Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 19/2008, 13 -14 February 2008
Editorial
Another Failing Groundnut Trade Season
The secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs indicated to the
members of the National Assembly that the farmers have produced 130, 000 tons of
groundnuts. The problem of marketing groundnuts has been growing over the
years. The greatest disaster came when Government tried to stop farmers from
selling their crops across the border and in the local weekly markets under the
pretext that a new company called GAMCO had the capital to purchase all the
groundnut crop of the country. The government did not utilise funds from the
AMRC, if they really exist, to get the Federation of Agricultural
Cooperatives to purchase the nuts; on the contrary, it got the Social Security and
Housing Finance Corporation to provide guarantees for GAMCO to get loans from the
commercial banks to enable it to purchase groundnuts. The promise that
adequate capital had been brought into the country by investors behind GAMCO
became a farce.
The public corporations took great risk to guarantee a company which did not
have a future. Hence the groundnut trade went back to square one.
Today the farmers are wondering why the trade season was not only late to
start but the price offered is lower than what is offered in Senegal. Foroyaa
will conduct interviews with the authorities to find out the reasons.
It should be borne in mind that what we export is what enables us to reduce
our trade deficit. If we export less in the face of higher imports, this will
lead to greater trade deficits.
TWO MONTHS OF GROUNDNUT TRADING
Foroyaa reporters have visited places involved in the groundnut trade and
have filed the following reports.
DEPOT MANAGER DISAPPOINTED BY LOW TONNAGE
By Lamin S. Fatty
As the groundnut trade season reaches its climax, a depot manager expressed
disappointment over the low tonnage of groundnut sale registered so far. Mr.
Baba Camara, depot manager at Basse, in an interview with this reporter at
his office, said that the amount of tonnage registered so far is very low
compared to what is expected.
According to Mr Camara, his depot purchases nuts from both the north and
south banks of the Upper River Region. He said the north registered only 430
tonnes, while the south registered 2113 tonnes, making a total of 2543 tonnes.
He said he was expecting up to 15,000 tonnes.
He told this reporter that farmers still have groundnuts but very few are
taking their nuts to either the depots or the seccos, due to the fact that they
have the belief that they will have a better price when they take their nuts
to Senegal or keep them until later. Mr Camara, however, cautioned those
farmers that the future can never be predicted, especially with regards to
groundnut, which he said can be easily destroyed without proper storage
facilities.
This reporter visited Demba Kunda, where farmers were reportedly taking
their nuts to Senegal. In an interview with this reporter, Muhamed Nimaga, who
claimed to be a native of Demba Kunda Nyaleng, said groundnut production is so
painful that they cannot give their nuts to the traders as charity. He
stated that they cannot understand why they can get better prices when they take
their nuts to Senegal.
When this reporter visited Numuyel, he was told that better prices are being
offered to farmers in Senegal.
According to a secco manager in the area (name withheld), the trade season
is already a failure. He told this reporter that almost every day farmers are
taking their nuts to Senegal for marketing. He pointed out that he would sit
the whole day without seeing a single farmer in his secco. This reporter was
told that farmers in both Wuli and Kantora are taking their nuts to Senegal
because better prices are being offered there.
Groundnut Trade In Limbo
After Two Months Operation
By Modou Jonga
More than two months after the official date of the commencement of the
2007/2008 groundnut trade season on 10 December, last year, groundnut buying
points (seccos) still remain unfunctional in the Sabach Sanjal District of the
North Bank Region.
This reporter visited two seccos at Sarakunda and Dibbakunda in the said
district. The buying points are still not functioning and there is no prospect
of groundnut buying this year. Despite a reported nationwide disbursement of
cash to seccos by the Gambia Groundnut Cooperation, the places visited were
not functioning and the secco managers were nowhere to be seen.
This reporter caught up with farmers on horse carts loaded with groundnut
who were heading to the Senegalese border village of Kerr Nderri for marketing.
Alieu Jobe, Omar Lowe, Saikou Mballow, Ahmed Bah, all of them farmers, told
this reporter that they have lost faith in this year’s trade season,
especially that after two months they have seen no sign of prospective groundnut
buying. According to these farmers, this development represents yet another bleak
picture of the groundnut trade season which poses a nightmare for them. They
said the government has failed them and that they have seen no future for
groundnut production in the Gambia.
They noted that they have decided to transport their nuts to the Senegalese
border village of Kerr Nderri and Daru to be marketed there, hence the
failure of the trade season to commence on 31 December, 2007. They said the cost of
transporting their nuts on vehicles to Senegal is expensive as one bag of
groundnuts cost D25 to be transported to Kerr Nderry; that they are therefore
using horse carts to transport their nuts; that they sold D7000 per tonne and
that they are resolved to sell it at a lower prize so as to meet their basic
family needs.
The seccos at Bwiam in Foni Kansala and Ndemban in Foni Bintang districts
are all not functioning.
Supreme Court Dismisses The UDP/ NRP Application for Review
A panel of five judges of the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, 12 February,
dismissed the motion filed by the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP),
National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the minority leader of the National
Assembly, Momodou K. Sanneh, seeking for review of Chief Justice Abdou karim Savage’s
ruling.
It could be recalled that the above mentioned parties had earlier filed a
suit against the Attorney General and the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC), before Chief Justice Savage, sitting as a sole judge of the Supreme Court.
They were then seeking for a declaration that the recent amendment to the
constitution, “runs contrary to the spirit and intendment” of section 193 (1)
of the constitution; that the Bill entitled the Local government (Amendment)
Act 2007, “is null, void and of no effect.” They had also sought for an
injunction restraining the IEC from conducting the Local Government elections on
this amended Act.
But the Attorney General had filed a preliminary objection, arguing among
other things that the parties concerned lacked locus standi to bring the suit,
saying they are subsumed in NADD.
The counsel for the IEC, Mrs Amie Joof-Conteh, also filed a preliminary
objection before Savage, stressing that there was no cause of action disclosed
against the client (IEC).
After hearing all the parties in the legal battle, Chief Justice Savage on
Wednesday, 16 January 2008, upheld Attorney General Mrs. Marie Saine-Firdaus’
argument that the UDP and NRP are still part of the opposition NADD party;
and did not therefore have the legal capacity to file the suit.
However, the plaintiff having been aggrieved by this decision, filed a
motion for review before a bench of five judges of the Supreme Court, namely Mrs.
Mambilima; Mr. Gibou Semega Janneh; Mr. Niki Tobi, Mr. Chief Akomaye Agim;
and Mr. Jones Doste.
But the 1st respondent (Attorney General), represented by the Director of
Public Prosecution, Mr. Emmanuel Fagbenle, filed a preliminary objection to the
application for review of Savage’s ruling. After the legal arguments by the
DPP and the counsel for the applicants, lawyer Ousainou Darboe, the panel
delivered its ruling on the earlier mentioned date.
Reading the ruling on behalf of the panel, Justice Doste from Ghana, said
Fagbenle had argued that the motion as constituted, was incompetent; and that
the panel lacks jurisdiction to review the ruling of a single judge of the
Supreme Court.
Doste recalled Lawyer Darboe saying that what was before the court was not
interlocutory but a final order. He said Darboe had also submitted a fresh
application which was not possible under the proviso of section 125, as argued
by Fagbenle.
Justice Doste further said Fagbenle had argued that it is the nature of the
application before the court that determines whether its an interlocutory
matter or not.
The judge then cited section 125(2) of the constitution which states: (2)”
The Supreme Court shall be constituted by an uneven number of not less than
five judges of the court.”
‘Provided a single judge of the court may exercise the powers of the court
in any interlocutory matter, which may be subject to a fresh application to a
bench of five judges of the court.’ Doste, on behalf of his colleagues,
invoked section 8(2) of the Supreme Court Act, which requires that the application
to be reviewed could only be heard by the Supreme Court constituted by “not
less” than seven judges.
He said the objection raised by Fagbenle is therefore sustained, stressing
that the application for review could not be heard by them. The judges thus
dismissed the UDP, NRP and minority leader’s suit.
However, the panel held that since it is a constitutional matter, the duty
of the court is to ensure that the applicants have an opportunity to be heard
by a court properly constituted. So they were granted the liberty to file a
fresh application.
West African Human Rights Journalist Training Kicks Off
By Amie Sanneh
The West African Human Rights Journalist Training opened yesterday at the
Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi. The training is being organized by the African
Commission with financial support from the Open Society Initiative for West
Africa (OSIWA). Participants of the training are drawn from West African
countries.
The Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology, Neneh
Machdoll Gaye, presided over the opening ceremony.
In her remarks she described the theme of the workshop which is Human Rights
and Freedom of Expression as constituting an important ingredient for
meaningful development. “To achieve meaningful and sustained growth for the benefit
of all and to ensure popular political participation we have to respect the
rights of our citizens and encourage freedom of expression,” she said. She
noted that fora like this, where journalists from different backgrounds come
together, exchange views, share experiences and learn new skills, will no doubt
enhance their participation in their noble drive to uphold the principles of
human rights.
SoS Macdoul Gaye, quoting from the United Nations universal declaration of
human rights described human rights as “the basic rights and freedoms to which
all humans are entitled.”
“But we often forget that these rights apply to all and sundry,” she
remarked. The role of journalists in promoting these principles, she went on, are
both important and crucial. Freedom of expression, she noted, as with any
other freedoms, goes with a high sense of responsibility. “Freedom without
responsibility could be catastrophic,” she remarked.
She said they will continue to support the International and regional
framework for the protection of Human Rights, Justice and the Rule of Law,
including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“We recognise the media’s role in this and we shall continue to provide the
avenue for the media to play its role in promoting human rights,” she added.
SoS Macdoll Gaye said the media have an important role to play in the
society and their works, coverage, analytic writing should contribute to making
this world a better place for all to live in.
Speaking earlier, the Acting Secretary at the African Commission, Dr. Robert
W. Eno, said this is the first training on human rights for journalists
organized by the African Commission. He expressed hope that this will be a long
standing relationship between the African Commission and journalists. The
importance of a free press, he said, cannot be over emphasized. He added that the
media plays a crucial role in society. He stressed the need for journalists
to always check and balance their report. Dr. Eno added that journalists,
while reporting on human rights violence, should report about its success. He
said the workshop which will end tomorrow will deal mainly with human rights
journalism, focusing on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and
the work of the African Commission.
Manufacturers Call For Government Protection
By Amie Sanneh
The Association of Gambia Manufactureras (AGM) has called on the government
to protect the manufacturing industry by coming up with a policy to ensure
that products made in the Gambia are not imported into the country.
In an exclusive interview with Foroyaa, the President of the Association,
Mohammed Sillah, who is also the Managing Director of Sankung Sillah and Sons,
said if a restriction is imposed on goods from countries like China, Senegal,
etc then the country will be industrialized in the next 15 to 20 years.
As to why the Association has come into being, Mr. Sillah said they have
come together to give a voice to a very important sector, which is
manufacturing; that their members now have recognised and are quite conscious of the
urgent need for industrial development in The Gambia.
On the challenges faced by the Association, he pointed out that they are
facing financial and energy difficulties at the moment.
Mr. Sillah noted that recently the Gambia manufacturing sector is probably
paying the highest rate in energy and want to have dialogue with government.
On finance, he said, they will dialogue with financial institutions so as to
provide services and products to them. Regarding the regional market, he said
the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) enables members to export their
goods into the sub-regional market without paying dues and that some
companies, including his, are having access. This he said will enable the
manufacturing industry to grow and expand at the level of the ECOWAS market which, he
said, has a population of 250 million.
Commenting on how the manufacturing industry operates in the Gambia, Mr.
Sillah revealed that there is no availability of raw materials in the country;
that they (manufacturers) normally import raw materials and then convert them
to finished products which they later sell. This he said does not matter, but
it can have an impact on prices. He, however, said that the government is
encouraging them by giving incentives, such as duty waivers, but that they are
not exempted from paying taxes.
The President of the Manufacturing Association said all the manufacturing
industries have great potentials and can do more if they expand. The more they
invest, the more they can do more, he said. Mr. Sillah added that if the
manufacturing industrial base is expanded, it will increase employment, noting
that there is a high unemployment rate in the country. This he noted is the
reason why they want to dialogue with the government and all the stakeholders in
order for them to add their input in vision 2020 to work towards an
industrialized country.
The association, he said, which consists of 19 members at the moment, is
calling on non members to join. He quickly added that Gambians are good in
coming together to form associations. Mr. Sillah pointed out that they can be
stronger by coming together to push forward for the development of the country. “
We are working towards the development of the manufacturing industry, the
more people we have, the more voices we have,” he said. Mr. Sillah added that
the association will continue to work together for the development of the
country which they are doing at the moment.
Mr. Sillah urged Gambians to buy Gambian made products to secure the jobs of
Gambians. He said that in 10 to 20 years time, with a vibrant economy in
place, many people will be employed.
Mr. Sam Sarr Calls For Objectivity And Balance Reporting
By Lamin A. Darboe
The editor of the Foroyaa Newspaper, Sam Sarr, has emphasized the need for
objective and balanced reporting by the journalists. He made these remarks at
The Gambia College on Saturday, 9 February, while delivering lectures on a
day long training on news writing organized by the information and press club
of The Gambia College.
Mr. Sarr informed the participants that journalism is a field that requires
special training and skills for one to effectively execute his/her duties. “
You don’t just jump and start to write news.” No! You must acquire skills and
training that will serve as a guide for one to gather “appropriate and
relevant information that are significant to the life of the readership”.
“Reveal the truth, be factual and balance in your reporting and avoid
unfounded speculations and you must not have any hidden motive or ill feelings in
your report. The good reports you make will always unite people and bring
development in the country”.
He, therefore, urged the participants to make the best use of this
opportunity they have. He said when they were going to school, they were not fortunate
to benefit from this kind of training.
In his welcoming remarks, the president of The Gambia College Students
Union, Musa Y. Camara, underscored the significance of the training, noting that
the skills of the English specialists and aspiring journalists may want to
utilize it for double or multiple purposes as they leave this great institution”
.
Camara further revealed that this training was in line with their action
plan to improve the academic excellence of the students, by providing them with
learning materials that enhance success and also prepare the students on
their academic life and be skillful in other fields of work.
“I am optimistic that the training would be a gateway of improving the level
of information dissemination and handling within our union and beyond”.
The training was attended by members of the information and press club of
the Gambia College, Press Club of Nusrat Senior Secondary School, Ming Daw and
Brikama Senior Secondary Technical Schools, and the Major Students of English.
Musa Fofana, the students’ Union information minister, delivered the closing
remarks.
Meteorological Unit Clears Doubts About Yesterday’s Rainfall
By Isatou Bittaye
Yesterday’s rain in the morning, between the hours of 7:00am and 8:00am, has
caused people to question how the rain could happen when we are not in the
rainy season. In a bid to clear this doubt, this reporter contacted the Senior
Meteorologist at the Meteorological Unit, Mr. Lamin Mai Touray, to talk
about his department’s views on the issue.
According to him, the northerly winds coming from the Atlantic, which pass
through the ocean, are cool and humid and that upon reaching the land which is
warmer than the wind, the wind forces it to condense. He said that it is
this condensation of the wind which then forms clouds and eventually there was
rain.
Mr. Touray noted that, it was because of this process that the precipitation
occurred but it will not continue. He said that it had happened and gone.
QUESTIONABLE ARREST OF YOUNG MAN IN WULI MACCA MASIREH VILLAGE?
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
One Muhamadou Nanki, a native of Macca Masireh in Wuli East, was on Sunday
10 February, arrested by the personnel of the Gambia Immigration Department,
for not producing an identity card upon request by Immigration Officers.
According to family members, Mr. Nanki and his friends were sitting at their
village “Vous,” when the officers came in a Sare Ngai Police vehicle and
demanded to see their identity cards. They said Mr. Nanki and his friends told
the officers they are not strangers in that village but instead bonafide
citizens. They said Muhamadou was asked what was in his hand bag which they
eventually searched and found nothing. They said the officers, however, said they
do not trust that the young man was not a foreigner.
According to the eyewitnesses, the officers did not ask the young man to
produce his identity card, they just bundled him up and took him to Sare Ngai
station. They alleged that the officers re-acted by impulse. They expressed
suspicion that the officers ‘ behavior may have been politically motivated
since such arrests usually happen only after elections. They lamented that they
could not understand why somebody has to be arrested in his own village for
failure to produce an identity card.
The Immigration mouth piece, Superintendent Olimatou Jammeh Sonko, could not
confirm the allegation as the officer in charge of Sare Ngai police station
could not be reached on phone to verify the veracity of the allegation. Mrs.
Jammeh Sonko, however, said that there is nothing wrong for their officers to
ask for people’s ID cards, even though they are in their village. She noted
that every citizen is obliged to have an identity card. She asserted that
their officers might have their reasons as to why they decided to arrest Mr.
Nanki instead of others. She added that if Mr. Nanki had an ID card, he could
have asked for the officers to give him time to produce his ID before he was
whisked away. She stated that the officers would be in position to reason with
him to produce the document. She pointed out that from Macca Masireh to Sare
Ngai police station is very far for officers to take a single person there
without a genuine reason.
However, up to today, the young man is detained in a cell, even though his
relatives went to clarify to the police that he is a Gambian by birth. They
maintain that the officers acted on impulse rather than common sense.
Tourist Taxi Drivers Lament The Slowdown Of Business
By Amie Sanneh
Tourist Taxi Drivers at the Senegambia Beach Hotel have complained to this
reporter about the slowing down of their business which they said is their
means of survival.
“Our business has fallen down completely,” says the president of the
Senegambia tourist taxi drivers in an interview with Foroyaa.
Mr. Sidi Jarra told Foroyaa that the local taxi and private vehicles are
taking the tourists away from them which they said is the main cause of the
problem. He said they are doing all what they are asked to do by the authorities
for them. He said they are asked to paint their vehicles green which they
have done. He said they also pay licence, road tax, income tax and so on. He
went on to say that on top of that they pay a yearly fee of D625 dalasi which
qualifies them to take tourists. Mr. Jarra explained that 525 dalasi goes to
Gambia Tourism Authority and the 100 dalasi goes to MSG to see whether the
vehicle is good enough to take tourists.
He added that if one does not have all these papers, the security officers
normally stops the vehicle from taking tourists. He further explained that
they are the ones who are to take the tourists since they pay a special tax for
the tourist taxi.
“As far as we are paying extra for that work we should not do it,” he
remarked. He said more than 200 vehicles park at Senegambia garage alone and they
make only one trip every three weeks. They also complained that the tour
operators are another problem. He noted that whatever they earned stays here
contrary to the tour operators. Mr. Jarra, however, remarked that they have
complained this to GTA and that if it cannot take steps to rectify this, then
they should stop paying extra tax, since they are not in the business alone.
He said they rely on their job to pay for his children’s school fees, feed
their family and all other family needs.
Also speaking to Foroyaa, the Secretary General, Yahya Fofana, reiterated
that taxis in the locality are disturbing them a lot; that they don‘t normally
have trips. After paying their operational licence which is the 625 dalasi
yearly, they cannot generate income due to the “interference” taxis in the
locality. The tour operators too, he said, are also taking their business from
them. He said they take the tourists for dinner, city tours, safari and so.
GTA, he noted, is the only institution that can solve their problem. He said
GTA has put in place security officers to park them if they do not pay their
tourist tax. The government too could also help by intervening.
Mr. Fofana pointed out that the Senegambia tourist taxi drivers consist of
Mansea Beachl, Kololi and Senegambia hotels.
“We Need More Sign Language Interpreters”
GADHOH Executive Director Laments
By Yaya Bajo
Mr. Dodou Loum, the Executive Director of Gambia Association of the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing (GADHOH), has lamented that the deaf community in The Gambia
are depending on only four (4) sign language interpreters countrywide to
facilitate communication between the deaf and the rest of the hearing
population. “We have only four sign language interpreters which the entire deaf
community depend on and we therefore need more interpreters so that deaf people can
easily share their views with health care providers in hospitals, teachers in
schools and friends and colleagues in the society at large”, he said. The
GADHOH Executive Director made these remarks over the weekend while delivering
his reports at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the
Girl Guide conference hall in Kanifing.
Speaking on the achievements of the association since its formation, Mr.
Loum catalogued numerous development initiatives undertaken by the association
which he described as laudable as they were all geared towards improving the
conditions of their members. He said over the past years six (6) regional
branches were established, namely Banjul, Brikama, Barra, Farafenni, Soma and
Bwiam branches. He added that the association registered about 718 members and
has, for the first time, a permanent head quarter which has close
collaboration with government and non governmental organizations.
The association’s Executive Director further said that GADHOH has
established a national sign language which has been welcomed by all deaf people. He
said the office staff also acquired numerous skills training on organizational
management, which improve efficiency in their performance. He further reported
that deaf people have developed and now have access to more information
around the would. He said many of them have also acquired skills and participate
in social activities and, most importantly, engage in intermarriage.
Delivering the opening remark, Mr. Lamin Ceesay, GADOHO Board President,
called for more support to enable them finish work at their new head office. He
expressed their resolve to continue working in the interest of the deaf
community in the country which, according to him, has been estimated to be about
20,000. “ We also want to embark on training of more sign language
interpreters in the near future and secure more employment of our members”, he said.
On the financial status of the association, the GADHOH external auditor
reported that the association has an income of D483, 231.08 and expenditure of
D448, 915.98 for the year 2007. She added that the balance at the bank as at
end December, 2007 stood at D84, 558.13.
The meeting culminated into the election of the new executive and Mr.
Abdoulie Njie was unanimously re-elected as the president of the association.
GADHOH is a charitable organisation working for the creation of a society in
which the deaf and hard of hearing people participate fully as citizens of
the nation and enjoy all the benefits of such citizenship on a fair and equal
basis.
Armed Robbers Hit Kaur Wharf Town
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Armed robbery is said to be decreasing in the country especially within the
Central and Upper River Regions, due to the police presence at many strategic
positions country-wide. But on Friday 8 February, a sizeable number of
robbers armed with guns, axes, machetes and hammers had broken into two shops at
Kaur, Wharf Town market in Central River Region.
According to the watchman, Mr. Abdou Manneh, the incident happened at around
2:00am, when the Town’s electricity supply was off at the usual time as that
is the procedure there. Mr. Manneh told Foroyaa that out of nowhere, he saw
men with guns coming towards him from all directions pointing at him. He said
he could not run and was cautioned by the robbers that if he made any noise
he would be shot at. He narrated that he was later apprehended and tied down
on the ground. He stated that the robbers broke into the shop by breaking the
front door of the shop. He indicated that he could not tell how much item
and cash were taken from the shop; noting that the business owner deals in
sugar, rice, onions, potatoes, cooking ingredients, flowers, etc in wholesale and
retail. He noted that the robbers could not take away the safe with them but
happened to puncture a hole at the side of the safe.
Mr. Manneh pointed out that another partner was also a victim to the same
robbers, who was also tied and his shop broken into. He noted that his
colleague one Mr. Faal was also held at gun point and forcefully tied on the ground.
He said both him and Mr. Faal were found by the passersby in the last hours
of Friday morning. Mr. Manneh pointed out that both shops belong to Mr. Alagie
Hydara and Lamin Jawara respectively. He asserted that the robbers hit a day
after the Town’s “Lumo day” (weekly market day), when they expect good sales
from business persons. Efforts to talk to the respective shop owners proved
futile.
When the police were contacted, the spokesperson indicated that he had made
efforts to get to Kaur Police through telephone but it was not accessible. He
promised to make more efforts to talk to Kaur Police.
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