Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues

Issue No. 22/2005, 21-23 March 2005



THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY UNDER ATTACK

GRTS IS THE CULPRIT

Newspapers have been publishing attacks on the National Assembly for certain things done or not done. The attacks do not distinguish who said or did what.

In the past, when Citizen FM was in existence sittings of the National Assembly received headline news and were further broadcast the same day after the news. In this way, the listeners could know what each member of the National Assembly said.

Now, the sittings are not only broadcast many days after they occur, GRTS has a staff editing the speeches of the National Assembly members to conform to the interest of the regime. This gross travesty of journalistic ethics and decency has transformed GRTS into an instrument for the misrepresentation of the views of decent members of the National Assembly.

There is need for a public outcry of the current trend to transform the GRTS into a tool for propaganda by a ruling party rather than an instrument for the dissemination of information in the public interest. The public is paying Libya for providing the means to build the television. The public is maintaining GRTS. They are entitled to undiluted information. This issue is not a partisan issue. The Gambian public is entitled to know what the National Assembly members are saying and doing. They are paying up to ten thousand dalasis a month to National Assembly members without knowing what they are doing because of the deliberate attempt by the GRTS to censure news coming from the National Assembly.

It is GRTS that the public should condemn and call upon to fulfill its national duty to keep the people informed. 2005 should be the year of mass public outcry for GRTS to live up to expectation. Sincere members of the board should resign within a month if they cannot get GRTS to abide by the constitutional provision to disseminate divergent views, especially views by the elected representatives of the people. Freedom of information is the cornerstone of a democratic society. Any public media which hinders the dissemination of information is a tool for promoting ignorance and tyranny. We hope the GRTS will be alert to their duties to tell the truth to the nation in good faith in the public interest.



CB D417 Million Saga

Reports on the four hundred and seventeen million dalasi reported missing from the coffers of the Central Bank of The Gambia has been made a matter for speculation, particularly relating to the source of information. In order to put the facts straight, this article reports on exactly what was stated by Mr Sallah at the National Assembly.

In his contribution to the adjournment debate on Friday 12th March 2005, The Minority Leader and Member for Serrekunda Central, Halifa Sallah said: “We were told last year by the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs in a question raised by the National Assembly Member for Jarra West, that over D400 million disappeared from the coffers of the Central Bank and that attempts were being made to recover it.” Halifa Sallah went on to say: “I believe we will need some explanation in the next session of the National Assembly as to what has happened with the Central Bank auditing exercise, because we need to be informed.”

Halifa said that the Central Bank controls the whole monetary life of the country as they have seen with the Continent Bank. He asked what excuse the Central Bank can give for the collapse of the Continent Bank when the Central Bank has all the authority to monitor all commercial banks, including Continent Bank.  Halifa Sallah continued: “And now we are being told by the Secretary of State that D24 million has been collected and we were told that D75 Million was deposited by the depositors.” Halifa noted that with the D24 million collected, they have not started to pay depositors who are now suffering, whereas, according to complaints received, some of them were small scale enterprises making money and investing it in the Continent Bank, hoping to be able to gain loans to be able to improve their business. “All those businesses have collapsed and those people are still wondering as to when they will have their monies back,” Halifa posited. He asserted that one would have imagined
 that with D24 million, at least they would have started the payment scheme; that what they are being told is that the D24 million is converted into treasury bills and that this means that they are trying to make money from the state; that it is the state that is going to pay the interest on the treasury bills. Halifa stressed that the state must take responsibility for the collapse of the Continent Bank, the depositors should not be the victims and that maximum effort must be done to handle the situation.



GGC’s Portion Rented To Gamco

‘Is It In Line With EEC Agreement?’

Foroyaa has confirmed from the authorities of the Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) or former GPMB that a portion of the corporation’s Denton-Bridge property has been rented out to Gamco for putting up their oil mills. Our sources also confirmed that Gamco had earlier made an application for the former oil mills and stores area to be leased out to them. The contacted authorities further added that this was not possible as the CEO of the GDA had advised government that the act will not conform to the divestiture agreements. The same authorities have confirmed that Gamco had already decorticated so many thousands of tonnes of groundnuts at the GGC mills; that the HPS is packed at a point that it is ready for export while the FAQ is stored at the Denton-Bridge waiting to be processed into oil; that two generators for the mills have already arrived.

The GGC authorities made these remarks at the Denton Bridge on Friday 4th March 2005 upon enquiries by this reporter that Foroyaa received information that the Departments of State for Agriculture and Finance had reached an agreement on renting out part of GGC’s property to Gamco to put up an oil mill; that despite repeated advice by the CEO of the GDA, the properties of GGC will soon be tendered by April 2005. The act of leasing or renting out any part of the properties under the divestiture programme will be contradictory to the GDA rules and the CEO of the GDA even asked how would other companies that are interested show interest when a sister company is occupying the properties. At the time of going to press this paper could not reach out to the GDA and Gamco authorities but they will be contacted for their comments.

It could be recalled that the former GPMB was privatized under GOPMAC in the early 90’s to Alimenta; then after the 1994 military take-over the regime revoked the sale abruptly thereby causing the state to pay over D400 million after it was sold to them for a pittance at D20 million. It is therefore important that the state studies the new arrangement to avoid problems in the future.

When this reporter contacted the Gamco spokesperson, Kaba Jallow, former Managing Director of the defunct GPMB he confirmed to Foroyaa that part of GGC is rented out to Gamco; that already two generators are on the ground and that the oil mills which are ordered from India were expected to arrive on 16th March 2005. Asked when Gamco is expected to start milling oil, he replied that they are expected by April this year.

WINSTON ABLE THOMAS’ D68 MILLION ECONOMIC CRIME CASE DEFERRED

The sixty eight million dalasis criminal case involving Winston Able Thomas, Gam Investment Brokers Limited and the state has been deferred by the Banjul High Court. The case was set for mention on Monday. However, Justice Tahir who is assigned to hear the matter was busy sitting at the Court of Appeal. He is a co-opted judge of the Court of Appeal.

The state was represented by Counsel Cherno Marenah.

Winston Able Thomas and Gam Investment Brokers Limited are charged with two counts of economic crimes contrary to section 5 (b) and 5 (f) of the Economic Crimes (specified offences) Decree No. 16 of 1994.

According to the particulars of offence, Winston Able Thomas being a citizen and resident of The Gambia operating under the name and style of Gam Investment Brokers Limited, being a company registered and operating in The Gambia in the course of transactions with a public body, the Central Bank of The Gambia between 4th and 26th February 2003, intentionally caused loss to the Central Bank of The Gambia in foreign currency equivalent to D68 million.

The particulars of offence also stated that Winston Able Thomas of Gam Investment Brokers Limited intentionally did other acts which have been shown to be detrimental to the economy of The Gambia or the welfare of the people of The Gambia.

Winston Able Thomas was first arraigned before Justice Savage and he pleaded not guilty. The case has since not proceeded. It is recently transferred to Justice Tahir who is supposed to hear it. Reliable sources have it that the case will commence soon.



CONTINENT BANK UPDATES

D24 MILLION RECOVERED AND INVESTED IN TREASURY BILLS

In her response to a question raised by Hon. Kemeseng Jammeh, National Assembly member for Jarra West, regarding the update as to the recovery from debtors of the defunct Continent Bank, with specific reference to the progress made since August 2004, SoS Margaret Keita indicated that the liquidation of the defunct Continent Bank Limited is in progress. She said that the proof of debt exercise to confirm the liabilities of the Continent Bank has been completed as well as the sale of the bank’s assets. SoS Keita told deputies that in August 2004, she reported that judgments were obtained on a number of cases in favour of the bank and that most of the judgments have been upheld. She said that the team of lawyers engaged in the liquidation exercise have taken the necessary steps to encounter the appeals made to enable the realization of the securities pledged. She indicated that recoveries from the bank’s debtors amount to D1.12 million between August 2004 and end February 2004. To date,
 she said, the balance in the Continent Bank’s liquidation account at the Central Bank stands at D24.0 million.

In a supplementary question, the member for Serrekunda Central, Halifa Sallah raised the following question: “I would like to know from the Secretary of State whether the depositors of the bank are being paid from the money collected so far?”

In response, SoS Keita said that the depositors are not paid so far. Halifa raised another supplementary question as follows: “We have been told that D24 million has been collected. So what is being done with the money?” In response, SoS Keita said that the money collected has been invested in Treasury Bills.



Indigenous Gambian Economic Operators Hold 1st Congress

Urged To Pool Their Resources To Form Companies



By Surakata Danso

The association of Indigenous Gambian Economic Operators held their first congress on the 12th March 2005. It was attended by business operators of various kinds and from all over the country.

In his opening address to the congress, Alh Sankung Jaiteh, the interim president of the association expressed his profound happiness on the massive turn out of members at the congress. He indicated that this was a signal that willingness and cooperation without which nationals cannot build a genuine nation.

Mr. Jaiteh further went on to remind delegates that their major work for the day is to be centered on the review of the constitution which, when adopted, delegates would be faced with election of the first executive.

This was followed by the intervention of the new CEO of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Mam Cherno Jallow, who informed delegates that his office should not be seen as responsible of but responsive to the needs of economic operators. Mam Cherno then went on to dilate further on the brief history of the chamber which he said acquired its first name under the colonialist as Gambia Employers Association. Mam Cherno then opined that with the development of commerce after independence and the coming up of Gambian business operators in 1967, the name was then changed from Gambia Employers Association to the Gambia Chamber of Commerce. The CEO also assured the delegates that such an association is well over due; that without it the flow of economic activities within the nation would be controlled by outsiders. He added that economic operators must change their attitudes in order to meet the new challenges of information technology in the areas of commerce; that the world has changed into a
 global village now and therefore the world economy is interactive.

The Chamber’s CEO finally asked Gambian economic operators to start thinking of their resources and efforts together into forming companies of various kinds e.g., building engineering, road construction etc; that they do not have to lose anything as there is the necessary manpower resources of all the fields within the country. Alh. Sankung Jaiteh was elected as president.

In declaring the congress close, the adviser, Alh. Musa M. Njie assured the gathering that forming such an association is a big challenge for them; that since it has become a reality, “it will benefit our great grand children yet unborn”.  Alh. Musa Njie went on to advise the new executive to  establish regional offices, committees and national subcommittees of the different sectors of commerce as soon as possible. He also called on the technocrats, nationals, elites and all members of the Gambian citizenry to give their support to the course in the interest of national development. The national adviser to the executive and member of the Elders’ Committee of Economic Operators assured all foreign business operators in the country that the move is not meant to dislodge them but for the promotion of commerce and nation building and to also strengthen sub-regional, continental and global movements in the area of commerce.



Murder Suspect Spends 10 Months In Police Custody

Where Are The Human Rights Defenders?



By Surakata Danso

Confirmed sources at the Banjul Police Station on Friday 4th March 2005 informed this reporter that Sulayman Fatajo, an alleged lunatic, suspected of murdering one Faal of Tobacco Road in June 2004, is still under police custody. The source also confirmed that since his arrest in June, Mr. Fatajo has not been formally charged or arraigned before any court of law; that he had spent a good part of this period in cell.

The police authority that Foroyaa spoke to made this revelations at the Banjul Police Headquarters following receipt of the information from concerned Police Officers who raised the concern on humanitarian grounds that the conditions of the cell under long duration may have an impact not only on the health of a human being but also the mental wellbeing of the person. The concerned officers went on to express their outrageous concern on the bad smell of the cells due to urine and congestion. The group of concerned Police Officers called on human rights NGOs, individual defenders and the Red Cross to be visiting police stations across the country to access the conditions of prisoners in the interest of humanity in general. The group of police officers called on the press to challenge the Red Cross and Human Right NGOs on when last they made visits at police stations.



Ex. Chief Of Foni Kansala Convicted

The former chief of Foni Kansala, Mr. Momodou Lamin Nyassi has been convicted for stealing by the Brikama Magistrate’s Court. He was accordingly sentenced to a fine of D20, 000.00 in default he is to serve a term of 2 years imprisonment with hard labour.

Mr. Nyassi was charged under section 252 of the Criminal Code for stealing D4, 000. According to the evidence before the court a man was caught for stealing a bull and was brought before the Foni Kansala District Tribunal which was then presided by Mr. Nyassi. The Tribunal found this man guilty of stealing a bull and sentenced him to 3 years 6 months imprisonment. The bull was confiscated from the man.

At a later date a young man appeared before Mr. Nyassi to claim ownership of the stolen bull. However Mr. Nyassi directed this young man to go and get his father who is purported to own the bull. In the interim Mr. Nyassi sold the bull for D4, 000 but he did not pay the money into the government’s treasury before his arrest.

The case of the prosecution which was led by First Class Constable 758 Sarr is that Mr. Nyassi failed to pay this money into the government treasury. It was paid to the NIA after his arrest, four months later. According to the prosecution, that tantamounts to stealing. Mr. Nyassi’s defence is that his clerk traveled for many months and he was therefore unable to pay the money into the treasury.

At the end of the trial the Magistrate found Mr. Nyassi guilty of stealing D4, 000. In his plea of mitigation Mr. Nyassi pleaded to the court for mercy as he has 3 wives and 12 children. After the consideration of the plea the court informed Mr. Nyassi that he used his position to sentence a convict to imprisonment for a term of 3 years 6 months, but he then turned around and stole the D4, 000. He then sentenced him to a fine of D20, 000, in default to imprisonment for a term of 2 years. The court ordered the forfeiture of the D4, 000 which is the sale price of the bull.

Relatives and supporters of Ex-Chief Nyassi looked on as the transport moved towards the direction of the Central Prisons in Mile Two.

It is not yet apparent whether Mr. Nyassi intends to appeal against his conviction or sentence. The case was presided over by Magistrate Jawo.


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