Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 151/2007, Friday, 28 December, 2007
Editorial
Will The President Take Another Step Forward
Section 19 subsection 1 of the Constitution states, “Every person shall have
the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to
arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his or her liberty
except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedures as are
established by law.”
To ensure that this provision is given effect Section 19 subsection (3)
paragraph (b) states unequivocally that “Any person who is arrested or detained
upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed, or being about to
commit, a criminal offence under the Laws of The Gambia and who is not
released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and, in any event
within 72 hours.” In short, no person can be detained by the security forces for
more than 72 hours without being released or taken to court.
The purpose is meant to prevent detention without trial. This provision,
however, has been treated with disregard by the executive.
The President has declared his commitment to the rule of law at the opening
of the new legal year. What is now left is for him to take the bold step
forward by ensuring the release of detainees who have been held without trial for
more than 72 hours. Two detainees, namely, Abdoulie Kujabi and Foday Barry
have been released after being held incommunicado without trial for a period
exceeding 20 months. The President should take a further step by ensuring the
release of all detainees who have been held without trial for more than 72
hours. Alternatively, they should be charged and taken to court. If he fails
to do so then he cannot be regarded as a respecter of the law.
Kujabi and Barry Released
A former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr
Abdoulie Kujabi, and a former senior personnel of the Agency, Mr Foday Barry,
were released from detention at the State Central Prisons (Mile II Prisons)
yesterday. Mr Kujabi was arrested in March 2006 soon after the March 21 2006
failed coup, while Foday Barry was among the three newly re-instated officers of
the NIA who were arrested on Friday 6 April 2006. They have been released
after 21 months of detention without trial.
UDP/NRP Challenge Constitutional Amendment At The Supreme Court
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The United Democratic Party (UDP), the National Reconciliation Party (NRP)
and the minority leader at the National Assembly have filed a suit at the
Supreme Court challenging the recent amendment of the constitution and the Local
Government Act. The suit mentioned on Thursday before the Chief Justice at
his Chambers has been adjourned till Thursday, January 3, 2008.
The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the bill entitled the
Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia 1997 (Amendment) Act, passed by the
National Assembly on September 6 and assented to by the President on October 1,
runs contrary to the spirit and intention of section 193 (1) of the constitution
and therefore void and of no effect.
They are also seeking a declaration that the bill entitled the Local
Government (Amendment) Act 2007, passed by the National Assembly on October 31, and
assented to by the President on November 19, was made in excess of the powers
conferred on the National Assembly and the President.
The plaintiffs want a Supreme Court declaration that the Local Government
(Amendment) Act, 2007 (Act No. 13 of 2007) is null, void and of no effect.
They are also seeking an injunction restraining the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC), the second defendant, from holding or conducting elections
for the Municipal and Local Government Authorities scheduled for January 24,
2008.
The Secretary of State for Justice and the Attorney-General, Marie
Saine-Firdaus, who is the first defendant, was present with Amie Joof-Conteh, who is
defending the second defendant, the IEC. The plaintiffs were represented by
A.N.M Ousainou Darboe, who is also the UDP leader.
NO LOANS OR GRANTS CAN REDUCE POVERTY BUT….
SAYS SIDIA
In his reaction to the Budget delivered by the Secretary of State for
Finance and Economic Affairs at the National Assembly, the member for Wuli West
constituency, Hon. Sidia Jatta asserted that no amount of loan or grants can
reduce poverty in this country. Honorable Jatta pointed that the only way to
bring about poverty reduction in the Gambia is to create employment
opportunities, improve agricultural production and address the chronic problem of
groundnut marketing. Sidia argued that unemployment and underemployment are major
factors of poverty in this country, yet the National Budget is completely
silent on the issue. He said the rate of unemployment in the country is so great
that it is one of the fundamental reasons why the youth are risking their
lives to go to Europe, because they cannot have the means of survival in their
country.
Recently, Sidia said, 130 youths who were on board a boat missed their way,
fifty of them lost their lives and some are still hospitalised in Dakar.
Sidia asserted that any meaningful poverty reduction program must address this
crucial issue of unemployment and underemployment, otherwise poverty would only
escalate.
On Improved Agricultural Production
On the issue of improved agricultural production, Sidia pointed out that
land is the most significant factor in agricultural production but, as he said,
the problem in this country is that the land is dead and that fertilizer is
extremely expensive. Last year he said, the cost of fertilizer went up to D700
per bag. Sidia pointed out that anybody who wants to have good produce must
use fertilizer, because if one wants to use a virgin land the forestry
department would not allow them because they (forestry) said it contributes to
deforestation. He agued that due to high cost of fertilizer and the lack of
fertility of the soil, farm produce this year, in some parts of the country,
would be terribly bad and in other parts fairly good. To reduce poverty in this
country, Sidia stressed that the issue of fertilizer must be addressed because
fertilizer is very crucial in agricultural production.
On the Marketing of Groundnut
On the marketing of groundnuts, the National Assembly member for Wuli West
said it is a crucial issue on the drive to reduce poverty. He pointed out that
last year the marketing of groundnuts in the country was a fiasco, since the
buying centers that were established did not operate and that farmers were
asked to sell their groundnuts at the depots, which required a minimum of five
tonnes. ‘’Which farmer in this country is capable to producing five tonnes
of groundnut?’’ asked Sidia.
He also said the cost involved to cross the river in his area to take their
groundnut to the depot at Basse, makes it impossible for any farmer to take
his or her groundnuts to Basse depot. Sidia stressed that the issue of
groundnut marketing in this country needs to be reviewed seriously. He said every
year the government would promise that a task force has been created to look
into the issue but those task forces have not come with any realistic solutions
to the problem. Sidia argued that unless the Seccos that were established
before are operational and the problem of credit buying addressed, poverty in
this country will never be reduced, he concluded.
Purported Counterfeiters In Police Net
By Fabakary B. Ceesay and Awa Bah
The office of the Inspector General of Police had in their custody three men
who are accused of involving in a fake currency deal. The trio were arrested
at Bakoteh on the 24 December with a machine, which they allegedly used to
make the fake monies.
According to the Police Crime Management Cordinator, Commissioner Ebrima
Dibba, the three men namely, Charles Lawson, a Nigerian, Amadou Wattara, a
Guinean national, and Ebrima Danso, a Gambian, were arrested by Superintendent
Yankuba Sonko and taken to Bakoteh Police Station. Commissioner Dibba told
reporters that upon their arrest they were caught with some cash amount in dalasi
and CFA notes. He noted that the dalasi notes, which were in 50 dalasi and
100 dalasi denominations, amounted to D12, 100 dalasi and the CFA, which were
in 10,000 CFA denominations, amounted to 200,000 CFA. Commissioner Dibba
alleged that the suspects were using a printer and a photocopier to do this
dubious act. He added that they were also arrested with different liquids and
paints, with dozens of A4 size paper. Commissioner Dibba noted that D650 dalasi,
already distributed in the market was also confiscated from another person at
Sanchaba Sulay Jobe. He told journalists that the principal suspect, Charles
Lawson, had confessed that the materials were given to him by a second
person who is at large. Dibba asserted that the trio will be charged accordingly
and will be diligently prosecuted by a competent court of law. He added that
the day of their trial will be made known to the press so as to cover the
trial for the benefit of the public.
Mr. Amadou Colley, an expert from the Central Bank, said it is the
responsibility of every Gambian to be vigilant, in case they come across fake dealers.
He said it is the Central Bank that has the mandate to issue currencies and
adding “it is not an excuse for anybody not to know the Gambian currency”.
He noted that every body should be able to distinguish the fake money from the
real one. Mr. Colley indicated that most fake money dealers are experts and
that they would do anything to deceive the society. He pointed out that his
department, in collaboration with the police, will sensitize the public on
fake currencies.
The Inspector General of police Benedict Jammeh, applauded the public for
cooperating with the police by giving them such information that led to the
arrest of the suspects. IGP Jammeh said the police cannot do everything alone to
curb such kind of crimes in the society. The counterfeit monies, including
the purported machine, were put on display at the press briefing.
Interview With Halifa Sallah
Foroyaa: Can you explain the other two concepts, namely, socialism and
communism?
Halifa: The concepts Socialism and Communism arose from the expectation that
Capitalism without any state intervention to regulate its excesses would
lead to development of advanced technology which will require lesser number of
people to engage in production. It is expected that if such a development
takes place, the more advance the technology the more people are thrown out of
work because of automation. In this way there will be immense profit generated
by the capitalists and few wage workers to pay .This is expected to yield
immense wealth on one side and immense poverty on the other. Those who analyse
such a state of things concluded that the way to prevent this is for the state
to intervene and take control of the means of production and allow every one
to work according to ability and receive according to the quality and the
quantity of work done. According to them technology would no longer lead to the
alienation of workers and their retrenchment but would lead to growth in
income and reduction of working hours because of the rise in the value of labour
and its productivity. According to them the more technology advances the
greater the likelihood for labour to yield more than the person needs for
consumption. When that point is reached it is hypothesised that people will be
able to produce according to their ability and will consume according to need.
This is what Marx called communism. According to him, there will be no classes
or inequality in such a society. There will be no army; police or state
since each will have enough and none will trouble the other.
What then are the points of the critics? The Gambia is a poor agrarian
country without industries and advanced technology. Is it useful for us to debate
whether we can build a society where so much abundance is created that the
slogan ‘’from each according to his ability and to each according to his
needs ‘’ could be put into practice?
In my view, we should concentrate on translating Ideologies into practical
and relevant policies, programmes and projects in order to save our people
from poverty and tyranny.
Foroyaa: Do you have any last words to say to the people on the issue of
economics before you go to religion, foreign affairs, and the future of PDOIS,
NADD and the Opposition in Gambian politics?
Halifa: What is there to clarify? I have explained what Capitalism,
Socialism and Communism really mean. I have argued that we do not have the base to
build a developed Capitalist economy where industry; Land and Services will be
owned by a few corporations which provide employment to the vast majority to
enable the state to levy income and corporate tax to generate revenue for the
provision of public services. Can we throw all Gambian farmers off the land
and give their plots to few commercial farmers so as to introduce capitalist
farming? This cannot be I have emphasized that even in the developed
capitalist countries the states are economic actors because of the need to generate
non tax revenue to compensate for the demand for lower taxes from both
corporate bodies and salary earners. In fact, i promised our readers that the book
on the National and International economy will show the level of growth of
the public sector economy in the Advanced Capitalist economies and the
emerging ones as well as the social democratic economies. In most of these economies
the oil resources are controlled by the public economy. The international
business statistics provide abundant information on what is called Sovereign
Wealth funds. This is the wealth which is in the hands of states. For example
Norway is reported to have 400 billion dollars in its coffers as State
Investment Fund, Abu Dhabi is supposed to hold 13,000 billion dollars in its
coffers. The amount of wealth in State coffers is in the trillions and it is being
utilised to give loans to foreign governments like The Gambia to build
schools; hospitals; roads and other public facilities for interest. They also
purchase telecommunication systems and other public utilities for the generation of
electricity and water supply. They are even investing into the purchase of
tourist resorts; airlines, and the security markets all over the world. I
have made it very clear that the level of state intervention in the economic and
social sphere such as ownership of oil industries and the provision of
public housings and other welfare programmes is what differentiates the policies
of the conservatives and the Socialist, Social Democratic and Communist
parties in the West.
We in the Gambia cannot rely entirely on corporations to provide employment
to the vast majority of our people and generate enough taxes to provide
welfare programmes to the needy. Such investments have not been available since
1965 when the country gained nominal independence. This is the first point:
I have explained that those who thought of building a developed Socialist
Economy envisaged a crisis in the ownership of means of production by a few
corporations as they build technology and root out the producers to maximize
profit. They envisaged that when land and industry are all in the hands of the
few and the many are left with no means of existence the only way to put an
end to the misery of the many is to unite them with the land and the industries
by putting the means of production in the hands of the public sector so
that the y become the sovereign property of all and distribution is done
according to the quantity and quality of work done: Even in developed capitalist
countries the public sector is intervening to manage this confrontation between
labour and capital in the form of social democratic and socialist policies
which promote welfare. These policies are now perpetuated even by
conservative parties in the US , Germany ; France ; UK and all other parts of Europe .
Hence such developed Socialist Economies are yet to emerge not to mention
Communist Economies
Since Gambian agriculture is still in the hands of poor farmers and
industries are hardly in existence we need the type of development model which PDOIS
had outlined. We will help consolidate the extended family farms so that they
will be part of the union of farmers which will establish marketing
cooperatives to facilitate the sale of produce. The public sector will provide all
the expertise and subsidies necessary to ensure income generation and self
reliance in agricultural production as well as guaranteed marketing outlets.
In stead of providing farm land to the Jammeh Foundation the communities
will have their own community farms to produce the things they can sell in order
to finance community projects.
A parallel economy will be promoted where the private sector will rely on
its institutions of accumulation to invest in the productive base and
collaborate with other institutions of accumulation on the continent to enhance
regional integration. This will enable Gambia to benefit from the economics of
scale
The public sector will also rely on its institution of accumulation to build
up its productive base, give powers to managers, boards of public
enterprises, desk officers at the executive level to monitor policy implementations,
establish performance contracts and ensure the payment of dividends to
accumulate resources for investment and to provide social services
Power shall be devolved to the people by the creation of social auditing and
dispute resolution mechanisms which are responsive to the needs of the
people: The villages will have their own committees which will be informed of all
resources allocated to the villages and will be responsible for monitoring
their utilization in the interest of the community. They would issue their own
reports for the attention of the cabinet and the National Assembly.
Industrial, women, the disabled, Human Rights, Children and other independent and
impartial commissions shall be established and empowered to address the concerns
of the people. The women, youth, professional organisations and Unions will
take part in processes and would make recommendations for the appointments to
ministerial posts relevant to their areas; In short, PDOIS stands for People’
s Power and People’s Centred Development. Hence any one who disagrees with
our politics is simply saying that he disagrees with every thing I have said.
Such people have every right to disagree with us but would equally have the
duty to tell us what should be done to rescue our poor people from the bedbugs
and the poverty which reduce them to the wretched of the earth, if they truly
love their country and people.
Foroyaa: What are your views on Religion and politics?
Halifa: Some of our supporters did refer me to a debate on the subject and I
was amazed to gather that people who were talking about democracy would
argue that certain opposition parties are not making progress because of the
leaders’ attitude towards religion. It seems to me that such people neither know
their constitution nor their political history.95 per cent of the Gambian
population are said to be Muslims However; Edward Francis Small was the first to
be elected to the legislative council. The leader of the UP who became the
first Chief Minister was a Christian. The person who eventually became the
president of the country for 29 years also converted to Christianity and won
election as a Christian before going back to be a Muslim. Now where are the
successful opposition parties led by religious leaders in the history of Gambian
politics? Is it P S Njie, Garba Jahumpa, Sheriff Ceesay, Sheriff Dibba, Pap
Cheyassin Secka, Assan Musa Camara, Dr Bojang, Ousainou Darboe, Hamat Bah?
Hence, there has never been a successful opposition party led by a religious
leader in the Gambia. What we have had is a successful coup d’etat. This is
the first point.
Secondly, section one of the Constitution of the Gambia is revised as
follows by a government which often gives the impression that it is promoting
Islam: ‘The Gambia is a Sovereign Secular Republic’’
Section 100 of the constitution adds that “The National Assembly shall not
pass a bill to establish any religion as a state religion.”
Section 60 of the constitution adds that “No association shall be registered
or remain registered as a political party if it is formed or organised on an
ethnic, sectional, religious or regional basis.’’
It is therefore clear that the Gambia is a sovereign Republic and the
sovereignty of the country resides in each Gambian irrespective of religious
beliefs. No Gambian farmer can claim to have a bad harvest because of divine
intervention if he or she fails to look and detect that all his seeds were
destroyed by pests and went ahead to sow them with the expectation that divine
intervention will salvage his farm. The right to choose goes hand in hand with the
responsibility to discern the good from the bad, the right from wrong and
truth from falsehood .Those Gambian who still believe that it is beyond their
powers to distinguish good policies from bad ones, sincere and humble leaders
from unpredictable and pompous rulers so as make informed choices can be said
to subscribe to the monarchical principle of the divine right to rule. Such
people should advocate for a monarchy and not for a democracy. Such people
are not fit to be citizens of a sovereign Republic who should own their minds
and be mature decision makers if they are indeed to be the architects of their
own destiny
Foroyaa: How do you see religion as an institution?
To be continued
SABACH SANJAL FARMERS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT
Modou Jonga
Groundnut farmers in the Sabach Sanjal District of the North Bank region
have vented their desperation and frustration over the progress of the 2007 /
2008 groundnut trade season. This reporter confirmed that the two main
groundnut buying points or “Seccos” at Saara kunda and Dibba kunda were
dysfunctional. The farmers lamented that despite the official announcement of the
beginning for this year’s groundnut trading season, “Seccos” in their district
are not operating. The farmers noted that there are no signs that the
groundnut trade will commence at the said seccos, because they have lost confidence
in selling their hard earn produce on credit basis. They explained that no
private groundnut buyer has gone there to purchase their groundnuts.
According to the farmers who claimed that they are faced with a desperate
situation, they have no option but to transport their groundnuts and sell it at
Kerr Nderry, a Senegalese border village close to Farafenni. Worst still,
noted the farmers, they were forced by the situation to sell a bag of
groundnut at a cost price of D500.00 to unlicensed individual groundnut buyers ahead
of the Tobaski in order to make ends meat .
FOCUS ON POLITICS
1988 SHAM CHIEFTAINCY ELECTIONS IN NIAMINA EAST;
MOMODOU TORP DEFEATED KEBBEH SISAY BY ONE VOTE
We have been focusing on politics in this column for quite sometime now.
In the last edition we have covered the 1989 Budget speech of the Finance
Minister, Mr. Saihou Sabally. We have also covered the swift reaction of the
public and the newspapers. We stopped where we quoted the PDOIS who argued
vehemently that the only achievement of the ERP was to make the International
moneylenders and few businesspersons richer while rendering the Gambia and the
vast majority of her people poorer.
Let us continue from where we stopped.
The year 1988 and 1989 witnessed several Alkaloship elections that were held
at Sukuta, in Kombo North, Kartong, in Kombo South, and Berending, in Lower
Nuimi, amongst others. There was also a sham chieftaincy election in Niamina
East that turned out to be controversial and threatened to create a rift
within the ruling party in the district. The alkaloship elections in Berending
was, however, embroiled in factional infighting when the choice of the people
did not coincide with that of some party big wigs in the district. The tension
even led to the imposition of a curfew in the village. The gendarmerie were
sent to the village from Saturday 10‘“June to Monday 12‘“ June, 1989,
apparently to create a climate of fear. The Government, however, refuted that a
curfew was imposed on the community.
This columnist was right at the scene when the gendarmerie were stationed at
the village on this particular election day. Several arrests were made
during the period, which the villagers saw as an intimidatory tactic to coerce
them to vote for a person who was not their choice. However, these coercive
methods did not deter the people from choosing the person of their choice.
The sham elections in Niamina East created even a much bigger controversy.
The ordinary people were made to believe that they were engaged in a genuine
and legal process; that they were given the free hand to choose their leader
and so on. But that when they attempted to practice their freedom, that was
the time they discovered that certain hidden big hands were trying to steal the
show from them.
Those hidden hands came to light when Mr. Torp defeated Mr. Kebba Sisay by
only one vote. Mr. Torp, who hails from Busura, was a member of the district
tribunal for almost 20 years before he was suspended three years later. So he
was well known in the district. Mr. Kebba Sisay,, who hails from a much
bigger village, Kudang, is the brother of the former minister of Finance, Mr.
Sheriff Sisay. It was the most closely contested elections ever, since Gambia
attained Independence in 1965.
Interestingly enough, Mr. Kebba Sisay filed an application in the Supreme
Court, in May 1988, for the election of Momodou Torp, as Seyfo (chief) for
Niamina East District, to be rendered null and void.
Lawyers Ousainou Darboe and Antouman Gaye represented Mr. Sisay. Mrs Allen
represented the state and Mr. O’Brien Coker sat as the judge. The application
made by Mr. Sisay was seeking for the following from the court:
a) A declaration that the election or alternatively the selection of Momodou
Torp as Seyfo for the chieftaincy of Niamina East District, MID, ( now CRD),
is null and void, in that he does not posses all the prerequisite
qualifications to hold such an office;
b) An injunction restraining him from performing or exercising any of the
functions or roles of a chief;
c) A declaration that appointing him, Torp as head chief for Niamina East
District would be null and void, in view of sections 57 ( 1), (b) and 63 of the
constitution and sections 6 and 8 of the Elections Act, as the first
defendant is not and was never a citizen under section 3 of the constitution.
d) An injunction restraining the Attorney General and the Minister of Local
Government from giving recognition to the appointment of Momodou Torp, by
virtue of the provisions, if any, existing in the Provinces Act, relating to the
appointment as district Chief from approval as head chief
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CASE
The proceedings started in George Town, in 1988, but were later moved to
Banjul, because of the request made by Mr. Sisay’s counsel, Mr Darboe. Mr. Torp,
himself, became the first person to serve as witness in Banjul.
Mr. Torp said his grand father, Cherno Torp, came from Karantaba in Niani;
that his father, Babou Torp, who was born in Fitu, founded the village of
Busura, in Niamina, where he Torp then lived; that his mother Fatou Jobe came
from Ndowen in Niani.
On another occasion. He made it known to the court that it is both his
father and grand father who founded the village.
According to Foroyaa, in trying to discredit Mr. Torp’s claim that his grand
father founded Fitu, Mr. Darboe asked Mr. Torp to state the Fula word for
river. Mr. Torp said it is ‘maayo’. He was again asked the Fula word for
sweep: Mr. Torp said “fitir”. Mr. Darboe then asked Mr. Torp how to command
someone to sweep in fula. Mr. Torp said “fitu”. Mr. Darboe then asserted that the
fact that Fitu is a Fula word indicates that Fulas founded the village. Mr.
Torp denied the assertion made by Mr. Darboe.
The judge told Mr. Darboe that the argument would have to go further than
that.
ON MR. TORP’S PASSPORT
According to FOROYAA, when Mr. Torp’s passport was tendered in evidence, Mr.
Darboe asked Mr. Torp who prepared it for him. Mr. Torp said it was the late
Sheriff Sisay, the former Minister of Finance, who prepared the passport for
him. Mr. Darboe then asked him whether he has ever lived in Kudang. He
responded in the negative. He was asked whether he has a relative living in
Kudang. Mr. Torp said Sheriff Sisay was a relative. Mr. Darboe insisted that he was
referring to a blood relative. Mr. Torp then answered in the negative. Mr.
Darboe then commented that it is written in the passport that Mustapha Torp of
Kudang is his relative.
ON TORP’S ID CARD
Mr.Darboe asked Mr., Torp why he obtained ID card in June 1988 after a case
was filed against him in May 1988; Mr. Torp said that they were asked to wait
until the team reached them. Mr. Darboe argued that the ID card team has
been touring the country since 1984. Mr. Torp said they did not reach them. In
applying to tender the ID card as evidence, the judge commented that it is a
legal requirement for a Gambian to possess an ID card. Mr. Darboe suggested a
photocopy to be made. The judge said such a facility was not available at the
courts. Mr. Darboe proposed that the photocopy was to be done at the
applicant’s expense.
According to research conducted by the FOROYAA, the law governing the
appointment and dismissal of chiefs could be found in the Provinces Act, cap 109,
which says the Governor General may from time to time by proclamation approve
the appointment of a head chief and a deputy head chief to exercise authority
over any district. This colonial law was enacted since 1935, which gave
power to the Governor to appoint and remove chiefs from office.
According to FOROYAA, when Gambia became a Republic in 1970, MPs and the
president should have made laws to abolish what they called monarchical powers
and render to the people the right to elect their district and village
representatives by enacting laws requiring such elections to be held.
FOROYAA asserted that this was not done. They said the president simply
retained those monarchical powers. They clarified that it is the president alone
who is empowered to put in or remove chiefs from office. FOROYAA cited
section 42 of the 1970 constitution and said, in exercising his power; he was not
obliged to follow the advice of any authority. FOROYAA maintained that the
chieftaincy elections that were being held all over the country were lawless
actions,which were a mockery to democratic practices, since many voters, they
argued, were excluded from voting and many Gambians eligible to stand were
denied the right to stand. FOROYAA opined that all that the elections seek to do
was to create un-necessary divisions and contradictions in society. FOROYAA
made an analogy and said one may be born in England and is regarded as a
Gambian citizen but one may be born in Gambia and may still be regarded as a
non-citizen. This, they maintained, is quite ridiculous. They blamed the
Government, which they accused of not studying issues of National importance and take
a positive stand; that it preferred to promote what it has inherited from
colonialists. They also accused them of preferring to rule by tradition than by
democratic laws.
See next edition as we edge closer to the narration of events in the late
1989s.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
With Amie Sillah
Victim Of Circumstances ‘AiGaaf’
Part 8
Hojah Takes Food To EB
Hojah took food to E.B. she climbed the stairs in high spirits calling his
pet name. “‘E’! E! your food is ready. Your baby sis has prepared your
favourite.”
The Shock
Hojah laid the food on the dining and asked his brother to come and eat. She
went to help him to the dining. What did she see? E.B’s head was hanging
down his shoulders. He was dead. She yelled. “We are finished! Fatima has done
it again! She has killed my brother! She is ‘AiGaaf’! She is a witch from the
marine world!” Through her sobs she called her mom. “Come quickly! EB is in
coma!” “What!” Mom left everything and rushed home.
“My son is dead! My son is dead! The witch has done it again! Where is she?
She is happy now!” Mom and daughter sobbed bitterly. “I am finished! I am
finished! My only son is gone!” She kept on repeating.
Fatima Comes Back With Baby Mariam
Mom had already called the police to come and arrest Fatima. The police van
came just in time as Fatima came into the compound. Mom pointed at Fatima. “
There she is! The murderess! She killed my son!” Fatima was shocked to death.
She exclaimed. “What! EB is dead? My sunshine is gone? Allah! Kill me now! I
don’t want to live again.” Fatima sat on the floor pulling her long hair and
sobbing bitterly. The two officers helped her up to her feet. “Take her
away! She is pretending!” The officers took Fatima to the station. Mom took Baby
Mariam from her. The little girl sobbed bitterly for her mom. Hojah pulled
her away to her bedroom.
Essa And Mom
Essa told mom the truth. “Mom! Let’s be frank to each other. You have not
been fair to Fatima since she married EB. You and Hojah hated her with a
passion. Please turn to a new leaf. Fatima was out when EB died. Hojah attended to
him. Please drop the case and let Fatima be. She have lost her one and only
protector. Please let her be! Leave her to mourn her husband in peace. I am
sorry if I sound harsh. This is the moment of truth. You and I know what
frustrated EB and led to his untimely death.” Mom sulked. “I don’t care! She has
to suffer for it. She brought ‘Aigaaf’ into our family. Where are her uncles
who tied her marriage? They are all dead suffering from one aliment to
another. I warned him not to marry this marine queen. She has a marine husband.
That husband killed my son. Fatima is responsible for EB’s death. I’ll not
drop the case”. “Then I have no choice. I’ll go and bail her as EB’s closest
pal and confidante”. Essa posited. “Birds of the same feathers! Suit
yourself! You can also marry her when she finished mourning”. Mom became petty and
spiteful.
Essa Bails Fatima
Essa went to the station and bailed Fatima before the expiry of the 72
hours. He brought her home. During the journey he advised her to be calmed. “Mom
is petty and spiteful. Don’t mind her. Ignore her excesses. You are in pain.
You have lost part of your soul. I know your story. Allah is with you. Thank
you!” Essa consoled Fatima. “Where is EB’s corpse I want to see him and pray
for him?” “The corpse is at the Teaching Hospital”. “Thank you for always
being there for me”. “It’s my pleasure!” Essa restated.
The Detectives
The two detectives came back to question Abdou, the gateman. “Who and who
entered the compound that fateful day? Can you remember?” Mr. Philips asked. “
No body entered Sir.” Abdou answered with frankness. Abdou was further
questioned and he frankly answered all what he knew. The detectives left to see
mom.
Mom, Essa And The Detectives
Abdou repeated everything he said to the detectives for mom’s ears. He
explained with honesty and frankness how he went to the chemist shop to buy poison
for EB to commit suicide. He was innocently naïve. He did not know it was
poison. The scientific name put him off. Mom sprang at Abdou and hit him
mercilessly. The detectives and Essa restrained her. She sobbed, insulted and
cursed Abdou for killing her son. Mr. Philips formerly charged Abdou Dicko for
murder of Mr. Ebrima Cham. Abdou was handcuffed and taken away. Essa consoled
mom and preached the Holy Quran to her.
Fatima And Baby Mariam Enter
As soon as Fatima and her daughter entered mom hauled insults and curses at
her. “You are happy now. Your marine husband has consumed my son. I warned
him. He would not listen. He preached to me about love. What stupid love? Look
at him now! A young promising man! Gone forever!” Mom threw herself upon the
floor and sobbed bitterly. Deep inside, she felt shallow. Her wickedness and
recalcitrant behaviour made her lost her only son. But she pretended just to
hurt Fatima and made her felt guilty. Fatima refused to cower in. Mom
continued shouting and yelling. “You cannot go scot-free! You have to pay dearly
with your wretched miserable life!” Mom posited.
Groundnut Farmers In Western Region Are In A Dilemma
Modou Jonga
Farmers in the Western Region of the country are puzzling over how and where
to sell their groundnuts .The trade season is yet to kick off in the Western
Region. Numerous groundnut buying points at Ndemban, Bwiam, Brikama and
Brufut are yet to be cleared and that there are no signs that trade would
commence in these areas.
Farmers who spoke to this reporter lamented that the horrific atmosphere is
forcing them to sell their groundnuts at cheap prices. This reporter
confirmed that barely two weeks following the official announcement of the
commencement of the 2007/ 2008groundnut trade season, the “seccos” he visited are
still not operating and that the standards recommended by the Gambia Groundnut
Corporation (GGC) have not been met.
HEALTH AND NUTRITION BANTABA
Highlighting The Effects of Nutrient Deficiency Disorders
By Yaya Bajo
In this publication of Health and Nutrition Bantaba, attention will be
focused on diseases that result from lack of appropriate nutritional factors in
food. It is a common knowledge that human beings depend on the food we eat to
supply the protein needed to build up our cells and replace broken down ones,
and for carbohydrates and fats for energy.
Research discovered that in some parts of the world, especially the
developing tropical countries, children suffer from near-starvation resulting from an
insufficient intake of protein and energy foods. This disease was therefore
referred to as protein-energy malnutrition, otherwise PEM.
On the other hand, in the western countries many people were over-eating and
becoming obese, which itself has been found to be a cause for alarm.
Suffice to say; apart from these diseases with obvious causes, there are
others which are due to lack of certain essential factors required in very
minute quantities by the body. These however cannot be made by the body, but must
be supplied by food. The first of these substances to be discovered were
vitamins. This discovery was the turning point of work in the field of nutrition
and led to a lot of further research, leading to the synthesis of vitamins and
to their commercial production. Thus people who could not get sufficient
vitamins from their diet could now buy them from pharmacies.
Interestingly enough, the main characteristic common to all deficiency
diseases is that they can all be cured by supplying the missing nutrients provided
the person is otherwise healthy so that these nutrients can be absorbed.
Absorption may be impaired by infection or for other reasons and in these cases,
the deficiency symptoms may not be cured. This is one of the most complex of
all the diseases under our discussion here because there are no clear-cut
clinical symptoms and, moreover, it is often complicated by infection. The
disease is most common among children around the second six months of life, which
coincides with the weaning period.
When one compares the average African child with the average European Child,
one will find that they tend to develop in the same way within the first six
months of life. After this there is a lag in the development of the African
child which may be due to weaning from milk onto the less nutritious maize
(cereal) which is mainly starch with little protein.
Indeed the experience of weaning can be very trying to the African child.
Even when the child is not weaned around this period, the mother cannot usually
produce enough milk to meet the nutrient requirements of the baby, as the
baby is now growing fast and needs more protein and energy. In order for the
baby to get sufficient energy and protein it must be taking in about 1000 ml of
breast milk per day at 7kg body weight. This is a large amount of milk for
the baby to drink in one day and few mothers in the developing countries are
likely to produce that much milk, especially if they themselves are not well
fed.
Meanwhile babies weaned on cows’ milk with some cereals; and in addition of
egg, minced meat, chicken broth, fish etc which are of high quality animal
protein foods, are indeed vital to the development of the child. Unfortunately
some of these foodstuffs are either forbidden to African children due to
taboos or else they are too expensive for the parents. When the parents purchase “
artificial food” that are prepared in unhygienic conditions and the remnants
are then kept for the next feeding time, allowing bacteria to breed. This
results in infections and the child suffers from diarrhea and gastro-enteritis
which interfere with the absorption of nutrients and hence lead to
malnutrition. Although the children tend to recover from this after they are three or
four years old, it is possible for the ill effects to persist, resulting in
the retardation of physical development and permanent impairment of mental
capacity.
Marasmus
Nowadays children in towns and big cities in African are weaned early onto
maize gruel or artificial foods which are heavily diluted and so the children
are not receiving enough food. Sometimes they are simply kept on breast milk
for a long period without supplementation. This results in a kind of
starvation in the children especially before they are a year old, with the highest
concentration of undernourished children being around eight months old. They
can suffer from a condition known as Marasmus. This condition, which is
equivalent to starvation in adults, is characterized by muscle wasting, loss of
subcutaneous fat, with very low bodyweight compared to the normal for the age of
the child. The child fails to thrive, has weak muscle tone, become irritable,
frequently has diarrhea and often becomes dehydrated. The child is all skin
and bone, like a skeleton. However, Marasmus is particularly common in urban
areas and some of the reasons are firstly, mothers often go to work or trade
and so have little time to breast feed their children and instead resort to
bottle milk. Secondly there is a breakdown in the customs which discourage
parents from sexual intercourse while the mother is breast feeding. The mother
is, therefore, more likely to become pregnant soon after the birth of a child,
in which case she has to wean the child soonest.
To be continued
Students’ Page
Beware of Material Consciousness
It is a well-known fact that society cannot progress without materials but
the greed for material things is the main factor that cause that alters a
lovely beautiful community to a selfish, greedy society.
The then community based African society is beginning to be infested by the
new corrupt language, “Money Talks.” This concept has been promoted by
corrupt nationals who squander the public purse and pretend to reap cash through
magic.
But I ask, how can one’s pocket be bulgy when one’s salary cannot even
cater for one’s family food needs?
This new concept “Material Consciousness” is what is pushing the souls of
our future leaders to stake either to reach the dream land or perish in the
shark infested Atlantic Ocean.
Thousands of young fellows simply perish in the sea creatures, what an
irony! The love of the concept deludes parents to give their daughters’ hand in
marriage to erstwhile wealthy strangers, not fully aware whether such men are
decent or not or whether they would sell one’s daughter into prostitution.
Let us know that, not everything that glitters is gold.
Imagine brilliant and outstanding girls engaging themselves as sex workers
as they now call it instead of using their talents to positively promote the
development of their motherland.
Material consciousness can only be positive when it is meaningfully utilized
to create a healthy climate conducive to the building of a genuine
entrepreneurial concept geared towards creating a healthy competition among the
populace for forward development.
By Sulayman Bah
Nusrat Press Club
11A morning
War In The Globe
Every blessed and fortunate day, innocent eyes twist to the music of
destruction. The previous beautiful day is altered to a senseless violent day.
The human cereberum is inoculated with hatred and jealousy. From east to
west, north to south, all are prone to war. The beautiful aspiring future
leaders are subjected to senseless wars of no description. The future aspirant
youth have been zoomed into darkness not knowing the head and tail of issues all,
due to the absence of knowledge and humanism among the living race. Fights
among human race are not the cure to social amalgamation. The empty
pronouncements are not the solution to the problem of humanity. They must be backed by
deeds. Therefore brothers and sisters, if unification is only pronounced in
hotels or conference rooms, how do we expect the masses to embrace the concept.
Let us be aware that only the masses can bring the concept of unity into
reality whether in Africa or the world in general.
By Sulayman Bah
Nusrat Press Club
11A morning
A Poem Titled “Money”
Money! Money! Is just a note but deceives and misleads the ignorant;
Money humiliates and reduces people to worthless creatures.
Oh! Money, you motivate parents to give their daughters to wealthy
strangers;
Strangers of unknown destinations;
Causing untold sufferings to them.
This coin, this note, turns innocent, industrious men into extortionists
Turn innocent pretty women into prostitutes;
And turn aimful leaders into tyrants.
Oh: money, you are difficult to manage, you disfigure the mind of the
ignorant;
Change educated minds to embrace greedy and immoral behaviour;
And poison morals by injecting selfishness and want;
Oh! Money, you really torment, indeed you do.
By Abdou Aziz Saho
Nusrat Press
10A morning
Poverty Eradication
The eradication of poverty has been trumpeted loudly by the personalities,
leaders and men and women in high places.
But the above mentioned objective cannot be achieved when the system
embraces hatred, jealousy and pronounced and unpronounced conflicts.
I dare say that the very African leaders who should be at the forefront to
fight food insecurity are instead busying themselves and creating situations
that encourages violent upheavals among members of society. These wars do
affect innocent lives as a result; it dishevels the already empty stomachs of
women and children and creates heaps of bones. Other leaders became masters of
creating false hopes in the minds of the poor masses without putting any
concrete plans to fulfill such promises. Take a good look at Sudan. This country
is indulged in endless and useless wars whose origin is difficult to trace.
How can such a country help her people to objectively reduce poverty when they
are doing nothing to stop the wars?
Take a look at Zimbabwe. How can the pronouncement of poverty eradication be
attained when land is not available to the people, to grow the food they
require for their survival?
Again the concept of food self-sufficiency could not register any meaningful
progress so long single individuals can amass huge and numerous plots of
land at the expense of the vast majority of the citizenry. In the midst of these
policies, how does anyone expect hunger or even starvation to be eradicated
let alone food self-sufficiency or poverty to be alleviated? It cannot be
since the factors hindering development are plentiful.
By Sulayman Bah
Nusrat Press Club
11A Morning
Armed Robbers Inflict Wounds on Young Man
By Musa Barrow
Momodou Baldeh, a resident of Bakoteh Layout, was on Saturday 23 December,
robbed and wounded by unidentified armed assailants.
Speaking to this reporter, Mr. Baldeh, who is in his twenties, said the
robbery incident occurred around 6am, when he was on his way to the motor park to
board a vehicle to his native village of Fatoto. He said he was approached
at a group of three men who emerged quickly, surrounded him and gripped him.
As he tried to resist them, explained Baldeh, all the three men pulled out
cutlasses, simultaneously. According to Baldeh, one of the assailants pointed
the edge of the cutlass on his throat threatening to cut it if he dared to
resist.
Momodou Baldeh further explained that when he realized the severity of the
threat he was under, he reluctantly obeyed the orders of his attackers; that
as a result they took his bag containing his clothes and an amount of D2400.
In addition to that, he said, the assailants also inflicted a wound on him by
nearly chopping off with one of his fingers; that after succeeding in
snatching the bag they then fled. Despite running after the robbers and shouting for
help, before any one could emerge, the three robbers had already vanished,
explained Baldeh.
The Youngman who was in anguish and agony also noted that the only thing the
robbers left with him were the clothes he was wearing. The case has been
reported to Bakoteh Police Station.
In another robbery incident, which happened at Bakoteh, a Guinean National
was also beaten recently and his money taken away.
This spate of robbery incidents in Bakoteh has ignited a climate of fear
among the residents.
Reacting to the incident, Amadou Bah, a shopkeeper in the Bakoteh, said the
situation in the area means everyone in the community could be a victim. He
suggested for the Police to be deployed in the area to arrest the rising crime
rate.
In Sheriff Minteh’s Murder Trial
Witness Testify
By Saikou Ceesay
A witness, Lamin Minteh, testified in Sheriff Minteh’s trial, on Monday 24
December, before Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara of the Bundung Magistrate
Court.
In his testimony, PW4, Lamin Minteh, a resident of Serrekunda London Corner
and a civil servant, told the court that on his way the shop to buy
cigarettes, he saw a blue four wheel drive with Registration No. GPF 10 with the
inscription “Kotu” on the sides of the vehicle. PW4 further told the court that
the officers he saw were putting on uniforms but few did not. PW4 said the
officers were searching youths. He said at that juncture he entered the shop and
bought cigarettes and then returned home.
Upon his return home he heard people screaming, “They have stabbed Sheriff
to death”. He said he then went to the scene where he found Sheriff lying on
the ground. He further told the court that he asked Sheriff as to what had
happened? He said the deceased told him that the accused stabbed him and that
they should not let him escape. PW4 said at that juncture his younger sister was
present. He told the court the deceased showed him where he was stabbed but
added that he could not see the wound because the deceased’s whole trousers
were stained with blood. PW4 told the court that he then held the accused by
the collar.
PW4 told the court that he went to the Serrekunda Police Station to report
the matter.
Under cross-examination, PW4 was asked whether he had talked to the accused,
PW4 replied, “Yes, I said to him that you stabbed my younger brother let’s
go to the station.” The defence counsel further asked him whether at the
time he told the accused “You killed my younger brother, was your younger
brother dead at that time?” PW4 answered, “No he was not dead”.
“At the time you grabbed the accused by the collar, was your younger brother
dead?” PW4 replied, “No”. Pw4 was asked whether at that time when he told
the accused, “You stabbed my brother did the accused reply?” The witness said
no.
When asked whether he found the accused with a knife, PW4 said no.
Earlier on, before the proceedings, the defence counsel Tambedou appealed to
be served with the summary of the evidence and the list of the witnesses or
else he would not accept any witnesses.
The case is to resume on 31st December, 2007 for the prosecutor to call PW5.
The accused is still remanded at the state central prison.
Magistrate Speaks Against Police Interference In Civil Matters
By Modou Jonga
Senior Magistrate E.F M’bai, of the Brikama Magistrates Court, has on
Tuesday 18 December, 2007 noted that the interference of the police in civil
matters is illegal and totally wrong. Magistrate M’bai lamented that the police are
not mandated and it is not their business to handle civil matters.
The Presiding Magistrate made these remarks following the testimony of a
defendant that he has paid an amount of money to a police officer (name
withheld) at the Brikama Police Station to be collected by the plaintiff.
While urging the police to always refer civil matters to court, Magistrate M’
bai noted that there are good numbers of credible police officers who never
interfere in civil matters. He reiterated that debts are not supposed to be
collected by the police. The Presiding Magistrate further urged people to
refer civil matters to the court rather than to the police. He thus made a ruling
that the said police officer be called to testify in the next adjourned date.
Africell MD Transferred To Another Country
By Saikou Ceesay
Reports reaching this reporter have it that Mr. Al Makkami Muhiedine, the
Managing Director of Africell, a major mobile phone service provider in the
country, has been transferred to Lebanon.
According to information, Mr. Muhiedine’s transfer was unanimously endorsed
by the Board Members.
Mr. Muhiedine was said to have left the country early last week to take up
duties in another country.
When this reporter went to the Africell for confirmation, the chief security
officer at the gate disclosed that the managing director had left the
country. He then contacted someone by the name Pap to comment. However, he declined
to comment on the matter.
Mr. Muhiedine’s transfer came in the wake of a traffic offence during the
movement of the president’s convoy which subsequently led to the arrest and
trial of the former manager, who was later convicted and fined over
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