Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 85/2006, 4-5 September,  2005

Editorial
MR. PRESIDENT, THEY ARE STILL REPORTING!!

Journalists and other persons who had been associated with the Freedom  
Newspaper fiasco are still reposting at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).  
People like Duta Kamaso and Malick Mboob are still in custody. They have not  
been charged. They have not been taken to court. They are detained for months  
without trial.
To those whose minds have not been prepared for long detention  long period 
of captivity can lead to psychological or physical deterioration  which can 
affect their lives for good. The religious leaders of the country  should play 
their role in visiting any head of state to report what they read in  the press 
and counsel the government to adhere to the provisions of the  constitution 
and the basic text of good governance.
Detention often leads to  lost of income for families. The same goes for 
closure of media houses. Since  The Independent Newspaper was put to a stop many 
journalists associated with the  paper are finding it difficult to address 
their basic needs. The Independent  Newspaper, Citizen FM and Sud FM are all 
establishments that generate income,  investment and development. The government 
should consider the removal of all  obstacles to their operation. The media 
fraternity should consider establishing  a fund to assist media parishioners in 
distress. The Deyda Hydara Foundation may  be a good starting point.

MAGISTRATE SANYANG WARNS  PROSECUTORS
By Fabakary B. Ceesay

Principal Magistrate Kebba Sanyang, of the Kanifing Magistrate Court, has  
struck out a robbery case involving one Modou Gibba and the State. The case was  
struck out due to the prosecutor’s failure to attend court sittings. Modou 
Gibba  is dragged to court for allegedly robbing one Pa Edie Mbye. The alleged 
crime  happened at Atoms Bar at London Corner on 27th April 2006. According to 
the  particulars of the offence, Modou Gibba robbed Pa Edie Mbye off his 
mobile phone  valued at D2800, a wrist watch valued at D250 and a sum of D4, 885. 
Magistrate  Sanyang discharged the accused. He told the prosecutor not to 
re-arrest him. “If  you re-arrest this man, I will deal with you. How can you bring 
a person to  court, he is coming and you are not coming to court,” he 
emphasized. Magistrate  Sanyang, struck out another case involving a Nigerian 
national. He struck out  the case after the prosecutor failed to bring the accused to 
court. The Nigerian  National, Charles Oriyon, was allegedly found in 
possession of forged currency  amounting to CFA 146,000 at New Jeshwang on 25th April 
2006. 

DUTA  KAMASO  STILL DETAINED

Wulli East National Assembly Member, Duta Kamaso has recovered from her  
illness, sources close to the NIA informed this reporter. The family members of  
the detained former Parliamentarian said they visited their loved one on 
Friday,  the 29th of September. They said they found her in good health. They 
indicated  that she is currently. detained at the NIA headquarters in Banjul.
. State  security agents arrested Duta Kamaso some months ago. She has since 
then been  languishing at the NIA headquarters in Banjul. The authorities are 
yet to  advance reasons for her continued detention.  

WOMEN PROTEST  OVER WATER SHORTAGE
By Yaya Dampha

Water is becoming a gem in the communities of Latrikunda Sabiji and  
Wellingara. These communities have been faced with acute water shortage for many  
days. On Tuesday 3rd October over one hundred women from Latrikunda and  
Wellingara took to the streets to vent their anger over the acute water shortage  that 
hit their community. The women walked along the Serre- Kunda/Tabokoto High  
way chanting the slogan: “We have no water.” Upon arrival at the NAWEC outlet 
at  Latrikunda, the women found a cleaner scrubbing the floor. One of the  
demonstrators who rushed into the office and found the cleaner scrubbing the  
floor shouted: “NAWEC has access to water and that is why their cleaner is  
scrubbing the floor.” An official of NAWEC advised the women to go to their main  
office and lodge their complaints there. The women proceeded to the NAWEC Office 
 at Serrekunda where they were told that the engine that pumps the water has 
a  problem and that engineers are trying to address the issue.
At the NAWEC  office in Serre Kunda they complained that they had not got 
access to water for  many days and the wells on which they relied dried up. They 
said they spent the  previous  night in the street hoping to get some water 
from the stand  pipes, but their hopes varnished in thin air. The women said if 
the situation is  not addressed, they would march to the State House.

BRIKAMA MARKET  VENDORS COMPLAIN
By Modou Jonga

Vendors around the old garage of the Brikama Market have raised concerns  
over a deplorable dumpsite. The vendors were said to have raised this concern  
with with Brikama area Council yesterday at the council’s headquarters.
The  vendors accused the cleansing service of the council for creating a 
dumpsite at  the wrong place. Since according to them the said site is close to 
shops and  stores within the market area.  The waste gathered at this site, is 
said to  be left uncollected by the council for five days leading to the decay 
and  disposition of wastes, providing a breading ground for insects.
This reporter  has seen vendors spraying chemicals on the dump to kill 
insects entering their  shops from the dumpsite.  The stench from the said dumpsite 
is making life  unbearable for people in the market around the old garage 
vicinity.
Speaking  to this reporter, Dudou Kamaso, a shop owner in the market, said 
their  complaints about the situation have not been heeded by the Brikama Area  
Council.
“The council has manifested this to us by not collecting the waste,”  said 
an anonymous market vendor. “They have no regard for the health condition  of 
the vendors,” said another anonymous market vendor.  “We pay tax but our  tax 
money is not returned to us in the form of services.” She went on to  say.  
The anonymous vendor concluded.
The reasons given to the vendors  by the council, according to Mr. Kamaso, 
was the lack of fuel.  This,  according to Mr. Kamaso, is incorrect, because one 
has never noticed fuel  shortage at the council during the just ended 
Presidential Campaign.
Another  vendor, Janko Kijera, told this reporter that they did meet with the 
council  Chairman, and informed him of the state of the dumpsite.  “We are 
demanding  the complete removal of the dumpsite,” emphasised Mr. Kejira.
This dumpsite  in its present state can cause heart attacks, liver council 
and many other  diseases,” he said, when contacted, Mr. Seringe Modou Joof, the 
Public Relations  Officer confirmed the present of the protesting vendors and 
the dumpsite.   He denied the allegation that the vendors were not protesting 
to the Council but  expressing their concern in a normal manner. Further 
informed this reporter that  the waste was collected by the Cleansing Service of 
the Council on the very day  they received complaints from the vendors.  
However, reports reaching  Foroyaa have indicated that a few vendors are on their way 
to the Council again  to demand that the dumpsite be completely relocated  
elsewhere.

KAFUTA VDC ISSUE WARNING
By Abdoulie Dibba

The Village Development Communittee of Kafuta has warned the Alkalo of  
Kafuta Basoli Bojang to desist from asking them to hand over their  
responsibilities to a new VDC that is not elected nor selected by the people of  Kafuta. 
Lamin Bojang (an ex officio member) made this disclosure in an interview  with 
this reporter at his home in Kafuta. Mr. Bojang told this reporter that the  
materials at the skill center were donated to the people of Kafuta by the people  
of Kiruna and that the materials are presently at the skill center. On  
allegations that the skill center is rented to Kharafi, Mr. Bojang indicated  that 
the Kharafi Garden Farm is presently occupying a classroom and two stores  at 
the skill center. Mr. Bojang said the Kharafi Garden is renting the space at  
the skill center at the cost of D1500.00. He said the money is kept by the  
community that is managing the skills center. He asserted that officials of the  
road construction company have expressed their intention to rent part of the  
skill center. He noted that they have asked the Officials of the Kharafi Road  
Construction Company to pay D10,000 per month. He said they are yet to reach 
an  agreement even though officials of the aforesaid company are occupying 
part of  the skills center.

NIA DIAMOND CASE ADJOURNED
Fabakary B.  Ceesay

The criminal case involving the ex-officers of the National Intelligence  
Agency (NIA) and the state has been readjourned due to the absence of one of the  
witnesses.
The six ex-officers are Lamin Drammeh, Basiru Jabang, Lamin  Sanneh, Kajali 
Jawara, Fabakary Barrow and Salimina Drammeh.  They are  dragged to court for 
alledgely robbing two Germans off their property.   These include two mobile 
phones, eight (8) pieces of diamond and cash amounting  to $ 206, 000 US 
dollars.  The presiding Magistrate is principal Magistrate  Kebba Sanyang of the 
Kanifing Magistrate Court.  The case is adjourned to  16th and 17th October 2006.

RURAL WOMEN TO BE TRAINED ON SOLAR  ENGINEERING
By Annia Gaye

The collaborative effort between Riders for Health Gambia and the Barefoot  
College, India has brought up the idea of training two rural women as barefoot  
solar engineers in India. This idea came up when the Gambia was selected by 
the  Founder of Barefoot College, India, Bunker Roy at the world Economic Forum 
held  in Davo’s 2005 in consultations with Barry Colemen, Chief executive 
officer  Riders for health. 
Mr. Bunker Roy stated that the two selected women are Agi  Camara and Mariama 
Badjie of Kafenkeng and Kankurang Village in Bondali  District. These two 
women he said do not know how to read neither to write. He  further disclosed 
that the two women would be trained as solar engineers within  6 months, and 
after the training, they would be able to install solar units,  fabricate charge 
controllers and inventors in their villages as well as carryout  repairs on the 
spot. He stated that Kankurang and Kafenkeng would be the first  two solar 
electrified villages in the Gambia that would be technically and  financially 
self-sufficient.
Mr. Bunker Roy discloses that another new  innovative idea being introduced 
by the Barefoot College India in The Gambia is  in the concept of “rooftop rain 
water harvesting.” He said the idea is to start  two “rain water harvest 
project” in The Gambia in collaboration with Riders For  Health, one at the 
Sulayman Junkung General Hospital in Bwiam. He said the  second “rooftop rain water 
harvest tank” would be constructed with community  support and expertise in 
Bullengart Village Primary School. The village of chief  Bakary Dembo Badjie.   

BOY 4 KILLED IN A ROAD  ACCIDENT
By Modou Jonga

Bawuyeh Sonko, a four year old boy, resident in Brikama Kabafita passed  away 
on Sunday after he was knocked down by a speeding vehicle. After he was  
knocked down by the vehicle according to eyewitness, the child lay motionless  
This tragic event happened on The Banjul-Soma highway around 12pm. The  
vehicle, which hit the child, is numbered G-9, said to be one of the AU Summit  
Vehicles.
The late Bawuyeh according to eyewitnesses was said to be crossing  the 
highway when he was knocked down by the said vehicle and then the body  propelled 
at a distant, leading to numerous fractures on the head of the victim.  
Bloodstains were seen at the scene of the accident. Anelder, a sister of the  
deceased was seen weeping as she was being consoled by other grief onlooker at  the 
spot of the tragic incident.
Similar reactions were noticed from the  deceased’s neighbour who silently 
manifested sings of shock and grief over the  tragic manner, which lead to the 
death of the late infant. The late child is  said to be a Quranic Student of 
the Kabafita Ward Islamic School.
Signs of  shock and sorrow were shown by the deceased’s father who visited 
the spot of the  tragic accident. The body of the late child was taken to the 
Brikama Health  Centre, where he was officially pronounced death.
Speaking to this reporter,  the youths of the area recommended numerous humps 
to prevent the reoccurrence of  such a tragic accident. Meanwhile, the driver 
involved in the tragic accident  was taken by the police to the Brikama 
Police Station and is said to be helping  them in their investigation. The remains 
of the late Bawuyeh were interred at  the Kabafita/Wellengara Cemetery. 
Government delegations were sent to attend the  funeral ceremony. 
 

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