Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue Issue No. 014/2007, 5-6 February, 2007 Editorial THE PRESIDENT HAS NO POWER TO APPOINT THE SPEAKER The press release from the Department of State for Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly issued on 2nd February 2007 states, among other things, that the Honourable Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay has been appointed Speaker of the National Assembly. According to the GRTS news broadcast the appointment is done in accordance with Section 88(b) of the constitution, as amended in 2001. The fact of the matter is that Section 88 (1) (b) makes no provision for the election of Speaker. It simply states that in addition to the elected members “The National Assembly shall comprise five members nominated by the President.” The provision of the constitution that deals with the office of Speaker is Section 93. It states that “The Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Speaker shall be elected by the members of the Assembly from among the nominated members.” It states that “The Chief Justice shall preside at that election of a Speaker.” It is therefore clear that the press release from the Department of State for Foreign Affairs does not speak the language of the Constitution. Foroyaa advises that since the Attorney General is the Principal legal adviser of the government, before such announcements are made, which require the quoting of the constitution, he/she should be consulted to save the government from embarrassment. To announce the name of the Speaker before the National Assembly Members sit to elect one is to undermine their integrity. In short, if they act as announced many people will begin to see the parliament as a rubber stamp of the Executive. This would be a very unhealthy beginning for the National Assembly. We hope the Department of State would inform the public of the error in its press release. DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL PERSISTS Detention without trial of political opponents, former civil servants, former security officers and former close associates of the president has continued unabated. The persons listed below are still being detained and are yet to be brought before any court of law to face any charges they have purportedly committed. In fact the security forces are yet to comply with a high court order to release Master Tamba Fofana of Kudang Lower Basic School. The ruling was made on 28 December 2006. Family members of some of the detainees also claimed that they do not have access to their loved ones. The detainees are: Rtd. Colonel Vincent Jatta, former Chief of Defence Staff, arrested in March 2006 Sgt. Buba Mendy, G.N.A, arrested in April 2006 Sgt. Buba Jammeh, G.N.A, arrested in June 2006 Mr. Musa Dibba, N.I.A, arrested in March 2006 Mr. Ngorr Secka, Former DDG N.I.A., arrested in June 2006 Mr. Abdoulie Kujabi, Former D.G. N.I.A., arrested in March 2006 Phoday Barry former DDG N.I.A., arrested in May 2006 Babucarr Jobarteh, Former Protocol Officer arrested in October 2006 Lamin Sanneh, Former P.S. at Works and Construction, arrested in October 2006 Karamo Jaiteh, Dept. of State for Works and Construction, arrested in October 2006 Master Tamba Fofana, Headmaster Kudang L.B.S, arrested on 13 September 2006 Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Journalist at Daily Observer, arrested in July 2006 Ousman Rambo Jatta, Councillor Bakau Ward, arrested in August 2006 Suruwa Jaiteh, former D.P.S. Agriculture, arrested in November 2006 Dr. Badara Loum, former P.S Agriculture, arrested in November 2006 Superintendent Abdoulie Colley, O/C Sibanor Police Station, arrested in August 2006 Marcel Jammeh, Foni, arrested in 2005 Haruna Jammeh, Foni, arrested in 2004 Jisaja Kujabi, Foni, arrested in 2004 Amadou Cora, Businessman from Tambasansang, U.R.R, arrested at end December 2006 Foroyaa will continue to monitor the situation of detainees who have not been charged and taken to court and update its list every month. “COURT MARTIAL FILES STOLEN,” SAY COUNSELS By Fabakary B. Ceesay and Annia Gaye Defence Counsel Borry S. Touray and Lamin S. Camara have on Thursday, 1st February 2007, informed the court martial about the stolen files pertaining to Captain Yaya Darboe’s case. According to Borry S. Touray, the counsel for Captain Yaya Darboe, the court files were stolen from his parent’s car. He asserted that the windscreen of Mrs. Sainabou Wadda Ceesay’s car was broken and the intruders went away with files including the court martial files. Counsel Lamin S. Camara also confirmed that the files were stolen. He told the court that he knew about the stolen files before Mr. Touray. He said that Mrs. Ceesay informed him earlier before Mr. Touray was informed about the incident. Justice Agim promised the counsels that, he will ask the court clerk to do something to assist them to get the missing files. He asked the prosecutor also to help Mr. Touray with photocopied documents concerning Captain Yaya Darboe’s case. The prosecutor, E.O Fagbenle, also promised to photocopy his records for Mr. Touray. Continuing his cross examination, counsel, Lamin S. Camara, asked WO2 Jabang whether Exhibit H (statement) was all throughout with the panel. WO2 Jabang replied in the positive. “WO2 Jabang, I’m putting it to you that exhibit H was put to the general public on TV before it was read,” said counsel Camara. “It might have been, but not to my knowledge. It is a long time now,” replied Jabang. “I’ m putting it to you that exhibit H was shown on TV by someone who is not even a member of the investigating panel,” said counsel Camara. WO2 Jabang replied: “It is not correct.” “I’m also putting it to you that, exhibit H was not at the time with the investigating panel,” said counsel Camara. WO2 Jabang replied that it was counsel Camara who asked Jabang whether there was a date on exhibit H. Jabang replied in the negative. WO2 Jabang noted that he was outside when the reading of exhibit H was recorded. He added that two police officers, Lamin Cham and Abdoulie Sowe, two independent witnesses, Tijan Bojang and Babou Loum, and the GRTS crew were present. Camara asked him whether Captain Bunja Darboe was cautioned before the recording. WO2 Jabang said that Captain Darboe was cautioned before the recording. “Is it contained in exhibit M (Video tape).” Jabang replied? No Sir.” Camara further asked him whether he recorded their movements with Captain Bunja Darboe to and from his office during the recovery of exhibit H and he replied that their movements were not recorded. “I’m putting it to you that the recovery of exhibit H, M,N and N1are not recorded in any of your diaries he said. Jabang replied: “Yes Sir.” “ Does exhibit H contain the names of any of the accused persons?” asked Counsel Camara. WO2 replied: “It does not contain names but Captain Bunja Darboe’s Signature.” “You said it contained Captain Darboe’s Signature. Are you a hand writing expert?” Counsel Camara asked. Jabang replied: “Yes it contained Captain Darboe’s Signature, but I’m not an expert.” Cross Examination By Counsel Borry S. Touray Counsel Borry S. Touray asked WO2 Nfally Jabang whether he can produce any written sheet of paper to show that the accused persons were cautioned with regards to exhibit M (video tape) before they were recorded. WO2 Jabang pointed out that the accused persons were cautioned before they appeared on TV, but that he cannot provide any written document. “Is it correct that the accused persons requested to be on TV,” asked Touray. Jabang replied: “Only those who requested were put on TV.” Cross Examination By Counsel Mboge Counsel Lamin Mboge asked WO2 Jabang whether in his evidence in chief, he did not say that the accused persons requested through Captain Wassa Camara to appear on TV. WO2 Jabang said that was what he said. “Is it correct that in your evidence in chief, you did not mention any independent witness present when the recording was taking place?” Jabang replied that he had mentioned their presence. “Is it correct that, you have watched the video tape (exhibit M)” asked Counsel Mboge. Jabang replied: “Yes, likewise the whole Gambian people.” “Did you see the 4th accused person, 2nd Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang on the video cassette (exhibit M),” asked Mboge.WO2 replied: “I did not see him but I watched the TV on that day.” Sitting was adjourned to 8th February 2007. THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION CONSTITUTIONAL WATCHDOG Seyfo Bala Musa Sanyang Must Resign To Be National Assembly Member According to a press release issued by the Department of State for Foreign Affairs and National Assembly Matters, Seyfo Bala Musa Sanyang has been nominated to be a member of the National Assembly. Section 90 subsection (1) paragraph (k) of the constitution states the condition that disqualifies a person from being a member of the National Assembly. Section 90 subsection (1) paragraph (k) states that “No person is qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly if he or she is a District Seyfo or Alkalo.” Subsection (3) of section 90 states that this section on disqualification “shall apply to nominated members with such modifications relating to time limits for elections.” A Seyfo cannot be a National Assembly Member. A spokesperson of the Governor’s office, upon enquiry, has said that Bala Musa Sanyang has neither resigned nor has he been dismissed, and as of now is still the Chief of Foni Berefet. GAMBIA COLLEGE STUDENTS STILL OFF CAMPUS By Baboucarr Ceesay Reports reaching Foroyaa have it that students of the Gambia College are still living off the college campus residence. College students who expressed their dismay and disappointment to this reporter said the Student Union leaders left no stone unturned to settle the matter with the concerned authorities, but the situation remains unchanged. The students mentioned that the Union leaders discussed with the Permanent Secretary for Education but his reaction was that the dormitories are not habitable and for that matter the college administration was ordered to close them. They indicated that the same reason was given when they took up the issue with the college council and the SoS for Education. They further explained that the Students Union leaders later wrote to the President for an audience with him on their plight, but the President also referred them to the SoS for Youths, Sports and Religious Affairs. After meeting with SoS Faye, the students said the matter was followed up to the level of the President’s Office again. The students however alleged that their residence is being used as hostel for guests, whilst they stay off campus with a stipend of only D350.00 to cater for rent, feeding and other costs. When contacted, the Principal of the Gambia College, Dr. A.B. Senghore, said that they have clarified issues to the general student body that the dormitories would be closed for this academic year as a matter of policy and, therefore, accommodation and feeding would not be available. On the students’ allegation that the student residence is being used as a hostel, Senghore said that they have renovated only four rooms to accommodate 9 Dutch students from the University of Zealand in Holland who are on an exchange programme for cultural experience lasting for four weeks. He said these students are P.T.C students and the college cannot afford them rooms in the hotels, and therefore had to use the college residence. Dr. Senghore also said that 9 students from the P.T.C students of The Gambia College are already selected to pay an exchange visit to their counterparts in March. He stated that these students will be provided with free air tickets. “The students have to understand that the closure of the dormitories came as a matter of policy and not a permanent closure, but only for this academic year,” he concluded. EMBRACE THE ART – SAYS OKO DRAMMEH Music is an Art that has the potential to evoke emotional and intellectual sensibilities. It can be utilized as a means for both entertainment and education. Music, combining both the arrangement of instruments sounds and songs, can also serve as a representation of and vehicle that can project and convey a people’s culture. The Foroyaa, therefore, explores this field of human endeavour through this exclusive interview that Ousman Sillah had with Mr. Momodou Drammeh, aka Oko Drammeh, a renowned international music promoter who is based in Holland. This encounter enables Oko to answer to questions about himself, culture, the history and state of music in The Gambia and the way forward. Foroyaa: Mr. Oko Drammeh, this is the Foroyaa Newspaper and we want to conduct an interview with you. By way of introduction, can you tell our readers, basically, who Oko Drammeh is, where he originated from and his childhood? Oko: Oko Drammeh is the son of the late Ya Arret Mboge who hails from Hagan Street in then Bathurst and now Banjul. Ya Arret Mboge was a female social elder who had a strong political influence. She lived at a place formerly called ‘Sotokoto’ in Hagan Street in Banjul. Our compound used to be a center for many youths, especially the young elite and educated Gambian professionals, at the time, called ‘Hyde Park Vous. In front of the compound, there was also The Gambia Workers’ Union headed by the late M.E Jallow whom Ya Arret also has to provide for. I’m from a mother who was very much involved in the then political and social life of The Gambia. I became a follower of her footsteps and that’s why I took the job of culture, social management and preserving Gambian history as my profession I, myself, as Oko Drammeh, have gained numerous successes since 1980, to be precise. I started my professional life as the manager of the legendary Ifangbondi Dance Band which was formerly known as the Super Eagles Jazz band. I was educated in the Ifangbondi industry and had a lot of opportunity to study professional music involving the legal and technical aspects of the music business. From 1981, I left The Gambia with numerous musicians traveling abroad and we never came back. This was because in 1981 a coup d’etat was attempted and which interrupted my job as a musician. The musicians and the youths were held responsible for the coup. Hence the Art was also held hostage. I am now trying to bring back the Art and that’s what I’m here for: Oko Drammeh the Revivalist.’ Foroyaa: Well you have explained how you came to be wedded with music. But, why music? Was it something that you desired during childhood to pursue as a career or was it accidental? Oko Drammeh: No it was not accidental. I had been in the heartbeat of social life in Banjul. As I told you earlier my mother used to organise a lot of social events. But this time there was nothing like electric music in the world. There was traditional music like the Sabarrs and other local stuff that my mother conducted. Suddenly, my brothers and sisters were quick to pick up or learn from the music coming from the outside world, like the Congolese and Swahili music from East Africa. We lived in an educated area in Bathurst (Banjul) where some of its inhabitants had been travelling to England up and down. I was fascinated by the technological presentation of the Record Player and the record and melodies that came through it. It was, though, not a natural thing, but I built up interest and later, of course, through media exposure and journalism I came to know the financial benefits and the historical rewards that are attached to this great profession. Foroyaa: Can you tell us when organised professional music like a Dance or Jazz Band started in The Gambia? Oko Drammeh: As I was saying earlier to you, organised music started around the late 1950s in The Gambia here. Then many Gambian musicians didn’t have musical instruments at all. It was those who lived in a part of Leman Street, a district they used to call Jollof and Portuguese Town, and who came from the Cape Verde Islands with their music. It was these people who introduced their music in this part of Bathurst at a place called the ‘Foyer’ (Fuwayeh) hall or center at Hill Street. By that time there was no African drums in Music, there was the contrabass, the violin, congas, sometimes a box and on very few occasions a box guitar. Then there was no electric music by that time in the sub-region. But after that, Foyer hall introduced some musical instruments as part of the French Cultural Exchange. This is how the Portuguese recruited Laba Sosseh, who came from the Mbayen family of Angelsea Street where many great drummers hailed from. Laba also brought Pa Touray along with him few days after. They became drummers and... they dare not sing there..eheh… Laba Sosseh and Pa Touray graduated from that, as they used to sing back-up vocals and copy those songs that the Portuguese used to sing. From there they started the African Jazz. You see, before African Jazz there were pockets of small bands. There was the band at the Bright or Ritz Cinema at Fitzerald Street and also another called the ‘Boggey Boys Band’ at the shoemaker’s shop. There were these pockets of bands but the African Jazz was the first organised band in The Gambia that’s in the beginning of the 1960’s. By this time many musical tunes in the country were imported. The songs were, like I told you, played by instruments that are not electric. They were Congolese songs, Swahili songs and some Ghanian highlife music. All these musicians were non-professionals who were managed by Gambians who had never travelled abroad. People like Chamsu Coker. He was a great pinoneer of music and there were other Gambians. But nothing turned out professional until the middle of the 60’s when a Gambian businessman called Malick Secka, a photographer, introduced brand new instruments and recruited the best musicians from ‘Rocker Mambo’ Jazz Band, African Jazz, Bogey Boys etc, and formed them into what they called the Eagles Band. The Eagles Band was the first professional band in The Gambia and it included artists like Pa Touray, Badou Jobe, Modou Cham and many others. However, the key people were Pa Touray, Badou Jobe, who were the driving forces; they came from Foyer to African Jazz Band and straight to Eagles Band. But the musicians were not contented with Malick Secka. So when Solo Darboe, a diamond dealer, came from the Congo he bought brand new instruments and gave it to Pa Touray as a gift. That’s how Super Eagles Band was born. Then Congolese music was very big in The Gambia and there was nothing else. Foroyaa: When was this? Oko Drammeh: This was around the mid 60’s. Super Eagles went to England as one of the first African bands to go to Europe. BBC was stunned. They interviewed the Super Eagles along with the Beatles, the Edgar Broting band. The Super Eagles didn’t care about the Beatles as they didn’t know much about them. They just went and performed in such a way that they were admired. But they were admired for one wrong reason. They were copying. The Super Eagles were copying the music of the Europeans. This made some Europeans very disappointed as they asked the question: ‘how can they come here, called themselves the Super Eagles and then sing the Beatles?’ Fortunately for them at that time, they had recorded one album which was called ‘Viva Super Eagles.’ This album contained songs about the continent and sang in Swahili and Congolese rhythms and about Pan-Africanism that made the whole continent to start to know about Gambia. They did this album very successfully because they studied in England how to make cords and how to control tunes and notes. The band also learnt how to make musical arrangements using the modern, standard and mainstream techniques like refrains, transposing, ascending, descending etc. This made their music to became structured just like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. So they were the best in Africa, which could not be disputed. That became great phenomena, a big success. When they returned to The Gambia, they re-examined themselves and then decided to call the band Ifang Bondi. Many of the musicians, however, had already left then. It was at that point that I was inspired to join them. Ifang Bondi embarked on a ‘Cultural Renaissance.’ The political and social activities of my mother also motivated me, as you know my mother was involved in bringing here ET Mensah, the biggest ‘Highlife’ king during Kwame Nkrumah’s day. She was also responsible for sending so many young people to study in Ghana in those days. My mother’s activities had led to the invitation of numerous legendary bands such as the Rico Jazz from the Congo, the Heartbeats, Gerald di Pino from Sierra Leone, Oliver Nelson from the USA and many others. Our music reached every corner of the world. Gambians took pride in it, but the musicians of Ifang Bondi were so hurt that they were playing imitation music. See next issue for continuation OPINION IS PRESIDENT JAMMEH’S INTERVENTION NOT A SUPERSTITION? I am not a complicated man as my wife could happily tell you but I do get a bit worried about these stories that have been emailed, where African people say something stupid about the science of Aids and we all laugh at them. To be fair, the facts don’t make it easy for me to be this sanctimonious. The Gambian President, Yahya A.J.J Jammeh, has just disclosed that he can personally cure HIV/AIDS and asthma, using charisma, magic and charm. The cure is a day’ s treatment he says: asthma, five minutes. HIV/AIDS treated on Thursdays, and within three days the person should be tested again. I can tell you that he/she will be negative. The president marched triumphantly into hospitals and left patients vomiting and in agony. It’s hard to tell what the treatments involve, but Jammeh explained that his patients are not to be allowed to eat seafood or pepper and they should be kept at a place that has adequate toilet facilities, because they can be going to toilet every five minutes. The official news source reported that the president’s curative power left doctors and nurses mesmerised and stunned. We actively export our superstition; there is the white European nutritionist Matthias Rath who was in South Africa, selling his ridiculous vitamin pills with the message that they are better than antiretroviral medications, with a sturdy influence over Thabo Mbeki. Last year 2.8 million people died of AIDS, and 40 million are HIV positive. This is an illness that laughs at our superstition, it laughs at our politics, it dwarfs our wars, it laughs at our quackery, our love for money, and it shows our morality as nothing more than vanity. The issue of HIV/AIDS should be approached in a scientific manner and not through superstition. SEEDY CEESAY. ENGLAND. A Post-mortem of the National Assembly Elections (Part I) By Demba Jawo Now that the results of the National Assembly elections are known and the “ two empty barrels” have been thrown out of the National Assembly, no doubt to the jubilation of those Gambians who are happy with a rubber-stamp National Assembly, where anything originating from President Jammeh and the executive will pass without any dissent, it is time to reflect on the implications. The question in the lips of every Gambian concerned about the welfare of this country is how the APRC managed to obtain such a “landslide victory”, despite the regime’s very poor humanitarian and governance record, and why a majority of Gambians failed to come out and vote. While there may not be straight forward answers to these and many other questions, but there are certain obvious factors responsible. There is absolutely no doubt that more than 90 percent of those who failed to come out and vote are opposition supporters. The question is therefore why they chose to stay at home instead of come out and vote for the candidates of their choice. Again, while there may not be a straight forward answer, but there is no doubt that the unceremonious split of the opposition was an important factor. Many opposition supporters were so angry with the unjustifiable split that they chose to rather allow the status quo to continue than come out to vote for any of the opposition candidates. Of course, while that was not the best option for anyone interested in the welfare of the country, but it was not difficult to understand their reason for choosing such an option, no doubt out of frustration with the opposition disunity. Another obvious reason why the turn out was so low, no doubt had something to do with the insecurity that all known supporters and sympathisers of the opposition are subjected to in this country. Even during the official campaign period, when the IEC was supposed to have been in charge of every aspect of the electoral process, we have seen how some opposition supporters and even those already nominated to contest either for the opposition or as independent candidates were arrested and their supporters subjected to intimidation and harassment, for no obvious reason but because they dared challenge the APRC. Indeed, the APRC supporters and militants seem to have been given a carte blanche to intimidate and harass opposition supporters, while the police were given specific orders by President Jammeh to “deal with trouble makers” or be dealt with themselves, and we all know what that meant in present day Gambian parlance. Therefore, there was quite a genuine reason for many people to choose to stay at home rather than get involved in the political game, knowing fully well that they could be harassed for even being suspected of sympathising with the opposition, let alone manifest their open support for it. It is therefore quite obvious that as long as this type of politics continues in this country, the voter apathy manifested in both the presidential elections in September and the National Assembly elections will be a permanent feature in this country, with only those who support the APRC daring to come out and manifest their political views and the silent majority would remain disenfranchised as a result of fear of intimidation and harassment. It is quite clear to any genuine analyst of the Gambian political scene that if every Gambian was free to come out and manifest his/her support for the party or candidate of his/her choice, the outcome of both the presidential elections and the National Assembly elections would have been very much different from what obtained. Therefore, we should hope and pray that those who still have the courage to advise President Jammeh would tell him about the need to respect the wishes of those who hold a different political view from his, rather than term all those with a different political view point as “unpatriotic” Gambians who deserve to be treated as enemies of the state. Indeed, the international community should also take note of this undesirable state of affairs and take it up with the Gambian authorities, because this is certainly unsustainable. It would be irresponsible for people of goodwill both in The Gambia and the outside to watch the country slide into possible chaos. “LET’S BURY THE HATCHET” FONI BINTANG NAM-ELECT By Modou Jarju Ebrima Solo Jammeh has recently organised a ceremony marking the celebration of his victory in his native village, Bulanjor. He granted an interview to this reporter during the ceremony. Hon. Jammeh urged the people of his constituency to bury their political differences and work towards the interest of the constituency. He further mentioned that the constituency belongs to them. “If it develops, it will benefit all of us. The people should forget about the past and think of the future,” he remarked. Jammeh said his first aim is to unite everybody, notably women and youths to work for the betterment of the younger generation. He said his second aim is to open an account for his constituency, like a disaster relief fund which could be used to help those in need of assistance. He said his name, the chief’ s name, the Alkalo’s name and the councilors name will not be in the account book. He said the signatories to the account will be those selected to oversee the disaster relief committee Asked whether he will be able to work with the local authorities. He said he is not out to challenge the chief, councilors and Alkalos. He added that he respected them and is willing to work with them for the interest of the constituency. He further said he is a man who has vision for his constituency and believes in peace, hard work and development. He said he will support bills that are in the interest of the people, and will never support bills that are not in the interest of the people. UNACCREDITED ELECTION OBSERVERS IN FONI BINTANG The voting process at Foni Bintang Constituency would have passed off as relatively excellent had their been no presence of Non Accredited election observers at polling stations. At Foni Bintang Polling station C31, this reporter met with John P Bojang, Gambia’s Ambassador to the US and Taiwan. When contacted by this reporter for any comment, he simply dilated his concern on the voter turn out and the competency of the staff overseeing the election. At Kansange polling station C30, personnel of the military came in and asked one of the security officers in charge if every thing was all right. Also at Balanjor, the IEC presiding officer there was asked if he’d seen any soldiers around. He said he did but they did not intimidate him or anybody who was interested in the election process. However, as many people waited in the queue to vote, the presence of soldiers going and coming made many to feel very uncomfortable. One observer from the coalition of election observers questioned why the soldiers are interested to know if everything was all right. At Kusamai polling station C26 and C25, a Nissan patrol with tinted glass and numberless registration plate made a stop at the polling grounds and in it were plain clothes officers who came down and started asking both polling agents and the presiding officers if everything was all right. After spending sometime the plain clothes officers who said they are from Kanilai boarded their vehicle, drove a few metres away and then stopped just behind a small mosque. They were still there when we drove away. One of the IEC officers at Kusamai who was asked whether he had any knowledge why the military personnel were roaming polling stations, said they were only patrolling border villages. But what this reporter noticed is that Kansange, Balanjor and Bintang are not border towns or villages? SUKU SINGHATEH SHRUGS OFF ALLEGATIONS Hon Suku Singhateh, the National Assembly Member for Lower Badibou, has shrugged off allegations that he is the principal architect behind the arrest of the UDP sympathizers in his constituency. Speaking to this reporter over the weekend, Singhateh said he never reported the case involving the arrestees and his relatives to the police as alleged by his opponents. He said even though he was in Badibou at the time of the incident, he has no idea of what transpired. “I have no idea about what happened. The UDP candidate is my blood brother. We are from the same compound. We are not only brothers, but we are friends. We joke over some of these things”, he remarked. Singhateh said he will try and settle the matter peacefully. He said he was disappointed when he saw a report about the incident on the papers. He said he learnt that some of the arrestees have been released by the Police. UDP SERREKUNDA CENTRAL CANDIDATE REARRESTED Confirmed reports reaching this reporter have it that Mr. Alhagie Fatty, the defeated UDP candidate for Serrekunda Central was rearrested by the police on Thursday night at his home in Bundung. Mr. Fatty is currently being detained at the Bundung police station. It is not clear why he is rearrested. It could be recalled that Mr. Fatty was earlier arrested on Election Day and released on bail. This reporter contacted the Bundung police station and was told that the station officer is out of the jurisdiction. However, an insider at the Bundung police confirmed the arrest and detention of Mr. Fatty. FJC NOMINATED AS SPEAKER A press release issued by the Government has it that President Yahya Jammeh has acted under the provisions of section 88 (b) of the constituency of the Republic of the Gambia as amended in 2001, and nominated the following as members of the National Assembly; 1. The Honourable Mrs. Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay Speaker 2. The Honourable Mr. Seedy Njie(NAPSA) Member 3. The Honourable Seyfo Bala Musa Sanyang (Chief of Foni Berefet Member 4. The Honourable Ms. Tina Faal Member 5. The Honourable Mrs. Oley Sey Member Jahumpa is expected to succeed Belinda Bidwell who was selected by Parliamentarians after Sherrif Mustapha Dibba was unceremoniously removed by President Jammeh. The press release states that Jahumpa and the recently elected National Assembly Members will be sworn in very soon. To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask]