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Government Announces D50m For TRRC Trust Fund
The government of The Gambia Monday announced the endorsement of D50 million to the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) Victim Fund.
“Today, almost one year into the TRRC public hearing, the government is fulfilling its promise to grant reparation for the victims of human rights violations and abuses within the mandates of the TRRC. On behalf of President Barrow, it is with great pleasure that I announce to you the decision of the government to contribute to the TRRC Victim Trust Fund an initial amount of D50 million dalasis with immediate effect,” Abubacarr B. Tambadou, the attorney general and minister of Justice said.
Mr. Tambadou was speaking on Monday during a press conference in Banjul.
He said: “In order to underscore the importance the government attaches to these objectives, the word ‘reparation’ was included in the title of our truth commission, making it the first of its kind anywhere in the world.”
The D50 million, he said, is paid out from the proceeds of sales of the former president’s assets which were currently sold in accordance with the recommendations of the Janneh Commission.
The Justice minister thanked Gambians based in the country and those in diaspora for their individual and collective act of generosity towards the welfare of the victims.
He called on private business enterprises to become so generous and donate to the TRRC Victim Trust Fund “so that we can together make reparations meaningful for the victims who deserve our individual and collective support to rebuild lives.
“Let us demonstrate to the world our true Gambian characters of benevolence, compassion, selflessness and humanity,” he said, while thanking the victims for their continuous understanding and forbearance.
The government, he added, also reiterated its support and firm commitment and gratitude to the TRRC commissioners and staff for their contribution towards establishing the truth about our dark past and encouraging national reconciliation in the process.
Lamin J. Sise, the chairman of the TRRC said: “We at the TRRC are very grateful about the announcement made by the Justice minister. Fifty million is a splendid contribution by the government to the reparation funds that we established and announced few weeks ago.”
The gesture, he added, will assist the healing, the reconciliation and hopefully, bring justice to the process. “The victims deserve this kind of attention. They are the ones who really suffered enormously in the 22 years of dictatorship. Those victims cannot be forgotten. Therefore, looking at the nature of the people and our country, that is not going to happen.”
Dr. Sise said: “Every Gambian was a victim under the brutal regime that ruled the country for 22 years. Our role is to try to establish record of these atrocities of these gross violations of human rights and abuses for healing and reconciliation.”
The victims, he went on, need this kind of attention and this kind of help. “The gesture is a first step of bringing about healing and bringing about reconciliation and to certain extents of justice. Your contribution will help us move the process of paying reparation or handing reparation the way we are doing it in a very unique of Gambian way.”
Commission recommends leases issued to Jammeh be cancelled
The findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on the public land grants by the State and District Authorities (general) were accepted by the government that the “leases issued to former President Jammeh be cancelled and/or rescinded.
This was revealed in a government White Paper, an excerpt of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the financial activities of public bodies, enterprises and offices as regards their dealings with former president, Yahya Jammeh and connected matters.
It was noted in the report that former President Jammeh was engaged in a land grab and he abused his authority as president to do so. He as well acquired several leased lands in the tourism development area (TDA), which are public lands leased to him by the State and local communities with the approval of the minister responsible for lands, without payment of any form of consideration.
Among these several other lands according to the Commission’s report including forests, lagoons, reserves and parks, islands and these are public lands leased to him by the State directly or by district authorities.
As per the recommendation it was noted that “it would be unconscionable and contrary to public policy if former President Jammeh were allowed to keep gifts of community lands needed for the livelihoods and development of entire communities.”
It continued that, since the government accepts these findings, in so far as they relate to lands allocated by local communities to former President Jammeh and accordingly that the government accepts the recommendations of the Commission that the said lands be confiscated by the State and properly planned to serve the most urgent public needs of local communities “the said land are (were) hereby confiscated.”
PDOIS wants clarification from F. Tambajang
The PDOIS is asking former Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajnag to clarify whether there was an amendment in the original text of the Coalition agreement which was signed by its members; and if so, whether the amended version has been signed too.
Below is the letter addressed to Ms. Jallow Tambajang:
Dear Honourable Jallow Tambajang,
The media houses have been approaching PDOIS for explanation whether the text of an amendment to the 17th October 2016 Coalition agreement had been agreed upon and signed by coalition partners. We are not aware of the crafting and signing of any text purporting to be an amendment to the original text signed by Coalition partners and are therefore finding it difficult to give accurate information to the media, on the subject matter.
It should therefore be highly appreciated if you would clarify whether any document purporting to be an amended version of the coalition agreement has been signed. If such a document exists please forward it to us before Monday, 7 October 2019, when we intend to issue a Press Releasse on the matte
State to forfeit 2 properties allocated to ex-VP Njie-Saidy
An excerpt of the 93-page report of the Commission of Inquiry that was established by President Adama Barrow in July 2019, to probe into the financial activities of public bodies, enterprises and offices as regards to their dealings with former Present Yahya Jammeh, the government of The Gambia therefore accepts the commission’s recommendation that two out of the three properties allocated to the former vice president of Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy should be forfeited to the State.
The report indicates that the said properties will be forfeited to the state as the government land policy dictates that every Gambian is entitled to only one free allocation.
The report also notes that the government takes note of the commission’s observation that Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy is unfit to serve in similar positions and as the longest serving member of former President Jammeh’s cabinet, and given her positions as V.P. of the republic, Dr. Njie-Saidy’s conduct fell far short of the standards expected of an occupier of the Office of the V.P. of the Republic of The Gambia.
“Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy is hereby banned from holding public office for five years from the date of publication of this White Paper,” the report went further.
The report also indicates that the government takes note of the Commission’s statement that Dr. Njie-Saidy claims to have acquired 22 properties in the greater Banjul area even though her monthly salary as V.P. between 1998 and 2017 was between D47,000 and D60,850 per month while three of her properties were allocated to her by the government.
“The commission found inter alia, that Dr. Njie-Saidy was the vice chairperson and co-signatory to the Operation Save the Children Foundation’s account and there was no evidence that this foundation was legally registered,” the report revealed.
In the commission’s estimation, from a total of D31,162,636.2 and $506,865.6 paid into its bank accounts, only D4,958,220 was spent on the objects of the foundation and the commission found that nearly all the funds of the foundation were wasted on events which were intended to boost the profile of Zineb Jammeh rather than help Gambian children.
“Dr. Njie Saidy and Zineb Jammeh authorised all payments sometimes jointly and the commission was of the view that Dr. Njie-Saidy ought to be accountable for what she authorised and misused in breach of trust,” it stated.
The report further narrated that the commission also found Dr. Njie-Saidy liable for unjustified payments in the sum of D11,725.90 and $3,847,80.
The commission found that the management of the JFP funds was bifurcated to mask its real purpose, allowing former President Jammeh control of the real funds while the board and management provided the legitimacy he needed.
Added to that, JFP was therefore a smokescreen/front used by former President Jammeh to raise funds for his personal benefit and Dr. Njie-Saidy as chairperson and member of the JFP board and signatory to the accounts was in breach of trust and therefore accountable for its funds.
Isatou Njie Saidy former vice president of the Gambia denies taking part in Jammeh’s tyranny.
Isatou Njie Saidy former vice president of the Gambia denies taking part in Jammeh’s tyranny. appearing before the TRRC on Thursday 3rd of October 2019 which was broadcast live on QTV.
Isatou Njie Saidy is the longest serving government official in the history of the Gambia who was a minister of health then later became the Vice President of the republic The Gambia from 1997 to 2017.
In his opening speech Essa Faal brief and encourage her to speak the truth in other to help the commission in its mission. He also warned that it is criminal offence in the country to lie in the under oath and to also lie to the commission. After the general questions about her background Madam Njie was asked about her role in the former regime’s time.
When she was asked about the April 10/11 2000, she denied giving orders to Jatta to shoot at demonstrators. Stating that she only heard the problem and doesn’t know what happened.
when she was asked whether she knew that there was a demonstration or problem in Brikama, she said she only heard about it after the demonstration. She strongly stood on her ground that she doesn’t know anything about the demonstration.
During her testimony, Njie Saidy denied playing any front-row role in Jammeh’s reign of terror, saying throughout she would only hear of crimes only after they have been committed. This made TRRC counsel Essal Faal who was clearly running out of patience at some point asking the former vice president which country she was living in but Njie Saidy stood her ground telling Faal she was living in The Gambia.
All that Njie said in her testimonies was “I don’t know” or ” I don’t Remember” “It could be”
When she was asked about the decisions taken at the meeting she told the commission she doesn’t remember. when evidence were brought to her that she gave orders to deploy an army, Njie said she didn’t give orders.
“They brief me on the issued but the decisions made its been a long time i cant remember. we dont keep minutes because it was an emergency.” Babucarr Jatta could deploy an army without my knowledge”, she said.
German gov’t funds €1.3m Gambia’s energy stabilization project
On Wednesday 2nd of October 2019, The German supported project for The Gambia’s energy sector was launched. The 1.3 million euro worth project is to enhance the development of the existing power generation capacities. It’s been funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by GIZ and NAWEC under the leadership of The Gambia ministry of Energy.
The GIZ project emanated from the visit of the German president to the Gambia in December 2017, who pronounced Germany’s readiness to support The Gambia to stabilize electricity supply.
The project that followed his announcement has helped to reduce the occurrence of total blackouts in the Greater Banjul Area from many hours per day to a current situation of only few blackouts per month.
The minister of Energy and Petroleum, Fafa Sanyang, said the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Energy accords special priority to improving access to reliable, affordable and efficient electricity to all citizens of the country.
He said The Gambia electricity sub-sector was mainly characterized by insufficient generation capacity, limited transmission and distribution capacity and double-digit technical and commercial losses.
“With support, the electricity sub-sector is gradually changing,” he declared.
Minister Sanyang said the measures will enable NAWEC to run its power plants more reliably, to extend the life span of the engines and to significantly save resources on maintenance.
Managing director of NAWEC, Alpha Robinson, said the project has given them the tools and technology and they must embrace it because technology and innovation are the future.
“The technology is central to the success of NAWEC,” he said.
He said Gambians should embrace change and technology in order to shift beyond where they are today.
The ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in The Gambia, Stephan Roeken, said the partnership is not only in words but in deed.
He said the project is an important element because it will strengthen the partnership between both countries and reduce the blackout in the Greater Banjul areas.
He said government is responsible for people especially in a democratic country to manage NAWEC in the near future.
The German experts of the GIZ offered extensive mechanical and electrical training to NAWEC’s technical experts.
The project funds allows for the procurement of a generator, an oil and fuel lab, and more than 75 km of fibreglass cable, two new radio towers and other things needed to create a digital communication infrastructure for NAWEC.
The project focuses on installation of independent communication infrastructure and data collection on the transmission and distribution network, provision of quality testing equipment for oil and lubricants, procurement of 800KW generator for peak shedding and capacity building for NAWEC staff.
Police arrest 2 with fake gold worth over D14m
On Wednesday 27 September, 2019, Gambian Police arrested one Maimuna Bojang of Sanchaba Medina and Seedy Trawally of Kerr Serigne. The arrest is as a result of them illegally possessing fake golds worth D14, 280, 00, The point newspaper reports. They were arrested at Senegambia around 11a.m and under dentention at the Police Headquarter in Banjul as the police continue to investigate into the matter.
A source who is familiar with the matter reported that the suspects wanted to sell the fake gold to one Nkere Fofana Crazneit, a male Gabonese national, at the tune of $280, 000 U.S. dollars which amounts to D14, 280, 000.
Sources at the GPF who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the two suspects on that fateful day decided to meet with the Gabonese man at around eight to nine in the morning with five grams of real gold in order to convince him (Gabonese), pretending that they had another 10 kilos of real gold.
“The Gabonese became suspicious and decided to inform the police about the development. When the suspects arrived for the second time at around 11 a.m., they entered the room of the Gabonese who alerted the police for their arrest. In fact, I can tell you that they were with a fake receipt too and wanted to extort $280, 000 U.S. dollar from the man. They were later escorted to their various houses respectively,” our source added.
At Maimuna Bojang’s house, our source explained, a marathon search was conducted and the police discovered in her bedroom seven kilos of fake gold, four pieces of gold, with each equivalent to five kilos, fake gold dust which is about five kilos and also a gold weighing machine among others. “Nothing was found at Trawally’s house after a search was conducted by the police.”
“The police are investigating the matter in order to know the source of the fake gold and some of the people have been involved in the scam. The amount of fake gold discovered from Maimuna Bojang is about 50 kilos of fake gold.”
In a separate but related issue, our reporter has been reliably informed that the first accused person Maimuna Bojang and one Alhagie Abubacarr Bah, defrauded a Gambian businessman.
“The two also pretend that they had original gold and told the Gambian businessman that they wanted to sell it to him. The man accepted not knowing that the gold was faked. They took almost 1.4M dalasis from him. The matter was reported to the police and the case was under investigation.”
Point reporter who has been investigating the matter for the past five days was also able to have copies of the receipt about the $280, 000, certificate of analysis and other document containing the logo of Guinea Bissau government.
Point reporter during his investigation was also able to establish that Seedy Trawally was staying in Guinea Bissau. “He was called by the first accused person, Maimuna Bojang, to come to the country as they were to engage in some business transaction in the country. Trawally come through Senegal and then The Gambia.”
The police spokesperson ASP Lamin Njie told The Point that he was not aware of any such development. He, however, promised to share any available information as regards to the matter.
Three Years Jotna expresses disagreement with Coalition stakeholders
We are totally against the decision championed by Fatoumata Jallow-Tambanjang to extend the coalition’s agreed term from 3 to 5 years, Said Hagie Suwaneh, vice chairperson of the operation at the press briefing.
He continued; “Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang individually tasked some members of the Barrow supported camp to join her on the issue of five years.
Mr. Suwaneh said it also came to their attention that some local parties have never supported the president’s five years mandate. “We will never recognize the announcement made by Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang and her co.”
“We are calling on Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang to withdraw her statement given on 27th day of September, 2019.”
DLEAG arrests 2 with cocaine
Both suspects, he said, are under their custody as investigation into the matter continues. “DLEAG will continue on our efforts in making the country free from drugs and its related issues.”
Commenting on the concealment method and the way the cocaine was discovered with the first suspect, PRO Saidybah added: “Some quantities were placed in socks, and hidden in his boxer around his private part and some other quantities in the socks he wore. Our operatives are well trained and are always on alert.”
On The second accused, he said, the suspected cocaine was hidden inside his boxer and placed around the many jujus he tied around his waist. “Both suspects have European residential documents. They were planning on traveling to Spain through Banjul International Airport. From their tickets they were booked with Binter Canary for Las Palmas from Banjul International Airport,” he said.
The DLEAG PRO added that Sequel Balde is a Bissau Guinean residing in France and also holding a Portuguese passport, while Seco Balde is a Bissau Guinean residing in Spain and also holds Spanish residential permit, adding that both suspects were on board a commercial vehicle.
It could be recalled that, Bakary Gassama, the director general of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) once hinted that The Gambia could be a target of Drug Trafficking Organisations who are taking advantage of her strategic location to both South America and Europe as a drug trafficking route.
He said there are indications that the country can be used as a transit point for drugs coming from South America and some parts of Africa to the targeted markets in Europe and U.S.A. “Therefore, it is imperative to prepare well in terms of both human capacity and equipment to respond adequately to the illegal and clandestine activities of these organisations.”
It could be also recalled that DLEAG, The Office Central de Re’pression du Trafic Illicite de Stepfiants (OCRITS) of Senegal and The Judiciary Police of Guinea Bissau two months back signed a ‘historic’ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three countries. The MOU is aimed at combating drug trafficking, organised crimes and its related issues.
The MOU will enable the three countries to exchange information and intelligence, join training and border patrols in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. The MOU is also capable of tactically re-positioning their front-line officers in making the sub-region a hostile environment for criminals.
DR Congo to deploy second Ebola vaccine
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have said they plan to introduce a second Ebola vaccine to tackle the second-worst outbreak of the virus in history.
The team overseeing DRC’s response announced the move on Saturday but did not say when the vaccine – manufactured by the US-based firm Johnson & Johnson – would be introduced.
It will complement another vaccine produced by US pharmaceutical giant Merck which has been administered to more than 220,000 people since the DRC’s Ebola epidemic erupted in the country’s eastern North Kivu and Ituri provinces in August 2018.
The Johnson & Johnson product has been a source of controversy among DRC health officials.
Former health minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga, who was stripped of oversight of the Ebola response in July, opposed its use, saying it had not been proven effective and could confuse local populations.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires two injections eight weeks apart, unlike the Merck vaccine, which requires a single shot. The Merck product is experimental but is estimated to be 97.5 percent effective and , according to the World Health Organization (WHO), may protect a person for up to 12 months.
In their statement, the current Ebola response team said the Johnson & Johnson product was also safe for deployment and noted that it was already being trialled in neighboring Uganda and in the West African country of Guinea.
“It is a vaccine that other countries already use. Why can’t we use it in Congo to protect our population?” the statement said.
The statement added that health officials intended to start by offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to DRC traders who cross into Rwanda and then to residents of the province neighbouring the epicentre of the outbreak “to create a corridor of immunised people”.
D5 Creation