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Gambia’s King of Kora gives fair warning against Covid-19 negation
Kora king Jaliba Kuyateh has given fair warning that there is no room for rebuttal in the battle against Covid-19.
Speaking to The Standard at his house, Jaliba also make known that a conspiracy theory that the authorities are putting together financial resources through the use of Covid-19 as a launch-pad may worsen national efforts in controlling the escalation of the virus.
“It’s unfortunate to hear people say this [Covid-19] is a conspiracy and that it is not real. Some people are saying it’s politics because government is using the outbreak to solicit funds. But it [Covid-19] is real and it is affecting the world,” Jaliba, who was speaking in an interview with The Standard, he make known.
As said by the kora legend, The Gambia is singly at risk of the Covid-19 escalation because, in his words, the country’s borders are porous.
“We cannot dismiss the fact that Covid-19 is a threat to The Gambia because people freely enter the country without using recognized entry points. Also, this pandemic has caused fear and panic across the world so, let us intensify the battle against it,” he added.
*The multiple award-winning kora ambassador has already released a Covid-19 message on promoting prevention measures. In it, Jaliba highlighted the weak nature of the country’s health-care system, the need for the observance of social-distancing rules and how the pandemic has overwhelmed even the most powerful nations of the world.*
Source___Standard Newspaper
Gambia: 2 imams pronounced guilty for conducing friday prayers
Magistrate SB Joof of the Brikama court yesterday pronounced and sentenced two Brikama imams Karamo Camara, a Gambian and Yusupha Camara, a Bissau national inhabitant in Brikama, to a fine of two thousand dalasi each, in failure to pay or serve one month in prison.
“The two imams were found guilty of a one-count charge bordering on closures and restrictions on non-essential public places contrary to the emergency powers regulation 2020.
As said by the police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Bobo Jarju, the first put into trial Karamo Camara, on 17 April 2020, at Brikama Darsilameh, intentionally and illegally led congregational Friday prayers in a mosque, going against social distancing guidelines and committing an offence.
As for Imam Yusupha Camara, a Bissau national, he was found leading congregational Friday prayers at Brikama Gidda.
In their appeal of alleviation, the two imams pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy saying this is the first time they have a problem with the law and promising never to do it again.
In passing his judgement, the trial Magistrate Joof said: “I have listened to the plea of mitigations of the convicts and I will also put the consideration that this is their first time and they did not waste the court’s time. I will also consider the essential services they are rendering to the public. But not withstanding these facts, the convicts violated the statutory laws which are to protect the people and save their lives from Covid-19 pandemic. We should all endeavour to abide by the rules and regulations of not just The Gambia but the international community which is the WHO.”
He said the disobeying of this law could prove fatal, before passing the sentences.
Source___Standard Newspaper
‘Barrow Must Not Drag Feet On Constitution’
An establishing member of the opposition Citizens’ Alliance has urged civil society organisations and politicians to put coercion on President Adama Barrow to speed up the draft constitution to the National Assembly.
Dr Ismaila Ceesay, a political science lecturer at the University of The Gambia said the president cannot joke with the draft constitution as aversed to the 1997 draft constitution.
Dr Ceesay’s comment is the most recent among many Gambians who said they have a suspicion President Barrow may use the Covid-19 pandemic to hold up passing the draft to the assembly and then later to a public vote.
Many others suggest that the President may not be happy with the arrangement which states that the term of the coming into force of the constitution should count as the first term of the current president under the two term-limit provision.
“So, this means that the current president can only serve for a maximum of ten years. He can’t serve more than ten years. In other countries this clause has been left open leading to much controversy. We made a lot of research in this very carefully and listened to what the people have said to us and we have consulted our experts on this subject and there was unanimity at the research and the consultation stage that this is something we needed to address,” Justice Cherno Jallow, the chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission had said when the draft was ready sometime back.
However, speaking to The Standard yesterday, Dr Ceesay further commented: “This draft was sent to the public at the same time it was to the president. So we know what is in the Constitution. The concerns that they might come up with tactics to delay the process might be well founded but one thing we expect the Barrow government to do as soon as possible is to take the necessary actions needed to expedite this to the National Assembly and also come up with a comprehensive timetable from here to 2021.”
Source___Standard News
Banjul Breweries in close proximity tabled at Assembly
The Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority has said government has no authority to reverse a verdict made by the shareholders of the Banjul Breweries Limited to stop their operations in the country.
Yankuba Darboe was among important government officials and members of the National Assembly choosing committee who met the BBL officials on the announced decision to leave.
He also added that one thing government can do is to hope and commit “other interested buyers to take over the company, if discussions to encourage current owners to stay in the market fail.
“Banjul Breweries is one of the tax compliant companies, paying a lot of taxes and also contributing in terms of employment. In any case, you can only take a horse to the river but you cannot force it to drink”, Darboe said during the interface with the management of BBL who appeared before the assembly committee on trade yesterday to explain their decision to close down operations in The Gambia.
The GRA boss added: “Government can do all kind of encouragement to them, but if they want to withdraw, there is nothing we can do other than hoping for the best that there may be other interested buyers and then we will work with those people.”
Banjul Breweries make it known that their closure of operations in The Gambia citing “technical and economic reasons informed by an increase of excise tax” by the government last year but the increase was later amended from 75 to 35%.
Commissioner Darboe said the company has be fond of a lot of tax incentives from the pass and the current governments, claiming that their closure is far away from tax trek as stated.
“I think the shareholders wanted to give up because otherwise they would not have closed the company while negotiation is ongoing with government and until I see some magic happening, I am not hopeful that they are coming back.” Darboe said.
Source__Standard News
Gambia drivers and roadside vendors complain over open gutters
Many commercial drivers and roadside vendors along the Westfield Junction and its satellite areas have disgruntly lodge a complain over the open gutters beside the road.
The gutters around Westfield –Jeshwang highway are uncovered and dirty. Similar gutters alongside Westfield -Kairaba Avenue are also uncovered causing difficulties for drivers, commuters and roadside vendors.
Speaking to The Point in a series of exclusive interviews about the uncovered gutters, Ebrima Jallow, a roadside vendor along the Westfield- Kairaba Avenue Highway expressed his disheartening concern on the uncovered gutters, saying the gutters are “very dirty and evolving bad odor” to the people within that area.
He said the situation becomes worst in raining season and causes water stagnation in the gutters making people to accidentally fall in the gutters.
“We (vendors) have been rescuing people in the gutters during the rainy season on several occasions,” he said.
However, he pleaded that the Kanifing Municipal Council should cover the open gutters in order to prevent accidents as well maintain hygiene of people.
Source___Point Newspaper
Banjul City Council calls quick distribution of Gambia gov’t food aid
In spite of the launch of its own food bank, the Banjul City Council says it would be perfect if the central government speed up the issuance of food aid to inhabitants of the city as Covid-19 limitations threaten to give rise to food insecurity in many Gambian households.
The BCC not long ago set up a food bank but the town hall has demonstrated its readiness to work with the central government to help keep hunger at standstill through the distribution of food aid to residents under the Covid-19 partial lockdown.
“The government has asked us to send them data on the number of compounds and houses in Banjul and we’ve done that since on Thursday and we’re now keeping our fingers crossed,” spokesman Bah disclosed.
“We believe they [government] will involve us because as local government authorities to complement the efforts of the central government.”
He told The Standard that the earlier the government engaged local governments in the distribution of relief aid, the better as the population faces prospects of hunger.
“We are patiently waiting but we want it [distribution] done quickly because people have been asked to stay at home and this can cause food shortages,” he predicate.
Source___Standard News
Gambia: URR village pressurize to cast out family over Covid19 case
The Ministry of Health has said a community in Upper River Region has pressurized to cast out the family of the only Covid-19 case in the area.
The acting director of health services, Dr Mustapha Bittaye told journalists yesterday: “The ministry of health has intensified psychosocial support and sensitisation support in a village (Numuyel) in URR as the community threatens to banish the family of the only confirmed case in the village.”
“All the 109 test results received all tested negative. 90 percent of these test results are samples of the mass screening conducted in Bakau. Three high risk contacts of the recently confirmed case have been traced. 101 low risk contacts have been regularly followed up to ascertain manifestation of symptoms of Covid-19,” he said.
He said five connected contacts of the recently recorded case in Central River Region have been taken into quarantine and the compound is under total isolation. “The country currently has 101 people under quarantine, 7 active cases.”
Source___Standard News
The EU fortifies technical backing to help Gambia in facing the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemics
The European Union (EU) is fortifying its Technical boost to The Gambia, with an additional financial support of 550,000 Euro approximately 30 million Dalasi.
This is another step in helping the Government’s efforts to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, and to address the main democratic changeover and confrontation ahead in 2020-2021
This supplement the donation of 9 million Euro (around 500 million dalasi)of Budget to assist and help the country to implement its preventionary measures to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This additional assistance is another contribution by Team Europe.in addressing the socio-economic consequences of the covid-19 in The Gambia. At the same time it reflects the European Union constant attachment to democratic transition. 2020 and 2021 will be decisive years for The Gambia. The EU will be there and stand firm in its support,” says Ambassador Attila LAJOS, the EU Head of Delegation in The Gambia.
Source___Standard News
Gambia: The man who fired gun at Kalagi checkpoint found
The Gambia Armed Forces yesterday confirmed the taken in to custody of the man who fired a gun to frighten drug law enforcement officers at the Kalagi checkpoint last week.
According to army spokesman Major Lamin Sanyang, the man has been identified as a soldier and Lance Corporal Nuha Conteh of the State Guard unit.
He said the soldier is being held in custody by the military police who are still finding necessary clues about the matter.
As understood by Standard, the soldier, in his hurry to escape, unintentionally left some clues of his identity in the bags which led investigators to him as he reported for duty on Monday.
Source__Standard Newspaper
Gambia: Gambia Moral Congress executive member bow out, joins National People’s Party
Momodou Sidideh, an executive member of the Gambia Moral Congress, and a esteemed prominent member of the Serekunda West community has bow out from the party to join the National People’s Party of President Barrow.
Sidibeh, who amalgamated the GMC in April 2017, first hold on to the powerful and vital position of administrative secretary well before becoming an executive member responsible for constitutional matters and discipline at a succeeding party congress.
Recording his resignation to The Standard yesterday, Mr Sidibeh said: “I supported the GMC at the invitation of its leader Mai Fatty and also because it was part of the coalition. Now that Mr Fatty has left the government effective implying they are no longer part of the coalition, I feel that I have to leave.”
“Also, I am impressed with the achievement recorded by President Barrow in the last three years,” Sidibeh said. He draw the inference that he has made his position known to the GMC leader Mai Fatty.
Source___Standard Newspaper
D5 Creation