Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 54/2004, 8-11 July, 2004



EDITORIAL

WHO WILL FINANCE JULY 22ND CELEBRATION?

The celebration of national events are financed under the budget item
referred to as Centralized Services. In 2003 a sum of D1.2 million was
allocated. In 2004 a sum of D1.2 million is allocated.

However, the government aims to commemorate the coup d’etat in a grand
style. Where is the money to come from? This is the question. FOROYAA has
been informed that the government intends to milk the parastatals to conduct
the celebrations. FOROYAA has been trying to get the Permanent Secretary,
Finance to confirm whether the following parastatals have contributed the
sums indicated below:



NAWEC                      D2.5 million

G.P.A.                          D2.5 million

Gamtel                           D2.0 million

GCAA                          D1.5 million

Social Security               D3 million



FOROYAA calls on the president to verify and stop any such allocation.

He has established a Commission of Enquiry to look into mismanagement of
resources. He should show a better example by not allowing public
corporations to utilize their meagre resources to finance the commemoration
of a coup d’etat at a time when the AU has established a policy not to
recognize any government that emerges from a coup d’etat. The president had
the option to either commemorate 18th February when The Gambia attained
self-government under constitutional monarchy or April 24th when The Gambia
attained political independence under a republic as our own national day.

One national day is enough. The rest of the money should be utilized to
bring about development in the country. Just imagine how many scholarships
could be given to university students with a sum of 11 million dalasis. How
many disadvantaged boys and girls could have their education financed?

We hope the president will bear these opinions in mind.



COMMISSION TO START SITTING
The Commission of Enquiry into the assets, properties and activities of
public officers which was sworn in recently is to start sitting on 19th July
2004.The commission consists of Hon. Justice Madubochi A. Paul as Chairman
and Mr. Gabriel O. Bright and Mrs. Isatou Alwar-Graham as members.

The commission is authorized to:

a)            Investigate the existence, nature, extent and method of
acquisition of assets and properties and other related matters of all
persons including persons specified in the Scheduled hereto, who were or
have been public officers within the period from 22nd July 1994 to 2004 and
to inquire into and investigate whether such assets and properties were
acquired lawfully or otherwise;

b)         Inquire into and investigate the activities of all persons
referred to in paragraph (a) within the said person period and ascertain:
(i) whether they maintained or are maintaining a standard of living above
that which was or is commensurate with their past or present official
emoluments; (ii) whether they were or are in control of pecuniary resources
or property disproportionate to their past or present official emoluments;
and

c)         Furnish, in writing to the President, a report on the results of
the inquiry, including a statement of the reasons leading to the conclusions
of the Commission.

We shall keep you informed of the proceedings.


Phoday Lang Sarr’s Case
The ongoing D1.6 million case involving Phoday Lang Sarr, the National
Assembly member for Jarra Central and the Continent Bank resumed on Tuesday
6th July 2004 before Justice Tahir. When the case was called Mrs. Amie
Bensouda appeared for Mr. Sarr as applicant, while Mr. Sam George appeared
for the respondents. The matter could not move as Mr. George was at the time
preoccupied with another case before another judge of the same high court.

It could be recalled that earlier Justice Tahir had delivered a ruling on
this case for Phoday Lang Sarr to pay the Continent Bank the sum of D1.6
million. Now he has made an application in respect of the ruling. The matter
is adjourned till the 21st July 2004. We shall keep you informed.



NEW FERRIES YET TO ARRIVE
In our interview with the Director of Engineering of the Gambia Ferries
Services (G.F.S.) under the Gambia Ports Authority (G.P.A.), which was
published by FOROYAA in issue no. 51 / 2004, it was indicated by Mr. Gumbo
Touray that the new ferries were expected in Banjul from Ukraine on the 30th
June 2004. In the interview Mr. Touray indicated that all the tests were
carried out and everything is ready. But surprisingly the new ferries are
yet to be in town. Other sources indicate that the authorities were late
with the shipping arrangement because they wanted the ferries to be here two
days before the July 22nd celebration. The source further indicate that the
authorities wanted the ferries to be presented during the 10th anniversary
of the July 22nd celebration; that this was the reason why some engineers
from the ferry services were sent to Ukraine. When this reporter spoke to
the Public Relations Officer at the G.P.A., Mr. Ebrima J.T. Kujabi he denied
the whole story which is completely contradictory to what Mr. Touray said in
our interview. Mr. Kujabi indicated that the ferries should be here before
the end of the year. He said the authorities are doing everything possible
to bring these ferries.

Quizzed on the exploded ferry, Mr. Kujabi confirmed the story but could not
identify which one among the ferries exploded and indicated that as at now
all the ferries are in good condition. He also mentioned that the capacities
of the new ferries are far more than the present ones plying the
Banjul-Barra route. Mr. Kujabi however denied that the ferry called Kanilai
was supposed to come first before the others. On the cost of the ferries,
Mr. Kujabi said that he cannot confirm how much was spent to acquire them
and how much will be spent to transport them from Ukraine.



AMIE SILLAH ON HER AWARD
Foroyaa Interviews Amie Sillah On Her Certificate Of Appreciation Award From
The International Roots Festival 2004

This is a new innovation undertaken by the Department of State for Tourism
and Culture, the National Council for Arts and Culture, the Gambia Tourism
Authority, the National Coordinating Committee and the National Women’s
Council. It is meant to inspire and recognize deserving women who have
served the nation in all aspects of national development. About 50 women
were awarded certificates of appreciation.

The organisers intimated that such an activity would become an integral
event within the Roots Festival Celebrations. The selection should be more
diverse and divergent to ensure that all women irrespective of whatever
description are included. The gesture is highly commendable.

Now to the interview.

FOROYAA: You received an Award of Appreciation from the organisers of the
7th edition of the International Roots Festival 2004; what does it mean to
you?

Amie: I humbly appreciate the award on behalf of all Gambian women, African
women and world women. I stand for the total liberation of women from
oppression, exploitation and degradation. My goal is women empowerment
politically, economically and socio-culturally. If some of my country folks
see and recognise my stance I would say I’m thrilled.

FOROYAA: What are the achievements of Gambian women?

Amie: Achievements can be viewed from many angles. During the years we have
seen the emergence of women in high decision-making positions up to the
position of the Vice Presidency. Women professionals sprang up. That is
positive but is not all. As activists we are concerned with the plight of
the majority of women who are the peasants, workers, low grade employees,
women with disabilities, women living with HIV/AIDS and refugee and
displaced women. How are these women faring economically, politically and
socio-culturally? That is our real concern. Another achievement is the
gender debate. Issues affecting women are being debated honestly and
passionately. Women are speaking out their minds and are breaking the
canons. This was vividly clear during the women’s week celebrations. The
government has ratified all the international conventions, the most recent
being the African Protocol on Women. The Gambia was the first country to
ratify it. Everything is intact ‘de jure’ but the ‘de factor’ situation
denies women all lawful gains. The body politique and psychic is patriarchal
in The Gambia.

FOROYAA: What are the constraints facing the women struggle?

Amie: The constraints surfaced in everything. Politically women are still
afraid to venture but gradually we are breaking grounds. Come 2006, there
will be a qualitative leap. Forward ever, backward never! We are calling on
capable women of substance to come out and be counted. We will campaign and
vote them in. We are advocating for the elective principle to get into
office. Nomination is limited. The piper determines the tune and you owe
him/her allegiance but when you are voted in by an enlightened people you
will serve them by force or you’ll voted out of office. When we get there in
our quantitative and qualitative we will ensure the de jure becomes the de
factor. With civic education women will be enlightened to vote with their
heads not their hearts. And we are advocating for capable women to fill
every elective position.

Economically, women are crying for markets to sell their produce from
agriculture, cottage industry and handicrafts as well as to acquire good
prices for them. The irregularity of electricity supplies and water supplies
nowadays is worsening women’s business activities. The poor road networks
also pose great obstacles.

Just as it is stipulated in NEPAD, infrastructural development has to be
taken seriously by government if women as well as men are to benefit from
their economic activities.

Socio-culturally is where women suffer the most in Africa, The Gambia being
no exception. Backward traditional culture is made sacrosanct. When women
start to challenge and interrogate them they are seen as ‘western spy’,
unpatriotic or un-African. Here we have to be very careful. Sometimes such
backward practices are being justified religiously by some patriarchs. Women
have to learn the Holy Scriptures. Islam, Christianity and all religions in
the world preach against evil. Religions preach tolerance and peaceful
coexistence. It is the extremists of such religions that threaten the peace.
They bring confusion, intolerance and are the greatest violators of women’s
Human Rights. We the activists and all peace lovers should expose them and
fight to defend our rights, advocate for social inclusion, social justice,
gender equality and gender equity. This is what we demand for, nothing less,
nothing more. We call for a just society for all human beings irrespective
of any parochial consideration.

FOROYAA: How do you view men? Many critics see women activists as
men-haters.

Amie: (laughs) My advocacy is partnership and that’s what the activists are
demanding for. Neither gender can do it alone. We came to earth as partners
and that’s how it should be until we depart from earth. Do unto others as
you would like them to do unto you. That is a golden rule everyone should
follow. Activists don’t attack men. What we expose is patriarchy in all its
forms and ramifications. We have seen in certain parts of Africa where
widows are made to undergo inhuman and degrading practices, which beat our
imagination. Barbaric, inhuman and irreligious practices are defended in the
name of tradition. As activists, men and women we have to expose,
interrogate and challenge those practices. A widow is instructed to drink
the rinsed water of her husband’s corpse to ascertain she has no hand in his
death. Just imagine such an action in the 21st century. Yet they insult our
continent by promoting this as African culture. It is an insult to our
intelligence and an affront to our dignity. Women and their children are
also dispossessed when their husbands die and the property is seized by the
husband’s male relatives. Our cup is really full. That’s why we have to
expose all these injustices to make just and enlightened society empathise
with our situation.

FOROYAA: There is also another conception that women are enemies of women.
Do you agree?

Amie: This is a half-truth, a misnomer. Women through centuries of
dehumanisation, acculturisation and socialisation are made to be inferior
complex, competitive and an object for men’s pleasure. We have to be seen
and not heard. Strong women were castigated and branded witches in the past.
Their properties were seized and they were eliminated. That was a
patriarchal conspiracy. In most women to women violence some men are the
unseen, behind the screen manipulators. We have seen it in the polygamy
institution. Here most of the first wives are treated as the underdogs. The
second wives are the favourites. They are made to feel great and they molest
their co-wives, sometimes with the husband’s tacit, overt or covert support.
In monogamy, as well as polygamy, the extramarital issue where girlfriends
and concubines molest wives with the men’s tacit, overt or covert support
also exists. Women are to be empowered to give solidarity to each other. We
have to be our sister’s keepers. We have our differences, our specificities,
our divergencies and our commonalities. Our commonality is our common
ground. We have to utilise it to rekindle our worldwide Women Movement where
we give solidarity, embolden and empower each other.

FOROYAA: Another conception is that women are overempowered. What else do
they want? Do you agree?

Amie: (laughs) This is what some intellectuals say. It propped up during my
presentation of a paper for the West African Women Accountants at Kairaba.
The other Nigerian consultant, the co-presenter posed that question to us.
He was flabbergasted by my expose. I analysed that yes the few women in
decision-making positions, professionals you name it are crowns we
appreciate but they are not the mass of impoverished, marginalised,
exploited and oppressed African women. And even women in the upper strata of
society have their thorns placed on them by patriarchy. That empowerment is
an ongoing process and is here to stay as long as the human being continues
to live. Men need not be afraid. They need to liberate their minds and join
the struggle for social justice, social inclusion, gender equality and
gender equity.

FOROYAA: Amie, what is the way forward?

Amie: Men and women are born to be partners. Partnership is the key word.
Together we have to expose, interrogate and challenge all backward,
degrading practices perpetrated against women in the name of religion,
tradition or culture. We have to empower ourselves with information and
knowledge of life and society. We have to demystify knowledge and make it
the property of the people. We are all important men and women. We should
inculcate a positive value system in our kids so that their minds will be
liberated from the onset. We are not enemies but friends. Together we will
build a Gambia, an Africa and a world of people with one focus and one goal
to fight for liberty, dignity and prosperity.

FOROYAA: Thank you very much Amie for speaking out to our readers to
enlighten them as usual on the significance of your Award of Appreciation.

Amie: It’s a pleasure to enlighten, empower and share.

_________________________________________________________________
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