Issue No. 100/2007, 27 – 28 August 2007
Editorial
Do Workers Have a Right to Industrial Action?
Yes Under the Law,
No Under APRC Administration!!
Leaders of the Maritime and Dockworkers Union have informed Foroyaa that
after being detained by the NIA they have been asked to write letters to
indicate that they have cancelled their threat to take industrial action.
The workers are wondering what the purpose of trade unions are. An emergency
meeting of trade unionists is necessary to discuss their significance,
powers and challenges under the APRC regime.
What the constitution says under section 25 is that every person shall have
the right to freedom of assembly and association which shall include freedom
to form and join associations and unions including political parties and
trade unions.
The Labour Act empowers trade unions to take industrial action if they give
14 days notice to the Commissioner of Labour if it relates to action that
will not interfere with essential services and 28 days notice if the action may
affect essential services.
The purpose of a notice is not to enable government to use the security
apparatus and treat trade unionists like criminals; on the contrary, the notice
provides government with information to determine whether the dispute is
between employees and their representative organisations with the employers which
can be resolved through bargaining in good faith or through the industrial
tribunals or if it pertains to matters that can threaten the continuation of
essential services.
Section 175 of the Labour Act states what types of industrial actions are
illegal as follows:
“(1) The following industrial action shall be deemed to be improper
industrial action and may be prohibited by order of the Supreme Court (now High
Court), on the application of any employer affected
(a) action which is primarily in pursuit of a political object rather
than in contemplation of a trade dispute so that contemplation of a trade
dispute is either no part of the purpose of the action or is only an
insignificant part of that purpose;
(b) action which is in breach of a collectively agreed procedure for
the settlement of trade dispute applicable to the trade dispute in question
and which provides expressly or impliedly in accordance with section 163 of
this Act that procedure shall be exhausted before industrialaection is taken;
or
(c) subject to sub section (2), action of which 14 days’ notice has
not been given in writing to the Commissioner.”
However, during legal industrial action section 173 even gives the workers
power to picket. It reads:
“It shall be lawful for one or more persons, acting on their own behalf or
on behalf of a trade union or of an individual employer in contemplation of
furtherance of a trade dispute, to attend at or near their own place of
employment, or if such persons are officials of the registered trade union at or
near the place of employment of employees whom they represent, if they so
attend merely for the purpose of peacefully persuading any person to work or
abstain from working or to communicate information.”
Furthermore, if essential services are to be interfered with section 176
calls for the following actions:
“(1) Where, in the opinion of the President of the Republic, the existence
of industrial action threatens the continuation of any essential service he
may-
(a) appoint a Court of Inquiry to report to him upon the facts of
such dispute and such Court of Inquiry shall report within one week of its
establishment; or
(b) order a return to work and immediately appoint a Board of
Arbitration in accordance with subsection (3).
(2) The report of the Court of Inquiry shall be published in the Gazette
within one week of its submission to the President of the Republic.
(3) If the dispute has not been settled within one week of the publication
of the report of the Court of Inquiry the President shall immediately appoint
a Board of Arbitration whose award shall be made within one week of
appointment and shall be published in the Gazette within three days of its making and
shall be final and binding upon the parties and, where appropriate to
individual terms and conditions of employment, shall be deemed to be incorporated as
terms and conditions of employment of the employees to whom it applies.
(4) Any individual action in contemplation or furtherance of the same trade
dispute as gave rise to the action occasioning a threat to the essential
services taken after the appointment of the Court of Inquiry and before the award
of the Board of Arbitration shall be deemed unjustified industrial action
and shall be prohibited without further order of any court and may be penalised
as if it were a contempt of the Supreme Court.
Tabara Samba and Brother Weep in Court
Madam Tabara samba and her brother, Alagie Malick Samba, wept in court
during the murder trial of the former who was accused of killing her husband by
pouring hot oil on him. Madam Samba has testified as a defence witness before
Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ court.
During cross examination on Wednesday, 23 August, by the prosecutor,
Commissioner Burama Dibba, Madam Samba told the court that she was married twice and
that her first husband was a Police Commissioner in Senegal. She said they
were blessed with three (3) children. She said their divorce was God’s will.
She said she could remember telling the court that she splashed hot oil on her
husband when the husband attacked her while she was in the kitchen. Madam
Samba indicated that she cannot estimate the amount of hot oil she splashed on
her husband. She said she cannot tell the part of her husband’s body that was
touched by the hot oil. She said she would be able to recognise her husband
in the picture. She was given the photos of her late husband’s burnt body and
she said she recognised her deceased husband. At this point Madam Samba who
covered her head with a white scarf, “Hijab” started to weep and sob and
tears rolled down her cheeks. She cried to the point of leaning on the dock and
could not continue looking at the picture of her late husband’s burnt body
in the photo. The trial Magistrate decided to rise for ten minutes to allow
her to gather herself together. She could not step down from the box until a
police officer assisted her and consoled her to stop crying.
Continuing her evidence after the recess, under cross examination, Madam
Tabara Samba said she only splashed hot oil on her husband once. She denied
splashing him with hot oil while sleeping in bed. “I put it to you that you
poured hot oil on your husband while he was sleeping,” said prosecutor Dibba.
Madam Tabara replied in the negative.
The brother of Madam Tabara Samba testified on Thursday, 23 August. Mr.
Alagie Malick Samba, a sales manager at Gam Park Company, said he shares the same
mother and father with Madam Tabara Samba. Mr. Samba said the late Ebrima
Nyan was a good friend to him. He said he was the facilitator of the marriage
between Tabara Samba and Ebrima Nyan. Alagie Malick explained that Mr. Nyan
complained to him about his short comings with women he married, that they
always end up abandoning him. Mr. Samba said he and his family used to pay visits
to the Nyan Family every week and that they were both happy as one family.
He said Tabara once told him that Ebrima was the best husband she has ever met
in all her married life. He said he was shocked about the incident because
Ebrima Nyan was his friend indeed. At this juncture he too started crying
bitterly in the witness box. Mr. Samba indicated that he visited Mr. Nyan on two
occasions at the hospital before he passed away. He said Mr. Nyan told him
that it was Tabara who poured hot oil on him.
During cross examination, Mr. Samba said that, at some point in time, he
witnessed a problem between Tabara and Ebrima. The defence counsel Amie Joof
Conteh made an application to the court to recall Doctor Abdoulie Alieu Ceesay
who prepared the autopsy report on the deceased. The application was granted.
Counsel Joof Conteh added that they would also have a burn specialist who
may also testify as their defence witness. Madam Tabara Samba, is standing
trial for allegedly killing her husband by pouring hot oil on him while sleeping
in bed. The said incident happened at Old Jeshwang, sometime in March, this
year.
“EPAs Harm African Farmers”
The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated by The
European Union (EU) with seventy-seven states in Africa, the Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) will have negative effects on African farmers and the economy,
said Buba Khan, the Food Rights Campaign Coordinator of ActionAid, The Gambia.
The ACP Countries, for the past three decades, have had preferential access
to European markets through the Lomé and Cotonou agreements, but this
relationship will change with the coming into force of the EPAs in 2008,
creatingaree Trade Zone between the EU and ACP countries with no duties or quotas on
substantial trade between the regions.
In an exclusive interview with Foroyaa, Mr. Khan said the EU is an unequal
partner to the ACP countries and a competition between subsidized European
products and smallholder African farmers will shrink the capacity of poor
African farmers and promote the dumping of cheap Europeans goods into the African
markets.
Mr. Khan said that even though the EPAs are yet to come into force, the
subsidized European products, such as poultry, are making it impossible for local
poultry farmers to continue operating in local markets.
“The European goods are finding their way into our markets, killing our
local industries. An example is the poultry industry in The Gambia. We did a
study that showed a lot of farms have closed down because they could not compete
with the cheap poultry imports coming from Europe,” he said.
The food rights campaign coordinator also said that this is what is
happening in The Gambian rice market, stressing that the importation of rice into the
country has made it difficult for local production to increase. He said: “We
have abundant land, Gambia could have ‘ferried itself,’ bur people no
longer value the local rice we produce. You find that the import bill of The
Gambia is rising”.
Mr. Khan expressed that African governments should support and strengthen
the capacity of their farmers so that food security can be achieved. He added
that billions of dollars are used annually to subsidise European farmers; that
this is why the European farmers have an edge over the poor African farmers.
He said this should make the ACP governments in general to think about the
potential implication of the EPAs before entering into a “deadly agreement”.
According to him, the EPAs will not only affect farmers, but the economies
of those poor countries which he said will increase poverty, lead to
unemployment and other potential consequences.
World Population Day Celebrated
This year’s World Population Day was celebrated in two rural towns. Bwiam in
Foni and Kaur in Saloum. The theme of this year’s celebration was “To
promote men’s participation in maternal health,” with the slogan, “No woman
should die giving birth.” The program was conducted in the form of a procession on
the 17 and 19 August at Bwiam and Kaur, respectively. Both processions were
led by the Deputy Governors of both Western Region and Central River Region
in their respective jurisdictions. The Director of Population, Mr. Saikou
Trawally,, Assistant Director Mr. Ebou Jallow, UNFPA Assistant Representative,
Mr. Ruben Mboge, Director of Information, Mr. Alieu Sagnia, Deputy Permanent
Secretary at the Vice President’s Office, Mr. Ansumana Krubally, Chiefs and
Alkalolu of the area.
Addressing both events, Mr. Saikou Trawally said every year they made
assessment to locate a place where they could educate, inform and englighten the
masses about population growth. Mr. Trawally indicated that in the past years,
one thousand and fifty (1050) women died in labour out of every hundred
thousand births. He added that in recent years it has reduced to seven hundred and
thirty deaths due to the participation of government and it’s partners. He
said they intend to reduce The Gambia’s toll to that of Japan. Mr. Trawally
called on men to participate fully in the maternal affairs of their wives and
to see themselves as key players. A senior nursing officer, Mr. Famara Fatty,,
described the maternal deaths in The Gambia as high compared to other
countries. Mr. Fatty emphasised that men should see themselves as partners in
maternal health. He said the burden on the women concerning maternal health is so
high that many do lose their lives in the course of pregnancy. He said men
can reduce the burden on the women by taking care of some family issues or
responsibilities mostly done by women. He called on the men to start accompanying
their women to health centers so as to see to their health status as well as
their children. Mr. Fatty noted that men can play a great role in family
health when their women are in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
A Drama group, initiated by Mr. Dodou Njie of “Fansung Jamanoo”, made a
role play on the importance of the education of the Girl Child showing her as
equal to the male child. They also made a role play on the need for men’s
participation in health issues, especially malaria prevention and maternal health.
The programme was coordinated by Mr. Ebrima Njie of the Department of
Population.
More Gambian Migrants Deported
Information reaching this paper has it that five (5) Gambians were deported
by the Cape Verde authorities on Saturday 25 August.
According to the weary-looking deportees who spoke to these reporters on
board the Air Senegal plane, they boarded a boat in The Gambia. They said their
destination was Spain, but their boat missed the route and they finally
landed themselves at the St. Vincent Island in Cape Verde.
They said they were then arrested by the Cape Verde authorities and put in
an underground cell for forty (40) days.
According to the deportees three hundred (300) of them were arrested but as
of now, only five (five) of them are deported and the rest will be deported
bit by bit. The deportees further told us that their air tickets were provided
by the United Nations. They claimed that they arrived in Senegal on Friday
without food or water while the flight was to depart from Dakar on Saturday at
9pm.
A Gambian who was returning home from mission abroad provided them with food
while they were at the Senegalese airport on Saturday.
According to the deportees, they accepted what happened in good faith adding
that, they left the country to seek for greener pasture,
The deportees are Kajali Marong, Bakary Barrow, Kawsu Sillah, Dembo Touray
and Sulayman Jawo.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
POLITICAL PARTIES REHEARSING FOR 1987 ELECTIONS
We have been focusing on politics in general and Gambian politics in
particular. We have also analyzed the economic situation as it influenced political
decisions. We have stopped where we quoted the Torch as having written “
Government in deciding to increase the salary of the few remaining civil servants
after retrenching the vast majority of them means creating a society where
few chop and plenty die, marathon.”
Let us continue from where we stopped.
One could be correct to say that the rehearsal to the 1987 General and
Parliamentary elections by political parties commenced in 1985. The Baddibus was
the most troubling region for the ruling PPP. The actions of one of the PPP
cabinet minister in the region, Mr. Momodou S K Manneh, had somewhat isolated
the PPP from the ordinary people. The arrest of Hon. Foday Makalo, an
opposition member of parliament for Lower Baddibu, also made it difficult for the PPP
to have a listening ear in the region.
Hon. Makalo was arrested around the 17th of April 1985 when he was the
minority leader of the House of Parliament and charged with five counts including
incitement and damage to public property. According to The Gambia Times, the
PPP Organ, the police charges were as a result of a political meeting in
Lower Baddibu, which involved a village youth leader and village chairman of Saba
village.
For the PPP to raise their head in Baddibu, something must be done to
satisfy the people in the region. The president as a result dismissed Dr. Momodou
S.K Manneh as Minister of Economic Planning and Industrial Development.
According to The Gambia Times, Mr. B.B Darbo, the then Vice President, was
dispatched to the region to apologize to the people in what they called “A
special political mission.” The Vice President told the people that the PPP
leadership had learnt that politics in the North Bank Division, particularly in
the Baddibus, was a mud-slinging affair between the ruling PPP and some NCP
militants; that PPP leaders did not approve this mud-slinging and what he
called “Strong arm tactics”; that the party had rejected such politics as
backward. According to the PPP organ, in his appeasement to the people of Baddibu,
Mr. Darbo urged the PPP militants to stop the bickering and demagogy, as
these would harm the image and interests of the PPP. The Vice President then
tendered his apology on behalf of the leadership of the ruling party to the
people who have been insulted and harassed by the PPP militants led by the former
minister Momodou S.K Manneh. He also told the people that those militants
had acted on their own and failed to abide by party guidelines.
On the Eastern front, the PPP had finally captured the most popular
opposition member in parliament, Hon. Bubacarr Baldeh of Basse, who won his seat in a
fierce battle under an independent ticket in the 1982 general elections. Mr.
Baldeh finally got himself entangled in the PPP web. Despite his acceptance
to join the PPP, the PPP leadership vowed to teach a lesson, not only to him
but all those who want to be part of the ruling party for one interest or the
other. Hence the selection committee refused to select him as their
candidate. They instead selected Mr. Omar Sey of Basse, the former Director of
Youths, Sports and Culture. This did not go down well with many people in the
constituency. The NCP decided to file a candidate against the PPP in the
by-election that ensued. The candidate was Mr. Ousainou Baldeh of Mansajang.
Despite the struggle that followed as a result, the PPP came out with the
seat, largely because Bubacarr Baldeh who hailed from the same community with
Ousainu had to also appeal to the same community as a way of showing his
loyalty to the P .P P. This eventually paid off.
Apparently, the PPP appeared to be uncomfortable even after retrieving the
seat. Rumours were rife that the former Vice President before the 1982 cabinet
reshuffle, Hon. Assan Musa Camara, could no longer accept to stay at the
backbench. He was said to have engaged himself in an underground campaign, which
the PPP considered, as an “Anti-PPP scheming.”
This was one of the reasons why president Jawara had to go on a six-day tour
of the provinces, which included the Upper River Division.
During this tour, the PPP militants who usually posed as farmers’
representatives could not hide the biting economic difficulties encountered by the
people. Speaker upon speaker questioned the rising cost of prices of all
commodities and appealed to the president to look into it.
According to The Gambia Times, Sir Dawda’s answer was the same everywhere;
that there was no easy answer to this problem; that we lived in times of
global inflation and acute economic problems affecting all countries and everybody
and asserted that there was no way that The Gambia could be insulated from
world problems.
According to the PPP organ, Sir Dawda said as far as the prices of food,
especially cereals, was concerned; there was no alternative to the country other
than producing its own food for consumption. The president was said to have
always called on the people to tighten their belts through “Tesito,” and
work harder to produce more food for export, to bring in the required foreign
exchange to strengthen the Dalasi.
By May 1986, Hon. Assan Musa Camara announced the formation of the Gambia
People’s Party (GPP). This was the third time a sidelined or dismissed cabinet
minister established a party to challenge his former party leader in a
presidential race.
This was the time when it became clear to the people why Mr. Camara was
maneuvering in the URD and CRD areas.
Mr. Camara, like Mr. Sheriff Dibba, had joined politics in the late 1950s.
He was a former member of the United Party before cross carpeting to the
ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and became a cabinet minister from the
60s up to 1982 when he was sidelined. The question that people always asked at
the time was “how long could he stay at the backbench?”
Reports, however, indicated that the GPP leader who hails from the
southernmost tip of the country in Kantora in the URD was said to be popular within
the locals. It remained to be seen as to whether he could deprive the ruling
party the majority of votes in the ensuing 1987 elections, in the area.
According to critics, Mr. Camara’s message was no different from that of the
NCP leader; that both leaders were making pronouncements on the rising cost
of living and the general economic difficulties. The only noticeable
difference was his slogan “Jawara Jippo” (Jawara come down), whilst the NCP’s
popular slogan was “Soosolasoo” (We are all inclusive), which means that the
economic difficulties in the country was biting everyone, whether opposition or
ruling party supporter.
See next edition of Focus as we review the happenings of the late 1980s and
the ensuing general elections.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
Part3
By Amie Sillah
Charlotte Dining With The Devil
Charlotte did not heed her sister’s advice. She thought Lisa was trying to
boss over them because of her position in the family business. She defied her.
Charlotte continued to dine with the devil. She spent all her inheritance
money on him. Essa gave Charlotte empty promises which she naively believed.
Essa did not come directly. He pretended to take loans from Charlotte which he
never have the intention to pay. At one occasion he asked for ten million
bucks which Charlotte refused at first but he later cajoled and coaxed her to
give it to him as a loan which he never paid.
Charlotte Asks For More Money
Charlotte pestered Lisa to give her more money. Her parasitic fiancé have
swallowed all her money. She then went to her sister for more which she
refused. The two elder sisters Kate and Charlotte or Lotty ganged against Lisa. She
was coerced to give Lotty ten million bucks against her wish. Lisa protested.
“Your actions are defrauding the company. It is not just sustainable to give
such kind of money for nothing”. Lisa argued. Lisa was given forty eight
hours to give the money. “Don’t bite more than you can chew!” Kate warned Lisa.
They practiced elder tyranny on Lisa.
The Reading Of The Will
The two elder sisters knew about it but refused to inform Lisa. The
barrister came and asked about her. They lied. “She was inform”. “Then why is she
not here?” The barrister questioned. “That is not Lisa. She is always punctual”
. Lisa came and saw the barrister and her positive uncle. Uncle Tunde who
never joined the negative brothers who ganged against doctor and his family. He
loved and respected Mama Kate. He paid tribute to her and prayed for her soul
to rest in perfect peace. Lisa protested. “I am sorry. I was never informed.
If I was, I would not keep you waiting”. Kate and Lotty sulked and hissed at
Lisa. “I knew something was wrong. You are so punctual. But its okay. We can
postpone. I’ve come to read Doctor’s will, but it already late. I have an
appointment to catch”. The guests left. The two sisters pushed Lisa aside and
went out. Lisa was disappointed with her elder sisters. “Why are they so
hostile? What have I done wrong?” Lisa questioned.
Kate Relieves The Servants
Kate called the servants and relieved all of them of their services. “We don’
t need all this retinue of workers”. She drew a cheque for each of them to
be paid for their services. The two sisters protested. “But we are not
informed! Are we not part of the household? Kate! You have to stop your unilateral
decisions! You are practicing elder tyranny which is unacceptable!” Lisa and
Lotty went into the mansion frustratingly. The servants left with sadness.
They have no prior knowledge of their fate. They blamed Kate insensitivity and
arrogance. The eldest among them Aunty Marie said. “Lisa is the best of the
three sisters. She is considerate, kind, generous and respectable just like her
parents. I was with this family since the ladies were kids. I serve the
family for twenty five years. This is my home. I am very sad to leave”. Aunty
Marie sobbed. Lisa called her aside. She gave her five thousand bucks. “Do
something useful with it. You can start a petty trade. If you manage well, I am
not promising but I can see what I can do”. She gave her a box load of clothes.
“Give to your children. They will find them useful”. “Thank you! You are
just like your parents. You’ll never lack to give”. They hugged each other and
Aunty Marie left.
Barrister Read The Will
Barrister Sarr read the will to the girls. “Liquid cash is four hundred
million (D400 million). Doctor had willed that you worked together and not sell
any shares. Kate should continue with the hospital if she wish. The clinic is
sustainable. Lisa can always help if cash is needed to refurbish or to buy
specialist equipments. If she does not want to continue she can set her own
clinic with Lisa’s help. As for Lotty, she should set her Legal firm with Lisa’
s help. Lisa have my business acumen with her sisters assistance she will
move the business to higher heights. That is doctor’s will. Is there any bone
of contention?” “No!” The girls answered. Barrister thanked them for their
maturity. He then left.
The Sisters
As soon as barrister left, Monalisa wanted to go out. They dragged her back
and Kate got her seated. “Listen carefully stupid girl! This is what we have
decided. Forget about dad’s will. It is not practicable. We cannot say this
to barrister but we can amicably work it out. I don’t want to practice
medicine. I want to do my kind of business that brings quick bucks. This is my
formula. As the eldest daughter I’ll take D200 million (two million dalasis);
Lotty will take one hundred and fifty million dalasis (D150 million) and you as
the youngest will take D50 million (fifty million dalasis)”. Lisa protested “
But that is unfair! Dad did not say that. We have to share it equally or I go
to Barrister, if you are unreasonable I’ll take court action”. “You can go
to hell to all I care!” Kate said rudely. On second thought Lisa changed her
mind. She has a plan. “Okay! It is unjust but I’ll accept for the sake of
family unity. I don’t want our enemies to laugh at us. Our parents’ souls will
not rest in perfect peace. I’ll take my unjust share and make the best out
of it. I am asking for one favour!” “What is it!” The duo asked. “Leave me
with the company to run!” The duo laughed heartily. “Oh! A dying company!
Take it! You are welcome”. They were happy that they cheated their last born. “
Dad spoilt her but she now realized we are her elders!” Kate told Lotty.
Lisa Goes To Barrister
Lisa narrated her experience to Barrister. “Uncle Charles, I told you my
experience because you are my dad’s solicilor since the family company was
initiated but I don’t want to stir trouble. My sisters are greedy. They have
cheated me but I don’t want the enemies to laugh at our family. I’ll accept it in
good faith”. “But where will you get the fund to run the company which is
already in the red?” Lisa asked for help”. Uncle! If you can loan me D100
million plus my D50 million I’ll get the company started. I am keeping the goose
that lays the golden eggs. My sisters might have the eggs but not the means
to produce the eggs”. “Well said! I’ll see what I can do”. Uncle Charles
promised.
Lisa At Home
Lisa knew Uncle Charle cannot help. He was just being diplomatic. She came
home discouraged and depressed. She talked to her dad’s photography. It echoed
what she wanted to hear. The voice urged her to struggle on. That everything
would be alright. Kate came and found her crying and talking to the picture.
She laughed at Lisa and called her a psychiatric case. Lisa ignored her.
Lotty And Essa
Lotty posted D10 million to Essa’s overseas account. At first, Essa could
not believe his ears. He was excited. He gave Lotty false promises. Lotty
wanted him to at least engaged her. “I’ll not engage you. I’ll marry you straight
away. Just give me a little more time. I am working out something.
Lotty Takes Essa Shopping
Lotty took Essa shopping. She filled his wardrobe with expensive suits and
shoes. She bought him a brand new Hummer Jeep. Essa was on top of the world.
Lisa And Her Manager
The company staff is very loyal to Lisa. The company manager who served
under her father, Uncle Sheriff was asked to forgo two months salary to travel to
France with Lisa to make contact with Doctor’s business associates. Uncle
Sheriff was not sure whether this will work. He tried to discourage Lisa. “If
they agree they will give us credit supply with little deposit”. “Lisa! It
will not work. Forget about it!” “Uncle! Let us try! It does not harm trying.
My spirit urges me to try. Nothing is impossible. Dad never failed. Lisa will
try not to fail. To try is not a crime. Lets take the risk together”. Uncle
Sheriff does not want to lose his employment. He agreed to travel to France
with Monalisa.
United Stars Register First Win
By Isatou Bittaye
United Stars held onto a one goal lead to earn their first three points in
on Saturday at the Serrekunda East Nawettan.
BB Rovers fell to a Omar Krubally goal 20 minutes in the first and the 2007
Nawettan campaigners held on to the slim advantage to win Rovers. After
falling behind Rovers upped their game in search of an equalizer and the tempo got
even higher in the second half but United’s defence stood firm denying them.
T Central also defeated Leeds United by the same goal margin earlier on the
same day. Ebrima Sonko (Mbaba) scored the all important winner in the 66th
minute. Matches will resume tomorrow Tuesday when Wales will play Zurich whilst
AC Milan take on Rangers on Wednesday.
Purported Flight And TV Company Owner Arrested
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Mr. Francis Awddai Antini, a Ghanaian national, who is said to have come to
The Gambia to establish a television and an airline company was arrested by
state security agents on July 16 and is still being detained at the serious
crime unit at the police headquarters in Banjul.
When contacted, the police Spokesperson, Inspector Sulayman Secka, said
Awddai Antini was arrested in connection with an advertisement on a purported
airline company that was published by the Daily Observer on 12 July this year.
Inspector Secka noted that the advert on the Observer was that the airline
company was looking for flight attendants and air hostesses. The police
spokesperson added that the name of the flight company was not known. He alleged that
Mr. Antini had so far sold more than hundred copies (100) of application
forms and had received hundred (D100) dalasis from each of the applicants who
are about 100 in number. PRO Secka indicated that about forty (40) people made
statements to the police concerning Mr. Antini.
The PRO indicated that investigations on the purported Television Company
are still going on. He asserted that Mr. Antini has been charged with two
counts. The first is obtaining money by false pretence with the pretext to employ
the applicants in a company. Count two indicates that the suspect gave false
information to the Daily Observer about vacancies for flight attendants and
air hostesses, when such publication is false.
Farato Imamship Trial Set For Judgment
By Modou Jonga
The protracted trial of Kemo Saho relating to Imamship saga at Farato
village, Kombo South District will soon see the end of the tunnel. On Tuesday 21
August, the trial magistrate, Mr. E.F. Mbai at the Brikama Magistrates Court
set 12 September as the date for delivery of his judgment.
The accused person who pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting Samba
Bah, complainant, thereby causing grievous bodily harm,, completed his
defence on the same Tuesday, in the presence of his counsel Edu Gomez. The accused
has been remanded in custody for most part of the trial because of
allegations that he again assaulted the complainant while on bail.
Throughout his testimony at various proceedings, the accused has denied
assaulting the Imam of Farato on the said date, claiming that he (the accused)
was frequently provoked and taunted by the complainant while attending prayers
at the mosque.
In his address to the court, Mr. Edu Gomez, counsel for the accused drew the
attention of the court, to the prosecution witnesses and the medical
certificate of the complainant which was tendered in court and admitted as an
exhibit. He reminded the court that the accused had also sustained injuries as a
result of the said assault incident. He further noted that evidence shows that
the complainant is frequently seen possessing a cutlass while in the said
mosque, an act, which he said, is not respectful. Lawyer Gomez then submitted
that the said assault happened while the accused was acting in self-defence.
On his part, the prosecutor Sergeant 493 Badjie reminded the court that the
said accused was sometime ago arraigned before the same court on a similar
assault offence against the said complainant. He further stressed the
seriousness of the injuries sustained by the complainant.
After the addresses, the court adjourned for judgment.
Peace Corps Volunteers Sworn In
By Isatou Bittaye
Twenty Peace Corps Education Volunteers were sworn in at the residence of
the American Ambassador at Fajara on Friday, 24 August 2007.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Yamai Secka-Jack, said the volunteers have gone
through 10 weeks of training in The Gambia. She said they were trained to
work with schools and communities. She added that they were also trained on
youth development, computer literacy, income generation, personal health and
safety to enable them to take charge of their health and observe safety
precautions while they are in the field.
The Peace Corps Country Director, Mr. Micheal McConnell said the Peace Corps
have been in the Gambia for 40 years now. He noted that Peace Corps is not
an NGO neither a political agency, but an independent agency that strives to
help local communities. Mr. Micheal further said that volunteers are to train
teachers, teach Maths, Science and Computer Technology to students. He added
that the volunteers will also work in the communities in which they live to
enable those communities to have a greater capacity to develop themselves. Mr.
Micheal noted that the volunteers know that it will not always be easy to
work here, but they are here to train people. He urged them to do their job and
never give up even when it is hard.
In her keynote address, the Secretary of State for Basic and Secondary
Education, Mrs. Fatou Lamin Faye, said the Peace Corps Education Programme is old
and that the education volunteers have worked in curriculum research and
development, adult education and the production of material resources as well as
in schools and tertiary institutions. Mrs. Faye noted that the government of
The Gambia is committed to providing quality education for all children and
as such has invested heavily in this sector in collaboration with partners.
SoS Faye further said her department is also investing more in the sector in a
bid to improve the quality of education through capacity building for those
responsible for the implementation of the education strategic plan. Mrs. Faye
said several libraries have been established in The Gambia through the help
of Peace Corps The Gambia and this has greatly enhanced the efforts of the
Department of State to provide quality teaching and learning. SoS Faye lauded
the significant contribution made by Peace Corps in the area of computer
literacy. She noted that both The Gambia College and the University of The Gambia
have benefited from this computer literacy initiative. Madam Faye said
Gambians appreciate Peace Corps volunteers because of their respect for the way of
life of Gambians. Mrs. Faye indicated that through partnership and
togetherness, the emerging needs of the education sector could be addressed. She finally
urged everybody to spread the message of peace so as to ensure that “we live
in peace and leave a peaceful world for our children and for posterity.” She
emphasised that peace starts within each one of us; that it is only when we
have inner peace that we can be at peace with those around us.
Cristin Farley, a volunteer noted that they have been involved in computer
training, Maths, Science and environmental teaching. She added that as
volunteers, they will contribute to the development of the community.
David Colley’s Trial Suffers Setback
By Abdou Jeli Keita
The criminal trial involving David Colley, former Director of Prisons and
the state did not proceed on Thursday at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court. This
was due to the fact that the defence counsel, Antouman Gaye was absent in court.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Touray said since this is the first time that
the defence counsel failed to appear since the inception of the trial, he
would accept the adjournment.
He however added that if the defence counsel failed to appear at the next
hearing, he is going to urge the court to proceed with the case.
The accused is standing trial for allegedly stealing a generator, being a
property of The Gambia Prisons Department.
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