Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue Issue No. 90/2007, 3-5 August, 2007 Editorial THE DOCKWORKERS Vs PORTS AUTHORITY BITTER DIVORCE On 30 July the Gambia Ports Authority Management wrote to all registered Dockworkers to remove their belongings from the lockers allocated to them and hand over the respective keys and old I.D cards by Friday 3 August 2007 so that they will be reallocated. This is said to be due to the new Dock labour system. The Dock workers are now learning the ABC of Democracy. The lesson is becoming clearer day by day. The dockworkers must be asking what is the use of a union if it cannot protect its members. It is in line with justice that no person should be removed from an office or reduced in rank or punished in anyway without just course. Trade unions and the office of the Ombudsman are created to prevent injustices from being perpetuated. Section 25 Subsection 1 (e) of the Constitution states that “Every person shall have the right to freedom of association, which shall include freedom to form and join associations and unions, including political parties and trade unions.” Section 33 subsection (2) of the Constitution states that “Subject to the provisions of Subsection (5) “No law shall make any provision which is discriminatory either in itself or in its effect.” The Section considers it unconstitutional to afford different treatment to different persons whereby persons are subjected to disabilities and restrictions which others are not subjected to. Here where Dockworkers with representatives in a Port Labour Board which had the responsibility of protecting their interest. With a stroke of the pen the National Assembly members in collaboration with the executive struck the board from the statute books. New labour schemes are introduced by administrative decree which abrogates the legal rights of the Dockworkers not to be discriminated. Conditionalities are being imposed and failure to accept them, leads to deprivation of job, lockers and other rights and privileges which one used to enjoy. This is the saddest period in the history of Dockworkers in the country. The lesson that all workers should learn is that no citizen should be apathetic to the democratic process in the country. The National Assembly members one elects and the President one elects are responsible for enacting laws which may protect you or deprive you of protection. Hence one should elect leaders on the basis of their platform. This is the way to prevent the election of leaders who will go to Assembly to deny citizens their rights. Furthermore, the Dockworkers who are affected should note down all the rights they used to enjoy which they are now being deprived of and seek legal advice to take court action to protect their right not to be discriminated. Section 25 subsection (1) (f) accords each of them “the freedom to petition the executive for redress of grievances and to resort to the courts for the protection of his/her rights.” Since they have petitioned the executive without success they should seek legal advice and resort to the courts. The office of Ombudsman is also mandated to combat injustice arising from maladministration and discrimination. THEY ARE STILL BEING DETAINED FOR MANY MONTHS NOW By Yaya Dampha The following people who were arrested by the security forces and detained, some for more than one year now, have never appeared in a court of law. These detainees some of whom are not charged are Chief Ebrima Manneh, a journalist working with the Daily Observer Newspaper, who was said to have been arrested by plain clothes officers on the 7 July 2006 at his office, Mr. Tamba Fofana, a school headmaster, said to have been arrested at his home town in Bansang since the 16 September 2006 and who was last seen at Fatoto Police Station, Mr. Ousman Rambo Jatta, a Ward Councillor for Cape Point and Old Bakau, and Mr. Kanyiba Kanyi, a native of Bonto village who were arrested since last September, Mr. Jisaja Kujabi, a native of Foni Dobong, arrested since 2005. Mr. Alfusainey Jammeh, Mr. Haruna Jammeh, Mrs. Macie Jammeh all of Foni Kanilai, Mr. Musa Dibba an NIA officer, Momodou Lamin Nyassi Ex-Foni Kansala Chief, Buba Sanyang and Ndongo Mboob all residents of Bwiam in Foni Kansala. The counsel for Mr. Rambo Jatta and Kanyiba Kanyi is currently seeking for their release at the High Court. The High Court had ordered for the release of Master Tamba since last December which has not been respected by his captors. 14 PIRANG RESIDENTS IN COURT OVER LAND DISPUTE By Modou Jonga On Monday 30 July, 2007, fourteen (14) residents of Pirang in the Kombo East were arraigned before Magistrate E.F M’bai of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court with two count criminal charges preferred against them. On count one, the fourteen are alleged to have committed criminal trespass, contrary to section 285 of the criminal code, by unlawfully entering the farm of M.G Fielder at Pirang on 28 July, 2007, with intent to intimidate or annoy. FATOU JAW MANNEH’S TRIAL SUFFERS SETBACK By Fabakary B. Ceesay The sedition trial involving Fatou Jaw Manneh and the state could not proceed at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 2 August due to the absence of the trial Magistrate Imelda Mboto. The accused person, Fatou Jaw Manneh, the defence counsel, Lamin S. Jobarteh and the state counsel were all present in court only to be told that the trial magistrate would not sit for the day due to illness. The hearing was adjourned to Monday, 6 August. Journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh was standing trial at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on different charges of sedition. Magistrate Jawo has distanced himself from the trial which started in April, by transferring the matter to the Banjul Magistrates’ Court. The case was first mentioned before Magistrate Mboto on the 17 July but could not proceed and was adjourned to 2 August. Fatou Jaw Manneh is a Gambian journalist based in the United States of America. She was arrested at the Banjul International Airport on her arrival there on the 28 March and was subsequently detained at the NIA for five days before taken to court. WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REPARTRIATED GAMBIANS By Abdoulie Dibba The immigration PRO Superintendent Anita Jammeh-Sonko, told the reporter on Monday 30 July at her office that the seventy-five repatriated Gambians from Spain were released by her Department on the same day of their arrival. However, when her statement was published by this paper on Wednesday, relatives of the returnees came to our officer complaining that their loved ones are not released but detained at the Mile Two Central Prison. When this reporter approached the immigration PRO regarding the complaint and rebuttal lodged by relatives, Superintended Anita Jammeh-Sonko said that the arrest and detention of the repatriated Gambians is news to her. According to her, the returnees were screened by her department and that when it was realised that they (the returnees) were Gambians, the immigration personnel released them. “If they are arrested and detained at Mile Two, then you can contact the police” said the immigration PRO. When this reporter approached the police PRO Inspector Sulayman Secka, he said that he had been on excused duty (ED) all these days due to illness, but that he would resume today, Friday. Foroyaa would get his view on the issue of the Repatriated Gambia and publish it accordingly. IN NEW YUNDUM FIREARM CASE Accused Enters Defence By Modou Jonga The trial involving Sainey Sonko and the state on Tuesday 31 July, 2007 proceeded with the testimony of the defendant at the Brikama Magistrates Court before Magistrate E.F M’bai. In his brief testimony, the accused told the court that he inherited the single barrel gun in question from his father, years ago. He denied that such a firearm should be licensed and could kill, contrary to the assertions of the prosecution. In his testimony, on 10 July, 2007, Corporal Babucarr M.S Bojang, attached to Yundum Police told the court that the accused person was arrested and brought to the station by senior police officers led by the Inspector General of Police. He added that he was told by the police boss that the accused had stolen bags of cement and was possessing illegal firearm. The accused person who pleaded not guilty, is standing trial for being in possession of an unlicensed single barrel firearm at New Yundum in the Kombo North on 28 June, 2007. PATIENT IN NEED OF HELP The patient, Mr. Bakary Marong, 35 years of age, had an accident on the face 3 years ago and both of his ears were damaged due to this accident. According to the RVTH Medical Board report, the left eardrum was perforated and that now the patient suffers from tinnitus and hearing loss as well as disbalance. On examination, the patient’s left eardrum has cicatrisation in the tympanic membrane. The Audiometric test report also showed that he has hearing loss in both ears. The report concluded that this patient needs further studies which are not possible in The Gambia because of lack of resources. Mr. Bakary Marong is calling on any good Samaritan, organisations, NGOs etc for assistance, as this has affected his life in so many ways thereby making it difficult for him to eke out a living. Anyone willing to help can contact this number: 9882833 or Foroyaa News paper, Tel: 4393177. FOCUS ON POLITICS THE 1981 POLITICAL CRISIS TRIALS RELATING TO 1981 ABORTIVE COUP ENDED; AS STATE OF EMERGENCY CONTINUED We have been focusing on politics in this column and because of the fact that politics and history are intertwined; we are making a narrative of the historical events from pre-colonial to post-independence era. We have reported the happenings of the mid 1984 and the economic crises that ensued. We have stopped where we quoted Joseph E. Stiglitz where he asserted that the consequences of debt are dramatic, as with debt crises, but most commonly the debt burden shows its face as countries struggle to avoid default. Let us continue from where we stopped. From mid 1984, the issue of drought dominated the official media. Even though the major cause of the Austerity measures was the external debt, Government used the drought as the scape goat for the crises. A drought relief fund was eventually established and the Vice President, Mr. Bakary B. Dabo was to manage it. All sectors were urged to contribute including individuals. People contributed as low as D15 and others contributed in thousands. For example, Mrs. Alice Carr contributed D500, badge messengers in almost all the districts contributed, ie, Kiang Central district- D35.55 butus, Kiang West D100, Sandu D55.00 and so on. Tobacco road mosque contributed D176.20 bututs; Gambia Dockworkers D2000. Most of the schools such as staff of Passamas Primary School in Wuli put in D87.00 companies such as African Enterprises Ltd put in D500, staff of Gambia College also put in D720.50. According to records, religious bodies such as the Baptist Fellowship also chipped in D1000. It appeared that the crises made the Gambia government to look eastwards to untapped sources such as South Korea to see if such emerging economies could bail The Gambia out of the debacle. Sir Dawda visited Seoul, South Korea for the first time on Wednesday 12 September 1984. Korea was said to have provided The Gambia with the services of three Medical doctors before the president’ s visit and that excludes a radiologist. According to reports, Sir Dawda was to seek for increase of the number of doctors from Korea. Korea and South Korea contributed $10,000 dollars and so on. The country continued to grapple with the crises. After the July 20th 1984 Budget Session, many commodity prices had registered dramatic increases, forcing the Minister of Finance and Trade, Mr. Sheriff Sisay, to intervene in a form of a release warning that the said increases were not justifiable and that importers and retailers were asked to revert to the prices that were in force before the budget, and that failure of which the appropriate action would be taken by the price control unit. Mr. Sisay also referred to his revenue proposals in his budget, amounting to D23, 073, 758 and said it is the highest that has been ever been raised in a single fiscal year in this country. The estimated revenue for 1984/85 was at D149, 565, 700 registering a total revenue of D172, 642, 458 for 1984/85. He expressed that government intends to collect every butut of the budget. This was why observers said it was a tough and hard hearted budget. The people were also informed that a central revenue department would be established to strengthen the revenue collection system; that arrears and current taxes due to government would also be vigorously collected. The treason trials which the regime used as the reason for maintaining the state of Emergency had now come to an end. According to Mr. Baboucarr Gaye of the Sun, the treason trial came to an end at about Friday 28 April 1984. The treason trial that was said to be the longest trial since the July 1981 incident commenced on November 24 1982. In this trial, five people have been acquitted and discharged. A sub-inspector, one Ansu Sawo, died in hospital during the course of the trial. He was said to have been seriously wounded at the time of the rebellion but was among the five acquitted. Field force officers and one civilian, James Ogoo, a teacher, were also among those acquitted and discharged. Reports also mentioned one man discharged on all counts but his name could not be captured by reporters, he was said to be suffering from hearing defect and was declared deaf by a medical officer. This judgment by Justice Macos Cole was said to be the end of the treason trials resulting from 30th July 1981 rebellion, almost three years after the event. According to the Sun, 1091 people were officially detained for alleged complicity in the abortive coup or rebellion; that 188 persons were charged and taken to court; and out of that number, 137 persons were convicted and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment for offences such as treason , treasonable felony, murder and kidnapping .The Sun in its assessment of the court cases, ascertained that out of the 188 taken to court, 50 persons were acquitted and discharged by the courts while three died naturally during the course of their trials. According to reports, of the people charged with treason, 63 persons were subsequently sentenced to death whose sentences have been confirmed by the court of Appeal but were later commuted by the president to either life or twenty (20) years imprisonment, as an act of mercy by the president of the Republic. The reports went on to sum up the cost of the trials which the state footed; that from may 1982 to the end of February 1984, the state has spent over D3½ million dalasis on the remuneration of judges, prosecutors and defence counsels. Two main opposition leaders were implicated and charged with treason and many other counts, ie, Mr. Sheriff Mustapha Dibba and Mr. Pap Cheyassin Secka. Mr. Dibba was eventually acquitted and discharged whilst Mr. Pap Cheyassin Secka was sentenced to death but was among those whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. At about April 1984, Mr. Secka had a successful operation carried out by Dr. Soranki, an Indian doctor working at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was later put on a special diet. The 1981 crisis has now been over as far as the trials emanating from it were concerned. It was now left with the state of Emergency laws to effectively and finally put the country behind the crisis. The state of Emergency had curtailed the freedom of the ordinary Gambian as well as the parties in the opposition. According to Mr. Dibba in an interview with the Sun, the state of Emergency should be lifted as the state was no longer in his opinion threatened at the time. He also indicated that his party could not express itself as it would have loved to do because of the state of emergency. By October 11 1984, something happened which indicated that all is not well with the confederation. The Vice President of the confederation, the Gambian president was said to have agreed with the president of the confederation, Abdou Joof to remove Mr. Mustapha Niasse, formerly, confederal minister of external relations from office. It was not clear whether because of the fall out between the Senegalese president and Mr. Niasse was the cause but earlier reports show that in a one day session in Dakar May 3rd 1984. to discuss movement towards economic and monetary union, president Abdou Joof called for the institutions of the confederation to operate normally and in line with the austerity measures adopted by the confederation. It was also revealed by Mr. Kah that a pool of accounting officers had been created to be headed by a Senegalese Financial comptroller but assisted by a Senegalese and a Gambian. The confederation got a surprise boost at the end of the year 1984, when Sheriff M. Dibba, the NCP leader made an open support for it after keeping mute on the issue since its declaration in 1982. According to the Sun, Sheriff had always refrained from making any public declaration on the confederation. The Sun also said even though Mr. Dibba, the NCP leader broke the silence, th e position of the NCP still remained unclear; that what was known was that the NCP criticized the Government in power for not having involved it in the process of establishing the confederation, to the extent that the NCP refused to participate in the deliberations of The Gambian house of parliament, on the ratification of the main confederal agreement. According to the Sun, in spite of the hostility shown, the NCP had two members in the confederal parliament, which the NCP leader said was an indication of his party’s support for the confederation. The year 1984 witnessed two important developments, ie, a contract for the construction of the Banjul/ Serrekunda Highway at an initial cost of D24 million dalasis, was contracted to one Louis Diaz De Losada, whose director was one Mr. Horst Sommer of Afro Atlantic Fame. It is a 4 lane each 7.5 metres wide, two going in either direction. It is eleven (11) kilometers long, costing D2 million dalasis per kilometre. The project was jointly financed through the Sandi Fund and ADB sources. The second thing was the introduction of an identification system of ID cards for Gambian nationals in 1984 for the first time in Gambian history. I t was initially meant to boost up security for the state. See next issue as we move into the events of 1985. OPINION RE: 100,000 TO EACH KMC COUNSILLOR TO REHABILITATE ROADS I was totally amazed when I learnt in the Foroyaa Editorial of issue No: 89/2007 that all KMC councillors were given one hundred thousand dalasis each for the rehabilitation of roads in their respective wards. I felt so because of the kind of work I have witnessed being done on the roads around where I live. The potholes on the road which joins the Western end of Bundung Bantaba to Gambi-bolong Street was filled with refuse mixed with soil from the main dumpsite in the areas. Similar works were done on the roads around Nboyo field. This makes those roads stinky and almost impassable for people on foot. People living in the compounds adjacent to these roads have been in hell since this refuse was dumped there in the name of road rehabilitation because of the foul smell emanating from the mess. I learnt that many of these residents were forced to always keep their doors close as a way of trying to prevent the odour getting in and many of them could not stay in their houses during the day without burning incense (churai). This is exposing the people living in these areas to all kinds of diseases particularly little children who could sometimes be seen scavenging at the sites. The reason why people kept away wastes from themselves to be dumped elsewhere is because of the fear that they could get diseases from them, if allowed to be accumulated around them. This is why they are taken to the dumpsite. To now take that waste from the dumpsite and place it among them is to re-enforce that fear instead of allaying it. We expect our representatives to know that better. This money they are given for this work is our sweat and therefore we deserve that it should be used honesty and efficiently to better our lives and not to harm us. With the hundred thousand dalasis, the councillors could do a better job for us than what I have seen in our area. It would have been better even if those potholes were filled with sand as I have seen some people doing. That at least absorbs any water that flows to the area of the road and makes it less muddy. I also learnt that after this undesirable work in the area the people were ordered not to take their waste to that dumpsite again without being given an alternative. The people have been dumping refuse at that place because of the fact that for several years now, KMC refuse collection vehicles have not been seen collecting them. Now that this order is made, what do they expect the people to do other than be dumping their refuse indiscriminately. KMC authorities should tell the people what to do with their waste because they don’t expect them to keep it in their homes. We expect to be treated fairly especially by people who are supposed to be our servants. By a concerned resident Bundung Bantaba Street. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY HEART BREAKER’S NEMESIS Part 9 Another Episode Lolly is still self centred and unrepentant. Its payback time. Victims came for their pound of flesh. Thugs came into her house and met her coming out. They pretended to ask for somebody. As she tried to explain to them she was overpowered, drugged and dragged into her house which was in a isolated part of the city. While one raped her, the other went to get her fiancé. The house was set up to make it real to the naked eye. Alcohol and cigarette littered around. Ablie’s Shock The other thug went to get Ablie. It was unbelievable and shocking. He found the other thug ready making love to Lolly. Lolly was in a state of stupor. He wanted to wake and enquire from her but the other thug stopped him. “No! Don ’t wake her. I have just made love to her. Don’t wake her up. I see you are the stupid guy who want to marry her? You are a dreamer. Lolly is my girl. I will marry her.” “What! It’s a joke. How can you make love to my fiancée, the girl I want to marry and take along to the U.K? This is a joke! Uncle Mose and Aunty Aisha have to hear this! This is unacceptable!” Ablie Goes To His Inlaws Ablie drove in a rage. He went to his in-laws. Fortunately, the couples were at home. He came panting. “Lolly is a slut, a whore! I don’t want her again. I am breaking up the marriage proposal. Lolly is at her house making love to her boyfriend. I was told and I disbelieved. A guy took me to her house and I found her boyfriend ready making love to her. Thank Allah! I am saved. I would have been married to a common whore. Everything spent on her is her luck. Good riddance to bad rubbish!” Aunty Aisha and Uncle Mose were shocked. “ It couldn’t be true! In-law! Take it easy! Don’t be in a state of rush! Things can be amended! Be patient!” They begged. “Seeing is believing! Go now and see it for yourself then you can assess my mindset.” Ablie reasoned with them. They Go To Confirm Aunty Aisha and Uncle Mose went to confirm. They were shocked to find Lolly in deep stupor and the house littered with alcohol and Cigarettes. The thug was still around when they visited to confirm. They too left in a rage. When the scene cleared, the thug left Lolly to her predicament and shut her duplet. Sainabou And The Thugs Sainaba is a ‘panka’ (aggressive person). She believes in payback. (Do me Ah do you!) Lolly will not go scott-free. She paid the thugs who framed up Lolly. She met them and paid them double. “I am very happy. I heard the news. It is all over town. Thank you.” She said. “IT’s nice doing business with you. Next time.” The thugs left. Aunty Aisha And Uncle Mose The couples summoned Lolly and rebuked her. Lolly could not answer any of their questions. She was blank. They were furious. They explained what they saw. “When Ablie told us we disbelieved. We went to your house ourselves. What did we see? The shock of our life. Your lover already making love to you. Alcohol and Cigarettes littered around your room. You were in deep stupor and you lover in pants sweating.” “You have shamed us! You have killed us!” Aunty Aisha concurred. “Ablie have called off the marriage proposal. He is no longer marrying you!” Put in Uncle Mose. “Who will? Tell me who will marry a fiancée in such a compromising position? Ablie is right! I don’t blame him!” Lolly cried for understanding.” I don’t know what you are saying. Believe me! I could have been drugged and raped. What I could remember is someone came to ask for someone and that’s all!” “Drugged and raped! Lolly listen to yourself! Who will drug and rape you?” Uncle Mose asked “Spare us your cock and bull story!” Aunty Aisha concurred. Lolly cried her heart out. Nemesis have caught up with the heart breaker, the Cameleon friend. Being short sighted, she still refused to connect her predicament to her destructive schemes. The Dream Mama Saw is devastated. Her hope dashed. She feared for Lolly. She invited her to their village. Lolly came. She narrated her dream. “My daughter! What is happening to you are not mere events. I dreamt of twenty dangerous looking dogs chasing after you. Did you wrong some people? If you do humbly go to them and ask for forgiveness.” Mama pleaded. She lied and disbelieved. “Mama, I don’t believe in dreams. I did not wrong anyone. I am innocent. If Ablie broke up with me that’s it. I did not ask him to come. His going is no big deal. I am not in a hurry for a husband. It will come when it will come.” She brushed Ablie affair aside. “I sense danger. I am your mother. I believe my intuition. Make peace with those you offended.” She became sulky to her mum. “ Mama please! I did not offend anybody. Stop disturbing me.” Mama was not convince. “You do not respect me. You don’t take my advice. As a mother, I have spoken.” Mamma emphasized. The Thugs Again The four thugs who chased her when she first went shopping with Ablie came to her village looking for her. She spotted them first. When they saw her waiting for a transport to come back to the city they ran after her. She is smart. She ran into the bush and they lost track of her. She escape by the split of a hair. In the City Lolly came back to the city. She gave up her duplet and decided to relocate back into her Uncle and Aunt’s house. They welcomed her and advised her to be careful with her life. Penda Again Penda was shattered for life. She worked to built her relationship with Chernor. Che was her life and strength. All her plans were shattered by Lolly’s envy and jealousy. She vouched to leave Lolly with a permanent feature to remember her for life. She came and found Lolly preparing breakfast for the family. She greeted her. Lolly was shocked to see Penda again. “Are you surprised to see me again?” Lolly started to make excuses. “You destroyed my life. I trusted you and told you everything about myself. Because of envy and jealousy you stab my back. Well! I am going home to nurse my wounds and gather my scattered pieces. But before I go let me leave you with something that will always make you remember never to pay evil for kindness!” Lolly turned to explain to get Penda’s understanding. Penda threw acid at her face and disappeared. She cried for help. Aunty Aisha rushed in. “Penda! Penda! Acid! Acid!” “Oh acid! Help1 Help! Help! Who is Penda? Oh Lolly!” The Aunty Aisha called for help. Aunty Aisha washed her face and rushed her to the nearest hospital. This is the worst predicament she dreamt off. Depriving a babe of her facial beauty! This is a sad story. Readers beware of heart breaker’s nemesis! Lolly rushed her luck. Allah’s time is the best. She destroyed precious happiness. When her turn came she could not be left alone to enjoy her own. The End FA Cup: Titans Seek Finals Appearance By Modou Nyang The FA Cup semi final commences today with some of the big in Gambian club football bidding for the country’s second most coveted club football prize. League champions Real de Banjul aspiring to complete a double silverware swoop this season, face dethroned 2006 league champions Gambia Ports Authority at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. Real are so full of confidence at this moment following their demolition of arch rivals Wallidan at the quarter final stage. And meeting Ports who are still reeling from the disappointment of relinquishing their crown to Real at this stage of the competition following a disappointing late season run. Speaks for it self in terms of the hostility and the quality of play that is expected today. Defending champions Hawks is also leaving no stone unturned in their quest to retain their crown. Hawks outclassed Armed Forces 2-0 on Sunday to advance to the semi final where they book a date with Bakau United on Sunday after the Bakau side defeated second division club Kaira Silo 3-0. Hawks knows what it is like playing in the Continent having tasted some glory in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup, they are determined not to allow that opportunity slip away. And Bakau United on the other hand narrowly escaped relegation by drawing Real de Banjul 1-1 on the last day of the league season, will want to regain some of their lost glory. Gambian Trio progress to UEFA Cup Next Round By Modou Nyang All three Gambians battling out for progression in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds has progressed to the next stage of the competition. It was goals galore in Norway as Tijan Jaiteh and his club Brann emerged 14-3 aggregate winners against Welsh side Carmarthen Town after demolishing them 6-3 at Brann Stadium. Thursday night’s result followed an earlier more humiliating defeat of the UK club at their own grounds by 8 clear goals. Tijan Jaiteh was in action for the entire period of the match and was not lucky to be among the goal scorers. The Norwegian side took control of the game early as Petter Vaagan Moen grabbed the opener in the 9th minute. Armann Smari Bjørnsson doubled the score in the 18th minute and Robbie Winters made it three and four in the 27th and 32nd minutes. Kristjan Ørn Sigurdsson and Erlend Hanstveit completed the rout in the 56th and 57th minutes respectively. In Finland, Dawda Bah’s HJK ensured their passage to the next qualifying stage with a 1-0 victory over FC Etzella Ettelbruck of Luxembourg. Bah and his side won the tier 3-0 on aggregate following a 2-0 triumph at home in first leg in which he scored the opener in the 24th minute of the first half. HJK broke the deadlock in the 26 minute through midfielder Vili Savolainen. Dave was involved for the full duration of the game. Over to Austria where Pa Saikou Kujabi and SV Ried went through despite losing 2-1 away at FC Neftchi Baku of Azerbaijan. Ried won on aggregate by virtue of their first leg 3-1 victory at home. IN IEC ALLEGED FORGERY TRIAL Kawsu Ceesay Denies Allegation By Fabakary B. Ceesay The Former Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr. Kawsu Ceesay, has on Tuesday 31July before Magistrate Bubacarr Secka of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, denied allegation that he forged the signature of the then Chairman, Mr. Ndondi Njie, to purchased election materials from a company in Canada. Mr. Kawsu Ceesay told the court that in June 2006, the IEC purchased some election materials from Dakar, Senegal. He said the IEC wrote a letter to Trust Bank to transfer D700,000 to The Gambia High Commission in Dakar and for them to help in procuring the registration and election materials. He said he was instructed by Mr. Ndondi Njie to sign the letter for The Gambia High Commission in Dakar. Mr. Ceesay said that sometime in May 2006, Mr. Ndondi Njie convened a Commission meeting and raised the issue of push and pull between him (Mr. Njie and Kawsu), on the issue of placing an order for registration and election materials from Code Incorporated. Mr. Ceesay said that Mr. Njie told the Commissioners that he had never requested him (Kawsu) to place a firm order for the materials. He said Mr. Njie told the Commissioners that he had sent an email to CODE to stop the consignment which is already in Belgium heading for The Gambia. He said that Mr. Njie maintained that the IEC has never placed any order for materials from CODE. “My reaction was that, I insisted that he give me the instructions to place for an order to CODE,” said Mr. Ceesay. Mr. Ceesay indicated that at that point in time, the IEC has carried out an inventory of the materials available at all the regional IEC offices and discovered that registration cards and laminations were not sufficient. He added that UNDP was also at the time trying to assist them to procure materials from “I APSO” but that UNDP told them that they would be able to provide most of the materials except for the voter registration cards and laminations. Mr. Ceesay said that registration exercise could not take place without those materials and that IEC has found itself in a difficult situation; that time is running out for them and that the AU Summit was fast approaching with the election to be held soon afterwards. He asserted that the IEC decided to purchase some materials like films and laminations from Dakar, Senegal. He added that the Commission decided to start the registration of voters on 19 June to 2 July 2006, even though there were little materials at hand at the time. “This led to numerous problems, for eligible Gambians could not register because materials are not sufficient,” said Mr. Ceesay. See next issue for all the details. “WORKERS NEED SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT,” SAYS GWC SG By Annia Gaye The Executive Secretary General of The Gambia Worker’s Confederation, Pa Modou K.B Faal has said that millions of workers, all over the world, are suffering from Double or Treble Tragedies, as they are not only lowly paid but their safety, health and environment is in constant threat and danger as a result of very serious hazards at the work place. Mr. Faal was speaking in the opening ceremony of a two day workshop, which was held recently at the Corinthia Hotel, was organised by The Gambia worker’s confederation in collaboration with the National Environment Agency on the theme “The need for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) vis-à-vis Globally Harmonized Systems(GHS) at the work place. He noted that work related fatalities, injuries and loss of property, as a result of workplace hazards, are common reading in the media. He further noted that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) statistics on fatalities, injuries and loss of property which are associated with Environment Hazards at the workplace are alarming and still on the increase. He explained that it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the workplace is safe, healthy and generally less hazardous as free as possible. He said that it is “The Government whose responsibility is to update occupational safety and health (OSH) laws and regulations and ensure that they are strictly observed?” He further reiterated that there can never be a decent environment without the consideration of occupation safety and health. This, he said, is one of the greatest challenges workers and their Trade Union Organisations are facing in the 21st century. LAMIN R. DARBOE AND CO. TRIAL GETS A NEW MAGISTRATE By Modou Jonga The trial involving the state and Lamin R. Darboe, the UDP Kombo East candidate in the last National Assembly Elections, and four of his supporters is to proceed with a new presiding magistrate, Magistrate Ayub Johnny Njie, at Brikama on 13 August, 2007. The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty, are arraigned in court shortly after the preceding Kombo East National Assembly by-election. The trial has not proceeded for more than one year now due to various factors such as the absence of prosecution witness, no consistent prosecuting officers, presiding Magistrates and absence of defence counsel. The said trial was previously before Magistrate Assan Martin, who before being fired gave the options of either proceeding or striking out the case. The accused persons were alleged to have committed unlawful assault thereby causing actual bodily harm to their respective complainants on 15 May, last year at Pirang in the Kombo East District of Western Region. PLANNING UNITS INVOLVE GRASSROOTS ON 2008 BUDGET By Bubacarr K. Sowe The annual interface forum being facilitated by The Pro-Poor Advocacy Group (Pro-PAG) will today bring together stakeholders from the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs (DOSFEA), government Planning Units and representatives of four of the regions to identify priority inputs for the 2008 national budget at the Paradise Suites Hotel. Pro-PAG is collaborating with DOSFEA, the Strategy for Poverty Alleviation Coordination Office (SPACO) and Community Development to constructively engage grassroots communities in a participatory budget process. According to Pro-PAG this year is the first time that the Central River Region (North) has joined the Western Region, North Bank Region and Upper River Region in the European Union Financed- Support to Decentralise Rural Development project. It is also indicated that the objective of the interface meeting is to create a forum where the community representatives will have an opportunity to engage the planning units with a view to having their most pressing needs captured in the 2008 budget. As indicated by Dr. Siga Jagne, Director of Pro-PAG. Dr. Jagne said: “These divisions have engaged local stakeholders in the formulation of regional action plans, which have been derived from community and ward action plans. It is expected that by capturing the views of the grassroots communities, the budget would be much more reflective of the needs of ordinary Gambian citizens”. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour 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]