I wish to state upfront that my interest here is to ensure justice and the respect for the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights and freedoms in accordance with the rule of law. At the same time let me also state upfront that I totally and unreservedly condemn acts of arson, riot, vandalism, looting and indeed any acts of violence in expressing our grievances.
As a Republic each and every Gambian citizen is an embodiment of sovereignty in which all are equal before the law. Our law enforcement and justice delivery systems are founded on and guided by the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence and fair trial and equality before the law. Hence the case that we are faced with at the moment speaks directly to these issues that we must address if we wish to ensure a just, prosperous and peaceful society as enshrined in the preamble of the 1997 Constitution, and to ensure that anyone who breaks the law face the full force of law in the appropriate and legal manner.
Based on the foregoing, these are the concerns I have with the matter at hand in the interest of justice and the rule of law:
1. We know that sometime ago the late Ousman Darboe was arrested by the Anti-Crime Unit and detained and then released on bail after few days. Since his release his wife, friends and colleagues have reported that Ousman alleged to have been tortured. His wife indicated that her husband had felt bodily pain before his death. Hence there is strong allegation that Ousman was tortured causing his death.
For that matter it is necessary that a coroner’s inquest be held so as to determine the circumstances of Ousman’s death so that it would be clear if he died as a result of torture by officers of the Anti-Crime Unit or not.
Since his demise we have seen no effort or indication that there is a coroner’s inquest. Similarly, we have seen no indication that the President has appointed a Deputy Coroner as required by the Coroners Act under Section 3 subsection 2.
Therefore, as citizens we must demand for a coroner’s inquest. According to the Coroners Act the Coroner for Banjul City and Kanifing Municipality shall be a Magistrate of the first class. We ask, who is the Coroner in this case?
2. On 26th July 2019 the Ministry of Interior issued a press release on the death of Ousman Darboe and stated this. I quote. “Therefore, a Committee of independent investigators from all the security sectors has been constituted to thoroughly investigate and determine whether Mr. Darboe was tortured as alleged. Should the investigations reveal that he died as a result of torture, those implicated will face the full force of the Law.”
Since then, 38 days ago today we have not seen any update from the Ministry as to the composition of that committee, or whether the committee has started work or not or the availability of the findings of that committee to date. Why is that the case?
We therefore demand that the Ministry immediately tell Gambians who are the members of that committee; when did they start work and have they completed their work or shared with the citizens the findings and recommendations of that investigation and what actions the Ministry has taken so far to ensure accountability.
We cannot and must not allow the Police to only focus on the protest of July 24 during which some houses were put on fire, yet the Police and the Government fail to act on the incidents that gave rise to that protest in the first place. Much as we need to bring arsonists to book at the same time there must also be justice for Ousman Darboe. One cannot take place at the expense of the other. We need just for both at the same time.
3. Given the foregoing, transparency and accountability in line with the rule of law should have guided the IGP and the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General to exercise his wisdom and discretion by waiting until both the Coroner’s Inquest and the Ministry of Interior’s investigation were completed first before arresting and charging youths for an alleged crime that happened as a result of the arrest, detention and alleged torture of Ousman Darboe. In light of the foregoing I wish to demand that the IGP and the Attorney General to withdraw charges against these youths.
4. Since the July 24 protests in Serre Kunda we did not see neither the Police nor the Ministry of Interior issue any public statement that they will conduct an investigation into the burning down of Officer Gorgui Mboob’s house. Hence how come the Police went ahead to arrest a group of youths for that case when no such investigation was conducted to the knowledge of the general public?
But the Interior Ministry did announce that they will investigate the death of Ousman Darboe but then we are yet to see any investigation report nor any arrests for that incident. Why?
5. We saw that the IGP took the arrested youths before a magistrate’s court for a crime that carries life imprisonment, i.e. arson which is a crime that is triable only at the High Court. Therefore, I demand that the IGP explain why this matter was taken before a magistrate’s court which has no jurisdiction whatsoever to try such a crime! Indeed, by taking this matter before such a court means a direct violation of the rights of these youths.
6. For that matter the Chief Justice must act to review the remand order of the magistrate who by all indication did not take the plea of the accused persons that she did not have jurisdiction. The Chief Justice, as a superior judge has supervisory powers over lower courts. He should have ordered the magistrate to vary her order to free these youths on bail until the matter is mentioned in the proper court. On the other hand, the Chief Justice could have also changed the decision by himself or ask any High Court judge to do so. Therefore, why has the Chief Justice failed to do so?
7. From information I have on this matter some of these arrested youths were never present when Gorgui Mboob’s house was burnt down or Bakoteh police station was ransacked. A lady who approached me gave all indications that her husband was at home on that fateful day with her when the protest was unfolding.
On that fateful day and the day after her husband did not go to work at Serre Kunda market because she was sick, and her husband was taking care of her. Today he is at Mile 2. Therefore, I demand that a proper investigation be conducted so as to ensure that no one is unjustly punished.
8. On the particular case of Killa Ace there is more than enough public evidence that he was never present at Gorgui Mboob’s house nor at Bakoteh police station at any time on July 24. His many videos on that day attested to this fact. All that we saw was his vocal stance for accountability for police brutality and the protection of human rights. Therefore, how come Killa Ace is charged with such a capital offence as arson?
9. We also know that the Serre Kunda protest was a spontaneous action triggered by the death of Ousman Darboe for being allegedly tortured by the Anti-Crime Unit. Hence it is utterly surprising to see that the police have arrested only 36 youths and charge them with unlawful assembly as if these were the only youths who took part in that protest. Why arrest only 36 people and not the rest of the hundreds of other people who also took part in the same assembly?
10. Above all, why would any Gambian be charged with ‘unlawful assembly ever again in this country – a practice we saw employed by the Dictatorship to deny Gambians from holding the State accountable? In 2018 the Minister of Justice said in a public forum at the University of the Gambia Law Faculty that his Ministry will not enforce such provisions in the obnoxious Public Order Act just to ensure that fundamental rights and freedoms are respected and protected. In his Manifesto Candidate Adama Barrow said upon winning the elections he will repeal the Public Order Act within six months just to enhance democracy, human rights and popular participation. Therefore, why is the Government still using this same Public Order Act to charge citizens with unlawful assembly?
Fellow Gambians, I want us all to realise that what has happened in this case is a typical malpractice we saw happening all the time under the Dictatorship. The system continues until today unabated and this is unacceptable. Therefore, I wish to call on all Gambians to demand that the State, especially our law enforcement and justice delivery systems respect and abide by the rule of law to protect human rights and safeguard the peace and stability of this country.
We must not allow the police to destroy the lives and future of our youth by imposing trumped up charges against them. I do not support and will never encourage arson, looting, vandalism and riot in any way and for any reason. However, I will not also stand by to watch the lives of young citizens being damaged by the State just like that. We expect the Gambia Government to respect and protect our lives, property and liberty.
In that crusade we shall give all necessary support and honour to our law enforcement. Therefore, we demand that the Gambia Police Force and the entire State abide by the rule of law at all times in maintaining law and order. This is what will ensure peace and security in our country and also make our citizens to have the necessary trust and confidence in our law enforcement and justice delivery institutions. Therefore, I demand the IGP and the Attorney General review this case all over again to ensure that no human right is violated while making sure justice prevails.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Madi Jobarteh delivered this statement during a press conference by Team GomsaBopa on the Arrest of 36 Youths – 2 September 2019 – TANGO Conference Hall
Our justice delivery system is a shamble because of the existence of a class structure that emerges immediately after the battle for self determination have been won. A class system that feeds on itself, divided into the haves, the have-nots and the wretched have-nots. Justice and peace cannot prevail in the midst of wanton corruption, mal administration, poor executive and legislative leadership.
The GPF since its coming into being, has been weaponized to keep a tab on the exercise of democratic rights by none other than the bourgeoisie elite class. Let’s break this down. Hypothetically speaking, nearly all the arrested thirty seven youth including KIlla Ace, find themselves at the bottom rung of the food chain that the state regulates. These youths have no access to per diems, building loans, family and rent allowances etc as accorded to all the top government functionaries, young and old. By the same token, scholarships, education programs and intervention mechanism are exclusively reserved for the children of the functionaries mentioned earlier.
To keep a long analysis short, who in his or her right mind will incarcerate such a vulnerable group of people for societal ills created by those on top of the consumption ladder? These decadent upper class makes me sick to my stomach. December shall see the dismantling of their unjust privileges.
Now there is no reason to build a new prison. We witness the arbitrary violence perpetrated by the police in transporting Ace and his fellows from the court house to the hell holes of the Mile-2 dungeon.
Didn’t Adama and his government promise they were going to build a new prison? Well they can keep it filthy, for they will soon have enough nemesis to put behind bars. The new slogan of the gang called government is “break down the will” of the people, especially the youth, not to demand the toppling of the dimwits occupying our state house.
When Mai Fatty visited the state central prisons a few days after the departure of Yaya, he also promised to rehabilitate the penitentiary to make fit to transform inmates instead of subjecting fellow citizens to archaic conditions of punishment. He is now the top most adviser to the sleeping lazy president. And nothing has changed!
Kick! Them! Out!
Police in such cases would waste no time in giving press conferences on developments pertaining to investigations. Even an 18 century fire department should know where, how and when a household fire started. I mean, provided they have enough water in time and their tanks are not pulled on donkey carts.
Were inflammables used in the ‘arson’? Where were the residents at the time? Do they have evidence an individual or individuals amongst the demonstrators actually caused the fire from outside? If No, what are the investigators’ suspicions? Is it possible that frightened residents have left a messy kitchen too flee leaving on unattended flames to catch from inside? Even @Bax might have asked himself similar questions too!
However, that was a horrible incident to say the least, and hopefully the police boss will get abundant cash for damages and renovations. From a standard Gambian urban house >> a castle.
By the way, I am not at all versed in legal issues but it is seen clearly ridiculous arresting innocent youths much more imprisoning them for such charges without evidences. In fact I happen to come across the same young man Killa Ace in another issue where he was barred from crossing the Senegalese border to catch a flight in Dakar for an important international conference. I can’t be more upset when I read that news. Now one can see for themselves where all that was coming from for the innocent artist.
Stop premeditated kidnapping of the youth in trying to corrupt them and to overshadow there futures in the name of the rule of law. Free the musician and the 36 young men without delay. Otherwise will be denying due process and inflicting psychological and bodily pain on innocent people or in other words torture.
However, like the author Madi would like to urge all demonstrators out for good to refrain themselves from disorderly and unruly acts and behaviors, I can’t do other but reiterated the same too. Arson attacks are a good turf for corrupt governments’ methods. Such incidents would be quite an opportunity for an unscrupulous administration to lean on, when claiming to have spent all taxpayer’s money – in budgets presentations.
I would humbly like to thank demonstrators in my name too and would like to urge them to keep it up sensible and matured as we know since 2016. Be all kindly urged to refrain from unnecessary anger and be watchful of trouble making individuals in your midst. Such individuals would sink in the midst of peaceful demonstrators with their ulterior evil motives!
I think Adama Barrow made a serious mistake when he affirmed that he would never intervene in the due process of the law especially cases that are in the courts. Any sinister law enforcement officer in the upper echelon of power in the police will grab this opportunity to settle old scores directly or on behalf of their colleagues. The burning of Gorgui Mboob’s compound still lives many of his colleagues reeling in anger. The arrests of such a large number of youths including Killa ace is nothing but a high-profile vendetta aimed at sabotaging the government of Adama Barrow whose hands are tied as he has already vowed not to be interfering in due process. This is good political music to the ears of UDP members and their leader who are bent on bringing down the Barrow government by hook or by crook. All the noise about 3 year jotna , the illegal arrests and political uprisings are designed to precipitate a crisis in the country. I agree with Jack that Killa ace has been targeted in the past by the police with ridiculous allegations even causing him to miss his flight from Dakar. For Barrow to keep avoiding to intervene in some of the flawed cases manufactured to cause damage to his rule, he must start addressing these issues personally by sacking the IGP and ordering the release of these innocent young people who pose mo threat to the security of this country
The charges against them do not fit the crime.
If people can’t take responsibility they blame others.
Barrow knew exactly that Killer Ace’s offence is not commensurate to the treatment being meted out to him. The buck stop at his desk. Failure or rather incompetence to act is no excuse.
UDP is consistent with its approach to Barrow. He didn’t fall from the sky. He was a UDP and after becoming president decided to turn against the party.
UDP approach to barrow is that of fostering and letting him & Dou Sanno establish their own party.
And Alex . I encourage you to help Barrow register his own Political Party so that he test the ground come 2021.
We have no reason to create chaos in the country.
My hope and prayer is that we develop strong institutions.
For our Republic to be strong, prosperous and righteous we need clear demarcation of powers. Separate but Equal.
1. The Executive
2. The Judiciary
3. The NA
The AG and Minister of Justice is in charge of the Police and Prosecutors. His office should take responsibility and give direction and leadership in these matters. This is not to say the President does not have certain responsibility here. He should speak with clarity about the injustice meted on these youths. But he should not interfere. It is a slippery slope to do so.
Now, what Barrow needs to do is this. That is, if he is serious.
1. Understand you do not have a professional police force.
2. Understand you need a competent and independent Ministry of Justice.
Begin the process of dismantling and rebuilding these two entities in the interest of peace and stability.
God guide us.
Well! I think he is seriously working on that but the road for him is full of landmines. We have to understand the difficult circumstances that Barrow found himself. The presidency came to him, unlike other politicians who had been fighting their battles for years. Barrow now found himself with little friends he can trust. For me, having spent a lot of time living in fear i find the calmness of Barrow as assuring. I may not be concerned too much about his shortcomings my main concern is the air of peace and tranquility we are now having. Those fake supporters will eventually be eliminated through their own dishonesty . If Barrow is aware of the conspirators surrounding him he should be purging his team regularly until he can come up with the right support.
Let me hasten to add (Kinteh/Kemo, Dr. Isatou Sarr) that you are right, the Attorney general and minister of justice should step up and take up his responsibilities. As the legal Adviser to government, the police cannot take any case to court without the advice of the ministry of justice. This should provide the check on the police not to abuse their roles as law enforcement officials
It is too late for barrow to turn things around. In politics as in real life you don’t ditch old comrades for new false relatives like Seedy NJIE.
So barrow will probably spend his whole term in looking for trusted disciples.
The prospect is slim. Because he may have the public treasure at his disposal to squander but he lacks the stick to force loyalty!
Charisma and to inspire are commodities barrow will need in quantities!
I think the nickname “ Jangfala” and “ Saamuta Balo” will stick around him for a while.
I trust you Alex to help him galvanize his new movement /party.
By the way, when did you know Barrow prior to his presidency and in which circumstances?
To be honest I don’t know much about him. But he filled in a void when many were scared to take on the dictator. At the time we were more concerned with getting rid of the dictator than subjecting Barrow to rigorous background checks assessing his suitability for the highest position of leadership in the country. Over time he is not doing bad. I wish I can be of good help to him. My first advice would be to get rid of all those sycophants surrounding him and look for seasoned technocrats who will put Gambia first. I hate to mention Jammeh here, but he was smart to get people like the late Tapha Wadda , Able Sallah etc. to help him build up a functional civil service whether they did a good job of that is subject to conjecture. But at least he was able to learn a lot from them. It’s now up to Barrow to break away from these good-for-nothing opportunists.
Then good luck and I hope he find you!
And by the way come to or tune into UDP-GASH ( Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Holland) section Gala event in Hamburg on the 7th September- this coming Saturday.
It would be a chance to see a grassroot party in action.
Alex, to be honest I’m not impressed with most of those chess politics folk are playing out there; moves to capture a public seat to raise self status rather than towards material politics that would prove to be progress in the lives of the masses.
Something was not right with Barrow since disregarding the promise in the MOU – that he Barrow the flag bearer, will serve only the transition period and step down. Albeit that document betrayed by founders, one would think he’s going to make a smart gesture by upholding his promise to step down after the 3yrs jotna, at least for the sake of him being and independent! Sir Dawda had found it very difficult because there was not that right set of human resource around him. However, among the generation lucky to get there basic education during his leadership, indisputably exists riches in human resource who I think can work magic for the country in terms of human development and infrastructure, and also help bring about a viable democracy and an enlightened and progressive political process. I’m sure a lot of desperate youths are very anxious about getting the right people out there to run the government. I guess we all need those honest, qualified and hard working people whom without doubt seem to be in abundance in there anonymities and published-selves. What would you expected around a crook like Barrow? My answer would be sycophants, hypocrites and maggots. This transition is the momentum to restore the democracy and give it back a real good start all over again. To me is not much a worry what a political entity gains or looses in Barrow’s resignation. What some anticipated for is his resignation and a fresh general elections were minorities and majoritied can work together in the same government with different national development agendas. For whatever I should be sitting at the NA for if I can’t get my electorate’s tax monies back to them as employment and services. Alex, don’t waste your time on Barrow. Unpredictable freaks and liars are not a fix right now. Let’s careless if fithole countrys’ presidents lie, freak out and grab everything and get away with all. We want a role model Gambia where youths will not make perilous journeys to reach mirages of greener pasture? I thought we are portraying a Gambia were people will be employed and be able to provide food, solid shelters, proper healthcare, material education and etc. for themselves. Mr. Alex, Barrow and his band of vandals obviously lack the required education, the honesty and the enlightenment to fit in a Dream Gambia Portrait. Barrow and his vandal will stop us from dreaming all together again and that will be more than a calamity if you’ll guess.
Jack, We agree on one thing- Barrow is a transitional president and our nation’s future is uncertain and full of many unknowns. We don’t know whether the person to replace Barrow will not end up being worse than him. We equally don’t know what will happen to our fragile economy and all the reforms going on including the electoral reform. Are we going to risk all these uncertainties just because we want a different, unelected, untested person to replace Barrow. Our nation is a work-in-progress, we have gone through numerous imposes in the past and really scared about our country post 2019. Who will be in charge if Barrow decides to leave?
@Kemo (Kinteh): why use the coat of arms of The Gambia on the flyer advertising the UDP GASH gala fund raising?
Our constitution is very clear on the use of this state emblem.
…….a grassroots party in action.
What’s going to be the difference this time around? Asobi, the food, the music? Or there will finally be an eloquent laying out of policies and programs that has the potential to usher in economic prosperity for all Gambians?
I suspect it will be the usual fanfare with lots of…..nbé moolu bé kontongna aning íla kata kuwolula.
I can’t, but begin with this quote from the writer:
“As a Republic each and every Gambian citizen is an embodiment of sovereignty in which all are equal before the law.”
I have chosen to start with the above quotation because I want it to be recognised that Gambians, as far as I am aware (though I may be wrong), DID NOT talk like this before 1986. Access as many political speeches of post independent Gambia before 1986 as you would like, and you will struggle to find talk like this. The reason for this change is ofcourse, PDOIS, the party that has put sovereignty of the people as a central subject of their political messaging and we are reaping the benefits.
This is a clear testimony that PDOIS’ influence and impact on the nation is second to no opposition parties. Well done PDOIS, the ONLY party with the right strategies to institute REAL (not cosmetic) changes that can transform our society for the good of all.
Evidence of this fact is further established by the position of Hon. Halifa Sallah, delivered in an emotional address to the congregation at late Ousman Darboe’s burial. Though the news clip I watched featured only a small part of the address, the message was clear and powerful.
Honestly, love him or hate him, Hon. Halifa Sallah is a class above every political leader seeking to lead in The Gambia today and how Gambians can fail to give their mandate to the best there is to choose from is baffling.
I heard Mr 7 generation (UDP Leader who once boasted he can trace his ancestry in Gambia 7 generations back; a clear insinuation that he is more Gambian than the rest of us) talking about establishing an agriculture bank to help our farmers. Seriously, did he read his party’s manifesto? It’s working with commercial banks to secure credits for farmers ( or something like that) which they are committed to; not establishing an agriculture bank.
Their spokesperson, Mr Fanding Taal, was also recently interviewed and when quizzed about POLICIES, he talked about using sovereign wealth (He actually said “sovereign wealth”) to establish public corporations for job and wealth creation. I had to check if he had defected to PDOIS. (Lol)
Isn’t this the same people that praised PPP’s ERP: an austerity programme which sold (privatised) the profitable public corporations and abandoned those they couldn’t sell, a success story?
What a confused bunch of wannabes! Gambian voters would steer clear of these lot, if we know what we want. They are CLUELESS.
Alex, please don’t try to convince anyone the country would be at risks sending by Barrow home at the end of the ‘3yrs’ transition. Are you seriously in doubt that Gambia’s got an abundance of honest, qualified, aware and hard working people with clean hands to do 20 folds better than Barrow and his aFprc bunch. They should step down and let way for Gambia’s assets in human resource be exploited. I think we all need to be confident that Barrow’s stepping down would be quite a remarkable milestone in the country’s democratization and developments process. I can bet majority of people in the present administration in Banjul don’t have a clue what what gathering statistical information means or why important. We don’t even know our exact population much less to say the unemployment rate. An uneducated and dishonest vous like Barrow’s don’t know what “development” even looks like. Man, the guy is a terrible choke in the throat who will be burped out without difficulty. No referendum and no resignation in six months time, means a recipe for unrest and that won’t happen. Ecomig will show him the way in case he may need them.
Mwalimu,
the use of Gambia coats of arm is open to all…more so a democratically constituted Party. UDP Control 6 out of 7 local gov’t administrative councils in the country and is a Stakeholder in the NA.
The UDP-GASH event in Hamburg will be forthright and shall be about the issues. Darboe will have a platform to answer pertinent questions. Questions on issues affecting Gambians and will be a frank discussion about the sustainability of UDP as a political party in the years to come.
@Kinteh.
Can you ask Uncle the following questions? I will like to know What, How and Funding source.
1. Job creation.
2. Insecurity.
3. Armed forces
4. Corruption.
5. Infrastructure
6. Education.
Thank you.
God Bless The Gambia.
Noted. Constructive questions!
Jack, is there going to be any problem leaving Barrow to see his mandated 5-year term through? I see no urgency to change the status quo now. The guy may be clueless, uneducated and lack the gravitas to lead this nation; but he is what we have right now. Let’s try and make the best of an undesirable situation. There are people still loyal to Yaya Jammeh in the civil service, security sectors and the police stirring troubles. I prefer Barrow to serve two more years than to go the slippery road of ‘had I known’. I am just being practical. If Barrow is so unpopular as we are made to believe, so let us wait for him at the polls and vote him out. That would be real democracy in action.
Yes Alex, I think there will be a problem in Barrow serving 5yrs you referred to as ‘mandate’. It will have us go through another sticky clueless dumbo leadership for another 20yrs or more. If that’s never your will, then help to shed an enlightened thought in Barrow and his band of crooks’ thinking capacities now before it will be late.
In another Gambia online news, I saw a publication purportedly to be a schedule of the OTYJ protest plan. The plan aims to call police, nurses, teachers an all to go AWOL. I think in that 8 or so weeks protests schedule, even violence to some extent I would say, was incited. Such a publication I’d be surprised didn’t come from the Barrow vous. It looks like some Homer took it into his head to write some junk in Fatunews whatever, thinking some featherbrain will suck on that. I hope the OTYJ clear the air on that publication, purportedly an OTYJ weeks long Protest Events Schedule, that literally was calling for unrest and chaos.
In reality, I think different people of different walks sympathize with the OTYJ as well the authenticity and the constitutionality of the coalition MOU, and that it has nothing to do with a specific coalition partner’s political ambitions or interests.
Sanity in the country’s new political and so-called democratic dispensation in my opinion, would be when the obligation on the same coalition partners to consult there electorate and then meet on the transition issue, and make public, the outcome of their meeting. That is to say; we told Barrow – to respect the honorable coalition’s MOU and step down. Or tell him, – hang on dude, this is Gambia, all we don’t want is a ruthless killer. The rest is here to stay! Why not? Underdevelopment; no industries, unaffordable cost of living, dumb leadership, no ‘highways’, no agricultural techniques, no proper healthcare, muddy flooded streets and mounding trash are all an indication of how less Gambia contribute towards global warming. If we lack all the foresaid, then that means we’ll at least be a help more in protecting nature.
Man, some would think others are disgruntled or may not even be Gambians. How sad to see too, there are still Gambians out there doubting the citizenships of others but totally clear they didn’t care a bit what those peoples views and opinions point at. However, I wouldn’t be here all the while if I were not learning from folks’ point of views.
@Kinteh (Kemo),
that assertion is contrary to what obtains.
Section 2 of the Constitution states “The Public Seal shall be used exclusively for authenticating matters of state and no person or organisation, other than the Government of The Gambia and those persons who may be authorised in accordance with an Act of the National assembly, may use the design of the seal or any design resembling it as such person’s or organisation’s emblem.”
The United Democratic Party should pay attention to such follies. No single political party is the state. The regional councils should have their own coat of arms. The “biggest” party is seemingly not dexter enough to distinguish itself from the Gambian state. That’s a travesty of political fair play and wanton disregard for the sacred document of the land.
To be a stakeholder in the nation assembly is no grounds to abuse the rules and regulations of political engagement.
Gambia, I dare say, is in some serious trouble because of two very clear maladies. Will the UDP help in curing those or will it continue to be part of the vector to those maladies? Am not at all optimistic.
Yours in the service of The Gambia and Afrikka, I remain.
The UDP is the offshoot of the failed PPP and NCP. The PPP, most tribalist party that couldn’t raise The Gambia from underdevelopment since its inception in 1959.
We all witnessed the corrupt, authoritative and tribalist behaviour of Ousainou Darboe as Minister and VP. He appointed unqualified and in some embassies(Washington), illiterates. Simply because they were UDP supporters.
How can one think of making such a CORRUPT person head of an administration?
My blame lies on the learned people(especially in the diaspora) who haven’t learnt from good personalities and good governancein their countries of residence.
Ousainou was listed among tax evaders. Such an insincere corrupt person would never vie for public office here in Holland. But I see ‘learned’ people jostling behind the dirtiest political figure the Gambia has ever had. I wonder if their support is not on tribal sentiments or opportunist egocentric inclinations. Not for the love of The Gambia, anyway.
Come on Babu Soli, are you just being critical of ex-FM Darboe’s appointments or he did actually appoint illiterates into the US Mission?
Also Babu, are you sure about the tax evasion allegation? I thought the commission found him culpable for under payment of tax.
I think there’s a difference between paying less tax than what is actually due and tax evasion. One may be due to an honest error, stemming from complexity of the tax system, whilst the other is calculated and deliberate to defraud the taxman.
@ Kemo (Kinteh),
I was hoping you will offer a rebuttal of the unconstitutionality of that action of a branch of the UDP. I’ve heard they are taking ten euros for entrance and selling Asobis to generate funds for party activities. I pray the same effort will be accorded to educating the attendees on their duties and rights in the political evolution of our country.
As always, in service I remain.
Alex states (sic),
“Jack, We agree on one thing- Barrow is a transitional president and our nation’s future is uncertain and full of many unknowns. We don’t know whether the person to replace Barrow will not end up being worse than him. We equally don’t know what will happen to our fragile economy and all the reforms going on including the electoral reform. Are we going to risk all these uncertainties just because we want a different, unelected, untested person to replace Barrow. Our nation is a work-in-progress, we have gone through numerous imposes in the past and really scared about our country post 2019. Who will be in charge if Barrow decides to leave”?
Let me share with you Alex together with the subscribers to this medium that,
Votes were never cast for Adama Barrow but the resistance that was in place at the time. Call it the movement to remove Yaya Jammeh!
Barrow represents pure happenstance on our hands. Thanks to Ousainou Darboe and the UDP that that have shown a penchant for embracing mediocrity at each turn!
The subject of “Three Years Jotna” is not about conjecture but putting our God given good heads in the proper place and trajectory. It’s also about doing the right thing for our dear nation.
So the insinuation that The Gambia will be dealing with uncertainty in the event of Barrow’s departure doesn’t hold water. Far from it. Barrow is equally untried, untested and seems not to have his wits about him.
He hasn’t lived up to muster either in the time period between 2017 to date. Leading one to surmise that anyone else with a credible college degree would do better that Barrow at putting together a leadership team that befits our circumstances.
Look folks, do we see the outlines of a foundation that points to the potential for delivery from this government? It’s been one blunder after the other from 2017.
BARROW KAGN, WOH NANU!! It’s become abundantly clear that there’s not much to take to the bank with the fellow!! The same can be said of the team(s) that he’s surrounded himself with.
Indeed Isatou Touray and Ousainou Darbo do not offer viable alternatives either!
@Andrew. Clarification please. What does having a credible degree have to do with competence and just leadership.
Remember the men and women that propelled the world into the tech age, Gates etc were college drop outs. I am not advocating that young people drop out of school. Just wondering your thoughts.
Good leadership doesn’t necessarily come with college credentials but under our circumstances (in Africa), it can be used as a good measure of potential.
Understanding the inner workings of a college classroom certainly does help with imbibing, digesting and articulating intricate matters of national development. Imparting a certain level of refinement and eye openers that is. Think street smarts too which Barrow doesn’t appear to have as a strength.
We certainly don’t need empty bags at the helm in The Gambia!
A man with several PhD ran his country to the ground. The VP of the first/second economy in Africa is a brilliant graduate of LSE and Harvard. You need not look far to see the mess they made of Nigeria. Educated men and women and illiterates have both made a complete mockery of governance on the continent. It is obvious that level of education is not the reason for our poor performance.
Africans are CROOKS and we are wicked. We love to see our own suffer. We take particular delight in murdering our own.
I will also boldly say that almost ALL the ‘ experts’ and do gooders on this platform will steal and kill given the opportunity to be president. They mostly say things we all know they will not do. One certainty is that they will improve their lives and the lives of those around them by grand theft and robbery.
So this is my litmus:
1. Honor
2. Love of God and country
3. Humility to surround self with competent lieutenants.
4. Honesty.
5. Simplicity
6. Hard work and Dedication
7. Pragmatism.
8. Vision.
9. Courage, and
10. A man or woman who truly does not want to be or stay President.
Africans against Africans, the neocolonialist and imperialist method of undermining and ruining our development and total independence.
The Obamas, Blairs, Sarkozys, Bushes, the NATO, the UN Security Council, the G-7 ….who create neocolonialists among our midst to taint, destroy our Kwamehs, Lumumbas, Sankaras, Babili Mansas, Ghadafis, Mugabes are still alive in the West with their watchful imperialist eyes on our quest for total emancipation. They are happy with the Tommy Boys in power, the USELESS lot of Barrows, Macky Salls, Outarras, Keitas, Buharis to safeguard their grip on our living.
The difference between Mandela and Mugabe
1) Mandela was jailed for 27 years for saying NO to white supremacy and oppression
2) Mugabe fought a 14-year bush war(guerrilla warfare) against the British Rhodesian colonialists and oppressors
3) Mandela maintained the statusquo, the white South Africans remained at the helm of virtually all the institutions earning Mandela the Madiba and Nobel Peace prize(in partnership with de Klerk
4) Mugabe returned all the white-owned(stolen)lands to their original black owners earning him Western hatred, blockade and all forms of sanctions and embargos.
You either give your sovereignty back to them, or they create neocoloniaist henchmen among your own people to topple your Pan-Africanist ideals.
How can we progress if our ‘learned’ fools are recruited against our own Pan Africanist leaders?
My total disgust at the negative reactionary comments proferred on one of Africa’s illustruous sons, the late Robert Mugabe who passed away yesterday at 95. May his soul rest in peace!
Unfortunately, Mugabe destroyed his legacy by turning against the same freedoms he fought for his people. Nonetheless, he is an African hero and a founding father of the nation of Zimbabwe and should be remembered as such.
May he rest in peace.
Dr. Sarr, a college degree?! An absolutely imperative criterion especially when there seem to be an abundance of honest hard working PhD holders.
Innovators and inventors of this tech age often were never regular neither punctual nerds. They are usually keen, curious and naturally talented people. ‘The problem is the government’, if I may distort the popular jargon, will say; if politicians in the Gambia can’t solve the ‘government problem’, how in heaven then will the government ever find solutions to the masses’ (electorate) problems? Where were you you were where; is not the type of criterion awaited of full term presidents.
Oh, I see Dr! You talk like you took a big chunk off the cake and done with it. I admire you candidness but please watch your diet!
Don’t put ‘poopy mansa’ in that line of greats neither show disrespect for Muhammadu Buhari. Muhammadu sends metal birds from a metal bird carrier off the coast for stubborn neo colonialists wolves in sheep clothing bent on killing citizen to stick in sticking to power. Buhari’s legacy is already flaming bright! If he were president in a small country like the Gambia the past ten years, Gambia would have been the envy of the whole region.
Bourne, that’s conspiracy. I’ve advised you to remain in your violet suit. This is impersonification! This is an unacceptable behavior!!
Why don’t we have a government school where any aspiring politician must go through a leadership syllabus owhich entails constitutional interpretation, ethical leadership, democracy and rule of law, and managing public economic resources to raise the standards of living of the people. This way the uneducated will find it difficult to use politics as a short cut to personal enrichment.
Bourne,
You must be crazy to say that Buhari did/is doing well for Nigeria. A man who couldn’t solve his Boko Haram insurgency, remove oil rich Nigeria from the list of the world’s poorest countries after serving three terms. Come on!
The impoverished tiny Gambia with no military muscle is prey to Nigeria which is still sieged by Boko Haram, prey to Senegal whose citizens were once butchered by the Mauritanians and soldiers raided at the border by the Guinea Bissau forces. They could only fledge their muscles at us but couldn’t solve their internal turmoils.
Buhari, the most corrupt leader, who couldn’t be treated in his horrendous hospitals but had to be flown to the UK.
PMB is useless. Agreed. Except for when he kicked the a..s of one ugly buffoon called Yahya Jammeh. I remember how scared YJ was when he was confronted with PMB’s reality. You stay, you die. True to form like a coward. Jammeh fled. No slaying of Dragons. Man to Man. He ran away.
Most Gambians have no clue about the political history of Africa. No person, excluding special interest groups and crooks have confidence in PMB. But that’s not my problem.
My problem is how do Gambians fix our country when Gambians still run around singing the praise of a demented disgusting miserable mistake like Jammeh.
My problem is how do you explain to Gambians that the reason we ALL continue to FLEE is because WE have deliberately destroyed the beautiful piece of real estate God gave us, by greed and incompetence.
My problem is how do you explain to Gambians that we have a collective problem. Mutual destruction.
1. Crooked Leaders.
2. Crooked Followers
3. ALL blaming someone else for their crooked ways.
Makes me SICK.
Babu I’m not crazy. Boko Haram and Yayah are more or less the same breed. Their differences are that, the former are one mischievous and cowardly creepy hard target whilst the latter, a sniffy brutal easy lump of target.
I was not reminiscing on what Nigeria could have done during that unfortunate Sene/Maurit racially politically motivated barbarity but, why PMB is a golden class among past and present leaders of Africa. The first democratically elected African president of Nigeria to have fought this much to recover a lot of embezzled Nigerian wealth from international money laundering corporates.
Don’t blame PMB, blame the psyche of slick embezzlionare ogas and corrupt dictators. In Nigeria, like most African countries, advocates for probity and honesty would be very likely seen as curses in the society. That set of thought of a self denier African, is what holds back leaders like PMB. If I were him during that crucial time and state of his health, I wouldv gone faraway to England for treatment too, lest someone tries to put something toxic on my chair’s armrest. Hey Babu, mischief is bubbles there right now. Abe ye koriteti, mna mna moribara politique, fugari sunãrilawun!!
Boko Haram? All is not what it seems with that group. Let me tell you something about Boko Haram.
In 2012, the Nigerian Tribune reported that Boko Haram receives funding from different groups and two of these were mentioned: The Al-muntada Trust Fund with headquarters in UK and the Islamic World Society of Saudi Arabia. A simple Google search reveals that Al-mutanda trust Fund is actually headquartered in Fulham, London.
In an Aljazeera interview with Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud (head of AQIM: Algerian branch of Al-Qaida) in 2010, he confirmed that they (and other groups in Algeria) provide weapons to Boko Haram to supposedly defend Muslims in that country.
It is highly documented that AQIM is directly linked to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) and its members have fought alongside LIFG fighters in Libya. Now here’s the interested bit: LIFG has directly received arms and logistical support from NATO alliance during the Libyan conflict to depose Ghadaffi. So, you add the dots.
In Nigeria itself, officials have often doubted Western and US commitment to assisting in the fight against Boko Haram, as their public pronouncements are often either contradictory or at variance with their official actions. The US, in particular, has consistently refused to sell heavy weapons to Nigeria for use against Boko Haram and has intervened to prevent its allies, like Israel, from doing the same, often on the pretext of concerns for human rights violations by the Nigerian Army, though no such concerns deter heavy weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Monarchies, some of the biggest human rights violators in the world.
Dr Sarr,
“So this is my litmus:
1. Honor
2. Love of God and country
3. Humility to surround self with competent lieutenants.
4. Honesty.
5. Simplicity
6. Hard work and Dedication
7. Pragmatism.
8. Vision.
9. Courage, and
10. A man or woman who truly does not want to be or stay President”.
The litmus test outlined above seldom works in Africa. Particularly in The Gambia where the womenfolk are equally entangled in greed and corruption as the menfolk. What we see are a bunch of opportunists looking to curry favors with powers that be for their own selfish ends. They keep flip flopping on subjects of importance while seeking nothing but clout and relevance.
Look at the Isatou Tourays and Fatoumata Tambajangs. Think about the havoc that they could bring to The Gambia.
I don’t consider myself a “do-gooder” in that sense.
I’m not looking for crumbs off of the table either but rather looking at Self-actualization.
I implore you to strike me off of your numbers game. I also happen believe that an honorable lady needn’t be as feisty.
She’s got a thing or two against Gambian men. That’s quite obvious. But you’re right. Our women are as culpable as we the men in sustaining the decadence in Gambian systems. After all, they hold the key to who gets political power, as they outnumber the men in numbers, and often play the cheer leading roles for the corrupt politicians with bulging pockets and big aluminium pots, especially during the “Bennachin” season (campaign period).
That’s exactly what the opposite sex say to suppress women.
@ Bax you should know by now that this Gambian woman does not seek permission from anyone regarding her opinion.
No personal attack on your good self or anyone for that matter. The quote is “ almost ALL”
Concerning corruption it is an equal opportunity cancer.
Lastly @ Andrew.
Characterization by men means nothing to me. I know who I am.
I am beautiful
I am educated
I am independent
I am proud to be a Gambian woman who does not take crap from Men or Women.
And my HONOR is intact.
Bourne,
That’s why I said you must be a ‘bit’ crazy.
While Babili Mansa moved the Gambia steps ahead of Nigeria, you see them running our tiny country’s streets and corners for every butut to send back to Lagos; you still make a comparison with Boko Haram.
The ‘buffoon’ made you and our lovely sister Dr Isatou Sarr comfortable to ride the streets of Banjul safe, enjoy the infrastructural amenities and send your children to the UTG. Just to say a few.
The frail Buhari was cleaned off the final treaty that Johnson Sirleaf and Babili Mansa signed for his departure.
Do you know that he will return? In Shaa Allah.
That day Doctors will tremble under their consultation desks!!
Making Drs. trembling in their under the desk in own country is very evil indeed. Beside the fact that their tools of terror were paid for by the taxpayer for the security of their lives and properties. When Yayah comes back to the Gambia to be able to wage war, the gravity of that predicament will be apocalyptic whereby the winner will be the greatest loser. I think the terror tactic is not working very well anywhere anymore. Loved ones, friends and the public will pay the due respect to innocent terror victims and move on without fear in their lives.
Lots of deep thinkers are frail because they eat just that’s enough for survival.
When you talk about walking in peace and tranquility during Yayah regime, and enjoying “infrastructure”, I see myself in the Farm listening to Squealer’s crappaganda. Don’t think I’m crazy knowing all that one has to go through reading a lot of crazy stuff from you. That is the situation here.
By the way I’m a grandpaps too so refrain from handling me as ‘crazy’. My grandkid is an unruly boxer! By the way, as a responsible grandpa, I always advice him to watch his vocabulary.
About the so-called Yayah infrastructure, i would like to remind you that somebody was there when Banjul was adjoin to the mainland by what we know as Denton bridge, which
was later replaced by a paralell new one, much bigger and more rigid. That is the new Denton Bridge that Yayah and his band of vandals used to cross to reach the heart of our sovereign civil establishments, to pointed a gun on it and topple it. You wish there was no bridge there at all and the pirates were coming in paddle-canoes to come to negotiate with the loyal state security personnel.
I hate your demonstrated unruly undemocratic threatening behavior. It is 2019 but not even Amsterdam was able to get that stone knife out of your hands!! Never mind. I can’t deny too I admire your Oscar titles.
Bourne,
You are already scary. President Jammeh’s return is already on the billboards. That was the deal which haters want to deny. Doctors will surely tremble in their comfort thousands of kms in The USA.
Putting jokes aside, Nigeria’s Buhari will never be a role model. He took arms to overthrow, butchered and terrorized his people in the name of security and stole billions of nairas to save in foreign banks. He returned as a civilian leader in a rigged election. And repeated in yet another rigged election.
What has he improved in Nigeria, a country whose citizens are scattered on the surface of earth?
Me scary?? Tzzzzzzzzzz hooog!
I’m only concerned because war and terror looks like an animal stampede where their suckling and babe cubs get ripped apart. It is not even there business or say, they know what is going on. And all that yet, is just a tiny fraction of all the potential horror of war.
You are bitter but I know why PMB? He raided your champagne party and you are so furious about it. Hey, Zeinab Souma? Where is she? What a sad thing for Gambia. I doubt a good percentage of the country’s economy is not running her businesses right now. What a reap of the Gambia in her 22 yrs coma.
Yet again, Nigeria’s problems didn’t begin with Buhari. He can only try to make it better that someone can still make it better than him in the future. Mathetically it is not true that only Nigerians are scattered all over the world. I am neither an advocate for xenophobia nor bigotry. I deeply regret the lost of lives in the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. When foreigners commit a crime in a land of rule of law and due process, they are brought before a court of law with full legal representation. I can bet my last dollar for those who think 99% percent of all the crimes in the suburbs and inner city Johannesburg and cities alike in S.A, are committed armed native South African criminal gangs. Some among these are not only criminals but xenophobic and whose victims sadly are none but their fellow Africans.
There is time and place for everything. I don’t need to tell you that because you are elderly enough to know.
Kinteh (Kemo),
Will Ousainou Darboe ask Baa Tambedou to resign and be charged for fraud, corruption, abuse of office and patronage?
He issued Gambian diplomatic passports to:
-his mum
-his step mum
-his two sisters
-his wife.
The 3-Year Jotnah has the imperative to set state house ablaze and send that CORRUPT fool and gang of bandits into the Banjul sewage.
Lastly Dr Isatou Sarr, I do not know you from Adam.
I only read your subscriptions to this medium with interest.
I’m not sure that your take on humility (part of your litmus) is reflected in the foregoing commentary.
Not that you should be bothered. albeit that we do share a distaste for bullies on this medium.
It is mere stereotype and extremist Girlishism. A masterminded process meant to distract world’s attention from high profile global injustices. It’s a tired old world’s attitude! To have the two genders of the human cycle at lock horns in a war of gender hatred. A total mental depression of the human race. This is a struggle against the human race and a plot to completely suppress, demoralise and objectify the bull. Totally inconceivable!
You are perfectly entitled to your opinion.
Many people including me have a different opinion of Darboe.
In a pluralistic society different Pole of Inspiration should be possible.
Those “learned” people you are castigating do not need money or position from Darboe. If it is money and position, they would have long switched allegiance to Bus Driver.
Bax/Kinteh (Kemo),
Stop exonerating a corrupt leader, Ousainou Darboe.
Bax, if you believe Darboe’s tax obligations were erroneously calculated, did he settle the differences?
Which accounting firm was representing him?
In his brief period as Minister and VP, Ousainou didn’t overhaul any institution under his purview except entrenching himself in power, threathening teachers with dismissals, sending his Yai Compins to Mecca and appointing his UDP surrogates in all embassies and ministries.
What policy change did he effect?
You may love him, that’s your opinion I sincerely respect, but political heavyweight(Gambian standard) who failed to lead his party into victory on 3-4 consecutive contests is no longer qualified to lead.
But Ousainou is Mansa nDalo, from the Mansa lineage with the Mansa Yelo in his veins. Your Darboe Jula!!
May The Almighty Allah SWT help us and keep us far away from Ousainou’s MansaYa.
We’ve already had a bitter experience of his brief period as “Mansa Noma la”.
He is worse than his student,Barrow, because Ousainou KNOW book and Barrow NEBA GO TO SCHOOL, OH.
Babu, I’m just asking whether you are 100% sure of what you are alleging. Why wasn’t he sent to prison, if he still owed monies? I thought UDP members contributed to pay what he owed? I don’t know for sure, Babu, and I’m not exonorating him.
Ousainou’s brief stint in government is marred by controversies, not least of which was, of course, his diplomatic appointments, though I’m not sure if appointing illiterates was part of that legacy.
Also, Ahmad Gitteh, an aggrieved Barrow supporter who was once of UDP, is alleged to have claimed that they in possession of evidence which proved that Mr Darboe was also involved in the diplomatic passport scandal.
Apparently, Gitteh is unhappy about the leakage of documents which only portray the Barrow Administration in very negative lights and is believed to think that the whistle blower is a UDP mole in government.
5 fundamental essential directions outlined by Darboe in his Hamburg speech:
– 6 UDP Controlled local govt to deliver for their respective area councils. Learning initiative in form of opening libraries in and around KMC to foster reading.
In BANJUL mayoress Lowe is in contact with countries like Malaysia to provide scholarships to Banjulians.
In the provinces , donor assistance that goes to the area councils is being rigorously managed to support the infrastructure of the local industries like the horticultural activities of the women. And women active participation in the priority setting is being given greater emphasis.
– Fight against “Jammeh rule book” barrow is now copying. New wine in old bottles. Using the Civil Service and regional chiefs to extend political leverage is something UDP stood against and will continue to work against!
– UDP parliamentarians under watch. It is either our sponsored elected NAMs fulfill their election promise and mandate in line with UDP ideals or let themselves corrupted. In case of the LATER they will not be re-selected for reelection.
– strengthening UDP grassroots in and outside of the country. The diaspora sections Are decentralized according to regions and are up and running. The exchange of ideas and strategies between the supporters on the ground and that of the diaspora supporters will be encouraged and strengthened. That UDP will show in the next general election that INCUMBENCY alone is not an advantage in Gambia.
– FORGET ME NOT! Darboe reemphasized the debt UDP owe to it’s members who died in the hands of Jammeh and recommits the party’s enduring thankfulness to those died fighting Jammeh tyranny. At any UDP meeting and events their names shall ring out for remembrance! And importantly individual, sectional initiatives to help their loved ones will be encouraged and fostered.
Bax,
Who will send Ousainou Darboe to prison? Not his buddy Hassan Jallow the Chief Justice. You know the justice system is in shambles, shamelessly corrupted by Baa Tambedou. The diplomatic passport saga is a clear case in point. What are the NAMs and prosecution waiting for not to indict Baa Tambedou for abuse of office and corruption.
When offered the pick-up vehicles by Barrow, our NAMs have manifested their ineptitude in delivering for the electorate. Under the minister’s cloak, the prosecution will be tight-handed to prosecute him with clear evidences at hand. This is the corrupted Gambian justice system, where patronage and family ties rein.
Bax Yai Compins who were sent by Ousainou Darboe to Mecca graciously thank him at the airport on arrival. There was no presumption, it was confirmed by the pilgrims themselves. Where did all those millions come from? Where did Ousainou Darboe get all that money from.
I’m 100% sure of my statements.
Babu, it was Jammeh that took Darboe and others before the tax commission. So, if Darboe was still owing money, why didn’t he take him to court, seize his assets or send him to prison? That’s got nothing to do with Hassan Jallow and Ba Tambedou.
Kinteh(Kemo),
I don’t understand one thing. Is that a new UDP policy initiative or an on-going one?
If on going, how long have these initiatives/projects/activities been undertaken?
Babu,
These are not policies . These are ongoing initiatives at different levels and in different area councils.
The other points outlined party level standpoints that evolves as situations arise.
The diaspora structural setup is a project. Success of that project was underscored by the Hamburg fundraising Gala. The grassroot preparations and the GASH-Chapter executive team showcased a great organizational performance.
Kinteh(Kemo),
I won’t argue further but promise to follow the veracity of these initiatives in my area when I go home.
I am not bothered about blueprints but I’m always wary about execution and continuity. When money is involved, corruption and squandering always surface and ultimately the initiatives collapse. Your people are corrupt and don’t want to be accountable and transparent.