Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Isue
Issue No. 005/2008, 11 – 12 January 2008
Editorial
The ABC of the Budget
How our Money is Spent
The Government derives revenue from us. Even the loans it takes are paid
from our tax money or the fees we pay for services. It is therefore our right to
know how the money is spent on our behalf.
We all know that no institution is more important to the human resource
development of the country than the tertiary institutions in the country, such as
the University of The Gambia, Management Development Institute, the Gambia
College, Gambia Technical Training Institute and the Management Development
institute. The amount of money allocated to such institutions by the
Executive and the National assembly should be of concern to all of us.
They have decided to allocate 8.2 million dalasi to the University of the
Gambia , 2.3 million dalasi to Management Development Institute, 5.5 million
dalasi to Gambia College and 5.5 million to Gambia Technical Training Institute.
The budget for Scholarships is 6.5 million.
In contrast, the office of African First Ladies Against AIDS is allocated
2.6 million dalasi , the office of Ex –President is allocated 5 million dalasi.
In the same vein, while in the past budgets more funds were spent on Basic
education and Health than defence, in 2008, defence is becoming the major
priority, as 397 million is allocated to the department compared to 254 million
to health and 359 million to basic education. This is why Gambians should
realise that the establishment of a two term limit for a government makes sense.
In short, such a government is less likely to inflate its security budget
because of the feeling of threat. One third of the defence budget could build a
University complex and sustain it annually with enough scholarships
allocated to students on the basis of merit. Even if they were to leave this country
to go somewhere else, they would be sending remittances which would impact on
the National Economy. The security provided by good governance and limited
term of office is the best instrument for promoting sustainable development
Independent Candidate Stands Firm
By Modou Jonga
The Independent candidate, Bullock Ward, Foni Brefet, has refused to yield
to pressure to give up his candidacy in the forthcoming council elections.
Reliable reports reaching this reporter has it that the Bullock Ward independent
candidate, Mr. Ismaila Badjie was approached by some APRC bigwigs to
withdraw from contesting in the forthcoming Local Government Elections. Mr. Badjie
was nominated by the IEC on 4 January to contest the forthcoming
councillorship election against an APRC sponsored candidate, Tombong Jatta for the Bullock
Ward.
Reports have it that a meeting was held at Sutusinjang, in the Alkalo’s
residence, on Wednesday, 9 January to effect such withdrawal. Present at the said
meeting were the Western Region Governor, Abdou Badjie, SoS Lamin Bojang,
NAM for Kombo South Paul Mendy, NAM for Foni Brefet Bintanding Jarju and
others. The withdrawal resolution was said to be vehemently rejected by supporters
of the independent candidate.
Speaking to Foroyaa, Mr. Ismaila Badjie confirmed that such a meeting took
place in the said place. Mr. Badjie reiterated his desire to stand by his
people at all cost. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, some supporters of
Mr. Badjie, who were said to be present at the meeting, told me that they
rejected the idea of withdrawal to the utter dismay of the Regional Governor. They
expressed their determination to see it all through with their independent
candidate. They alleged that the consideration for the selection of a
candidate was biased in favour of the APRC candidate against the wishes of the
majority; that their candidate was recommended by more than five villages to be
their representative in the council. They argued that his name was forwarded to
the selection committee but, to their surprise, his name was replaced by the
said APRC candidate without any explanation.
Basse Council Staff Complain
Governor Denies
By Lamin Fatty
Some employees of Basse Area Council claimed that they have not been paid
for four months now. According to a source, what is regarded as abnormal is
that the whole revenue collected, on daily basis, goes to the Regional
Governor, Alhagie Omar Khan, who is currently serving as the chairman of the Interim
Management Committee. The source insisted that as chairman he presides over
the affairs of the council and not to handle finances when there are
accountants who should be responsible. According to a junior staff working for the
Council, they have not received their salaries since before the month of
Ramadan,
The Governor however denies all these. When contacted for comments as the
Interim Management Committee Chairman, Governor Khan refuted the claims that
council staff are being paid their salaries. He said he has never been aware
of anything like that happening at the said council. He even insisted that
payment of salaries of council staff was in progress at the time of the
interview.
Njau NRP’s Candidate Rejected
The Independent Electoral Commission has announced the rejection of the
candidature of the candidate of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) for the
Njau Ward, Lower Saloum Constituency, in the forthcoming council elections
scheduled for 24 January, 2008. The announcement is contained in a release
issued by the commission which states that “The candidature of Mr. Ousman P. Jobe
to contest the position of councilor under the NRP ticket for Njau Ward has
been annulled with immediate effect.”
The release goes on to say that Mr. Jobe’s disqualification is based on
section 17 subsection (6) of Local Government Act 2002. According to this
provision, for a person who has completed serving a term of imprisonment of more
than six months to qualify, ten years should “have elapsed since the end of the
sentence or disqualification …” or he/she would have been pardoned.
According to IEC, “10 years have not passed since his conviction in 2000.”
The IEC therefore disqualified him.
Foroyaa will seek the opinion of the NRP on the matter.
GAMTEL PROJECT WAS APPROVED -Omar Ndow
By Bubacarr Sowe
Omar Ndow, the Ex-Managing Director of Gamtel, on Thursday, 10 January, told
the Banjul Magistrates Court that the project, which is the subject matter
of his charge, was approved by the Gambia Public Procurement Authority GPPA
and was endorsed by the board and management of Gamtel.
Ndow was testifying as a defence witness on the charge of failing to follow
the required procedure of the GPPA regulation.
He was initially facing two criminal charges but was freed on one of them
following a “no case to answer” submission filed by his counsel Sheriff
Tambedou. According to Mr. Ndow, the two witnesses testified on two different
products. The first testimony by Abdoulie Bah, on a payment that was to be
approved by himself (Ndow), was in connection to the Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA) or the wireless telecommunication system pilot project.
Mr. Ndow added that the other one was the Intelligence Network (IN)
platform. He testified that the CDMA pilot project was to be provided by a China
based company, Huawei, which got the blessing of he Gamtel board and management
and it was forwarded to the GPPA.
Mr. Ndow went on to say that the project which was initially to be
implemented at no cost, was for the expansion of the fixed line network to 230,000
lines, and this contract signed between Gamtel and Alcatel in 2001 was approved
by the government.
He also said part of their agreement was for the contractor to provide
prefinancing of the 230,000 lines which could be multiplied by 400 Euros a line,
and that would be a total of 92 million Euros.
He added that the contractor could not provide the financing until 2003 when
they came up with a framed agreement with Alcatel, for the contract to be
implemented in phases, rather than scaling it down on the basis of unavailable
funds.
Mr. Ndow argued that the CDMA pilot project was going to circumvent all the
problems they had at the beginning, since the technology was easily
deployable and it’s cost was 65 dollars a line, which is far cheaper than the initial
400 Euros a line.
He recalled that during their consultation on the approval of the project,
the GPPA Director General spoke to Pa Modou Gassama, Director of Planning and
Network Development at Gamtel, Mustapha Conteh, Senior Procurement Manager at
Gamtel, and himself, as the then Managing Director of Gamtel.
Mr. Ndow said in that telephone conversation that the GPPA’s director
general said the project is not a procurement matter at that stage, since it was at
no cost and was only a strategic decision by the management of Gamtel.
He also said that after that conversation he wrote to the GPPA through the
Department of State for Communication and Information Technology (DOSCIT),
which oversees Gamtel.
The three correspondents between Gamtel and the GPPA were admitted in
evidence as part of the evidence.
A copy of a page of the way book at DOSCIT, which shows the delivery
letters, was also tendered and admitted in evidence.
At the start of his testimony, Mr. Ndow told the court he is an engineer who
started working as a technician in 1971 with the then Department of
Telecommunication.
He said in 1975 he was promoted to a senior officer and was made a technical
officer in 1979.
According to him, in 1980 he was a superintendent and rose to the rank of a
senior engineer in 1982.
He said that in 1984 Gamtel was established as a public enterprise.
Mr. Ndow said he was twice the Managing Director; first from 1994 to 1996
and from August 2003 to November 2006 when he received his termination.
Prices of Foodstuffs Serrekunda Market
By Isatou Bittaye
Item January 2007
Current Price
Rice per bag – D585
D590- 620.00
Rice per cup – D3.00
D3.00
Tomato per 400g tin D20.00
D35.00
Tomato per 830g tin – D35.00
D45.00
Fresh tomato per measure – D5.00
D5.00
Onion per bag – D510.00
D270.00
Onion per measure – D5.00
D5.00
Cooking oil container 10 litres D250.00
D335.00
Cooking oil container 5 litres D150.00
D175.00
Cooking oil per cup- D5.00
D6.00
Palm oil per cup- D8.00-D10.00
D12.00
Pepper per measure- D5.00
D2.00
Bonga D5.00
D5.00
Joto D20.00
not available
Cat fish- D25.00
D20.00
Chicken per carton- D400.00
D400.00
Chicken per leg D15.00
D15.00
Sugar per bag- D725
D540.00
Sugar per cup – D5.00
D3.00
Meat beef and bone D75.00
D75.00
Meat beef steak – D90.00
D100.00
Flour per kilo – D15.00
D18.00
Flour per bag – D550.00
D790.00
Trial Of Senegalese Insurgents Adjourned
By Saikou Ceesay
The Banjul Magistrates Court, presided over by Magistrate BY Camara, on
Wednesday, adjourned the trial of alleged insurgents, due to the absence of the
prosecutor, Emmanuel Fagbenle. The trial is adjourned till Wednesday 16
January 2008 for ruling on whether the statement obtained from the accused persons
were taken under duress or voluntarily, according to rules of procedure.
The nine alleged insurgents are currently remanded in custody at the state
Central Prison in Banjul.
Demanding the Release of Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh
Below is an online petition geared towards the discontinuance of Fatou Jaw
Manneh’s case or a speedy trial. According to the initiators of the petition,
it is aimed at gathering signatures in the tens of thousands to draw the
attention of the authorities to concern of many for Fatou Jaw Manneh’s freedom.
The petition is addressed to the President and copied to many others.
To: International Committee
We the undersigned as concerned citizens, friends and supporters of The
Gambia wish to bring your attention to a frightening trend that has characterised
the political and civil landscape of our country and to request your help in
ensuring that the civil liberties of Gambians are not violated.
BACKGROUND
Attacks on journalists in the Gambia have been frequent in recent years,
including unsolved arson attacks on media houses, arrests, extended secret
detentions, disappearances and murders, prompting many to go into exile. In 2006,
there was the dissappearance of Daily Observer journalist Chief Ebrimah
Manneh, as well as the incommunicado detention and ongoing trial on charges of
publishing “false news” of The Independent reporter Lamin Fatty. 2004 saw the
murder of prominent Gambian Journalist Deyda Hydara who was the Co-founder and
editor of the Point Newspaper as well as a former Associated Press and
Agence France Press correspondent.
A case in hand is the arrest and trial of US-based Gambian freelance
journalist Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh following her arrest and week-long detention on her
arrival in the Gambia in March 2007 before being charged with sedition by the
state. Her trial began at the Kanifing Magistrate’s court presided over by
Magistrate Buba Jawo who ruled that because the alleged offense against the
person of the President Yahya Jammeh took place on the world wide web, the
magistrate does not have requisite jurisdiction to hear the case. On July 3 2007,
magistrate Jawo ruled that Fatou Jaw Manneh’s sedition trial cannot be heard
at his court and therefore transferred the case to the Banjul magistrate’s
court. The Banjul magistrate’s court also referred the case to Brikama in the
Western Region. The Brikama court transferred the case back to Banjul for
lack of jurisdiction. The Banjul Magistrate’s Court returned the case to the
Kanifing Magistrate’s court.
Ms. Manneh, a political online commentator, a former reporter with the
Gambian private newspaper Daily Observer and a pro-democracy activist, was
arrested by officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) at the international
airport in the Gambian capital, Banjul, on 28 March 2007 upon her arrival
from the USA. She was detained for a week without being charged, which is in
contravention of the Gambian Constitution, which states that individuals be
brought before a court within 72 hours of being detained. During her detention,
Ms. Manneh was denied access to a lawyer and to her family for seven (7) days.
She was arrested on March 28th 2007 and released on bail bond at D25,000.00
(US$900.00) with a Gambian surety.
On 4 April 2007, Ms. Manneh finally appeared before a court in Kanifing, 12
km from the capital, Banjul. She was charged on three counts of sedition
under Gambia’s criminal code: ‘intention to commit sedition’, ‘publication of
seditious words’ and ‘publication of false news intended to cause public fear
and alarm to the Gambian public’. Each count carries a maximum prison term
of two years or a fine or both. Ms. Manneh pleaded not guilty and was released
on bail. The NIA has since then confiscated Ms. Manneh’s travel documents.
Ms. Manneh’s defense lawyer, Lamin Jobarteh argued that the court did not
have jurisdiction to hear the case as the alleged offences took place when Ms.
Manneh was outside the Gambia, but was overruled on 11 April 2007.
The articles Manneh is being prosecuted for include an interview she gave
which was first published in the now banned bi-weekly newspaper The Independent
in June 2004, and later published on several websites, including
AllGambian.net in October 2005 (see http://www.allgambian.net/news-stories_263.html). In
2003 Manneh wrote an article for The Independent focusing on Gambia’s
endemic poverty and corruption (‘Jammeh under the Microscope’) which resulted in
the arrest and detention of the paper’s editor, Abdoulie Sey. The Independent
was shut down by the Gambia government in March 2006 and has not been allowed
to resume publication.
PETITION
We therefore humbly request that you and your organization put pressure on
the Government of The Gambia to ensure that Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh:
•Is released without charge or;
•Is accorded a fair, speedy and impartial trial;
•Is not subjected to torture and other degrading and inhumane treatment;
•Travel and personal documents are return in order that she can return to
the United States and continue her education, work and be with her family.
To the President of the Gambia
President H. E. Yahya A. J. Jammeh
Office of the President
Private Mail Bag
State House,
Banjul, Republic of the Gambia
Fax: 220 4227 034
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
FOCUS ON POLITICS
PDOIS’ 1989 ENLIGHTEN THE FARMERS TOUR; AN EYE OPENER TO MANY FARMERS
“GOVERNMENT WAS MERELY A TAX COLLECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL MONEY LENDERS” Says
Foroyaa.
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on politics in general and Gambian politics in
particular. We have commenced the narration of significant political events from the
pre-colonial to the post Independence epoch. We have extensively dealt with
the first Republic led by Alhagi Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara up to the year 1989.
The objective of the project is to help our young people to witness the
happenings of the past, in print ,so as to empower them shape the future.
Let us continue from where we stopped.
Since the reports had indicated the dissatisfaction and disappointment of
even those who had supported the PPP, POOIS saw the need to launch what they
called “Enlighten the Farmers “Tour”, after the president returned, so that
what was unclear to the farmers could be made clear to them.
WHAT PDOIS TOLD THE PEOPLE.
PDOIS explained how the local governments get money from the people through
rates, cattle tax and other duties at the markets, car parks and roads. They
were shown how the central government gets money through income tax, the
national levy, passport fees, hospital charges, import duties, which require the
importer to pay a given sum at the Customs only to pass it on to the cost of
sugar, etc; that there is indirect taxation when the people buy anything and
so on and so forth. It was therefore made very clear to the people that the
money comes from them. Furthermore, they were told that according to Section
108 of the Constitution any loans taken by the government has to be repaid
from the money collected from them by the government; that whenever they hear
that a big loan has been taken by the government, they should also know that
its repayment was going to come from their pockets. It was made clear to them
that if loans are mismanaged it would be to their detriment. The farmers were
told that the purpose of paying cattle tax is for the sum to be utilized to
provide their cattle with drugs and so on and so forth; that they are paying
rates so that services such as clinics, schools, a clean environment and so on
can be provided. They were told that even though the price of their
groundnuts declined from D1800 per tonne in 1986/87 to D1500 in 1987/88, then to
D1100 in 1988/89 then to something unpredictable, the President and his ministers
have increased their salaries and allowances as follows: The President:
D250,000 yearly and an allowance of (D2400) per night, excluding imprest or
pocket money every night he spends abroad; that Ministers received almost D96,000
yearly and £130 or (D1760), as allowance for every night they spend abroad.
The farmers were asked whether the President was feeding them or they were
feeding the President, his ministers and parliamentary secretaries, everyone
accepted that they were feeding him and his ministers; that all the privileges
they enjoy are derived from the tax money of the people. The people were told
that the country is theirs that Section 60 of the Constitution gives them the
right to have voter’s cards so as to determine who to make caretakers of the
nation; that the people they elect are empowered under Section 56 of the
Constitution to make laws for them; that they are empowered under Section 102 of
the Constitution to make laws to take money from them to provide services to
them; that if they elect the wrong people they will make laws without
providing the circumstances that would enable them to get things like I.D. Cards,
which would cost them undue hardships or would mismanage the money the people
have paid by spending D72.8 million; that the present regime had agreed to pay
D126 million in 1989 to finance debts for few Gambians and parastatals,
which they had taken from the Gambia Commercial And Development Bank but have
refused to repay. They were told that it is such people who have benefited so
much from such bank loans and who come back to buy their votes during elections
in order to sustain the present regime. When the salaries and mismanaged
amounts were mentioned, some whistled, others bit their lips, others shook their
heads, and others turned to see whether others have heard what they have
heard. Everyone could see how they were being fooled since independence.
On the gifts, the people were told that in countries, even capitalist ones,
where governments attempt to show some political decency, laws are passed to
make it unlawful for heads of state and other office holders to receive
gifts, while performing their duties; that gifts to heads of state are considered
state property; that such laws should have existed in the Gambia; that
President Jawara should sell all the gifts and donate the money to students who are
unable to pay school fees, patients who are unable to meet hospital-bills
and so on and so forth.
The reason why PDOIS militants take along their food and refused to take
anything from the people was explained. They were told that traditional
hospitality is not to kill chicken, rams and bulls for politicians who eat meat
everyday when those offering the hospitality had neighbours and children who eat
meat only once a year during the Muslim Tobaski feast, which is characterized
by the killing of sheep; that even with that, many cannot afford to kill a
ram; that they eat only what is given to them; that to deny the poor neighbours
and families food they do not have and give it to those who have more than
enough of it is not hospitality but self hatred. These comments drew
tremendous applause and approval throughout the tour.
THE PROBLEM OF CATTLE AND GROUNDNUTS
When the cattle owners complained of grazing ground and drugs they were
asked to sell their cattle by the president’s entourage. Foroyaa wrote that in
fact the PDOIS were told that the people felt very much offended when the
chairman of the tour told the farmers that Fulas love cattle so much that they cry
for a day when their child dies but cry for seven days when a cow dies. Fula
speaking cattle owners were highly offended by such a remark. PDOIS told the
farmers that the money collected from them is not kept in the national
treasury according to language groupings; that those who steal this money do not
set aside the sum contributed by the language grouping they claim to belong;
that what we have are honest and dishonest citizens who are found among all
language groupings; that language is a mere means of communication, which is the
property of anybody who masters it. They told them that tribal consideration
has no significance to our national politics that they should be particular
with issues that are of vital concern to them. This is why we proceeded to
explain why they cannot have free drugs for their cattle and definite
information about the price of their groundnuts.
On the Marketing of Groundnuts.
The farmers were told that The Gambia Cooperative Union received loans from
The Gambia Commercial and Development Bank to expand the buying of groundnuts
throughout the country; that the sum borrowed were so mismanaged that
government had to accept to pay D32 million for Gambia Cooperative Union, in 1987;
that despite this payment, the Union still owed D53 million by 1988; that the
Union therefore had to close down many of it’s buying stations and dismissed
many staff to reduce cost. Why is that the case? They asked.
The PDOIS entourage explained to the farmers that the government is to take
D476 million from the people this year to run the country; that they have
been taking millions from the people yearly to run the country; that this money
should have been utilized to promote industry and agriculture to enable the
country to export more and import less so that foreign exchange may be earned
to finance development projects; that this money however was mismanaged thus
we exported less and imported more thus creating deficits which led them to
take more loans to finance both the deficits and scattered development
projects; these projects were also mismanaged thus preventing them from yielding
funds to repay the loans. PDOIS explained that in 1984/85, the debts had grown
to D2000 million; that the government could not pay even for imports not to
talk about loans; that its creditors refused to give it loans until repayment
starts. When government accepted to restructure the economy to repay loans,
I.M.F. came to advise it; that the essence of the restructuring is to enable
the government to save our tax money to repay debts. Realizing that the
mismanagement of the Gambia Cooperative Union and G.P.M. B would mean more money
from the government led the experts of the creditors to call for their
restructuring so as to cut down on their cost of operation; that is why Gambia
Cooperative Union had to close down buying stations and retrench staff, G.P.M.B.
also had to close offices and retrench staff. Furthermore government had to
retrench workers, sell government assets such as ferries, and introduce hospital
charges to offset the growing cost, increase fees and cut down on sums given
to high schools for staff just to save money to repay debts.
According to the Foroyaa, PDOIS told the farmers that government used to
utilize that tax money of the people to subsidize the prices of fertilizer and
groundnuts; that is, government would give a certain amount to Gambia
Cooperative Union or G. P.M.B to buy groundnuts at a given price or sell fertilizer
at a given price; that to repay debts they had to stop giving such amounts;
that in 1986/87 government was said to have given D83 million to G. P. M. B to
support the price of groundnuts; that in 1987/88 the sum fell to D50 million
in 1988|89, the sum was reduced to Dl0 million; and in that coming year there
was zero support. They explained that support given by government was not
added to the price of their nuts but went to enrich the groundnut buyers; that
in the 1988/89 season even though government gave D10 million to G. P. M.B,
the producer price of groundnuts was D1100 per tonne despite the fact that the
market price was D2028. They told the farmers that if the price was so low
when government said it added something to boost the price one could imagine
what the prices would be when nothing is added. The farmers were told that few
of them would be able to have 5 tonnes and the transportation to go to the 11
or so G.P.M. B. depots; that combining their crops would lead to questions
as to whose crop is heavier or lighter, moreover transportation would pose
problems; that this means that they would be at the mercy of middle persons who
would set their own prices. The farmers were told that even if the G.P.M. B.
puts depot price at D1300 per ton or so the middle persons would have to buy
their nuts at cut throat prices to make profit. They were told that President
Jawara wanted to distance himself from what was likely to have ill effect;
that this may explain why he said that everything about prices was in the
hands of the G.P.M.B. as if G.P.M.B, was not under The Gambia Government, that
even though they produced 110,000 tonnes of groundnuts in 1986/87 only 67
tonnes of groundnuts were bought; ,that 119,000 tonnes were produced in 1987/88
but only 63,000 tonnes could be bought that; 98,000 tonnes were produced in
1988/89 only 24,000 tonnes could be bought.
Foroyaa wrote that PDOIS emphasized that government’s debt repayments are
getting higher and higher .D120 million in 1987/88, D166 million in 1988/89 and
D174 million in 1989/ 90; that the government, would not spend anything on
fertilizer; producer prices, drugs for cattle and so on and so forth; that it
is merely a tax collector of the international money lenders, people pay
taxes for it to pay loans which have not benefited them in any significant way.
According to Foroyaa, the messages were clear, the topics were many and
their encounters with the people like the Alkalo of Sambang Wolof were tough but
later resolved. The Alkalo said at Dankunku during the president’s meet the
farmers’ tour that PDOIS was ‘doyadi’ foolish and PDOIS went to his village
to explain PDOIS programme and thinking that he has offended PDOIS said the
party would not have a meeting at his village. This created some uproar but
eventually he was made to understand that he did not have that right to deprive
PDOIS of a meeting in his village; that even the president did not have that
power. Farmers said they had never had such an enlightened message in all
their lives.
See next edition after the council elections in February 2008.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
“Too Late! He Lost Her”
Part 4
With Amie Sillah
Rugi and Isha
Rugi confronted Isha. “I cannot understand you. Who do you come to? Me or
Ismail?” “I come to you not Ismail. Are you not my closest pal?” “I am, but
now a days, I see you getting closer to Ismail than me. I am jealous and I
have reasons to me.” Rugi emphasized. “You cannot love my brother. I love you
as a girlfriend not as a sister-in-law. My parents would disapprove. You’ll
not be welcome in my home be rest assured of that. Ismail has a fiancée she is
abroad. She can come anytime. She is Rose, a paternal first cousin. She is
studying law in Britain.” Rugi tried to discourage Isha. Isha changed the topic
to lectures. She was not interested in Rugi’s exposure. But all the same,
she was sad and disappointed.
Isha Confronts Ismail
“How could you? Where is your fiancée Rose? Why did you lie to me? Why are
you hurting me? “Isha shed emotional tears. “You are tearing my heart!”
Ismail explained. “Is it your friend Rugi who told you?” Isha nodded her head. “I
know it. She is jealous of our true love. She vowed to break it. Don’t mind
the things she told you. She most of the time exaggerates to hurt you and to
distance you from me. Yes, Rose was my fiancée. She is a paternal first
cousin. The elders fixed it. From the onset I held my reservations but the family
pushed it to the level of sending kola nuts and expressing intent. I was
helpless. Both myself and Rose felt trapped. Since she went to the U.K she has
not communicated to me. I don’t care. I let sleeping dog lie. I don’t know how
Rugi explained it to you but that’s what has happened. I love you Isha! I
love you with all my heart. Don’t listen to the detractors, the Rugis, they
want to separate us. You have touched my soul the moment I set eyes on you. I don
’t know where the relationship will lead us but I hope to follow it to its
logical conclusion.” Then Is gave Rugi a peck. “Smile now. I’ll handle the
situation.”
Ismail confronts Rugi
“What’s wrong with you? Find yourself a man and stop mingling into your bro
ther’s affairs! You are my junior remember! Why did you tell Isha about Rose?”
Rugi defended her stance. “Our parents would not accept you marry a pauper,
and you know that. Rose is your fiancée. Isn’t she? I would not allow you
cheat on my friend. She is innocent. I’ll not allow you hurt her. She is a
delicate person.” Ismail bang the table and stood up. “Cut crab Rugi! This is my
life and I’ll live it as I wish. I’ll marry Isha Ishallah! No one can do
anything about it!” “Isha is my friend not my sister-in-law. We shall see!”
Rugi threatened! “Isha has a fiancé. You are a fool brother!” Rugi challenged.
Ismail Proposes Marriage
Ismail accompanied by Omar, his childhood friend went too see Isha’s parents
to ask her hand in marriage unbeknown to Isha. Isha felt cheated. She
protested vigorously for being uninformed. She rejected outright. Ismail was
dismayed and felt hurt.
Aunty Marie and Uncle Pa are diplomatic. They called Isha aside and spoke to
her. “It’s okay darling. Don’t fuss too much about being uninformed. It has
happened. It was a mistake but he has apologized. He is handsome and very
polite. Please don’t reject him. Badara is not serious. Accept Ismail. You are
a woman. Make hay while the sun shines. Our spirit accepts Ismail.” Her
parents advised her. She remained adamant. “No uncle! No Aunty! I’ll not marry
Ismail period!” Her aunt and uncle were displeased with Isha’s attitude. “It
is abrupt. I have to learn more about Ismail. I don’t know him much. Rugi,
his sister told me he is a womanizer. I have to take my time. I don’t want to
mess my life.” Isha posited.
Ismail’s Parents
Rugi poisoned her mom’s mind against Isha. She described her as a gold
digger. Ismail’s parents confronted him. Aja Rabbi, his mom spoke first. “My son!
What am I hearing?” “What did you hear?” Is pretended. That you want to
marry a gold digger into our family.” Ismail was hurt. “Mom! You got it all
wrong. Isha is not a gold digger. She refused my marriage proposal on the ground
that I did not inform her. If she was a gold digger as you have described
her she would have quickly jumped at my proposal. That girl is real mom. She is
my life. She is decent and I love her. I’ll pursue her love until consent.
You, Rugi or anyone else can do nothing about it. Ishallah, God’s willing Isha
will be my wife. Isha will become a medical doctor. She will not need
anything from me.” Ismail argued. “I’ll not accept her into our family. To me she
remains a gold digger, a nobody. Our choice is Rose. She is our blood, our
kit and kin. Your father approved of her before he died. I remain by our
decision. I’ll not betray a dead man’s wish.” Alhajj Yorro intervened. He
inherited his elder brother’s wife, Aja Rabbi. He is a positive elder. “Islam
discourages forced marriage. Your son is right. Allow him marry his wife to save
your self future problems.” Uncle Yorro turned to Ismail and spoke to him,
directly. “Try hard my nephew! Follow your heart. If she is your wife, Ishallah
you’ll get her. Count me as an ally. Whenever she accepts we will meet her
parents to ask for her hand in marriage.” Aja Rabbi protested. “You were not
here cow Yorro. You spent the best part of your life in Saudi Arabia. Rose was
betrothed to Ismail. He has to pay the pride price and then the knot will be
tied.” Aja Rabbi explained. “No! No! No forced marriage! Give the young man
a break. Even if my brother Alpha was alive I’ll ask him to count me out of
such crude arrangement.” Alhajj Yorro defended his position.
Amendments of Local Government Laws “Constitutional”
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The recent amendments of the Constitution and the Local Government Act are
in accordance with the constitution of the Gambia, the Attorney General- Marie
Saine Firdaus, told the Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 9.
She was replying on points of law to the submissions of Ousainou Darboe,
counsel for the plaintiffs - The United Democratic Party (UDP), the National
Reconciliation Party (NRP) and Momodou Sanneh - minority leader of The National
Assembly.
Replying to Mr. Darboe’s submission Mrs. Saine-Firdaus said that contrary to
the plaintiffs’ claim of abuse of the process by the National Assembly, the
amendments were enacted by the legislature exercising their constitutional
powers.
The Attorney General dismissed the citation of case laws which the plaintiffs
’ counsel, cited to support his argument against her preliminary objection.
Mrs. Saine-Firdaus said that those case laws are court of appeal decisions
which are not binding on the Supreme Court. On Mr. Darboe’s citation of
provisions of the Elections Decree, she urged the court to disregard the submission
of her opponent.
The SOS maintained that the plaintiffs lack the locus standi (the right) to
take the matter to court and the court too lacks the original jurisdiction to
hear electoral matters.
She argued that the National Assembly is a party to the suit because it
makes laws that are being challenged, and should therefore be heard.
Amie Joof-Conteh, the counsel representing the IEC, said the labeling of the
IEC by Mr. Darboe as a public authority is incorrect, stressing that it is
neither a public nor a private authority. Mrs. Joof-Conteh added that there is
no cause of action against the second defendant because the statement of
claim contains nothing of such and having it on the writ of summons is not
essential since the statement of claim supersedes the writ of summons. The suit is
challenging the recent amendments on the constitution and the Local Governm
ent Act which the plaintiffs claim is done in excess of the constitutional
powers conferred on the National Assembly and the president. The UDP, NRP and
the Minority Leader (the plaintiffs) are asking the court to declare the
amendment null and void which gives the President the power to remove elected
local government councilors.
These amendments also disenfranchise the electorates outside the Banjul and
Kanifing Municipalities the right to elect their Local Government
Chairpersons.
The plaintiffs are at the same time seeking an injunction restraining the
IEC from holding the January 24 Local Government Elections under the disputed
legislations. Hearing on the substantive issues of the suit has to wait for
the outcome of the ruling on the papers filed by the Attorney General objecting
to the hearing of the suit. This verdict of the court will be delivered on
Monday, January 14 by the Chief Justice, Abdou Kareem Savage.
IEC Urged To Regulate Political Parties
By Modou Jonga
Mr. Dawda Jallow of the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) has
called on the Independent Electoral Commission to intensify it efforts in
monitoring and regulating registered political parties to be acting in accordance
with their respective constitutions.
Mr. Jallow made this call to the electoral commission on Wednesday 9
January, 2008 while making a presentation at the end of a two day training workshop
on Election Monitoring, coordinated by WANEP. Mr. Jallow noted that it is not
a common conditionality for registered political parties in the country to
call national congresses as required by their constitutions and make known to
their members how they finance their operations. According to the National
Council for Civic Education, officially registered political parties in the
country rarely organise national congresses. He said regulating and monitoring
parties is necessary to make parties accountable.
Femi Peters Speaks
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Mr. Femi Peters, the UDP nominated candidate for the Banjul City Council
Mayorship, told this paper in an exclusive interview that he would try to
initiate free education for the children, the leaders of tomorrow. He noted that
Banjul as a city lacks many things which should be available in a city. He
indicated that he would like Banjul to be transformed into modern city like
Dakar. He asserted that there are lack of street lights, stand pipes and good
tarred roads. Mr. Peters pointed out that there are many mosquito breeding
grounds in Banjul especially at Tobacco road, which he said had been ignored by the
city council. Mr. Peters also added that he would like to change the office
of the council or rebuild the office to standard, noting that the office will
have space for other activities.
Mr. Femi Peters, who called himself a “bonafide” Banjulian,’ said many “
Banjulians” are now transferring to the Kombos; that he would try to form a
committee on how to bring back those people together to be contributing to the
development fund of their city. He pointed out that all Banjulians are proud
to be from the Gambia’s capital and that they would be ready to maintain that.
Mr. Peters indicated that he is very optimistic of winning the seat, noting
that every household in Banjul knows him as a dedicated Banjulian and Gambian
for that matter. He called on the electorate to make a wise choice when
voting as their city is still underdeveloped.
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