31- year-old Gambian invents a local TV Transmitter

PHOTO: Seedy Jabang

By Ousman A. Marong

Seedy Jabang a 31-year-Old Gambian from Kombo Tujereng in Kombo South District of West Coast Region (WCR) on Thursday 23^rd May 2019 presents his locally made TV transmitter before the press in his own Tujereng village.

Tujereng an area with such rough shape; with little electricity so intermittent; that the lights system is always on the on again off again situation. Yet this didn't stop Mr. Jabang's insatiable curiosity to understand and build his locally made electronics. He taught himself about engineering and manage to use scraps with black sand to build his working local TV transmitter, telephones sets, batteries TV projectors, FM Radio transmitter, etc.

"Creativity is universal; and can be found in many places where one does not expect to find them”, he remarks. He added that perseverance and passion are essential in nurturing that Creativity ability. He made this pronouncement while presenting his work before the gathering in his own Tujereng village. “I am an asset to The Gambia and its entire citizenry", he told NEWS BITE.

(His locally made satellite Channel) 

He said he can create so many things apart from locally made TV transmitter, FM Radio transmitter, etc, but was quick to add provided that I got the support from government, institutions, and individuals.

He recalled reaching out to then former Information Minister Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh for help. He disclosed Mr. Janneh had facilitated his interview with the state TV (GRTS). “After my interview with GRTS I started to receive calls from different people with the promise of helping me out”, he explained. He said one week later after his interview with GRTS Mr. Janneh was sacked.

As he tells his story; he recounts how he would salvage wire parts from rubbish; breaking down the components to understand how they worked and then build them together into whatever he wanted to try as a project. He further revealed that he was contacted by a journalist from Nairobi (Kenya) who requested that he (Seedy Jabang) sell his knowledge of creating and inventing locally made TV transmitter, FM Radio Transmitter, etc. to him. Jabang cries about the lack of all-inclusiveness from Gambian’s to assist their fellow mates. He opined if he were to be in Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, etc he could have help somewhere else since. He urged all and sundry to support him either kind or cash for him to achieve his dreams. He revealed that his next target is to invent a local digital voice recorder, a digital camera, and a grilling machine.

PHOTO: TV Screen he uses to extract images. 

“Yusupha Darboe taking the exit gate at Star FM wasn’t dramatic”, Says Veteran Broadcaster Alhagie Sarjo Barrow

PHOTO: Alhagie Sarjo Barrow (Photo Credit his Facebook timeline)

By Ousman A. Marong

Gambia’s veteran broadcaster Alhagie Sarjo Barrow has said that his co-presenter in the person of Yusupha Darboe taking the exit gate at Star FM was not something dramatic. Asked about the rumors allegation that he (Sarjo Barrow) is a loyal supporter to President Adama Barrow and that his co-presenter in the person of Yusupha Darboe is also a loyal supporter to the People’s United Democratic Party (UDP) thus caused the rouse leading to Yusupha’s eschewing the presenter’s seat at the popular Star FM Radio. The veteran broadcaster answered in the affirmative saying people are entitled to their own opinions.

According to him, Star FM had its own editorial policy where reporters and presenters do pass their reports to. He added that amongst their editorial policy at Star FM the direct reading from the Newspapers was the last resort to do.

He made this pronouncement in an interview with Senn FM’s current affairs Radio program anchored by Buba Gagigo. He said it is unethical for the radio stations to be directly taking news from the Newspapers.

“One should not put the blame on the radio stations for their direct involvement in quoting news from the Newspapers”, he stated. He added the majority of the FM stations in town are not that financially strong to be able to send their reporters in the field to fetch stories, queries.

“Part of our editorial policy was that our overall aims and the objective were that we should be fetching for our own news.”

Mr. Barrow denied ever having any issue with Yusupha Darboe or him contributing towards his resignation at Star FM. He outlined that in life people’s mannerisms do speak volumes about the kind of person they are.

“Even my son is far way older than Yusupha Darboe. I have passed that stage to be head logging with my junior ones in the field of broadcasting”, he stressed. He disclosed that he is not part of the broadcasters who do cheat on broadcasting during their news presentation.

“I have been into broadcasting since the era of the first elderly statesmen Sir Dawda Jawara and I have never been engaged in castigating any head of state.” He emphasized that he has been doing justice in the way he does his news presentation. He said even during the time of ex-president Yahya Jammeh with all his authoritative ruling he (Sarjo Barrow) has been doing justice to him. He stated there is no single day in his carrier were a piece of news would be given to him to broadcast and he would feel otherwise.

He alleged that during the political deadlock former Information Minister Sheriff Bojang appeared before him (Sarjo Barrow) in the order of ex-president Jammeh ordering him to go on state TV to pronounce that ex-president Jammeh said he won’t relinquish power.

“I had no choice other than to go ahead and carry on the proposed pronouncement.” I did the pronouncement with bitterness, said Sarjo Barrow.  He recalls Sheriff Bojang dashing him with one thousand dalasis (1000) pledging his satisfaction on the pronouncement made by him (Sarjo Barrow). He confirmed Sheriff Bojang telling him that ex-president Jammeh would be happy hearing his pronouncement over the air. He further alleged that during the political impasse ex-president Jammeh ordered the then Director General at GRTS that they shouldn’t be referring to him as outgoing president Jammeh and that Adama Barrow should not also be called president-elect Barrow.

Man Beaten To Death After Been Allegedly Accused Of Stealing Fuel

PHOTO: Adama Drammeh. 

By Ousman A. Marong

Abubacarr Camara, 50 a resident of Old Yundum, Kombo North District, West Coast Region (WRC) has on Friday, 3, May 2019 been pronounced death after been beaten by a group of people who accused him of stealing fuel

According to an eyewitness who spoke to this medium on condition of anonymity, the group of mobs tied the legs and hands of the Canada and severely beat him. This incident occurs in ‘Paradise Estate’ at Old Yundum.

“While on my way to work I saw the mobs with legs and hands tied together while the mobsters beating him bitterly,” said the witness. He (eyewitness) started that the victim was screaming demanding that he (the victim) should be taking to the hospital. He added that the mobsters decided to take the victim to the hospital as requested and upon arrival at the Coastal Road hospital the nurses on duty further refer them (mobs) to the Edward Small Francis Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) and the victim finally die on the way.

The witness further revealed that the victim vehemently stressed to the mobs that he wasn’t a thief and it was not his intention to steal their fuel. The witness further disclosed that the victim reiterated to the mob's that he was left with no option as he (the victim) left a wife and children's at home to feed. He said the victim was a driver and his car had a problem and he has no means to feed his family and therefore thus landed him into stealing, said the witness.

“The people were just beating him mercilessly. Someone just came from nowhere to hit his eyes with his shoes. People were just slapping him till they dragged him away,” the eyewitness told NEWS BITE.

In her part widow Adama Drammeh, said “there is nothing that I could explain; adding that I was just at home and then later received the news about my husband’s death”, she stressed. She, however, demands just from the relevant authorities, saying I am a woman and all of my feedings were rest on the soldiers of my husband. NEWS BITE further visited the scene where the incident occurred but 'apprentices' at the workshop declined to comment. NEWS BITE has learned that the mobsters are currently helping the police in their investigation.

At the time of going to press all efforts were made to reach out to the police PRO, but remain fertile. NEWS BITE is following this issue and will update our cherished readers as new and fresh developments come in.

Gambia Joins Senegal To Celebrate World Malaria Day

PHOTO Two Health Ministers. (Photo Credit Kebba Ansu Manneh)

By Ousman A. Marong

The government of Gambia through the Ministry of Health has on Sunday 5^th May 2019 joined their Senegalese counterpart to celebrate World Malaria Day.

The event was organized by National Malaria Control Program office with the funding from Global Fund the Gambia; USAIDS; Catholic Relief Services; Trust Bank; GTBank; etc. The Celebration marks the distribution of over 11 million lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to various communities within the two surrounding satellite villages of Senegal and Gambia. The event was jointly celebrated by the Gambia; Senegal and Guinea Conakry. The celebration was held at the Senegalese border 'Kerr Ayib' under the theme "Zero Malaria Starts with Me."

Dr. Ahmed Lamin Samateh Gambia’s Health Minister revealed that in 2018 the ministry of the Gambia and Senegal have signed a convention to foster collaboration in eliminating the Malaria virus across the sub-region. He said the Malaria initiative project was established strategically to harmonize and intervene in the virus.

He disclosed that research by MRC has indicated that there is a general decline in Malaria by 50 percent. He outlined that admission at hospitals and health facilities has also dropped up to 74 percent and death attributions to Malaria also dropped to 90 percent. He further revealed that the Malaria parasite prevalence has also dropped from 4.0 percent in 2011 to 0.2 percent in 2014.

"The Malaria prevalence has declined to 0.1 percent in 2017”, said Hon Minister Samateh.

In his part Abdoulie Joof Sarr the Senegalese Health Minister underscored his ministry's readiness to mount various campaigns and also distribute mosquito nets, adding “the fight against malaria is not yet over.”

He said these efforts could be the best way to prevent mosquito bites. He opined that environmental sanitation is still a challenge in most communities which are dotted with dirty drains behind houses, weedy compounds, and haphazard disposal of used tyres and plastic containers as well as stagnant waters behind the bathroom, amongst others. These he said are factors contributing to the Malaria virus. “We continue to build houses without any consideration for accessibility and fresh air circulation"; he stressed.

He referenced that The Medical Director of Health Service at GFG, reports that malaria scored 40 percent out Patients Department (OPD) attendance. He said children under five and pregnant women were mostly affected due to convulsions and preventable deaths.

He adduced that the only way to achieve "Zero malaria starts with me”, adding one has to play his/her part in the Preventive strategies, which he said includes environmental hygiene and the use of mosquito nets that could scale-up efforts to eradicate the disease.

In his part the Ebrima K. Dampha Governor North Bank Region (NBR) hailed the two heads of states in their stand to eradicate the disease.

He said, “it should be everybody's business in the fight against the eradication of the Malaria virus.”  He added that the fight against malaria is very challenging, therefore everyone should take part in ensuring that the epidemic end.

The Gambia joins World Press Freedom Day Celebration

PHOTO: Saikou Jammeh. (PHOTO Credit Online)

Editorial

The Gambia will today May 3 join the rest of the world to celebrate world Freedom Day.

Various activities will be carried out to mark the day and also assess the progress of press freedom in the country. More than 2,000 journalists, politicians, representatives of civil society organizations, academia, and the judiciary, have today gathered the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa to grace this year’s World Freedom Day celebration. The event will provide the platform to discuss the challenges faced by the media in the election. It would also examine the safety of journalists, how to effectively tackle face news and the critical role the media could play, to help heal wounds, promote reconciliation and peace, said Dr. Vera Sogwe, Executive Secretary IFJ.

Word Freedom Day is held every year to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation.”

However NEWS BITE demand explanation from the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to ask if they (GPU) cannot create their own National theme in events like World Press Freedom Day’s than to be copying IFJ’s theme year in-year-out? NEWS BITE knew very well that themes for FoE Days are universal and therefore every Press Union worth their own salt to choose whatsoever theme they wish. It could have been more ideal for the GPU to come up with their own National theme than to maintain that of IFJ. On the issue of defending the media from attacks and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their duty, NEWS BITE still think the GPU owed doyen journalists like Deyda Hydara, Chief Ebrima Manneh, Musa Saidykhan, etc. To create a National theme on their behalf than to maintain the IFJ theme. NEWS BITE will further challenge the GPU to caution the Adama Barrow administration to lift the ban on The Daily Observer Newspaper and changed some of the ill-fitting draconian media laws.

Deputy CDS Drammeh Cautioned Soldiers Not To Be Political

PHOTO Deputy CDS Drammeh. (Photo Credit Online)

By Ousman A. Marong

Deputy CDS Yankuba Drammeh has on yesterday called on the Gambia National Army (GNA) to restrain themselves from politics. Major general Yankuba Drammeh was speaking as the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) elevates over 74^th none commission personnel’s of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) to various ranks. Major general Drammeh challenged the soldiers to raise the alarm where necessary on any issue that threatens the peace and security of the nation. The decoration of the military personnel’s into various ranks was a sign of honor and reward for performance for the newly promoted official guard's battalion. A total of 74^th personnel’s have been elevated to various ranks.

Major Yahya Darboe is the commanding officers of the guard's battalion, he revealed that his unit had gone through a series transformation over the past 3-years. He, therefore, reminded his men to always set exemplarily behaviors, adding that he whom much is given much is expected. He cautioned those who are not yet promoted to work hard and not to see themselves differently. He further called the promoted men and women to continue to serve the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) with distinction. He reminded them of their responsibilities in the army.

He disclosed that the year 2019 is a year of transformation, reorientation and the reorganization of the army, were military personnel’s are expected to maintain the high standard and discipline to traject the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF). He cautioned soldiers to stay away from politics and to raise the alarm as to when necessary on issues that dear threatens the peace and stability of the country. Staff Sergeant Bakary Ceesay one of the promoted soldiers hailed the Gambia Armed Forces and highlighted that one of their functions is to protect the lives and territorial integrity of the nation.