Joint Security Task Force At Amdalie Arrested Armed Robbery Suspects

By Ousman A. Marong

A joint security task force comprising of security officers from The Gambia and Senegal at the Gambian border town of Amadalie linking Senegal through Karang have on Sunday arrested seven suspects in connection with the recent armed robbery  in Farafenni.

The armed robbers invaded a patrol station and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) in Farafenni and went away with huge sum of money.

Armed robbery is the order of the day in present day Gambia, which is causing apparent panic among the business sectors in the country.

It could be recall that in February armed robbers looted a shop in Sandu and seriously injured one Seedy Muktar, a Mauritanian businessman believed to be the owner of the shop. 

A similar incident occurred in Bertez, Serrekunda where one Sulayman Jammeh’s mobile shop was also looted and mobs went away with D25, 775.00  ( Twenty five thousand seven hundred and seventy five dalasis).

Business persons who spoke to this reporter lamented that rampant robberies have caused panic within the business community, saying these robbers only target business people and their properties.

They urged the government to strengthen the security sector to address the menace.

Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Police, David Kujabi disclosed: “The men were arrested and the police investigation teams are expanding their tentacles in looking into the matter thoroughly.”

He said the men arrested are suspects in connection with the armed robbery case in Farafenni, but quick to add that they are yet to confirm if these men were the real culprits behind the mugging, “as we are still mounting on our investigation.”

Asked whether the men were in possession of any guns, he the spokesperson of the Gambia cops noted that he could not elaborate much on that owing to security reasons.

                                       picture of the Police PRO David Kujabi (photo credit) Ousman A. Marong.

North Bank Benefits From Uninterrupted Electricity Supply

By Ousman A. Marong

The people of Lower Nuimi in the North Bank Region (NBR) have began to benefit from a 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply following the launch of an interface  power connection called Senelec Karang Interconnection point.

National Electricity and Water Company (NAWEC) officially inaugurated Senelec electricity power supply in the Senegalese border town of Karang on Saturday, April 14, 2018.

The people of Barra, Essau, and the satellite villages are now connected to the 24 hours electricity supply called Senelec Karang Interconnection point.

“2017 has been a challenging year for Nawec as the machines we were using were not up to standard’ said the Managing Director of NAWEC, Mr. Baba Fatajo.

He made this remarks recently in a press conference held at the NAWEC Headquarters in Kanifing.

 “NAWEC was a heavily indebted company and we deem it necessarily as a company to also engage in cross border electrification connection like our sister countries, Ghana, Togo and Benin are doing.

Fatajo said they have since 2009 planned as but it could not be effected because there was no political will from the former regime.

The power connection resulted from a MoU signed between the government of The Gambia and Senegal.

The inauguration was witnessed by the NAWEC, Managing Director, Mr. Baba Fatajo along with other senior officials.

“PS JALLOW: MoBSE TO RESTORE CIVICS IN GAMBIA’S EDUCATION SYSTEM”

Could the restoration of Civics as a subject of study in the Gambia’s education curriculum remedy the growing misconceptions of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, civic obligations and responsibilities in the country? 

Well, the need to resuscitate and mainstream Civics in our education system has forever been a concern for most Gambians especially those that had once offered it before it was cleansed off from the curriculum. It is against this backdrop that the Education Students’ Association (EDUSA) of the University of The Gambia organised a symposium on Wednesday 18^th April, 2018 at Gambia College, Brikama with the ultimate aim of recruiting the public and the concerned authorities attention to the relevance of Civics in our new dispensation.

 The theme for the event was: “The Importance of Civic Education in Gambia Education System.” This educational symposium was well-attended and had drawn students and teachers from Senior Schools in Brikama, Gambia College, the University of the Gambia, as well as the invited dignitaries.

 

In his opening statement, the President of EDUSA, Alhagie B. Sama welcomed and thanked all the students in the School of Education University of The Gambia especially his executive for making this event a success. He equally expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Dean of School of Education, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the GTU, and UTG Students’ Union for their continuous support and collaboration in the implementation of his association’s activity plans in the past year. President Sama expounded on the significance of Civic Education in the new Gambia, thus he appealed to the authorities for its rejuvenation into our education system.

The Senior Programe Officer for National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr.  Yusupha Bojang explained that Civic Education means the process of educating and promoting civic engagement and participation among the citizenry to be able to know their civic obligations and responsibilities in a democratic state. Bojang emphatically said part of his Council’s aims is to enlighten and reliably inform the populace through different platforms of their civic rights and responsibilities for participatory democracy, as well as to understand the concept of good governance, how government is formed and its functions to the state.

 

For his part, Mr. Essa Sowe, the Deputy General Secretary of The Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU) highly hailed and commended the executive of EDUSA for coming up with such initiative, noting that this could not have come at an appropriate time than now. Mr. Sowe strongly argued that Civic Education is a process and not an event. 

He further highlighted the crucial roles of teachers in promoting and enhancing Civic Education in The Gambia, citing that teachers are essential recipes for peace and sustainable growth in any democratic nation. DGS Sowe, however, challenged teachers to be proactive and jealously embraced the tenets of their profession, while urging them to continuously strengthen the democratic values, norms, and cultures through teaching and learning in their various communities.”

 Being a teacher should not deter one’s role in the community,” said Mr. Sowe. 

 He genuinely recommended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology to considerreintegratingand reincorporating Civics into our education curriculum for a good reason. Sowe called on the government and the state to ensure rights for association, assembly, and other democratic values are supported and strengthened for greater participation and development.

Muhammed B.S. Jallow, the Permanent Secretary of MoBSE underscored the significance of Civic Education, noting that it would be necessary to educate our children the relevance of it. “Time has come for The Gambia to talk about proper civic education and participation in this new dispensation. Countries such as Ghana and Nigeria still offer Civics as a subject in their curriculum, and about 95% of the students who sit to WASSCE have good credits in it,” said Mr. Jallow.

Hehighlighted some challenges involved in the process of restoring Civics ranging from designing a curriculum (distinguishing facts from opinions), those aspects to be in the curriculum, training of teachers in Civic Education to the teaching materials required. PS Jallow eventually assured the students that his ministry together with the GTU and other relevant stakeholders will work closely to bring back Civics in Gambia Education system.

The event was characterised by presentation of certificates to the Dean, School of Education, the GTU, MoBSE, and GTUCCU in appreciation of their unflinching support and motivation to students of the School of Education, University of The Gambia through the 8^thexecutive council of EDUSA.

Author: Yankuba Manneh

LOWER NUIMI NAM LAUDS THE ECOMING FORCES 

By Ousman A. Marong

The National Assembly member for Lower Nuimi, North Bank Region (NBR) has lauded the Ghanaian Ecoming forces based in Barra for being so cooperative and helpful in the peace and security of the people region.

Matarr Jeng made this remark on Sunday at a cleansing exercise locally known as set-setal organised by BADA, a youth development association in Barra aimed at sensitizing people on issues of community and national significance for development

.

The exercise drew people from other youth association from the satellite villagers with the voluntary participation of the Ghanaian Ecomig soldiers.

Matar Jeng felicitated the Ghanaian forces for supporting them in all areas ranging from peace maintenance, security and environmental sanitation.

The parliamentarian said:“Youth committee met and discussed the way forward for Barra and came up with an idea of keeping the environment clean.”

He described Barra as the business center for both Senegal and The Gambia and a crossing point, where people of all walks of life traverse.

Jeng said people do talk about the dirtiness of Barra but forgetting that is not only caused by the natives of Barra but people using the place as business center and crossing point.

The parliamentarian said the commuters who use the ferry crossing point who throw waste along the way, hoping for the continuous collaboration between his constituency and the Ghanaian Ecoming forces. 

Asked about the strength of the Ecoming forces attached at Barra considering the invasion of a pharmacy just next door to Ecoming Forces’ camp in Essau,Hon Jeng said those soldiers were different from the current ones in town. 

“Those were the first forces whose mandate had ended and they have gone back,” he concluded.

“In fact at one point in time those Ecoming Forces had to exchange gunshot with the armed robbers”. Mr. Jeng noted. 

I can tell you this present Ecoming force are different they are very cordial friendly and helpful at any time.

 Their friendly with the people of Barra is out of benefit fetching as they are nice and committed to duty. They are not here to engage in burglary, prostitution and child abuse as its happening in other countries.

The Alkalo of Barra Alhagi Baboucarr Faye also echoed similar sentiments saying the people of Barra have more brotherly hood understanding among themselves, he said under his leadership as the Alkali of Barra he has one time organize and facilitate a day in remembrance for Ghana’s day of celebration for the Ghanaian Ecoming forces attached in his native village Barra.

 

MY YALI EXPERIENCE

My name is Alieu Jallow, a seasoned teacher, an activist, advocate senior reporter at the Trumpet newspaper and a YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FELLOW, NIGERIA COHORT 4. YALI is the greatest opportunity that has yet come my way.  I am considered lucky to be among the 129 participants to have been selected after a rigorous process of selection criterion in which 9000 applicants were received by the Regional Leadership center {RLC} within the sub region. YALI gave me the break to meet young vibrant, innovative, enthusiastic, and diligent young people from 9 poles apart countries who are doing extremely well in their various realms. The prospect of networking and collaboration with these young people was made straightforward for me by YALI. Sharing ideas, learning, and adopting the best practices served as the core objective.

Our continent Africa, call for innovative leaders. Leaders that will respect rule of law, human right, and are ethical. Leaders, who will bail Africa out its financial crises, innovate and create job opportunities for its population {youths}. Leaders who will perceive youth as key stakeholders not as a threat. Leaders who will be accountable and corrupt gratis. Leaders who will restore the pride of Africa, notice the uniqueness in everyone, motivating and formulate good policies that will promote and ensure steady economic growth.

WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO APPLY FOR YALI?

My desire to acquire new leadership skills that better equip me gain a greater understanding of the complexities and multiple-actor collaboration in exploring local efforts to create, maintain, and strengthen citizen-led and community-driven development. I realized the YALI program is the perfect opportunity for me to further build my capacity as an aspiring future leader and my selection to this program will equip me with the necessary skills and knowledge to help in grooming me as a leader and be able to effectively give back to the community. As an advocate,activist teacher, journalist and building my capacity is a prerequisite to my work so as to be able to give back to my community, students and colleagues alike, the necessary tools as change makers. I strongly believed in my potentials and if giving the opportunity to further grow and build on my competences as a young leader, I shall reach my full potentials and build on others through change and explore local efforts to bring about development to my community and Africa at a broader scope.

MY EXPECTATIONS

My expectations are to gain knowledge on new leadership skills, ethics that better equip me to be a better leader who will have a greater comprehension of the complexities and multiple-actor collaboration in exploring local efforts to create, maintain, and strengthen citizen-led and community-driven development initiatives,.

To be among the purposeful leaders who will demonstrate and develop a special relationship with followers who attribute extraordinary or heroic leadership abilities to its followers. I wanted develop my Expertise at communicating an inspiring vision and as well to be equipped with the skills and levels of modesty of leadership that will further develop on my character as its the root of integrity...  Integrity provides the foundation for leadership.

 

What plans do i have ahead of coming back from Nigeria?

YALI has turned me into an ground-breaking young leader with vast knowledge in civic leadership, ethical values, moral standards hungry to impacting change in my community, nation and Africa at large, I intend to make available free remedial classes to 150 excelling students whose parents can’t meet the expense of hiring a private educator, thus helping to bridge the gap sandwiched between the affluent and underprivileged through education as it the most powerful weapon that can be used to change world.

I in partnership with my organization Your Change For a Change (YCFaC) have it in mind to empower 400 people be self independent in fighting against preventable diseases but yet deathly.

Finally, I in alliance with my media {the Trumpet} look forward to empower 5000 people on burning issues that affect their lives ranging from human right infringement, civic rights and mass participation in policy and decision making. 

MY MESSAGE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE

My message to the young people is to consent that they are unique in all ways as a result they should shift out of their comfort zone and bring to an end blames, the time for excuses is over, it’s time for action. Let them recognize that we hold to the key our nation’s development and Africa at large.

I can be reached on +2203802391 on whats app and Facebook at Alex Barba J