Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 95/2004, 2-5 December, 2004

Editorial
New Budget Will Widen Gap
Impoverishment and misery to continue

The 2005 budget that the government wants the National Assembly to approve
will simply widen the gap between those at the top and the rest of those
who receive their salaries from the consolidated revenue fund.

Secretaries of State, the Secretary General and the speaker of the National
Assembly are to receive D170,000 compared to D86,400 this year. In short,
their salaries are to be doubled at one go while civil servants (apart from
the Secretary General) are to receive an increase of about a tenth of their
salary. This of course excludes the responsibility allowance and a host of
other allowances, forgetting the per diems and fringe benefits that they
enjoy.
An assistant records clerk, President's Office, for example, is expected to
earn D8231 per annum (D685 a month), barely sufficient to buy a bag of rice
each month. The same applies to a cleaner who is expected to earn D6600 per
annum or D550 per month.

On the other hand while the living condition of the masses continue to
worsen the debt burden continues to be high. The estimates puts it at
D1,466,217,000 (one thousand four hundred and sixty six million dalasis.
This amount is what will be paid from the consolidated revenue fund to
creditors. In short, every Gambian will pay D1000 towards the debt.
Furthermore debt interest amount to D949,680,000 (almost D950 million) for
2005.

Year after year the Jammeh regime has proved itself incapable of meeting
the needs and aspirations of the masses. On the contrary, members of this
regime continue to enhance their livelihood at the expense of the masses
whose impoverishment and misery continue increase unabated.

Take the Kitty/Siffoe land dispute for example. A true servant of the
people will not accept land from any party. Rather he/she will endeavour to
resolve the matter between the two parties amicably. The Kitty Villagers
have asked the president to return the land. Let us see whether he will act
honourably.

 At the National Assembly
Salaries of SoS & Co
Ocean Bay D351M Spent
Auditor General's Report Soon?

By Abdoulie G. Dibba

Salaries of SoS's and Speaker To Double

The Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs has drafted his the
estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2005, which was to have been laid
before the National Assembly yesterday evening. Debate on the estimates is
expected next Monday, the 6th of December 2005.
The estimates contain all the revenue that the government expects to derive
and all the expenditure that it expects to incur. This includes salaries.
In short, the expenditure the government is proposing is for the salaries
of Secretaries of State, the speaker of the National Assembly and the
Secretary General to double, that is, from D86,400 to D170,000 per annum.
The salary of the President has not been indicated as required by law.
National Assembly members should draw the attention of the Secretary of
State to this.
Meanwhile, the following development took place during the sitting of
Monday 29th November 2004.

The Annual Estimates of Recurrent Revenue and Expenditure with Development
Expenditure for the Fiscal Year 2005 (January to December) was scheduled on
Monday 29th November 2004 for presentation to the National Assembly by the
Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Bala Musa Gibril Gaye.
This however was turned down by Deputies arguing that section 70 of the
standing order indicated among other things that the Estimates or a copy of
the Estimates should be submitted to the National Assembly members five
clear days before its presentation. This provision the members said was not
honoured. Some members argued that the constitution supercedes the standing
order and that the constitutional provision is saying that the Estimates
shall be presented thirty days before the end of the financial year. The
speaker of the house told Deputies to allow the SoS to present the
Estimates and then adjourn for the debate to be done the following day. The
speaker indicated that they have to do so because the Estimates have to be
approved within 14 days. According to Deputies, the Estimates could even be
disapproved within the 14 days. They argued that they have to go with the
provision of the standing order because they (the NAMs) have to critically
scrutinize the Estimates since they will be held responsible for anything
done. At this stage, the speaker proposed that the Estimates could be
presented on Wednesday 1st December 2004. When they will be within the 30
days of the constitutional requirement and the debate could commence on
Monday the 6th December 2004. When members could have time to go through
the Estimates.

At the end of the sitting, some NAMs approached this reporter and told him
that the speaker wanted them to rush with the estimates because his salary
is increased by double and that his house rent is about D3, 000 when very
little has been increased on theirs. When this reporter contacted the
speaker, he said they are on a meeting and could not comment.

Auditor General's Report To Be Submitted To The National Assembly In March
2005 Covering All Govt. Institutions From 1991/92 To Date, Says Sos Gaye

In responding to a question raised by the National Assembly member for Wuli
West, Hon. Sidia Jatta as to when the Auditor General will submit audited
accounts of the government to the National Assembly to fulfill its
constitutional requirement, SoS Gaye indicated that for many years, the
National Audit Office has not met its constitutional responsibility to
audit and report on the accounts of government annually. This, SoS Gaye
said has been due to a combination of reasons over the years including the
non-production of the accounts by the Accountant General's Department at
the appropriate year-ends and the acute capacity constraints within the
National Audit Office to audit the backlog that was thus created. SoS Gaye
pointed out that the 1998 Audit Report contained the management letter
issues that arose from our regular audits of government departments and
line ministries projects and other government institutions. SoS Gaye
highlighted that the government accounts for the period 1991/92 to 1998
were not edited as they were yet to be produced in a proper and acceptable
form from audit. The government accounts from the period 1991/92 to 1998
SoS Gaye said, were produced through the World Bank funded Technical
Assistance and submitted by the Accountant General for audit in May and
September 2001. The National Audit Office, he said, subsequently approached
DFID for technical assistance to audit the backlog and assist in the
overall capacity and institutional strengthening of the National Audit
Office. SoS Gaye pointed out that initial discussion on possible support
were held with a DFID designed mission to The Gambia between the 17th to
19th December 2002. The indications at the time, he said, were that the
technical assistance would be secured and work would commence in April
2003. SoS Gaye pointed out that a detailed timetable was prepared setting
the reporting deadline for the audit report on the accounts at 31st
December 2003. This timetable, SoS Gaye said, was discussed with the
Speaker in a meeting with the Auditor General in the first quarter of 2003.
SoS Gaye went further to indicate that the timetable was communicated to
the Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Finance and Secretary
General. The DFID Technical Assistance was unfortunately delayed and the
31st December 2003 deadline could not be met, he posited. SoS Gaye pointed
that this was brought to the attention of the Speaker on a comprehensive
brief sent through the Clerk of the National Assembly by the Auditor
General's letter, reference C185/608/01(18), dated 18th December 2003. SoS
Gaye said that they are happy to report that the UK/Gambia Government
Finance Governance Programme was approved in September 2004 and a
Consultant from the UK National Audit Office has started work in The Gambia
National Audit Office on 1st October 2004 to assist the Auditor General to
audit and report on the 1991/92 to 1999 accounts. A detailed Audit Strategy
has already been formulated and sent to the Accountant General's Department
and work is going on, he said. SoS Gaye pointed out that the Strategy
clearly sets out a timetable and a fieldwork and audit enquiries should be
completed by 11th March 2005.

SoS Gaye highlighted that the following reports are expected to be
submitted to the National Assembly:
1. Certified accounts of The Gambia 1991/92 to 1999 will be submitted
to the SoS for Finance and Economic Affairs on the 25th March 2005 to be
tabled before the National Assembly by 31st March 2005.

2. High level management letter containing their observations on the
accounting and internal systems of the Accountant General's Department
during the audit of the backlog, recommendations to improve the systems and
responses from the Accountant General, will be submitted to the SoS for
Finance and Economic Affairs for submission to the National Assembly by
31st March 2005.

3. General Report covering unresolved matters arising from their
regular audits of government departments and line ministries, projects and
other government institutions during the period 1st January 1999 to 31st
December 2002, to be submitted to the SoS for Finance and Economic Affairs
for submission to the National Assembly by 31st March 2005.

In addition to the steps that are being taken to clear that 1991/92 to 1999
un-audited accounts SoS Gaye said, the National Audit Office is already
planning to embark on the audits of the second lot of the backlog 2000 to
2003 as soon as the accounts are produced by the Accountant General and the
first lot of the backlog is cleared, he said. SoS Gaye highlighted that the
DFID funded Finance Governance Programme also has components to support the
National Audit Office Reform Agenda to establish a modern, independent,
autonomous, professional and well resourced office so that constitutional
reporting requirements are fulfilled and the National Assembly is better
served. SoS Gaye pointed out that that the backlog aside, the National
Audit Office continues to carry out regular audit of government
institutions and reports are made available to audited institutions and
copied to oversight institutions for appropriate action. SoS Gaye
highlighted that audits completed recently include the Department of State
for Education, Immigration Department, Accountant General's Department,
Kuntaur Rice Mill and Bansang and Farafenni Hospitals. He pointed out that
ongoing audits include the Department of State for Defence, Forestry,
Income Tax, Customs and Excise, the Judiciary, National Council for Arts
and Culture, National Council for Civic Education, Department of State for
Health, Gambia-German Forestry Project, Department of Water Resources and
National Environment Agency. SoS Gaye pointed out that any case involving
fraud or misappropriation of government funds are treated with severe
sanctions by the dire involvement of the Inspector General of Police. SoS
Gaye finally indicated that these audits will form the basis of the General
Report that will be submitted to the National Assembly by 31st March 2005.


Social Security And Housing Finance Corporation Spent Over D351 Million On
Ocean Bay Hotel

During the forth sitting of the National Assembly in the 2004 legislative
session, the Minority Leader and member for Serrekunda Central, Hon. Halifa
Sallah raised the following question: "Mr. Speaker, would the Secretary of
State for Finance and Economic Affairs indicate to this National Assembly
how much Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation spent to purchase
and refurbish the Ocean Bay Hotel; who the contractors and consultants were
and how the current managers of the hotel have been appointed?"
In response, SoS Musa Bala Gibril Gaye pointed out that the purchasing
price of Ocean Bay Hotel was D45, 000, 000.00 (forty five million and
dalasis) and that there furbishment and upgrading cost was D306, 145,
825.00 (three hundred and six million, one hundred and forty five thousand,
eight hundred and twenty five Dalasis). Hon. SoS Gaye indicated that the
General Manager of the hotel was recruited by the Consultant for the hotel
project through an international executive search company. SoS Gaye pointed
out that the Consultant's findings and recommendations were then submitted
for consideration and approval by the SSHFC Board. SoS Gaye said that the
Contractor for the hotel was Emporium Construction and Furnishing Ltd and
the Consultant was the Kairaba Beach Hotel. Regarding the recruitment of
the management of the hotel, Hon. Gaye said a recruitment sub-committee was
established by the SSHFC Board comprising:
1. Managing Director, SSHFC;
2. Managing Director, Ocean Bay Hotel and resort;
3. A representative of the SSHFC Board of Directors.

SoS Gaye finally pointed out that the sub-committee's recommendations were
submitted to the Board for consideration.



DEATH KNELL FOR MEDIA COMMISSION

During the forth meeting of the National Assembly in the 2004 Legislative
Session, which is now on the Secretary of State for Communication,
Information and Technology is expected to table a Bill to repeal the
National Media Commission Act 2002. The Bill states in clause 2 (1)
that, "The National Media Commission Act, 2002 is hereby repealed, and the
National Media Commission is consequently dissolved." It states further in
section 2 subsection 2 that, "The repeal of the enactment…does not affect
anything done or purported to have been done under the enactment."

Apart from the Media Commission Act, a Bill to amend the Newspaper Act is
also to be tabled.

Section 210 of the constitution is also to be revoked. The proposed
amendment stipulates: "The constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, 1997
is hereby amended by deleting section 210."
We shall refrain from commenting on these until we see the contents of the
Newspaper (Amendment) Bill 2004.



AMRC PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE IN PROGRESS
By Surakata Danso

Mrs. Belinda Bidwell, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly has
denied rumours that the Parliamentary Committee under her leadership set up
to investigate the activities of the AMRC from 1994 to date is not on
course. The Deputy Speaker who is the Chairperson of the committee made
these remarks at the National Assembly on Friday 26th November 2004 when
she was contacted by this reporter to shed light on the rumours that the
committee has suspended sittings following serious revelations of fraud and
massive corruption in both cash and assets.

Mrs. Bidwell intimated to FOROY AA that, "We are well in progress and any
time we are ready the committee will make a report to the Assembly for the
information to the public. "



WHAT HAPPENED AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK
By Abdoulie G. Dibba

The National Assembly on Monday deliberated on the following:
1. (i) Report on the 35th CPA Africa Region Conference held in
Swaziland from the 7th - 15th August 2004.
(ii) Minutes of the Select Committee on Tourism, Arts, Culture and
Handicraft.
2. Questions on:
a. Submission of audited accounts of government to the National
Assembly by the Auditor General.
b. The nature of the auditing exercise at the Central Bank.
c. The cost and refurbishment of Ocean Bay Hotel.
d. Implementation of the Salary Review Commission.
e. The availability of salary slips.
f. The building of teacher's quarters.
g. The sinking of boreholes.
3. Motions on:
(i) The D90.3 million OPEC loan on the Mandinaba - Soma road project.
(ii) D30.08 million Micro-Finance and Capacity Building Project.
See Subsequent Issues for Detailed Information.


PRESIDENT JAMMEH GIVEN LAND
While Villagers Cry Foul

The controversial land between Kitty Village and Sifoe has now been handed
over to President Jammeh. It could be recalled that these two villages were
engaged in this land crisis for over ten years now. But it was finally
given to the President on Sunday 28th November, 2004 by the Alkalo of Sifoe
the chiefs and the commissioner of Western Division Mr. Momodou Lamin
Jobarteh. On Monday 29th November 2004 the villagers of Kitty called a
meeting. According to the villagers, they were call by the commissioner of
Western Division at the Chief for a meeting informing them that the
President would come to Kitty to see the land which was given to him by the
Alkalo of Siffoe as a garden. They mentioned that the commissioner and the
chief, told them that they would buy cola nuts and come and beg them so
that the land can be finally given to the President for him to use it as a
garden. They made it clear to the people of Kitty that whether they accept
it or not the land would be given to the President; that what they were
engaged in was just a formality. The villages also told them that it
doesn't need to call us here as far as you people as authorities has taken
a desism to give our property by force then our coming here is useless. The
villagers went on to say that on 28th November, 2004 when the President
went to the disputed land, villagers from both villages converged there.
But after he arrived, according to the villagers of Kitty, the President
went round until were the garden stops. The villagers of Kitty, however,
pointed out that during the meeting they were told by both the chief of
Kombo Central Mr. Dembo Santang Bojang and the commissioner of Western
Division, Mr. Momodou Lamin Jobarteh that nobody from Kitty village was
allowed to talk one of the youths responded but he was almost arrested by
the security forces. They indicated that the persons who spoke there were
the Alkalo of Siffoe, Mr. Malanding Demba, the Chief of Kombo South
Sheriffo Janneh, the chief of Kombo Central Dembo Santang Bojang and the
commissioner. The community of Kitty dispersed with tears back to their
houses. They asked what will become of them when their land is taken. Below
is a copy of the petition the villagers wrote to the President.


REQUEST FOR THE REVERSAL OF LAND ALLOCATION - SIFOE/KITTY

Your Excellency in seeking sustainable improvement in the quality of life,
highest priority should be accorded to meeting the basic, material survival
needs of the population, and this should not be negotiable.

Under the present condition of the scarcity of land and Sifoe/Kitty land
dispute, the people of Kitty find themselves caught in a sort of structural
insecurity - one stemming from the scarcity of agricultural land. We are
worried whether there will be enough food for us or whether we can gather
enough wood to cook or keep warm when our land is taken away. An
overwhelming majority of the population of Kitty produce its own food, and
above the subsistence level, however, people need access to additional
income for access to resources such as land or capital in order to generate
additional income. Income distribution wherein the top 20 percent of the
country earns thirty- two time what the rest earns cannot continue. The
task of social policy in a context of such profound inequality is SISYPHEAN.

Given the economic challenges we are facing, we have to look at survival
squarely in the face. Have the people of Kitty sufficient resources to
provide future populations with food and energy? Can the land available to
us sustain present and future patterns of production and consumption
without catastrophic collapse? Food supply is crucial to survival. Our
population has grown dramatically and food production has kept in step with
its growth, however, we may be approaching the outer limits of sustainable
food production if the land available to us for farming is taken away. The
challenge is daunting indeed. Pressure is mounting on the availability and
scarcity of food for our people.

Kitty is a cosmopolitan Village comprising of five (5) wards (Kabilos). The
land area in question (west of Kitty) towards Sifoe consists of the
following farm lands (DABADASS):
i.  BAHAM
ii.  SOLOSUTU
iii.  TABAKOSUTU
iv.  BURUWULENG
These farmlands are located on the right hand flank of the road from
outside Kitty towards Sifoe and on the left are:
i.  KEMBUTO
ii. WULAJANG
iii. JITALA
iv. DAAJOYE
All the above - named land areas in dispute, between Kitty and Sifoe, are
traditional ''DABADAAS" of Kitty. But colonial district maps have some of
their traditional farmlands within the Kombo South District. The colonial
maps for district boundary delimitation are not enough indicators for land
ownership in the Gambia based on the traditional "Dabadaa" concept/land
tenure systems.

The Alkalo of Sifoe, Malanding Demba, acting on his own gave away to you
your Excellency the following farmlands belonging to Kitty.
i. BAHAM
ii. SOLOSUTU
iii. TABAKOSUTU
iv. BURUWULENG
Before this there was a dispute over the same area between Kitty and Sifoe,
but for the then Commissioner Momodou Jagne, there would have been a crises
between the people of the two villages. To dampen tempers the Commissioner
advice that a community forest be developed in the area for the benefit of
the citizenry of the two villages. This was done but the Alkalo of Sifoe
named the Community Forest as "Demba Kunda Family Forest indicated on a
sign board. Alkalo, Malanding Demba did not only remain with the Community
Forest but encroached further into the remaining land that belongs to us
and has never been disputed before.

We the people of Kitty use the farmlands for the cultivation of these crops:
RICE (TANDAKO)
SORGHUM (COOS)
MILLET
CASHEW
MANGOES
Cultivation is based on bush fallowing and crop rotation.
Your Excellency, since this land was allocated to you we have seen that
work on it has commenced. The people of Kitty wanted to stop the workers
from continuing their work, but the elders of the Village intervened,
otherwise it might have resulted into a serious confrontation. The matter
was reported to the Seyfo (Kombo Central) who in turn informed the
commissioner, but to our surprise work still continued, meaning perhaps,
that you have still not been put in the picture, even though this happened
long before the July 22nd celebrations. The matter though was discussed by
the then Commissioner, Abdoulie Kujabi and the Alkalo of Sifoe and Kitty
the problem was never resolved.

The people of Kitty were later informed that you were going to visit the
said property and after your visit on the land continued meaning therefore
that the dispute was not communicated to you. The previously disputed area
is the so called "Demba Kunda Family Forest" but the fact that our
remaining land has been given away and work on it commenced, your workers
have become a problem to the people of Kitty particularly to children and
women. They prevent our women and children from collecting fuel wood or
fruits from the adjacent land area. The elders and youths of Kitty are very
much aggrieved by the situation that prevails over them. This disheartening
condition was again reported to the Seyfo, who in turn reported the matter
to the Commissioner who ordered us to meet him in his office. At the time
of our meeting with the commissioner. The national Assembly Member, PA MADl
BOJANG, was present. To our surprise Kola nut from you asking for more land
allocation was presented to us, but we informed the commissioner that
unless and until the pending land dispute between Sifoe and us is resolved
we cannot consider a new allocation to you, your Excellency.

Soon after this meeting, the Secretary of State for Local Government and
Lands, Hon. Malafi Jarjue, The Commissioner, Western Division, Momodou
Lamin Jobarteh, the chief of Kombo South, Ajay Janneh, came to Kitty, where
they met the Alkalo, Fa Bakary Dembo Bojang, and some VDC (Village
Development Committee) members over the issue. At the meeting we said land
asked to resolve the problem by allocating the said land to you your
Excellency, and create employment opportunities for our children. But we
reiterated our previous stance in that we want our farmlands returned to
us. There was a dialogue and the commissioner again invited the two Alkalos
in question, three representatives from each village and the chief of Kombo
South and the chief of Kombo Central to a meeting in his office scheduled
for 9th of November 2004. The Kitty delegation positively responded, while
the Sifoe group never turned-up to the meeting. As a result of the absence
of the three (3) delegates from Sifoe including the Alkalo the meeting was
postponed until further notice.

Your Excellency, the problem has been dragging for too long a time and we
crave on your indulgence to act now and return this said area of land to
its owners, to people of Kitty. We are farmers and cannot go elsewhere in
search of farmlands and we will be doomed if we are deprived of our
property.

Thanks in anticipation of your usual cooperation.
We remain, sir
Yours faithfully
... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
The people of Kitty



MEDIA COMMISSION CASE ADJOURNED
By Emil Touray

The civil suit involving the state and media practitioners resumed at the
Supreme Court.

Appearing for the state, Mrs. Jawara Alami said the defendant has a notice
of the gazette No. 29 which is dated 29th November 2004.
Mrs. Alami said the amendment of the gazette supplement which is entitled
National Media Commission Act 2003 has been made. She told the court that
she has been told by her learned senior (Emmanuel Fagbenle) that the bill
containing the contentious issues has been passed, but it has not been
filed. She said she has no idea whether the 2002 Media Commission Act has
been repealed.

Hawa Ceesay Sabally, lawyer for the Gambia Press Union said the case of the
plaintiff (her clients) was filed before the Media Commission Act was
amended. She said the state was not represented the last day the case was
heard. She told the court that her clients are proceeding with the same
processes. She informed the court that the plaintiffs thought that the
Media Commission Act would be amended before the current sitting of the
Supreme Court. She submitted that she is ready to adopt the brief and allow
the Supreme Court to decide. She said the state is repealing the Media
Commission Act and bringing another law. She submitted that there is a lot
of ambivalence going on.

The Supreme Court finally decided to adjourn the matter to allow the
National Assembly to make the necessary amendments.


MANDINABA - SOMA ROAD
COMMUTERS, DRIVERS STRANDED DAILY
By Yaya Dampha

Since the rain stopped many had expected work on the Mandinaba - Soma
highway to be in full gear especially after the National Assembly ratified
a loan agreement for the construction of this road in August 2004. Gambians
were told that the money from the loan would be coming effective September
2004. They were also told that the government decided to secure the loan
due to the poor condition of the road. It was hoped that work on the road
would commence by September 2004.
It is always a burden to travel on this road that connects the urban to the
rural area. Even the drivers on this road are having breakdowns every day
and have to take their vehicles for maintenance. It is common to sleep on a
journey along this highway because there are many ditches on the road and
drivers prefer to take their time to drive carefully in order not to risk
damaging their vehicles or risking their lives and those of the passengers.
Some even prefer not to use this route after their first experience of its
horrible condition.

This is causing serious transport difficulty for the people. In Soma it is
so hard to get a vehicle to Kombo that by 11.00 am to 12.00 pm one sees
passengers roaming the streets for transports because the few transports
that still ply the route leave as early as 4.00 am.
Last Tuesday an old woman and her husband said they slept at the garage in
order to be able to get a vehicle.

A young man also said he left his village at 10.00 pm to come to Soma where
he boarded a vehicle. He said this was his second time to be traveling at
night which he said is more convenient for him.
The Department of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure should
make effort to rescue the lives of those travelling this dangerous route.


NO SALARIES FOR DTS WORKERS IN MANSAKONKO
By Yaya Dampha

Workers at the Department of Technical Services (DTS) in many areas are
saying it is two months now they are not paid.
According to some of them they have gone through the Muslim month of
Ramadan and Koriteh feast without their salaries being paid; that this had
caused them very serious problems as most of them were not able to fulfill
family commitments during the Ramadan and also during the feast.

DTS is among the lowest income earners in terms of salary and more than
three quarter of their workers are daily paid. Some of these daily wagers
have spent more than twenty-five years on the same scale.

According to them they are terminated and every year they are reappointed
as daily paid workers under the same conditions. These daily-wage workers
work very hard to fill in potholes on the roads, some of which had turned
into trenches, with little or no material and tools. Nowadays, even women
are appointed as road labourers so that they carry gravel on their heads to
fill the holes, because there are no tools available.

Now with all their hard work on the roads it is very sad to know that they
have not been paid for two months.

FOROYAA decided to contact the Director of Technical Services to confirm
the story.

When I contacted the Engineer at the DTS, Mr. Lamin Manneh, he confirmed
that the road labourers have not been paid for the last two months but was
quick to say that they will be paid next week. When asked about the cause
of the delay, he said that this was above his mandate. Mr. Manneh promised
that all his staff and the daily wagers are going to be paid their salaries
latest next week Thursday 9th November 2004.


PIU PERSONNEL IN URD COMPLAIN
By Tombong Jadama

Personnels of the Police Intervention Unit (Pill) deployed in Fatoto,
Kantora District since 25th October 2004 have complained of difficulties
they face in their work. Officers complain of mobility due to lack of fuel,
which deters them from visiting a scene when a complaint is made.

They also complain of lack of communication sets and lack of functioning of
mobile phones. Due to this, important messages are not transmitted on time
when some people want to give information while they are on patrol.

The Commissioner of URD, Mr. Omar Khan promised to discuss with the people
and the district chiefs to find a solution. It is rumoured that the
intention is to get the concerned residents of URD to foot the fuel bill.

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