FOROYAA Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 83/2006, 29 September - 1 October, 2006
EDITORIAL
AFTER THE ELECTIONS
After the 22ND September 2006 Presidential election Gambians are beginning
to adjust to the reality of the country. The election came at a time when many
farmers are yet to pay their compound taxes and schools were about to open.
It also came a day before Muslims in the country commence their fasting.
Parents are now moving from office to office to get assistance to finance
the education of their children. Some schools are charging 1500 per term.
Senior Secondary Schools are charging 3900 for those in grade 10.
At the market place children are trying to buy shoes at a price of D250 per
pair. The cheapest plastic shoes are sold for D75 per pair.
In a number of villages the farmers have been approached to pay their
compound taxes. The immigration vehicles are in the streets again to arrest people
classified as aliens and ensure that they acquire aliens I.D Cards.
The same old Gambian remains. Malick Mboob, Duta Kamaso, Chief Manneh are
still not released or taken to court as a gesture of respect for the rule of
the law. Will there be any reforms in the manner of governance of this country?
Will arrests and detention continue without trial?
Will general amnesty be given as a sign of reconciliation?
Will the cost of living go down to enable parents to educate and feed their
children?
Time will tell what is good about the 2006 elections in that everybody is
aware of what is expected of a government. Each person is now in a position to
engage in self evaluation as to whether one has made one’s best choice.
The government is finishing its past mandate. It is yet to assume its new
mandate. 47 out of 48 constituencies voted for the President. All these
constituencies are waiting for their projects.
Foroyaa has opened its diary of promises and will continue to record whether
they are being fulfilled or not.
MUNYAGEN ALKALOSHIP CRISIS REKINDLES
Information reaching Foroyaa has it that the newly appointed Alkalo of
Munyagen Waka Jobe has had his appointment terminated.
According to our source, Waka’s termination came as a surprise to the people
of Munyagen. The source said following the appointment of Waka as the
village Alkalo the crisis surrounding the Alkaloship was resolved and peace and
tranquility were restored in the village. Talking to this reporter at his
hometown, Waka confirmed his termination. He showed his termination letter to this
reporter.
The letter states that he is terminated as the Alkalo of Munyagen and that
Alhagi Tamsir Ngum Jassey is the acting Alkalo of Munyagen. He said he did not
know why he is sacked.
Sources from the late Alkalo’s family informed this reporter that they would
seek audience with the president.
WHERE IS COUNCILLOR OUSMAN JATTA? (Rambo)
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The councillor of old Bakau-Cape Point Wards, Ousman Jatta allas, Rambo, has
been detained since 23rd September 2006.
According to sources, councilor Jatta was arrested on Saturday evening by
security agents at his office at Cape Point. He was whisked off to Bakau
Police Station where his car is still parked. Family sources told this reporter
that, Mr. Jatta was later taken to an undisclosed location. According to
them, they moved heaven and earth to establish his whereabout, but their efforts
bore naught. “We have tried the P.I.4. Headquarters and the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA), but to no avail,” they lamented.
Councilor Jatta seemed to be the first public figure to be arrested after
the September 22nd polls. The police Spokesperson could not confirmed the
arrest and detention of Mr. Jatta. According to him, he read it on the papers.
It could be recall that, councilor Ousman Jatta, was arrested in June and
taken to court by the state. He was later remanded and granted bail.
GAMBIA COLLEGE UNDER POLICE INVESTIGATION
By Modou Jonga
Students at The Gambia College Campus in Brikama are under police
investigation, a source told this paper. The purported police investigation is
necessitated by an existing rift between the Executive of the Sub- Union the College
Council and the College administration. This rift is caused by the
reluctance of the students to be evacuated from the College dormitories when the
College resumes. Some of the students, a reliable source told this reporter,
were threatened that their Certificates will be withheld if they continue to
defy the order to leave the College.
This deepening rift started, according to our source, after the end of the
summer lectures classes commonly known as face- to- face. The Executive of
the Students Sub- Union, were asked to leave the campus by the principal who
said that he is acting on instructions from the top. According to reporters,
the Principal had informed the students that College is to be renovated in due
course. However the students decided to defy the principal’s order and
subsequently both water and electricity supply were cut off, the college room
doors were locked by the College authorities to force the students out. This was
done when the student were said to be out.
This measure did not go down well with the students; one police
superintendent, Jobarteh together with two unidentified men were dispatched from the
police headquarters to meet with the students at the College in order to put an
end to the stalemate, but according to the students, Superintendent Jobarteh
left with his men with no breakthrough. But the students were however told by
superintendent Jobarteh that their views will be transmitted to the police
boss, upon which an investigation will be conducted by the police on the
existing rift, the findings and recommendations of which shall be made known to
the student concerning the stand off.
The students stated that since the inception of the College, the College
Accommodation has never been rented to the students. The College authorities, a
source further said is bending to renting. The College is not known to be
an income generating venture but an institution that provides education,
emphasised the dissatisfied students.
When the Police PRO Aziz Bojang was contacted, he said he is not aware of
the investigation. He said if it is a student affair, the police could only
intervene, if the matter is a threat to state Security. Meanwhile efforts by
this reporter to get the comments of the College Principal proved futile.
D2 MILION LOAN FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation has earmarked about two
million dalasis for needy students at the University of the Gambia.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Managing Director of SSHFC.
Tumbul Danso said a maximum of twenty thousand dalasis will be offered to
each student. He said one hundred students will benefit from the package... He
further indicated that the payment of the loan will commence a month after the
money is disbursed by SSHFC.
Mr. Danso said an interest of 16% will be charged on the loan, and the debt
will be paid within a period of twelve months.
“Repayment of the loan would commence on 31st October, 2006 and thereafter
on monthly basis”, he noted.
EUROPE BY BOAT
The Ordeals of a Young Man
By Yaya Bajo
A twenty- five year would-be migrant who pleaded for annonimity has spoken
about his ordeals on his unsuccessful voyage to Spain through the Canary Island
by a makeshift boat. The young man who was looking frail due to the
hardships encountered on the failed journey expressed this eagerness to go back on
the journey. He explained that they departed from The Gambian coastal village
of Brufut on Monday 11th September, 2006, at night. He stated that they had
sufficient foodstuffs and other necessary logistics at their disposal for
the journey.
He further narrated that their captain sailed deep into the international
waters to elude the surveillance of guards along the Senegalese, Mauritanian
and Moroccan coasts. He added that they sail safely without interception by
the Coastal guards until they reached around the Moroccan territory. He said
they then saw a helicopter hovering over them for sometimes and later
disappeared. “We later saw two boats with guards on board who surrounded our boat.
There was a black man in their ( the guard’s) boat who was speaking to us in
wollof,” he stated. He said the black man on the guards’ boat was asking
them whether they were coming from the Gambia or Senegal. He added that they
refused to tell him their place of origin and after a push and pull they were
overpowered, arrested and sent back to Senegal by the Security forces for
seven days and later released to return to The Gambia. He went on to say that
they arrived in The Gambia via Karang and they were also subjected to
humiliation by the Security Personnel on The Gambia side. He divulged that each of
them paid D30,000 to the agent and they numbered up to fifty people.
When quizzed whether they are sure of recovering their monies from the
agent, he responded that, that would be difficult because the greater part of the
sum paid to the agent was utilized on their miserable voyage.
He finally stated that they saw miracles they went far into the sea when
they were sailing for the Canaries, especially in the night times. On one
occasion, he said they noticed the presence of evil spirits on board which made
all of them, including the three captains, fear and regret undertaking such
journey. He further explained that their boat nearly capsised due to the strong
waves. “To be candid with you it is not an easy undertaking because it is a “
do or die” “situation but despite all that I will take the risk and go back
if I have the opportunity again”, he concluded.
REPORTER’S TRIAL ADJOURNED TO OCTOBER
Bubacarr K. Sowe
The case of Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the closed Independent newspaper
has been re-adjourned to the 9th of October.
The matter was deferred by Magistrate Sanyang of Kanifing Magistrate Court
on Wednesday following the absence of the defence counsel. The accused told
the court that his lawyer is out of the jurisdiction. Magistrate Sanyang in
turn said: “Your lawyer is organized and should send in somebody else.”
Fatty, who pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial was charged with
publishing false news.
UDP SUPPORTER IN COURT FOR INSULTING JAMMEH
By Modou Jonga
Foday Bah, a supporter of the United Democratic Party was on 18th September
arranged at the Brikama Magistrate Court by the Police. According to the
particulars of the offence, Mr. Bah is alleged to have said that President Jammeh
is “made out of air” and that is why he is a liar. According to the charge
sheet, the statement uttered by Mr. Bah is in conflict with Section 91(9) of
the election decree, 1996 (Decree 78).
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge that is preferred against him.
The Inspector General of Police was represented by 413 Sanyang. The case is
adjourned to 8th October 2006.
TRANS-GAMBIA IN APPALLING CONDITION
By Musa Barrow
Trans-Gambia Highway used to be the fovourite route for drivers plying from
Serrekunda to Basse and vice versa. But all this has changed rather
dramatically, as a result of Trans-Gambia’s appalling state which is characterised by
potholes. As a result, most drivers are compelled to divert to the North Bank
route where they have to endure at least two ferry crossings. These often
cause delay on the journey, as it takes time before the vehicles and passengers
are ferried across to the other sides of the river.
Some passengers have often blamed drivers for causing delay during the
journey, but drivers in turn have pointed fingers on what they described as the
horrible state of the roads. Drivers argue that the condition of roads do not
permit them to make up for the lost time at ferry crossing-points.
As to why Trans-Gambia is virtually abandoned, one driver who drives from
Serrekunda to Basse summed as,” Only those who want their vehicles to develop
problems travel on Trans-Gambia to Basse.
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