Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 89/2007, 1 – 2 August 2007
Editorial
100,000 TO EACH KMC COUNCILLOR TO REHABILITATE ROADS
There are seventeen wards in the KMC area. There is Tallinding ward with
19,773 inhabitants; Faji Kunda ward with 12,744, Latrikunda Sabiji ward 11,289;
Abuko ward, 4,345; Serrekunda ward, 18,901; Bundung six junction, Mauritani
ward, 21569; Bundung Borehole/Bantaba ward, 19,500; Kanifing ward, 6, 275; Old
Jeshwang ward, 8,480; New Jeshwang/Ibo Town ward, 24, 219; Bakau New
Town/Fajara ward 15,981 and Old Bakau Cape Point ward 12,901.
It is confirmed that each councillor is given 100,000 dalasi to be utilised
to rehabilitate the roads in their respective wards. This amounts to a total
of D1.7 million dalasis for road rehabilitation.
The drivers who use the space adjacent to Serrekunda School have confirmed
that the road connecting their parking space with Papa Sarr Street is
impassable as the gravel poured there turned into clay. Residents of many communities
in the KMC area are lodging similar complaints. Foroyaa, therefore, suggests
that all councillors go back to their respective areas and honestly give
reports of the state of the roads after the rehabilitation they claimed to have
undertaken.
Those coming from Old Jeshwang have lodged complaints of worsened condition
of the road going to the school. Those in Churchill Town have also complained
of the same condition.
Road construction or rehabilitation is a technical matter. The Local
Government Act has created ward development committees as well as technical
committees. The ward development committees are supposed to meet periodically to
look at all the problems in their respective areas.
These problems are supposed to be discussed by councillors and budgets
prepared to address them.
Section 13 of the Local Government Finance and Audit Act states that “No
appropriation of funds by a council shall be made out of the funds of the
council unless it is approved in a budget.”
According to Section 8 Subsection (7), “A council shall allocate at least
sixty per centum of the budget for development activities, excluding the
recurrent costs of those activities.”
Each council is required by Section 18 of the Local Government Finance and
Audit Act to have a contracts committee comprising the Chief Executive as
Chairperson, the Director of Finance, the Director of Planning and Development,
two elected councillors to be appointed by the council, two members of the
public to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
According to Section 18 (1) “All procurement by a Local Government Authority
shall be carried out in accordance with the Gambia Public Procurement Act,
2001 and the monetary thresholds and regulations prescribed by and under that
Act.
To build roads requires procurement of stones, granite or other materials
for road construction.
What the council should have done is to rely on the councillors and ward
development committees to identify the roads that need priority attention and
cooperate with the Department of Technical Services to conduct studies on how
to rehabilitate them. In short, road construction must go with some form of
drainage so that water will not be stagnant on the road.
Foroyaa wish to caution the councillors to keep receipts of their purchases
of gravel and other items utilised for road rehabilitation. The Auditors may
call them some day.
The end result of expenditure of public funds is public accountability. No
skill to do work, No right to receive funds to do it!!
THE UNCOLLECTED REFUSE IN KMC
“Management Promise To Tackle The Matter,”
The residents of KMC have been complaining of uncollected refuse within
their neighbourhood. When this reporter visited the Sayerr Jobe Avenue and other
parts of the Serekunda locality he came across heaps of refuse, some of which
are kept in bags whilst others are just thrown about everywhere. Many
residents, shopkeepers and restaurant owners on the highway complain of foul odour
they always encounter due to indiscriminate dumping of waste. One woman who
spoke to this reporter explained that because of lack of a reliable system of
collection of waste in their area the people are relying on the monthly “
set-setal” as an opportunity to get rid of their refuse by dumping them on the
high-ways so that the KMC would collect them. She said that due to KMC’s
lateness in collecting such refuse the dumps have indeed turned the whole thing
into a social havoc.
When this reporter visited the Tallinding market he found that there is a
dump within the market just close to the KMC’s own public toilet. This site is
so stinky and unapproachable that the sellers who sit closer have to move
away from the unbearable and oppressive stench.
An old man, who also sells close to the site, said insects and reptiles have
taken the place as a feeding ground thus sending signals of an impending
health hazard in the environment.
When contacted for comments, the Assistant Manager of the KMC Cleansing
Service, Mr. Kemo Conteh, after being shown some photographs of the sites, said
there is no magic formula in the collection of refuse. He said the KMC lacks
vehicles and other logistics. He called on the public to exercise patience and
to have confidence that the KMC is there for them.
Mr. Conteh promised that the refuse along the Kombo Sillah highway will be
collected these days. He claimed to be waiting for their supply of fuel; and
that they were also making arrangements to hire trucks to enable them collect
all the refuse. He finally said that the dumping site behind the Tallinding
Market will be tackled but did not talk of relocating the site.
CROP FAILURE IN PARTS OF NORTH BANK
By Ousman M.M. Jallow
Many farmers in the Districts of Lower Niumi, Upper Niumi and Jokadu have
complained of crop failure. From 26 to 28 July, 2007 this reporter visited
villages and farms in those three districts and found instances of crop failure.
Misiranding, Lower Niumi
This reporter met one Essa Sarr upon arrival and asked him how well his crop
was doing. In response, Essa said he grew all the crops he had, be they
groundnuts, coos or maize. But to his disappointment the groundnuts did not
germinate due to lack of rains. He said he sowed the groundnuts on the day after
the first rain in June. Lamin Ndure and Sutay Senghore, from the same village,
also suffered the same as Essa. They told this reporter that they could not
sow their crops again because of lack of money to purchase seeds.
Daru Loween, Jokadu
On 27 July, this reporter proceeded to Daru Loween where he met the Alkalo.
The Alkalo said one of his sons, Alhagie Lowe sowed his groundnuts a day
after the first rain in June but the groundnuts did not germinate because of the
dry spell that followed the first rain. Fatou Lowe, Papa Touray and Essa Lowe
also suffered the same fate. According to Essa Lowe, he sowed three bags of
groundnuts just after the first rain but all his efforts were in vain.
Chisay Majaw, Jokadu
The dry spell after the first rain also affected the crops of some farmers
in Chisay Majaw. These include groundnuts, coos and maize. Njanko Touray,
Samba Ceesay and Mboku Bah were affected the most.
Kerr Selleh, Jokadu
A farmer by the name Modou Ndow in this village was interviewed about the
success of their crops. He said that his crops and those of Ebrima Jallow have
been affected.
Chamen Sosseh, Upper Niumi
It was the same story when this reporter interviewed one farmer from this
village by the name Banjugu Sidibeh. He said that his groundnut was also
affected. He said that the long dry spell of almost one month that followed the
first rain led to the failure of his crops. When asked whether he sowed some
crops again after the failure, he said he was unable to do so due to lack of
money.
Touba Angale, Lower Niumi
Crop failure affected more than six farmers in this village. Some farmers
sowed their crops again while others could not do so due to lack of money.
Macca Bala Manneh, Lower Niumi
According to their Alkalo, Bala Manneh, three farmers are affected in his
village. He said one Modou Touray sowed 6 bags of groundnuts just after the
first rain, but all that he sowed did not germinate. The affected farmers blamed
the long dry spell, that lasted for almost one month, for the failure.
Sulayman Sowe and the Alkalo himself were also affected. They too could not sow
their crops again due to lack of money.
Sami Village, Lower Niumi
The Alkalo said that 7 farmers are affected in his village and they are as
follows: Amat Mboob, Ebrima Jallow, Modou Mbye, Modou Njie, Salou Jeng and
Fanding Sisay. When asked whether or not the affected farmers were able to sow
their crops again, he said some did sow maize but that the others could not.
Kerr Juma Sirra, Jokadu
On 28 July, I proceeded to Kerr Juma Sirra. One Ousman Bah was asked how
their crops fared. He said his groundnuts did not germinate due to lack of rain.
He added that he sowed his crop after the first rain.
Bantanding Wollof, Jokadu
Some farmers in this village were also affected. They sowed groundnuts, coos
and maize just after the first rain. But some coos and groundnuts failed to
germinate. Some of these farmers sowed some crops again but some did not
because of lack of seeds. The following farmers were affected: Mariama Jallow,
Bakar Jallow, Modou Jagne and Ousman Jallow.
KMC DISBURSES D1.7 MILLION AMONG WARDS
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has recently distributed 1.7 million
dalasi among seventeen councilors for the purpose of rehabilitating roads in
their wards, Foroyaa has been told.
Duwa Jaiteh, Director of Administration at the KMC, has confirmed the
disbursement of 100,000 dalasi to each of the ward councillors. Mr. Jaiteh said: “
Each councillor was given D100,000 dalasi to go back to their Ward Development
Committee Members and discuss with them with a view to fill all the
necessary roads needing attention”. He said that this was a request made by the
councillors at a council meeting. “It was unanimously agreed to assist them in the
rehabilitation of their roads”, he said.
KMC’s Chief Executive Officer, Abdoulie Sanyang, told Foroyaa he was
satisfied with the work in some of the areas he had visited.
Mr. Sanyang said “there is a contract committee in place to monitor these
things. I’m sure they will come with a positive report. I’m sure councillors
are responsible and they will not deceive their electorate”.
The wards that the KMC CEO said he had visited were Faji Kunda, Bundung-
Mauritania and Six Junction, Bundung Borehole and Bantaba, and Latrikunda.
SUPERIOR COURTS GO ON VACATION FROM TODAY
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The Superior Court of The Gambia will today commence their summer vacation,
stated a note from the Master and Registrar of the High Court, Safiyatu N’
jai. The two month holiday is expected to end on Friday, September 28 and the
new legal term will commence on Monday, October 1.
However, during the vacation, Justice S.M Monageng will be the vacation
judge from 1 to 14 August.
Justice H.C Roche will then step in from 15 to 31 August as the vacation
judge, while Justice M.M. Yamoa will be the vacation judge for the whole of
September.
SEYFO MOMODOU L. CEESAY REMOVED; HARUNA SABALLY REINSTATED
Confirmed reports reaching this paper have it that Mr. Momodou Lamin Ceesay,
the recently appointed Chief of Jarra Central, has been removed from office.
According to reports, Ceesay was on Wednesday afternoon phoned by Governor
Modou Soma Jobe who asked him to meet him at the Tabokoto Junction where he
was said to have handed to him his termination letter. Mr. Ceesay was appointed
Chief of Jarra Central on the 25 of May 2007 and had served in office for
only two months.
Haruna Sabally, who was said to be the longest serving Chief in the country,
was retired two months ago and Ceesay appointed in his place.
This reporter contacted the family members of Momodou Lamin Cessay who
confirmed his removal.
When contacted, a staff of the Department of State for Local Government and
Lands confirmed the removal of Momodou Lamin Ceesay as Chief and the
subsequent reinstatement of the retired Chief Seyfo Haruna Sabally. The source,
however, fails to throw light on the reasons that prompted his removal.
The Governor of Lower River Region Mr. Modou Soma Jobe declined to comment
on the matter.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
HEART BREAKER’S NEMESIS
Part 8
With Amie Sillah
Thugs Attack Lolly
Lolly have created a lot of enemies through her wicked schemes. She had
destroyed serious long built relationships and caused heart break to friends,
confidants and love ones. One of those on whose toes she tread sent thugs after
her. They lured her to her house and gave her a good hiding. She was beaten
to rubbish then they left her. She nursed her wounds in isolation and pain.
But she still could not associate her troubles to her wicked schemes. She is
still short sighted.
Lolly’s Mother
Lolly’s mother visited her younger sibling in the city. Aunty Aisha is Aunty
Sawyatou’s youngest sister she stays in the city with her husband Uncle
Musa. Lolly was staying with them when she came to school in the city. When she
was expelled from the university, she decided to move out with friends. Now
she hangs out with friends but managed to rent a modest duplet for herself
where she stays during weeker days. Aunty Sawyatou was anxious to see her
daughter after so many months of not seeing her. She was shock to learn that Lolly
has relocated from her Aunt’s and uncle’s house. She was worried. She
enquired about her. “Lolly is not staying with us.” Uncle Musa replied. “Where is
she staying now?” Aunty Saw asked. “Since she acquired her new job she
relocated to be nearer her work place are her reasons.” Mama was excited. “Lolly
is working! My daughter is working! Where?” Uncle Musa got blanked. “Actually,
we don’t know her work place.” Aunty Saw lamented. “Oh Lolly has killed me!”
Uncle Mose laughed over it. “It is not a great deal now. Many girls are not
staying with their guardians in the big city. They move out whenever they
have a job far away from their homes.” “What is the problem?” Aunty Aisha
asked. “There is this family Sawaneh, their son Ablie who stays in U.K wants a
wife. Lolly is identified because Alhaji Saikou Sawaneh was my late husband’s
best friend and business associate. How would they feel to know that Lolly is
living alone in this big city without a guardian?” “Oh sister! Don’t you
worry. We are a family. We will welcome them as Lolly’s guardians in the city. I
can always go to her closest friends and they will locate her for me.” Aunty
Aisha reassured her sister. “Oh thank you! Thank you very much.” Aunty Saw
said. “No need to thank me we are a family.” She hugged her sister and
prayed to Allah. Uncle Mose laughed and hugged his sister in law and his wife
Aisha. They praised the lord.
At Lolly’s Duplet
They went to Lolly’s Duplet and announced the news to her. At first she
become skeptical. “Mummy! You are finding a husband for me? That is in the 15th
century not 21st.” Mamma was defensive. “Not actually! Ablie came after you.
He knew you at school before he left for overseas. Your two fathers were the
best of friends and business associates. This is their wish.” Lolly
reflected. Mammy! Hold on! Is it Ablie, the dandy boy, fair coloured and Afro hairdo?
He read business admin and has now double masters.” “Exactly! Can you
remember him?” “Yes mum! If he loves and seriously wants to marry me, I’ll accept.”
She hugged her aunt and mum. They praised Allah.
Ablie Comes With His Family
Ablie came with his Uncles to bring cola nuts and to register interest in
marrying Lolly. Lolly also showed interest to marry Ablie. Consent of the
intendeds was sought after. (‘Guru Nuyo’). In many African Cultures Kola is life.
It is used in all important human ceremonies. Name it, birth, marriage and
death.
Lolly Bluffs
Lolly went to Sally’s Boutique. Sally is a big lady. She owns a Boutique and
a saloon. She is a ceremony planner. Her new stocks have arrived. Ladies
swarmed her boutique. She is a fashion pacesetter. Lolly visited her shop. She
wanted Sally to plan for her incoming wedding. “Whats up?” Sally commented as
Lolly stepped into her boutique. “I want you to plan my wedding.” Sally
startled. She sat upright. “What! You are getting married?” the news shocked
her like a thunderbolt. “Of course! I am. Should I not get married? Every girl
however rotten prays to be a Mrs. I am no exception.” Lolly defended her
position. “Am sorry! I just thought you were not yet ready. I am proven wrong.
That’s the meaning of the surprise. Anyway, don’t mind my manners. Who is the
lucky guy?” Lolly laughed. “Ablie, he hailed from Upper Region. We schooled
together. He is now staying in Burmingham. He is Alhajj Saikou Sawaneh’s son.
He is cute and dandy. I’ve said it! I’ll not settle for any local
riff-raff. My wedding is going to be the talk of time for eternity”. “You are
smelling pound sterling. It fills the air”. Sally teased. “Say it again! Ablie have
made the buck. He is ready to spend for a special wedding. Don’t spare a
butut! We have it and will spend it.” Sally hugged her and took her into her
inner boutique were only special guests are welcomed. She was given a cataloque
to do her selection.
Penda Visits Sally’s Shop
Penda is in Sally’s ‘Cabudu’ (Social Club). She came to inspect her stocks.
Sally hugged her and started to show her around. Then she halted. “Guess
what!” Sally quizzed.” I can’t! What is it?” “Lolly was here today!” “Which
Lolly?” “Lolly that kills your joy!” Penda frown and hissed. “What have she
come for? Somebody’s boyfriend to snatch? That one!” “She came to plan for
her wedding.” Penda dropped her bag.” Which wedding? Who is marrying that ‘
layabout’? Are you trying to pull my legs?” Am not! It is true. She said Ablie
Sawaneh, a guy from Upper Region, an ex class mate now staying in U.K have
come to marry her. She came for me to choose her clothes and accessories for
the wedding.” “Unbelievable! Lolly of all people! It is unfair! She have
tread on too many toes. She have destroyed many genuine relationships! It cannot
happen! It cannot!” Penda swore. Sally dragged her into her inner shop. “Pay
back time!” Penda soliloqued.
Thugs Again
As Lolly and Ablie went shopping they were intercepted by thugs. Lolly have
to run for her dear life. Ablie was shocked to death. He was embarrassed.
Confrontation
When they arrived home, Ablie questioned her. “What is happening? Who are
those thugs after your life?” Lolly sulked. “I don’t know them!” “But its
strange! They looked deadly. Have you any score to settle with anyone!” “I don’
t ! I said I don’t know them what else do you want me to say? To know them by
force?” “I don’t believe the fairy tale! Have you any axe to grind I asked
again.” “It could be mistaken identity. I have a swollen bag with money, my
jewelry. They could have been attracted by these items.” She lied. “Am
sorry! You should understand my predicament. I am not trying to blame you but I am
scared for our lives. How can some crazy trigger happy guys came pointing me
a short gun at close range? Then ran after you! I am absent from the country
for a while. I am scared. I don’t want anything to happen to us.” “You have
traveled abroad for a while. You could have made enemies before you left. Don
’t blame me for anything. I am innocent.” Ablie became furious. “Hold it
there! Don’t even go there! Are you hiding something? Explain yourself before
it is too late. I can be of help.” Ablie posited.
EPA WILL IMPACT ON COUNTRIES DIFFERENTLY
Mam Cherno Jallow, the Chief Executive Officer of The Gambia Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (GCCI), has indicated that experts are yet to have a full
picture of what impact the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will have on
the regional economy. Going further, Jallow pointed out that impact an
assessment had been conducted on what the regional market is going to be like, but
the studies are yet to be completed.
Mr.Jallow said different countries have carried out their own impact
assessment, “but that is not helpful”.
Explaining further, he said what is important is to have a global view of
what is going to be in the regional market. In his opinion, the countries are
going to be hit differently depending on the type of economic set up they have
in place.
Mr. Jallow said the Economic Partnership Agreement being negotiated by the
European Union and ECOWAS will bring about regional integration.
“Some countries have been protecting their borders by putting in place taxes
and non tax barriers to protect their industries and discourage the
importation of goods from some countries in the sub region. With the EPAS, the
tariffs and non tariff barriers are all going to fall. This would ease the movement
of goods and services across borders,” he remarked.
The GCCI CEO said one of the conditions of the Economic Partnership
Agreement is that there should be regional integration in West Africa.
“East Africa is negotiating with the EU, the same thing applies to Central
Africa and other regions. They are negotiating as a block, that is why the
integration is a requirement for us to go into Economic Partnership Agreement.
It has been ECOWAS’ plan to have regional integration, but they have been slow
in implementing the negotiation programme. But with the EPAs, we have been,
sort of, forced to work into it quickly to make sure the region is integrated
quickly. The pillars are being put in place. Because for regional
integration you must have a customs union. You must all be working in one market so
that there would not be boundaries anymore between countries in terms of
trading. Once you are in the ECOWAS market, you can move freely from one country to
the other, the same thing applies to the goods” he remarked .
“If we go into EPAs, it may affect the growth of our industries, because
their industries are more developed, they are stronger, they have economies of
scale and there is no way that our industries can compete with their
industries. But the EPAs are not saying that there should be reciprocal agreement from
the onset. What the EPAs are saying is that ECOWAS countries will be given a
period of time before they will allow European countries to compete with
ECOWAS industries directly. What we are negotiating is to make the period as
long as possible. But the Europeans want it to be shorter. ECOWAS negotiators
want the period to be between 30 and 35 years for us to open our borders for
goods coming from Europe. The Europeans are saying a period of ten years is
enough. That is what is on the negotiation table,” Jallow remarked.
SUFFERING IN SILENCE;
THE PLIGHT OF GAMBIAN NURSES
Please allow me space in your widely read Newspaper to put my case before
the public and the leadership of our country for their honest and sincere
consideration. I am a young man of thirty seven years of age. I graduated as a
Nurse (State Enrolled Nurse) and started working in early 1994, well before the
July 22 military take over. Therefore, I can proudly say that I have served
my country now for thirteen years in my capacity as a nurse, and during all
this time, I have neither been suspended nor given any warning letter.
I have worked both in the urban and rural areas of the country under very
difficult conditions: sometimes conducting deliveries under candle light or
hurricane lamps in very poor ventilated rooms during hot summer seasons and
without proper personal protective equipment and knowingly risking my own life in
the process of saving others.
I have not regretted and will never regret whatever I do or went through in
serving my countrymen and women. I have the desire to serve them for the rest
of my life. However, I come to realise that I have a duty to my family also
and which is to feed and cloth them well and to give them a decent shelter,
which I could not do because of my earning capacity. After thirteen years of
service, I could not save anything to enable me to secure an empty plot of land
for myself and my family. All I earned goes to feeding, clothing and payment
of school fees. With the rising prices of basic commodities, even the little
I was able to do for the family is becoming an impossibility. Sometimes I
sit and ponder about what would happen to my family if I should die today.
Where and how are they going to live? Probably it was such thoughts which might
have forced many of my colleagues in the field to leave for private clinics
and hospitals, NGOs or even go abroad in search of greener pastures. It is not
because they are unpatriotic or unwilling to serve their country, as some
people may think, but because they could not foresee any bright future for their
children with their parents continuing to earn what they are earning under
government employment. It is in light of these circumstances under which I am
living which force them to leave.
The Government, therefore, needs to do something to encourage us to stay and
continue serving our people. We, too, need to have hope in the future of our
children, if we are to continue serving for the rest of our lives. We need
hundred percent salary increment and land to provide shelter for our families.
A concerned Nurse
ACCUSED ALLEGES TORTURE
By Modou Jonga
One Vincent Badjie, an accused person in an alleged house breaking and theft
case, has claimed that he was severely tortured by police officers attached
to Gunjur Police Station, to the extent that he had to admit committing the
said offence.
The accused person made these remarks on Monday 30 July, 2007 before
Magistrate E.F M’bai, while cross-examining, Lamin Colley, second prosecution
witness. According to the accused, he was unlawfully arrested, handcuffed and
dragged to the Gunjur Police Station from his residence at Gunjur Madina Salaam,
in Kombo South. The accused person said that, he was threatened and severely
beaten to confess and accept that he did break into and stole from the house
of the complainant, Mr. Luis, a German national.
Because of the fear of a further dreadful torture by the police, the accused
said that he had no other option but to accept the suggestion of the police.
The complainant was absent in court.
At this stage, the accused was informed that he should only ask questions
but not to give statements that he will have his chance to give his evidence.
REPATRIATED GAMBIANS RELEASED
The seventy-five (75) Gambian would be migrants, repatriated from Spain,
have been released by the authorities on the same day that they arrived in The
Gambia as disclosed by the Immigration PRO, Superintendent Aminata
Jammeh-Sonko.
According to the Immigration PRO, when the seventy-five returnees arrived in
The Gambia on Tuesday 24 July 2007, they were screened by personnel from her
department and subsequently released. She further said that no charge has
been preferred against any one of the returnees.
************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
|
