to have a meeting at Jareng in  accordance with my 
campaign schedule itinerary but to my surprise when I went  there I met SoS 
Yankuba Touray and Ismaila Sambou and others holding a big  political rally 
there. So in order to avoid any possible confrontation, I  adviced my campaign 
team to move to another place.
Foroyaa: But why don’t you  channel it through the I.E.C.
Marenah: Because I was so disappointed as such  types of people should not 
violate the electoral codes of conduct.
Foroyaa:  Back to the election, how did you feel at that instance when Foday 
was declared  the winner?
Marenah: I did not feel bad because I know how much support my  people have 
given me, but I must emphasise it again that the playing field was  not level. 
I remembered an instance when the chief of Niamina East, Alagie Kebba  Touray, 
and the former P.P.P candidate for Niamina, Waa Sisay came up to my  house in 
Kndang trying to induce me and offered me a bribe of D150,000 to  withdraw my 
candidature. I told them it is not the issue of money but how to  contribute 
towards national development, liberation and of course the  development of the 
Niaminas. So in any case if you see such situations know that  the A.P.R.C is 
terribly desperate.  
So when they failed in all their  strategies, they went to arrest my 
supporters, detained them at Jareng Police.  When I went to enquire about their arrest 
and detention, I myself was arrested  and put in cell for almost 24hours. 
They said I have no right to be there. I  told them that these are my people, if 
they are detained at your station; I have  the right to be there. And they 
said they are taking me to court for  that.
Foroyaa: Do your people lose support in you?
Marenah: I can tell you  that people are more ready today than ever. Because 
after the declaration of the  results I went round to the whole of my 
constituency thanking and commending  them for a job well done and the response I 
received from them is more than  positive.
Foroyaa: Is this going to be the end of your political career?  
Marenah: Infact this is the beginning of my career as a politician since I  
was not very much prepared but now that I have realized my potentials and the  
support of my people, the sky is going to be the limit.
Foroyaa: What do you  have for your constituency even though you have not won 
the  election?
Marenah: First and fore most I will try to create reconciliation in  my 
constituency which has already started. I am also in the process of forming a  
Community Based Organisation (C.B.O) in my constituency as an effort to  
contribute towards national development.
Foroyaa: Finally you said you have  not accepted your defeat, where does your 
fate lie now? Are you going to channel  it through the courts?
Marenah: Well it still depends on the circumstances  because it is too 
premature to comment on that. But I am still in the process of  gathering 
information, and doing necessary consultations with my lawyers because  I was seriously 
intimidated and harassed when they put me and my people behind  bars for our 
political and constitutional rights. 
Foroyaa: Are you  married?
Marenah: Yes I am married with one wife and three  children.
Foroyaa: Are you a happy man? 
Marenah: Yes I am happy because I  have a strong woman behind me. And my wife 
is so caring.
Foroyaa: Thank you  Marenah for your time.
Marenah: It’s a pleasure, thank you.

MAN  ARRAIGNED FOR GIVING FALSE INFORMATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
By  Modou Jonga
A man residing at New Yundum village in the Western region,  Momodou Alieu 
Jallow, was on Tuesday arraigned in court for giving false  information to a 
public officer contrary to Section 114 of the criminal code.  The case was 
presided over by Magistrate E.F M’bai of the Brikama Magistrates  Court.
The alleged false information according to the statement of the said  
offence, was on or about the month of September and October 2006 at New Yundum,  that 
the accused gave the information to the office of the president that his  
daughter (Fatoumata Jallow) was hit by the presidential convoy and died which at  
the time of the making of the said information was false.
In narrating the  facts of the alleged dissemination of the false 
information, the Police  prosecutor 413 Sanyang said that it was on the 12 September last 
year when the  head of state was returning from his provincial tour (meet the 
people tour). As  a result, said the prosecutor, people were out to cheer him 
up including also  the accused and his family outside their compound in New 
Yundum village. The  prosecutor said that an Ambulance numbered GG4278 coming 
from the Royal Victoria  Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in Banjul to Brikama driven 
by one Momodou Camara hit  the accused’s daughter (Fatoumata Jallow) who died.
The matter stated the  prosecutor was reported to Yundum Police station and 
the Police came to the  scene of the accident. According to the prosecutor, all 
the necessary steps on  the matter were taken by the Police.
Speaking further, the prosecutor said  that the accused being the father of 
the deceased wrote to the Police for the  withdrawal of the case against the 
driver (Momodou Camara) and said that the  accident was caused by the will of 
God.
A copy of the withdrawal letter by  the accused was tendered in court and 
admitted as evidence. An affidavit signed by the accused stating not to conduct a 
post-mortem on the deceased was also  tendered and marked as evidence.
According to the prosecutor, sometime  between September and October last 
year, the president of the republic was on a  survey tour on the highway between 
Westfield and New Yundum when the accused was  present with other people; that 
it was then when the accused explained to one of  the Protocol officers that 
his daughter (now deceased) was knocked by a vehicle  among the presidential 
convoy when the latter was coming from a provincial tour.  The accused, said 
the prosecutor, was thus advised to write a letter to the  president’s office 
and which the he did.
According to the prosecutor, the  letter by the accused stated that the 
accused’s daughter (Fatoumata Jallow) now  deceased who was about seven years was 
hit by a vehicle among the presidential  convoy; that upon the receipt of the 
said letter, at the president’s office an  investigation was mounted to verify 
the claim; that the investigation’s findings  revealed that an accident 
occurred at New Yundum in which a girl was knocked by  an ambulance; that the 
investigation concluded that the accused gave false  information as stated in his 
letter addressed to the president’s office and it  thus recommended that the 
accused be charged for giving false  information.
The accused, when asked by the presiding magistrate whether the  facts 
narrated by the prosecutor are correct, said the facts are incorrect. At  this 
juncture, a plea of not guilty was entered by the court for the accused.  The case 
was thus adjourned to Wednesday 14th February,  2007. 

TRIBUTE TO COMRADE EBOU MADI SILLAH
Monday 5th  February, 2007 marked the first year after the eternal departure 
of Ebou Madi  Sillah, aka Comrade, from our midst. Comrade Sillah is gone but 
his legacy will  live on for eternity. Physically, he has left monumental 
landmarks in the form  of statues at diverse major road intersections or junctions 
and public places in  the Greater Banjul area and also some cultural works 
and relics in historical  Juffureh. The late Comrade Sillah had been a source of 
inspiration to many young  people in his native Banjul as well as students in 
academia by helping them  cherish the pursuit of knowledge. In the Arts 
fraternity, Comrade was also a  leading light and mentor for many young Artists 
who, through him, had came to  fully appreciate the depth of arts and developed 
their talents to become  professionals. The flow of tributes that came through 
the newspapers and radio  from friends colleagues and relatives in the wake of 
Ebou Madi Sillah’s death  are adequate testimony that Comrade led a life of 
substance. At the social  front, he was attested to be a benefactor to many 
people. I, for one, as the  youngest of his brothers and many others through our 
interaction with Comrade,  had been able to develop a critical outlook of the 
world. The foundations of my  political orientation and desire to pursue and 
share knowledge started with  him.
For the information of the general public, the friends and family of the  
late Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah are planning to commemorate this great Gambian  
Artist and Thinker and celebrate his works of arts with an exhibition, and the  
date of which will be announced in due course.  
Ousman Sillah
 

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