BEAKERS IN THE GAMBIA ON STRIKE

By Ousman A. Marong

Bread bakers in the Gambia on yesterday withheld their services over a D1050 increase in the price of flour. The price` of flour now sells at D1050, from its previous price of D900.

Their strike action has led to acute shortage of bread from the streets of the greater Banjul areas.

 The few sells who have bread in stock have suddenly hike the price of their commodities.

 A loaf of bread which until yesterday sells at D7 now sells at D8 while those selling at D6 now selling now attract D7.

 The sudden shortage has started creating panic among bread consumers.

In an interview with the president of the beakers Association in Latrikunda Sabiji, and Tabokoto Muhammed Salieu a Mauritanian national, explained that the increase generally in most brands of flour, from D900 to D1050 on the market render them unable to break even with the current price of bread, he added that the attempt by the government to reduce the price of bread from D7 to D6, attracted condemnation from the public who are in dire need for bread consumption day-in-day out he noted that they are embarking on the one week sit-down strike, to draw the attention of public to these challenges and the need to increase the price of bread and to seek government intervention in order to remedy out the situation.

According to ModouYerrowSalieuJallow another baker in Tabokoto who revealed that they are trying to make consultation with the Trade Minister in order to solve the problem out, adding that efforts were made to reach out to the minister but they were informed that the minister was not in town but her assistance gave them assurance in meeting up with the minister latest on Friday.

 He adduce that they are to meet with the minister on Friday in order to tackle the  menace.

BintaJallow a bread consumer said “her Fula companion in the business industry are always with the believed and habit of putting in D5 on a business and expect to score a profit of D25, which is not normal and it’s forbidden in business sector she concluded.”

MariatouGibba, another bread consumer in Kaw Junction who revealed that she can’t go without bread, adding that this whole mess comes from the Trade minister, saying why a trade minister should interfere with bread prices when she knew she cannot control the price.

 She further added that, it is only in the Gambia where one can become a minister and start to enjoy with his or her family at the expense of the tax payers money, without considering the poor.

However efforts were made to reach to the minister herself she was contacted via a whatsApp chat with newsbite Gambia's Ousman A. Marong but she said she was not in town and that she was in a meeting.

Dr. Isatou Touray (photo credit from her facebook handle)

ZERO CRIME IN THE GAMBIA: NEW ACTING IGP

 By Ousman A. Marong

The new acting (IGP) Inspector General of Police Alhagi Mamoud Jobe has stated that the police administration's resolves to "deal with any threat to the peace and security of the country."

 According to him, the police service will remain professional and abide by its constitutional mandate of maintaining peace in the build up to combat crime rates in the country.

 Inspector jobe made this comments at a press conference held at the police headquarters in Banjul, thus saw his first public appearance with members of the press.

The idea of the press conference, he said was for him to pick up where his predecessors left.

 "The Gambia is a peaceful and secure country and shall remain so he noted adding that Gambian's should feel free to go about their normal duties as the police will deal with any threats to the peace and security of the country, it ever been enjoying before."

 He noted that the police will deal with any person or person who there to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.

 Asked about the whereabouts of the 5 arrested Police Intervention Units (P.I.U) who were arrested under the 72 hours without been taken to court? Mr. Jobe answered in the affirmative saying thoes P.I.U officers were suspended and the investigation is ongoing and soon they will appear before the court.

News bite Gambia’s Ousman A. Marong  asked whether the police should attend to peaceful demonstrations with live ammunitions, and under which circumstances should they open fire should in case things got out of hand?

He responded saying "Yes section 20 of the police act gave powers to the police to attend to riots with Ak47 ruffles each loaded with 7 live rounds, but the first step that the police should use should be opening tear gas and opening live rounds should be the last resort.

New acting IGP (Photo credit Ousman A.Marong)

President Barrow Visits Faraba Victims
By Ousman A. Marong

President Adama Barrow has visited injured victims of the Faraba Banta sand miming protesters who are currently receiving treatment at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul.

Three people were confirmed death in the aftermath of the clashed between peaceful protesters and the Police Intervention Unit (P.I.U), while four people sustained varying degrees of injury.

18 are currently receiving treatment, while 8 others are to be discharged soon.
The President who was in state house when the incident occurred, had on Friday 22 visited the bereaved families.

He also visited the site of the sand miming area accompanied by a number of government officials.
He was briefed on the current situation by the Chairman of the  (VDC) Village Development Committee Mr. Nfally Jarjusey, where he sympathized with them and wished those hospitalized a speedy recovery.

He promised that government will foot the medical bills of the injured persons, as efforts are to be made to needed an overseas treatment to go for medical treatment.

president Barrow in hospital (photo credit Pa Modou Cham)

WE WANT OUR FAIR SHARE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FORT SAID THE RESIDENTS OF BARRA.

By Ousman A. Marong

Fort Bullen is a historical side in Barra situated along the estuary of the river side.
It was built by the British in (1826) to thwart the efforts of some European slaves trade.
In early (1970s) it was declared a National Monument and in 2003, along with the six-Gun Battery in Banjul, was inscribed as a World Heritage site (UNESCO).

However the people of Barra have renewed their call to the Adama Barrow led government to quickly look into their affairs regarding the fort before it is too late.

Speaking to our Newsbite Gambia the Alkalo of Barra Alhagie Baboucarr Faye disclosed that the fort is not yielding or fetching them nothing fruithful since it's establishment up to date."
The reason I said this is because; since the fort has started operating there is no youth from Barra who is working there.
He said the former head of state has put in place someone from Banjul who is still overseeing the affairs of the fort.
"Infact at some point the fort was nearly to be turned into an Army Camp by the former president", he said.

"To his seeing since the fort is centered in Barra then the youths of Barra should also have their fair share with the way the fort is operating", or there should be symbiosis between the youths of Barra and the National Center For Arts and Culture together with the government as well in term of youth and employment"

"It is so unfair on both the National Center For Arts and Culture and the former head of state to handpicked someone from no where to come and stairs the affairs of the fort while the youths of Barra are here and can do it, Mr. Faye retorted.

He asserted that when it comes to the best explanation of the fort it is only the people of Barra who can best explain it, so why is it that outsiders are benefiting from the fort and not the people of Barra?

Asked why the late query since the people of Barra knew about all this hiccups to wait till the last minute and decided to lunch their complains to relevant authorities?

He answered in the affirmative saying the people of Barra are a kind people and love welcoming stranger's.
He emphasized that if you go to all the historical places in the country it is their youths who are at the helm of affairs, so why cant the people of Barra too do the same? he question.

Faye lamented out that Barra is a sea port and so close to the capital, and therefore in the whole country you cannot have such a town  so close to the capital like that so why are we neglected?

"Barra could have been well organized and developed than Banjul,  because Banjul is just a passerby town and Barra is a sea  crossing point next to capital thus connect us to  Senegal."

"There is no town or sector in this whole country which is putting that much money into the coffers of the state than Barra, even Farafenni is not doing that much as Barra is doing."

The VDC Chairman for Barra Mr. Alfusainey Joof said "The fort was a reserve land for the people of Barra through the King and not to the National Center For Arts and Culture."
Mr. Hassum Ceesay coordinator for National Center For Arts and Culture said "The fort is not the property of Barra, but the state.

He said the fort is universal value belonging to the state and not the people of Barra.
"The National Center For Arts and Culture is part of government, whose aims and objective are to promote national heritage sites in the country"

He said both  fort bullen, James Island, Stone Circle etc are both under the supervision of the National Center For Arts and Culture through the government of The Gambia."

   He concluded that the National Center For Arts and Culture have good cordial relationship with the people of Barra and they normally work together for the management and the well being of the site.

NAWEC HOPEFUL TO ELECTRIFY THE ENTIRE GAMBIA
By Ousman A. Marong
Managing Director of National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Baba Fatojo has said that hopefully within one year time the whole country would be electrified, " he said.
  He said the problem of water and electricity in the country should now be a thing of the past, saying now that electricity is the vehicle for development.

   Fatojo made this remarks at a recent press briefing held in NAWEC headquarters in Kanifing.
   "There are other projects to be running within the greater Banjul areas, with extension and hopefully within one year time the whole country be electrified, " he said.

   He asserted that NAWEC has gone a long a way towards improving services, and we went through some many challenging moments from 2017 to early 2018.

  He disclosed that NAWEC now have more than enough water and electricity supply capacity and have shifted their focus from transmission and distribution and working tirelessly in ensuring to end the problem of water electricity.

  He informed journalists that NAWEC had entered into an agreement with a Company call Karpowership Company that is now fully operating, coupled with the ongoing projects that are now running.

  He further said that the 9 mega watt is now in full service and they are now on the commissioning of another at Kotu power station.

  "We have connnected the greater Nuimi areas and they are now benefiting from 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply."

  He explained that through rural electrification they have also extended from Barra to Kerewan with a view to bridging that gab,

The NAWEC boss said they have also made extension between Illiasa and Farafenni, hoping that in one year the entire North Bank Region will be enjoying 24 hour uninterrupted electricity supply too.
  He stated that they are going to extend connection from Farafenni to Basse, while the same project will again be extend from Bansang and connect it to Basse.

  He revealed that NAWEC signed $41 million grant at a donor conference held in Brussels and some of the money is going to be used in financing a project call Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization project.

  He said they are also working with World Bank and West Africa Power Pool in order to serve the whole country, adding there will be another lane to connect from Kaolack through Banjul and this will ensure easy accessibility and flexibility to connect the entire nation.

 

NAWEC MD Fatoje in the middle during the press briefing

held in NAWEC headquaters. ( Photo Credit Ousman A. Marong).