(JollofNews)- An estate developer in Senegal Friday donated two properties worth 240 million CFA to Gambia’s president Adama Barrow.
Mr Barrow who is currently on a state visit to neighbouring Senegal was given the gift by Mar Thiam, CEO of Getran, during a visit to the Getran site in Diamniadio.
He was accompanied to the site by the First Lady of Gambia and Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne.
Presenting the gift to the president, Mar Thiam, who took Barrow on a tour of the luxurious apartments he is building, explained that his action was taken with the aim of strengthening relations between Senegal and the Gambia.
He added that as an entrepreneur, the first markets he won were in the Gambia with Banjul International Airport and Arch 22 in Banjul.
He said the properties are donated in recognition of the trust of the Gambia people and in hope of a healthy collaboration between Senegal and the Gambia.
Receiving the gift, President Adama Barrow thanked Mr Thiam for his generosity. He also commended the Senegalese people and government for the hospitality accorded to him and his entourage.
PapaK
Gift?
The properties should be asaccepted for the country not as a gift for himself.
How much did he “GIFT” Jammeh for the Airport building and the Arch 22?? Sounds like bribery to me. Stinks.
You are right my friend,for the purpose of transparency that should be a national gift rather than personal, and i think President Barrow and his advisers should know better. Who give 240 million CFA for nothing? Scratch my back and i will in turn scratch yours days are over.
I guess the Gambian Constitution says it’s ok for a serving President to accept gift’s.
The gift could be a laveraged to secure future business deals in The Gambia.
The gift could be a leveraged to secure future business deals in The Gambia, is a lot of money.
Folks,
This is not right and something is really not right. Couple days gone by, President barrow wife was seen showering money to sick patients in an hospital.
WITHIN three days later, He himself the president barrow is also seen accepting gifts on a state
visit.
I m wondering wether the signs of things to came and the gifts parties in essence have just started.
For my friend Musa Manneh in USA. Thanks for yor writeup about corruption. lol the ink has not even started to dry.
What image is the new gambia ADMINISTRATION is showcasing????????????????
Jesus, Jesus,Jesus.
Grim reaper, it is very normal for presidents to accepts gifts. However the gift must be registered and catalogue in the states inventory. Personal gifts are often small value items. But even that must me declared and recorded. President Barrow cannot claim those properties as personal gifts because his visit to Senegal is in the name of Gambians and also no private individual will give a foreign head of state such expensive gift without expecting some favour in return. I will be very surprised if Mr Thiam would make such gifts to Macky Sall. The National Assembly should demand that Barrow handover the properties to the state on his return to Banjul. Call me cynical but this seems to me like Mr Thiam is trying to win support for his company to be award the contract for the construction of the Bridge linking Farafenni and Soma. If he is given the contract other companies should challenge it.
Talking about contracts, how come in the past everybody except Gambian companies are getting the major contracts to build your country, Gambians should be building the Gambia with pride, that’s one of the first septs to nation building, and keeping the wealth in the country.
Very sound analysis, Buba. I second your points noted in your commentary. The only thing I would add is for Barrow’s Admin to re-establish Major Tender Board where state contracts are bid by all interested parties and assigned based on best interest of the state. Jammeh basically squashed this entity leaving all decisions to himself and Amadou Samba. I’m positive that Barrow will have checks and balances for state contracts. I do not believe he will personally own this gift.
Similar take on this at https://sambagate.com/2017/03/03/cfa-240-million-gift-or-management-deposit/
It looks like “The Pay to play” scheme could still be inexistence in the new transparent government.
I think the gift to a president of a nation on a state visit should belong to the nation. Just saying; what do I know?
Mar Thiam the property developer publicly offering two apartments worth 120 million each to the Gambian President, Adama Barrow in the presence of Prime Minister Mahammad Dionne shows a concern for transparency.
The donation could be done in a secret way. All Gambians are informed and can have their opinions about this gift that is democracy
Before that, Iranians gave weapons to Yaya Jammeh of Secret Facon
The Times have changed
ETHNIC GROUP POLITICAL GYMNASTICS AND SUBTERFUGE HAS NO PLACE ON THIS ISSUE:
Daniel Fall, it may be difficult to Swallow the fact that the whole “Affair”, the apparent “Pay for Play” that took place in Dakar, Senegal encapsulates the Endemic Virus within Our Political System and Society. That is, the “Financially secured” or if you will, “the rich” or Businessmen buying Access to Politicians and the Politicians Salivating at the Opportunity for Self-enrichment at the EXPENSE OF THE GAMBIAN PEOPLE. Obviously, Not all Politicians are Cut from the same Corruption and Corruptive Practices Cloth (the examples that come to mind, Halifa Sallah, L.K. Jabang and OJ), but the prevalence and incidence of such Practices from our Politicians is a Cancer and an Embarasment to Not only the Gambia and Senegal, but Africa in general. To attempt to turn a Self-inflicted wound and an embarasment that was Witnessed in Senegal with the glaring light of day and with Cameras and Journalist in tow, into some False-Positive Narrative is indeed the Apex of Hypocracy, Cynicism, Naked and Blind Political Support Gymnastics. The “Three Amigos” were engaged in “Business as usual” Gambian, Senegalese and African Style”. Anything less, is Naked lies, Pandering and Avoidance of Truth Telling on your part. It would be a Betrayal of Trust and Responsibility for Adama Barrow to accept the Bribe for himself or the Country. Let the “businessman” Scoundrel Gift the Buildings and Land to the Gambia government in Writing by Transfering the Buildings and Land Deeds to the Gambia government as a demonstration of Unity and Brotherly love from a Senegalese to the Gambia and its people. Honor belongs to those who honor. Nothing is honorable in the matter and issue at hand. You should know better, and can do better. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One individual, One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.
Too early to draw conclusion but well informed points @Buba Sanyang. The practice in the past was “gifts” were for keeps. Both Jawara and Jammeh kept “gifts” received on state or official duties.
Will Barrow depart from that practice ? Time will tell but the publicization of the “gift” seems to suggest that he will.
If it is only a gift is ok. But is not ok if the gift is used as a leveraged to influence and secure future business deals in The Gambia
Bax, It is hoped that Barrow would do us Proud and Depart from the old Corrupt and Corruptive Practices. However, unless the Gambian Citizenry/People Agitate and hold Errant and Corrupt Government Officials Answerable to the Citizens and Not just Voters who may forgive a given Candidate (s) Wrong doing. There should be no Circumspection on MATTERS of this IMPORTANCE IMPORTANCE. MALFEASANCE is the Drain Pipe Siphoning Public Resources into Private Bank Accounts and Pockets at the EXPENSE OF THE GAMBIAN Poor, the Farmer, the Orphan, the Widow and Widower. Anti MALFEASANCE Laws and Enforceable Policies Need to be Enacted. We Need Independent OMBUDSMEN/WOMEN Who would Monitor and Act as an Oversight Independent Board or Committee to Police Public and Private Officials doing Business with the Government. We Need Independent Consumer, Employment, Financial and Judicial Review Oversight Boards and or Committee to Monitor and Investigate with Legal Authority to Hold Errant Public and Private Officials Accountable. Obviously, all these costs money. Therefore, Think-Tanks and Advocacy Organizations or Groups Should be Encouraged to be Established with Seed Money from the Government and then run on with Private Funding from individuals and businesses both within and outside of the Gambia. Above all, the GAMBIAN PEOPLE MUST BE VIGILANT AND TAKE THEIR CITIZENSHIP SERIOUSLY AND RESIST ANY ATTEMPT TO DENY ANY SEGMENT OF THE GAMBIAN PEOPLE’S INALIENABLE RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION OF 1997 and by Virtue of their Birth or Naturalization to Gambian Citizenship.
Good ! We can auction it off and put the money in the treasury
The bankrupt and corrupt thinking process of the regime’s apologist cannot pass the Smell Test of Corruption and Corruptive Practices. Stretching, Benfing, Jumping over Criting Fences and Contorting into PAINFULLY EMBARRASSING SHAPES WILL NOT DO. Reaching out and up for irrational and enabling justification (s) of, “what was good for the Goose is good for the the Gander” is laughable, except for the very significant difference that this Not a funny matter. Just because it’s reported cannot be assumed as a form of Accountability or Transparency with this Regime. It is a Function of the Due Diligence of the Media. The President was caught in a No win situation. The business as usual in Gambia, Senegal and Africa in general was at play for all to see. The businessman and indeed Adama Barrow, nor the Senegalese Minister saw anything wrong with this form of Corruption and Corruptive Practices and as such engaged in in it Openly. My worry is, what other ILLEGAL DEALS AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL BI- LATERAL AGREEMENTS AND OR TREAATIEES WERE SIGNED BETWEEN THE GAMBIA AND SENEGAL SINCE THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT CAME TO POWER TO THE PRESENT. All Gambian Citizens and Non- Partisan Patriots should be Concerned and Worried Enough About this and Demand the Government come Clean on this and many others UNILATERAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL Decisions and Policy Making. GAMBIA is more than the Sum Total of One individual, One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, and One Destiny.
Sidi, what are you smoking? Buba and I need some Brav!
Ha!ha!ha!, Dida you have crack me up. Sidi is a raving loony!
Buba Sanyang, Natty Dread, and Halake, Simmer down. Have a grip of yourselves and faculties. Do not allow your thin skinned nature consume you. Nothing personal, just telling it as is. “Any Jackass can kick down a barn yard, but it takes a carpenter to build it” (LBJ). I have a barn yard for you, but then again, No rational and thinking Person would let folk of your orientation and socialization near them. They say, birds of the same feathers flock together. Lead each other to the Abyss with your Echolocation of Nocturnal Dreams mistaken for a sense of direction. Farewell Brothers. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One, Individual, One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, and One Destiny.
Sidi Bojang
Sidi Bojang
Even Natty dread don’t get this stoned . Where do you get your shit bredda?
You sound stranger by the day. Wake up from your long stone state or you will be left behind in our new Gambia.
Babble, Babble Babble Sidi!
Buba Sanyang, Natty Dread, and Halake, Simmer down. Have a grip of yourselves and faculties. Do not allow your thin skinned nature consume you. Nothing personal, just telling it as is. “Any Jackass can kick down a barn yard, but it takes a carpenter to build it” (LBJ). I have a barn yard for you, but then again, No rational and thinking Person would let folk of your orientation and socialization near them. They say, birds of the same feathers flock together. Lead each other to the Abyss with your Echolocation of Nocturnal Dreams mistaken for a sense of direction. Farewell Brothers. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One, Individual, One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, and One Destiny.
Senegal got it !! Job done Macky and Paris will build all bridges that Senegal wanted , you can cross over the Gambia as you want .
No gifts period! Those Czarist and African tendencies should be relegated to the past whether well intended or for other veiled objects and purposes! Offering gifts to national leaders sets a dangerous precedence as was the case with the former PPP leadership where trucks loaded with free gifts of livestock followed leaders, on countrywide tours, back to Banjul. That amounted to pay for play then and still does today!! Or better still, donate the proceeds to a worthy charity for eternity.
In modern, refined society, gifts should not be accepted without second thought as nothing comes free anymore. If anything, monetary and other gifts accord originators of the gifts both name and facial recognition. Same as campaign contributions in the U.K. and the U.S. The larger the gift, the more welcome one is into the corridors of power.
In less endowed cultures and society, gifts can go a long, long way towards securing vested interests. That’s common common knowledge in Senegambia that’s taken hold in the TARIHA, WAA KEURR…….
@ Pjalo = I agree, this is exactly what i referred to…….vested interest. I don’t know what to conclude of the gift. Or may be is an invitation to test our opinion and encouraged dialogue on corruption—-LOL, just joking.
On this particular “GIFTS”, I suggest that they become part of The Gambian Embassy in Dakar property to accommodate Gambian Diplomatic staff. I am sure Gambia rents property for diplomats in Dakar – and this could ease the financial burden on the Embassy.
Buba Sanyang, Natty Dread, and Halake, Simmer down. Have a grip of yourselves and faculties. Do not allow your thin skinned nature consume you. Nothing personal, just telling it as is. “Any Jackass can kick down a barn yard, but it takes a carpenter to build it” (LBJ). I have a barn yard for you, but then again, No rational and thinking Person would let folk of your orientation and socialization near them. They say, birds of the same feathers flock together. Lead each other to the Abyss with your Echolocation of Nocturnal Dreams mistaken for a sense of direction. Farewell Brothers. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One, Individual, One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, and One Destiny.
Sidi Bojang
The village idiot is at it again with his incomprehensible old ”Skool” grammar. The petty confused analyst of our time, who is bitter because he didn’t get a plum job during the Kanilai fiefdom.
Natty, Sidi said he had attended a world class college and university we should never forget that lol!! Sidi I know the names Buba, Natty and Dida invokes a terrifying fear in you and that you have terrible nightmares about our words chasing you in circles smashing your frail old bones. If you think what you are getting from us is too hot for you to handle then I suggest you go back to your prestigious college and university and study some extra modules because Sidi, me, Natty and Dida have not even warmed up yet. We are functioning at freezing point. You can’t survive our intellectual onslaught when we are functioning above freezing point.