Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No 20/2008, 15 – 17 February 2008
Editorial
The Housing Crisis
The people often talk about the high cost of food. Housing is hardly
mentioned. However, housing is next to food and water in the hierarchy of needs.
Without a safe and spacious house to live in life can be a bed of thorns. This
is precisely the situation of many families today.
Some time ago, a woman who is extremely skilful and had been abroad with her
husband, narrated her ordeal to Foroyaa. She was a prominent woman married
to a prominent man during the earlier days of her life. Separation led to
disintegration of family life. She struggled with the children until they grew
up. She makes soap, creams and other items to cope with the requirements of
daily life. Her major problem was housing. She had to go and rent.
Sometime ago, the representative of the landlord started to find every
excuse to remove all the tenants from the building. She could not understand why
the man had suddenly become uncooperative. She fell ill and missed payment for
one month and the man decided to take her to the Rent Tribunal to ask for
her eviction. She started to look for a place to move to since the person had
developed an attitude which she had not been used to. She started to discover
what was behind the action of the man when he developed the same attitude
towards tenants who had not defaulted in the payment of their rent.
She discovered that the land lord wanted all of them to be evicted after
receiving rent from them for years because his sister’s family could no longer
stay abroad and wanted them to take over the building after they, as tenants,
had paid more than the cost of the building.
Instead of giving her time to find a place to move to the man hastily looked
for an eviction order. To her surprise the forces came while she was still
in her room and decided to throw her lifelong possessions out destroying many
of her precious things. Neighbours quickly tried to help her to secure some
of the things lying in the street. With tears rolling down her cheeks she
wondered what she had done to deserve such brutal treatment. She had to go back
to her congested family home to seek sanctuary and leave all her possession
scattered in different houses of her neighbours.
Every time we talk to this woman she is complaining about pain near her
heart and she finds it difficult to breathe with ease. She constantly calls to
lament the humiliation she had undergone. She is questioning whether there is
no law governing the removal of the property of a person from a building where
she has paid rent for years. She wants to know whether it is the law which
says that such properties should be thrown into the street without concern as
to whether they will be broken or destroyed. She claims that if the law does
not protect the poor from losses then the law is a savage one.
The dilemma of this woman is what many poor families in the urban areas are
faced with today. Most families do not have houses of their own. They rent
one or two bedroom houses, which hardly have internal toilet facilities or a
place to cook from. In most instances, they take bath and urinate at the back
of their houses allowing the raw liquid waste to flow into the street.
It is not uncommon to find houses which are so congested that children sleep
on the floor at night. Such children cannot be under mosquito nets. Hence
they always fall ill with Malaria. Poverty is real for such families.
The unfortunate thing with the country is that there is too little effort
devoted to solving the housing crisis. Instead of housing programmes developed
for low income earners, public corporations are busy patronizing housing
schemes which provide accommodation to those who can purchase a building for over
a million dalasi. The suffering of the poor is increasing and evictions are
becoming rampant as middle income landlords, who live off their rent, become
desperate and increase rents, while the poor find it difficult to pay rent.
Foroyaa will interview the necessary authorities to find out whether there
are humane ways of evicting tenants who become even poorer as their life
possessions are destroyed during the process.
A people centred government must have policies, programmes, projects and
laws which ease the suffering of the people. Democracy gives the poor one key
power to check the growth of their poverty, that is, the voting right. They are
at liberty to exercise it to put in place governments whose policies
programmes, projects and laws will seek to ease their suffering and enhance their
protection.
Gov’t Accuses Carnegie Minerals Of Deception
By Saikou Ceesay
The Government of the Gambia has accused Carnegie Minerals, a mining company
based in Australia, of deception. Addressing the press at the Corinthia
Atlantic Hotel yesterday afternoon, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Crispin Grey Johnson, said the company had signed an agreement with the
government which encompasses the mining of only ilmenite, rutile and another
mineral. But the company went on, contrary to the agreement, to mine other
minerals, including iron ore, titanium and traces of uranium. The Secretary of State
indicated how they had repeatedly asked the company to tell them the truth
about the kind and quantity of minerals they were actually mining in the
Gambia, but they always gave them misleading information. They then opted to
conduct three independent laboratory tests of samples outside the country, noting
that the laboratory results revealed that the samples contained iron,
titanium and small quantities of uranium. He said at this stage they gave the
company the opportunity to come clean but they again came up with misleading
information. This led to the revocation of their licence.
SoS Crispin Grey Johnson said that the company has, to date, exported more
than 20,000 metric tonnes of ilmenite to Australia and some of which went to
China. According to the SoS thE Carnegie Minerals paid a fee of $50 US
dollar per tonne to the government. “The magnitude of ilmenite exported in the
first quarter of last year was 720 metric tonnes,” said SoS Crispin Grey
Johnson. He said it is a fact that they ‘misled the Gambia.’ He told reporters that
the police have started investigation on the company’s Managing Director,
Mr. Charles Northfield, who is a British National. The Managing Director of the
company is currently in custody.
The Secretary of State indicated that the intention of the government is to
take the matter before the courts as soon as possible. He described the
incident as unfortunate. He said in 2005, the company was found guilty of market
manipulation in Australia.
In response to a question asked by the British High Commissioner, Phil
Sinkinson, the Attorney General, Marie Saine Firdaus assured him that Mr. Charles
Northfield, the managing director will not be used as a scape goat. But she
emphasized that he is key in their investigations. She cautioned that they
would not divulge information that will tamper their investigation.
The conference was attended by SoS Neneh Macdouall Gaye SoS for
Communication and Information Technology and members of the diplomatic and consular
corps.
Efforts to get the opinion of the company have not yet been successful.
HUMAN RIGHTS JOURNALISTS TASK AFRICAN COMMISSION
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
West African Journalists, who had gone through three days of intensive
training on human rights journalism, from the 12 to 14 of February, convened by
the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, submitted a declaration to
the Commission at the end of the training, called the “Banjul Declaration”.
The declaration calls on all to be mindful of Article 30 of the African
Charter establishing the African Commission on Human and peoples.
It was also declared that the Commission should consider the disadvantaged
and less privileged people such as women, children and other vulnerable groups
of persons, who continue to suffer the worst form of human rights abuses
unimaginable on the African continent.
That the Commission should also consider the fundamental role of the media
in the attainment of human rights and the threats, abuses and violations
journalists suffer on a day to day basis in their attempt to highlight and report
these violations and abuses.
That the Commission should carry out an immediate and independent
investigation into all pending cases of abuses, killings and disappearances of
Journalists on the continent and requisition the state parties concerned to report
any action they have taken on the cases.
That the Commission should requisition state parties of the African Union to
file annual reports of all matters and cases concerning journalists in their
countries.
That the Commission should create an on-line web/bloc site for human rights
journalists for on-line interaction and discussions. That the office of the
special Rapporteur on the freedom of expression should have a hotline open 24
hours for complaints and reports about abuses against journalists. That the
Commission should facilitate national training programmes for journalists in
the different countries of the continent.
That the Commission should publish a regular journal on the activities of
human rights journalists in Africa.
That the Commission should create an institute for Human Rights Journalism
Training and explore avenues of inculcating the training in journalism and mass
communication in Colleges.
That the African Commission commits itself to the establishment of the
African Union Court of Justice.
That the African Commission should this year, 2008, declare an annual
African Press Day, during which certificates and awards are given for best
practices, (like the day Dele Giwa was murdered in Nigeria).
That the Commissions should facilitate or establish a code of conduct for
Human Rights Journalists and develop measures to call defaulting practitioners
to order.
These declarations were made by over 25 participants from within the West
African sub-region, who were all certificated at the end of the three day
training workshop, at the Paradise Suites Hotel.
Two Village Heads Suspended
Western Region Governor Petitioned
By Modou Jonga
Following the indefinite suspension of the Alkalo of Seyone Village,
Fabakary Badjie, and the Alkalo of Dimbaya, Burama Colley, residents of the said
villages, in Kombo Central, have finally petitioned the Governor of the Western
Region Abdou F.M Badjie over what they called the replacement of their
popularly endorsed village heads.
According to reports, the two village heads were indefinitely suspended from
performing any Alkaloship duties, shortly after the Local Government
Elections in which an independent candidate Mr. Lamin Jarju for Marakissa Ward,
which covers the two villages, won with a landslide victory against the APRC
sponsored candidate.
Speaking to this reporter, residents of the said village expressed
disappointment over the indefinite suspension of their village heads. They said the
suspension is without merit and that, it might be politically motivated.
Residents told Foroyaa that they will continue to show allegiance to their removed
Alkalos until the decision to suspend them is reversed by the authorities.
The two petitions, signed and thumb printed by more than one hundred and
fifty-five persons from the said villages, were delivered to the office of the
Governor of the Western Region. Residents noted that, they have unanimously
rejected the Alkaloship of Mr. Kebba Jatta, as Alkalo of Seyone and Alhagie
Jammeh as Alkalo of Dimbaya.
The petition of the villagers of Seyone dated 6 February 2008 reads:
“Honourable Governor, in the interest of the unity in our village and in the
image of good governance, we, the people of Seyone hope that you will find
in your heart of wisdom the virtue to reverse this unfortunate decision,”
When contacted to shed light on the matter, the Governor of the region,
Abdou F.M Badjie, asked this reporter to contact the said suspended village
heads. He was told that the said village heads were already contacted and they
confirmed their indefinite suspension as communicated in a letter issued by the
Regional Governor. However, Mr. Badjie declined to comment on the matter.
Document On Capacity Assessment For Women Validated
By Annia Gaye
The Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, Madam Isatou
Njie Saidy, has noted that women contribute a low percentage than men in
public life, thus the attainment of MDG goal 3 remains a challenge. Madam Njie
Saidy made these remarks at the validation of the capacity assessment for women
in decision making processes held on the 13 and 14 February at the Corinthia
Atlantic Hotel in Banjul. Madam Njie Saidy further noted that women,
recently, have been given the opportunity to serve in decision making positions such
as Vice President, Speaker of the National Assembly Members, Local
Government Councillors and other positions held by women in the Private Sector.
She said it is therefore fitting to assist women in building their
capacities, to ensure that they are marketable and up their rightful positions, thus
the justification for this project. “The overall goals of the project is to
support the attainment of MDG3-Gender Equality and the advancement of women in
the Gambia,” she noted.
She further pointed out that the finding of the assessment revealed by the
consultants show that women’s illiteracy, fear, male dominance, socio
cultural barriers, limited capacity on advocacy and negotiations are among the
contributing factors to women’s lack of participation in decision making. “As
highlighted due to the heavy burden of work, particularly at the household
level. some of the women indicated that, if only they have access to labour saving
devices including water and garden tools, then they will make up for time to
participate in decision making but are challenged by drudgery and/or time
consuming work. Other issues raised included women’s lack of necessary
qualifications, as candidates as well as poverty,” she said.
She expressed that the recruitment of a consultant for the capacity
assessment exercise was to precede the implementation of some activities about women.
She said that the objective of the assessment of women’s capacity gaps are
to identify some of the reasons why women do not use their voting rights; that
some other gaps include advocacy, negotiations and other necessary
leadership skills as well as of the annual work plan.
Madam Njie Saidy dwelled on the participation of women in politics, noting
that in the 2007 National Assembly elections only two women were voted into
parliament, while the rest have been nominated by the president. She concluded
by challenging participants to look closely at issues and recommendations to
ensure that realistic and appropriate strategies are developed for effective
implementation. “There will be a delay in national development, if half of
the population is left behind her,” she concluded.
Delivering her statement, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon.
Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, indicated that Gambian Women have been participating in
national development at various levels in varied forms at a limited level. “We
are informed that Gambian women are challenged due to many reasons, such as
lack of Education, Poverty, Socio Cultural barriers and other issues” she said.
She mentioned that women are appointed or nominated for the first time to
key decision making positions, noting that they have the longest serving female
Vice President, and that women have held several positions such as
Accountant General, Secretary of State, Judge, Speaker of the National Assembly,
Entrepreneurs and so on.
“For other positions of appointment women also find it difficult to climb
the ladder allowing more men to benefit from career development opportunities,
making them better suited than women at both the public and private level.
Women appointed to serve at the international level do also find it difficult
to get the approval of their husbands or families to join them, thus creating
further obstacles,” she said.
Other speakers include the Deputy Director Women’s Bureau, Mr. Lamin Ceesay
and the UNDP resident representative, who also talked on issues affecting
women and on decision making.
Vanished in The Gambia
Culled from the Quarterly Magazine of the Commonwealth Press Union
Don’t let The Gambia
Become another
Weak link in the
Commonwealth chain;
Writes Harry Wilson
If I wanted to accurately reflect where on the scale of importance the case
of the Gambian journalist Ebrima Manneh currently sits, I wouldn’t be talking
about him in the first six pages of this magazine.
Instead, I would mention Manneh towards the back of this publication where
you might skim over, completely forget about or even miss entirely his story.
At most, he would be an afterthought - something that you might vaguely
recall but then let slip quickly out your memory.
It wouldn’t be your fault, really; after all, how often do you read about a
journalist from the smallest country in mainland Africa who’s been missing
(at the time of writing) for one year, four months and 18 days? No, me neither.
Of course, those of us concerned about the state of press freedom in the
Commonwealth want to keep the plight of many journalists who have suffered the
indignity and injustice of violence and intimidation front and centre; our
colleagues in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean, the Pacific and many other
parts of Africa all deserve our continued attention.
But because an organisation such as the Commonwealth is only as strong as
its weakest link, let’s for a moment keep Manneh and The Gambia foremost in our
minds. What is happening to journalists there like Manneh makes that already
poor country even more bereft - not financially, but in an ethical and moral
sense.
What’s interesting - and the Commonwealth should take note of this - is that
a regional African institution could be about to help change that, a point
to which I’ll return shortly.
Manneh, the former State House reporter with The Gambia’s Daily Observer
newspaper, went missing on July 11, 2006, shortly after the African Union Summit
concluded in The Gambia. A number of press freedom organisations, including
the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have reported that Manneh
is alleged to have passed on information to a foreign journalist who later
wrote an article on the summit that criticised President Yahya Jammeh’s
government.
Many in The Gambia believe the country’s security services, the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA), arrested Manneh after the summit. Both the NIA and
Gambian police have denied they are holding Manneh - despite a journalist with
the Foroyaa newspaper identifying him in a jail cell in Fatoto, 400km east of
the capital Banjul, in late December 2006. Manneh was next seen in July 2007
at Banjul’s Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, where he was said to be
receiving treatment for high blood pressure. From there, he was moved to the capital
’s Mile Two Central Prison. It was the last time he was seen.
Some now believe Manneh is dead. An IFJ source told that organisation that
officers at Mile Two Central Prison had taken Manneh from his cell in July and
said he “would not see the next day’. Others, like Demba Jawo, ex-president
of the Gambia Press Union, believe Manneh is still alive and being held
somewhere in the country.
In truth, Manneh’s colleagues, friends and family might fear the worst but
have no real idea if he’s dead or alive. All they know is that he disappeared.
But an answer to exactly what fate has befallen Manneh might be just around
the corner. The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) doesn’t get a lot of mention in the news. But come
Jan. 31, 2008, this regional Abuja-based institution, endorsed by member states
in 1991 and established as a reality in 1996, could make headlines - if it
decides to order the government of The Gambia to produce Manneh and explain
why it is holding him.
In late November the court finished hearing evidence presented by the Media
Foundation for West Africa MFWA which had filed suit against The Gambia
government, demanding Manneh s immediate and unconditional release- h marks the
first time an ECOWAS member state has been taken to the court over press
freedom related violations and could set a precedent if the court rules in the MFWA’
s favour.
There is a good chance the court will do so: the MFWA produced as a witness
a Daily Observer journalist who saw Manneh being arrested. The Gambian
government has twice ignored the court’s call to appear. Such a ruling would be
immediately enforceable and bind either a Gambian court or police to produce
Manneh.
Kwame Karikari, executive director of the MFWA, is optimistic about the
result, despite what he believes are the inherent flaws in Gambia’s judicial
system: “Jammeh’s judiciary is a kangaroo system,” he told me. “But we know
there are one or two judges likely to enforce such a ruling. Whether Jammeh’s
government will comply is something else.” Which is why the Commonwealth should
pay close attention and not let The Gambia become any weaker a link in the
chain than it already is.
If the ruling does go in favour of the MFWA but the Gambian government
ignores it, the Commonwealth should step in and, at the very least, let The Gambia
know it strongly backs the courts ruling. If the ruling doesn’t go in
favour, then the Commonwealth could 5511 step in and apply more pressure to a
regime that has for too long operated with impunity towards journalists.
Doing so would demonstrate a refreshing amount of purpose and will. And
Ebrima Manneh who somewhere may be counting his 506th day in detention, would be
grateful.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
1990: YEAR OF FREEDOM FOR NELSON MANDELA AND ALL SOUTH AFRICANS
With Swaebou Touray
In the last edition, we have dealt with the Gambia’s controversial Silver
Jubilee Celebrations.
We have stopped at where we wrote that the Foroyaa warned that no Government
can create stability by alienating the people and that was what the Gambia
Government was doing. Let us continue from where we stopped.
The Gambia had unofficially developed a strong unofficial news medium (the
Rumour mill) by the 1990s, since there was no alternative radio that could
disseminate divergent information across the country.
A court martial in 1990 sparked the rumours of a coup d ‘etat. This court
martial involved one Lieutenant Alieu Ndure. He was charged with various counts
including false accusations against an Officer of the Gambia Armed Forces;
using threatening language in a letter; inciting mutiny through that letter
and questioning a court order and attempt to win the sympathy of the convict
contrary to section 47 (1) (c) of the Armed Forces Act; failure to perform
military duty; disobedience to lawful command and refusing to hand over weapon
and to give evidence in a court.
Initially, Mr. Alieu Ndure prayed to the court to dismiss the case. He said
he was summoned to appear before the commander of the Gambia National
Gendarmerie, which he did and that the matter was dealt with; that he was not aware
that the case was referred to a court – martial until he received a letter to
that effect on the day the proceedings were to begin.
He also referred to section 91, subsection (5) of the Armed Forces Act and
said while being tried by the commander, he requested for his evidence to be
taken under oath but that this was denied; that his statement was not taken
before the trial; that before the court-martial he should have under gone
medical examination.
The judge advocate was Mr. Onadeko, President of the court was Captain
Sheriff Mbye, and the other members were Lieutenant Samsideen Sarr and Lieutenant
George King.
Captain Chongan argued that the accused person appeared on military orders
on the 20th April 1990; that the charges were read in the presence of
Lieutenant Ndure Cham and he pleaded not guilty; that the finding of the commander
was guilty; that it was on record that the commander referred the case to the
Disciplinary court-martial and the accused was duly notified.
The accused, Lieutenant Alieu Ndure said Captain changan talked about civil
and military charges without quoting any legal authority to back his
argument, that all what he was saying was pure creation; that if the commander found
him guilty he should have been sentenced. He also implied that Captain
Chongan is not a medical doctor to determine whether he was fit for trial or not.
The president of the court, however, said the court observed that the
accused did not have adequate time to prepare for his defence. It ruled that the
court be adjourned to give the accused time to prepare his defence.
On the next sitting, the only change in the membership of the court martial
was the replacement of Lieutenant Samsideen Sarr by Lieutenant Ndure Cham.
The accused however pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution called eight witnesses but the accused did not call any
witnesses. He however addressed the court
ADDRESS BY THE PROSECUTION
Captain Chongan said that prosecution witnesses 1 and 2 confirmed that the
accused appeared before the Commander of the Gambia Gendarmerie; that P.W.3
has mentioned that the remnants of the ammunitions were not tendered and that
the accused was reluctant in leaving the hall during the trial of Lamin Faye;
that PW 5 had defended Gendarme Lamin Faye to the best of his ability; that
the question of the Commander of the Gambia Gendarmerie being in civilian
clothing is not relevant once the accused recognized him as the Commander of the
Gambia Gendarmerie; that the accused failed to perform his duties, that he
disobeyed lawful command because up to that day his pistol had not been handed
in; that the accused failed to show the laws which back his assertions.
THE END OF ADDRESS: - The prosecution applied to withdraw a second charge
sheet that was apparently filed. The application was granted and the Court was
adjourned until to 16th May for judgment.
ADDRESS BY THE ACCUSED
The accused said that he would neither testify nor call any witnesses; that
he would rest his case on the evidence adduced by the prosecution.
He explained the circumstances surrounding, the case. He said the trial
arose out of a letter he addressed to the Commander of the Gambia National
Gendarmerie, in person, concerning the trial of Gendarme Faye whom he said received
two punishments, that is, dismissal and sentence to imprisonment. Lt. Ndure
said he was charged with six counts; that on the 19th April at 8.30 a.m.
Major P.S. Jagne came to his residence and tried to use blood ties to get him to
hand over his weapons because according to Major Jagne, he is not tempered;
that he has been an officer for six years; that it was his team that won the
pistol championship at Brikama and that he is again preparing the team; that
the pistol is on individual responsibility; that gendarme means the man and
the arm that one who is separated from the arm is no more a gendarme; that he
can only obey lawful orders; that his letter was a personal opinion just to
advice the commander regarding a wrong decision; that he is the one who can
give an interpretation to his letter not the prosecution; that he cannot incite
mutiny by a letter addressed only to the Commander of the Gambia National
Gendarmerie; that one cannot dictate to an officer who is assigned to
investigate a case; that the prosecution charged him in one of the counts on the 17th
April for facts of the 19th; that it was not his responsibility to tender
exhibit in the Disciplinary Court-Martial of Lamin Faye.
16TH MAY, 1990 PROCEEDINGS
After giving a summary of the evidence adduced from the witnesses, the
president of the Disciplinary Court-Martial announced that the accused was found
not guilty on all 6 counts, and therefore acquitted and discharged him THE END.
MANDELA IS FREE AT LAST
April 1990 is seen as a historic day for all Africans inside and outside of
Africa. In the Gambia, Newspapers wrote about the release of Nelson Mandela.
Foroyaa made a tribute to him which is herewith partially quoted verbatim.
INTRODUCTION
Life is a journey which must come to an end. We are all visitors to this
world. Sooner or later we must go. Death is, therefore, an inevitable end. It
must come our way one day or another. What is important, therefore, is what we
leave behind. This depends on how we live on earth. Human beings have one of
two lives to live. They can live as parasites on this earth thinking of no
one but their personal well-being. They see suffering but do not seem to care.
Their eyes become blind to the realities of others. There are others who
prefer to be assets to other human beings. Their hearts beat in unison with the
heart beats of the suffering people of .the world. They prefer to be in
captivity so that others can be free. They prefer to die so that others can live.
They prefer to live in solitude so that others can be happy. They prefer to
shoulder the burden of humanity so that others can live at ease. These are the
people who live for others who put the interest of their nation above their
very own. Such people never die. They live in the hearts and minds of the
people forever.
Nelson Mandela is not dead. He is still alive but is already a legend. His
name is known, in every continent. Musicians sing about his sacrifices.
Children talk about his name. Every one knows Nelson Mandela as a freedom fighter.
For the past twenty seven years Nelson Mandela was incarcerated. He spent
many of these years in solitary confinement. Nelson was tried and sentenced in
1962. His crime was political. He refused to reconcile himself to the absurd
idea that he belonged to an inferior race. He was considered a criminal
because he was uncompromising to a system which accords advantages to some and
denies those advantages to others on the basis of race. He was considered a
criminal because of his refusal to compromise with an inhumane system.
Nelson Mandela, however, is not a racist. He is not only concerned with the
liberation of a given race. He is opposed to oppression and exploitation in
general. This is why he is loved and revered throughout the world. The
monstrous South African regime wanted to finish up with Nelson Mandela once and for
all. They wanted to break him. However, Nelson Mandela is not a coward. He
believed in what he stood for. He was determined to die for a cause which aims
to bring about the liberation of the peoples of South Africa, the liberation
of blacks as well as whites. Nelson knew that the blacks were enslaved by
suppression and the whites by institutionalized chauvinism. He wanted blacks to
take off the yoke of exploitation and degradation and breathe the air of
dignity, liberty and prosperity. He wanted the whites to take off the burden of
bigotry and breathe the air of liberty and humanity. Nelson knew that no one
can be free who enslaves another. Such a person must always be in a state of
paranoia; such a person cannot relax. Such a person must be in a constant
state of stress. .Such a person must always be suspicious and frightened that any
day the slave will break the chains and fight for his or her freedom.
Yesterday Nelson Mandela was imprisoned but today he cannot be touched.
Today, he is reporting the very things that earned him a sentence for life but no
one dares to send him to prison. It was the desire of the South African
regime to jail Nelson Mandela until death takes him away. However, at a given
stage they considered that it would be a tragic affair if he was to die.
Finally, to keep him in prison became impossibility. He had to be released contrary
to the wishes of those who jailed him in the past. This confirms beyond any
shadow of doubt that history does not develop according to the wishes of this
or that person. When all the factors are ripe for something to happen, when
all the factors for political change are ripe for it to occur, it must occur.
No force on earth can stop it.
The fact of the matter is that Nelson Mandela did not beg anyone to release
him. He was released because history demanded that he be released; because
all the factors became ripe for him to be released. Nelson therefore is
answerable only to history. He is to act only in accordance with history’s demand.
Foroyaa then asked what that demand was. It said Nelson Mandela went to
prison because he saw oppression and tried to uproot it; that he went to prison
because he saw pain and tried to relieve it, that he saw poverty and tried to
eradicate it; that he went to prison so that all people’s in South Africa
would live in liberty, dignity and prosperity.
So Foroyaa asserted that it was not the role of Mandela to appease those who
wish to live in liberty, dignity and prosperity while denying these very
things to others. It is for such people to change their out look and recognize
the rights of others. Foroyaa concluded by asserting among many other things
that the world situation is complex ad confusing to only the naïve and the
confused.
The world situation is however very clear; that countries which controlled
colonies yesterday still control the capital and industries they accumulated
from many places; that they control the markets, buy raw material cheaply,
sell manufactured goods dearly and give loans for profit.
Foroyaa raised alarm on our leaders who it said should have utilized their
brains to build self reliant economies but preferred to fill their pockets and
thus reduced our peoples into indebted beggars of the human race.
Foroyaa hypothesized that, that cannot last; that No people can accept to be
wretched of the earth forever; that countries need knowledgeable and humble
leaders who are innovators; leaders who will not accept to live at the
expense of the people; leaders whose success will not be determined by the praises
they receive from the British, Chinese, Russians, French or the US, but by
the quality of life of their peoples and their enjoyment of liberty and dignity.
Foroyaa singled out Mandela as someone who has shown that he can be such a
leader; that he has rejected living in a mansion built for him; that he has
shown that suffering would not force him to bend his knees; that no amount of
flattery from people motivated by selfish interest would lead him to bend his
knees.
Foroyaa finally dropped the curtain by asserting that he who lives and dies
in the service of the people lives forever in their minds, but Nelson should
also be reminded that he who sacrifices everything only to betray the people
at the end dies dishonourably.
Be faithful to the people, Nelson, be faithful to the end, Foroyaa
admonished.
See next edition as we edge closer to the mid 1990s.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Life Is Not A Game
Part 6
With Amie Sillah
Couple In Bed
Alhajj and Aja were in bed. Aja praised Ous. “Darling! You were right about
Ous. He is a genius. He is hardworking and adaptable. The customers are happy
with him, so am I. He has made a gain for our business. I want him promoted
to the rank of my Personal Assistant. If you don’t mind my husband.” “Oh no!
I don’t mind. Ous is like a brother to me. I am happy that he has exalted me.
” Aja kissed and kuddled Alhajj. The couple have a good time. Aja has her
ulterior motives unbeknowing to the kind hearted Alhajj.
At The Flower Garden
Alhajj has gone on trek. The girls are at university. Aja is alone in her
mansion with Ousman. She was relaxing in their flower garden. Aja became closer
to Ous than her husband. She called Ous and gave him a cheque of D20, 000. “
This is for you. Open an account and take care of yourself.” “What! D20, 000
signed and thumb printed by more than one hundred and fifty-five persons for
me? Am I dreaming or not?” Ous exclaimed. “No! It is a reality. Be good to
me and you’ll never regret it.” Aja emphasized.
Aja Asks Ous A Favour
She asked him to draw his chair nearer to her. Ous became nervous and shy. “
Don’t be shy! Am I not attractive enough? Ous hesitated. He was scared. “Don’
t be scared. I’ll not eat you up! I want you to become my lover. I want us
to date. I have a share in a favourite hotel. A suit is allocated to me. That
can be our love nest. The hotel is executive. Riff-Raffs don’t go there. It
is safe. It is allocated to the cream of creams of the society. I want to
transform you into a bigger boy.” Ous was still afraid. Aja drew him nearer and
gave him a fierce Rambo kiss. Ous was swept of his feet. Opportunism crept
into his mind and he yelled. “Yes Ma! Why not?” there and then they entangled
on the Bahama grass and made love in the open like two hungry lustful animals.
The two lovers became entangled in a lustful sordid affair. Ous went for the
bucks while Aja went for the lust, the young blood and energy in Ousman.
Aja The Hotel Room
Sometimes Alhajj goes for three weeks long trek. His work is demanding. He
is a mechanical engineer. He inspects government engines to ensure they
function properly. Aja wanted it like that to enjoy her new found lust. She
completely forgot about her husband now. The girls are in the university, she spent
most of her time with Ousman at their love nest. She kept on pumping a lot of
money into Ousman’s account. “Just be good to me. Treat me as a woman. The
more you satisfy me, the wealthier you become. Alhajj trusts you. We will
never be discovered. We will have our cake and eat him.” Ousman was now very
sheepish. He became a sex slave to Aja whose lust is voracious.
Gra Saul Sees The Lovers
Gra Saul is a family friend. Infact, he was the bestman in Aja and Alhajj’s
marriage. He is a ‘Sasai’ (play boy man). He refused to grow. He is filthy
rich. He blossomed in the diamond trade. He is a sugar daddy, going after
small teenage girls. He lavished them with wealth. He is married to four wives.
Have up to thirty children but he still chases after small girls. Some of his
elder children males and females have got married with children. Rumour had
it that Gra Saul is under a spell. That his best friend caught him pants down
with his wife. As a result he cursed him forever. Gra Saul came with three
girls to the Executive Hotel. He sighted Aja but refused to believe his eyes.
He excused himself from the three teenagers and ran after Aja. At a little
distance, he saw whom she was with. “No! No! This could not be true. How can Aja
be in this hotel at this ungodly house with their houseboy, driver Ousman?
Ousman is executively dressed. The couples are hugging and kissing. Oh no! This
is unfair to Alhajj. I am going to his place. Let me first ensure he is at
home.” Gra rang and got Alhajj at home. “Matarr! Are you there? It is
important I am coming right away!” He drove to Alhajj’s home in a jiffy.
Gra And Alhajj Matarr
Gra came to his friend panting. He found him relaxing at the flower garden. “
Why are you panting and sweating profusing? Are you being chased after by a
lion?” “No! I am being chased by your wife?” “My wife? What do you mean by
that?” “Your wife is right now seen in a compromising situation with her shop
Assistant Ousman. I have watched those two people closely. They looked like
lovers. Two people having an affair.” “Nonsense, Gra! That is impossible.
Aja would not do a thing like that. Moreover, Ous is like a brother to me. He
would not stoop so low. Aja is class conscious. She cannot allow Ous touch
her. Go home male gossiper. Don’t destroy a happy home. Good day!” Alhajj sent
Gra away. “Time will tell. I’ll be absolved in the future.” Gra stood his
ground.
At the Hotel
The lovers took their time. They spent it into each other’s arms. They
enjoyed themselves. They are now deeply involved in adultery. Aja thought less
about her husband. She thought Alhajj was still at trek.
They Come Home
The adulterers jerked when they saw Alhajj’s jeep. They started to formulate
stories in their minds. They covered their guilt. Alhajj was relaxing in the
flower garden Aja woke him up. After exchanged greetings Aja expressed a
surprise. “I thought you were still at trek.” “No! Our schedule changed. But you
are very late today. Is it always like this?” Their hearts were jumping.
Liars! Aja cooked something. We went to unload our items from the ports. You
know government bureaucracy. Before we finish our paper transactions it was
already late. We cannot off load our goods Ous will do that tomorrow. Darling, I
am so exhausted. I want to go and sleep.” Alhajj turned to Ous who stood mute
with guilt. “Brother Ousman you have a nice time today!” He hesitated and
scratched his hair. “Yes Sir! I do!” Ous started to run to his quarters.
Alhajj called him back. Aja was scared to death. “Anything that you want to tell
me? I see that you are edgy.” “No Alhajj! I am just tired” “Okay, good
night!” He said. Ous rushed to his room in a jiffy. Aja felt relieved. Alhajj
offered her a soft cold drink.
DOSA Staff Complain
By Abdoulie Dibba
The staff of the Department of State for Agriculture have complained to this
reporter about the difficulties they go through due to late payment of
salaries.
According to the staff who spoke to this reporter in Yundum, Abuko and
Bakau, since the passing into law of the Act establishing the National
Agricultural Development Agency (NADA), they have been encountering numerous
difficulties in receiving their salaries on time.
According to them, they received their salaries always after the 15th day of
the following month. This they said makes them vulnerable to those whom they
owe financial obligations. They concluded by calling on the Department to
assist them to access their salaries on time. Attempts to talk to the permanent
secretary, yesterday afternoon, were unsuccessful. Foroyaa will publish
their views once we get them.
MRC Unit Director On Biomedical Research Clinical Practice
By Annia Gaye
The Medical Research Council Unit Director, Professor Tumani Corrah, has
said that biomedical research is an important component of improving health and
healthcare. Mr. Corrah made this remarks at a one day workshop on the Ethical
Standards in Biomedical Research and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) at the
Kairaba Beach Hotel on the 12 February. He further said that they need to
continue to learn from the results of carefully designed and directed research
studies involving individual participants as well as population.
“There is the continued need to find new or improved medicines and vaccines
and the need to discover better ways of delivering medicinal products and
vaccines,” he said.
He noted that, they must not forget that non-medical research into simple
things like the provision of clean water, pit latrines, improved nutrition and
simple interventions such as washing of the face may produce a previously
unimaginable impact on disease.
He further said that the provision of pit latrines and face washing has had
on reducing the burden of Trachoma the commonest cause of preventable
blindness in the Gambia. “The Standard of biomedical research must be the same
regardless of whether it is carried out in the developing or developed world,” he
said. He observed that the general ethical principles which related to health
care research all over the world are the same to cultural suffering, to
respect the individual, not to exploit the poor and vulnerable while respecting
cultural differences.
Mr. Corrah noted that their goal is to ensure that unethical biomedical
research is not permitted in The Gambia and to protect individuals and
communities taking part in biomedical research. He said “Indeed, the committees
interest in what happens to individuals and communities “after the research is over”
has yield significant benefits to the Gambia’s EPI programme which now
includes the Hepatitis B and Haemophillus Influenzae Tyoe B vaccines, following
successful studies of the vaccines in The Gambia. We are proud to say that The
Gambia EPI was the first to incorporate these vaccines into its schedules in
Africa.”
The World Health Organisation representative in The Gambia, Dr. Nesta
Shivute, noted that they recognize biomedical research as an important part of its
work, but noted that the evidence generated from it can only be meaningful if
it is conducted in an ethically sound manner. He further said that the
international Ethical guidelines for Biomedical research includes that the
Research protocol should provide detailed description of the producers to be
followed (during the research process), so as to ensure the protection of human
subjects involved in the study ; that the appropriate drugs, vaccines diagnosis
producers, or instruments to be used have to be listed, whether they are
registered, unregistered, new or currently use in the Gambia and also to
include that it is appropriate for children, the elderly, physically challenged,
and pregnant women, which should be indicated and justified.
Mr. Shivute assured the meeting that WHO and other partners will continue to
support biomedical research into the major health issues affecting the
developing restructuring world and to build research capacity in these areas so
countries are better equipped to tackle their own health problems.
Mauritania-Gambia Joint Ministerial Commission Held
By Annia B. Gaye
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Hon. Crispin Grey Johnson has
stated that the historic bonds of friendship and cooperation between Mauritania
and The Gambia are unique in the sub-region and worthy of emulation by all
who espouse the ideals of good neighbourliness, African integration and unity.
He made these remarks at the Mauritania- Gambia Joint Ministerial Commission
meeting on 12 February, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel. He further revealed that
this meeting provided an opportunity for them to further strengthen the
excellent bonds of friendship and cooperation that exist between the two countries
and peoples.
“This meeting of ours was convened on instructions from our respective Heads
of State, His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Yaya Jammeh and his Excellency Sidi
Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, president of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania,
to look into all issues arising from our previous meetings, and to delineate
appropriate follow-up actions in furtherance of the interest of our two
countries,” he said.
He said that they are expected to reach agreement on simple practical means
that would allow Mauritanians and Gambians to engage in fruitful commercial
exchange in goods and devices; establish direct transport links by land, air
and sea regularly; engage in educational, work, sports and cultural
interactions; collaborate more closely in the fight against threats to global peace and
security.
For his part the Mauritanian Foreign Affairs minister, Mr. Mohamed Saleck
Ould Mohamed Lemine, noted that the joint commission between the Islamic
Republic of Mauritania and the Republic of The Gambia gives them the opportunity to
review the set of concrete actions realized towards the decisions taken
during the last session held in Nouakchott from the 22 to 24 January 2001 as well
a making amendments where it was necessary in the implementation of these
decisions. “The Islamic Republic of Mauritania and The Gambia are linked by
strong relationships which emanate from history and geography. These
relationships keep on growing and strengthening so as to be a model in the sub-region,”
he said.
He dilated that the good treatment given to the Mauritanian community living
in The Gambia makes them feel at home and therefore said it is a testimony
of the friendship and consideration existing between the two heads of states.
He further noted that the task of the experts in the meeting is to find ways
and means of implementing the existing legal framework and to extend the
vast areas of potential cooperation such as commerce, transportation, industry,
fishing, investment, culture and education constitute a broad expanse for the
expression of a real cooperation.
He concluded that the Mauritanian government is prepared to make available
to The Gambia Government all its experiences in different fields, whilst being
open to benefit from Gambian experience in other areas.
URR COUNCILLORS SWORN IN
By Lamin Fatty
The elected and nominated councillors of Basse Area Council were, on
Wednesday ,13 February, sworn in at a ceremony held at the council chambers. The
swearing in ceremony was presided over by the Governor of URR, Alagie Omar khan,
who had, up till then, served as chairman of the Interim Management Team. It
was witnessed by I.E.C. officials and members of the National Assembly from
URR.
The elected councillors sworn in were Kalilu Jawo of Baja Kunda Ward, Amadou
Manneh of Kulari Ward, Ousainou Baldeh of Sabi Ward, Assan Jawo of Koina
ward, Muhammed Yerro A K Mballow for Julangel Ward, Saibeh Juwara of Sutukonding
Ward, Samba Baldeh of Gambisara ward, Yaya Kanteh of Foday Kunda Ward, Seedy
Jatta of Misera Ward, Mba Sawaneh of Dampha Kunda Ward, Aja Mariama Jaw of
Basse Ward, Samba Batchilly of Garawol Ward, Jahara K.S. Juwara of Diabugu
Ward and Momodou Barrow of Sare Ngai Ward. Three nominated councilors, namely,
Omar Sompo Ceesay, Aja Kumba Korra and the Chief of Sandu District, June Bah,
were also sworn in.
Addressing the newly sworn councillors and their chairperson, the Governor
of URR, Alagie Omar Khan, said that Local Government is so much important that
it must have to stay in providing basic services to the people. He told the
councillors that they must bear in mind that they took an oath that they will
deliver to the best interest of the people who elected them. He urged them
to put their political differences aside and work towards improving the
conditions of their respective wards. He also urged them to work closely with the
Multi Disciplinary Facilitation Team, MDFTs, to ensure that project funds are
utilize in the best interest of the people.
**************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy
Awards. Go to AOL Music.
(http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565)
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
|
