Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 003/2008, 7 – 8 January 2008
Editorial
DIALOGUE BETWEEN A GAMBIAN AND
A CUBAN IMMIGRANT IN THE USA
A Cuban and Gambian immigrant met in a bar in the USA. After having some
sips they began to chat. The Cuban immigrant expressed his frustration regarding
the quality of life of the ordinary Cuban who has been receiving food ration
for decades. He expressed his dream of the day when Cuba will be like the
USA with new model cars and other media gadgets to get the latest news from any
channel one desires. After he finished his story, he asked the Gambian how
long he had been in the US and what brought him there. The Gambia kept quiet
for a while not knowing what to say. The Cuban expressed anxiety. The middle
aged Gambian told him that he has been in the US for 25 years. The Cuban
retorted, “So you too have had a dictator for this long?” The Gambian thought for
a while and said “We had a democratic leader before who ruled for 29 years
and then a dictator took over 13 years ago.” Was your country as developed as
the US during the era of the democratic leader?” asked the Cuban exile. The
eyes of the Gambian exile began to form a pool of water. When he had the
courage to be honest, he told the Cuban exile that he grew up in a village and his
family had to assign him the responsibility of looking after the cows when he
was young. He explained that he lived with the flies, ticks and lice and
hardly took bath with soap. He added that he almost did not go to school but was
just lucky to be saved by missionaries who gave him the opportunity to go to
primary school. He narrated the hardship he faced in the city when his
parents sent him to stay with a family friend to be able to attend high school. He
described the congested environment, where six children would sleep on the
floor at night and how twelve adults would surround a basin of food to eat. He
described his near starvation existence. He told the Cuban that when he
engaged in correspondence and finally got the opportunity to go to the USA he
made the best use of it to get good education and a secure job. The Cuban asked
him whether things have changed for the better. He indicated that the
situation is worse under the dictator. He explained how people follow him like flies
for crumbs whenever he comes home and how children still sleep on the floor
in congested rooms and struggle for few mouths full of food from basins
surrounded by a platoon of hungry mouths.
The Cuban asked him what he is doing about the problem. He indicated that
they have formed a movement for Democratic change which intends to salvage the
country. He asked for the priority of the movement and the Gambian indicated
that they must first discredit a party which wants to turn the Gambia into a
Cuba before coming face to face with the dictator. The Cuban became confused.
He could not understand how a country where people do not even receive
ration of meat, milk, eggs or chicken but do surround basins to eat could be made
worse. He could not understand how a country, where people walk on raw liquid
waste, sleep under huts and leaking roofs never knowing what tooth paste or
tooth brush is, could be made worse. He therefore bid the Gambian goodbye. As
he got into his car, he murmured “I definitely want a democratic and
developed Cuba but not the type of country which my Gambian friend described. This
guy must be building castles in the air .” It is indeed true that anybody who
measures development in a developing country not by the quality of life of
the citizenry but by the the number of fashionable cars and gadgets one sees in
the street, is certainly living in a castle in the air.”
As we enter a New-year, genuine Gambian patriots should focus on the
suffering of our people and strategise on how to create a free and prosperous
Gambia. They must distinguish those who want change to better themselves and those
who want change to eradicate the suffering of the people.
Those who refer to the people as half educated citizens are the future
pompous tyrants who will enjoy the fruits of public office while the citizenry
wallow in misery and poverty. All the doors are being closed to the Gambian
youth. The only road to salvation is to open their eyes and distinguish leaders
from rulers. Foroyaa can be relied on to give you proper guidance for you to
take charge of your destiny once and for all.
Nominated Councillors Split Over Amendment
Of Local Government Act.
By Modou Jonga
Nominated Candidates for the forthcoming Local Government Elections in the
Brikama Administrative Area are split over the amendments of the local
Government Act. Speaking to this reporter at the IEC Regional Office in Brikama, the
APRC candidate for Jiboro ward, in the Kombo East district, Mr. Ebrima
Kujabi, faulted the decision to amend the Act. Mr. Kujabi said he concurred with
the statement made by the Wuli West NAM, Hon. Sidia Jatta, that the National
Assembly should study every law critically before imposing it on the people.
Mr. Tumani Sambou, APRC candidate for Wassadu ward, in Foni Jarrol district,
said the amendments seek to disempower the people. Mr. Sambou noted that the
Amendment Act does not enhance decentralization but instead it derails it.
The nominated APRC candidate for Sanyang ward, in Kombo South, Mr. Saja
Gibba, said the Amendment Act would ensure that rapid and responsive decisions
are made at the councils.
Ms. Mariama Bah Saine, the APRC candidate for Banjulinding ward, said the
Act is timely and appropriate. APRC candidates for Kartong ward, Mr. Lamin
Tamba Jammeh, Momodou Ceesay for Kembujeh ward and Mr. Bakary S. Sanneh for
Kusamai ward, in Foni Bintang, have all admitted that they do not fully
comprehend the whole content of the Amendment; but they were quick to point out that
there is need for the president to be given powers to remove elected
councilors who do not measure up to expectations. The Independent candidate for
Kusamai ward, Mr. Yunus Gibba, said the amendment is incorrect; that it amounts to
seizing the power of the people. Mr. Ismaila Badjie, the independent
candidate for Bullock Ward said the Amendment is a progressive move by the
legislators.
Readers could recalled that the bill for the amendment of the Local
Government Act, which was approved by a majority of the National Assembly, was tabled
by Ismaila Sambou, Secretary of State for Local Government, Lands and
Religious Affairs, at an extra-ordinary meeting of the National Assembly on October
31, 2007. The amendment seeks to disqualify the election of local government
chairpersons by universal adult suffrage, excluding mayors and mayoresses.
The amendment also gives power to the president to remove the mayor/chairman,
deputy mayor/ chairman or other members of council. The amendment bill calls
for the dissolution of councils three months before Local Government
Elections and the appointment of a management team by the president to run them
before election. The dissolutions and the appointments of management teams have
already been effected.
On his part, Mr. Alieu Darboe, UDP Candidate for Kembujeh ward, in Kombo
Central, stressed that the amendment is unjustifiable and needs to be revisited.
Independent Candidates React To APRC’s Press Release
By Modou Jonga
Three Independent Candidates in the Western Region had, on Friday, 4
January, 2008 reacted to a recent press release issued by the APRC leadership. Mr.
Ismaila Badjie, Independent Candidate for Bullock ward in Foni Brefet, said
that his expulsion from the ruling APRC party cannot in any way affect his
chances of winning in the forthcoming local government election. He said he is
the popular choice of his people adding that his symbols and materials are
different from that of the APRC. The independent candidate advised the electorate
in his ward to conduct themselves in accordance with the campaign code of
conducted laid by the Independent Electoral Commission. “It will not affect my
chances and I’m confident of winning, come January 24" assured Mr. Badjie.
For his reaction, the Independent candidate for Kusamai Ward in Foni
Bintang, Mr. Yunus Gibba, said his expulsion will not derail his chances of winning
in the forthcoming election. “My expulsion will not affect my chances of
winning,” said, a confident looking, Mr. Gibba. He added that his candidacy on an
Independent platform is motivated by the will of the people of his ward.
Speaking to Foroyaa, shortly after he was nominated, the Independent
Candidate for Marakissa ward in Kombo Central, Mr. Lamin Jarju, said he is the
choice of the people of his ward. Mr. Jarju dismissed his expulsion from the APRC
as an incident that will not affect his chances of winning in the January
polls.
The press release which was published by the Daily Observer on 3 January,
2008 has indicated that any APRC sympathizer who choose to contest the
forthcoming election on an Independent ticket, after failing to be selected, risks
expulsion from the ruling APRC for ten years.
Constitutional Amendment Discriminatory -
Ousainou Darboe
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Ousainou Darboe, the lawyer representing the United Democratic Party, the
National Reconciliation Party and Momodou Sanneh in the ongoing civil suit
against the Independent Electoral Commission and the Attorney General, has told
the Supreme Court, on Friday, that the recent amendments in the Constitution of
the Republic of the Gambia and the Local Government Act are discriminatory
legislations.
Mr. Darboe was speaking against the preliminary objections filed by the
Attorney General, Marie Saine Firdaus. The plaintiffs are challenging the recent
amendments in the constitution and the Local Government Act which
disqualifies the election of local councils’ chairpersons by universal adult suffrage.
The amendments also give power to the president to fire elected councilors.
Mr. Darboe said the law giving the president power to remove elected
councilors and mayors is made in excess of the power conferred on the National
Assembly and the President.
Mr. Darboe told the Supreme Court that the suit is not an attack on the
procedures of the National Assembly as claimed by the defendant, stressing that
no one would doubt that such a constitutional issue has never been raised in
this jurisdiction.
Lawyer Darboe said that a political party cannot be a member of a political
party, noting that it is individuals who can be members of a party. He added
that the resignations of Hamat Bah and Ousainou Darboe from the National
Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) do not mean that the NRP and UDP
are members of NADD.
Mr. Darboe said it is a well known fact that both the NRP and UDP are
registered political parties that had contested the 2006 Presidential and 2007
National Assembly Elections.
He argued that NADD is a separate entity from UDP and NRP and the third
plaintiff is a UDP member who is the minority leader of the National Assembly. He
countered the first defendant’s notion that the plaintiffs do not have the
locus standi (the right) to bring the suit to court, arguing that they are
bonafide operating political parties.
On the claim that the suit is an abuse of court process, Darboe said what is
even frustrating is the Attorney General’s preliminary objection.
Hearing continues today at the Supreme Court before Chief Justice Abdou
Karim Savage.
Remanded Insurgent
Complains Of Poor Health
By Bubacarr k. Sowe
Abdou Salam Jammeh, one of the alleged Cassamance insurgents who is on trial
at the Banjul Magistrates Court, on Wednesday, complained of poor health to
the court.
Mr. Jammeh and his eight co-defendants are charged with spying, planning
attack on Senegal and unlawful possession of Gambian national documents. He
appealed to the court to act on humanitarian grounds and allow them to sit down
while in court, noting that about three quarter of them are suffering from
beri beri.
Presiding Magistrate, Baboucarr Y. Camara, said that the procedure is that
accused persons have to stand while being tried, but added that he would need
medical evidence to prove their sickness.
Magistrate Camara told the group that they have a right to complain to the
Prison authorities for medical treatment.
Mr. Jammeh said that their relatives do not have access to them. He urged
the magistrate to halt the trial because they will die of the sickness.
On Jammeh’s appeal for the Court to allow visitors to see them, Emmanuel
Fagbenle, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), said the accused persons need to
identify a person to the prison authorities. The accused, however, objected
to this statement when he said, “Even if we are dying, they will not do
anything, the DPP does not know what is happening there”.
Magistrate Camara also said he had not heard of any beri beri in this
country, pointing out that it is a disease associated with ancient sailors and not
eating proper food.
The court did not pronounce any decision on the matter.
OPINION
A dangerous cult syndrome looms in The Gambia
By D. A. Jawo
While I wish to join other Gambians and non-Gambians alike in congratulating
President Yahya Jammeh and his wife on the birth of their baby son, Mohamed,
I also wish to take this opportunity to make my own observations on what I
perceive to be a negative trend in the development of this country.
Like most other Gambians concerned about the welfare of this country, I am
very much concerned about the wide implications of the lavish ceremony that
was organized for the naming ceremony for Baby Mohamed. Apart from the
unnecessary cost that was no doubt involved, it was also quite unprecedented for a
naming ceremony anywhere in the world to be declared a public holiday. It
certainly does not happen in even the most autocratic regimes, let alone in a
country which claims to be a democracy. I have no doubt that it has never
happened even in a country like Turkmenistan, whose former leader, Saparmurat
Niyazov, not only ordered his citizens to call him Turkmenbashi, or father of the
Turkmen, but also created the world’s most relentless personality cult. Among
his actions was to rename the month of January after himself and April after
his mother. He also banned such mundane things like ballet dancing, gold
teeth and recorded music, and ordered the construction of a lake in the midst of
the desert and a ski resort on the snowless foothills of the Turkmenistan
border with Iran. Are we heading for such a situation in The Gambia?
What we have seen is certainly an apparent indication that The Gambia is
gradually sliding towards a cult syndrome of the worst proportion ever seen in
Africa, worse than what happened under such dictators like Jean Bedel Bokassa
and Idi Amin Dada. In fact, even such buffoons had never declared the naming
ceremonies of their children as public holidays. We therefore seem to be
dealing with a more strange phenomenon.
Apart from the millions of Dalasi no doubt spent on the occasion, we can
also imagine the great loss suffered by both the public and the private sector
for being forced to take an unplanned public holiday as well as the
mobilization of government resources, including the engagement of the Gambia Radio and
Television Services for the whole day to broadcast messages and commentary in
support of President Jammeh and Baby Mohamed, as if it is a private
institution owned and financed by him alone.
We were also witnesses to the millions of Dalasi worth of gifts made to
President Jammeh, during the run up to the naming ceremony, which included money
which belonged to the Gambian tax payers being donated by parastatals and
other public institutions without the authority of the tax payers. It is indeed
quite hard for anyone to justify the use of public funds to pay for anyone’s
naming ceremony.
Another interesting aspect of this unprecedented naming ceremony was the
gender dimension. While this is not the first time that President Jammeh is
having a child, but one would tend to ask why this naming ceremony is more lavish
and elaborate than the naming ceremony of Mariam, his first child. Of
course, the only sensible conclusion is that he values a boy child more than he
values a girl child. This is indeed a big challenge to the gender activists to
find out from him why he chose to so blatantly manifest his gender bias in
favour of the boy child.
This strange phenomenon is no doubt what prompted some of the numerous
musicians and praise singers engaged for the occasion to call Baby Mohamed, the
prince. He indeed has all the trappings of a crown prince, and it is even
possible that someone may be thinking of him being groomed to eventually take over
this country, especially when his father has already told us that he intends
to be in office for the next 30 years.
Indeed, the cult syndrome, being clearly manifested in this country, was
quite evident when every song during the naming ceremony was in praise of
President Jammeh, giving the impression that he is a more superior human being than
anyone ever born in this country. In fact, one of the numerous civil
servants who conveyed gifts to State House, for want of a better term to sing
praises to President Jammeh, described Baby Mohamed as “a son of the nation”, as
if the other children of this country are not sons of the nation.
I really wonder how people from our neighbouring countries and the rest of
the world are viewing us. Of course some Gambians, concerned about the
reputation of this country and its people are quite embarrassed by the trend that is
developing in the country. It is hard to see how we can gain the respect of
the rest of the world if we continue to behave and treat our head of state as
a super human being, to the extent that our government would declare the
birthday of his son a public holiday.
Despite all those negative implications that go with this unusual ceremony,
we still saw Gambians, of all strata and persuasion, flock into State House
to partake in the lavish ceremony, including our religious leaders who we
expect to speak against such wastage. This country is definitely heading for the
rocks, unless such a negative trend is halted.
FEATURE
Interview With Halifa Sallah
Part 18
Foroyaa: How do you see religion as an institution?
Halifa: In a Secular State the rights of every citizen must be respected.
The right to a belief is just one of those rights. Section 25 of the
Constitution, which all political representatives take oath or make affirmation to
uphold, states, among other things, that,
“Every person shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
belief, which shall include academic freedom; freedom to practice any religion
and to manifest such practice.”
I am fully committed to such principles. In fact, if PDOIS were to be
associated with the operation of any state there would be an interfaith committee
which should meet regularly to resolve disputes between faiths and negotiate
what they need from the state to get protection.
Foroyaa: Do you have any personal views on religion. Some people claim it is
the opium of the masses, what do you say to this?
Halifa: I went through three experiences which shaped my attitude towards
religion. The first experience is the respect and protection I received from my
parents for having been named after a person they deemed to be holy and
revered. I experienced very little corporal punishment. My parents helped me to
develop self respect at a very early age. I had to excel in the memorisation of
the qur’an to the point of teaching other children without knowing the
translation. The son of the person I was named after called Shiekh Tijan Sey
developed close interest in me when I was young and I started to be inspired by
his oratory skills.
My second experience came during high school when I took bible Knowledge as
a subject. It was my best subject. The story of Naaman and the parable of the
Good Samaritan were very instructive to me. I remember wining the best prize
for memorisation of bible verses at Rabun Gap, a boarding school in the USA
and the organiser of the competition was surprised that a person who was not
a Christian could recite so many bible verses.
The third experience arose when I came across the philosophical thought
that, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” These words became deeply
embedded in my mind. I was just 18 years. I started to guide my everyday life
according to such precepts. For example, I was never tempted to drink alcohol or
smoke cigarette because of the questions I examined in my mind regarding the
worth of alcohol and cigarettes to the body. Considering the lack of
nutritional value of the fumes from cigarette and how intoxicants stifle
consciousness, I concluded that they were not worth taking.
I must say that this philosophy helped me to take full control of my actions
and emotions.
This philosophy strengthened me to be able to withstand the temptations
which go along with innocence and fantasies. It enabled me to have full self
control, self direction and self determination. Furthermore, I also had
opportunity to open my philosophical horizon when I came across a story of the life of
Socrates. My body became cold when I learnt how he was sentenced to death
and given the poison to drink for allegedly misleading the youth of his days
against the norms of those who controlled power. However, I was more
overwhelmed by his defiance of death by refusing to ask for mercy. Instead he decided
to indict and convict his own judges in the court of his own conscience. His
last words became an epic in my memory. It reads:
“ There are many other means in every danger for escaping death if a man can
bring himself to do or say any thing or everything; . No gentlemen, the
difficult thing is not to escape death, I think but to escape wickedness and that
is much more difficult., for that runs faster than death, and now I being
slow and old have been caught by the slower one; but my accusers being clever
and quick have been caught by the swifter badness; and now I and they depart;
I condemned by you to death but they condemned by truth to depravity and
injustice. I abide by my penalty and they by theirs”
Hence it became clear to me that there are many good human beings who lived
on this earth working day and night to make it a better place to live in.
Such people, irrespective of faith, turn their back at wealth and privilege and
even give their precious life for their missions.
Since I read about the life of Socrates, I also made a decision that I will
never hesitate to face judges to defend my mission in life before any court
of law. I became resolved that life can only be meaningful and exciting if one
has something to live and die for.
Hence, I see religion from two angles. There are those who utilise it to
motivate the poor to accept their poverty as predestined and there are others
who rely on it to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. I have learnt human
values from so many diverse sources that I can safely assert that many
religions and humanist philosophies are the depositories of moral values which
could guide the just conscience of human beings who wish to leave the world in a
better state than they found it. The opportunist, however, will always hide
behind these institutions to promote their personal interest.
Foroyaa: Can we move to the foreign policy of PDOIS.
TO BE CONTINUED
FOCUS ON POLITICS
WITH SENEGALESE BORDER CLOSURE; ARREST OF BODY GUARD; ECONOMY; ETC
FOROYAA CALLS FOR PRESIDENT JAWARA’S RETIREMENT
With Suwaibou Touray
After the withdrawal of Senegalese troops in 1989, Sud Hebdo, a Senegalese
Daily newspaper, on 17th August 1989, reported the closure of the Senegal/
Gambia border. According to the Daily, fraud which was the order of business,
occasions an annual loss of 20 million CFA Francs for Senegal.
It was also reported that Senegal adopted a policy to restrict the amount of
Senegalese currency a person traveling to the Gambia could carry to
20,000CFAfrancs equivalent to 500 dalasi at a time.
Foroyaa argued that the re-export Trade constituted a drain on the
Senegalese economy by Gambian businesspersons. The paper agreed that it was true that
businessmen in the Gambia rely very heavily on the e-export trade to Senegal,
Mali, Guinea Bissau, etc to get foreign exchange, but argued that this
constituted a drain on the Senegalese economy.
CAPTAIN NJIE ARRESTED IN LONDON
By August 1989, embarrassing unofficial news stormed the country that the
body guard of president Jawara was arrested in London by the British police.
Initially, no one knew the reason for his arrest. But by September 4th, Foroyaa
came up with information that Captain Njie, a body guard of president Jawara,
appeared in court but was not given bail, but when he appeared in court
again on September 11, he was released on bail.
Apparently, the president left captain Njie behind and came back to the
Gambia. During Njie’s detention, the state did not make any comments on the
matter.
However, by 25th September 1989, it was again reported by Foroyaa that
captain Njie appeared in court accompanied by the two personnel of the Gambia High
Commission in the UK. It was also said that Mr. Njie appeared a bit nervous.
FOROYAA commented that it is certainly not a nice feeling to accompany a
president and see oneself before a court.
It has now become clearer that captain Njie’s case could not be resolved
through diplomacy, after Foroyaa’s publication of the interview with the deputy
British High Commissioner, whose reaction was that the matter was sub judice
and that it was completely out of their hands as it was up to the courts to
decide.
Mr. Mackenzie, the deputy High Commissioner, was informed by Foroyaa of the
Gambia Government’s position that since the bodyguards of members of the
Royal Family were allowed to retain their weapons when they visited the Gambia
and even provide additional security to them, they too expected a reciprocal
treatment from the British government.
As the court proceeded, prosecutor McKinney reiterated demands for
prosecution under section 4, subsection 2 of the Aviation security Act of 1982 U. K, wh
ich reads, “It shall be an offence for any person without having authority
or reasonable excuse to have with him any firearm or any article having the
appearance of being a firearm whether capable of being discharged or not.
Captain Njie’s counsel then applied for bail extension and argued that given the
circumstances that Mr. Njie was performing the role of a body guard of a
president, which was confirmed by the presence of the embassy staff, bail should
be granted.
Justice Manfield, who presided over the case, decided to grant Mr. Njie bail
on certain conditions, ie. 1} A bail bond of 1500 pounds sterling, 2}
Captain Njie would submit his passport to the police, 3} Report to the police daily
between 8am to 9am, 4} Stay in the UK before his next appearance in court
and 5} That he would not apply for another passport.
The case was then transferred to ChiChester crown court at a later date.
According to the Gambia times, Captain Njie said he forgot to hand over the
weapon but at another point, it stated that Captain Njie was inexperienced,
and therefore failed to give the weapon to the crew because of inexperience or
forgetfulness.
Foroyaa cautioned the Gambia Times of the danger of defense by press because
as they said they may not know what Captain Njie wrote in his statement.
They added that since Gambia Times did not also know the line of defense of Njie’
s counsel, it was more appropriate for them not to engage in defense by the
press.
The Gambia Times later confirmed Foroyaa’s findings that captain Njie was
not the first body guard to have such a problem. The Foroyaa called on the
president to explain why Njie has been given a different treatment, and for him
to consider retirement from politics by 1992. Would he heed the call?
With the border problem and the defunct SeneGambia confederation coupled
with other economic problems , Sir Dawda decided to go on what was then called
the “Meet the Farmers’ Tour” on 25th September, 1989, with a view to finding
out the problems of the farmers and further give solutions, where possible.
Foroyaa sent reporters to cover the meetings. Over 40 vehicles accompanied
the president on his tour to the provinces. This left many ministries at a
standstill. Foroyaa also observed that immediately before the president’s
departure, many roads were smoothened or graded to fill the potholes. Some say the
various Area Councils were doing that so that the president would not have
the feeling that they were not doing their work. Others said it was meant to
deceive the president to believe that the roads were not that bad, others
maintained that those who were doing that did so to receive kick backs from such
small contracts, whilst others simply said they were doing that to make the
king comfortable and which they deemed to be normal.
WHAT DID THE FARMERS SAY?
The self appointed spokespersons of the farmers, who were all ruling party
members, such as chairmen and women of the ruling party and the chiefs, are
warned to shorten their speeches because the president had many places to go
to. Despite their careful selection of speakers, these people were themselves
farmers and therefore were also confronted with the same difficult realities
and had to expose their plight.
Farmers generally complained about the uncertainty of the price of
groundnuts because of the lack of declaration of the producer price, the late arrival
of fertilizer, the poor road conditions, the lack of drinking facilities for
cattle, the lack of secondary schools and high schools and congested markets
despite the fact that the market traders do pay duties regularly and so on.
THE RESPONSE OF THE PRESIDENT AND ENTOURAGE
According to the reports, with respect to the price of groundnuts, the
president left most of the talking to be done by the marketing manager of GPMB.
The president simply announced that as from henceforth his government would no
longer take part in declaring the producer price of groundnut as before; that
it was now left to the GPMB to establish depots and prices; that whoever
could take five tonnes to GPMB would receive his money. He also maintained that
this new policy was a requirement of the Economic Recovery Programme [ERP].
The Foroyaa wrote that there was no further explanation as to why that was
the case..
WHAT DID HIS ENTOURAGE SAY?
The entourage which was led by the former minister of Agriculture, Mr. Omar
Jallow, did most of the talking. They do not usually deal with any particular
issues. They, most of the time, tried to mystify and glorify the president.
Mr. Jallow as quoted by Foroyaa said that the president had emissaries but
preferred to meet the farmers himself to hear their problems; that during the
days of the kings, they used to survive on the sweat of the masses, but as he
said now it is the masses who survive on the sweat of the king, which
Foroyaa thought was referring to president Jawara as the king. He was also quoted
as saying that this was why people who got hungry and thirsty, or ill and
those whose children had schools and whose wives had possibility to go to clinics
do turn to the president for help and so on.
FOROYAA’s COMMENT
Foroyaa’s comment was that the president did not speak to the farmers as a
national leader but took the posture of a P.P.P Secretary General; that his
ministers sang praises to him to the point of presenting him as a king; that
people gave him cattle, sheep, goats, bananas etc as gifts. The number was
quite large as Foroyaa tried to quantify the number of cattle and sheep he had
received.
Foroyaa also observed that instead of opening up the meetings for citizens
to ask questions, the whole arrangement was transformed into P.P.P rallies
where chairmen and women took center stage.
Reports from other papers such as the Nation also showed how dissatisfied
and disappointed farmers were of the tour, after the president’s departure.
Many saw the tour as “Meet the P.P.P Chairmen and Chairwomen’s Tour”. This was
what gave birth to the idea to launch what PDOIS called “Enlighten the Farmer’
s Tour”, so that what was unclear to the farmers would be made clear to them.
See next edition of Focus as we edge closer to end of 1989 events.
2007: A Flashback
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Continuation
Belinda Bidwell, former Speaker of the National Assembly passed away on
Saturday, April 28, at her residence in Fajara. Family sources said she died of a
heart failure.
As workers around the world marked Workers’ Day, the Gambia National Trade
Union Congress (GNTUC), recommended to the Department of State for Trade,
Industry and Employment a general salary increment of 300% across the board to
all categories of workers for it to be at par with the consumer price index.
In commemorating World Press Freedom Day, May 3, the Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) released a report on the ten countries notorious for
backsliding press freedom for the past five years. Ethiopia, The Gambia and the
Democratic Republic of Congo were among the nations topping the list.
In a landmark development, eighteen circumcisers dropped their knives and
made their practice of the controversial Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
history on May 5, at a ceremony held at the Independence Stadium.
Pandemonium ensued in London Corner on May 9, when a twenty year old Sheriff
Minteh died after a brawl involving him and the security agents.
Maimuna Taal, ex-directress general of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority
was acquitted on May 9, by the High Court after the court concluded that she
had no case to answer.
The same day, Charles Mendy, a police officer and Ebrima Summa and Yusupha
Camara, both Guineans were jailed for fifteen years after pleading guilty of
conspiracy to steal D58,550 dalasis.
A group of five Senegalese customs officials who were sentenced to a jail
term of eighteen months on May 16, for possession and importation of fire arms
were pardoned on May 17.
In an interview with Foroyaa on May 22, the then Judicial Secretary, Nguie
Mboob-Janneh said that the new Judicial Complaints Board would be an
independent body. The presence of Aflotoxin in Gambian groundnuts has resulted in its
rejection at the World Market, said Lamin Dampha, Principal economist at the
Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment. Mr. Dampha was
presenting a paper on May 24, at the Boabab Holiday Resort on the Economic
Partnership Agreements being negotiated by the European Union (EU) and the African,
Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP)
As competition widens in the telecommunications industry, The Gambia
witnessed the inauguration of a third mobile phone service provider, Comium Gambia,
on May 26. Almost one hundred and thirty three immigrants were returned home
from Spain, Foroyaa reported on June 4-5.
On June 5, Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the Closed Independent Newspaper was
sentenced to a fine of D50,000 dalasis or in default to serve one year in
prison.
Pa Sallah Jeng, ex-Mayor of Banjul was freed on two charges out of the six
charges he faced at the High Court, Foroyaa reported on June 8-10.
The National Women Councillor for the APRC Party in Basse, Aja Kumba Korah
and nine others were jailed for fourteen days for perjury.
Fifteen Ministers of Interior from the Inter-Governmental Action Group
Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa (GIABA) on June 13
met at the Kairaba Beach Hotel for their fifth adhoc ministerial committee
meeting.
On June 18-19 Foroyaa reported the funeral of the Senegalese film producer
and the pioneer of African Cinema, Ousmane Sembene who died at the age of 84.
Members of The Gambia Dock Workers Union vowed to go on strike if The Gambia
Ports Authority did not cancel threats of terminating the Union’s jobs,
Foroyaa reported on June 22 -24.
That David Colley, former Director General of The Gambia Prisons Department
appeared in court on charges of stealing, Foroyaa wrote on its edition of
June 29-July 1.
According to the July 2-3 issue of Foroyaa, Egypt has imposed a complete ban
on female circumcision, following the death of a young girl while undergoing
the operation.
Magistrate Buba Jawo, according to Foroyaa on July 4-5 ruled that he did not
have jurisdiction to try a US based Gambian journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh who
is accused of sedition.
July 7 marked a full year since the Daily Observer reporter, Chief Ebrima
Manneh
disappeared.
John Charles Njie a pastor working for the Abiding Word Ministry was jailed
for three years with hard labour for forgery, Foroyaa reported on its edition
of July 6-8.
The Gambia witnessed its first ever international literary festival on July
13-15, organized by SABLE literary magazine.
On June 15, the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) commenced hearing a suit seeking the release of
Chief Ebrima Manneh.
According to the July 20-22 edition of Foroyaa a house breaking suspect,
Musa Bah, died in Police custody in Basse.
President Jammeh on July 22 celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of the
coup d-etat which brought him to power.
Habib Drammeh, ex-director general of The Gambia Tourism Authority on July
24, appeared at the High Court on eleven charges.
Foroyaa reported on its July 27-29 edition that a newly born female baby was
buried alive by her mother at Brikama Gidda.
The General Manager of the new Gambia Vegetable Oil Company in an interview
published on the August 6-7 edition of Foroyaa said they will soon start palm
oil refinery in the country.
Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe and Omar Faal Keita, were on August 9, jailed for
twenty years for treason. Demba Dem was acquitted.
Musa Saidykhan, the exiled editor of The Independent newspaper received the
CNN Multi-Choice 2007 award with other seventeen journalists across Africa,
Foroyaa published on its edition of August 13-14.
On August 16, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Basic
and Secondary Education, Baboucarr Boye was quoted by Foroyaa as saying that
Gambia will need 6000 teachers by the end of the 2004-2015 education policy.
Summers out-break of African swine fever led to the death of hundreds of
pigs in the Western Region and the Kanifing Municipality.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
“Too Late! He Lost Her”
Part 1
With Amie Sillah
Badou Travels To The U.S
Badou travelled to the USA. He promised to be always in touch with Isha. “As
soon as I settle down you’ll come to join me in Wisconsin.” That was Badara’
s promise to Isha. She kept to her side of the bargain.
Isha Is Depressed
Badara went and remained incommunicado. Isha became worried. She visited his
friends and relatives to no avail. They were also lost. Badou did not write
to anyone. Isha became worried and depressed. “Is he alright mom? I am scared.
” “Don’t be! Just keep on praying. He will write Inshallah!” Aunty Marie
encouraged her niece.
Isha Visits Rugiatou
Isha was very depressed. She decided to visit Rugiatou for girl’s chatter.
She met Ismaila at home. Isha became uneasy. She tried to dodge Is but he
persisted and protested against Isha’s dodgism and snobbism.
Rugi Protests
Rugi called Is aside and protested. “Leave Isha alone! Let her be. She is
engaged to Badara who will send for her soon. Hands off womanizer! Don’t mess
up with my girl friend. I’ll not take it lightly with you.” “What is your
own? I love her. Where is Badara? Gossip said he remain incommunicado. What is
he doing in the US to abandon his fiancé and family? I love Isha and no one
not even you can make me keep off!” Is became adamant. Rugi advised her friend.
“Don’t mind my brother. He is a womanizer. Wait for you Badara, your fiancé”
. Rugi advised. “I don’t know! Badou remains incommunicado. I don’t know oh!
” “I don’t approve any relationship whatsoever with my dandy brother. He is
an infatuator. Don’t mind his sweet words”. Rugi posited.
Lunch Date
Ismaila invited both girls for a lunch date. During the conversation Is
asked Isha about her career. “I want to study medicine at the State University”.
“Oh! A doctor! That’s fine we need a lot of doctors in this country”. Rugi’
s jealous and protested”. “You are never interested in my career. You
forgive my manners”. Rugi got up and left in a rage. Both Isha and Ismaila were
disappointed with Rugi’s attitude. “My sister is jealous. She hates to see us
together. She is my junior but yet she pretends to be a senior sister who is
destined to control and guide my life”. “I see!” Isha said through laughter.
Isha Passes With Flying Colours
Isha passed to enter the state university. She became highly elated. She is
a dedicated student. Isha visited Rugi and told her the good news. She passed
with distinction.
Rugi Also Pass
Rugi also passed, second Division. The friends rejoiced for each other. Isha
asked after Ismail. “Why did you ask after Ismail? Are you hiding anything
from me girlfriend?” Rugi was curious. She suspected her friend and brother as
lovers. She was determined to break any bond between them. Isha was very
surprised at Rugi’s insinuation.
Isha Wins A Government Scholarship
Isha won a government scholarship as a top female science student with
distinction. Aunty Marie praised Allah for his blessings.
Badou Sends A Letter
Finally Badou wrote a letter. He apologized to Isha and explained about his
circumstances in the United States. “The U.S is not a land of milk and honey
as portrayed in our developing countries. It is a man-eat-man society.
Everyone to drag on one’s boots trap. Life is not rosy at all. I was trying to make
ends meet. I was not yet settled. I have not started my studies. I was
depressed and put off. Now, I have a job. I’ll start studies in the New Year. I’
ll still pursue my law post graduate course. I want to specialize in
criminology before I’ll be put on scholarship. I‘ll help you in your schooling. I’ll
send money through Western Union. I love you”. Badou wrote to Isha.
Isha Replies Back
Isha replied to her love. “Its so long but I still love you. I am a bit
disappointed though but I am now relieved. I can understand. Send money whenever
you can. It is not urgent now. I am on scholarship. Thank you and good bye.
Cheers Isha”. Isha was deep in the clouds. True love never dies. Badara is
her first love.
Ismail Congratulates Isha
Ismail congratulated Isha. He gave her a cash sum of D20, 000 (Twenty
thousand dalasi) Isha took it.
Uncle Pa Protests
Uncle Pa, Aunty Marie’s husband protested. He asked Isha to return the
money. “You don’t love him return back his money. You are engaged to Badara to be
married. He had promised to send you money through Western Union. Don’t
encourage Ismail. You cannot marry him.” Uncle warned his family. He scolded
Aunty Marie. “You have lost focus. Why should you encourage your niece to be
greedy? Have you forgotten your backyard? A word is enough for the wise.”
Aunty Marie Is Confused
Aunty Maries is confused. She has seen nothing wrong eating your luck before
marriage.
Isha Complaints
Isha complained to her aunt. “D20,000! I’ll not return it so! I need it
like yesterday. I did not beg him. He gave it to me. I’ll never beg him but
whatever he gives me out of his own volition I’ll take it. It is my luck. I’ll
not put all my eggs in one basket. I am not sure of Badara again. Look at his
long incommunicado. I assure you aunty Ismail will not see my pants. That
place is far oh unless you are rape, it takes your consent. “Isha argued. “I
should not have told him that Ismail gave you money. I agree with you. Its your
spinsterhood luck. All of us have benefited from it. Don’t mind your uncle.
He has rigid principles like a fundamentalist”. Aunty argued.
Nomination In Western Region
By Modou Jonga
Candidates contesting the forthcoming Local Government Elections, under the
tickets of various political parties and Independents, were duly nominated at
the IEC Regional Office in Brikama, on the 3rd, 4 and 5 January, 2008. The
nominations were presided over by Mr. Pa Makan Khan, the Regional Electoral
Officer.
On Thursday 3 January, twenty four APRC sponsored candidates were nominated.
The APRC nominated candidates are in the persons of Alh. Bolong L.K Jatta,
Busumbala ward in Kombo North; Hamadi Sowe, Mayork ward in Foni Bondali; Ms.
Kaddy Camara, Ban Tanjang ward in Foni Bondali; Mr. Jammeh K. Sanneh, Suba
Ward in Kombo Central; Momodou M. Bah for Sintet ward, Mr. Sunkary Badjie for
Somita ward, Janko Ebrima Bojang for Gunjur ward in Kombo South, Fabakary B.
Manneh for Lamin Ward, Sarja S. Gibba for Sanyang Ward in Kombo South, Tumani
Sambou for Wassadu ward in Foni Jarrol, Lamin Haja Bojang for Nyambai ward
in Kombo Central, Alieu M.A Jarju for Marakissa ward, Ms. Mariama Bah Saine
for Banjulinding Ward in Kombo North, Momodou Ceesay for Kembujeh ward in
Kmobo Central, Fatou Mam Nyassi for Bwiam ward in Foni Kansala, Mr. Lamin Tamba
Jammeh for Kartong ward, Ebra Faal for Sukuta ward, Omar Sowe for Pirang
Ward in Kombo East, Ebrima Kujabi for Joboro ward, Alh Sutay Jarju for Sibanor
ward in Foni Bintang, Bakary S. Sanneh for Kusamai ward, Alagie K. Kujabi
for Kafuta ward, Tombong Jatta for Bullock ward in Foni Brefet and Kebba
Bojang for Kanilai ward in Foni Kansala.
Three independent candidates were nominated on Friday, 4 January. The
independent candidates are in the persons of Mr. Ismaila Badjie for Bullock ward,
Foni Brefet, Mr. Yunus Gibba Kusamai ward in Foni Bintang and Mr. Lamin Jarju
Marakissa ward for Kombo Central.
On Saturday 5 January, 2008, three candidates were nominated, one on an NRP
ticket, two under UDP ticket. The two UDP candidates are in the persons of
Mr. Alieu Darboe for Kumbujeh ward and Mr. Foday Gassama for Nyambai ward, all
in the Kombo Central District. The NRP nominated candidates was Awa Bah for
Sanyang ward in the Kombo South District.
Some of the APRC candidates in the Fonis went unopposed .The APRC candidates
in Kombo North and Kombo East are also unopposed.
Drivers At Barra Car Park Complain
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The Kerewan Area Council has appointed one Makang Sissoho, a Malian to
oversee the toilet at the Barra Car Park Toilet. He is to collect one dalasi from
anybody who wants to use the toilet.
According to Makang Sissoho, he was appointed by the Kerewan Area Council to
collect monies from people who want to use the toilet to ease themselves. He
said he is paid by the council at the end of every month from the monies he
collects from the people.
Mr. Sissoho indicated that he sometimes collects hundred dalasis a day, but
that this figure sometimes drops up toD65. He pointed out that the toilet is
of great significance to people, because a lot of travelers transit through
the area. He indicated that the toilet is drain two to three times a month.
Some people have deplored the idea of paying before using the toilet. The
garage drivers complained that they do pay taxes to the council on every trip
they embark on. Drivers plying between Central Baddibou and Barra said they
often pay D45 to Council for every trip. According to them, drivers plying the
Farafenni - Barra route pay D75 and that those going beyond pay D100 dalasis.
They complained that they don’t know how the monies they are paying to the
council are benefiting them.
Traders and shopkeepers also added their voice, noting that they pay tax
every day to the council. They said the council should have used the tax money
to drain the toilet as that is part of their responsibilities.
Efforts to talk to the interim chairman of the council bore naught. This
reporter went to the council at Kerewan, but the chairman was not available.
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