Issue 

Editorial
GOVERNMENT  DIVERSTITURE PROGRAMME IN DISARRAY
After receiving information regarding the  sale of GAMTEL/GAMCEL, Foroyaa 
approached the management of GAMTEL for  information. They would not comment.
We decided to publish what the  government promised the Nation last year and 
called for independent agencies  like The Gambia Divestiture Agency and The 
Gambia Public Procurement Authority  to open themselves to the press for the 
sake of accountability and  transparency.
It is important for the reader to understand why there is need  to recall 
what government promised last year regarding its divestiture programme  and 
further called for transparency and accountability on the side of public  agencies.
What government promised in black and white is as  follows:
“Based on the revised divestiture programme, government will now  focus on 
the divestiture transactions of GPTC, GIA, MSA and the sector studies  of 
GAMTEL/GAMCEL and the National Water and Electricity Company Limited (NAWEC).  To 
this end, government has since commissioned technical, environmental and  
financial assessments of GPTC and GIA jointly, and for the sector studies of  
GAMTEL/GAMCEL and NAWEC, and the initial stage of the procurement of the  
consultancies to undertake these assessments and sector studies have been  completed. 
The end of these sector studies and assessments will pave the way for  the 
transaction stages of GPTC – GIA and provide the necessary information to  help 
government take a position with respect to GAMTEL and NAWEC.”
In  the very words of the government, privatization of the public enterprises 
goes  through technical, financial and environmental assessment or studies. 
This  provides the necessary information to know how to transact the 
privatization of  any given sector.
Has this been done with GAMTEL /GAMCEL?
This is what  Foroyaa wanted to find out from the chairperson of the Board of 
Directors of The  Gambia Divestiture Agency or its Chief executive. 
We discovered that there  was no Director and the person overseeing felt that 
the Department of State for  Communication, Information and Technology was 
the best institution to clarify  matters. This confirms that the institution set 
up to advise government on its  divestiture programme is on the side line. It 
is the Department which issued a  press release which was announced as 
follows for GRTS: 
The Government of The  Gambia has approved a strategic partnership for 
Gamtel/Gamcel in a bid to  salvage the one time leading institution in the Gambia. 
It would be recalled  that Gamtel over the years had deteriorated in service 
provision, accessibility,  and quality of service. A press release from the 
Department of State for  Communication and Information Technology says that Gamtel 
has also been  experiencing stagnation in network expansion and subscriber 
base. Furthermore,  Gamtel was near bankruptcy and is heavily indebted. The 
release says that the  Government of the Gambia consequently has been reviewing 
various proposals for  strategic partnership to give Gamtel the needed boost to 
enter into new business  models and technology with a view to providing high 
quality and affordable  telecommunications services. The release named the 
approved strategic partner as  Spectrum Group, a Company with investments in many 
industries throughout the  region. It says government and the new shareholder 
jointly assigned Detecon  International as the consulting and management 
partner. Detecon International is  a German Company with more than 30 years 
international experience in  telecommunications and other related industries. 
According to the release, more  and more countries around the world are taking 
advantage of the benefits of  strategic partnership and the Gambia is no exception. 
Meanwhile, the consulting  firm Detecon is consulting on the strategic 
management of the  corporation.”
Some National Assembly members did caution the SoS that the way  the 
corporation’s money was being dished out to finance state ceremonies and  other social 
activities left it with little investment capital, thus causing it  to borrow 
to improve on infrastructure. They were told that such indebtedness  would 
only lead to privatization. 
Now, the press release is confirming all  the fears.
No privatization should take place without the Gambia Divestiture  Agency 
conducting its work. It is the Agency which has the following  duties;
“(a) plan, manage, oversee, co-ordinate and implement the State’s  
divestiture programme in respect of public enterprises and public  interest;
(b) develop criteria for the selection of public enterprises and  public 
interests to be divested
(c) be responsible for preparing public  enterprises and public interests for 
divestiture; 
(d) ensure consistency in  procedures for divestiture, in particular, with 
regard to valuation, invitation  for bids, negotiation of sales and settlement 
of accounts; and
(e) evaluate  all State divestiture;”

DOCKWORKERS CANCEL INDUSTRIAL ACTION
By  Abdou Jeli Keita
After their detention at the NIA headquarters and subsequent  release on 
bail, one of the seven leaders of the Dock and Maritime Workers  Union, has 
disclosed the reason why they were detained by the NIA. 
According  to Secretary General Landing Sanyang, one of the detained leaders, 
they were  detained at the NIA headquarters in connection with the letter 
they wrote to the  GPA, threatening to embark on an industrial action if the GPA 
does not stop  terminating their contracts. He added that over 250 workers are 
sacked without  any termination letter.
He said the NIA told them that their duty is to  ensure that peace and 
harmony prevails in the country; that the Dock Workers are  becoming a threat to the 
peace and security of the nation, because they  threatened to go on strike on 
1 September; that they should cancel the strike  action and enter into 
dialogue with the GPA.
According to Secretary General  Sanyang, the NIA recommended that by Friday, 
they should come up with a  declaration that they are cancelling the strike 
action in the interest of peace  in the country.
He said the NIA told them to write a letter to the relevant  authorities, ie. 
the president and stakeholders, latest Friday (today).  Secretary General 
Sanyang said they will come up with the letter after  consulting the members of 
the Dock Workers Union, but he added that, they will  not surrender the 
integrity of The Gambia Dock Workers Union.  

TABARA SAMBA ADMITS SPLASHING
HOT OIL ON HER HUSBAND
By  Fabakary B. Ceesay & Bubacarr. K. Sowe
Mrs. Tabara Samba, who is standing  trial for allegedly killing her husband 
by pouring hot oil on him while in bed,  which led to his untimely death, has 
told the court that she only splashed hot  oil on her husband. The accused made 
this remarks while testifying before  Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the 
Kanifing Magistrates Court on Wednesday 22  August. 
Madam Samba said on that fateful night as she was cooking in the  kitchen, 
her husband Ebrima Nyan attacked her and beat her with a knife and that  she 
sustained injury on her finger.  She said she also fought back by  splashing a 
spoonful of hot oil on him. She said at around 2am, while she was in  her room 
sleeping, Lamin Conteh, Doctor Sallah and a police officer called Faal  came to 
the house and started to search the place. Madam Samba said they later  asked 
her to go with them to the Kanifing Estate Police Station. She added that  
Officer Faal asked her to hand over her house keys to Lamin Conteh, the brother  
of her husband. Tabara Samba explained that in the following morning she was  
escorted back to the house by the police to look for the D10, 000, which was  
claimed to be kept in the house and was missing. She said she was kept behind 
 the counter at the Kanifing police for almost one week without any reasons 
given  to her about her detention. She said she was not given chance to see a 
lawyer  and even after her husband died she was not asked to mourn him. She 
said she was  later transferred to the Kairaba Police Station where she was put 
in cell with  other men. Madam Samba indicated that after some days at the 
Kairaba Police  Station, she was transferred to Banjul police headquarters where 
she was asked  to explain and to speak the truth. She said she was asked about 
the money which  she denied having. “They told me to speak the truth and they 
will forgive me,  but I told them that am speaking the truth,” said Tabara 
Samba. She added that  she had spent the night in a cell with some men at Banjul 
police station. She  told the court that she was informed by Officer Jah that 
her husband had passed  away; that the police never gave her the opportunity 
to see her husbands’ dead  body or to attend the burial nor to mourn him. Madam 
Samba said she started  mourning her husband when she was informed of his 
death. 
The widow admitted  knowing the offences which she was charged of at the 
Banjul police station.  Tabara Samba insisted that she never had the intention to 
harm her husband  during their marriage. She said she never knew that what she 
did could lead to  her husband’s death. She denied having ever told Ousman 
Jarjue, a neighbour,  that her husband’s screams on that fateful night was only 
a dream. The accused  said she had never offended the law in her life time of 
42 years.
It  would be recalled that Mrs. Tabara Samba was accused of killing her 
husband,  sometime in March, by pouring hot oil on him while he was asleep, which 
led to  his untimely death at Old Jeshwang. She denied killing her  husband.

KMC MAYOR RELEASED ON BAIL
By Fabakary B.  Ceesay
Reliable information reaching Foroyaa has it that the acting mayor of  the 
Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Mr. Alieu Momar Njie, who is also the  Chief 
Scout Commissioner of The Gambia Scout Association, was arrested on  Tuesday 21 
August at his residence by the police and detained at the serious  crime unit 
at police headquarters in Banjul.
The police spokesperson,  Inspector Sulayman Secka confirmed the arrest and 
detention of Mayor Njie. The  police spokesperson told Foroyaa that he could 
not establish the issues  surrounding Mr. Njie’s arrest and subsequent 
detention. When asked if it is  linked to his position as mayor, Inspector Secka said 
he is not sure whether Mr.  Njie’s arrest is connected to his position as the 
mayor of KMC, or that of his  position as Chief Scout Commissioner. He added 
that investigations are still  going on. 
On Thursday 23 August, PRO Secka confirmed to Foroyaa that Mr.  Njie had been 
released on bail.

WOMAN ALLEGES RAPE BY SECURITY  OFFICERS
Police Deny Allegation
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
A resident of Kwame  Road in Serrekunda has alleged that three men who 
claimed to be security  personnel raped her on Friday, 10 August. But the police 
have denied  this.
The woman (name withheld) said she was with her husband on that Friday  night 
when they heard a lady crying. She alleged that the lady was held by three  
men who were on board a vehicle along Kwame Road. She said when they attempted  
to find out what was happening, the men demanded the couple’s identity cards. 
 The alleged rape victim recounted that only her husband had his 
identification  card at the time. She claimed that she was forced by the men to board the  
vehicle when she could not produce her identity card.
The young lady said:  “They took me and the lady who we wanted to rescue to a 
place behind Iceman in  Kanifing. On arrival at the place, they asked us to 
alight from the vehicle and  when I refused, they slapped and kicked me, then I 
surrendered.”
She narrated  that one of the rapists held her hands, the other held her 
legs, while the third  unzipped her trousers and climbed on her. One after the 
other, they raped her  and after which they turned to the other lady, she said.
The woman said while  the rapists were busy with the other lady, she managed 
to run under the cover of  darkness up to the Mamadi Maniyang Highway where 
two young men rescued her and  returned her home in a taxi.
After recounting her ordeal to her husband, she  said her husband went to the 
Serrekunda Police Station to report the complaint,  where he was given a 
telephone number to call the police should such an incident  occur again.
According to an anonymous neighbour who spoke to Foroyaa, one of  the men who 
allegedly raped the women has made it a habit of targeting women in  that 
street during the night, on the pretext that he is asking for identity  cards.
Two of the neighbours told this paper that they can recognize the man  who 
was allegedly involved in that act and alleged that they know him as a  “
policeman.”
A week after the alleged rape, on Friday, August 17, the man who  was alleged 
to have been involved in the act was spotted along Kwame Road and  neighbours 
said they approached him to know what his mission was.
Residents  said that the man began to run but was captured by the crowd and 
he claimed to  be a police officer.
Residents claimed that they went to the Serrekunda  police station with the 
man, and upon arrival, the man changed the story and  told his colleagues that 
he was assaulted by the crowd. The rape victim’s  husband said he was severely 
beaten by the police officers at the Serrekunda  police station which 
resulted to an injury on his chin.
Another man, Ousman  Jobe, showed this reporter a cut on his head which he 
claimed was caused by the  beatings meted out to him by the police.
However, the Spokesperson of the  police force, Inspector Sulayman Secka, 
told Foroyaa that the alleged rape was  never reported to the Serrekunda police 
station.
On the policeman who was  allegedly assaulted, Inspector Secka, said the 
policeman was in Kwame Road to  buy fish and while he was about to board a vehicle 
a rastaman offered to help  him, but the policeman declined the offer. The 
police spokesman claimed that the  rastaman whistled and residents rushed 
towards him and beat the policeman  severely.
He also said the alleged assault of the policeman is being  investigated by 
officials of the Criminal Investigation Department of the  Serrekunda Police 
Station. 

CANTEENS TO BE DEMOLISH AT BASSE  MARKET
Reports reaching Foroyaa have it that the Physical Planning  Authorities of 
Basse had issued a letter of notice to all the canteen owners in  the market to 
demolish the newly constructed canteens not later than 24th  August. 
According to reports, the authorities at the planning unit said the  canteens were 
erected without the prior approval of the planning authority under  the 
provisions of the Development Control Regulations, 1995. According to the  letter, the 
planning authority is empowered to order the demolition of the said  canteens, 
under the provision of the said regulations and the canteen owners  will be 
responsible for any expenses that will be incurred. 
However a number  of canteen owners were interviewed on the issuance of any 
notification from the  planning unit. According to Salam Jallow, the 
Authorities at the Basse Area  Council conditioned them to erect the structures in the 
said market failing  which the area will be taken from them, and given to 
somebody else. He said the  council authorities took D1, 500.00 from each canteen 
owner which is different  from the amount they used to financed the erection of 
their various canteens.  Salam pointed out that they constructed the canteens 
because of the fear that it  will be taken away from them. When contacted for 
comment, the physical planning  officer in U.R.R, Mr. Lamin Jawara, said as 
civil servants, they are not allowed  to talk to the press without notification 
from the Secretary General. He said  whether he is aware of the issuance of 
notification letters to canteen owners or  not, he is not going to talk to the 
press. The Governor of U.R.R Mr. Omar Khan  was also contacted for comment, 
but he simply said that he is not at the  planning unit.

GU GLOBAL WEEK CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF
By Yaya  Bajo
Global Unification, Gambia Chapter and its international body, will  commence 
global week campaign on Friday 24 August 2007. In The Gambia, the  campaign 
will be marked by a march pass starting from Churchill Town shell  patrol 
station to Buffer Zone at 3pm. According to the organisation’s country  
representative, Mr. Ebrima Dem, T-Shirts, information leaflets and banners  depicting the 
struggle of global unification will be given to the  participants.
According to Mr. Dem, the campaign is geared towards  perpetuating the 
importance of “One voice, one action” in the minds of the  people and also to show 
our leaders that African populations are strongly united  behind them in their 
quest for prosperous united Africa. “This we believe is  paramout because the 
African population really have a role to play in ensuring  the African Union 
(AU) meet its objectives;” he stated.
Mr. Dem further spoke  on the activities of the campaign which he noted will 
feature musical concerts  by Gambian musicians with songs dedicated to the 
unification of Africa. “In this  way, we decided to send the message of unity 
among the youths through music,” he  pointed out. Dem called on all musicians to 
embrace the occasion at the Buffer  Zone in Tallinding. He added that the 
African Unity Conference will be held at  the KMC Conference Hall on 25 August, 
starting 2pm, and the forum will feature  presentations on of various topics on 
African Unity by prominent intellectuals.  He finally called on all media 
houses, CSOs and NGOs to be actively  involved. 

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
By  Amie Sillah
Part 2
Mama Collapses
Mama Kate collapsed and was taken to  the family hospital where Doctor 
Robberts works as a heart specialist doctor and  Chairman of his hospital board. The 
nurse on duty took her Blood pressure which  was alarmingly high. Mama Kate 
was critically ill. She summoned her husband and  kids and made a prophesy.
“I am going to die. I can feel it. Stay together  and respect your dad. He 
stood by me throughout our marriage life. He never made  me cry. Society and his 
clan tormented me but he gave me courage to stand my  ground. I am weak. I 
was trained in the old school were the woman is a second  class citizen, 
pronatalist. The woman is tormented for giving birth to only  female children what is 
worst is if she is barren. The woman is always blamed  for infertility. Take 
your education seriously. Kate, my first born wish to be a  doctor. I pray to 
God that it happen. Charlotte wish to be a lawyer. I pray to  God that it 
happen. My last born Lisa wish to be a Business administrator like  dad and me. I 
pray to God that it happen. I wish to have a boy child to be a  world leader 
but that cannot happen. God decided that our family be blessed with  three 
beautiful girls I thank Him for that. I pray your dad lives to witness  your 
dreams. Amen!” Mama Kate turned her head and died. The scene was pathetic.  Doctor 
and his kids broke down and cried like rivers. He held his wife hard and  gave 
him his last kiss on her forehead.
At Home
Relatives, friends,  co-workers came in their hundreds to pay condolence to 
Dr. Robberts. He is a  nice man of high repute and also a philanthropist. “I 
pray to Almighty God that  he gives me the strength to take care of my kids as 
Mama Kate would wish me to.”  Doctor could not hold back his emotional tears. “
You have to be strong if not  for anyone but the kids. You are now taking the 
place of mum and dad. Be  strong!” his co-worker Doctor Jobarteh urged him. 
The relatives came but took a  low profile. They knew if they raised any 
controversy Doctor will throw them  out. Now they nursed great hope. “He will now 
change his mind and remarry that  his witch is gone.” They soliloqued.
Doctor And His Kids
The relatives  were disappointed. Doctor refused to remarry. He decided to 
raise up his  children alone. “I’ll not remarry at least until my kids are 
fully grown up to  take care of themselves.” He soliloqued. The children took 
their mum’s advice at  her dead bed. They did well and made their dad proud. Dad 
congratulated all of  them. Kate completed her housemanship. Charlotte was at 
her last stage of  becoming a barrister at law. Lisa was on her projects and 
would soon be done.  Doctor threw a thanks giving party to praise the Lord. He 
invited family and  friends. The scene was emotional as all minds focused back 
at Mama Kate. The  family and friends shed emotional tears. Doctor spoke about 
his family. “My  daughters have made me proud. They have proven the skeptics 
wrong.” The family  members stooped their heads. He narrated how his extended 
family taunted and  laughed at his family. “Mama Kate died due to worries. She 
had a soft heart. I  tried to encourage her to live to see the positive side 
of life but to no avail.  But wherever she is our girls have made us proud and 
I thank God for that. The  rejected stones have now taken the center stage.” 
He called on the girls never  to sit on their laurels. “Aim for perfection; 
excellence; shame the enemy within  and without; the sky should be the limit. 
God have given me the means to make  all of you reach your goals. Continue with 
good behaviour, with good names. Be  good girls! Challenges would definitely 
come but the witty always wins.” He  finally asked the guests to drink to the 
toast of his family and everybody  present.
The Sad News
Unknowing to the children dad was making a fare well  exit. As he was 
traveling to Europe and Asia to renew his family business  contacts he collapsed at 
the airport. He was rushed to his hospital. He died  shortly after being 
admitted. He was also a hypertensive patient. The children  were devastated. “Dad 
was bidding us fare well but we did not understand. That’s  why he took the pain 
to explain everything to us. Urging us to aim for  perfection and excellence.”
 Kate explained with emotion.
The Mourning  Period
The mourning period was long and painful. The girls became orphans  over 
night. The company lawyer invited them to his office. Together they went to  visit 
Dad’s company. The General Manager took them around and introduced them to  
company staff. Barrister Sarr was with Doctor Robbert’s family for over thirty  
years. Before dad died he made Lisa the CEO of the company. He confessed to  
Barrister Sarr. “Monalisa has my business acumen. She read business admin in  
university. She is prudent in spending, smart and witty. I am growing old. I  
have handed over the family business to her while I stay behind and advice if  
necessary. Lisa is innovative. Since I made her CEO of our family business we 
 experience success after success.” Doctor once confided in Barrister  Sarr.
Kate Protests
After the rounds, Kate called Barrister Sarr aside and  protested. “I never 
agreed with dad making Lisa the head of the family business.  I was never 
convinced of the argument that she read business admin as being the  reason. For God
’s sake I am the eldest! Am I not?” She tried to reason with the  barrister. 
Barrister Sarr refused to comment. He sensed conflict. He politely  excused 
himself and left.
Charlotte With Fraudulent Boyfriend
Charlotte  was dating Essa, a renown parasite, gold digger and fraudster. 
Lisa heard a lot  of gossips about him. She gave him a cold shoulder. She called 
Charlotte and  advised her. “Be careful! Don’t forget Dad’s advice. Essa is a 
renown parasite,  gold digger and fraudster. He is also a womanizer. He 
pretends. He wants to suck  you dry. Used and dumped you. Believe me! I cannot fool 
you. You are my elder  and my blood sister. My spirit despise Essa. Am sorry 
if I hurt you.” Charlotte  sprang up from the settee and hailed nasty insults 
at Lisa. “Who made you our  guardian angel? Dad spoilt you by making you run 
the family business. Remember!  We are your elders. We should be the ones 
advising you not the other way round.  Never invade my privacy again stupid girl!” 
Lisa shook her head and gently  entered her room.
Lisa At Her Office
Lisa sat at her office doing her  work. Kate came in and asked for a large 
sum of money. Lisa querried her. “But  its only last week that you drew half a 
million. This week also you are asking  for the same amount. What for? Dad adv
ised on prudent spending.” Kate became  impatient. She hailed insults at Lisa. “
Dad is dead! We are the living. I am  your eldest. I need not explain 
anything to you. This is family business. Will  you sign my cheque or not?” She said 
rudely to her sister. Lisa grumbled and  reluctantly signed the cheque. Lisa 
is disappointed at Kate’s sudden change of  attitude. Lisa refused to be 
provoked.
Dad’s Relatives
Dad’s relatives  came to inherit the family property. The eldest of the clan 
spoke. “Your dad was  a stubborn fly. He refused to traditionally marry a 
second wife or take a  concubine to give him a male issue. Your useless mum could 
only give birth to  useless girls who will marry away and lose our family name 
or worse still made  their husbands or boyfriends squander our brother’s 
wealth. He is our brother.  Tradition demands his empire be inherited by his 
brothers. We are ten from three  different mothers.” The elder concluded his 
speech. Charlotte behaved and acted  maturely. She camouflaged them. “My elder 
sister Kate is out and also our last  born (chat) Lisa. When they come I’ll tell 
them your message. Give us two weeks  to hand over the property.” “Good girl! 
We are Africans. Our tradition is  superb. We will always be here to help you 
solve your problems.” The elder  promised.
The Sisters Discuss
The three sisters discussed and contacted  Barrister Sarr, their dad’s 
lawyer. They hatched a plan for the  elders.
Elders Entertain
The elders came with a traditional Chief to share  the booty among 
themselves. The girls entertained them with food and plenty to  drink. As they went 
outside to smoke their tobacco pipes the police came and  arrested them. They were 
taken to the police station, tortured and detained for  a night. A rich 
brother came and bailed them. Before they were released they  were warned to keep 
the peace and never trespass into the girls’ properties  again. “Make your own 
property. Doctor Robberts properties belong to his  children not to you. If 
you trespass again you’ll be taken to court and jailed.”  They were happy to 
be released. They rushed back to the  village.

FOCUS ON POLITICS
1986: THE YEAR THE IMF AXE HACKED THE  GAMBIA
With Suwaibou Touray
This column has been focusing on political  history and developments, 
particularly in The Gambia, and where necessary draw  lessons and make comparisons in 
order to help the present and future generations  learn from the past.
The narration commenced from pre-colonial to post  independence period and 
that it has systematically followed events from  1965-1985. We are now in 1986, 
which precedes another election year 1987.
In  the last edition, we stopped at where we mentioned a BBC report quoting 
the  Nation as having written, “Either action taken against Sanna Manneh would 
not  save the government from a continuing embarrassment.”
Let us now continue  from where we stopped.
By mid 1986, many close observers of the confederation  had started to lose 
faith in the whole arrangement. Would the confederation  succeed or not? Was 
the question many people were asking at the time? 
In the  pages of the Torch, an anonymous writer who said he was writing as a 
concerned  citizen, presented himself as the president of the Republic and put 
state house  as his address, had addressed his letter to his erstwhile 
political opponents  calling on them and their committees to attend a grand National 
Assembly to  discuss the issue of the Senegambia Confederation.
The writer opined that the  issue of the confederation, has so far divided 
and united the country at one  time and the other; that open discussion on the 
matter among all stakeholders  cannot be put aside any further without grave 
and inadmissible cost.
The  anonymous writer vowed to provide all those who attended the meeting 
with what  he called “authentic copies of all relevant documents” produced on 
the matter,  including expert briefs on the context and circumstances of each of 
the  document.
The writer went on to say that after their discussion, let each go  and 
campaign on the issues based on their convictions, aided by available  information, 
public opinion and votes, at a determined date.
The writer,  however, asserted that in his opinion and belief, the Senegambia 
Confederation  was unstable and that he said was confirmed by what he 
observed as “Military  Menace, Political acrimony and unfriendly economic actions.” 
He, however, said  he would not pretend to pass any judgment on the matter. 
The writer called for a  referendum on the matter.
What became apparent later was that matters became  worse for the Jawara 
regime. Confusion was abounding in official circles and  wild rumours began to 
flare up that relations between the Condeferal partners  had not improved.
According to reports, the Senegalese were, infact,  suspected by many, to be 
engaged in plans of destabilizing the Jawara regime  with the objective of 
eventually removing him from power. The Torch described  the plans to be 
economic, political and military strategies. The Torch opined  that for the 
Senegalese, the removal of Dawda Jawara alone should be the easiest  of plots, since 
they remained as his only protectors.
What however remained,  as the main problem, according to the newspaper, 
seemed to be the anticipated  angry international reactions that any such foul 
play against “innocent little  Gambia” would have aroused? Moreover, as the 
paper argued, President Abdou  Diouf, at the time, held the OAU Chairmanship and 
as a result any such plans  would have to be done with extreme caution.
The Torch also indicated that the  British would have hated losing The Gambia 
to the Francophone World because of  what it called the “Thatcherist 
backsliding and internationalist impotence, so  they too would be watching very 
closely.” This was the time many said the Gambia  had started to look forward to big 
brother Nigeria for support and this was why  they said the president had 
invited the Nigerian president General Muhammadu  Buhari, to the 21st 
Independence Anniversary Celebrations.
The confusion was  exacerbated with the rumour that President Jawara was 
having treatment in an  English Mental Hospital. This rumour went further claiming 
that the President  was hit by one of his wives with a “chicken heel’ shoe 
on his head during a  family feud.
According to the Torch, the rumour was later proven to be  incorrect but that 
there was some iota of truth in the claim because the  President was at that 
material time in some undisclosed location in London  receiving treatment.
The Torch, however, hypothesized that perhaps the belief  that President 
Jawara had gone for mental treatment might have stemmed from a  more philosophic 
view and that is the ‘chaotic mismanagement of the country’s  economy can only 
be made by a mentally ill-policy maker.’
President Jawara  however returned to Banjul and attended the 21st 
independence anniversary.  According to reports, during the actual march pass ceremony 
held at the  MacCarthy Square, the growing popular resentment and mass unrest 
surfaced in some bizarre unmistakable form with a manifestation by a young man 
holding a  written placate in front of the President and another who seized 
the microphone  from a radio Gambia reporter also chanted some anti Government 
slogans that was  heard live through Radio Gambia by the whole country. “We are 
suffering!” the  man shouted, because prices of all essential commodities 
have been increased!  etc”. He was quickly and forcibly bundled out of the place 
by the police to save  the president further embarrassments.
January 17 1986 was the date that the  Minister of Finance Mr. Sheriff S. 
Sisay made an announcement over the radio  thus introducing the floating of the 
national currency “the Dalasi”. This means  that instead of letting the Dalasi 
stay pegged to a fix rate against the Pound  Sterling, as it had been since 
independence in 1965, it was let loose to float  and allow its exchange rate to 
be determined by the ‘wild’ forces of the  market.
The Minister arguing on the rationale, maintained that keeping the  fix rate, 
was “no longer tenable, advisable, or efficient.” According to the  Torch, 
this announcement did not only strip the Dalasi of all its little  credibility 
that remained but that it did the same thing to the Government  itself. 
Some observers of the scene revealed that every facet of Gambian  life, at 
the time, had been affected by this general economic decline; that the  end of 
January 1986, witnessed the rise of prices on a daily basis; that  merchants 
were now flatly refusing to have anything to do with the Dalasi and  some were 
accepting payments only in CFA Francs or other foreign  currencies.
According to the Torch, the bad timing and the economic  senselessness in the 
decision surprised many an observer. This was the year of  the IMF axe. It 
has gone down in the history of The Gambia as the year in which  the IMF axe 
hacked off 4500 public servants from the payroll, whose lives as  from then on, 
could only be considered to be, as the Torch called it in ‘peril  and jeopardy’
.
Apart from the above initial number of laid-off workers,  another 1500 
workers were made the latest casualties. According to reports, many  of these 
workers did not understand the reasons and were taken unawares by “this  bitter blow”
.
The Torch reported the earlier termination of 3000 employees  working for 
both the central government and the state parastatals. The mass lay  offs were 
part of the agreement between government and the IMF that was reached  at in 
June of 1985 in which the fund provided The Gambia with 12 million Pounds  
Standby credit over a 15 month period. This agreement, the Economic Recovery  
Programme (ERP) had a far reaching effect on the general population. Large  numbers 
of dismissed employees joined the already large army of the  unemployed.
During this period, a bag of rice sky rocketed up the largely  unaffordable 
price of D350 dalasi and was poised to go even higher. Petrol,  mostly consumed 
by the fleet of luxurious cars owned by the tiny classes of  merchants, 
businessmen, top government officials and corrupt politicians, was  said to be in 
chronic shortage. This infact made it a most sought after  commodity thereby 
putting it beyond the reach of the poor.
According to  critics, the regime had not published any plans as to tackle 
these grave  problems; that the little it tried to do instead worsened the 
situation. On the  other hand, the Senegalese government announced the offering of 
D1080 per tone  for groundnut since 1984 when The Gambia was able to offer 
only D600 Dalasis per  tonne to Gambian farmers. This was why farmers near the 
borders sent their nuts  to Senegal in exchange for CFA Francs and at a much 
higher price. Records also  indicated that this had reduced the estimated tonnage 
of nuts going to Gambian  Seccos by 20%.
The Government in its decision to increase the salaries of the  remaining 
civil servants by 10-20%, according the Torch, means creating a  society where “
few chop and plenty die, marathon.”
See the next issue as we  cover events leading to the preparatory stages of 
the 1987  elections.

FLOOD AND WATER-BORNE DISEASES
By Yaya  Bajo
Following the inundation of water in some communities in the Kanifing  
Municipality, health providers have raised concern about the imminent outbreak  of 
diarrhea related diseases such as cholera in the affected areas. It could be  
recalled that an outbreak of cholera hit Ebo-Town two years ago and cause both  
morbidity and mortality among the affected households. However, with the  
commencement of rain this year and subsequent floods in the area, all contingent  
measures should be put in place to avert the reoccurrence of the epidemic.
In  view of this, the resident of the flooded communities should be 
adequately  sensitized on the possible outbreak of water-borne diseases and the health  
hazard it poses to the life of the people. It should be noted that floods 
carry  all sorts of dirt including disease-causing micro organisms, which could 
easily  lead to series of infectious diseases such as diarrhea, worm 
infestations,  shistosomiasis or bilharzias and other water borne diseases. Children,  
particularly toddlers bear the brunt of these conditions and if they become  
contaminated by these diseases and a strict personal hygiene is not observed, an 
 outbreak could easily follow suit. Infact the general populace should be 
aware  that a confirmed case of cholera is enough to declare an outbreak, because 
of  its contagious nature. Therefore, it should concern all and  sundry.
Communities that have experienced floods should observe strict  personal and 
environmental hygiene with a view to preventing the outbreak of  water-borne 
diseases. Residents in the affected areas must desist from utilizing  well 
waters for cooking and drinking as this may cause infections. Latrines  should be 
properly managed and children excreta must be handled with care as  well. 
Foods and food products should be handled with maximum care to avoid  
contamination and in addition to that, hands should be properly washed under  running 
water, clean for that matter before and after eating and after using the  toilet.
Additionally, residents in these flooded communities as a matter of  urgency 
should avail themselves to the nearest heath facilities if they  experience 
any form of diarrhea diseases for immediate diagnosis and possible  treatments. 
Notwithstanding, this can serve as a mechanism in preventing and  controlling 
the spread of the outbreak of cholera. Cholera which shows symptoms  of 
rice-watery diarrhea and severe dehydration is highly contagious and its  mortality 
rate is always fatal. In the event of its outbreak, many people are  exposed 
to risk including the health workers, so it is better to prevent it than  to 
cure it.
However, I would like to urge the department of health and its  collaborators 
to intensify the awareness campaign by launching Radio and  Television 
sensitization programmes in order to attain wider coverage. Finally,  those already 
affected by the flood should be provided with humanitarian  assistance from 
concerned authorities, philanthropic organisations and other  good Samaritans in 
order to ameliorate their ordeals and most importantly to  prevent them from 
contracting any other form of water-borne  diseases.

UTG INAUGURATES LAW DEPARTMENT, POSTGRADUATE  PROGRAMME
By Isatou Bittaye
The University of The Gambia on Wednesday  August 22 inaugurated its new law 
department and postgraduate (MA) programme in  history at the Paradise Suites 
Hotel. In his opening remarks, the deputy  vice-chancellor of the University, 
Mr. Ousman Nyan, said the decision to  introduce a degree programme in law at 
the University was made on the basis of  the real needs of the legal 
profession in this country. Mr. Nyan added that the  importance of the law programme 
goes beyond the needs and demands of the legal  profession in this country and 
to the wider interest and cross-fertilization of  ideas and competencies both 
within the University; that law is a discipline that  touches on virtually all 
aspects of communal and personal life; that the  postgraduate programme is an 
exciting venture which is crucial for our  development; that as the university 
continues to grow from strength to strength  attracting more students and 
staff, both nationally and internationally, it  strives toward constantly 
improving the learning environment and integration of  tertiary education in The 
Gambia. Mr. Nyan said that the university is catered  for offering courses in all 
the major disciplines essential for achieving our  vision 2020 goals.
In his statement professor Nicodemus Fru Awasom, Chair of  Exams and 
Education Committee at UTG, said if we do not start postgraduate  programmes, the 
perennial problem of the lack of sufficient teaching staff shall  never be 
addressed. He added that the complaint of lack of competent and  qualified lecturers 
will continue every year and nothing will ever  happen.Professor Awasom 
indicated that the postgraduate programme was started to  address the teaching and 
research needs of the High Education Sector in this  country. He noted that 
they are determined to make the dream of postgraduate  studies come true but that 
they are bogged down by the inability of students to  pay fees. The Professor 
indicated that it is ideal to study The Gambia in the  Gambia and not in 
another country, noting that in this way students can touch  and feel the reality 
of The Gambia instead of imagining it; that the master  programme students are 
scholars who are being trained in both quantitative and  qualitative research 
techniques to enable them explore knowledge in a modern  way. The Professor 
said that they are being trained to emerge as producers of  knowledge and not 
just consumers, noting that they are research oriented  scholars; that all 
stakeholders should support postgraduate studies here in the  University of The 
Gambia as a way of building capacity as a solid support to the  university 
system. 
Also speaking at the program, the Chief Justice,  Abdoukarim Savage, said 
that to see Gambians at the bench is always a problem.  Chief Justice Savage 
added that Gambians should come forward to lead their  destiny. He added that 
society has placed serious responsibility to the school  and they should reflect 
the needs and aspirations of the country. Justice Savage  said the Attorney 
General’s Chambers should be strengthened; that if it is not  strengthened then 
we are weak and it is only Gambians who can strengthened the  Chambers. Justice 
Savage put a challenge to the pioneers of the law programme,  noting that 
they should not be lawyers who are after money but should help to  develop their 
country, The Gambia. The Chief Justice said Gambians who are  worthy of 
substance and can deliver up to expectation are needed. He urged the  law students 
to continue doing research and contribute to this country.
Mr.  Fafa E. M’bai, Senior legal counsel gave a lecture on the topic “Legal  
Reasoning”. The vote of thanks was given by the coordinator of the Law  
Department, Mrs. Isatou Jallow Sey.

SK East: Rangers Continue with  Draws
By Isatou Bittaye
Rangers made it three draws in a row in their  campaign in the ongoing 
Serrekunda East Nawettan.
Rangers started brightly  taking the lead just before the end of the first 
period through Yaya Bayo, but  the Churchills Town side allowed Abuko United to 
level the score seventeen  minutes into the second half. 
And they escaped punishment from Abuko when  they were reduced to ten in the 
field following Sheriff Koroma’s sending off.  Koroma was being substituted 
after coming on in the second half but he dragged  his feet and when he showed 
his displeasure by throwing his shirt on the ground,  the referee ordered him 
off with a red card.
But Abuko failed to make the  difference in numbers count as the game ended 
one a piece. On another match on  Wednesday between Gamma Link and Medina the 
game ended 3-0 in favour of  Medina.

SK West: Saal-bi Make it Double
By Bakary Seedy  Dampha
Saal-bi defeated Boyz United 2-0 on Tuesday to maintain a hundred  percent 
record in their Serrekunda West Nawettan campaign.
A first half 11th  minute strike by Habib Njie opened the day for Saal-bi and 
they made good use of  their advantage to cause more trouble for Boyz. And as 
if to make matters more  favourable for Saal-bi, Bakary Manneh netted Saal-bi’
s second when he fired the  ball into the Boyz net from a spot kick.
On Wednesday, Gamstar emerged 1-0  winners over Pencha FC and Gintos of 
Bakoteh overpowered Old Hands beating them  2-0. 
Today Ngoyan will play Luzan and tomorrow Unicorns take on Ajax at 3:30  Pm 
whilst Sankung Sillah face Boyz in the second match of the day. On Sunday  
Pipeline will take on Dippakunda united in the first match of the day and New  
Jeswang United sort things out with Gintos in the second.

Banjul  Nawettan Roundup
By Modou Nyang
It is week two in the Banjul Nawettan, and  hostilities in the pitch are high 
as teams fight for the top prize.
On  Tuesday, Digi Dambi avenged their first match defeat to Barcelona last 
week by  netting two goals against Skunfica. They lost by the same goal margin 
to  Barcelona last Friday. And on Wednesday Miami where unlucky to collect all 
three  points against Ngoyan in a match they dominated and created most of the 
chances.  Sainey Touray fired his side ahead in the 46th minute but Miami’s 
celebrations  did not last long as Ngoyan equalized in the space of a minute at 
the Banjul  mini Stadium. Miami were again forced to settle for a one all 
draw just as their  first match against Greenhouse last week.
Marcus however collected all three  points against Rankin United at the 
Gambia Senior Secondary grounds on the same  day. Marcus bettered their first match 
encounter against Natanga last Thursday  which ended zeroes.




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