The Standard Newspaper

Speaking, partly off-the-cuff, at the state opening of the National Assembly in Banjul on Monday, the president stated: “I live for justice and I will die for justice. The Gambia will never be colonised or exploited twice. By the grace of Almighty Allah, I will do whatever I want to do to liberate my people from abject poverty without anybody doing anything about it. I live for justice and I will die for justice. I will die a proud man for having stood for justice. Gambians will not be enslaved or colonised twice or exploited.  That will not happen.

“What is democracy and human rights?  For 400 years we could only have one high school, the north of the river Gambia was left in a jungle state. Children were not going to school, university education was a far-fetched dream and [yet in] 19 years of ‘dictatorship’ there are schools and university in the provinces.  My definition of good governance is for the government to work for the interest of the people, not for the interest of government officials, and that is what I stand for. So, the choice is yours, Gambian people: a democracy that enslaved you and captured your children and sent them into slavery; or another democracy that you will dance to the tune of slave masters that were exploiting you, impoverishing you; or a dictatorship that brings you development and equality. The choice is yours. I am proud to be called ‘a dictator of development, freedom and integrity of Gambian people’.” 

While taking a swipe at the West for its colonial legacy and history of injustice to Africa, the president continued:  “Human rights? For 400 years, there was no human rights institution in this country! There cannot be anything worth calling genocidal more than slavery and nobody is talking about it. Those who killed the Jews are still paying for it. After World War II, Africans who clamoured for independence were massacred, and none of those criminals have faced justice for their actions despite the fact that those who were responsible for the Holocaust are being prosecuted. Africans fought to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany and when they celebrate, you never see a black man as a veteran in their celebrations.  Even the veterans are not paid their dues… My government had to take care of all of them and treat them as veterans despite [the fact that they did] not fight for us but Great Britain. While Gambians were coerced to fight for Great Britain, the capital city Banjul was ‘a hell hole on earth’ that President Roosevelt of United States even became ill immediately after visiting The Gambia. The capital was so rotten.

“African should realise that for 400 years, the British could not build a university. For 400 years! For 400 years they built only one high school [Armitage]. So, it would have taken us may be 12,000 years to build a school and billion years to build a university. We are not sleeping and we will not sleep. Patriotic Gambians and Africans will stand up for their rights. How many storey buildings were here?  Even the State House was built by the Portuguese, not the British, and now they are telling us about democracy and human rights. Those agents of yours that work for you will find me here and I’m not afraid of anybody.”

The president further told lawmakers: “I had made a pledge during the last Meet The People Tour that by 2013 September, I will make education free for lower basic school and by the grace of Allah, we implement the same for upper basic schools in 2014. The objective of my administration is make education free for all Gambians from kindergarten to university by the grace of God.

“By providing such grants, the cost burden of education on the households will significantly reduce to a level that allow every household in this country to be able to educate their children with absolute affordability, irrespective of geographical location and income level. This a promise I am making good to Gambians, especially our women who bear the brunt of educational expenses for their children and insha’Allah, I will never fail in making sure that their children get quality education in this country.

“Ignorance is the worst disease for humanity; it is the worst killer disease because if it is not ignorance, Africans who are killing each other for the sake of Western interests will not be killing each other.  Ignorance cannot be eradicated by any political philosopher but through education. Education is a remedy and we want to educate every Gambian whether the mother is poor or rich. And because of the support of Gambian women, I don’t want to overburden them with expensive school fees because I know at the end they have to work very hard to pay tuition fee for their children. I want to assure Gambian women, the mothers of this country that as long I am alive, as president or not, your children will be educated with quality education for free.”

By Sainey Marenah

“I have lived in Bakoteh for many years and I have never heard of anyone who died as a result of female genital mutilation (FGM). All the campaigners are saying is repetition of what other people told them. For us, we are here for the articulation of the truth. Let them bring something that can convince us because we know that the pictures and the things they say do not emanate from them but from outsiders far away from The Gambia. FGM does not exist in The Gambia. What we have here is female circumcision. If you know what FGM means, you know that we do not practice that here. We do not mutilate our children. 

“The crux of the matter is, they should not portray us as practitioners of a thing that we do not practice. Given we do not have FGM here, why are they campaigning against it. If they are campaigning against FGM, let them go to places that practice it but not to us because we do not practice that here. What we have here is circumcision and that is our religion. We do not mutilate our people. FGM is part of our religion. When it comes to FGM, Islam found us practising it. Prophet Muhammad found the people of Medina practising it and Allah commanded him to follow the path of Prophet Ibrahim of which FGM is one that he advised. Prophet Muhammad also advised people how to do it in a good way hence it became part of our religious practice.”

Challenged to cite any benefits of the practice that prompted him to put up such spirited defence of it, the strident cleric, who studied in Saudi Arabia, continued:  “The prophet, Muhammad said we should practice circumcision but with moderation so that we leave a smile on her face and therein lies reward for the husband. If a woman doesn’t undergo the practice, in the majority of circumstances, they have greater sexual appetite than the husband and this can lead them to have contempt for the man if he falls short in satisfying her appetite. Or it can put on the husband a duty so onerous it could result in hardship for him. But if they are circumcised, balance can be achieved; the husband will not incur hardship and so too the wife. It also contributes to cleanliness. Circumcision makes you cleaner. But this does not mean if a woman has not undergone the practice, her prayers, fasting or pilgrimage will not be accepted. They will be accepted as long as they keep clean. It is easier for a circumcised woman to keep clean than the uncircumcised one.

“The late Dr Jack Faal, may Allah grant him mercy, said that all the negative things being said about FGM is rubbish. That it leads to bleeding is without scientific basis and evidence. He said that the blood that comes in the process is just a trickle. It is just like when a finger is wounded the blood trickles but does not lead to profuse bleeding. He said there is no cutting of muscle involved nor bones. What is done is just to cut a small bit of skin; so small and it heals fast. The allegations of anti-FGM campaigners that it causes bleeding that can lead to death has been rebutted by Dr Jack Faal. In fact, Dr Jack Faal said those who did not undergo the procedure suffer more during labour than those who underwent it”.

By Sainey Darboe

They have already been able to buy some goodies (hoops, jumping sacks, bean bags, eggs-and-spoons, hoppy racers, soft balls and team bands) for sports events at several Gambian schools.

Frankie, Rachel, Ellie and Caroline will be going to The Gambia as part of the Pageant group in April. They will be visiting some schools they visited previously, and also, for the first time, a little nursery in Banjul – the Unity Nursery and Daycare Centre. 

The founder of the organisation, Pippa Howard, said of the endeavour by the girls to support the education of children in The Gambia: “The Pageant Runners did themselves proud today and were worthy of the tremendous support they  have received from family and friends.  Sadly, Alice had injured herself in training, but the other seven members of the team arrived in good time, raring to go.  Alice had nobly come along to watch and support, as had several other friends and family members.  Mercifully, the overnight rain had cleared away and it was bright, if rather chilly.  Thank you all so much, team, for all the training and effort you have put into this, and thank you, too, to all your wonderful supporters.  The Gambian schools and families that you will be able to help with the amazing amount you have raised will be, as they would say themselves, highly grateful.

“We are looking forward to our Gambian trip in April, when Frances, Caroline, Rachel and Ellie will be coming out to give sports, maths and art sessions and materials to several schools – I wish that all members of the team could be coming… next time, maybe.”

Speaking at the launching of the charity at Brikama Red Cross conference hall, he revealed: ”We have already paid the school fees of four students two of whom are attending Bottrop Upper Basic, one at Tujereng Senior Secondary and one at Management Development Institute (MDI) to the tune of D10,665. 

 “About fifty students will be supported by the charity part of which ten will awarded to the ward councilor, Yaya Bojang, to also support others within his ward. The sponsorship package will commence in the third term and from there the person will be supported until the end of his/her schooling .The main sponsor has made it clear that he can only pay for school fees but not any book bills.”

Speaking further, Mr Colley told parents that the goal of the foundation is not to concentrate its operations only in Brikama and the Kombos, but across the breadth and length of the country.

Landing Touray, a  Gambian-born  disk jockey domiciled  in Finland who founded the organisation and  doubles as its  chief executive officer, said it was  established in Finland on 14 March 2011 with the aim of supporting needy Gambian students and was officially registered in The Gambia on the 30th December 2012.

He added: “Helping my people is a great concern to me and the foundation. I will do my very best in promoting the education of the fifty students that will be selected based on the criteria of the charity. As the famous English saying goes, ‘charity begins at home’ and that is the reason we are here today launching the charity in order to honor our town and her people”.  

However, Mr Touray asserted that the continuity of the sponsorship of students will be contingent upon “acceptable academic performance”.

 “If a sponsored child fails twice in a term, we will send a signal to the parents as a warning to the student and if there is no progress, we will cancel the sponsorship,” he said.

Yaya Bojang, councilor  for Suba Ward, commended the charity for their humanitarian overtures, noting that education is the key to success in life.

“As the ward councilor, I am ready to promote this partnership with the charity because they are here to promote and develop The Gambia. The CEO of the foundation is a patriotic citizen who loves his people and the country as a whole,” he stated.

Concluding, councilor Bojang urged other Gambians in the diaspora, especially natives of Brikama, to emulate the founder of Masta Lion Promotion Landing Touray.

By Alieu Darboe

Ebrima Sanneh an eyewitness told The Standard that the fire was suspected to have been started by a faulty electrical cable. He said the raging inferno was no match for the group of young men who helplessly tried to douse it with buckets of water.  He said fire brigade arrived after “almost everything was lost”.

“I have never seen sure a fire; burning down everything and ripping the whole compound apart. This is very unfortunate for the Barrow Kunda family because the fire has taken away everything and they would need to start life all over again. I am urging the public to help the victims of the fire and come to the aid of the family by contacting this number: (00220) 7164369,” Mr Sanneh pleaded.

The head of the razed compound, Mustapha Barrow, lamented that the “unfortunate incident could not have come at a worse time” while appealing for “support in this period of trying challenge.”

Speaking to The Standard over the weekend, Mr Darboe said: “Come 2016, you will see a candidate more formidable than myself. I can assure you that. UDP is not a party that is individual-based, or personality-based. It is a party that has deep roots throughout the country. We have membership both within and outside the country, from the ranks of which we have very formidable candidates.”

The lawyer-cum-politician is more than 65 years, which according to the laws of The Gambia, disqualifies him from contesting the presidency, something he called “abominable”. Asked to give names of such “formidable candidates” within his party ranks that are capable of succeeding him as new candidate, Darboe maintained: “Let me just say that we have members from the senior executive who are capable of succeeding me – both from outside the country and those that are here. I do not wish to mention any names…

Asked why he isn’t willing to reveal such names, the UDP leader said: “Because that may jeopardise their positions… take for example, one of our very promising members: Word was going around that he is a possible successor; you have seen how the criminal justice system has been misused to get at him,” he said, referring to Amadou Sanneh, a chartered accountant and an executive member of the UDP who was convicted of issuing supporting documents to asylum seekers.  

“We do not want that to happen to others. Obviously he [Amadou Sanneh] has all the ingredients [to become my successor as presidential candidate]… Yes, I can tell you that [… his conviction] has something to do with it,” said Darboe. 

The UDP leader who ran four times against President Jammeh and lost described the current political environment as “very hostile”.

By Sanna Camara

Defence lawyer, Lamin Mboge, made the application as he continued his cross-examination of the state witness Lamin Ceesay, who told the court that the statement of Dawda Fadera was in the custody of the state. 

Njogu Bah who was also minister responsible for presidential affairs, is being tried on a charge of abuse of office for posting one Jainaba Jobarteh as The Gambia’s representative to the United Nations during his tenure as the secretary general. Bah denied the charge. 

Continuing his cross-examination of the state witness, Mboge asked him: “Can you produce the statement of Dawda Fadera, permanent secretary at Personnel Management Office?” The witness replied that the said statement was in the file of the prosecution and at that point counsel applied to the court for the prosecution to produce the said witness statement for the purpose of cross-examination. But the DPP Bakum objected to the application citing authorities from the Evidence Act to back up his objection.

He argued that the counsel did not “lay a proper foundation” that could warrant the prosecution to produce the statement. The DPP contended that the witness should not have been asked as he was not in possession of the statement. 

But Lawyer Mboge said it was the duty of both the defence and prosecution to produce evidences before the court for the purpose of justice and fair trial. He recalled that he had earlier made an application for the statements of the witnesses to be provided to the defence, but the statement of Dawda Fadera was not copied for reasons, he said, best known to the prosecution. 

“This is a court of summary jurisdiction and we do not need further notice to be filed. The section cited by the prosecution cannot be applied at this point. The prosecution can only object to the reproduction of a statement when it is against the interest of the state or public. This witness has confirmed that the said statement is in the file and even when the prosecution is objecting on the ground of public interest or the state, the court should determine whether the document should be produced. Your worship, it is a trite law that it is not in the best interest of justice and public interest to refuse to produce a document that is material, relevant and intended to assist the court to arrive at a just conclusion in this case,” counsel explained while citing relevant law authorities to back up his submission and urged the court to dismiss the objection raised by the DPP. Replying on points of law, the DPP argued that section 225 of the Evidence Act cited by the defence was not at the instant of any party rather the said section gave power to the court to order for the production of statements.  Lawyer Mboge at that point stood up to apply for adjournment in order to enable the court to make a ruling which was upheld by the trial magistrate. Hearing resumes April 7.

By Baba Sillah

He said: “You have ably conveyed to the rest of the world the pride and independence of this country. From the vibrant support you have been giving to government policy in our bid to extricate ourselves from all shades of neo-colonialist influence or hegemony, and your refusal to entertain the attempts of imperialist institutions to force down our throat, agreements that tend to not just only ensure their continued merciless exploitation of our resources to our own detriment but nullify our sovereignty. You have made us all proud as free-born Almighty Allah-only-worshipping citizens of this great country.

“I am aware that PAC/PEC is now a role model for other countries as well as multilateral agencies around the world that keep on sending teams to this Assembly for study tours.” President Jammeh told law-makers: “I take great pride in your achievements because they have manifested my doctrine of accountability, probity and justice for truly democratic institutions under the July 22nd revolution that represent the true interest of the people of this country,” President Jammeh said while characterising the crusade against corruption as not only the responsibility of the judiciary and the executive but a moral duty upon all and sundry.

Oil

President Yahya Jammeh declared that The Gambia will exploit her oil resources in a joint venture “with friendly governments around the world” while criticising oil companies for using the licences for “speculative purposes”.

He said:  “Following the recent termination of the licences for offshore block A1 and A4 and onshore Block Upper River in January 2013 due to the lack of performance by African Petroleum Gambia Limited (APGL) and Oranto respectively, the Ministry of Petroleum continues to embark on rigorous marketing and negotiation of offshore blocks (A1, A3, A4, A6) and onshore blocks (lower and upper rivers). Henceforth, we will look for strategic partnership in the form of joint ventures with friendly governments around the world. This policy shift is necessitated by my government’s divine obligation to ensure that Gambians enjoy the highest possible returns on our Allah-given natural resources.”  

He added: “The impact of our collective efforts is positively felt in all parts of the country and covers all sectors of our economy ranging from public infrastructure, agriculture, to vital social services like health and education. The impact of these and other myriad development initiatives have been felt not only within the borders of this country but also by those living in distant countries who continue to respond to the beckoning allure of the smiling coast for most memorable deserved vacations of a lifetime or use shores for thriving business enterprise or to prepare themselves for their journeys in discovering the world beyond Koina and Kartong.”

Sectoral activities

Dilating on setoral activities, President Jammeh explained: “In order to realise The Gambia’s strong economic potential, the 2014 budget is anchored on consolidating macroeconomic stability and accelerating the attainment of government’s development agenda in partnership with the private sector. Therefore, our economic development strategy for the year 2014 budget is based on the following three inter-linked priorities, namely: high and sustainable growth; employment creation and lowering net domestic borrowing to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2014, and to contain this ratio to near zero percent in the medium term.

 “We are working to realise these three objectives simultaneously, with a focus on the sub-sectors of manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. Overall, we are pleased that the economy remains resilient and inflation under control despite pressure on the economy due to the unfavorable international economic. The economy performed reasonably well in 2013, growing at 5.4 percent marginally up to 5-and-a-quarter percent in 2012. Furthermore, overall fiscal deficit reached 8% of GDP, while net domestic borrowing reached 6% of the GDP. Government will therefore continue implementing policies that support fiscal prudence using a combination of revenue and expenditure measures with the objective of lowering net domestic borrowing.” 

The occasion was graced by the Vice-President Isatou Njie-Saidy, Secretary General Momodou Sabally, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, members of parliament past and present and religious leaders, security chiefs, governors and others.

By Sainey MK Marenah

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Standard, the Chairman of Gunjur Community link (GCL) Ousman Manko Touray explained:

“We hope to discuss further with the people of Gunjur in our efforts to come up with a strategic plan to combat youth unemployment in our community. We have set up a task force which, after wide consultations with the community, came up with a strategic plan to create employment for young people. We have realised that something has to be put in place for young people. On the schedule during the visit is a meeting with Gunjur Community Link, the task force and Tarud Board of Business to discuss the strategic plan and the way forward.

“The whole idea is to get young people away from ‘Attaya’ vous to being productive members of society. We have some very skillful and talented young people here, but they do not have the finance to realise the great entrepreneurial promise that they have”.

Mr. Touray expressed optimism that the successful implementation of the strategic plan will go a long way in strategically positioning the young people to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the community in particular and the country at large, for prosperity and development.

Gunjur Marlborough link, which commenced over thirty years ago, has resulted in mutual exchange of over 1500 people with the over-arching aim of promoting peace and development through cultural understanding.

Accomplishments of the link include, but not limited to the construction of a five classroom block in 1982, a women’s garden, pre-school and two milling machines.

By Sainey Darboe

Speaking to The Standard, a butcher Ousman Jallow said: “Business is very, very dull. It used to be good but not these days. I think it might be that the season is ending that is why things seem to be so dull. During the start of the tourist season we have received many customers and registered good sales. As the season ends business has gone down drastically”.

Isatou Jammeh, a palm oil and vegetable seller enunciated that “lack of customers and poor sales” has been a “very big problem.” 

“Business is not working. I used to take a loan from palm oil producers at D10, 000 and resell it here at the market. Now I am not doing that because of fear that I would not be able to pay back looking at the nature of business here.  

Kabba Jatta, 73, who has been in the market for 39 years vending fish, said that he is minded to stay in the market despite dismal sales.

“It is better for me to continue doing this business than sitting at home because this is where I earn my livelihood even though business seemed unstable. Sometimes business is good and at other times it is poor, but that is the nature of business itself. You cannot register good sale every day,” he said.

However, the overwhelming tale of woe is not universal across the market as Mommodou  Bah a fruit and vegetables vendor said: “Business is working steadily and fine at the moment. Customers are coming out steadily and fruit sellers are also many in the market now. And everybody is earning what he or she should from their sales.” Expressing similar sentiments, Fatou Sidibeh, also a vegetable seller described  business as “not bad at the moment.”

By Alagie Manneh

“The political will is already there,” she said. “The present government, under President Jammeh, has created the enabling environment for women to show their potential.

“Our problem is that educated Gambian women are shying away from politics. The average educated Gambian woman has no interest in politics. They want to have everything on the silver plate.” 

Mrs. Sanneh-Bojang is the first elected female parliamentarian in The Gambia, elected into parliament in 1982, during the first republic. A few decades on, women’s effective participation in political leadership remains marginal. And now she’s actively involved in a feminist campaign that seeks to change the country’s political environment from male domination.   

“We the majority of Gambian women are saying that it is not enough for the president to be handpicking us, especially for parliamentary seats,” she said 

“We are no longer satisfied with the number of women nominated to the parliament. We want to struggle and campaign alongside with men and take our rightful positions at the parliament. There we will have a stronger voice. If the number of women is increased in parliament, then we will be able to push our issues and agenda through. 

“We will go after elite women to come out and effectively participate in elections and decision making process because they owe it to their nation. They were educated by their parents to take part in all spheres of nation building. We will go after them. They will come out by force. I know they will not all be courageous enough, but I’m sure if we go after them, sensitise and motivate them, we will have a good number of them who will be vying for political leadership positions.”

The prominent female politician was talking to journalists on the sidelines of a weeklong Anglophone regional forum. Organised by London-based  women’s rights organisation, Women Living Under Muslim Laws  (WLUML), the event was hosted by a Gambian women’s rights NGO, Gamcotrap. It brought together feminist activists from Nigeria, Somalia, Senegal and The Gambia for a meeting aimed at stimulating women to bridge the gender cap in politics and leadership positions.

Also speaking to journalists, Dr. Isatou Touray, the executive director of Gamcotrap, said: “The Banjul meeting was held following an international call from the Status of Women about changes that are necessary for women to engage constructively in development. 

“We need a transformational leadership for women in every decision making process. The whole agenda for post-2015 is transformational leadership. We don’t need to be followers but elected members in society. Leadership should not be a male reserve but vice versa.”

On the outcome of the forum, Dr. Touray said: “We have taken a common front where we say, we must continue the advocacy and strengthen women who have leadership qualities but might not have discovered themselves.”

Fatou sow, a professor of Sociology, formerly of Shiekh Anta Diop University in Dakar, and now international director of WLUML, said: “We feel concerned about gender issues in the society. Our aim is to advocate for women’s rights issues. Women Living under Muslim Law is not a religious organisation, but we are concerned about women on whom laws said to be derived from Islam are applied, and many of those laws are very repressive to women.”

Dr. Ayesha Imam, a Nigerian delegate said: “The training was organised because we felt that there is not enough women leaders in Africa, except Rwanda. Leadership is a process where men and women should take up roles. Our advocacy is to have more women in leadership roles. We want transformational leadership where democracy will flourish. We need transformational leadership for women.”

Minna Salami, delegate from London and Sagal Sheihk Ali of Somalia made similar remarks.

The Banjul meeting was part of WLUML women’s empowerment and leadership development for democratisation programme, which aimed to empower women in leadership in Middle East, Africa, Asia, to help them effectively combat violence against women.

Author: Sainey Marenah