(JollofNews) – Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) Deputy Managing Director Ousman Jabateh Tuesday’s testimony has raised eyebrows at the Commission of Inquiry probing allegations of corruption of ex-dictator Jammeh and his business associates. Jabateh disclosed that GPA had spent nearly 150 million dalasis to build landing platforms that were never utilised.
Ousman Jabateh was shedding light on Aljamdu and Kansala ferries that prompted GPA management to do some investments in what appeared to be the biggest ‘white elephant’ projects in the history of the ports. But he ended up attracting the attention of the Janneh Commission to the way they poured millions of dalasis into ‘useless’ facilities built in Banjul and Barra, as well as in Yellitenda and Babatenda…
Counsel Amie Bensouda reminded Jabateh that he previously described the ferries as unsable. “So what is the use of building platforms for ferries that are unusable?” Bensouda asked.
Jabateh said the newly acquired ferriew could not dock at their existing landing sites, and they decided to construct platforms that were meant to provide docking. However, the projects failed to meet
expectations.
Commissioner Bai Mass Saine subsequently asked Jabateh to explain what went wrong with the new landing sites.
“I cannot not say the design went wrong,” GPA second in command objected.
“It is 150 milion dalasis. So at what point would you accept that something went wrong?” Commissioner Saine qizzed.
Jabateh kept on repeating himself before admitting that the ferries were brought in Gambia without determining whether there were proper landing facilities.
Folks!
The level of mediocrity or “Teye Teye Lu and Dof Dof Lu” being exhibited by public officials at this commission is heartbreaking. It is understood that commissioners, in the observance of standards of decorum, may not offer certain levels of admonishment but they must be at ease to call out some of these officials for what they are, IDIOTS, LEECHES AND SELL OUTS!
To think that pampered, senior level Gambian officials do not possess the analytical skills, memory capacity, street smarts or a bone of honor to spot a rat or the smell a rat is unbelievable!
Who are they kidding?
Thankfully, Suharata Janneh, Amie Bensouda and Baye Mass Saine will not be steamrolled or have the wool pulled over their faces. They may not take insults to their intelligence kindly either. Let’s take solace in the intelligence and integrity of the members of the commission until we have reasons to believe otherwise!!
Intelligent Gambians with good heads on their shoulders are keenly following the proceedings of the commission. WE must also note that intelligent average Gambians will always remember matters that involve unprecedented huge sums of money siphoned out of our national coffers!
Thanks for the insults to our intelligence Messrs Gibba, Graham, Cham, Gaye, Jorbarteh, Sallah, Bazzi, Samba and cohorts. Gambians will collectively make you all pay the price for your misdeeds just as we honorably went to the ballot box to vote for our clear conscience.
Thankfully, it is no longer so difficult to follow the money trail in this day and age.