Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 96/2004, 6-8 December, 2004

Editorial
 Tightening The Noose
On the Amendment of the Newspaper Act

During the fourth meeting of its 2004 session, which is now on, the
National Assembly is expected to consider four bills relating to
publication of newspapers and broadcasting. These amendments include the
Newspaper (Amendment ) Act 2004. The Newspaper Act, which came into force
during the colonial era in 1994 was amended for the first time during the
transition period in 1996.

Rather than eliminate conditions imposed by the colonial regime that a
Newspaper executes a bond in the sum of £100 before it is registered, the
APRC regime amended this by Decrees
70/71 by increasing the sum to
D100,000 (one hundred thousand dalasis). Now, this condition is made more
stringent by planning to facilitate a law that would increase the bond
still further to D500,000 (five hundred thousand dalasis). All Newspaper
will have to cancel existing bonds and execute new bonds in the sum of
D500,000. Section 7 of the Newspaper Act is to be replaced by the
following new Section 7 "(1) No person shall -

(a) print or publish a newspaper;

(b) operate a broadcasting station; or

(c) cause a newspaper to be printed, or published or a broadcasting
station to be operated, unless he shall have previously given and executed
and registered in the office of the Registrar-General a bond in the sum of
five hundred thousand dalasis with such surety or sureties as may be
required and approved by the Attorney-General.

"(2) The condition of the bon
d shall be that the proprietor, printer or
publisher of the newspaper or the proprietor or operator of the
broadcasting station shall pay -

(a) to the State every money penalty which may at any time be imposed upon
or adjudged against him or them upon any conviction for printing or
publishing in the said newspaper, or broadcasting station any blasphemous
or seditious or other libel at any time after the execution of such bond;

(b) all other penalties whatsoever which may be imposed upon or adjudged
against him or them by any court under the provisions of this Act or any
other law in force in The Gambia in respect of any matter or thing done or
omitted to be done by him or them after the execution of such bond; and

(c) any damages and costs on any judgment for the plaintiff in any action
for libel; or other false publication under this Act against such
proprietor, printer, publisher or operat
or, as the case may be, in respect
of any libel or false publication .printed, published or broadcast in the
newspaper or broadcasting station, as the case may be, after the execution
of such bond." The Jammeh regime cannot gain credibility by pursuing this
course of action.


LOCUSTS FINALLY INVADE
CAN THEY BE TACKLED?
By Tombong Jadama

Upon receipt of information about locust invasion FOROYAA sent a reporter
to investigate the situation. This reporter visited affected villages in
the North Bank Division where he witnessed anti-locust campaign teams in
collaboration with the people fighting dreadful creatures.

On my way to Barra I saw the Permanent Secretary heading towards the
affected area. He was expected in Kerewan on Saturday.

According to team leader, Kebba Sarr, all of a sudden he received a call
from the Divisional Agricultural Officer, Mr. Mballa Joof on Wednesday 1st

of December 2004 that the locusts had invaded the country through Panchang
in Saloum District, CRD North. Mr. Sarr went on to say that he and his men
including the army at Farafenni departed for the scene. He added that when
they arrived around 2.30 am they found out that the locusts had flown to
the other bank, that is, Niamina in Jissadi in Dankunku.

The team leader pointed out that there the Commissioner, other divisional
authorities plus those 14 army personnel left for Niamina and he and his
team came to Farafenni for standby so that any invaded locust situation
can be arrested. He said their stay in Farafenni is not just to
concentrate on The Gambia but on the surrounding villages near the border.
Mr. Sarr mentioned that those ones, which came into the country, are red
and pink and those ones are controllable.

But when they become yellow, they are very difficult to control because
they will lay
eggs, which will increase, in large numbers.
At that spot we received a call that locusts invaded Kerewan Baddibu. Upon
arriving at Kerewan we found the villagers attacking them, burning tyres
for more smoke. The team followed them around the gardens of Kerewan, then
to Karantaba, Jokadou where they found them resting on the grasses and on
top of the trees in large numbers all red.

In the morning the team attacked the swarm 6.30 am up to 11.25 am.
According to the team leader, 95 % of that swarm has died. They were using
microna sprayer and spot spraying with UCV chemicals like Dursban,
Asmithion and Enitrothion 50 to fight the locusts. The Divisional
Agricultural Officer told the gathering why his men scout to fight the
swarm groups and defeated them in Karantaba; that it is because they were
using two types of sprayers, one is a motorized sprayer and the other a
mechanical sprayer.

These locusts
sometimes settle on very high trees for both sprayers to
reach at first. But when they later come down it is easier to fight them
using both types pf sprayers. The Divisional Commissioner thanked all
those who contributed to the fighting of these locusts.
See subsequent issues for further reports.


ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE 2005 LAID BEFORE THE DEPUTIES
By Abdoulie Dibba

On Wednesday 1st December 2004, the SoS for Finance and Economic Affairs
laid the estimates of recommended revenue and expenditure with development
expenditure for the fiscal year 2005 (January to December) both months
inclusive before the National Assembly. SoS Gaye started by indicating
that the presentation of the estimates before  the National Assembly is a
constitutional requirement and he quoted section 152 (1) of the
constitution to back his assertion.

ON REVENUE
SoS Gaye pointed out that revenue has incre
ased from D2, 269, 200, 000.00
(Two billion, two hundred and sixty nine million, two hundred thousand
Dalasis) in 2004 to D2, 818. 050, 000.00 (Two billion, eight hundred and
eighteen million and fifty thousand Dalasis) in 2005. SoS Gaye pointed out
that out of this revenue D2, 496, 416, 000.00 (Two billion, four hundred
and sixteen million, four hundred and sixteen thousand Dalasis) are
derived from tax, D280, 834, 000.00 (Two hundred and eighty million, eight
hundred and thirty four thousand Dalasis) are derived from non-tax and
D40, 800, 000.00 (forty million and eight hundred thousand Dalasis) from
capital Revenue.

ON EXPENDITURE
SoS Gaye pointed out that expenditure has been reduced from D3, 885, 020,
000.00 (Three billion, eight hundred and eighty six million, and twenty
thousand Dalasis) in 2004 to D3, 727, 900, 000.00 (Three billion, seven

hundred and twenty seven million, nine hundred thousand Dalasis).

ON DEFICIT
SoS Gaye indicated that the total deficit of D621, 503, 000.00 (Six
hundred and twenty one million, five hundred and three thousand Dalasis)
will be financed through domestic and foreign borrowing.

ON DEBT SERVICE
SoS Gaye indicated that in 2005, D1, 466, 217, 000.00 (One billion, four
hundred and sixty six million, two hundred and seventeen thousand Dalasis)
is estimated for debt servicing. Out of this he said, D949, 680, 000.00
(Nine hundred and forty nine million, six hundred and eighty thousand
Dalasis) is total debt interest, D722.8 Million is domesticdebt interest
and D226,880,000 (two hundred and twentysix million, eight hundred and
eighty thousand Dalasis) is foreign debt interest.

Three  GAMBIANS AND Two SENEGALESE DIE AT SEA
By Biran Gaye

Three Gambians
and two Senegalese are reported to have died recently at
sea in the border between Morocco and Spain, while trying to cross to
Europe. This has been happening for quite some time now and people cannot
still be stopped from risking their lives in these rough seas to seek for
greener pastures in Europe. Two months ago, one Gambian was reported dead
in the same area yet still more Gambians and nationals of Sub-Saharan
Africa are continuously trying to make it to Europe.

Many people, especially the youths, think that going to Europe is the only
way they will become successful in life.

One of the deceased, Sainey Kanteh aged 26 years, was a resident of
Wellingara, Kombo North. The family members expressed sadness and
commented that Sainey had tried this particular route to reach Europe on
multiple occasions to no avail. They indicated that before his last
departure to meet his untimely death, Sainey was advised
on several
occasions to desist from traveling on the route to Europe.


NAMs EXPEL POLICE INTELLIGENCE SURVEYOR
By Surakata Danso

Sources close to the National Assembly have confirmed that a police
intelligence officer who claimed to have been sent by the Security
Services was on Thursday 2nd December 2004 expelled from their workshop.
According to NAMs on Thursday the National Assembly members were caught by
what they term as a surprise and disrespect to the integrity of the
Assembly, when they noticed the presence of an intelligence officer in
their midst at a workshop at the Palm Grove Hotel without any form of
notice from the Police.

The members claimed that when the presence of the officer was noticed in
their midst, the member for Wuli West, Sidia Jatta questioned the
organizers of the workshop about the presence of the officer at the
workshop meant exclusively for members. The members pre
sent unanimously
asked the officer to explain who he was and the reasons for his strange
and uninvited presence. The NAMs claimed that the officer was sent by the
Security Services. The members said that this explanation angered them
leading to the immediate expulsion of the officer. The NAMs thereby
unanimously agreed that the IGP together with the Secretary of State be
summoned to the Assembly to explain the reasons for the action.

Comment: Members of the National Assembly are required to maintain their
independence and dignity.  It's stated in the Preamble of the Constitution
that the functions of the arms of government are clearly defined, their
independence amply secured with adequate checks and balances....  Further
Sectio 112 states that "...all Members shall maintain the dignity of the
National Assembly."

FOROYAA maintains that with knowledgeable National Assembly Members,
coupled with a responsi
ve and accountable executive, the people would
truly become sovereign.  The people need to know how their representatives
are performing.

This column is reserved for National Assembly Proceedings and Interviews
with National Assembly Members.

Fourth Meeting of the Legislative Session 2004
NAMs SCRUTINIZING THE EXECUTIVE
AUDITING THE CENTRAL BANK

National Assembly members are the eyes, ears and mouths of the people.
This is precisely the reason why the Minority Leader and member for
Serrekunda Central, Hon. Halifa Sallah raised the following question
regarding the nature of the auditing exercise at the Central Bank: "Mr.
Speaker, would the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs
indicate to this National Assembly, the nature to this National Assembly
the nature of the auditing exercise at the Central Bank of The Gambia in
2004, the factors which motivated the exercise and the findi
ngs of the
audit exercise as at November 2004?"

In response, SoS Gaye pointed out that during 2004 a re-audit of the
financial statements of the Central Bank of The Gambia for the financial
year ending 31st December 2001 and 2002 was undertaken by Deloitte and
Touché of South Africa. In addition, SoS Gaye said, the regular audit of
the financial statements for the year ending 31st December 2003 was also
started by Deloitte and Touché of The Gambia. SoS Gaye pointed out that
the results of the re-audit of the Central Bank’s financial statements for
2001 and 2002 follows an independent review carried out by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the Bank’s financial statements which
made certain observations as follows:

1.         The financial statements did not comply with International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in contravention with what was stated
in the au
dited financial statements.

2.         There had been regulatory contravention in terms of the Central
Bank of The Gambia Act 1992.

3.         Internal controls were inadequate, especially with respect to
external reserve management.

Therefore, SoS Gaye said, the IMF requested a re-audit of the financial
statements for 2001 and 2002 with the following objective: To restate the
Central Bank’s financial statements for the years ended 31st December 2001
and 2002 in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and
express an opinion on those financial statements. SoS Gaye pointed out
that the government of The Gambia agreed to conduct a re-audit of the
financial statement to prove due diligence to The Gambia’s development
partners and to maintain public confidence in the Central Bank. On 17th
May 2004, Deloitte and Touché started the re-audit, SoS Gaye posited. He
said the
bulk of the fieldwork was completed on 4th July 2004 and the re-
audit was finally completed in October 2004.

SoS Gaye pointed out that as agreed with the IMF, the audited financial
statements have been submitted to them for review and that after the
formal comments of the IMF are received, the audited financial statements
will be submitted to auditors who will sign them thus completing the audit
process. SoS Gaye indicated that as soon as the process is completed, the
financial statements would be laid before the National Assembly. SoS Gaye
pointed out that the audit of the CBG’s 2003 financial statements started
on 25th October and is still ongoing and that they expect the audit to be
completed before the end of the year. SoS Gaye highlighted that the reason
why this audit did not start earlier was because it was deemed prudent to
wait for the outcome of the re-audit of 2001 and 2002 when the correct
opening b
alances for the 2003 financial year would have been established.
He finally indicated that they expect this audit to be completed before
the end of the year.

On his part, the member for Jarra West, Hon. Kemeseng Jammeh raised the
following question regarding the Salary Review Commissio's
recommendation: "Mr. Speaker, in view of the current high rate of
inflation which stands at 17 % with its corrosive effect on the purchasing
power of wage / salary earners, could the Secretary of State for Finance
and Economic Affairs consider implementing the recommendations of the last
Salary Review Commission under the Chairmanship of A. A. Faal?"

In response, SoS Gaye pointed out that it is government's desire to
remunerate its employees as handsomely as it possibly could. He pointed
out that the Hon. Member is hereby informed that the government is working
on a comprehensive civil service reform programme w
ith compensation, and
that the Terms of Reference (TORs) has now been finalized. He finally
pointed out that the government is now in the process of utilizing
resources to meet the cost of the programme.

On his part, the Member for Sami, Hon. Idrissa Samba Sallah raised the
following question regarding the unavailability of salary slips: "Mr.
Speaker, could the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs
indicate to this august Assembly when salary slips shall be available for
civil servants to know their monthly deduction and net balances?"

In response, SoS Gaye said that the Computer Unit of the Accountant
General’s Department is currently equipped with a light duty printer
capable of printing only 300 lines per minute. SoS Gaye indicated that
before the acquisition of this printer, two heavy-duty printers were
bought at different times but suddenly they developed fundamental

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