Buharry, it seems like our fears were reasonable and the chickens have come home to roost - APRC at its best. Many on this list have stated that one cannot be independent in thought and work in Jammeh's cabinet, and the happy camp labeled us as disgruntled and sore losers. Well, why is Mafy dodging Pa Sallah? This is the same Mafy that Pa Sallah mentioned on the eve of his victory as a very good friend. Although my political leaning is opposed to Mafy's, I however, expected him to respect the people's wishes, remember, like he used to tell opposition supporters on the L, after the Presidential elections. Having lived outside of the Gambia and exposed to better governance standards, I also expected for him to at the very least meet with Mr. Jeng to begin the transition process. Please read on. From the independent Banjul’s new Mayor yet to assume office The handing over of the Banjul Mayorship is being mired in mystery as reports speak of unexplained delays and intolerance for Mayor-elect Pa Sallah Jeng. Pa Sallah Jeng who as an independent candidate caused a major electoral upset by claiming the city’s Mayorship in the April 25th local government election has been left desperately contemplating when he would to be sworn-in and formally handed over the city’s mantle of leadership, which he claimed from an APRC candidate, tipped as favourite for the post. Reports suggest that since Jeng was elected, a state of isolation and indifference has been applied on him by the relevant authorities who should facilitate the transition process. Reports described how Jeng has been placed in a ‘situation of twist and turn like a common job seeker’. ‘This is undone. He won the city and he is the Mayor. So why all this delay and isolation. There are a lot of things that he has to do and they are definitely wasting his time. This is sabotage’ an angry supporter of the Mayor-elect protested. When contacted on Thursday Jeng explained that he had visited the Department of Local Government and Lands over his assumption of office but was told that the Secretary of State Manlaffy Jarju had traveled out of the country. According to him, upon SOS Jarju’s return, he again tried to meet him but was told upon arrival at the department last Thursday, that it was impossible for him to meet the SOS at that moment. He said he was told that SoS Jarju was quite indisposed to meet him because he was engaged in a closed-door meeting. As I speak with The Independent now, I am expecting a call from them to inform me of when to visit Jarju’ a dejected-sounding but calmly mannered Mayor Jeng said last week. Asked how he felt about the whole situation, Jeng said, ‘I don’t want to feel aggrieved at this point. It’s good to be patient, so I will not make an issue out of it at the moment but whatever the outcome of the meeting, the people will know’. The out-of-office Mayor said he has been rescheduled to meet Jarju tomorrow Tuesday May 14. According to him, the SOS had earlier told him that he was on his first day at work after a travel, and could not therefore have an audience with him. Meanwhile as he stays in the wilderness there have also been reports of some confusion in the running of Banjul market. When he was asked about the issue, Mayor-elect Jeng said he was just being hinted on it by somebody and lamented that he could not take action because he was not yet in office. Honourable Halifa Sallah the National Assembly member for Serrekunda Central when contacted over the abnormality of the Banjul Mayorship handing over, posited that ‘in making laws one has to indicate very clearly when certain actions should take place. For example, when one deals with the executive, the constitution says that the president assumes office two months after elections’. In the case of the Local Government Act Halifa recalled that it was gazetted on April 23 and few days before the election it reached the National Assembly under a certificate of urgency. He said the Bill was not properly scrutinised to ensure that there was a proper provision for a smooth political succession. He said there is no law stipulating that a Mayor or councilor should assume office at a given time. He further said there must be an amendment to the act for the first sitting of the council after a local government election. He said on the other hand an administrative decision for the inauguration of the council should be taken as a matter of convenience. _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~