Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 026/2007, 5-6 March, 2007
Editorial
DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO OPEN PARLIAMENT?
No Is The Answer!!
In a country which is a constitutional monarchy, sovereignty resides in the
monarch. Hence the provision of services are deemed to be done under the
jurisdiction of the monarch. In such countries you may have state opening of
parliament. The king or queen would come to parliament and address the members
and then declare the session open.
The Gambia is however a Republic. There is separation of powers between the
executive, legislature and judiciary. Parliament opens when the members elect
a speaker and deputy speaker and are sworn in.
After the first sitting which marks the election of speaker and deputy
speaker subsequent sittings like the one held on Friday shall be “at such times as
the National Assembly shall appoint.” Emergency meetings may be requested
for by the president or by ¼ of the members. There is no provision for a state
opening of parliament.
What exists in the constitution is what exists in all Republics, that is, “
the state of the Nation address.”
In short, the executive in a Republic is required to report to parliament at
least once a year on the policies of government for debate. In this way,
parliament can have an input in shaping government policy.
This is stipulated clearly under Section 77 (1) of the Gambia Constitution.
It reads “The President shall at least once in each year attend a sitting of
the National Assembly and address a session on the condition of the Gambia,
the policies of the government and the administration of the state.”
This should be a period for contemplation for all National Assembly members
in particular and the Nation at large.
The farmers should be wondering what policies government intends to put in
place to purchase the groundnuts. The unemployed should be waiting to find out
what the government intends to do to ensure that they have employment. The
families with members who are detained without trial would want to know what
the government policy is with regards to their release. Those who are
imprisoned for long years would want to know whether the president would exercise his
prerogative of mercy. The students at the Gambia College would want to know
whether they will be housed in the campus or are going to reside in town at a
cost that will undermine the ability of the poor students to continue their
education as teachers.
Those who travel would want to know government policy on migration. We can
go on and on.
What is rather strange is that the whole coming of the president to the
parliament was transformed into an APRC party activity with young people
mobilized from everywhere to accompany the President to parliament. One wonders what
would have happened if the opposition also invited their supporters and
drummers to accompany them to the National Assembly as a show of support. What is
also evident is the transformation of the seat of the Speaker into the green
colour of the APRC. One would wonder what would happen if each member of the
opposition were to paint their seats into their party colours.
Those in the majority in the National Assembly should be sensitive to the
concerns of the minority instead of imposing their will on them.
The Executive and the legislature which derive authority from consent should
be mindful of creating standards of best practice which will be of benefit
to them in particular and the society in general when they no longer find
themselves in the majority.
Those who are empowered to decide for the whole Nation should not be
partisan in thinking and action. They should do what the whole nation would
appreciate irrespective of party affiliation. The transformation of the grounds of
the National assembly into a party atmosphere is a wrong start for a
legislature which is supposed to be separate from the Executive and charged with the
responsibility of scrutinizing the Executive without fear or favour, affection
or ill will. The standing ovation and clapping by National assembly members
themselves either confirms that they do not know what is written in the
Standing Orders or that they prefer not to show any respect for their rules.
This behaviour should not continue if the National Assembly is to earn the
respect it should have.
Foroyaa hopes that those concerns will be taken into consideration by the
Executive and the legislature. History will be written someday. Let justice
guide our actions.
PRESIDENT JAMMEH ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT
On Friday 2nd March 2007 President Jammeh addressed parliament comprising 5
representatives on the side of the minority, 1 independent candidate, 4
nominated members and 42 on the side of the majority. Under the Constitution the
President is empowered to appoint 5 nominated members two of whom become
Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
Judging by the behaviour of the nominated members it appears that all of
them belong to the party of the president or organisations allied to it. The
President explained the policies of the government with regards to agriculture,
education, health, environment, economic affairs, fisheries, tourism,
petroleum exploration, foreign policy, migration and ended by cautioning the
National assembly members to desist from promising the people everything only to
hide from them after being elected. Foroyaa could not get a copy of the speech
after the address. It was claimed that the President had added certain remarks
which were not incorporated in the speech and that efforts will be made to
incorporate them. Foroyaa will report on each policy item indicated by the
president and then weigh it against the available facts to give the reader a
comprehensive view of the President’s speech and its review by Foroyaa.
Let us look at the issue of electricity supply for 24 hours. According to
the President they now have the capacity to provide 24 hours electricity supply
in the urban area but that the archaic transmission lines pose as the
problem.
When Foroyaa publishes the position of the President it will also refer to
loan agreements with the Import/Export Bank of Taiwan which gave a loan of
approximately 500 million dalasis to rehabilitate the transmission lines a long
time ago. We will ask for a report of progress in the utilization of the loan
to rehabilitate the transmission line.
KASSA JAATA & CO. TRIAL
ASP SAWANEH TESTIFIES IN COURT
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Assistant Superintendent of Police Sawaneh, who was the Station Officer at
Bakau Police Station, has testified in the criminal case of Dudu Kassa Jaata
and seven (7) others at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court presided over by
Magistrate Abdoulie Mbackeh
ASP Sawaneh told the court that on the 27th June 2006, he received a
complaint from one Fatou Badjie and some APRC agents who were conducting a voter
registration exercise at Bakau Bantankoto. According to him, they complained
that Ousman Jatta insulted and abused them at the registration centre. He said
that based on that complaint, Ousman Jatta was invited to the police station
and he came; that Mr. Jatta was confronted with the complaint and was
cautioned, charged and detained. ASP Sawaneh told the court that Dudou Kassa, later
led a group of people who came to the police station and obstructed the police
from doing their duties. He said that while in the process of transferring
Ousman Jatta to Banjul Police Station they were being obstructed by Kassa and
team; that he could recognise one Lamin Jatta and Kassa among those who
surrounded the police vehicle to stop Ousman Jatta being transferred to Banjul;
that they were also shouting and insulting but that the insults were open and
not directed to anyone. He said that later, he and his men had tried to arrest
them, but in vain. ASP Sawaneh explained that later that evening, one Sam
Dubois, Sirreh Jammeh and her mother, Binta Njie came to the station with an
iron bar and lodged a complaint against certain individuals; that Sam Dubois
complained that one Cherno Ndure, Mariama Fatty, Lamin Jassey and Mambarama
Jatta came to his compound gate and were insulting him and his family; that
Sirreh Jammeh complained that while she was at the registration centre, Cherno
Ndure came with a group of people and that the said Cherno attempted to hit
her with an iron bar, but fortunately her(Sirreh) mother Binta Njie held the
iron bar.
ASP Sawaneh said that the complaints were registered. The iron bar was
marked as an exhibit; that they later pursued the arrest of the accused persons
but it was not possible. Going further with his testimony, ASP Sawaneh told the
court that on the 1st August, 2006 the police chief of operations, Inspector
Landing Bojang and his batch of men from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU)
came to Bakau Police Station to help them arrest the accused persons; that it
was around 9pm when officers led by detective constable Abdoulie Manneh left
for Jatta Kunda to effect the arrest of one Mariama Fatty but instead a
wrong person, by the name Nyima Manneh, was arrested and taken to the station;
that when it was realised that a wrong person was arrested, they then
apologised to the victim and then released her. He said that later on, Dudu Kassa
Jaata led a group of people to the station in a violent manner and demanded that
Nyima be released not knowing that she had already been released. He said
that the stones they were throwing damaged one public telephone booth near the
station. He also said that they wanted to arrest Kassa but could not do so
because of the crowd. The witness told the court that it was around 9:55 pm when
he led a team of officers including Abdoulie Manneh, Corporal Cham and
Manlafi Barry together with the PIU personnel to Jatta Kunda to arrest Kassa,
Mariama Fatty and others; that upon arrival they met a group of people at the
Jatta Kunda gate and among them was one Lamin Jawara. He said that they were all
shouting and saying, “no police or PIU will enter with arms in their
compound.” He said that Lamin Jawara then asked them to keep quiet so he can speak
on their behalf. “Lamin Jawara asked me what was our mission to their
compound. I told him we were there to arrest Kassa, Mariama Fatty, Cherno Ndure and
others who we believed were living there. Lamin insisted that I can be
permitted to enter but other officers will not be allowed. I insisted and told him ‘
you cannot dictate what I am to do’ and I reminded him not to obstruct us,”
Sawaneh narrated. Sawaneh said there was a large crowd in the compound, but
that himself, Cherno and Manneh entered. He said that upon their entry and
they were insulted, humiliated and abused by those in the crowd. He said “some
of the insults and abusive languages were directed to the police.” He said
that one boy, whom he cannot identify, was pushing and pulling with him and
Lamin Jawara then intervened, held him (Sawaneh) by the hand and thus making the
boy escape from his grip. The witness told the court, that when Kassa later
appeared, he held him (Kassa) by the shirt with one hand and then informed him
that he was under arrest; that Lamin Jawara continued to obstruct him until
Kassa also escaped from him. Sawaneh said Lamin Jawara insisted then he
arrested Lamin for obstructing the arrests of Kassa and the other boy. He said
that a sister, Isatou Jawara, also insisted that she will go to the station
alongside her brother Lamin; that Isatou was warned that the Police have nothing
to do with her but she insisted and was also arrested; that the duo were
escorted to the station. He said that Omar Jatta was also handed over to them by
the Commissioner of Police, Jatta Baldeh for refusing to leave the Police
station premises. The trio, he said were handed over to the PIU at Kanifing for
security reasons. ASP Sawaneh concluded that Kassa, Cherno, Lamin Jasseh,
Mamburama Jatta, Lamin Jatta and Mariama Fatty reported themselves to the Bakau
Police Station and were arrested, cautioned and charged. Dudu Kassa Jaata and
seven others were charged for Public Violence and Obstructing Police
officers while executing their duties. The case was adjourned for further hearing.
AT THE COURT MARTIAL
Lt. SANYANG CROSS-EXAMINED
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
During cross-examination of Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang by the state counsel,
Emmanuel O. Fagbenle, in the ongoing court martial at Yundum Barracks on
Thursday 1st March 2007, the accused told the court that he had never lied until
the day he made his statement.
Responding to the question as to where he stated the truth in his statement,
Lt Sanyang said that it is his name, age, address and signature. He said
that the day he was assigned to the airport his commander had confidence in him
and that was why he was given the assignment. He told the court that the
reason why he was replaced by Lieutenant Ceesay at the airport was because of the
fact that he underwent an operation; that the operation was a result of an
accident in October 2003 during which he sustained injuries. When asked which
part of his body sustained injuries, he replied that the areas affected were
his right lower jaw and the right side of his neck. “I’m putting it to you
that you sustained injuries on your head, arms, legs, chest and back as a
result of that accident,” said Fagbenle. Lt Sanyang replied, “the only place I
sustained injuries from that accident is on my right lower jaw and at my right
side of the neck.” “I’m putting it to you that all the scars that you have
showed to this court were injuries that you sustained from that accident in
2003 and not from the beating as you claimed,” Fagbenle said. Lt Sanyang said.
“That is incorrect.” When asked whether his rifle was supposed to be in the
armoury, he responded that unless it was not allowed by the commander, it
must be kept in the arms store and not in the armoury. He was asked whether at
anytime he was in charge of the coup plotters, Sanyang replied that that has
never happened. “Are you in a position at the airport to do the coup,” asked
Fagbenle. Lt Sanyang replied, “the opportunity was there, but I was not to
do it because I was not part of it,” said Pharing. Asked about the amount of
soldiers with him at the airport, he said he was given about (30) thirty
soldiers. He also said that he never had any quarrel with Malick Jatta prior to
his arrest; that the size of the hammer he was hit with by Malick Jatta can be
the size of the handle of a fan. The state counsel asked Lt Sanyang how many
statements were shown to him before he made his statement on the 22nd March
2006, he replied that he was shown a bunch of papers that were said to belong
to those who were first arrested like Captain Bunja Darboe and Captain Wassa
Camara, Lt. Sanyang denied talking to Corporal Samba Bah on his way to the
airport and that he was even surprised to know that he had talked to Corporal
Bah. Lt Sanyang told the court-martial that he cannot tell whether the first
accused (Bunja) and the third accused (Wassa) had made any statements before.
He said that when he went to the hospital to extract his broken tooth, he
informed the doctor that it was as a result of torture. Lt Sanyang added that
the removed piece of tooth was given to him but he forgot it on the doctor’s
table.
DISCHARGED REPATRIATED MIGRANTS GRANTED BAIL
By Modou Jonga
Three repatriated migrants have been released on police bail after being
arrested by the police upon their discharge by Magistrate E.F M’bai on Tuesday
27th February, reliable sources informed this paper.
The source informed this reporter, that the three earlier discharged by the
court and later re-arrested by the police, were granted bail on the same day
at the Brikama Police Station.
Readers could recall, that the trio, Sanusi Suwareh, Yankuba Manneh and
Bakary Ngum are part of thirty repatriated Gambian Migrants standing trial at the
Brikama Magistrates’ Court. They were arraigned for alleged malicious damage
to the property of The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, at the Banjul
International Airport on 28th October last year.
The three accused persons discharged by Magistrate M’bai were the only three
present in court at the time of their discharge on 27th February. Their
discharge came in the wake of the inability of the Police to effect two separate
bench warrants concerning the accused that he issued on 12th December 2006
and 12th February, 2007, respectively.
It could also be recalled that after being discharged, the trio were
prevented from leaving the premises of the Brikama Magistrate’s court and ordered to
board a vehicle which then headed for the Brikama Police Station.
It is reported that prior to their arraignment before the Brikama Magistrates
’ Court the thirty accused persons were reporting to the Yundum Police
Station. The source also revealed that the 30 repatriated migrants from Spain
arraigned in court are less than those who arrived in the airport on the day this
alleged offence of malicious damage to properties of the GCAA was said to
have occurred.
MAGISTRATE ADVISES PROSECUTORS
By Modou Jonga
Magistrate Edrissa Fafa M’bai of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court has
expressed his view over prosecutors who at times in his court, fail to proceed with
cases and or to prove their cases beyond reasonable doubts.
Magistrate M’bai made these remarks on Wednesday after the adjournment of a
case assigned to another prosecutor who transferred his case to his
colleague. Magistrate M’bai said that the said case was unable to proceed for quite a
while now (for more than two months).
Magistrate M’bai further said that despite the inability of the prosecution
to proceed with their cases and prove their cases beyond reasonable doubt,
the accused persons he discharged are often re-arrested by the police. This,
Magistrate M’bai asserted, amounts to ‘challenging the court and abusing the
law.’ He said that the re-arrest is a result of the prosecutor’s
dissatisfaction of the said discharges.
Magistrate M’bai thus urged the prosecutors to be willing to proceed with
cases that are before his court and be resolved to prove their cases beyond all
reasonable doubts.
2007 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN SENEGAL
Provisional Election Results of The Senegalese
Presidential Election
Baboucarr Ceesay Dakar Correspondent
Provisional results of the presidential election for the 32 electoral
districts of Senegal were released by the commission nationale de recensement des
votes (National Commission for Census of Votes) on Friday March 2nd, 2007
with Abdoulaye Wade emerging as the victor in the first round of voting with
1,910,368 of the votes, equivalent to 55.86%. Idrissa Seck polled 510,610 votes
which is equal to 14.93%, Ousmane Tanor Dieng scored 463,967, that is 13.56%
of the votes cast. The results further indicate that Moustapha Niasse
captured the fourth position with 202, 865 votes rated at 5.93%, Robert Sagna
surprisingly led Abdoulaye Bathily and Landing Savané by polling 88,390 of the
votes cast representing 2.58%.
However Abdoulie Bathily obtained 75,759 votes, which is equivalent to 2.2%,
while Landing Savane polled 70,566 votes polling 2.06%, Talla Sylla got
18,014 equivalent to 0.52%, Sheik Bamba Dièye 17. 205 votes, 0.5%, Mame Adama
Guèye 13,669, that stands at 0.39%, Mamadou Lamine Diallo 16,551 votes 0.4%,
Doudou Ndoye 9.929 votes 0.29%, El Hadji Alioune Mbaye alias Petit Mbaye got
9050 votes, 0,26%, Louis Jacques Senghor got 8,208 votes, 0.24%, and Modou Dia
polled 4,488 votes 0.13%.
Abdoulaye Wade’s Press Conference at the Palace
On Idy, Tanor, Dansokho, Habib Thiam
Following the announcement of the provisional results of the pressidential
elections by the National Commission of Census of Votes (commission nationale
de recensement des votes) presided over by Judge Sheik Tidiane Diakhaté,
President Abdoulaye Wade held a press conference at the Senegalese Presidential
Palace in the evening of Thursday 1st February 2007. Wade used the news
conference to announce the resumption of legal proceedings against some key
opposition politicians who served in his government.
Abdoulaye Wade, after having paid hommage to the Senegalese people,
announced the resumption of cases against those who have something to do with the
state funds, in particular Messers Amath Dansokho, Moustapha Niasse, Ousmane
Tanor Dieng, Habib Thiam and Idrissa Seck.
Wade went further to say that the turnout reaching 70% is quite “
extraordinary”. He explained the new system set up which requires a voter to combine the
national identity card and the voter registration card to be eligible to
vote. He asserted that he is pleased with the results.
Wade expressed delight for the calm environment during the election
campaign. He said his campaign ended without incidents. The only noted incident he
said is the confrontation between the militants of Idrissa Seck and the talibés
of Sheik Béthio Thioune.
As for the poll of Sunday he said the electoral process occurred in peace.
On his incomplete projects, Wade said it now remains only with the
International Airport Blaise Diagne. He promised that the construction of this project
will be launched on April 4, 2007.
Abdoulaye Wade considers the allegations of fraud of a certain fringe of the
opposition as simple fanfaronades to which we are accustomed; that all the
reports/ratios of the observers showed the transparency. He said the system
does not allow an error and the opposition was present at all levels of the proc
ess. The man of Sopi call for a fight against corruption for “serious charges
” on “alleged financial scandals”. He pointed out that efforts are being
made by his government to fight against corruption. “We created a commission in
which even the press has a seat and the opposition is present at National
Assembly. It is necessary for me to speak against the corruption and stamp it
out”, Wade stressed. He said he is not the one who created the corruption.
Abdoulaye Wade showed the conference a copy of Le Quotidien (the Daily
newspaper), which published in its Wednesday edition the disappearance of a huge
sum of money from the treasury. “A method out to smear the image of our country
”, deplores Abdoulaye Wade. “This review of the World Bank is simply meant
to show how much the country received and how it was spent. The survey is
carried out in 25 countries comparatively. It is not money deposited with the
treasury and I am glad that the World Bank makes such an investigation in
Senegal”, explained Abdoulaye Wade.
On what he referred to as an erroneous accusation against his son Karim
Wade, President Wade said his son is not in any position that deals with money.
Abdoulaye Wade specified that the last two projects comprising the
embellishment of the Western Cornice and the widening of the Northern Road network
financed by Kuwait at a cost of 19 billions CFA are underway. “This money is not
given to my son, but is deposited with the treasury that deals with the
Kuwaiti company responsible for the work. My son does nothing but supervise”, said
Wade.
He alleged that these rumours come from the ex-Prime Minister Idrissa Seck
with the conviction that he wanted to put Karim Wade in his position. Wade
said there is nothing worse than calumny, affirming that he forgave all those
who wronged him, even Idrissa Seck.
Wade did not hesitate to add that he cannot forgive anyone for any wrong
done to the state, and announced continuations of cases against those who owe
the State. He said Idy, Tanor, Dansokho, Niasse and Habib Thiam who owe the
state must pay it back to the state coffers. He said the audits were suspended
so that he would not be witch hunting anyone or preventing any of his
oppositions from going to the elections. He said there is no need for any witch hunt
because the files were there. He named Amath Dansokho, Moustapha Niasse,
Ousmane Tanor Dieng, Habib Thiam and Idrissa Seck as those who should face
charges as a result of having something to do with state funds.
For Amath Dansokho, Wade said he was involved in land sales belonging to the
airport, when he was Minister for Town Planning, and mismanagement as a
mayor of Kédougou and diversion of 17 million Cfa received within the framework
of the decentralized co-operation. As for Moustapha Niasse, President Wade
said must answer 2 principal charges. Firstly, he said the purchase of his house
on the Western Cornice (Fann) for 11 million Cfa in 19 months. Secondly, the
sale of passports to Chinese people in Hongkong, when he was a Foreign
Minister and should pay the money to the treasury.
As for Ousmane Tanor Dieng and Habib Thiam, Wade alleged that they must
answer charges relating to the sale of the fishing licences valued at 20 billion
Cfa. For Idrissa Seck, Me Abdoulaye Wade showed the conference a paper
bearing what he alleged to be the signature of the former Prime Minister who made
commitment when he was in prison to pay in installments of 7 billion Cfa.
According to Wade, Idrissa Seck knows that it is he who managed the
political funds. He said 40 billion or more is deposited in an account in France;
that there remains accounts in Luxembourg, Switzerland and the United States for
recovery of the ill gotten money deposited there.
Calling for a majority in the Parliament, he again thanked the Senegalese
people. “You entrust me a responsibility, but my capacity will be decreased if
I do not have the majority in the National Assembly”, Said Wade.
He said now the term of office for the President will be only two terms of
five years. Delving into the issue of a successor, Wade said he or she would be
intelligent, hardworking with a good international relation, etc. He was
quick to add that it will not be Idrissa Seck.
Some people expressed surprise that a press conference which was considered
to be an occasion to make reconciliation with the opposition has been used by
President Wade as a ground for settling scores with his adversaries.
Dansokho And Niasse React To Wade
Amath Dansokho in his reaction dismissed Wade’s accusation which were made
at the Presidential Palace on Thursday,. “Wade is a coward to say that I
Dansokho had sold plots of land in the zone of the airport and had a hand on the
sum of 17 million Franc Cfa of the town of Kédougou of which I was the mayor’
, remarked Amath. He said Wade is a sweet talker. He said that Wade is fond
of contradicting himself.
On his part, the candidate of the Coalition Alternative 2007, Moustapha
Niasse said he is convinced that there are flaws in the election well before the
day of the poll. The leader of the Alliance of the forces of progress (Afp)
did not want to comment on the scores because as he put it, there are no
matches because Abdoulaye Wade did not win the elections.
At a press conference on Friday March 2nd, at the head office of his
coalition, Moustapha Niasse dismissed the Chinese passports scandal and the
acquisition of his house, in response to the attacks of Abdoulaye Wade. He said the
secretary general of the Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) have programmed
victory two years ago; that a politician and natives of Keur Madiabel, Kaolack,
mid-west of Senegal disclosed that people started voting from lists to which
they did not have access.
By these mentioned practices he asked: “how can one face a leader who makes
invectives, which seeks to make one dirty? I will not give him importance. I
think of the young people whose votes were diverted”, Said Niasse. Niasse
added that 26 diplomatic passports were sold to the Jonas Savimbi’s family.
Moustapha Niasse disclosed that Senegalese diplomatic passports were made
available to the children of Jonas Savimbi, the late rebel leader f of Angola.
He concluded that there are confidential documents supporting his claim.
On a malicious tone, he disclosed that the operation occurred in an almost
clandestine way. The former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Senegal
under the regime of Abdou Diouf, on the issue of the Chinese passports, said
this was governed by a decree which exists since 1996.
IMPACT OF GUINEA’S CRISIS ON THE GAMBIAN ECONOMY
By Isatou Bittaye
The crisis currently experienced by the people of Guinea Conakry has a
negative c effect on the economy of the Gambia with regards to the commodities
imported from there. Since the commencement of civil unrest in Guinea Conakry,
no export commodity has entered the Gambia from Guinea. Foroyaa has contacted
the Guinean businessmen who said the crisis has negative effect on their
business. One Yaya Touray, a businessman who imports pineapple from Guinea
indicated that the crisis has brought to their business in pineapple at standstill.
He added that since the crisis started in Guinea, they could not import any
pineapple into the Gambia. He said that the prices of the commodities were
very high before the crisis which in fact contributed to the crisis. Touray
highlighted that before the crisis, they were selling one kilo of pineapple at
D20 dalasis but since the crisis commenced, they decided to import from Dakar
which has increased the price to D35 dalasis per kilo; he concluded that he
is now engaged in apple business from Dakar, noting that the people need
pineapple but that they cannot import pineapple from Guinea.
Also speaking to this reporter, a Guinean Palm oil dealer, Abdoulie Sowe
indicated that since the crisis commenced, he has not imported any Palm oil from
Guinea. He added that his last importation was before the crisis. Mr. Sowe
indicated that the crisis has a negative impact on their business because
their business has stopped at the moment. He however revealed that the crisis
coincided with the shortage of Palm oil in Guinea and that the prices were very
high even before the crisis. Mr. Sowe indicated that high prices have
contributed to the crisis in Guinea because they were fighting for the reduction of
prices. He noted that currently there is no uniform price because they heard
that in some areas in Guinea, prices are high while they are low in other
areas. Mr. Sowe said that apart from high prices they were not encountering any
problems in their business before the crisis. Other Guinean businessmen
dealing in kolanuts and bitter cola also expressed similar sentiments.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
INDEPENDENCE, THE TASK THAT LAY AHEAD
To start from our topic “politics,” we must first of all understand what it
means. Most of our politicians at the time do not understand that politics
is meant for the individual life, that the aim of politics is to make the
lives of individuals as good as possible; that a politician is not to consider
anything above the men, women and children who constitute the populace under
his/her jurisdiction or even in the world beyond; that politics is to adjust
our relations as human beings in a way that each of us may have as much good in
our lives as possible.
According to Bertrand Russell, political institutions are to be judged by
the good or harm that they do to individuals. What economic system should we
adopt that would not concentrate initiative in the hands of a small number of
very rich men and leave the rest very little choice as to their actions or
activities, or leave them to play the role of passive citizens who would not
have any initiative, despite their profession or trade. How do we involve our
people to participate in the political life of their country. Could we have a
democratic system which would allow divergence yet respect the difference in
opinion to accommodate the minority?
To quote Robert W. July, President Jawara had presided unobtrusively over an
improbable prosperity in Gambia. Were our leaders aware of that and did they
take cognizance of that state? There were relevant questions at the time
such as, could the African regain control over his/her own ways of life and
could he assert his independence as a human being, as a black person in what was
considered as the white dominated world.
Economically, what road would Gambia take considering the fact that the
imperialists system gives little room to other backward countries like ours to
develop? And even where we accept to tail them and become their neo-colonial
regimes, do we have a way out? These are all questions which must be thought of
by our independence leaders. Did they ponder over the fact that by the 1970s
the country had very few high schools, only one tertiary institution, The
Gambia College teacher training institute and very few graduates?
The population of The Gambia was small in size but abject poverty that robs
a person of conscience also abound, how could we eradicate human being’s
worse enemy, poverty?
The Gambia was mainly an agricultural country and mainly depended on
groundnut production for exports but the people also depended on subsistence farming
to grow just enough for themselves and their families. How could this cycle
be broken? Have our leaders pondered over this reality?
The colonialists built only about 50 miles of tarred roads from Banjul to
Brikama. From Brikama to Basse has been described by some writers, at the time,
as the dustiest road in West Africa. But the colonial regime left behind a
river boat the “Lady Wright” which ply between Banjul and Basse carrying
passengers and goods. Could that be sustained and developed to generate revenue
for the country etc? Cargo liners were also available to transport groundnuts
from the provinces to Banjul for onward export to Britain. Were we prepared
for independence psychologically now that we are free? Were we prepared to be
responsible solely for our affairs without looking up to big brother England
for every little national decision?
We have started with a democratic system of government and our objective was
to establish a democratic state that would accommodate each citizen to have
not only a say but to participate in the actual running of the country either
directly or indirectly.
The 1970 constitution emphasised that no one has a right to govern this
country without the concerns of the people. It also emphasised that those who
have our consent to govern this country are not our kings or masters or monarchs
but our servants. Did our leaders took heed to the fact that they have a
duty to serve us and we have a duty to scrutinize their service, and if we are
satisfied, we maintain them but if we are dissatisfied we remove them? The
democratic method is to remove them through the ballot or to replace them
through the same vehicle, the ballot. Have our leaders accepted that method? If
yes, have they created the right vehicle or level field and not the flawed one
that would make it impossible for the people to remove them through that
channel?
Have we worked hard enough to enlighten the people to know that in politics,
it is the Nation which is more important than the religion, or the language
or the tribe or the gender or our individual relations with one another? Do
we let every one know that each of us, irrespective of any other
considerations, contribute to the national treasury which is eventually utilized to
provide the roads, hospitals, schools etc for all of us. Do we know exactly why we
select representatives to the National Assembly, councils etc, and why we
select a president and the precise role of that president. These questions would
be examined in detail to ascertain whether the PPP under Sir Dawda Jawara who
took the mantle of a democratic Republic in 1970 has performed to
expectation or not.
12 YEAR OLD GIRL NEEDS HELP
By Amie Sanneh
A twelve year old girl, Ann Marie, residing in Ebo Town, has difficulty in
breathing since early infancy. She has not really been well all this period.
Ann Marie is said to be suffering from chronic respiratory difficulty, easy
fatigability, recurrent chest infections, growth failure, occasional squatting
and sudden syncopal episodes. A medical report from the Director of Health
Services confirmed these complications. Young Ann Marie is said to have been
admitted and managed for these conditions at the Serrekunda Health Centre on
several occasions.
She was seen at the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic of the RVTH” undernourished
with facial puttiness, a grade III digital clubbing with no pedal oedema or
cyanosis. The percordium was hyperactive, the apex beat was displaced to the
6th left intercostal space, there was an increased area of cardiac dullness
and there was a grade IV/VI systolic murmur accompanied by a thrill at the
mitral area. The other systematic examinations were unremarkable” stated the
medical report.
Given her deteriorating clinical condition, a medical board has been
convened to evaluate her current state of health. Today the Medical board on Ann
Marie has seen her undernourished, asthenic and shunted.
Her weight is 15 kg, which is about 40 per cent of that expected for her
age. Ann Marie’s height is 120cm being much below the 3rd centile for her age.
She is ill looking, distressed and unhappy. She has a grade III digital
clubbing, with a puffy face, with no pedal or sacral oedema; she is not clinically
pale or cyanosed. The pulse rate of Ann Marie is 121 beats per minute, which
is regular, of a good volume and non-collapsing; there is no radio radial or
radio-femoral delay. The apex beat is at the 6th left intercostal space at
the anterior axillary line.
On the basis of the findings on Ann Marie’s overall evaluation, it is likely
that she has a congenital structural cardiac defect including a mitral
stenosis with possibly other associated cardiac defects.
Given that extended facilities for further cardiovascular evaluation,
intervention paediatric cardiac reconstructive surgery are not readily available
within the sub-region.
Thus the medical board on Ann Marie recommends that she should proceed
overseas for a more extended evaluation such as cardiac catherization, etc, rexue
cardiac reconstructive surgery and other more definitive management as soon
as possible to prevent progression to irreversible complications and sudden
death.
Due to the expense and cost involve in the treatment of young Ann Marie, the
parents are calling on the general public to come to their aid. Any
individual or institutions who wish to assist this young girl can contact Foroyaa.
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