Re: Commission demands NAWEC’s 2010 financial report
Dear editor,
I am wondering if there is anybody among these so-called commissioners (at the Janneh Commission) with a background in accounting or finance to be able to understand what financial statements are and what they are used for. Africa, let us wake up from a deep coma.
I call the Janneh Commission a so-called commission because since the start of its sittings, I have not seen any Government Audited Financial Statements on which the enquiries should be based.
It is the mandate of the National Assembly to set up such a commission with its members selected in a committee comprising some of the elected members of all the parties in the Assembly for it to be considered credible and unbiased.
All the findings should be based on the Auditor General’s report and not hearsay.
The money being paid to these commissioners, if put into Nawec, will probably bring energy to some households.
Siidi Nyassi
Email: [email protected]
On Lamin Gano’s Bantaba interview
Dear editor,
I think Lamin Gano was one of those enablers. I remember him saying that Solo Sandeng’s actions were “treasonal” and pleaded with Jammeh to hand over to handpicked people like Mamma Kandeh (of the GDC) to “ensure your (Jammeh’s) legacy”. An informed, professional military officer must not only take part in the executing of wrongful orders but must also have good judgment. And good judgment means to me knowing the circumstances one operates in. The surrounding in which Mr Gano operated was an environment of death and decadence. If he survived that environment for that long, that is an indication to me that he was part and parcel of the treachery!
Unfortunately for him, his mentor was blindsided and fortunately for The Gambia, both Jammeh and Gano will not determine the narrative. And we shall not rest until all victims receive justice!
Kemo Kinteh
Banjul
I like Kerr Fatou!
Dear editor,
Kerr Fatou’s latest “episode” with Information Minister DA Jawo and GPU SG Saikou Jammeh is very inspiring indeed. The interview makes up for what it lacks in Hamat Bah-style entertainment with the depth of valuable information provided to the audience by the Minister… of information.
In this episode, co-host Nyang Njie (who makes up with intellect for that which he sorely lacks in Fatou’s charms!) took the Minister to task over the government’s lack of timely communication with the public – and the Minister indeed accepted the “challenge”. For example, if the Minister had provided the information that he had given in this interview at the time of the Supreme Court judgement (that a Panel is establishment to consider the offending laws left by the Supreme Court), all the criticisms that came the government’s and the Supreme Court’s way might have been avoided.
For the record, the Minister made it clear that:-
1) that the Supreme Court interprets the existing laws and
2) the government amends and enacts the laws.
Clear from that is the Minister’s message that if the Panel recommends that the “false news” and “presidential sedition” laws be expunged, that is what the government would do.
Fatou, the main host of Kerr Fatou, is so good because she has a natural gift for asking ministers, government officials and her other guests the most difficult questions – with a most disarming smile. Kept at ease by Fatou’s friendly manner, her guests open up and give her the answers she wants. Which is what Minister Jawo did most commendably – even when Nyang engaged in rather tedious “semantics”.
Kerr Fatou has become the new face of New Gambia’s independent media – and the host herself is well on her way to becoming The Gambia’s Oprah Winfrey. Such achievement in so short a time is a testimony to the enabling environment of the New Gambia.
While Kerr Fatou becomes a Gambian Media Institution, for once I wholeheartedly agree with co-host Nyang Njie when he says that emotional sympathy for the depart Daily Observer (Rip) is misplaced: “Daily Observer deliberately avoided paying its taxes like everyone else” and must face the consequences. Saikou Jammeh had this idea that the government should fund and resuscitate the Daily Observer! Nyang is right to say: “not with my tax!”
Fatou, the main host of Kerr Fatou, is so good because she has a natural gift for asking ministers, government officials and her other guests the most difficult questions – with a most disarming smile. Kept at ease by Fatou’s friendly manner, her guests open up and give her the answers she wants. Which is what Minister Jawo did most commendably – even when Nyang engaged in rather tedious “semantics”.
Kerr Fatou has had a great start and is a credit to the New Gambia. If the government wishes to spend Nyang Njie’s taxes to support the media, I am sure such funds would be better spent supporting new ventures like Kerr Fatou (and I am sure that Nyang Njie would wholeheartedly agree with me on that!).
Well done Team Kerr Fatou, keep it up!
Dida Halake
London, UK
