Suntou,
Unfortunately for them, there are many people who have mortgaged their souls to Yaya Jammeh and consequently, their good name and anything they touch will be intertwined with that of his evil regime forever and what an unwise choice they made.
This regime is not just after small enterprises. The NAWEC issue is a good example with more to follow I am sure. One minute, there was a corporation they said was to run NAWEC, and in the next breath the said corporation had contracted with a German company to do the work.
Jabou Joh
-----Original Message-----
From: SUNTOU TOURAY <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:41 am
Subject: Re: Mafia style business ethics in The Gambia
jabou , you will be shock to know that yahya was involve in this criminal
enterprise a long time ago . i use to reside close to Boto .Boto is the founder
of boto construction . he live in Talindinkunjang . he was initially owner of
the construction company but later run the jolla connection came to play ,yahya
invested in the company .Boto was use as a cover to front the company but in
reality yahya is the main investor. Boto's truck use to carry scores of ladies
from talinding to kanilai farm every single day . women came from all over the
place to labour for there dear leader at a minimal wage if any .so about amadou
samba ,that is well non . what about taf ? well taf too use to freuqent a
sarahule close friend of mine call haji camara . this man ,taf would confide
lots of things to .i use to see taf park his four wheel drive near our home
every two or so days. he use to meet ansumana manneh (late) in haji's compound
.ansumana manneh was then in leadership struggle in
bissau .they use to transport haji to bissau to use his charms in making the
late ansumana's leadership role a success. taf may also be having secret land
deal from yahya as the broker.
the man is into many other things. he is determine to be multi rich at all
cost .
[log in to unmask] wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: SUNTOU TOURAY
yahya has introduce a mafia style business ethics in our country , he most get a
cut
in every major deals . the guy is now more than alcapone.
Suntou,
That is exactly what is happening. Yaya Jammeh has been systematically working
on controlling
every avenue of profit generating business in that country through a cleverly or
should I say not
so cleverly disguised set of dummy corporations, and in these crimes he is
orchestrating against
the Gambian people, he is aided by his various partners in crime.
This injustice being exercised against these small business owners who sell fuel
is nothing but
another attempt to frustrate those people so that they can take over that
business. Just watch
where it goes from here.
Jabou Joh
ABDOUKARIM SANNEH wrote: Jabou
Thanks for the forward it seems there is a shortage of very commodity in that
country. Gambia is facing hyperinflation and you did not need to be a graduate
of economic to know about that. Life is getting day by day difficult for average
household families in both urban and rural areas. Fuel storage. cement shortage
soon will be rice shoratage. APRC regime have failed our people dismally.
informal sector of our economy which is the major employer is constraint by non
functioning state mercenary.
[log in to unmask] wrote:
Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 70/2007, 18 - 19 June, 2007
Editorial
FUEL SHORTAGE
Economic Sabotage or Attempt To Frustrate
Small Scale Importers
SoS For Finance and SoS for Trade Should Explain
The queues near fuel stations are growing longer. Transportation is becoming
a problem and the informal economy is being put under strain as small scale
producers find it difficult to move their goods to markets or do so at
increased transport cost. What then is the cause of the shortage? The SoS for
Finance and Economic Affairs and SoS for Trade and should give an explanation.
Foroyaa would like to give them facts to investigate.
First and foremost, we would like to draw their attention to the attempt by
the SoS for Agriculture to suppress the informal sector in the purchase of
groundnuts in the 2004/2005 trade season in favour of monopoly by GAMCO.
Foroyaa cautioned that the Gambian economy depends on the informal sector for
its
survival. Small scale enterprises run by people, generally considered
illiterates, have proven to be resilient, irrespective of all the shocks the
economy
goes through including the border problem that had already been overcome.
We emphasized that any attempt to suppress the operation of small scale
enterprises would lead to closure of market access to farmers, impoverishment of
retail traders, shortages of commodities, rise in inflation and growth in
poverty.
Apparently, a government whose economic foundation rests so much on the
informal sector does not appear to have done a comprehensive study of this
sector
in order to determine the type of policies, institutions and procedures and
regulations it need to adopt to protect and promote its development.
The present shortage in fuel and rise in the price of cement are clear
testimonies to the absence of a coherent government economic policy regarding
the
informal sector.
If the SoS for Finance or SoS for Trade disagrees they should call a press
conference to defend the position of the government.
One may now ask: How does the absence of a coherent government policy on the
informal sector contribute to the present shortage in fuel and rise in the
price of cement?
The answer is simple. Foroyaa was approached by a friend of some informal
sector operators to indicate that some of them have been asked to stop selling
fuel they imported because of the claim that they do not possess licence to
sell fuel.
He claimed that they were advised to go to the Department of State for Trade
to get the licence. There they were told to go to the commissioner of
petroleum at the office of the President. There too it is claimed that they were
asked to write a letter to the Secretary General to find out what should be
done since that office was also not responsible for issuing the licence alluded
to by police personnel. He indicated that they were advised to visit
Foroyaa’
s office where they are likely to find people who can write the appropriate
letter for them.
Reviewing the case, it became apparent that the people concerned were in
possession of certificate of business registration stipulating the sale of fuel
as their angle of trade, tax identification numbers (TIN), receipts
indicating payment of income tax and taxes to area council, as well as customs
receipts for paying duty for importing hundreds of thousands of litres of petrol
which commenced since 2005. These young entrepreneurs, whom the government have
been making appealing to rise up to take charge of the informal trade, have
receipts totalling over 7 million dalasis that they have paid as importers of
fuel and cement. We could not believe our eyes that the informal sector was
contributing so much to government revenue. We have asked them to seek an
appointment with the SoS for Finance who has established a quota for revenue
collection by the National Revenue Authority. He would then determine whether
such successful young entrepreneurs need incentive to enhance their business or
sanctions to drive them out of business. Since the matter had gone all the
way to the courts we asked the young people to hire legal counsels to maintain
them on a permanent basis to protect their successful enterprises if they
fail to get sympathetic hearing from the Secretary of State.
The next day after the advice we were informed that the security forces had
been instructed to remove about 29,900 litres of fuel from the premises of
the Gambian entrepreneur for storage at a place determined by a commissioner of
police.
At the moment, while there is petrol shortage we have been reliably informed
that that these young entrepreneurs have 70,000 litres of petrol up country
which they are told not to bring into the Greater Banjul area; that some of
them have stocks exceeding 49,000 litres in Senegal which they are afraid to
bring for fear of conflict with the law. The people we met appeared shattered
for having been put in cells. They claim that as people from religious
backgrounds who grew up as Arabic students in informal koranic schools, they
have
no way to make it except through honest trade. They claim that they have been
advised by their religious teachers and parents to respect and abide by the
law; that before they started their activities they consulted with government
institutions to get guidance, that up to this time they do not know where they
have gone wrong.
In our view, while the court has power to play its part, the SoS for Finance
and SoS for Trade have a duty to provide the conducive environment for young
Gambian entrepreneurs to carry on legitimate trade.
In our view, investors should not be spending money to search for advice on
how to invest. It is the duty of government to guide investors to invest.
In short, the Department of State for Trade should have a unit serving as an
Indigenous Business advisory body that should have identified all the
businesses functioning in the informal sector, prioritize their volume and
prepare
brochures on the regulatory environment for their smooth registration and
operation. Such bureaucracy which pushes an investor from one office to another
is tantamount to economic sabotage, since it frustrates the operators of
small scale enterprises.
Immediate action is necessary to save the situation.
It is such vacuum in policy and administration which has compelled Foroyaa
to restructure so that it can take the mantle of a fourth estate. We will have
a section on economic and social development whose reporters will receive
reports of all obstructions to the development of enterprises, all tendencies
towards monopoly which increases inflation and throw light on the protective
environment by interviewing lawyers and insurance brokers who can help to
protect the interest of vulnerable enterprises. We will engage the policy makers
and administrators and challenge them to provide the conducive environment
necessary for economic and social development to take place or stand exposed.
Emerging economies from underdevelopment need huge investment and democracy.
Foroyaa will conduct studies on investment pattern and the requirements for
democratic solutions of the country.
All these developments will take place after Foroyaa’s anniversary in
August
2007.
“See Halifa Sallah’s Interview in the next issue on the
restructuring drive.
â€Â
FUEL SHORTAGE HITS AGAIN
By Fabakary B. Ceesay & Yaya Dampha
Since last Wednesday, private and commercial drivers have been experiencing
difficulty in acquiring fuel for their vehicles to conduct their normal daily
business due to scarcity of fuel in the country especially within the
Greater Banjul areas.
On Sunday, Foroyaa reporters went around to various fuel stations within the
Kanifing Municipality to assess the situation and the problems motorists are
experiencing. At the Shell petrol station at Churchill Town, the whole
station was virtually empty. At Castle Filling Station at West Field, there was
a
large queue of waiting vehicles and a group of disgruntled people holding
empty gallons to get fuel. Sale at this filling station was intermittent rather
than continuous. There was another large crowd of people at Elton Station
along Sayerr Jobe Avenue with a long queue of vehicles. Pump attendants were
seen supplying fuel only to customers that had coupons. Many people complained
that they are also customers and should be considered. At the Shell Filling
Station along the same road, no single person or vehicle was there to get fuel.
A staff member told Foroyaa that there is no single barrel of fuel at their
company. They said their consignment is on the way and they expect the vessel
to dock at the ports at any moment from today. Some government drivers with
coupons from Shell Company indicated that they cannot get their fuel due to
scarcity at Shell.
A Lebanese businessman told Foroyaa that fuel companies should have measures
in place to tackle such problems before they arise. He said his business had
been at a standstill as he could go to work since Friday.
CONTROVERSY OVER A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
By Abdoulie Dibba
On Monday 11 June 2007, a controversy ensued at the National Assembly over a
supplementary question between the Speaker, Hon. Netty Baldeh and Hon. Sidia
Jatta. The controversy arosed following a question raised by the National
Assembly Member for Lower Fulladu West, Hon. Yerro Mballow, as to whether there
was any fertilizer purchased for the last cropping season for the farming
community?
a). If there was no fertilizer purchased, why?
b). If there was any purchase made how much was distributed regionally?
In response to these questions the SoS for Agriculture, Kanja Sanneh,
indicated that fertilizer was not purchased for the last cropping season for the
farming community because there was a balance of stock from the previous season.
In a supplementary question, the member for Lower Fulladu West, Hon. Yerro
Mballow, raised the following question: Hon. Speaker, could the SoS tell this
Assembly whether the balance of fertilizer was adequate for the farming
community? This question however, led to a controversy as the Speaker ruled out
the question saying the question was not a supplementary one but a new element.
But Hon. Sidia rose up to observe that it was indeed not a new element but
was rather supplementing the main one, making a follow up on the SoS’s
reply.
Mr. Netty Baldeh also rose to support what the Speaker had said and went
further to stress that the Speaker’s position was final because according
to
him
the Speaker had already over ruled the question.
The Wuli West NAM rose up to demand from the Speaker to make an observation.
The Speaker also asked whether it was on the same matter, to which Sidia
answered in the positive. Netty Baldeh, however, stood up to insist that Sidia
should not make any further observation on the matter.
Sidia, who must have felt surprised, asked Netty whether he was the Speaker
of the National Assembly, Netty answered in the negative. The Speaker then
thanked Netty for helping to protect her and later said the way he saw Sidia
was like somebody who needed sympathy but Sidia said he did not need sympathy
and retorted that he did not need sympathy from those who need to be
sympathised. He, however, emphasize his point on the fertilizer purchases which
the
SoS should clarify but the Speaker insisted that it was still a new element.
The majority leader who rose to defend Hon. Baldeh’s position indicated
that
even if Hon. Jatta was right, the fact is that the Speaker had already
overruled the supplementary question and that Hon. Jatta’s position
should not
be
tolerated.
NAMS SCRUTINISE MANSAKONKO AREA COUNCIL
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
National Assembly Members on Tuesday, June 12, questioned the Secretary of
State for Local Government and Lands on the revenue collected by the
Mansakonko Area Council (MAC) since 2005, when the Council’s books were
last
audited
and how many students are being sponsored by the council.
Ismaila Sambou, Secretary of State For Local Government and Lands, said the
Council collected D4,508,182.69 (four million five hundred and eight
thousand one hundred and eighty-two dalasis sixty-nine bututs) between January 1
to
December 31, 2005, D4,766,822.95 (four million seven hundred and sixty-six
thousand eight hundred and twenty-two dalasis ninety-five bututs) from January
2 to December 31, 2006 and D1,673,573.07 (one million six hundred and
seventy-three thousand five hundred and seventy-three dalasis seven bututs) from
January 1 to May 31, 2007.
SoS Sambou also said that the accounts of the Council were last prepared in
2006, noting that the accounts are currently being audited. When he was asked
by the member for Jarra Central to shed light on how many students are
being sponsored by the Council, Mr. Sambou said the Council is sponsoring ten
students at senior secondary schools, twenty students at upper basic schools,
ten students at basic cycle schools and one member of staff, at The Gambia
Technical Training Institute.
Answering a question raised by the minority leader and member for Kiang
West, Momodou Sanneh, the Secretary of State said the major areas of expenditure
of the Council in 2005 and 2006 are personal emoluments (salaries), supply
and service, vehicle maintenance and fuel, health and social service,
development projects requested by the communities and contributions to
“Tesito.â€Â
SoS Sambou added that fifty-one permanent staff were engaged up to December
2006 by the Council.
BABA JOBE & CO CASE
High Court Dismisses The Defendants’ Application
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The four defendants in the seven million dalasis civil suit filed by the
Guaranty Trust Bank may file an appeal at The Gambia Court of Appeal. Justice
Haddy Roche on Friday overruled the application made by lawyer Janet Sallah
Njie. She ruled that the plaintiff has to prove the allegation against the
defendants; Philip Thompsett, Lynn Wilson, Lloyd Bourogh and Baba Jobe, a former
majority leader at the National Assembly.
Defence Counsel, Mrs. Sallah Njie, on Tuesday, June 12, submitted that the
defendants are not liable to the claim made by the plaintiff and urged the
court to dismiss the case. When her application was turned down on Friday, she
told the court that she would appeal against the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
In delivering the ruling on the matter, Justice Roche stressed that in the
statement of the plaintiffs it alleged that the defendants had agreed to pay,
therefore, the court would go ahead with the hearing of the matter.
The judge also ruled that the court cannot dismiss the matter and put the
case into a controversy, adding that the case needs to be tried to prove the
allegation the plaintiffs are making against the defendants.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
THE 1981 POLITICAL CRISIS
Sir Dawda Given A New Mandate; Dibba Lost His Seat, Awaits Court Verdict
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been using this column to focus on politics, in general, and Gambian
politics in particular. In the last issue we have dealt with the 1982
election campaign where the opposition leader was detained, pending the outcome
of
his trial as he was accused of treason and many other offences. We have
stopped where we said, ‘during the state of emergency, the illiterate
politicians
did not know then that one could hardly do or say anything during the
campaign without putting oneself in trouble’. Let us continue from where
we
have
stopped.
The results of both the presidential and parliamentary elections which were
held simultaneously were not a surprise to many enlightened observers. The
President, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, won a landslide victory and many
parliamentary candidates of the ruling PPP also won, giving them another clear
majority and mandate to manage the affairs of the country for the next five
years,
1982 to 1987.
For the opposition NCP, even though, they had gone through the whole episode
with dignity, the number of seats had infact dropped. They had lost what was
considered their main seat, that of Central Baddibu, to Honourable Lamin
Kebba Saho of the PPP who contested against S.M Dibba. However they emerged
triumphantly with the Illiasa and Lower Baddibu seats, as well as Bakau. This
was
understandable given the circumstances in which the seeming contest was
staged.
For the next contentious area, the URD, Mr. Bubacarr Baldeh, an independent
candidate, managed to defeat the ruling party candidate with a clear margin
despite the fact that the NCP filed a candidate in the same place. This was a
clear indication that if the people will it, they could decide the course of
events despite all the loopholes against them.
The other independent, Mr. A.K Touray of Sandu also defeated a high profiled
PPP candidate after a tough campaign which appeared like a semi war. Despite
all the threats and intimidation, the people decided that Alh Musa Dabo
should not represent them. Mr. M.C Cham, of Tumana, however, escaped the
independent net. He defeated Mbemba Tambedou, a new comer to the scene. But Mr.
Kebba
Fadera, a lone independent in the Kiangs defeated Hon. J.L.B Daffeh, a long
term serving Parliamentarian who also served as Cabinet Minister of Health,
Labour and Social Welfare, and of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well
as a Parliamentary Secretary.
So the independents emerged with a clean bill of health but the fear
remained as to whether the government was going to allow Mr. Bubacarr Baldeh who
appeared to have spearheaded the group to continue operating as head of the
Freedom From Hunger Campaign (FFHC), an NGO.
The question was very valid because, at the time, no matter how competent
one was, if one stood under the banner of an opposition ticket in an election,
one would be barred from not only holding government positions but all
attempts would be made to stifle one’s private initiative from
progressing so
that
one eventually succumbs to the mercy of the ruling party. But if one were to
stand under the ruling party banner and failed, according to M.B Jones in the
Outlook newspaper, everything would be done to rehabilitate that person.
On 11 May 1982, the President was sworn in. This was the first time in
Gambian history for a President to be seen being sworn in an open ceremony. The
then Speaker of the House, Sir Alieu Sulayman Jack; the Chief Justice of The
Gambia, Sir Phillip Bridges, Ministers of State, Justices of the Supreme Court
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