Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue Issue No. 61/2006, 4-6 August, 2006 Editorial THE PRESIDENT, IEC AND THE OPPOSITION The person appointed Chairman of the IEC has been sworn in. In our last issue we published a letter from the NADD flagbearer indicating that the IEC could not make any valid decision until it had a sworn Chairman. A constitutional amendment would also be necessary to create the post of Deputy Chairperson to act in the absence of the Chairperson. During the swearing in ceremony the President made remarks touching on the conduct of the IEC and the opposition. It is important to point out that the motto of the IEC is fair play, integrity and transparency. The IEC however has disenfranchised Gambians who have a right to vote because of the shortage of films. It has been categorically stated by an IEC official that those people will not be allowed to be registered. Is this fair play? It is not. If anybody makes this an issue could that person be accused of dictating to the IEC. No! The IEC should abide by its motto, then it will not make the type of mistakes that would warrant any criticism from the camp of the government or the opposition. What is rather strange in the Presidents’ speech is the mention of money given to the IEC to buy films. He told the IEC “You cannot take my money that is meant for public interest and think that I will not ask how it is spent. I did it so that it could be used by IEC for films to be bought.” The Chairman of the IEC needs to call a press conference and explain what this money is all about. The IEC should have access to the 120 million dalasis reserved for electoral purposes. We need explanation why the President had to finance the IEC in his personal capacity. Furthermore, the President indicated that the if the minority wants to provoke the majority he will give them more than enough, that the minority will not dictate how elections are to be held in this country. He claimed that an SoS was stoned during the Kombo East by election and the provocation was not condemned by the foreign embassies. He warned that if provocations happen in the coming election he will set an example that the whole world will live to remember in the next 1000 years. He said the IEC should not receive instructions from foreign embassies. Foroyaa’s advice to the President is that there is an inter- party committee set up by the MOU which should be utilized to resolve inter party differences. A nation that is heading towards election within two months does not need words of antagonism. We are convinced that The Gambian people will go through this election to cast their votes without fear to make their choice. The opposition are also expected to elevate themselves to the level of statesmen and women who tell the people what they intend to do to change their conditions rather than trade antagonistic words with their opponents. Gambia has changed for good. We expect this year’s campaign will be unique in African history. THE NADD AND UDP/NRP VIEWS ON UNITY Even though the views of the two Alliances are different, forces are at work to influence the two sides to work to reconcile their differences. Will they succeed or will they not? That is the question. Below are three letters in the issue. UDP/NRP ALLIANCE PROPOSAL FOR A COMMON FRONT BY ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES IN THE SEPTEMBER 2006PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS It is within the spirit of our common objective to bring about a change of the present status quo in The Gambia and restore genuine democracy, freedom, rule of law and real economic development that we take this initiative to invite you to discuss and agree on a proposal to establish a common front in order to contest and hopefully win the 2006 presidential elections. You will recall that Mr. Ousainou Darboe and Amadou Taal had met with Hon. Halifa Sallah of NADD to discuss acceptable arrangements towards a united front of the opposition in the 2006 presidential elections and the 2007 National Assembly Elections. These discussions were supposed to continue after each side had consulted with its Executive Committee for endorsement. We in the UDP/NRP Alliance have since had a meeting of our joint National Executive Committee. The joint Executive Committee has mandated Mr. Darboe to pursue the discussions with NADD as quickly as possible. We have since been waiting to hear from Hon. Halifa Sallah so that discussions could resume. The membership of UDP/NRP Alliance and NADD are well conscious of the fact that the elections are just around the corner and there is not much time at our disposal. In view of the time constraint the UDP/NRP Alliance formally invites you to consider the following proposals for a united front of opposition parties and these are: 1) The UDP/NRP Alliance be expanded to include NADD 2) ‘That the new Alliance adopts a single flag bearer to contest the 2006 presidential elections. 3) That the whole activities of the elections be governed by the dictates of the present Constitutions. 4) That the issue of allocating portfolios and responsibilities be shelved and that the Alliance concentrates on the principles of regime change which will ultimately lead to a system change. 5) That after the elections and provided that the expanded Alliance wins the elections arrangements be made for organizing a National Constitutional Review Conference within a period of three months after the National Assembly Elections. 6) The recommendations of the Conference will be the subject of a referendum and thereafter be submitted to the National Assembly for adoption and ratification. It is our belief that only the Gambian people can determine how the affairs of this country should be administered and all other actors are to abide by the dictates and the will of the people. It is in this regard that we take serious cognizance of the efforts and the initiatives of the Gambians in the diaspora as well as groups of concerned Gambians resident within the country. Both have been making tremendous efforts to ensure that the opposition remains a united front and to contest the presidential elections under one umbrella. Mr. Hamat Bah who was on a recent visit to the USA met with Gambians who emphasized and reiterated their concern to foster unity within the opposition. The same trend is currently being pursued by a group of concerned Gambians representing all works of life within the country. This group has met Hon. Halifa Sallah, Mr. Hamat Bah and the undersigned and all promised to make all efforts for the creation of a united front against the present regime. Finally, we believe that we should meet at your earliest convenience so that our agreement can be reached as soon as possible given that we have very limited time for the September 2006 elections. (OUSAINOU DARBOE FOR UDP/NRP ALLIANCE) Halifa’s letter to Darboe OBSERVATIONS BEFORE NADD’S RESPONSE I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27th July 2006. History has placed on our shoulders exceptional responsibilities which we have to carry with honesty, sincerity and objectivity. During our informal discussion I had indicated to you that if we fail to do what is demanded by our times and circumstances history will indict all of us; that I, Halifa Sallah, have no ambition to seek political office for its sake; that I accepted to be flag bearer in answer to the call of duty; that I will not hesitate to relinquish the responsibility if it is demanded by the call of destiny. It is therefore necessary to convey my personal opinion to you before transmitting the position of the Executive Committee of NADD. First and foremost, it is important to recall that our discussion started as an informal one. Viewpoints were expressed, confidentiality sought and a plan of action proposed. A summation of my views is necessary to put the record straight. I indicated that, when we first met to discuss about unity among the opposition we had the option to unite around one party and its leader to contest the 2006 presidential election or create an umbrella party and select a flagbearer to serve as a unifying factor. I emphasized that we created NADD because no party or leader at the time could have served as our unifying factor, on the basis of his/her personal and party’s strength. I stressed that the equality advocated by NADD provided the basis for its collective ownership by all parties. It was envisaged that such collective ownership will motivate all the supporters of the various parties to support NADD candidates. NADD therefore provided the basis for support irrespective of gender, party, tribe or other affiliations. I added that NADD has been tested and what may be the problem is the person selected as flagbearer. I emphasized that if any body could be found who could better serve as a unifying factor I will be willing to step aside for the person to be a flag bearer. You also expressed your opinion. After hearing your opinion we decided to move into some concrete issues. Here again, I reiterated that unlike NADD the UDP/NRP Alliance has not elaborated on a Memorandum of Understanding that spells out its strategic objectives and basis of unity. On the other hand NADD makes it very clear that a transitional arrangement should follow the ousting of the APRC regime characterized by collective leadership, a five year transitional mandate for the president, constitutional, administrative and legal reform and the creation of a level ground for the subsequent presidential election. I indicated to you that the NADD Memorandum explains how a flagbearer can be selected by consensus or a primary. On the other hand I pointed out that the UDP/NRP alliance has not worked out these details. We finally agreed that your alliance will seek to formulate a proposal to be placed side by side to the NADD arrangement for discussion by the Executive of the two alliances. Immediately after our meeting, I came across a report on what Mr. Hamat Bah had said in the US and forwarded it to you for clarification as a matter of urgency. Mr. Bah stated the following: “We made serious mistakes in our negotiations. We should not have in the first place accepted equal representation. That was our mistake. And it was this mistake that led to the fall out.” Mr. Bah added: “I will not disclose the discussions going on at the moment between the two alliances. But I will tell you we will agree on a flagbearer. What complicated the negotiations is that NADD wanted positions, they wanted the cake that is not yet baked. “This is the problem. I have made it very clear. I will not endorse anyone for the flagbearer except Darboe. The president has the mandate of who will be the vice president and whatever Ousainou will exercise that right. For now, let’s just file one candidate. We are not going to make any agreement as to who is to occupy which position. The president will do that.” After the assertion of this uncompromising statement by your partner what was there to negotiate? Let me ask you these basic questions which the Executive Committee of NADD wanted me to convey to you for clarification. Before Mr. Bah went to the US was any negotiation between the Alliances in progress? The answer must definitely be in the negative. Secondly, did we discuss anything dealing with the sharing of positions which complicated negotiations? Obviously, if no negotiation was in progress it is equally obvious that nothing dealing with positions, that could complicate negotiation, could have been a subject of discussion. The Executive Committee of NADD wanted me to convey to you that after a flag bearer was selected by NADD no meeting had ever been convened even by NADD to talk about the sharing of position. This concept is just part of spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding. Hence they could not understand Mr. Bah’s motive for making the unfounded remarks that NADD wanted the sharing of a cake that is not baked. I decided to withhold the letter that I should have conveyed to you to request for clarification as to whether our personal and informal discussion is what was being misconstrued by Mr. Bah as a negotiation. I decided to withhold the letter until I could give further information to the NADD Executive Committee because of a call I received from Mr. Musa Sanneh indicating that Mr. Bah had assured them that he would pioneer the necessary momentum to put an end to any misunderstanding and facilitate a conducive environment for negotiation. Of course we have not heard from Mr. Bah since he came back. Mr Darboe, you will agree with me that given the categorical remarks made by your partner that your Alliance will not enter into any alliance that guarantees equal representation during negotiations I was right to stop all discussions to avoid giving any legitimacy to incorrect notions propagated by your him in the USA. We therefore hope that you will now agree for all the correspondence between the two Alliances to be done in public so that no person will ever claim to have privileged knowledge and confuse our supporters at home and abroad. The NADD Executive Committee asked me to convey to you that it is not interested in any alliance that will not guarantee the sovereign equality of all member parties. Now that you have written a proposal to the NADD Executive it will convey an appropriate and timely response. I hope you will give a copy of your letter to NADD to the group of Gambians who are currently serving as a catalyst to the negotiation. I will give them a copy to start the process of transparency and accountability for all our actions for posterity. Yours in the service of the Nation, Halifa Sallah. NADD’s Letter to UDP/NRP Alliance ON THE PROPOSAL OF THE UDP/NRP ALLIANCE Your memorandum dated 27th July 2006 on the above mentioned subject has been received. The members of the Executive Committee of NADD are fully conscious of the clarion call of the Gambian people for unity transcending party, tribal, regional and other affiliations. Infact, NADD was founded precisely to make it impossible for the regime to exploit such differences to win the Presidential election. You would recall that the discussion regarding the selection of a flag bearer started in earnest a long time ago. When the first method of reaching a consensus failed a second method was put in place. If this failed any party could have recommended for the Chairmen, Chairwomen and Youth Leaders of the parties in each village or ward to be consulted to do the selection. A congress of that nature could have been the starting point of NADD’s campaign. This would have undoubtedly been a very massive event following the visit of President Obasanjo who came purposefully to mediate between NADD and the APRC government. Had such development taken place we would not have been racing against time. Our present predicament therefore is a by product of our division. Needless to say, your discussion with Halifa Sallah was designed to enable you to share opinion on the state of the country and the way forward. We have gathered that the discussion eventually led to proposals to be considered before negotiation could be initiated. The NADD Executive fully endorsed the confidentiality which characterized the discussion but was later taken aback when Mr. Hamat Bah stated in categorical terms that the UDP/NRP Alliance will never negotiate on the basis of equality with other political parties. He claimed that negotiation was on, that the only thing delaying the negotiation is NADD’s insistence for the sharing of a cake that is not baked. This polluted the atmosphere surrounding the discussion compelling Halifa Sallah to issue a statement to dismiss Mr. Bah’s claim that negotiations were on and that it was stalled because of differences on the issue of sharing posts. Now that the necessary clarification is made NADD is willing to consider any proposal. Evaluation Of Your Proposals Your first proposal is for the UDP/NRP Alliance to be expanded to include NADD. The position of the NADD Executive is unequivocal. The executive members are convinced that after the second round of voting was eliminated no opposition party or its leader could be promoted to win an election on the basis of its individual strength. NADD wants the UDP/NRP Alliance to take note of the current state of their parties. It wishes to go on record to affirm that NDAM, NRP, PDOIS, PPP and UDP are still registered parties in the country; that the registration of NADD was not designed to kill other political parties and it has not killed other political parties. That is why the UDP/NRP Executive members who were in NADD could go back to their original parties as fast as they could write their signatures. The Executive Committee wishes to reiterate that all the other Executive Committee members of NADD decided to create this umbrella party and register it so as to galvanize the collective strength of the opposition parties to remove the present regime and then give life to each party to contest the next following election on equal footing on the basis of its own merit and that of its candidate. The creation of NADD cultivated a sense of common ownership that no alliance around a single party can create. The Executive Committee further observes that a UDP/NRP/NADD Alliance will not be recognized in law. Any candidate would have to be under UDP NRP or NADD ticket. Hence your proposal is considered to take NADD back to square one when the opposition parties were considering whether to contest the election under an umbrella party or under the leadership of one of the existing parties. It is therefore maintained that the NADD arrangement provides the best opportunity for collective ownership of the candidate and the campaign process to guarantee victory. This is the first point. Secondly, you propose that the new alliance adopts a single flagbearer to contest the 2006 presidential election. The Executive Committee of NADD considers the proposal to be incomplete. It would like to know how the selection is to be conducted. NADD had established a selection process based on consensus or voting by party chairmen, chairwomen and youth leaders. If no mechanism is proposed there is no way the NADD Executive can make a decision on this matter. Thirdly, you propose that the activities of the election be governed by the present constitution. The Executive Committee does not understand what this means. The constitution has been amended so many times that it gives the president monarchical powers. A President now rules without term limit. The President can appoint and dismiss the Chiefs; dismiss the members of the IEC and can even dissolve the National Assembly. Are you implying that the flagbearer should not give commitment on a political platform not to seek a second mandate or support another candidate in the next following election? Should we not have a transitional arrangement to curtail the monarchical powers of the presidency which should be propagated on our political platforms? Should the flag bearer not be urged to give commitment in public to combat and uproot such powers that legitimize impunity? This is the corner stone of NADD’s attempt to put an end to self perpetuating rule. The NADD Executive strongly maintains that this platform of putting an end to self perpetuating rule and impunity is the best weapon the opposition has in winning popular support. This is one platform it has been propagating to the wide approval of the electorate. How to reverse this process without being accused of being power hungry is a dilemma we need to give careful consideration to. Your fourth proposal is for the alliance to limit itself to regime change and that the issue of portfolios be shelved. The NADD Executive wishes to convey that the issue of creating a cabinet based on shared responsibility by member parties should not be mistaken to be an attempt to share the cake of power. NADD aims to keep the opposition parties alive and facilitate a healthy multiparty system after a five year transition by implementing the policy of collective leadership. Nothing is explained why such a general undertaking to operate a government based on the participation of all member parties and representatives of civil society should be shelved. The NADD Executive maintains that the first five years after Jammeh, should be a transition period to genuine democratic and constitutional rule. All the basic rectification programmes that should be made should be known to the people, so that no leader will be able to betray their aspirations without being challenged and removed in the first five years. It stands to reason that if a future president, elected on the basis of merit is expected to accept a two term limit why should the first president of a post Jammeh government not accept one term to build the culture of establishing term limits for the presidency? The fifth point is for a National Constitutional Review Conference to be the held within a period of three months after the National Assembly elections. In our view, the review of a constitution should be done through civic education programmes designed to enable the people to know what is in the constitution followed by a nation wide debate on the need for amendments through the auspices of a constitutional review commission. This is part of the NADD programme of action. Your sixth point is that the recommendations of a national constitutional conference will be subjected to a referendum and then presented to the National Assembly. The Executive Committee of NADD considers such a proposal to be of a general nature. No issue has been raised. It is not clear whether the recommendations will be transformed into a bill that would require the approval of the National Assembly before a referendum. We don’t know what recommendations will touch on the entrenched clauses to warrant a referendum. Hence there is no point to make a decision on. To conclude, allow us to indicate that the best way forward for any party which thinks that it has the might to remove the APRC regime is to proceed to do so and ask other parties to support its programme. However if all opposition parties are convinced that an alliance is the best instrument to remove the present regime then the NADD arrangement appears to have earned popular appeal. The flagbearer of NADD has stated in no uncertain term that he will be ready to vacate the seat in favour of anyone who can be a unifying factor of all those who are dissatisfied with the existing regime. The NADD Executive therefore calls on the UDP/NRP Alliance to do a critique of the NADD MOU and make recommendations on what to delete to make it acceptable to them. The NADD Executive will review any recommendation with objectivity. While anticipating a swift and practical response, We remain Yours in the service of the Nation. Halifa Sallah For the NADD Executive. GPTC STAFF PENALISED By Bubacarr K. Sowe The Management of The Gambia Public Transport Corporation (GPTC) have decided to penalize the Staff who did not participate in the last nationwide cleansing exercise. A memo from the Managing Director to the Personnel Officer reads: “I am by virtue of the services rule (607) 1, 2 and 3 withdrawing all the responsibility allowances paid to all those who were absent and are earning it for not acting in a responsible manner and a day deduction for the rest of staff in Kanifing as a first measure while I wait for further instruction.” The Managing Director of the GPTC, Momodou A.B Jagne has confirmed the disciplinary measure taken by the Management. In an interview with Foroyaa on Thursday, Jagne said it is in accordance with GPTC service rules that the measure is taken. He added that a general circular was issued to inform all workers that there will be a cleansing exercise at GPTC premises on the 29th of July. “This was a call from the highest office for everybody to participate effectively. Now we have a circular passed, and some of them don’t just care about the circular. And this is the repercussion,” Mr. Jagne said. DARBOE REBUTS MAJA KO SAMUSAN By Fabakary B Ceesay Lawyer Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has reacted to claims made by Majanko Samusa at a recent APRC meeting held in Wellingara. Below we produce Majanko’s claims and Darboe’s reaction. Mr Majanko Samusa, the NCP bigwig has said that the majority of UDP supporters were drawn from the NCP. Mr. Samusa made this remark at a political rally held in Wellingara on Saturday, 29th July, 2006. He said, the role the NCP played in forming the majority of UDP supporters could never be questioned. “Kemeseng Jammeh, Badara Sidibeh and Dembo Bojang all know that it is because of the NCP that UDP became what it is today,” he told the rally. He pointed out that during the 1996 and 2001 pools, the vast majority of NCP supporters cast their votes for Ousainou Darboe and the UDP Party. He challenged the UDP leader for saying on the papers that the people who defected to the APRC in Bundung were infact NCP supporters and not U.D.P members. He said this is an unfortunate statement from Mr. Darboe. Mr Samusa advised Darboe to withdraw that statement. He also called on all NCP supporters in UDP to join the APRC, since their party is now in an alliance with APRC. “It was the NCP supporters who made Ousainou Darboe what he is today in Gambian politics. “Nobody knows Darboe before 1996 but the NCP made him what he is today,” he lamented. He cautioned Darboe not to humiliate himself by contesting the elections, because the NCP supporters are no more behind him and his party. The recently nominated member, Majanko Samusa, was a National Assembly member for the NCP party during the first Republic and has joined the UDP when his former party was banned from participating in the 1996 pools. In an exclusive interview with this reporter in his office, Ousainou Darboe refuted the claims made by Majanko Samusa, that NCP supporters constitute the majority of supporters in his party, the United Democratic Party. According to Darboe, Majanko is on a campaign to make statements that will please the APRC leadership. He said if the majority of the people in the UDP are NCP supporters, then the last elections would have shown quite clearly that the UDP would have had a reduced number of votes, when NCP supporters including Majanko himself decided to go back to their party. “So I think Majanko’ s statement is a false statement and a very misleading one.” He said Mr. Samusa should be dealing with issues that are affecting the livelihood of the Gambian People, but not what made Ousainou Darboe to be popular in Politics. “ My popularity was due to my professional activities, but not my Political Career. My popularity is not the concern of Gambians, but the quality of education they want for their Children and the quality of Medical Care that they received. The issue is not about my popularity or unpopularity, ”Mr. Darboe pointed out that the people who claimed to defect from UDP to APRC in Bundung were probably UDP supporters in 1996 but they were surely NCP supporters. “In 2001 when Sheriff Dibba decided to go on his own, those people went back to NCP including Majanko himself and I stand by my words,” Darboe said. Darboe narrated that he did not know of any alliance between NCP and APRC. He quoted the Majority Leader, Churchill Baldeh as saying that APRC will not go into an alliance with any party for the coming Presidential Elections. “May be Samusa is creating an alliance for NCP and APRC. Samusa should know that he has been convinced to abandon NCP for APRC. He has been shifting from one Party to another. He was in NCP then UDP, went back to NCP and now to APRC. I don’t know what he is advocating for NCP now,” says Darboe. FARMERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF D30 MILLION By Yaya Dampha and Surakata Danso Mr. Kaba Jallow of GAMCO has informed this paper that farmers will be paid by his company, and the amount involved is 30 million dalasis. He however refuted claims that the Government has given directives to his c ompany, asking them to pay farmers. He said GAMCO has sold it’s nuts and have decided to pay the farmers, noting this is what had delayed the payment. Mr. Jallow further informed Foroyaa that this year, GAMCO bought 27, 000 tons of nuts which is valued at 130 million dalasis. He called on all stakeholders to workout solutions that will increase groundnut production in the country. He said groundnut production has dropped from 140, 000 tons to 27, 000 tons. He said the sharp decline in production is due to the barrenness of the soil. He said fertilizer and other essential inputs are lacking. “NADD IS UNIQUE” Says Waa Juwara As the 2006 presidential elections draws closer, Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara, a veteran Gambian politician, has described NADD as a genuine and a unique political force in the country, capable of remedying the Socio-economic ills of the Gambian people, witnessed under this present Government. Mr Juwara, an executive member of The National Alliance for Democracy and Development made this statement during a political rally in Kani Kunda Tendala, in the North Bank Division. Mr Juwara urged the electorate of Kani Kunda Tendala to vote massively for Halifa Sallah (NADD’S presidential flag bearer) whom he regards as a person of stable character and of high recognition both in the African continent and outside. The end of the well-attended political rally was marked by the distribution of information leaflets/ booklets on NADD and the MOU that established NADD to the people, particularly the youths, who were eager to grap a copy. GAF PRO DECLINE TO COMMENT ON BAJINKA’S ABSCONDENCE By Yaya Dampha Major Kalifa Bajinka, the former ADC to President Jammeh, who is reported to be on the run after the Security Officers failed in their attempts to arrest him, is still at large. When this reporter contacted the Gambia Armed Forces Public Relations Officer, Captain Lamin Gano, on why they want to arrest Major Bajinka and why his two other brothers from the army and another from the NIA were arrested, PRO Gano said he could not talk with the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS). He later told our reporter that he had contacted the CDS and told him what Foroyaa was asking. He said the CDS told him that they have more important issues to deal with, that they cannot throw light on a minor issue such as Bajinka’s abscondence. Our reporter further told him the importance of his comments on the issue, hence it concerned the lives of Soldiers. He told our reporter to write whatever his information is and that he will make his comments any time when they are less busy. COMPOUNDS FLOODED IN SERREKUNDA BY Sarjo Camara-Singhateh Last Tuesday nights’ rain caused serious destructions in Churchill’s Town and Serrekunda. The effect was very serious on some living around the Churchill ’s Town high way and on Papa Sarr’s Street close to the taxi park at Ebony This reporter conducted a tour of these inundated areas and took snaps shots from various points to show the impact on people living within these areas. Speaking to this reporter, a security officer resident in one of the compounds in the area said that at the start of every rain season, they have to spend the whole day cleaning the mud and draining the water from their compounds. The residents of Sanyang Kunda along Papa Sarr Street expressed similar sentiments. Speaking to this reporter, one Ousman Bah who said that the compound he lives in belongs to his late sister pointed out that they do not sleep for the rest of the night after every rainfall, since the rains started. He said that there are three apartments in the compound but each of them was completely filled with water up to window level and that they have to find means to get rid of the water. He told this reporter that the newly constructed road has created a negative impact on their lives, particularly during their night rests. He said that now their compound is flooded after every rainfall and there is no adequate draining system in the area. Speaking to this reporter one Fatou Sarr who also lives on this street; said that whenever they see cloud forming they have the fear that they will not sleep well. We sit on our beds to wait for the rains to stop, in order for us to empty our rooms. “Our compound grounds are always filled with water giving us no place to pass,” she stated. One tailor, who also spoke to this reporter, indicated that they cannot even pass through their veranda to enter of their workshop, which is often filled with water. BCC LABOURERS DEMAND WAGE INCREASE By Sarjo Camara Singateh Labourers working for the BCC have threatened to lay down their tools if their demands are not met. The demands of the workers are contained in a petition handed over to the authorities of the council. The said workers are demanding wage increase and improve working conditions. The petition was submitted during a sit-down strike which was caused by a series of problems that the worker alleged is affecting them. The Labourers are calling on the Authorise to reinstate the ex-mayor, Pa Sallah Jeng. The workers alleged that they have been treated badly following the suspension of Pa Sallah Jeng. The spokesperson of the labourers, Mr Lamin Sanyang, said they are faced with numerous problems; notable among them is their health status. He said they wrote a letter to Mr Jallow, the cleansing service Manager, for on ward transmission to the chief Executive officer and the Acting mayor. They said that they are family heads and that their plight needs to be seriously considered. They said each of them receive six hundred dalasis as basic salary, noting this amount is pittance compared to the type of job they are doing for the council. One of the workers said he lost one of his eyes when they were constructing the Gambia High School Mosque, and sustained a cut on his finger, but the council did not give him anything as compensation. They also alleged that they sometimes engaged in jobs that have negative effect on their health. The angry labourers expressed that the council gives less attention to their plight. They pointed out that they have been in the council for a long time, without being staffed. Below we produce the petition written by the labourers. We the labourers at the cleansing Services of Banjul City Council here by put our collective concerns of the following conditions, to the council. 1. The poor wages of D600.00 per month for ten years without any increment. 2. The poor transport condition that is transporting us to and from Banjul in a truck that is already used for collecting waste. 3. That for the last ten years none of us have been staffed; thus working as daily paid. 4. That due to the nature of our job our health conditions are not adequately taken care off. Sir we have now agreed that if the above condition is not fully addressed by the first of August 2006, we will lay down tools until such time that they are fully addressed. We therefore hope that you will kindly consider the above sad conditions of ours as family heads. When contacted the Chief Executive Officer of the said Council, Mr. Batchilly, told this reporter that what brought about the strike was lack of communication between the cleansing Service Management and the labourers. He indicated that the Council had already made some adjustments well before this sit down strike and that it was already approved by the financial Director. He noted that by the end of this month; a 50% increment will be added on the salary of the affected workers and that all their demands will be put into consideration. He remarked that the sit down strike was illegal because the labourers have not informed Management 14 days before the strike according to law and that they did not inform the labour Department. INDEPENDENT REPORTER’S CRIMINAL CASE By Fabakary B Ceesay The criminal case involving the Independent Newsp aper reporter, Lamin M Fatty and the state, continued at the Kanifing Magistrate Court. Testifying before Principal Magistrate, Kebba Sanyang and Corporal Lamin Cham, 1838, attached to the Major Crime Unit at the Police Headquarters said he recognized the accused person. He recalled on the 28th April, 2006, when he went to the NIA office to caution the accused person in connection to a false publication. He said at the NIA Office, he introduced himself as a Police Office. He said he then read the cautionary words to the accused in the presence of other officers in the office. Officer Cham pointed out that he also read the voluntary statement to the accused in the presence of an Independent witness by the name Bakary Ceesay, who lives in Kotu. He said the witness appended his signature on the statement. According to Cham, he read the statement to the accused and the witness in English even though he does not know whether the witness is literate or illiterate, but noted that the witness speaks Mandinka. 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