Hundreds of youth from diverse settlements surrounding Brufut on Saturday October 19th held a solidarity march pass to demand land they claim to be theirs.

The procession started from the community Primary School to the Strasser field, with protesters wearing T-shirts bearing the phrase: ‘‘Brufut Multipurpose Centre Strasser Field Is Not For Sale. We Stand for our Future Generation.’’ Brufut like many communities in the Western Region does not have land designated for youth or garages, markets, and other purposes.

The Youth of Brufut complained that the current ground they use as a football field is owned by the Brufut Primary School which is just near the health centre; that the Primary School and Health Center authorities complain that their students and patients are usually disturbed by the noise.

Abass Manneh, the Chairperson of Brufut Recovery Community (BRC) said the solidarity march is held to show the people of Brufut, Government and all those who care about youth, their concerns and determination towards demanding for their land.

“Brufut will not be the only place to benefit from this, but the entire country,” Manneh said.
Lamin Basse Bojang Chairperson of the Brufut Sports Community (BSC) said the march pass is to show the world that Brufut does not have a place to showcase their talents or stage activities.

“The plans we have for this place is not only for football, but for many other activities,” he said.

Mariama Saine of Brufut also posed a question to Government about their land which she said the youth are not asking for too much; that Government has taken all their land; that the only land they have their eyes on will not be taken from them.

According to the recommendations of the ‘Janneh’ Commission, all community lands should be returned to them. One of these lands includes the ‘Strasser’ Field that the youth designate to be a multipurpose centre of Brufut. They indicated that some of the village elders including the Alkalo, want to deprive them of their right to use the land which they will never accept.

The Public is hereby informed that the airport ceremonies that are usually held whenever the President travels, either on arrival or departure, will no longer take place.

Effective immediately, seeing off the President at the Banjul International Airport shall be limited only to the Minister of Defense, Minister of Interior, Chief of Defense Staff, Inspector General of Police, and Director General of the State Intelligence Service.

The Guard of Honour will now be required only during State Visits and Special Occasions. The adjustment is inline with ongoing reforms to optimize efficiency in the public service.

Meanwhile, the public is informed that His Excellency, President Adama Barrow will attend the first ever Russia-Africa Summit taking place in Sochi in the Russian Federation, from the 23rd -24th October 2019.

Edward Singhatey has relived moment he grabbed former President Yahya Jammeh by the arm and put him in a vehicle when the former president attempted to chicken out during the implementation stage of the July 22nd coup.

Mr Singhatey was part of a five-man group of junior army officers who seized power in July 1994, ending the 30-year rule of former president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.

On the day of the coup on July 22, 1994, hundreds of soldiers led by Mr Singhatey marched from Yundum Barracks to Banjul to seize State House. Jammeh who had been a member of the group that planned the coup was present as troops mobilised but the man who would later become the face of the takeover as the leader of the new transition government exhibited signs of cowardice well before the troops started marching.

Mr Singhatey recalled on Wednesday during the start of his testimony at the TRRC: “When he tried to opt out, I told him, ‘no, it’s not what we agreed.’ So I grabbed him by the arm and put him in one of the trucks.”

Mr Singhatey is testifying on his role in the human rights violations that took place in the 22 years rule of Jammeh.

His testimony continues and he is expected to give evidence on his role in the executiion of over a dozen soldiers in November 1994. He will also testify on his role in the brutal murder of former Gambian minister Ousman Koro Ceesay.

Edward Singhatey, a former vice-chairperson of the defunct AFPRC Government has today appeared before the TRRC voluntarily for the first time.

Singhatey is the third (3^rd) member of the defunct junta to appear before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Sanna Sabally and Yankuba Touray have both appeared before the Commission, but Touray declined to give testimony relying on what he called his Constitutional immunity in the 1997 Constitution that happenings between the years 1994 to 1996 cannot be a subject of investigation or litigation.

The retired captain together with former President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, ex-Captain Sanna B. Sabally, ex-Captain Sadibou Hydara and ex-Captain Yankuba Touray formed a military government after toppling the PPP’s government in a military coup in July 1994.

Former President Jammeh was made the chairman of the established Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) and Sanna B. Sabally as the vice-chairman while Singhatey and others held ministerial posts. Six months after the coup, Singhatey acceded to the position of vice-chairman after the arrest of Sanna Sabally, who was accused of attempting to kill former President Jammeh.

Singhatey was the Minister of Defense before assuming the position as the vice chairman under their junta government. Singhatey also served under the APRC Government for years as a Minister before falling out with former President Jammeh, who decided to dismiss him from his position.

Yankuba Touray, an ex-member of the defunct AFPRC will today appear before the high court of The Gambia in Banjul.

Touray’s last appeared before the High Court on the 23^rd July 2019 before Justice Sainabou Wadda – Sise on a contempt charge, which was struck out. He is now left with his murder trial before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh.

The former junta member has in 2019 faced three different criminal trials. He was discharged on the 10^th April 2019 by the Kanifing Magistrates Court on his Conspiracy to Commit Felony and interfering with informant or witness case.

After he was discharged by the lower court, he was immediately arrested by the police and was subsequently charged with the same offence. At the High Court, the case was also withdrawn.

He was later re-arrested and arraigned before the High Court on a contempt charge after he declined to give evidence with regards to the happenings during 1994 to 1996. This charge was struck out by the High Court because of procedural defect.

He is now charged with the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former Minister of Finance during the AFPRC reign. Touray denied culpability and the State has indicated before the court its intention to increase the charges to include murder and other serious offences.

Another member of the defunct AFPRC, ex-Captain Edward Singhatey is reported to be in town and is expected to appear before the TRRC this week.

Gambian authorities on October 9 intercepted three Chinese fishing vessels for illegal fishing in a restricted zone in the waters of Mandinari.

The vessels owned by Qunlong Fishing Enterprise were intercepted by the Gambian authorities with assistance of Sea Shepherd crew.

This came barely weeks after the Fisheries Director shrugged off claims that his institution issued a license to Chinese vessels to land in Mandinari.

The 3 vessels have been taken into the custody of the Gambia Navy in Banjul.

DE-HONG 1, DE-HONG 2 and DE-HONG 3 vessels are in state custody for illegal fishing in Gambian water.

Lamin Saidy, the manager of Qunlong Fishing said their three remaining vessels were intercepted and suspended from operation.

“As for now, we’re no longer operating in Mandinari, because our 3 remaining vessels were suspended as a result of issues relating to documents,’’ he said.

“The agent representing these vessels in Banjul, is currently working with the authorities to ensure that the matter is resolved so that our vessels would be allowed to resume operation,’’ he added.

Army spokesperson, Major Lamin K. Sanyang confirmed the story. He said the Sea Shepherd crew reported the issue of suspected illegal fishing activities around Mandinari waters involving 3 Chinese vessels.

“The joint operation went and arrested them for their illegal fishing. The trio vessels are now in the custody of the Navy,’’ he said.

According to GAF PRO, the interception came into effect following a joint operation led by Sea Shepherd crew, inspectors from the Department of Fisheries and Gambia Navy.

Dr. Bamba A.M Banja, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Fisheries, also confirmed that these vessels were intercepted for their violation of Fisheries legislation by fishing in a wrong zone.

However, he said when the joint operation team intercepted the vessels, they were escorted by personnel of the Navy to the sea port. He said while they were there, they were under the close supervision of the Gambia Navy until a decision was reached by the authorities.

“Fishing without a license is the worst crime because you can even lose your fishing vessel when you’re caught,’’ Fisheries PS remarked.

“They (the vessels) are at the custody of the Navy until they pay the fine,’’ he said, adding: “We’re not denying them to fish in the Gambian waters, but what we want is for them to comply, and if they comply, they will make live easy for everyone.’’

Sea Shepherded Conservation Society, an international non-profit organization in partnership with the government of The Gambia, are working on tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in West Africa.