-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [>-<] Yaya Jammeh Must Be Endicted and Prosecuted
From: "Joe Sambou" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, July 12, 2004 5:10 pm
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Baba, thanks for this forward.
"Indeed if anyone in this country deserves to appear before a
commission of inquiry, it is certainly President Jammeh. It is a well
known fact that he has acquired several times more wealt! h and personal
assets and properties than he had before he became a head of state.
Therefore, the people would like to know how he was able to transform
himself from a poor army lieutenant in 1994 to one of the richest men in
the sub-region today. The people would definitely want to know how he
managed to acquire such expensive properties like the Gambia New
Millennium aircraft, a king-size mansion in Kanilai, and virtually
transforming that obscure little village into the only settlement in the
country that enjoys 24 hours electricity and water supply, as well as
financing an expensive commercial venture like the Youth Development
Enterprise, in addition to his flamboyant lifestyle and the frequent
dishing out of millions of Dalasis to those ready to sing his praises. It
is certainly not enough for him to tell us that his money comes from the
Almighty Allah’s world bank, because we all know that it does not exist,
at least for him. ! Therefore, he needs to come out clean and tell us
where he gets all that money."
The above sums up the insanity that is Yaya. How can a known thief be
the lynchpin of other lesser thieves? Folks, do not be fooled, what Yaya
stole from Gambians mountains over the combined looting by any group of
crooks in the Gambia. Like D.A. Jawo stated above, just the visible
evidence in the aircraft, Zoo, YDE, mansions, mega farms, crude oil I and
II, Swiss bank accounts, fleet of cars, jet fighter (yes, his jet
fighter) landed properties abroad, and the millions of Dalasis dished out
since 1994, is way in excess of one billion $s. Gambians need to demand
loud and clear for the biggest thief in the history of the Gambia to
appear in court himself to tell them the obvious. Here you have a guy
who could not take care his mouth sores (check his pictures months into
his forced entry), pre-1994 only to loot us dry, then turn around to
assault our intelligence with a parade for the gullible. Whatever he is
smoking or drinking these days must be very potent. The gull of him!
Folks, we cannot be quiet about this fraudulent and capacity to deceipt
by Yaya. Yes, we are going to go after the petty thieves on our own
terms, for combined, they also did some damage. However, the chief crook
needs to be first in line, and that we must demand. For, his punch alone
has brought our nation to an almost comatosed state.
I suggest that the Coalition protest loud and clear to the foreign
missions that cuddle the criminal that is Yaya, especially the US and
British Embassies in Gambia about the corruption train Yaya is riding and
the need to have their governments begin to evaluate their dealings with
him, for a change. The Coalition should take Yaya to task to show
Gambians and the world the thief he is. Either way you picture Yaya and
this loot, he's prosecutable. If it is theft of our coffers (which I
believe is the case, in some cases), he should be jailed. If he begged
for it on behalf of the Gambian nation but keep it for himself, that is
still theft and he should be prosecuted under Gambian. If he engaged in
illegal activity with Charles Taylor and Ghaddafi (running arms from
Libya to Liberia using Millennium Air, and running gems from Sierra Leone
to flood the world with "blood diamonds", he is prosecutable by both
Gambian Law and the tribunal in Sierra Leone). Thus, any way one views
this criminal, the result is the same - prosecution, recovery of the loot
and jail time.
The Gambian people need to call for an independant body to investigate
Yaya. We should not go along with his circus of threachery and to hell
with Injustice Paul and his syndicate. Folks, just recovering the loot
of our resources by Yaya can jumpstart our very very ill economy. This
is why Africa is where it is at more than any other damages levied on us
by others, real or imagined. Our human capacity to recover from the
worst that ever befall humanity would have made us turn the corner, for
we are a determined people. However, not with the current cancers that
reside in our bones in the form of the Yaya Jammeh's of Africa, for the
last 50 years. What country is going to be looted for forty years (as in
our case) and don't result in the current Gambian state? Especially,
when the big chunk of that loot occured within the past 10 years. IF
similar cancer penetrates even the USA, we would see the mighty USA
reduced to a Gambian skeleton. Any Gambian that attempts to explain away
the blatant
corruption and theft by Yaya is a hypocrit and a plain fraud at that and
needs to be challenged and exposed. Joe Joof, Che Yassin Secka, and many
a sorry souls tried it in futility. Their's is a legacy of disgrace and
anyone that attempts the same will end up where they currently reside -
prisoners of their own demons.
Gambians, we cannot afford to be silent on these issues. The media
practitioners, students, bereaucrats, lawyers, laborers, market vendors,
National Assembly folks, civil society, etc., need to demand an
investigation and eventual prosecution of Yaya Jammeh. Folks, this is
not the time to be afraid or to play politics of self interest. Yaya
must be indicted and prosecuted before any other soul in the Gambia.
This reminded me when Fafa Jamfa Jawara called for an Asset Evaluation
Commission in the 80s and exempted himself. That is the same thing Tony
The Ugly is attempting fix here. he must not get away with it.
Chi Jaama
Joe
> [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Baba Galleh
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>
>
> Ex-LRD Commissioner Clarifies
> The former Commissioner of the Lower River Division, Suwareh Jabaihas
> expressed disappointment over a story last Friday, suggesting
> hisinvolvement in a saga of missing funds from a village development
> fund.Mr. Jabai who is the deputy permanent secretary at the Office of
> thePresident, said the reporter of the story headlined “Corruption
> HangoverFor LRD Village” could have done better by contacting him for
> his ownside of the story. “This would have done more justice to the
> issue, byaiding its sense of balance. I have high regards for The
> Independent andwas profoundly disappointed by the report, whose author
> made no effortto give me my prompt right to reply to some of the
> assertions made inthe story, which are nothing but misleading” he
> emphasised.“If the writer had gone all the way to the LRD to
> investigate thereport, he should have considered it easy to have access
> to me” Jabaisaid, adding that he was ! not treated fairly.Explaining
> his connection with the Local Initiative Fund (LIF) Mr. Jabaiwho was
> the commissioner of the Lower River Division said he was thechairman of
> the LIF and revealed further that he had led a delegation tothe LIF
> where it was discovered that some villagers had applied forfunding
> local initiatives. He said when they returned the LIF wrote tothe
> villagers, notifying them of the fact that the D2 million
> originallybudgeted had been reduced to D700, 000. “Because of the
> reduction of thebudget, the disbursement process had to be prioritized.
> Jomari who wereamong the villages that had applied for funding
> complained that theywere denied with the authorities claiming hat
> Jomari was an oppositionstronghold. I then decided that Jomari was
> going to benefit regardlessof their political affiliation” Jabai
> stated.According to him when the funds arrived he had invited them to
> witnessthe presentation. H! e said Abdoulie Conteh KMC chairman who is
> thechairman and board of directors of LIF had come with D700, 000 for
> fiveor six villages. “They gave us the money and we went and
> lodgedeverything into the LIF account at the divisional level as this
> was theright procedure” he said. According to Jabai LIF had cheque
> books forall the beneficiaries, a requirement which was satisfied. “The
> fund wasfor the purchase of rice and milling machines, animal rearing
> and skilltraining for the various villages. He said funds for skill
> training andanimal rearing are disbursed to the beneficiaries in stages
> to ensureproper utilization of funds. Funds for the milling machines
> have beenpaid directly to the suppliers of the machines the reason
> being that theprevious disbursement before I assumed office was riddled
> with problems”he explained.Jabai said two villages, Jomari and Bumari
> are beneficiaries who hadapplied for rice milling machines!
> but later decided to change theirpreference to coos milling machines.
> “In observance of transparency Itold the villagers that this was
> possible because the machines they gotapproval for cost D160, 000,
> while coos machine costs D120, 000. Thevillagers later demanded that
> the balance of D40, 000 be given to them.But at this juncture I made it
> clear to them that government does notapprove cash in the case of those
> who apply for milling machines. Ireminded them that LIF asks
> beneficiaries to construct house for theirmachines from the local
> counterpart contributions. These people made alot of noise. I led a
> delegation to the chiefs of the two villages toexplain to them that it
> was not possible to give them the difference ofD40, 000 because I did
> not have the mandate to do so. It had simplynever happened in the
> history of LIF. From there I made it known to themthat they have to
> make their choice for a coos milling machine and no!
> money or retain their rice milling machine” he explained.Jabai
> continued: “Soon after this meeting the villagers of Jomari withthe
> support of other Jomarians in the Kombos reported the matter to
> theNIA who launched an investigation and found that the supplier
> had allthe monies for the two villages. This was confirmed by the
> supplierhimself in the presence of NIA investigators and some Jomari
> villagers.“The difference of the funds if they decide to go in for the
> coosmilling machine will be used to finance the next phase of the
> project,which is the Misira Access road in Kiang West, which is an
> importantroad serving a large community. It is sometimes impassable
> during therains”.Jabai showed this report his handing over notes to his
> successor,drawing his attention to the villages of Jomari and Bumari.
> He said hehad urged his successor to “stick to the principles and
> entertain nofavours especially where the!
> repercussions can be catastrophic.“I have to cause to corrupt the
> people of Jomari. My mission there wasto work in the interest of
> government and this I have done as expectedof me” he concluded.Editor’s
> note: We apologise to Jabai on behalf of our reporter whoclearly
> suffered from the myopia of professional oversight. We trustthat his
> own version of the situation would offer greater depth ofpublic
> understanding of the issue at hand.-0-Lawyer Gomez In The Dock -
> Senegalese witness detained for possessing Gambian documentsby Buya
> JammehVeteran lawyer Edward Gomez found himself in the dock of the
> KanifingMagistrate’s court, last week (Tuesday) as one of his clients
> accusedhim of breach of contract, claiming D7, 000 in the process. In
> the samebreath, a witness for the plaintiff was swiftly arrested after
> she wasfound in possession of Gambian voters and identi!
> ty documents given herstatus as a Casamancaise.Sally Jatta a woman who
> had passed her prime last Tuesday appearedbefore Magistrate Moses
> Richards, claiming D7000 from Lawyer Edu Gomezfor what she called a
> breach of contract.Lawyer Gomez who appeared before the court in
> defence of himselfrevealed that he served as a counsel for Sally the
> then defendant in acase filed against her by one Kajally Jammeh with
> whom she was embroiledin a land palaver. According to Lawyer Gomez, the
> case was dismissed bythe High Court, following an application he had
> filed on behalf of hisclient against Kajally three years ago. The
> veteran lawyer said he hadlend himself to the entire case his client’s
> interest and was preparedto produce the relevant file before the court
> in the next sitting toprove his case. Gomez on the other hand accused
> one Bertha Jatta who hesaid seems to be serving the old women and
> unfortunately confusing thes! ituation. The lawyer claimed that Bertha
> had come all the way fromCasamance to wait for the death of the old
> woman in order to inherit herproperties. According to him Bertha had
> been very rude on him and he wasready to prove to the court that he
> owes no money to the plaintiff.Meanwhile the court went on to question
> Bertha Jatta about hernationality and whether she possessed a national
> identity and voter’scards to which she replied in the affirmative,
> despite owning up to thefact that she was non-Gambian. At this
> juncture, Magistrate Richardsordered that Bertha be arrested and
> detained to retrieve thosedocuments, which she acquired
> illegally.-0-Gambia Under Diplomatic PressureThe Gambia is coming under
> increasing pressure from the Germangovernment to expedite the process
> leading to justice over a fully blownout diamond saga, incriminating
> several former intelligence operat! ives.The German Embassy in Dakar
> Wednesday, wrote to the government in Banjuldemanding explanation about
> the progress so far of investigations of anincident last year in which
> two Germans and their Gambian counterpartwere dispossessed of 28
> diamond stones, briefly detained before being“blackmailed” into leaving
> the country. In a telephone interview withThe Independent, Frank Mahler
> who is in Germany confirmed that hiscountry's mission in Dakar had
> written another protest to Banjul overthe case in which he was
> involved.The strongly worded letter to Banjul, noted with regret
> the snail’space at which the investigations are being conducted has
> left theaggrieved party profoundly distraught over the outcome. This is
> thefourth letter of protest from the Germans, demanding that something
> bedone about what they called a case of gross injustice meted out on
> twoof their nationals who were “humiliated”, dispossessed o! f some
> gemstones and as a further act of alleged blackmail asked to leave
> thecountry or risk being detained indefinitely. Three dispatches had
> beensent by the Germans to the government over the last eight months,
> askingseveral probing questions about Banjul’s readiness to probe the
> matterand institute justice “where it is due”. This latest “note
> verbale”lamented over the fact that despite it being a
> “straightforward” case,the progress on so far has been far from
> satisfactory and reassuring.Following the publication by The
> Independent of a protest letter byBorry Touray lawyer for Dr. Frank
> Mahler, Niklas Wesphal and Dr.Al-Lamin, several National Intelligence
> Agency (NIA) operatives who wereincriminated in the saga were
> immediately dismissed, pending what thegovernment at the time had
> called thorough investigations into thematter, which had had the
> potential to degenerate into a diplomaticembarrassment for Banjul’s re!
> lations with Bonn.The government also later announced that it was
> setting up a commissionof inquiry into the incident with a view to
> collecting information thatwould pave the way for swift action against
> the alleged culprits.Several months later a report by the commission,
> which was never madepublic was prepared and delivered at State
> House.-0-Infrastructure Accounts For Gambia’s Mounting Debtby Lamin
> NjieProjects for infrastructure across the country usually undertaken
> bythe government for the construction of hospitals, schools, etc
> areaccounting for Gambia’s mounting external debt, according to a
> financepaper presented in Lagos last month. According to the paper the
> onlytangible explanation for the rise of the country’s debt is
> thatinfrastructural projects had accounted for a huge chunk of such
> grants.According to the paper, which was presented to journalists du!
> ring aLagos, Nigeria workshop on financial reporting, eighty four (84)
> percentof Gambia’s debt is owed to multilateral creditors such as the
> WorldBank Group while bilateral debt accounted for the remaining
> sixteenth(16) percent.From 1992 to 1994 The Gambia’s new external
> borrowing was on concessionbasis with an average interest rate of 0.8
> percent and maturities ragingfrom 40 in 1993 to 49 years in 1994 and an
> average grant element of 76percent over the period.According to Sam
> Omojugi the debt to total external debt declinedslightly to 82 percent
> in 1999 while the proportion of bilateral creditsof the external debt
> remained virtually unchanged at 21 percent between1992 and 1999.In
> 1995, the average interest rate on new commitments rose to 2
> percentwhile the average maturities declined to 20 years and the
> average grantelement fell to 29 percent. This reflected the
> contraction of a $35million loa! n from the Taiwanese government with a
> grant of 28 percent.The paper also highlighted similar situation in
> Ghana, Nigeria, SierraLeone and Guinea.-0-Editorial: Leading By
> Example? (Part One)Leadership by example – good or bad – is the
> touchstone on which theepoch-making success or failure of a
> contemporary political dispensationis indelibly engraved. In this most
> complex and yet limitedly competentpolitical arrangements on which
> political power is earned and dispensedwith, rightly or wrongly,
> leaders are supposed to be trailblazingpacesetters on whom we all look
> up to for guidance. However, humanfrailties for what they are, have
> given more profound expressions to theiniquities of the time through
> the inadequacies of leaders who have alltoo often misfired and wasted
> their cannons of service in directionshardly benefiting themselves in
> the long run much more the teemingmultitude who are destined to follow
> as innocent lambs trudging alongdesolate and barren plains, led by
> visionless shepherds.The announcement here of a public inquiry
> commission into the assets ofevery publican in this country looks very
> impressive on the glossy,gleam-eyed sheets of governmental blueprints
> and symbolizes a relentlesssearch by the leadership for easier and
> better approaches to our basicproblems. Good intentions are good in
> themselves. But good intentions,not reinforced by concrete actions will
> not take us anywhere. In likemanner symbolism or wild streaks of
> populism alone can never take us tothe so-called Promised Land. It may
> just be likened to the tinkeringidea of the lone poet, left to wander
> and wonder about the unfathomablemysteries of the moon, which he can
> only see but can’t touch to confirmits substantial essence.Whoever it
> was that first mooted the idea of investigating what everyGambi! an
> civil servant owns in tandem with the strength of their pocketsto
> acquire them broached a good means to achieving an end, depending
> ofcourse on whether, it will not be allowed to lose steam in the
> sameheartbroken way other such exercises to inject sanity into an
> unwieldysystem immersed in inglorious rot had been consigned to history
> –inconclusive, incompetent and resource-guzzling.If not for its biting
> drawbacks of belatedness the idea of institutingsuch a commission is a
> very pertinent measure and could not have come ata more crisis-laden
> time when the permanent national struggle to find away out of this
> political and administrative crisis has so far led usliterally
> nowhere.It is certainly not all very well – this backdrop against which
> the newcommission of inquiry into the assets of public officials had
> beeninaugurated and the spirit with which this exercise is to be
> pursuedshould bear this in mind if not f! or anything but for the fact
> that weowe it to ourselves to right wrongs that have been created from
> years ofdeliberate self-effacing mayhem, unintended and unwitting as it
> mayappear in some areas. The rampant corruption, that was so virulently
> andtenaciously endemic at the time when a certain lieutenant-cum
> politicianrose to power riding on the back of a military coup is still
> writingitself another chapter ten years on. What outrage and shame
> that, it isstill rearing its ugly head. How refreshing for our hitherto
> saggingspirit of rejuvenation that, this idea which is a
> constitutionalrequirement should be pursued with irrepressible vigour
> andinsensibility for what is indecorous.The first main crucial test on
> the leadership as it launches this newingredient or appendage of
> Operation No Compromise, will be itssincerity to pursue it to its
> logical conclusion, and avoid the waysideabandon with which other
> exercises to sa! nitise our attitudes, thoughtsand actions have been
> left to suffer the rust of inapplicability. Tostart with, Jammeh and
> his cabinet ministers should submit themselves tothe test, and show the
> rest how it should be done. When whole politicalstructures and
> administrative systems are overrun with “the bug” andneeded to be rid
> of the malaise, it can only take a leader of mettle andsubstance,
> leading by examples not precepts to guide us through thechequered
> zigzagged course from insanity and vanity to sanity andcadence. Gambia
> at this point cannot afford seeing Jammeh wearing thethick garb of
> political insularity and render himself a sacred cow. Heshould do as is
> logical under the circumstances to declare his assets(from 1994 to
> date) in a bid not to impair this searchlight of publicscrutiny from
> realising its optimum impact.-0-IIFWP Charts Path To Peaceby Pa Modou
> Secka and ! Haddy MendyThe Inter-religious International Federation for
> World Peace (IIFWP),recently held a peace conference at the African
> Village Hotel on thetheme, “Forging a Path to Peace”.Speaking at the
> occasion, IIFWP country representative, Mr. EbrimaJadama, said God is
> the origin of all things, and he is the source ofthe absolute value
> according to which we should conform our conduct andlive.On the theme,
> “Forging a Path to Peace”, he propounded the importance ofpeace, as the
> world is at a turning point, noting that “we are all awareof the
> critical moment at which we stand in world history”.“This is not a
> slogan. It is a reality”, he said, adding that we cannotsit as idle
> spectators, watching history unfold, neither we can stand asobstacles
> to peace.He further explained that we must take action which is rooted
> in wisdom,principle, and most of all, rooted in God’s true love, in
> order to helpassua! ge the situation.He noted that various religions of
> the world have centered on theirfounder’s teachings and life-styles,
> and have offered a path to ultimatetruth, salvations, and
> enlightenment.Dr Alieu Saja Taal, a lecturer at the University of The
> Gambia, saidpeace requires a sacrificial dedication to achieve the
> desired resultand to help secure our continent, noting that “if
> conflict lives inhuman creature, we will live in chaos”.In his
> deliberation, Dr Lamin Sidibeh, also a lecturer at the Universityof The
> Gambia, expounded on tendencies leading to the moral decadence ofthe
> society, lamenting on factors causing family breakdowns, as he putsit
> conflict of values could lead to hostilities at community level.On his
> part, Dr Omar Jah, a lecturer at the University of the Gambiaspoke on
> the descendents of Abraham, one of the world’s most knownprophets.Other
> speakers include Pastor Alien Bayo, Imam Buyang Jo! hn and the voteof
> thanks delivered by Mrs. Beverly Berndt and Mr. Ramdane
> Hadj-Amar.-0-Gadhoh Holds Annual General Meetingby Juldeh J. SoweThe
> Gambia Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH)recently
> held its Annual General Meeting at Sabiji Organization ofFemale Wing
> Center, aim at strengthening capacities, offer training andgive support
> to the deaf communities.Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Amadou Touray of
> GADHOH, highlighted theimportance of the programme. He said GADHOH was
> formed in 1992 with themain aim of promoting impaired peoples’ rights
> in equality, integrationand participation in the society.According to
> him, his organization has been striving to provide the deafand hard of
> hearing to have full access to communication, which he saidcould only
> be achieved through the use of signs languages and thedevelopment of
> Gambia sign languages.In his deliberation, Mr. Kebba N Simma, said the
> deaf population in TheGambia has less opportunity to employment and
> education due to society’sattitude towards them.He revealed that plans
> are afoot to print 500 books on sign languages,which is currently at
> the Ahmaddiya Printing Press.Members of GADHOH and cross section of the
> society attended the meeting,and Fatou Sanyang member of GADHOH
> delivered the vote of thanks.-0-#A The IndependentCollege Students
> Visit The Disabledby Haddy MendyThe Gambia College Special Student
> Association on Wednesday visitedthe disabled schools in the Greater
> Banjul Area to acquaint themselveswith the needs of the disables.In
> receiving the group, Principal of St. John’s School for The Deaf,
> Mr.Daniel Mendy, said disabled persons should be encouraged and cared
> foras disability does not necessarily mean inability, ! noting that
> thesociety should be tolerant to disabled and gives them all the
> necessarysupport.Mr. Mendy, said his school has always encouraged
> disabled persons tolearn practical skills, particularly in the area of
> Woodwork, Homeeconomics and Metal Work to help improve their standard
> of living. Hefurther elaborated on the need to raise awareness on the
> AIDS pandemic,and to minimize the use of cotton bug, which he said
> causes deafness, asit is destructive to the eardrum.From Saint John’s
> School, the association proceeded to The GambiaOrganisation of Visually
> Impaired (GOVI) where blind students are taughtin wide range of things,
> including English language.The Association also visited Methodist
> Special School for those withlearning difficulties situated at
> Kanifing, where similar sentimentswere echoed at the school.The
> association was formed two years ago and with the help of theirteacher
> Michael Ja! bang, they have succeeded to take part in
> differentactivities, such as the commemoration of World Disability
> Day.The association also aims to support and cares for the disabled and
> tohelp better appreciate the conditions of the disabled.-0-The
> Commission Of Inquiry – Who Are The Targets?“A person who sells eggs
> does not start a fight in the market”by D.A. JawoWhen
> PresidentJammehlaunched his ‘Operation no Compromise’ about a year ago,
> hardly anyonetook him seriously, but instead people saw it as yet
> another tactic todivert people’s attention from his regime’s mounting
> economic and socialproblems. However, when he started to order the
> arrest and detention ofcertain high profile personalities like the
> ‘Almighty’ Baba Jobe, somepeople changed their perception and expressed
> the hope that somethingpositive would come out of it.Howev! er, it did
> not take long before people’s hopes were dashed whenthere was apparent
> reluctance on the part of the regime to pursue thecase of fraud
> involving certain big shots at the Central Bank, includingits all
> powerful foreign exchange manager Lang Conteh with the samevigour as
> they pursued the Baba Jobe case. There was indeed a clear caseof
> lope-sided justice being practised, and most people began to
> questionthe sincerity of the regime to pursue the matter, particularly
> after theDirector of Public Prosecutions ridiculously announced his
> withdrawal ofthe case from court on the pretext that the accused
> persons have settledthe amount involved. Apart from the fact that no
> one actually believedan iota of truth in that assertion, people were
> quite flabbergasted bythe possibility of letting such high ranking
> public officials occupyingsuch positions of trust to go scot-free after
> they have allegedlyaccepted liability for such la! rge sums of public
> funds. Indeed the wholeepisode smacked of someone trying to keep some
> skeletons tightly closedin the cupboard in order to prevent some
> embarrassing revelations beingmade when the matter goes to court. It is
> therefore not surprising thatthe case is still in limbo and there are
> hardly any efforts to proceedwith it.While all the drama regarding who
> to prosecute or not to prosecute wasgoing on, there suddenly from the
> blue an announcement of the setting upof a commission of inquiry to
> look into the assets and activities of acertain category of public
> officials, both past and present since 1994,including all those who
> served as ministers/secretaries of state sincethe “revolution”.Indeed
> the setting up of the commission was quite welcomed by almosteveryone,
> particularly in view of the stories of rampant corruption invirtually
> all sectors of the public services. However, there are stillseveral is!
> sues that the people want clarified before they would acceptthe
> commission as a genuine attempt to cleanse the regime rather thanjust
> another smokescreen to divert the people’s attention from therealities
> on the ground. One such issue is no doubt a clarification asto who is
> actually eligible to be probed and who is exempted. This isquite
> pertinent in the sense that most of members of the commissionthemselves
> are either present or former public officials. Therefore, onewould ask
> whether they are morally qualified to sit on such a commissionunder the
> circumstances.Another pertinent question is whether President Jammeh
> himself would andshould appear before the commission. While almost
> everyone is unanimouson the need for him to appear before a commission
> of inquiry toascertain how he acquired his enormous wealth within such
> a short periodof time since he became head of state, it is hard to see
> how acommission chosen an! d appointed by him would genuinely probe
> him. Thatis just like asking a thief to chose his own judge, jury and
> prosecutor.Therefore, it is hard to imagine the commission chairman
> JusticeMadabauchi Paul or any of the other commissioners mustering the
> courageto ask President Jammeh how he acquired his wealth, let alone
> find himculpable for any wrong doing, knowing fully well that he has
> the powerto not only sack them but also send them to ‘Baba Jobe’s
> hotel’.Therefore, many people see President Jammeh’s possible
> appearance beforethe commission as just a mere formality, and that it
> may even be anopportunity for him to clear his name from various crude
> oil and otherscandals he is alleged to have been involved in since he
> became head ofstate. Indeed if anyone in this country deserves to
> appear before acommission of inquiry, it is certainly President Jammeh.
> It is a wellknown fact that he has acquired several times more wealt! h
> and personalassets and properties than he had before he became a head
> of state.Therefore, the people would like to know how he was able to
> transformhimself from a poor army lieutenant in 1994 to one of the
> richest men inthe sub-region today. The people would definitely want to
> know how hemanaged to acquire such expensive properties like the Gambia
> NewMillennium aircraft, a king-size mansion in Kanilai, and
> virtuallytransforming that obscure little village into the only
> settlement in thecountry that enjoys 24 hours electricity and water
> supply, as well asfinancing an expensive commercial venture like the
> Youth DevelopmentEnterprise, in addition to his flamboyant lifestyle
> and the frequentdishing out of millions of Dalasis to those ready to
> sing his praises.It is certainly not enough for him to tell us that his
> money comes fromthe Almighty Allah’s world bank, because we all know
> that it does notexist, at least for him. ! Therefore, he needs to come
> out clean and tellus where he gets all that money.“It would be quite
> unfair for President Jammeh to ask his colleagues andothers to reveal
> the sources of their assets and properties while hechooses not to
> reveal his own sources of funding,” said a senior civilservant, who for
> obvious reasons begged for anonymity. Indeed ifPresident Jammeh
> suspects some of his colleagues of dipping their handsinto the pie,
> then he should know that unless he tells us the sources ofhis wealth,
> people would conclude that he is also doing exactly that.-0-Women
> Disenchanted Over Water Scarcityby Fatou BadjieWater is thebasic unitof
> life, without which we cannot run our day-to-day activities.
> Withoutwater people will live in an unhygienic environment with much or
> dourwhich could lead to poor health conditions which may subsequently
> leadto death. Toda! y, people most particularly women, are
> encounteringserious problems as a result of water shortage in the
> country since theyare more involved in domestic duties.In this edition
> of every woman, let’s see what women have to say aboutthe poor quality
> of water and its shortage, which has hit squarely onall spheres of the
> economy. It is an open secret that the President haspromised to
> electrify all corners of the country, but the issue at handpresently is
> quite ironic.Although boreholes had been dug all over the country,
> particularly therural areas, women still complained bitterly about the
> poor quality ofwater and of course its scarcity.“We thank you for
> placing taps in our communities, but we still haveproblems of water”,
> rural women told the President during the recent“Dialogue with the
> people tour”. Most parts of the rural areas havestreet taps, yet those
> taps do not supply enough water to meet thedemands ! of the
> communities. “We were happy to have boreholes because itrelieved us
> from fetching water from the wells. Sadly, most of the timesit cannot
> supply us with sufficient water to meet our needs,” a wife inBullock,
> Foni told Every Woman. Other women in Foni, especially Jarrolvillage
> expressed their disdain about the lack of water particularly forthem at
> their farms and gardens. “ Our farms do not have taps, thereforewe
> fetch water to wet our gardens, and really it is not an easyprocess”.
> Some of them also complained that they do not have good healthas a
> result of hard labour and stress they have gone through.Unlike the
> rural areas, urban areas are provided with taps andboreholes. This as
> we can see, does not make all well for women livingin the Kombos and
> Greater Banjul Areas, they expressed, “we aredeliberately denied enough
> supply of water. Women, who are mostlyaffected trek several kilometers
> in search of water. Some!
> of them walkfrom one distance to another with heavy buckets and pans to
> get water totheir homes. “We in Bundung are really disenchanted about
> the wholesituation”, a woman complained.We rarely have adequate supply
> of electricity neither do we have waterto ease our household
> activities,” Mariama Njie lamented. “Another womanin Dippakunda said,
> “Our activities and businesses are obstructed due tolack of water in
> town.”She further said that she is a business lady engaged in
> sellingice-block and wonjo drink. According to her, the business is
> noteffective since there is no water and electricity supply in her
> area, “I lost income all these days because my wonjo drink got spoiled
> onaccount of lack of water and electricity to make ice-block
> forpreservation.Rohey Njie of Fajikunda also dilated “they fetch water
> from the tap atnight because their taps are normally closed during the
> time.” This, shesaid really !
> disturbs them since the night is meant for relaxation.The same story
> rolls in Banjul, Kanifing, Jesuwang and Bakau. Most ofthe women living
> in these areas said that they hardly get water to taketheir bath, wash
> and perform abolution in the early hours of the morningand in the
> afternoon. They stated “even the water we use for cooking ishard
> to get and of poor quality, as its colour is dark with some smallblack
> spots in it.” This as they put it can lead to diahorrea and otherforms
> of diseases.Certainly, this is not what women bargained for after
> voting for Jammeh“ for changes”. People expected enough supply of water
> and electricityas they form parts and parcel of our rights as citizens.
> Well, allconscious people are aware that there is something wrong
> somewhere. Butno one seems to know what the problem really is or where
> it lies. Eventhe minister of NAWEC could not utter a word. It is really
> sorrowful!Ou! r ancestors and grandfathers have never thought that a
> day like thiswill ever emerge in the history of The Gambia, as in those
> days; waterwas abundantly supplied to all communities irrespective of
> politicalaffiliation.“There were not enough taps during our days, yet
> water was not a problemlike today,” an old woman recalled.Today, the
> story had taken a different dimension, as self-claim big bossand top
> rankers are exceptionals in the suffering, leaving the
> massesparticularly women to go along with the hardship. In short, we
> wouldremind the government that they were not voted into office by the
> massesbecause of this negligence to public services.However, women in
> the rural and urban areas urged the government andother NGOs to help
> tackle what so ever is responsible for the waterscarcity as people
> cannot live without it.-0-The Grapevinewith Khadija Thumbs Up For
> The Independent Thumbs up for The Independent, as the paper clocks five
> on July 5th 2004. What a great achievement afterstrenuous
> struggle! And during this most trying epoch, its editors andreporters
> have undergone all forms of tribulation, intimidation andharassment
> meted out on them by agents of the security apparatus.These harassments
> range from arrests, arson attacks, detentions andpolice “inviting”
> editors for questionings over “unpleasant” reportageof news articles.
> Just recently editor Sey and Jallow were invited tothe Serious Crime
> Unit in Banjul to clarify a story on the Crude oilsaga, which was last
> year published by the paper.Non-the-less Grapes is Saying we will still
> strive to keep the publicinformed about developments and daily events
> of the day, as true sonsand daughters of The Gambia. This great nation
> of ours.We will never get tired. They better know that for now than
> later. Wewill cont! inued to contribute our quarter to national
> development comerain or sun, as we have come too far, to either retreat
> or surrender.A Merry Making Event Senegambia Beach Hotel was the recent
> venue for merry making; the Grapehas been reliably informed. One
> hundred and thirteen thousand Dalasis,has gone into rubbish to mark the
> anniversary of a young female child,while most Gambians could not
> afford to provide essential means of life.Yet others such as the likes
> of President Jammeh continue to live aflamboyant life-style at the
> expense of the poor, dishing out thousandsand spending incalculable
> amount of monies on birthdays.Over Fifty CheckpointsThere is this bla
> bla in town, that there are over fifty checkpointsbetween Serrekunda
> and Jarra Soma. Ha boy! But that’s too much. Whysuch a
> number of checkpoints? Is it to intimidate drivers and
> theirpassengers? Better still is it for security purposes?
> If so, securityfor who? The Grape has no answer to the question,
> but one thing that’sclear, is t! hat it is not a security for the
> average citizenry, as crimesare on the increase.A sycophant ChiefHa
> boy! The Grape knows of an “over-loyal” chief. I mean a
> chief soloyal to President Jammeh that he doesn’t associate himself
> withanything that does not concern issues of Jammeh’s party. What
> anamazing thing! By the way, it is not bad for one to be a
> partyloyalist, but it is important to be mindful that nothing is
> permanent.Therefore, chief something something something of Kombo
> something shouldwatch out, cause no government can rule for eternity.
> In fact such faithand trust should be built in only the omnipotent
> God.Gracing July 22nd AnniversaryThe Grape was informed that sixteen
> football teams and ten Heads ofStates have been invited at this
> material time to grace the 10thanniversary of the July 22nd military
> takeover, which President Jammehwis! h to accord a triumphal
> jubilation. Apart from millions gathered forthe occasion by the APRC,
> classic information reaching the Grape has itthat some parastatals are
> making philanthropic moves to please PresidentJammeh. Further
> information indicates, “Government’s institutions havedonated 2 million
> Dalasis”. But what the Grape is eager to know is,from which vote
> and what sub-head the donations are made of. What a surprise!There is
> this jibbering in town that one of the candidates contestingfor the
> Bakau councillorship is unfit, as he cannot even address
> hissupporters. The so-called candidate contesting under a party
> ticketalways has people speaking on his behalf. When it is his
> turn to speak,somebody else would stand for him on flimsy excuses that
> he is not useto public address.What an interesting thing! The
> Grape cannot imagine what thisprospective councilor if elected can do
> for the people of Bakau. Butdid he really know the people he is
> dealing with? Bakau! Hhmmm! Soplease Mr. Something
> something, the Grape is urging you to wine up andopen your eyes.
> You are dealing with Bakau people. You better realiseit now.No
> Signboard For NAWFA Anyone wanting to go to NAWFA’s Head office in
> Banjul at Marina Paradehas to rely on finger pointing, as there is no
> conspicuous signboard todirect people to the exact location.Over the
> past years, the Atlantic Hotel and other offices have been usedto
> describe the location of the office, which is not in itself
> situatedalong the Marina Parade. The Grape says such a national
> office shouldbe given its due recognition. So please Madame
> Director do somethingabout this-0-Another Setback For Gambia-FIFA Goal
> Project As construction contract is terminatedby Namory and NjonjiThe
> construction of the multi-million dalasis GFA technical trainingcenter
> under the FIFA goal project is experiencing another majorsetback, as
> the contract given to The ALCO construction company to buildthe center
> was recently terminated by the world football governing body,FIFA for!
> breach of contract by failing to finish the construction
> ontime.According to the FIFA development officer for west Africa,
> SamponKablan, based in Ivory Coast, the construction of the center
> should havelasted only eight months and now it is almost one and half
> year sincethe contract was given.Mr. Kablan, who was on an inspection
> visit to the center said that, theyterminated the contract of ALCO
> Construction Company to look for anothersuitable company to complete
> the work.He added that the main football pitch and some finishing
> torches have tobe put in place at the center.Mr. Kablan added that this
> lateness in the construction of the centerhad denied the Gambia the
> chance to apply for another goal project fromFIFA.Mr. Kablan further
> pointed out that, the money for the construction wasmade available to
> ALCO at the right time but they failed to get thing onthe right
> track.On what cause t!
> he delay, the GFA secretary general Jammeh Bojang saidthat ALCO company
> complained about the lack of good water supply in oldYundum where the
> center is located and also with last year ugly scenebetween Gambia and
> Senegal after the June 07, 2003 nations cup footballmatch, according to
> ALCO, all their Senegalese workers flee.-0-Gambia Tennis Players In
> African Championshipby Njongi DrammehThe Gambia Tennis Association
> (GTA) have sent two players YankubaDrammeh and Seedy Bojang to Nigeria
> to take part in the West and CentralAfrica Junior Championship slated
> from the 8th to 31st July 2004.According to the president of the Gambia
> Tennis Association SheriffJammeh the tournament is set for three weeks,
> with two intensivetraining of ten (10 days) before the
> championships.Mr. Jammeh added that, the Championship is an annual
> event and was heldlast year in Ghana wh! ere Gambian players came
> home with a Gold andBronze medals.“This years also, we expect the same
> result from Yankuba and Seedy” saidMr. Jammeh.He pointed out that their
> trip was facilitated through a partialsponsorship from the
> International Tennis Federation (ITF).The assistant secretary general
> of the association Mr. Phillip Akipogunrevealed that the benefit of
> tennis to the children is becoming vital,since it keeping them business
> rather than engaging in useless things.“They spent most of their
> times in The Tennis court during weekends andHolidays” said Mr.
> Akipogun.On the selection process to this championships, Mr. Akipogun
> revealedthat they organised a championships which Yankuba Drammeh and
> SeedyBojang came out winner and runner-up respectively.“This kind of
> tournament will help them to improve their level andskills,” said Mr.
> Akipogun.A tennis player Aminata Mbaye said she ha! s been playing
> tennis for twoyears now.She said further, that she love the game not
> because of the fitness butbecause of the exposure in it.“I will be very
> proud to represent The Gambia in InternationalCompetition to test my
> skills,” said Ms Mbaye.She told The Independent Sports that they have
> problem of communicationwith their coach as the coach speaks French
> while they speak English.She decried also the lack of sponsorship and
> sport facilities.-0-FIFA May Withhold Assistance To GFA If…by Njonji
> & NamoryThe world’s football governing body, FIFA may cancel their
> annual financial assistance to TheGambia Football Association (GFA) if
> the association continues to usethe money to sponsor national and club
> teams contrary to the terms andconditions of the assistance.Sampon
> Kablan the FIFA goal project’s development officer for WestAfrica, said
> th! e subventions given to member countries of FIFA wassolely meant to
> develop football in those countries and should havenothing to do with
> the running of national teams and clubs.Kablan said at a press
> conference Friday that the world’s footballgoverning body was by next
> year going to pursue with emphatic vigourthis policy, warning the GFA
> that it may withhold sponsorship packagesfor the national football
> association if it does not change its policyof sponsoring national and
> local teams, when it is the responsibility ofthe government to do so.
> He said as a mark of flexibility this year FIFAhad allowed the GFA to
> use US$250, 000 subvention for the national teamsand clubs campaign in
> Africa but will not allow it by next year. “Bynext year if they
> continue doing the same thing, the subventions will becancelled” he
> warned.Mr. Kablan said that the US$250, 000 given to the GFA is
> strictly gearedtowards football developm! ent and not for the running
> of national teamsand clubs.He added that, national teams are for the
> government to maintain byfully taking up the financial responsibility
> that goes with running suchfootballing enterprises. In the same
> breath Mr. Kablan said clubsshould be in a position to finance their
> international campaigns, as isthe tradition in other footballing
> nations. According to Kablan it isonly in The Gambia that FIFA
> subventions are being used to sponsor theoutings of teams at the
> international stage.Kablan made FIFA’s displeasure crystal clear about
> the situation, givingwhat he meant to be a “last warning” to the GFA to
> change their act byusing the subventions in accordance with FIFA rules.
> “The running of anational team is a prestigious national project for
> the nation and whenwe talk about the nation, the government is the
> leader,” said Mr.Kablan. He re-emphasised; “clubs should learn to
> tak! e care ofthemselves because it is not fair for the GFA to help
> them ininternational competitions and leave others. This is unheard
> ofanywhere.The FIFA subvention should only be used for football
> development, whichexpressly means the training of young talents and the
> day to day runningof the national football association,” Kablan
> added.The Ivorian said the key towards putting their acts together was
> for TheGambia government to change its attitude towards the management
> offootball in the country.-0-New Vice Chancellor For UTG The University
> of The Gambia Governing Council has approved theappointment of
> Professor S.O. Igwe as the Vice-Chancellor designate ofthe University.
> He will succeed the incumbent founding Vice-Chancellorof the
> institution, Professor Donald E. U. Ekong, whose term of officeends in
> October 2004.The new Vice-Chancellor, whose appointment is supported by
> theGovernment of Nigeria under a bilateral relations agreement with
> TheGambia Government was a Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University
> inNigeria (1993 to 1999). He later became the Chairman, Governing
> Council,Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria.Professor Igwe who is a
> distinguished Professor of EducationalManagement and Planning was
> educated in the University of Nigeria,Nsukka and in the University of
> London Institute of Education where heobtained his B.A. (Hons) in
> English, Postgraduate Diploma in Education,M.A. and Ph.D in Educational
> Administration!
> and Planning. His career inacademia spans more than two decades. He is
> a recipient of numerousdistinguished awards, honours, and serves as a
> member of many nationaland international bodies in education.Professor
> Igwe has already paid a familiarisation visit to theUniversity during
> which he held extensive consultations with themanagement, Deans of
> Faculties and Faculty members. He also paidcourtesy calls on the
> Chairman of the Governing Council as well as theDepartment of State for
> Education where the Permanent Secretary receivedhim on behalf of the
> Secretary of State for Education.He is expected to be back shortly to
> assume duties.-0-BAC Takes Over Sand Mining Managementby Ahmed Carayol
> & Lamin FattyThe Brikama Area Council has reportedly taken over the
> management ofsand mining along the entire stretch of the west coast of
> the country.The BAC’s new role c!
> omes days after President Jammeh’s statement in aDialogue With the
> People meeting, suggesting that the task of monitoringand managing sand
> mining activities will be handed over to the Council,a decision that
> has aroused concern from anonymous insiders at theGeology Section of
> the Department of State Local Government and Landswho fear that there
> will be problems in checking the activity of theCouncil.Reports
> reaching The Independent suggest that when two private companieswere
> involved in the mining of sand – (Sahara Investment and a
> companyoperated by Taib Sowe) the Inspectors of Mines had as standard
> practisecross-checked their receipts for bi-weekly installments made
> togovernment which amounts to about D220, 000, making a grand total
> ofapproximated D400, 000.According to sources, with the area council it
> would be difficult tocross check with them, as the format being used to
> issue receipts is afar cry diffe! rent from what used to obtain. “They
> are using GRT insteadof the usual format which has original and
> duplicate receipts, and makesit easier for them to check the activities
> of companies involved in theenterprise. The old system was tried and
> tested and found to beefficient” they argued.It was also disclosed that
> Saha Investment was formed last year butbegan operations this year
> while Taib Sowe has suspended his operations.People, who trade in sand
> at the Tipper Garage in Bakoteh, haveexpressed their aversion to the
> decision, dismissing it as bearingpolitical undertones. They noted that
> companies mining sand should havebeen given enough notice and allow
> them time to adjust to the newcircumstances ushered in by the new
> policy. “This sudden decision hasleft us in limbo” one of them
> distraughtly added.Meanwhile the Director of Geological Unit, Saihou
> Sanyang refused to bedragged to comment lucidly on the subject! ,
> claiming he must takepermission from his boss (Permanent Secretary,
> Department of State forLocal Government and Lands) to that effect.He
> however mentioned that the decision was a political one, emanatingfrom
> the president.Sanyang confirmed that investors who are already involved
> in sand miningactivities have paid their taxes but why the president
> took such adecision is well known to him alone. “We as civil servants
> cannot gobeyond our boss’s decisions. Its as simple as that” he pointed
> out.According to labourers at Tipper Garage Saha Investment is owned by
> twoofficials at the Department of State for Local Government and Lands,
> butrefused to disclose their names.-0-Add photos to your e-mail with
> MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
>
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