Courtesy of Daily Observer.

Malanding

Buba Senghore explains how YDE was formed
By PK Jarju
Feb 11, 2004, 21:35

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Buba Senghore, a defence witness in the ongoing economic crime trial
involving Baba Jobe and others has explained the rationale behind the
formation of the Youth Development Enterprise (YDE) Ltd.

Testifying before Justice MA Paul yesterday, Mr Senghore said the YDE
was first incorporated in 1995 during a meeting attended by President
Jammeh, Baba Jobe, Salif Puye, Saul Ndow, Omar Maley Jabang and himself.
He said it was agreed at the meeting that apart from engaging in
politics, it was important to establish an entity which would empower
Gambian youths by providing self-sustaining ventures, employment
opportunities as well as affordable and reasonable basic commodities to
the average Gambian.

He added that YDE was dormant in 1996 owing to the rigours of
campaigning for the presidential elections and that it was re-activated
with funds provided by President Jammeh for the importation of basic
commodities to the country.
“During that time, I was supplying rice, sugar and vegetable oil to the
Army for their hard-ration. Kuru Kongira was supplying the prisons while
Hamidu Baldeh was responsible for State House,” he explained. Mr
Senghore noted that although their supplies were done through tender,
they were given special preferences because their commodities were
cheaper, accessible and they were reliable suppliers. He said
discussions were also held with the department of state for Finance and
Economic Affairs to accord special privileges to the YDE, “which is a
youth development venture”.

He said around the year 2002, the YDE through Baba Jobe, the CEO, began
importing commodity goods to empower the youths and provide affordable
basic commodities to the public. “We re-organised the YDE and opened
sales outlets all over the country with the aim of providing easy access
to cheap commodities, especially in the rural area were the vast
majority are poor. We also employed and paid salaries or commissions to
Gambian youths who manned these outlets, thus providing employment
opportunities,” Mr Senghore stated.

Imports
Mr Senghore said his Gateway Clearing and Forwarding Agency which
cleared YDE importations at the ports, has followed all the required
documentation and procedures set by GPA and Customs. “Mr Jobe after
getting information on the arrival of his goods from Maerskline or
Gambia Shipping, would inform me to go to the shipping agency with the
documents to clear the goods. At the agency, me and members of my agency
filled the Single Administrative Document (SAD) forms before applying
for a direct delivery. This application is submitted to the
director-general of Customs who minutes it to his officers at the ports.
These information are put in the way book while the containers were
jointly examined by Customs, police and NIA officers at the port,” he
explained.

Mr Senghore said after the examinations of the YDE imports, they would
settle the port handling charges and seek a gate pass from GPA which are
signed by Customs, police and NIA officers at the ports before they are
allowed to take out their imports. Copies of the gate pass bearing the
quantity of good imported, date, stamp, SAD numbers were later tendered
and admitted in court as exhibits AA 12 to 17. He added that it would
have been impossible for them to clear YDE imports from the ports
without acquiring these documents. Copies of the port handling charges
and receipts paid to the GPA were also admitted in court as exhibits AA
18a and 19b.

Mr Senghore noted that he has never at anytime gone to clear YDE imports
at the ports with Baba Jobe and Baba Kanteh and neither was he aware of
the two going to the ports to clear their imports. He said the YDE has
followed the procedures of ports in clearing all its goods.
The case continues today.

Baba Jobe and Baba Kanteh, the co-accused, were present in the court and
so were lawyers Edward Gomez, Mai Fatty, Lamin Jobarteh, Lamin Mboge,
and Lamin Camara for the defence while the director of public
prosecution, Akomaye Agim and Marie Saine appeared for the prosecution.
© Copyright 2003 by Observer Company

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