Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 78/2007, 6 – 8 July 2007
Editorial
AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AGREE ON THE NEXT STEP FORWARD
NO TURNING BACK
The 9 Ordinary Session of the Assembly by Heads of State of the African
Union held in Ghana from 1 – 3 July 2007 is now history.
Despite the fact that the Heads of State exceeded the time allocated to the
Grand Debate and stayed half a day extra to complete their mission, there is
still the dominant opinion in the local and international media that the
summit was a failure and that the Grand Debate amounted to nothing.
These opinions, however, cannot be dismissed entirely as hostile propaganda.
It may be borne out of the long history of holding OAU Summit without
achieving the goals of unity.
Furthermore, there is the issue of information access. Such summits are
usually held under close doors and there is no independent news agency that is
capable of getting vital information until a final communiqué is issued. The AU
Commission needs to look into the problem of access to information during
such important summits. One cannot close summits to the media without any
consistent briefing and expect the African people to be properly informed.
However, Foroyaa would like to counsel the media fraternity to read in
between the lines to get to the truth. Foroyaa is privileged to know the basis of
the Grand Debate. Every information we have given so far can be taken as
irrefutable.
The 9th Ordinary Session has been devoted exclusively to the Grand Debate
because of the commitment to accelerate the process of economic and political
integration.
Foroyaa had made it categorically clear that the grand debate is not about
spontaneity or gradualism in establishing a union government and state but an
attempt to find a realistic way forward or continental unity
The term of office of the chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners
had also expired and their election was due. This often comes with immense
lobbying.
In his interview, President Kufour of Ghana, the current president of the
Assembly, corroborated Foroyaa’s statement by asserting that “the debate has
not been about winners and losers, majority or minority, instantists or the
gradualists. We emerged with a common vision in principle for the realisation
of a union government. We all have a shared vision of a united, vibrant
continental union”.
The lesson is clear.
Those who claim that the summit was a failure are entitled to their opinion.
They are no different from those who originally claimed that OAU will never
be transformed into the AU when the Heads of State first went to Sirte, Libya
in 1999.
However, in 2002 South Africa became the host for the birth of the African
Union. Three years after the birth of the AU, the Heads of State established a
Committee of Seven Heads of State to preside over a study on the
establishment of African Union government and the United States of Africa.
These Seven Heads of State presented their report in 2006. This study is
made the Subject of a grand debate in 2007.
At the end of the summit the Heads of State agree to set up a committee to
prepare a time frame and road map to found the union government which will be
considered for adoption by the Heads of State in January 2008 which is the
period scheduled for the 10 Ordinary Session.
What is unrealistic about such a proposal? What would have been the
realistic option? Those who claim that the final decision is unrealistic now have the
duty to tell us what is realistic. If they have no offers to give then they
should be seen as criticising for the sake of it. This will not take Africa
forward.
We must again emphasise that the United States did not become united after
eradicating poverty and civil war. It became united in the midst of poverty
and civil war. In the same vein, the different states of the US did not unite
because they were even in economic and social development.
They united and promoted balance and proportionate development. Africa has
no option for attaining optimum social and economic development than unity.
Foroyaa will keep you informed of all progress and obstacles. We are
however, certain that we will see African unity in our life time.
This is the verdict of history and it is irrevocable.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT CHAM CONTINUES TESTIMONY IN TREASON TRIAL
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Sergeant Lamin Cham, a detective police officer, on Wednesday, July 4,
re-appeared at the Banjul High Court before justice Yeboah in the treason trial of
the four civilian suspects in the March 2006 foiled coup plot.
Continuing his evidence in chief, Sergeant Cham said during the course of
their investigation, he discovered that Tamsir Jasseh, the fifth accused person
knew ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Ndure Cham, when Jasseh was Deputy
Inspector General of Police and Director General of Immigration.
Cham testified that Jasseh told him that Colonel Ndure Cham sent him to the
Senegalese Embassy for him to meet one Mr. Njouga and tell him that The
Gambia Army is not responsible for the bad relationship between The Gambia and
Senegal but they want a smooth relationship; that Ndure Cham later informed him
(Jasseh) about the plan to overthrow the government and promised to make him
the Inspector General of Police. According to Sergeant Cham, Colonel Cham
told Jasseh that they will damage the infrastructure in order to interrupt the
incoming and outgoing call, but Jasseh advised Colonel Cham not to damage
anything, instead he should remove certain fuses at The Gamtel Earth Station at
Abuko, so that the Gamcel, Gamtel and Africell fuses could be replaced
after the coup succeeded.
Sergeant Cham also said that Jasseh visited these facilities and made a map
of the switches which he later handed over to Colonel Cham; that on the day
of the coup Colonel Cham told Jasseh to go and remove these switches but he
did not go.
Detective Cham said Jasseh told him the map was given to Captain Wassa
Camara who is presently serving a sentence on a related offence.
The witness adduced that Captain Camara went to the Abuko Earth Station but
could not switch it off as he did not meet one Mr. Njie. According to
Sergeant Cham, Jasseh told him he met with Colonel Cham on the day of the coup, who
informed him that the coup has leaked and he is running away; that on March
23, 2006, Jasseh went to Farato where he picked up Colonel Cham from the
resident of one Isatou Lowe where he was hiding.
Sergeant Cham added that Jasseh picked up Colonel Cham in his white Land
Rover, adding he was able to locate the compound because of one Mustapha Lowe
was on the highway to direct him to the ex-CDS’s hideout.
The Detective said Jasseh drove Colonel Cham to Brikama and then to
Darsilami with the assistance of Mustapha Lowe who was given a mobile phone by
Colonel Cham and joined a different vehicle in order to check for safety passage on
the traffic up to Kujubeh in Cassamance, where Jasseh finally drove Colonel
Cham to.
The witness also said Jasseh told him that upon his return he informed his
wife and later proceeded to Lawyer Mariama Denton for legal advice.
The white Land Rover, according to the witness is impounded at the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) premises.
Sergeant Cham narrated that he was told by the seventh accused person, Omar
Faal Keita, that he was in Nairobi when one Mr. Deen of the Physical Planning
told him about the coup and he wanted a marabout to work for them for the
success of the coup plot.
Sergeant Cham adduced that the marabout told them to stage the coup on
Tobaski day but later adviced that it be deferred to the Independence day and
again re-scheduled the date, for the third time, due to some signs of betrayal.
Sergeant Cham went on to say that the marabout told them that March 21 2006 was
a good schedule, noting that he has seen the president in a dream riding a
bicycle on the highway which is a sign that he (the president) is finished
whether by a coup or not.
The witness also said that the seventh accused person (marabout) was given a
list of names of those arrested and those not yet arrested so that they will
be release or will not be arrested. The Detective revealed that the suspects
were asked by the marabout to give charity which included, four rams, which
were bought by the sixth accused person and three of these were slaughtered
and the other one was left to go away.
Sergeant Cham also said they discovered from the marabout’s house a list of
names in Arabic and also a list of the charities.
The witness added that during the course of their investigation, the eighth
accused person Demba Dem told him that he knew Alieu Jobe years ago and they
have a lot in common.
The Detective Sergeant said Dem was given an amount of D1,200 by Jobe for
him to go to Sokone in Senegal to consult a marabout.
The witness also alleged that he was told by Dem that he informed Captain
Nfamara Jammeh of State Guard and let him be mindful about March 21 and Captain
Jammeh said he will inform the commanding officer of State Guard.
According to the witness, Captain Jammeh during the investigation denied
knowing or speaking anything about the coup.
Sergeant Cham added that the fifth and eighth accused persons, namely;
Tamsir Jasseh and Demba Dem wrote their own statements and further witnesses were
called and statements were obtained from Mariama Denton, Mustapha Lowe,
Ousman Njie and others.
JOURNALIST EBRIMA MANNEH MISSING FOR ONE YEAR
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The disappearance of journalist ‘Chief’ Ebrima Manneh of the Daily Observer
will clock one year tomorrow, July 7.
Mr. Manneh, who went missing on Friday, July 7, 2006 after leaving his home
for work has not been seen or heard from since then, family sources told
Foroyaa. According to the sources, the reporter was picked up at his office by
personnel whose identity has not been revealed, so far, and according to his
father, Sarjo Manneh, he has made endless effort but nobody at the Daily
Observer has explained to him what went wrong.
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has expressed shock over the long detention of
their colleague.
Madi Ceesay, President of the GPU told Foroyaa that Manneh is the longest
detained journalist in The Gambia, so far.
“Manneh is the breadwinner of his family and his sister’s school fees are
paid by him.
He said that for the past twelve months they have been making several
attempts to find Manneh’s whereabouts.
He also said that the GPU together with the International Federation of
Journalist (IFJ) the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), West African
Journalists Association (WAJA) and other international bodies are collectively
working on the matter.
FERTILIZER TO FARMERS BY JULY 7
Says SoS Kanja Sanneh
The member for Upper Niumi, Hon. Cherno Omar Jallow, asked the Secretary of
State for Agriculture to tell the National Assembly how farmers can access
fertilizers for the coming cropping season. In response, SoS Kanja Sanneh told
the deputies that fertilizers will be made accessible by farmers from
strategic locations countrywide.
In a supplementary question, the Member for Wuli West Hon. Sidia Jatta said “
Yes, farmers will access fertilizers, but when?”. SoS Kanja Sanneh,
responding, said that according to a letter he received from their supplier,
fertilizers will be provided to farmers by July 7 this year.
In another supplementary question, the majority leader and Member for
Serrekunda East, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, asked the Agriculture SoS to tell the
house what the cost of fertilizer is. This question, however, was overruled by
the Speaker, Hon. Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, who said that it is a completely
new element.
DAVID COLLEY GRANTED BAIL AND REARRESTED
By Abdou Jeli Keita
The former Director General of the Prisons Services Mr. David Colley was on
Thursday 5 July granted bail by Magistrate B.Y. Camara of the Banjul
Magistrates’ Court, but he was arrested immediately as he left the court house.
The prosecution witness Arness Ross Klu who is also the Acting Director
General of the prison department, testified at the trial.
She said that being the Deputy Director General of prison, she was called
upon by the accused (David Colley) in his office at Mile 2 Prison and told by
Colley that he needed her help; that she asked what he needed from her; that
he (David Colley) said he needed a generator because he wanted to get married
in October 2004.
She said, David Colley asked her to borrow him the generator donated to the
tailoring workshop of the Juvenile Wing, Jeshwang; that on September 22, 2004
the accused sent the Chief Officer and the driver to collect the generator
from her. She said the arrival of Haruna Jobe, chief Officer and driver Famara
Sanneh was booked at the Adult wing and that they proceeded to the Juvenile
wing where the brand new generator was handed over to them.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Touray, at the Juvenile Wing tendered the diary
in which the arrival of those sent to collect the generator were booked for
identification.
The prison’s Acting Director General who is also prosecution witness one
(PW1), further told the court that six months after the generator was given to
David Colley, she called to ask him to return what he borrowed; but that Colley
’s promises to return it was all in vain.
Acting DG Rose Klu said she kept on calling Colley but nothing was done;
that she had audience with the then SoS for Interior (Baboucarr Jatta) and told
him about the generator, but nothing was done; that when she took over as the
Acting Director General of Prison, she paid a courtesy call on the present
Interior SoS (Ousman Sonko) and told him about the generator, but nothing
again was done. She added that she informed SoS Ousman Sonko that she was about
to leave the job and need to hand over the generator to whoever would succeed
her.
She said that one day, the CID brought a scrap and ask if that is the same
generator she borrowed to David Colley. She answered; “I cannot recognise the
generator, because I gave a brand new generator to the accused (David Colley).
”
Prosecutor Touray, at this juncture applied for an adjournment and said he
is still opposed to bail being granted to the accused. He said the accused
should not be granted bail because he still has cases pending at the police and
that investigation is still on going. The prosecutor expressed his fear that
if the accused (David Colley) is granted bail, he may interfere with the
ongoing investigation by the police and the sister forces.
The defence counsel, Antouman Gaye, at this stage said he need not remind
the honourable court that it has agreed that the accused has rights to be
granted bail. He added that, in law when you talk about pending cases, you are
concerned about those pending in the court; that court can only deal with the
charges before it, but not with those at the police station. He argued that, the
prosecution did not advance good reasons as to why the court should not
grant the accused bail.
The presiding Magistrate B.Y. Camara in delivering his ruling on whether the
accused (David Colley) should be granted bail or not indicated that the
prosecution has been given ample time to carry out its investigation.
He then proceeded to grant bail to the accused (David Colley) in the sum of
D100,000 with two Gambian sureties with landed properties. The trial is set
to continue on the 19 July 2007. Though the accused (David Colley) was
granted bail, but as he was coming out of the court house the police re-arrested
him. He was seen being taken to the police station and the police later whisked
him away in a blue and white four wheel drive (police vehicle).
FOCUS ON POLITICS
THE 1981 POLITICAL CRISIS
IS IT A CONFEDERATION BASED ON PRINCIPLES OR A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE?
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on political developments in The Gambia in this column
which inspired us to follow the political trail from pre-colonial to
post-Independence era. We have been covering the history of the first Republic up to
the 1980s. We are now reporting about the happenings surrounding the 1981
political crisis.
In the last issue were it was reported that Sam Sarr’s wife Amie Sillah and
her one month old baby were arrested together with other colleagues should
read ‘an eleven months old baby boy’. They were also detained for seven months
before being released. The report that a press conference that was scheduled
for Monday 30 October 1983 was later postponed and rescheduled for Monday 31
October 1983 should have read rescheduled for Tuesday 31 October 1983.
Many of our readers sent opinions in letters and text messages and even in
the net encouraging the columnist. The objective really is meant to help the
people to learn from the mistakes of the past in order to shape the future. So
we are welcoming all ideas and information that would be useful in our
analyses and the columnist is quite thrilled with the public response so far. In
the last issue we have stopped where we said the forced retirement of IJK
Tambajang, particularly, surprised many because quite a number of people were with
the illusion that he and former IGP A.S Mboob had played a lead role in
defending the capital city.
Apart from the security concerns of the period the Government which signed
the Agreement establishing the Senegambia Confederation in Dakar since 1981,
now had to work hard to convince the many sceptics and critics that the
Agreement was for real or a no turning back
Here is the full text of the Agreement signed between the two respective
governments to establish the Confederation.
Here is a part text of the Agreement signed between the two Governments.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL
CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SENEGAMBIA CONFEDERATION
Aware that they constitute a single people divided into two States by the
vicissitudes of History;
Taking due account of the geographical fact of their ties;
Conscious of the historical, moral and material imperatives, which unite the
two countries;
Considering the many past and present experiments made with a view to
rapprochement, solidarity and sub-regional and regional cooperation; Respectful of
the Charter of the United Nations, the Charter of the Organisation of African
Unity and the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States;
Affirming their devotion to the rights of their peoples declared in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948; in the United Nations Covenants on
Human Rights; and in the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights of
1981; Intending to strengthen the unity of their defence and their economies and
the coordination of their policies in other fields; Resolved to establish an
institutional framework, consistent with national sovereignty and democratic
principles, within which these intentions may be gradually realized;
HAVE DECIDED to create a Confederation and have agreed as follows:
SECTION I: PRINCIPLES
Clause 1:
By this Agreement a Confederation of the Republic of The Gambia and the
Republic of Senegal is constituted with the name of the Senegambia
Confederation.
Clause 2:
The Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal shall constitute the
Confederation known as Senegambia; each State maintaining its independence
and sovereignty.
The Confederation shall be based on:
- the integration of the armed forces and of the security forces of the
Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal, to defend their sovereignty,
territorial integrity and independence;
- the development of an economic and monetary union;
- the coordination of policy in the field of external relations;
- the coordination of policy in the field of communications and Clause in
all other fields where the Confederated States may agree to exercise their
jurisdiction jointly;
- joint institutions.
Clause 3:
The institutions of the Confederation shall be as follows:
The President and Vice-President of the Confederation;
The Council of Ministers of the Confederation;
The Confederal Parliament.
Clause 4:
The Official languages of the Confederation shall be such African languages
as are specified by the President and Vice-President of the Confederation;
English and French.
Clause 5:
Within the framework of this Agreement the Confederated States shall enter
into protocols of implementation for the realization of the purposes set out
in Clause 2.
SECTION II: THE PRESIDENT AND Vice-President OF THE CONFEDERATION
Clause 6:
The President of the Republic of Senegal shall be the President of the
Confederation.
The President of the Republic of The Gambia shall be the Vice-President of
the Confederation.
Clause 7:
In agreement with the Vice-President, the President shall decide on the
policy of the Confederation on matters of Defence and Security.
He shall co-ordinate the policies of the Confederated States on matters
within the responsibilities of the Confederation.
In agreement with the Vice-President, the President of the Confederation
shall make appointments to all confederal posts.
Clause 8:
The President of the Confederation shall command the Armed Forces and the
Security Forces of the Confederation. He shall be responsible for the Defence
and Security of the Confederation.
A Protocol shall establish the modalities of implementation of the provision
in accordance with the constitutional requirements of each State.
The President of the Republic of The Gambia shall continue to be
Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of The Gambia in accordance with
its constitutional requirements.
Clause 9:
The President of the Confederation shall preside over the Defence and
Security Council of the Confederation.
The Defence Council shall comprise the President and Vice-President of the
Confederation and such other persons as the President, in agreement with the
Vice-President of the Confederation, may determine.
SECTION III: THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Clause 10:
There shall be a Council of Ministers of the Confederation whose members
shall be appointed by the President of the Confederation in agreement with the
Vice-President.
The President and the Vice-President of the Confederation shall be the
President and the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers respectively.
The Council of Ministers shall deal with matters submitted to their
consideration by the President of the Confederation.
SECTION IV: THE CONFEDERAL PARLIAMENT
Clause 11:
The Representative Parliament of the Confederation shall be known as The
Confederal Parliament.
Its members shall have the title Members of the Confederal Parliament.
One-third of the members of the Confederal Parliament shall be selected by the
House of Representatives of The Gambia from among its members, and the other
two-thirds shall be selected by the National Parliament of Senegal, from among
its members.
The Confederal Parliament shall elect its President.
The Confederal Parliament shall establish its rules of procedure.
Clause 12:
The Confederal Parliament shall deliberate on matters of common interest.
Furthermore, the President of the Confederation or the Vice-President of the
Confederation, may consult the Confederal Parliament by submitting to its
vote any other matter of social, economic or financial interest to the
Confederation.
Clause 13:
Only the President of the Confederation, the Vice-President of the
Confederation and the members of the Confederal Parliament can initiate matters or
proposals.
The Confederal Parliament shall convene when matters are submitted to it by
the President or Vice-President or at the request of one third of the members
of the Confederal Parliament.
Clause 14:
The rules governing the submission of matters to the Confederal Parliament
by the President or the Vice-President of the Confederation, voting of matters
or proposals and the promulgation of such rules by the President shall be
drawn up in a protocol of implementation.
SECTION V: deals with SETTLEMENT OF DIFFERENCES whilst section V1 deals
with International Treaties and Agreements.
Section V11 deals with Final Provisions such as when the Agreement entered
into Force, Amendments, Reviews, the status of the protocols of
Implementation, Depositories, the Authentic texts and signatures.
By late 1983 to early 1984
The Government also appeared to be doing something inorder to fend off the
critics and sceptics of the Senegambia Confederation. The PPP the party in
government, organised a series of events with the objective of sensitizing the
people on what they deemed to be the merits of the Confederation. For example,
on Tuesday 22 November 1983, the PPP held a meeting with the PS (Partie
Socialist) of Senegal at the PPP Bureau in Banjul to formulate plans for a joint
seminar to take place in Banjul on 10-11 December 1983 on the theme “
Senegambia Confederation.”
A group of people were also seen demonstrating in support of the
Confederation and who many believed were either encouraged and or sponsored by them.
TABARA SAMBA’S LAWYERS CALL FOR
FRESH EVIDENCE
By Fabakary B. Ceesay & Amie Camara
Two defence counsels, who are now defending Mrs. Tabara Samba, who is
accused of allegedly murdering her husband, have on Wednesday 4 July made an
application before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates Court to
cancel the previous evidence given by the prosecution witness in the trial.
The two defence Lawyers, Mrs. Amie Joof Conteh and Miss Lubna Farrage, made
the submission before the court that the accused is standing trial on a
capital offence which if convicted on, the penalty could be death. They said it
is their submission that the accused gets a fair trial in the cause of
justice. Mrs. Joof Conteh who was making the submission said that since the case has
already started before the court and that the previous counsel had also
withdrawn from the case, they believe the court should allow a re-start of the
case. Mrs. Conteh said the accused is not yet guilty and that the court should
stand by her until she is proven guilty.
“This is the only jurisdiction that allows the counsel to withdraw from a
trial of capital offence, when the trial is advancing progressively. This can
prejudice the case”, said the defence counsel. “We urge the court to look
into the circumstances of the case and allow for a re-start in the matter, I and
my colleague will make sure the trial is done in a quick, and a speedy way,
if possible on a daily basis,” she concluded.
The prosecution officer, Chief Superintendent Burama Dibba, objected to the
reasons advanced by the defence counsels adding they are not enough for a
re-start of the case. CSP Dibba said there are many reasons for a re-start of a
case. Dibba argued that the reasons for a case to re-start are that, when the
trial magistrate is out of the jurisdiction or in time of death or that if
the case is assigned to a new magistrate who cannot understand the writings of
the previous magistrate. “In this particular case the same magistrate still
presides, the only difference is the change of counsel,” said officer Dibba.
CSP Dibba said that the withdrawal of the first counsel should not create an
obstacle to the case, saying, “Since the former counsel withdrew the case has
never proceeded.” Officer Dibba maintained that it is common in the
jurisdiction for a lawyer to withdraw from a case. He added that the prosecution
believes that the accused is innocent until she is proven guilty. Dibba said they
can provide the defence with the police files pertaining to the case. He
finally urged the court to overrule the defence’s submission.
Magistrate Jammeh reminded both counsels that the accused has a fundamental
human right as a human being, maintaining that his court believes she is
innocent until proven beyond reasonable double that she is guilty. Jammeh
emphasised that the trial is not taking place for the sake of just a trial, but that
justice must be seen to be done. He told the counsels that the court can
call back the witnesses, in order to re-examine them. The state prosecutor,
Dibba said some of their witnesses are out of the jurisdiction for a mission in
the Wartron Darfur. Magistrate Jammeh said he will make a ruling on the
application by the next sitting date and adjourned the case to another date. The
two defence counsel also told the court that they are defending the accused
person on a free of charge basis.
Tabara Samba is standing trial for allegedly pouring hot water on her
husband Ebrima Nyan which led to his death. Her first lawyer withdrew from the case
earlier on and the proceedings had been halted until the last sitting.
TRIAL OF FORMER M.D OF GAMTEL IN LIMBO
By Abdou Jeli Keita
The ongoing trial of the former Managing Director of The Gambia
Telecommunications Company (GAMTEL) Mr. Omar Ndow, before Magistrate B.Y Camara, of
Banjul Magistrates’ Court has suffered a set back.
The trial could not proceed on Wednesday July 4, due to the fact that the
defence lawyer, Sheriff Tambedu, applied for an adjournment. The court was
expected to proceed with the trial in order to establish whether the defendant
(Mr. Omar Ndow), former Gamtel Managing Director, is guilty of the alleged
charges preferred against his person.
Defence lawyer Tambedu told the court that he has another case before his
lordship Justice Ota at the High Court. The trial is adjourned to a later date
in July for further hearing.
Mr. Omar Ndow is standing trial on two counts: alleged disobedience of
statutory duty, contrary to section 115 of the Criminal Code; and alleged abuse of
office, contrary to section 90 of the Criminal Code.
Former M.D Ndow is alleged to have willfully omitted to refer a contract
proposal to the Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA), as statutorily
required of him, and also willfully failed to follow the required procedure of the
GPPA regulation. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
US AMBASSADOR HOST RECEPTION FOR THEIR 4th JULY INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION
By Annia Gaye
The outgoing US Ambassador in The Gambia, Mr. Joseph D. Stafford, on
Wednesday 4 July, hosted a reception to commemorate July 4 Independence Day
celebration, which marked 231st independence of the United States.
Delivering his remarks, The US Ambassador Mr. Joseph D. Stafford said
Americans celebrate July 4 as their National Day because it was on this day in 1776
that their founding fathers, who are historic figures, i.e.; Thomas
Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams signed the Declaration of Independence.
He said it was in 1783 that the United States gained its independence, but
nonetheless, the date of adoption of the Declaration of independence seven
years earlier was established as their National Day.
He noted that every year on this day, Americans celebrate not only
independence, but also the fundamental ideals enshrined in the Declaration of
Independence; that “All men are created equal; that they have the “Unalienable”
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and these rights are to be
upheld by a democratic form of government.”
He further said American history throughout has viewed these ideas as the
foundation of their society and its institutions.
Ambassador Stafford said the United States is not alone in its attainment of
these ideals but the international community, in general, is attached to
them including The Gambia whose government and people have made clear their
commitment to the equality of all citizens and their “Inalienable” rights, as
well as their commitment to promoting democratic institutions.
He observed that July 4 is an occasion to celebrate not only the American
experience, but also the shared experience and solid bonds enjoyed by the two
countries. He further observed that Americans and Gambians have important
interests to pursue in many areas, whether it’s combating terrorism, expanding
economic cooperation, or fostering peace and stability in Sudan where, he said,
Gambia has troops and police officers. He assured The Gambia government and
its people that they can count on the support of the US as they move forward
in these areas, like upholding human dignity and freedom, promoting a free,
vibrant and responsible press, and strengthening democratic institutions and
human rights.
Ambassador Stafford pledged to Gambians that, the US will continue to work
closely with Gambia to promote continued progress on reforms and development
in a spirit of partnership that serving the interests of both countries.
Speaking on behalf of The Gambia government, the Honourable secretary of
state for Foreign Affairs Bala Garba Jahumpa said Gambia and US equally believes
in the protection of Human Rights, Freedom and Justice. He said it is their
collective responsibility to ensure humanity’s right to education, health,
housing, peace and stability are safeguarded. He lamented the suffering of the
people in Palestine and Darfur and emphasised that they have the collective
responsibility to deal with such problems. He commended the Ambassador for
completing his tour of duty and wished him well.
The reception was attended by Ambassadors, the Chief Justice, Secretaries of
State, and members of the National Assembly, the judiciary, heads of
municipalities, leaders of opposition parties, representatives of the media, civil
society and other invited guests.
PASTOR SENT TO JAIL FOR 3 YEARS
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
One John Charles Njie, a pastor of the Abiding Word Ministry, was yesterday
convicted and sentenced to a mandatory jail term of 3 years with hard labour
and without the option of a fine.. He was convicted by the Kanifing
Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh.
Pastor Njie, who is also a film actor, was convicted on the charges of
forgery, contrary to section 332 of the criminal code. The particulars of offence
states that Pastor Njie, on the 8 March 2006, at Kanifing forged the
signature of one Miss Ellen Sowe and prepared a document to sublet the house which
was rented to him by the complainant. The defence counsel, Mr. Joseph Henry
Joof, was not in court when Mr. Charles was convicted and sentenced. The
complainant’s counsel, Mrs. Amie Joof Conteh, told the court that her client (Miss
Sowe) has passed away on last Tuesday, the 3 July 2007.
In his plea of mitigation, Pastor Njie said he is a family man with two
children and that the children’s mother is not in the country.
Magistrate Jammeh said he is of the view that the accused person is guilty
of the offence preferred against him. He, therefore, sentenced him to three
(3) years in jail at mile two prison, without the option of a fine
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