EDITORIAL

  It is a shame to learnt that the Jammeh government is refusing to pay EAW GROUP INC, the US leading lobby firm, its half a million dollars advertisement contract. This government will leave to regret its  actions, as the legal system in this country is independent. Jammeh can play with Gambians and not US bonafied companies.

  When the goings were rough, Jammeh sought  help from EAW GROUP, who lobbied vigorously to sell his government's image in the United States and to the outside world. The least we expected  from Jammeh was to honour the terms and conditions of  the said contract agreement to the letter.  Failure of this,  is unacceptable.

  We do know that this government is in the business of duping its business partners. Just to name a few. What happened to The Gambia government ALIMENTA groundnut deal? Guess what?  The same government, woke up one morning and closed the offices of ALIMENTA and accused them of "Money laundering" and economic crime activities. Alimenta's managing director was ordered to leave The Gambia, while armed paramilitary officers take charge of the premises of the ALIMENTA  company.

  Despite the accusations, the government could not proved the veracity of the said charges it brought against ALEMENTA.  This led to the country, experiencing four failed groundnut trade seasons. The regime could not buy the farmers produce, as there was no money at the time.  Private buyers contracted to replace ALIMENTA,  the following year,  also could not meet the needs and aspirations of farmers. These companies were relying on Bank loans to purchase groundnuts from our poverty stricken farmers.

  Aggrieved by the government's action, ALIMENTA  resorted to dragging The Gambia Government to the International civil and dispute litigation court to seek redress. A court ruling was delivered in favour of ALIMENTA and the Jammeh government  was ordered to pay several millions of United States of dollars for breach of contract, loss of earnings, and plus  interest.  The said court deplored the unruly behaviour of The Gambian authorities by clamping  down on a  legally registered entity such as  ALIMENTA.  At the time sacked Justice Minister Pap Cheiyassin Secka was handling the case between The Gambia and ALIMENTA.  The regime could not put a strong defence to counter ALIMENTA'S accusations.  The court had to finally rule in favour of ALIMENTA.

  The same government also deported Tarik Musa, a Lebanase  businessman, who helped Jammeh on  his bid to secure latest car models for his government and security forces.  Highly placed sources close to the TK Motors firm says, the Jammeh government is still indebted to Tarik Musa, as they are yet to pay the vehicles they took from him. The jailed Jarra West MP and former majority leader Baba K Jobe, was taking cars from TK Motors in the name of the government. We even gathered that campaign vehicles for the APRC were secured from the same company on credit by  Jobe. President Jammeh himself received a  truck or (Pajero) from Tarik.

  We have documents of such transactions between the government and TK Motors.  Gambia's Kora star Jaliba Kuyateh was guaranteed by Baba Jobe to secure a mini van worth over D1Million dalasis. Jaliba is yet to pay the said money back. That is the van he is currently using to transport his musical crew.  At one point, Tarik's account with Standard Bank Limited Banjul, branch went red, as the Bank refused to provide him loans.  Most of his creditors, including The Gambian government refused to pay him.

  We are  aware of the fact that Tarik was enjoying certain privileges, while in The Gambia. He succeeded in corrupting the President and the last official in his government,  including aviation and seaport security officials. His containers from overseas were never inspected. This led to some observers at the Ports and the airport, wondering if the business executive was not engaged in alleged illegal activities. There was this report linking him with alleged drug trafficking. But the bottom line here is that,  it is the system who created Tarik and others,  such as Babanding Futanka Sissoho. There  was  a time, this administration was kind of obligated to Tarik Musa.  It was on the eleven hour, when Jammeh decided to disown Tarik Musa, just like any other foreign business partner.

  Coming Back to the case of the Malian Millionaire Babanding Futanka Sissoho, it was President Jammeh who welcomed Sissoho to The Gambia. Despite Babanding's criminal records, the government hailed Baba as the "true son of Africa" committed in advancing the continent's socio-economic development.  It was the same Babanding, who was imprisoned here in the United States for trying to smuggle helicopters to The Gambia for Yahya Jammeh.  It was the same Babanding who was linked to the Dubai Bank scam, which led to the Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant for Sissoho.  Guess what?  The Jammeh government woke up  one morning and ordered Babanding to leave The Gambia and confiscated his assets.  His hotel Mariatou Beach hotel,  is now in the hands of the government. His air crafts were sold to settle Sissoho's debts in The Gambia. We gathered that Sissoho is still indebted to Gambian business firms and other individuals he employed.

  EAW GROUP INC, should do whatever it takes to recover its money from the Jammeh government. This is not a government, which honoured contracts. The past cases cited are enough justifications for any person owed money by this government  to join EAW GROUP in  dragging Yahya and his government to courts outside  The Gambian jurisdiction.  Local  remedies are not available to facilitate the fair and impartial hearing of such cases, as the judiciary is  remote controlled by President Jammeh.

  Half a million dollars is not a small money.  Yahya is joking with his life.  How on earth can this government signed such contracts, without involving the National Assembly? And in the interest of justice, will Yahya tell us where he was going to secure such funds from to  pay EAW GROUP?  Or was he relying on his pay masters Taiwan?  In this country,  signed contracts means a lot and people don't joke with it. Jammeh will receive the rudest shock of his life, as there is no way that he can escape from such a debt.

  The least we expected  from this government,  was to revamp  its DC embassy before trying to attract lobby groups. The staffers need better pay and transportation. There are few vehicles at the said embassy. This is no secret to Gambians and those living around  DC areas.  As the saying  goes "charity starts at home" and we expect Yahya to improve the working conditions of such foreign workers,  who are not allowed by law to secure private jobs without immigration approval. There is a tendency that if these officials are not given the necessary salaries they deserved, it might weaken their  moral towards work.

  It does not make sense for this government to embark on image making, when it is hell bent on undermining the rights and freedoms of  Gambians. No serious investor who worth his or her salt will come to the Gambia, in view of media reports they are reading about Yahya's repressive regime. In addition, investors will not target a country, like The Gambia, which cannot provide three good hours of uninterrupted electricity. Besides, the lack of electricity, the country is also experiencing road network problem. Most of the roads are in deplorable conditions. Investors who want to mortgage their businesses will contemplates investing under Jammeh's rule.

  It would be interesting to hear testimonies from Ambassador Grey-Johnson, John P Bojang, James Kujabi and Famara Jatta  on the said high profile case brought against The Gambia Government by EAW GROUP INC. Witnesses should be honest  enough to  spill the beans.  Failing to speak the truth, might cost them dearly. Gambians should not be surprised,  if more cases are filed against Jammeh abroad. There is this case to be filed in a Belgian court soon.  We will not elaborate further for legal reasons...Jammeh had started facing international trials. He will soon be dragged to the international court of justice for crimes against humanity.

  We salute EAW GROUP INC, for registering such a historic case.  This will serve as a lesson to Jammeh and his cohorts. That there are other remedies aggrieved parties can resorts to,  if their rights are violated.  See you at the Washington Court. We rest our case.

  The author is the former Secretary General of The Gambia press Union and also a former Voice of America radio Banjul Correspondent. Mr. M'Bai who now resides in the US State of North Carolina Raleigh was a leading political and crime reporter with the Point and Daily Observer newspapers respectively. He can be reached by email at the following addresses: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]











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