GPU Vice President Mustapha Darboe Resigns

Photo: Mustapha K. Darboe (Photo Credit Culled from Facebook)

Written By News-Bite 

Mustapha K. Darboe, Vice President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) has on Monday tendered his resignation letter at the Union’s Secretariat in Fajara.

His resignation came following huge pressure from a group of young journalists who called themselves as ‘Concerned Journalists’. This group questioned Darboe’s eligibility as media chief serving as a GPU Executive, thereby undermining the Union’s Constitution. Mr. Darboe is said to be the proprietor of Malagen, an online Gambian media outlet.

First to question his eligibility was Ousman A. Marong, senior reporter at Mamos Media.

Mr. Marong quoted Section 5, paragraph G of the GPU Constitution which stated that “No proprietor or part-owner of or managing director or managing editor of a media house shall be eligible for election to any position in the executive committee.”

He added: “The Gambia Press Union’s Vice President is currently running his own media entity and he is now a media chief, therefore, he is disqualified to be part of GPU executive going by paragraph G of Section 5 of the GPU Constitution. I hereby call for his resignation.”

It was a heated debate in the GPU WhatsApp page when Mustapha K. Darboe, Vice President of the Gambia Press Union took a bold responsibility and accepted to resign on Sunday.

Photo: Saikou Jammeh ( Sectary-General GPU)

He said: “Colleagues, I have keenly followed the calls for me to resign as the vice president of the Gambia Press Union. The truth is that those who said I am not eligible to serve as vice president are right. And I know this months ago. I have brought it to the attention of some of my colleagues and friends, but even my critics. Yankuba Jallow, as you can admit, I told this and many others. For a number of my friends, the clause that is being referred to by those asking for my resignation is not correct since it is talking about “eligibility” to stand for an election.

Then how about someone who later became a media owner 2 years later? Well, to settle this, we just have to look at the intent of the clause. The intent is to prevent a media owner being in the GPU executive since the Union is an association of workers. It is assumed that having owned Malagen, an online news platform, I have journalists too working under me. Well, I don’t but I may hire next month or in the near future. Even if I don’t, by just owning a publication platform, the law would assume that I also hired journalists.

So, my resignation letter would be on the desk of the President and the Secretary-General tomorrow afternoon.

God bless us, bless our Union.

And I hoped I had been of any use, at all, to anyone of you, while I served you from 2018 to now.”

Following his resignation on Monday, Mr Darboe wrote this comment on the GPU Whatsapp page.

Photo: Ousman A. Marong (Concerned Journalist and Chief Petitioner)

“Let’s talk

Before I go, I need to tell you a story. I know my one leg, if not both, are out, as far as leadership at the Union is concerned. This morning, my letter was on the desk of the GPU president Mr Sheriff Bojang Jr. The last two year have been incredible for me. I have learned a lot. That is because of the opportunity you gave me. As most of you would know, I was a big critic of the administration before me. Of course, I feel like I paid dearly now. Lol.

First, let me hasten to say that the GPU as an institution is stable. It has been before me and will continue to be in terms of governance. There are lot of people here who think people are there and they are “eating our money”. Well, we can’t avoid claims like that. But how is the GPU managed?

There is the board which is the executive that you voted. Like all organisations, boards make major decisions and offer policy directions. However, the administration of the GPU is run by the secretariat led by the Secretary General and his staff.

While you don’t pay the board, the GPU staff are paid. For example, as your soon-to-be ex-vice president, I kept my full-time job. Of course, for GPU board allowances during our sittings, which is about 3 times a year with the exception of some emergencies, we sit and get D1000 for a meeting. This is because serving in the GPU board is, as it is elsewhere, voluntary.

I must say that Sheriff Bojang Jr and his team have given the secretariat the space required for them to be productive. I will explain this later.

The greater bulk of the work of the GPU, however, is done by the staff. Give this to Saikou Jammeh, Lamin Jahateh and his team. Forgive me for saying this but there is so much disingenuity at the Union from some of our members who think that some of us are “eating money” as they would put it. When I won awards, they said it was because he was vice president. Even people who ought to know better would say “Tapha is a good journalist. He deserved it but, you know, it is a perception issue”.

These people know I play no role in the selection of GPU Awards Committee. It is the Award Committee that selects judges. And they know that I have no relationship with those judges. And they also know those judges are some of the best journalists this country has ever produced. The likes of Baba Galleh Jallow, Agnes Thomsi, Issau Williams have all once become judges. But no, these people just believe what they believe.

And even when they claim, I am not supposed to win awards, they could not share a single story that they think should have won instead. Until today, they can’t. But I accept these things as criticisms. Then came GPU grants for stories of investigative journalism, no one applied. I did mine. This resulted to my mining story (https://malagen.com/investigations/govt-gach-and-mining-for-minerals-where-are-the-millions/) and my GNPC story (https://malagen.com/investigations/how-gnpc-under-mambury-njie-spent-nearly-d19m-for-a-banjul-property-in-a-deal-susceptible-to-favouritism/).

These things, I applied and produced results. Well, whether these are good stories or not is a matter of individual opinion. However, I delivered. I have never received any favour at the Union. From grants to the awards, I have worked hard for it. An unlike a lot of other GPU administrations, we have not stolen any GPU money. No one can point to a single case of theft in our administration. There were past GPU administrations that could not even produce a financial statement at Congress.

While I take no credit for what happened at the Union, I feel the bashing of the staff on some issues are unfair. Let me give you a little bit of history. When I was at The Standard, Saikou Jammeh and I had developed some friendship. Together we worked and even come to the Union sometimes. At this time, Saikou was the SG. But at this time, the Union barely has a cash power, struggles to pay rent and accounts red and run down.

This is the gospel truth. There was no staff. Everything was voluntary by bunch of executive members who were elected. And there was a problem in the administrative setup of the Union. The SG was elected, like all others. This is problematic because it is the SG who is responsible for the secretariat. He answers to the board. If he is elected like all board members, it means they cannot sack him or hold him to account in some ways. Now, that changed!

People who messed up the finances of the Union including the printing press, including some lousy ones here and those behind those here, took monies that would never be paid. Saikou stayed there, wrote proposals and brought money to the Union. Jahateh and others would later join him to bring this Union to this level.

Even better, a year or two down the line, we divorced the Secretary General from the politics of the Union. The SG is appointed, like the Teachers Union and he also appoints his staff. This gives the Union stability. The idea, as anyone here would understand, is to divorce politics from the work of the Union but also gives it continuity. The staff stay, the politician go every 3 years. Like government, it is. And we could not have and perhaps, never would have, more hardworking staff like we currently have.

For me, I have left even before I arrive. And anyone close to me would tell you, never mind my dress and hairstyle, that I am a misfit in this VP role even though I tried so hard to do it. However, these staff are true heroes. They continue to be. And since I bring no value to it, I am leaving with nothing reduced. So, let’s chill. But don’t take from these staff what they deserve.

Journalism is dedication to the truth. And it must not be anything less. "He who comes into equity must come with clean hands." We must hold others to account. True. But even best, we must hold ourselves to account. And for me, this is the most important thing.  But in the Gambian media, what sort of standards do we uphold? How many of us here belong to associations, journalism association of reporters who report nothing? Association of this and that, that serves no purpose other than flirting with people we are to hold to account.

I am not getting back at anyone for I have no grudge but I have seen people holding me to account who have not hold themselves to a similar higher standard. They run down their associations, some never held elections, some battle allegations of theft from their associations etc.

How do journalists form association on the advice of people they are supposed to hold to account? What is the idea of a “relationship” or “partnership” between a journalist and public servants/ institutions? Even when we overlook these important questions that prick our conscience, we still lead those associations forever.

And some of those are among those calling for others to resign. Well, those like me have no excuse to hold on to the role of the VP because I lead an accountability institution (Malagen) and I cannot hold others to the standard I am not prepared to hold myself against. But this media, are we ready?

Not long ago, Jahateh had this project with IRI to support journalists to report on the budget. Nice one. Some journalists applied but GPU had to refund for some of that money because the stories taken were that bad. For some stories, Jahateh had to re-write them. What standards do we set for ourselves? How do we hold ourselves to account in the same way we hold others to account?

Insulting people is not being critical. Let’s make that clear, right here, right now. Being lousy is not being critical! Thinking is the pathway of a critical being! Thinking! Spotting weakness in institutions and process, among others. Offering solutions for our collective progress. If we don’t strive hard, we will continue to say “journalism doesn’t pay”. Of course, it doesn’t but it is possible to earned a good living in journalism.

Lowering the standards for our own work and our behaviours, opens us to exploitation. There is currently no newspaper in this country that does not need a journalist. They are all complaining of quality and content. Not long ago, the owner of Today newspaper Hamid Adiomoh started recruiting to bring back his paper. He could barely have any. He came to me but I am occupied on other issues.

Let’s make no mistake about it, journalism is about going to the trenches. A journalist’s only relevance is the story he or she does. A journalist is nothing but his story. Knowing all the theories of media or communications is irrelevant if you cannot do a simple story.

To tell you that it is indeed possible to make a living in the Gambian media, I was not paid bad at Kerr Fatou. In a Gambian newsroom, D10, 000 is not bad at all. Some people approached me after leaving Kerr Fatou in January to work for them. Yet, there is over 200 journalists in this country. Everyday story on newspapers or online in this country is what everyone knows. It is a speech delivered a day ago or some telephone interview of someone who has already said on his Facebook page that he told this radio or that newspaper this even before it becomes lead or main news bullet.

What I am trying to say is that the Union cannot make anyone a better journalist or get you a well-paid job. It will try to negotiate. It will bargain. However, your worth is what will be paid. There were reporters here hired by newspapers and paid a certain good amount, few months down the line, they are told they can’t keep them. They had to be forced to freelance. Because every story had to be re-written.

Even Yankuba Jallow, My Julius Malema, (a recruit, call him my “little dog”, who has turned against me) he cannot help some of us improve. Guys, we have to fight to be our new self. Time for the old to die. GPU spends lot of money on trainings, grants etc. Nothing productive comes out of it.

You see, there is only one thing I have learned from Sheriff Bojang Jr. He once said there are people in this country, even God cannot help them. I still think, as I have thought at that time, that this is blasphemous! However, let’s avoid Sheriff’s that category of Gambian people. No one has to be down. There is enough space at the top for all of us. We can and we must hold each other there. And most importantly “if everyone clears the snow at your doorway, the city will be clean”.

And as Fatou Toufah Jallow said before the Truth Commission, comfort has been a disaster for this country. Truth, in most cases, causes discomfort and to embrace the truth we may have to embrace discomfort.”

“Many Nurses Are Going On Leave Without Salaries”-Says NAGaNM Spokesman

Photo: Sanna Darboe (Photo Credit WhatsApp Image)

By Ousman A. Marong

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of The National Association of Gambia Nursing and Midwives (NAGaNM), Sanna Darboe, has said many nurses at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital EFSTH are going on a leave of absence (leave without salary) in which some have already reigned.

Mr. Darboe has made these revelations to The MAMOS Media, during a telephone interview on Friday, 7th August.

“So many nurses are going on a leave of absence (leave without salary), some have already resigned from EFSTH,” said Mr. Sanna Darboe.

Photo: Sanna Darboe 

The NAGaNM Spokesman said some of the nurses have withdrawn money to buy medications and foodstuff to distribute it to different quarantine centers strictly for their colleague nurses only. He said NAGaNM has on several occasions engaged the authorities to look into the plight of nurses and doctors before the beginning of the pandemic.

“We have been going up and down meeting and engaging the relevant authorities, but our efforts remained futile. As the current situation, we received complaints from our comrades a few days ago. We went rounds to find out if their complaints are factual, to our dismay, worst is happening,” he remarked.

He said after their visit to different treatment centers where their colleagues who were tested positive of the disease were kept, they realized that their conditions were not encouraging.

“Their conditions were quite horrible and no one was providing them with any medical attention. Some were packed at hotels where they have not looked after. They are there on their own doing everything for themselves,” Mr. Darboe said.

The NAGaNM Spokesman went on to say that every citizen has a right and responsibility to take care of him or herself.

He added: “In any, the situation, where you have all the nurses are being infected or quarantined no one will be there to take care of the patients.” 

He confirmed that more than 45 Gambian nurses have been tested positive of the deadly virus while others are currently under quarantine.

“These people have families to take care of. If they are not having the necessary materials to protect themselves, meaning they are putting their lives and families at risk,” said PRO Darboe.

He noted that NAGaNM currently needed support from everyone home, abroad, and from the government.  

“Family members should encourage and give support to the nurses and doctors and stop influencing them to resign or leave without salary,” he advised.

He opined that if such the trend continues everyone would end up leaving the profession while leaving the patients to die in the hospitals.

Business Owners Lament Banjul/Barra Ferry Crossing Problems

Photo: Johe Ferry (Photo Credit Culled From Facebook)

By Ousman A Marong

The business owners plying between Banjul and Barra ferry crossing points have lamented about the problems of the two terminals amid COVID-19 Pandemic.

They have described the two crossing points as a death trap, complaining that the two sides have now become a nightmare to many of them who frequently travel the places.

Speaking to News-Bite Gambia, one of the river users, Muntaha Joof, lamented about the hardship experienced in traveling the Banjul/Barra ferry crossing points every week from Mayamba in Niumi.

Ndey Cham, a businesswoman, said she lacks words to describe the hardship experienced in crossing the river.

“We (the river users) are now subjected to untold hardship, as if we have committed a sin for being citizens of The Gambia, and coming from this part of the country. We only know when we are leaving and cannot determine when to reach out to our destinations. If you are traveling by the river you are always going with a broken heart because of the rudeness coming from these young boat owners. They always charge for double fee prices and driving the boats with recklessness,” said Ndey Cham.

Another regular user of the two anchoring places, Ousman Mboob,

corroborated Ndey’s experience.

“Travelling along the Banjul/Barra crossing points with a boat is not a good experience at all. It is a nightmare coupled with its attendant consequences. If there is an alternative, one will not travel through these river crossing points. We are expecting the worse simply because the ferries will stop working on the 10^th of this month and the only means of transportation for us would be the boats,” Ousman Mboob said.

Mboob said they have received information that The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) would stop the ferry services to commence work on the new landing sides, adding that the landers are already in town from Holland.

“It is always costly for us because boat owners charge each person per D50 and the one carrying you into the boats too charged for an extra price of D10. We are begging on the Gambia Navy to do all they could in order to make sure that boat owners do not charge for double price anytime soon the ferries stop working,” he concluded.

Gambian journalist appointed as JIFORM Summit Committee Chairperson

Photo:Ousman A.Marong SG MiRAG (photo Credit Modou Jarju)

 By Mariama Jobarteh.

The Journalists’ International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) has appointed Ousman A. Marong, a Gambian journalist as Summit Committee chairman for The Gambia. Mr. Marong who serves as the Secretary-General of the Migration Reporters Association of The Gambia (MiRAG), is expected to chair the JIFORM Gambia Committee Summit scheduled to take place from 15^th – 17^th October 2020.

He is currently working with Mamos Media, an International media outlet based in Oslo, Norway.

The international summit will attract participants and speakers from across the globe and discussions will be centered on the theme: ‘Migration Governance and Media Strategy for Development During Pandemic’. It will be held online via Zoom.

A press statement issued by JIFORM on Monday, 3^rd August stated that other members of this committee are Sarjo Camara, the President of Women Journalists Association in The Gambia, and Biriam S. Jobe from the Gambia.

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Services, Muhammad Babandede MFR, who has been selected to officially declare the event opened, German migration advocate Johnna Mac, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the Honourable Commissioner of Nigeria, a Havard University-trained migration expert, Eric Chanje and a US-based international migration lawyer, Samuel Adeusi, are all expected to participate at the Summit.

A Professor of Law and international speaker, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba has been named as the Chairman of this international summit.

“We (JIFORM) appointed Ousman A. Marong as our Summit Committee Chair. He is currently the Secretary-General of the Migration Reporters Association of The Gambia (MiRAG). He works with the Mamos Media, Norway as resident Gambian correspondent. From his profile, you can see that he is migration personified. We know that not every journalist will pick interest in migration reporting which was why we deregistered many Gambian journalists enlisted on our platform some time ago because they weren’t active after several interventions for months. We need to be proactive ahead by looking for someone that shares a passion for JIFORM migration concept to assist to galvanize support and mobilize other interested Gambian journalists to be part of the event,” said Ajibola Abayomi, President of JIFORM.

He added: “This is a global event being followed with deserved attention that will have international resource persons from the USA, Germany, Canada, Nigeria, India, and several nations participating. We have the same committee for different nations and continents already constituted. Marong as chairman will be joined by the President of Women Journalists in Gambia, Sarjo Camara, and a Gambian broadcaster, Biram Jobe currently working with QTV.”

The JIFORM President expressed optimism that with the mention of Professor Patrick Lunumba’s participation in this summit, the spirit of pan-Africanism is reignited.

“Beyond making him chair JIFORM summit, he is one figure that promotes the African brand with honour. He is capable to address issues of migration governance and media strategy to agenda set developments in the region. We hope to tap from his vast experience with other guests coming to chat a new path of development through media advocacy on migration governance. The summit will attract participants across the globe and everyone irrespective of colour or race will advance migration course based on individuals’ regional perspectives and the whole world will benefit from the encounter,” he concludes.

Below is the Press Release from JIFORM:

August 3, 2020.

JIFORM Names Marong, Summit Committee Chair For Gambia.

Dear colleagues, we have a month in between before we hold our virtual international migration see for 2020.

As we gear up, we are pleased to announce a new development from the Gambia in relation to JIFORM 2nd Annual summit slated for October 15-17, 2020.

Sequel to this, Mr Ousman .A. Marong has been appointed as the Chairman of Gambia Mobilisation and Contact Committee for the summit 

Marong, is the current secretary of Migration Reporter’s Association of The Gambia (MiRAG).

Other members of this the committee are Sarjo Camara, the President of Women Journalists Association in The Gambia, and Biriam S. Jobe, also from the Gambia.

We wish the committee the best of luck and they take up the responsibilities involved.

We have confidence that your contributions will indeed go a long way in championing the agenda of JIFORM in Gambia and Africa.

Signed

Juliet Makwama

General Secretary

JIFORM

 

From Lusaka, Zambia

 

All the best.

Sidia Jatta Discourages Politics Of Deception

 

Photo: Sidia Jatta

          

By Ousman A. Marong

The National Assembly Member for Wuli West Constituency, Honourable Sidia Jatta, has discouraged fellow politicians to do away with politics of deception and hypocrisy should be set aside in politics.

“They have forgotten that I (Sida Jatta) was onetime the PDOIS presidential candidate for 3 times. The interview I had in 1992 is still with someone who is here present. He (the person) said he is in doubt simply because since 1992 up till now our words never changed. Our words will remain unchanged because what the words are meant for still did not change. PDOIS will not change because the system has not changed,” said the veteran politician cum linguist.

Honorable Jatta who is the Chairman of PDOIS Central Committee said the words of the party would remain unchanged because the system has not yet changed. He made these remarks recently while addressing the crowd in his community.

“PDOIS is not here to deceive or fool anybody. We are not here to promise you anything. We do not have anything and The Gambia is not mine so how can I give something to someone. The Gambia is not mine and I did not want it to be mine, so how would I pull out my money to give it to someone to vote for me. You see people always said PDOIS never do this and that we refused ourselves to the core and we wouldn’t do it,” he stressed.

“Migration Is Not A Crime If…,”- Says JIFORM President

Photo: JIFORM President

By Ousman A. Marong

The President of Journalists’ International Forum for Migration JIFORM, Mr. Ajibola Abayomi, has said that migration is not a crime if it is done through regular means.

“We need to be more proactive in telling success stories about Africa. Mind you and don’t be deceived, migration is not a crime if done through regular means. The number of money migrants remits home help families to survive better,” said Mr. Ajibola Abayomi.

The JIFORM President has made these remarks during an exclusive interview with News-Bite Gambia.

According to Mr Abayomi, many European migrants in Africa who are engaged in business do send money back to their various nations.

The JIFORM President Abayomi said he is tempted to reject the usual labeling of migrants as threats to economic growth in Europe.

He was asked about the menace created by the recent media coverage of irregular migration and migrants’ stories in both Europe and West Africa.

“In analyzing your questions, I am tempted to reject the usual labeling of migrants as threats to economic growth in Europe. Apart from clear cases of irregular migration which the African number is insignificant, what the media should do is to constantly highlight the sufferings of many irregular migrants,” he remarked.

He further challenged the media to report fairly about migrants. He added: “The media should also among other things converse sympathy for migrants that are not criminals but are purely force to seek greener pastures. Those that are well behaved should be allowed to regularize their status. I am not changing position here because the reality also is that they are already in the system abroad. They are entitled to fair treatment in all ramifications,” he stressed.

Journalists’ International Forum for Migration (JIFORM) was founded in 2018 by Ajibola Abayomi. The body has been registered as a foundation for professional journalists solely interested in migration matters. The foundation currently registered over 200 journalists across the globe mainly focusing on migration reporting.

It's first international migration summit was held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2019. It was in the same year that the body becomes part of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) global summit on migration. During the summit, a charter was drafted for journalists covering migration in Tunisia.

Since then JIFORM has been organizing a series of capacity building, workshops for its members severally both in Nigeria and on the international scene through the digital process.

The theme: for this year’s summit is ‘Migration Governance And Media Strategy for Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The summit will attract and connect many participants across the globe and will be virtually held on zoom.

International speaker, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba is expected to chair the summit.

Confirming his participation, the pan-African and the Director of Kenyan law school in his the official response said: “I confirm my availably and willingness to serve as PLO of Africa.”

The summit that attracts participants and speakers across the globe would also have in attendance the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, MFR who has been slated to officially unveiled the event, German migration advocate Johanna Mac, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the Honorable Commissioner of Information, Lagos State, Nigeria, Harvard trained migration expert, Eric Chinje and United State base international lawyer, Samuel Adewusi.

“The core drive of JIFORM is to discourage irregular migration, human trafficking, and lead advocacy against crisis leading to the internal displacement of citizens in nations. Specifically, we are targeting the 2nd annual summit of JIFORM in October from 15th to 17th. Unfortunately, we are in a difficult era with COVID-19 pandemic, however, we have refused to be defeated by the circumstances,” he said.

He intimated that the summit would assemble intellectuals adding that alone speaks volumes about their intention.

“We have been doing this to develop capacity and contribute to the course of humanity from the media angle,” he concluded. 

Mai Fatty Calls For Fairness in Alleged Police Brutality

Photo: Mai Ahmad Fatty (Photo Credit Culled From Facebook)

By Ousman A. Marong
The Leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) party, Mai Ahmad Fatty has called on the government of President Adama Barrow to thoroughly investigate the alleged police brutality involving the Commissioner of the Police at Anti-Crime Unit (ACU), Gorgi Mboob.

“I am begging Gambians, particularly those on the social media to be patient and to wait for the conclusion of the investigation. Let’s wait till the National Human Rights (NHR) issued its results and recommendation and from there we can directly face those in question so as to implement their recommendation,” said GMC leader.

According to the GMC leader, the government should wait for the completion of the investigation before concluding on who should resign or be sacked.

He made these deliberations during a press briefing held in his party’s secretariat in Pipeline, Kairaba Avenue.

“I am begging the panels of the investigators to expedite its proceedings because the citizenry is no more with the patience. The Citizenry is no more patient because there were many police misconducts. They are with grief and anger and can’t more contain the endless misconducts within the law enforcement services,” he remarked.

He challenged the investigators to speed up with their investigation in order to lower further tensions from the citizens.

“If I want to preempt on the investigation and at the same time want to prejudice the ongoing investigative that would be irresponsible of me. I want the Gambian people to focus on what is going wrong and not what is happening,” he said.

Fatty added that what is going wrong from one or two individuals cannot use it as a means to demonize and the entire institution.

“I have seen a lot of calls saying: ‘Scrap the Anti-Crime Unit.’ That is very dangerous because you have a problem with the messenger that doesn’t mean you should eliminate the message. In this case, Gorgi Mboob is said to be a bad messenger but the message that is been carried is a very good message. We must not reject the message because we don’t like the messenger. That is the issue, he noted.

The former Interior Minister said one may not like how Gorgi Mboob operates as social media has indicated but that is not to say ACU should not do its work.

He continues that it is this country that has not risen up in order to be fair to its law enforcement institutions.

He stated that it is the only Gambia where most police officers only one pair of boots, adding that most of them have one uniform for years.

Describing how officers go with a single pair of uniform, the outspoken political leader said: “You see them in the hot sun and even their collars get torn. They are sweating because of the hot sun and they smell because of the sweat,” he concluded.

Education Minister Louds Former LK School Headmaster

Photo: Ms Cole and Ms. Herriette. (Photo Credit Kebba Ansu Manneh)

By Ousman A Marong

Gambia’s Education Minister, Claudiana Cole, has lauded former Headmaster of Latrikunda Sabiji Upper Basic School (LSUBS), Alhagi Landing Boto Jatta alias L.B.J for his strong stance in the country’s educational sector.

“As I sat here I was thinking what would have happened to all these wonderful gentlemen here, if Master Jatta never had the vision of establishing a school in this Latrikunda Community. This is what I kept thinking otherwise all these potentials would have been lost. Lost in a sense, perhaps the nearest school would have been far from the community where parents wouldn’t even have bothered to enroll their children in those far schools. Perhaps, the children themselves would not have been inclined to want to go to school because of the distance,” said Minister Cole.

According to the country’s education Minister without Master Jatta initiating the school students in Latrikunda Sabiji would have to trek every-day to-and-fro to go to school.

She made these remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the new 25 Classroom blocks in Latrikunda Sabiji School.

The MRC Holland Foundation Gambia is supporting the project with 25 Classroom blocks, 25 new Toilets, Renovation of 36 Classroom blocks for the L/K Sabiji Lower, Upper and Annex Basic School.

Photo: Ms. Cole and the students of L/B Sabji School.

The Multi-million dalasi project is geared towards supporting the school to renovate its entire blocks. It would feature a new building for the Senior Secondary school in order to complement the Government.

Ms. Herriette Brummer Sonko, a representative of MRC Holland Foundation Gambia, challenged the government to focus more on the rural areas arguing that over seven thousand (7000) students going to L/K Lower and Upper Basic School are from rural areas.

“I would have loved to provide them all schools in the villages so that they can stay there with their parents and not necessarily taken to the urban areas to stay with their aunts and far relatives creating an urban blockage in the system,” said Herriette Brummer Sonko.

She said whenever she steps her foot in the urban areas and visited their schools she always feels stressed and concern.

“I wouldn’t even know where to start because the task is mighty. In a lot of cases if you look at the schools you wonder where is the community because you see crimes, problems, filter places which are not looked after, etc. You wonder how is it possible that students come to this school to have their lessons,” she quired.

Saidou Jallow, The principal of Latrikunda Sabiji School hailed MRC Holland Foundation Gambia Project in their benevolent support to the school.

“This is the happiest moment of my life. We have been struggling to deliver quality education to the children that are under our responsibility. This school has one of the biggest catchment areas in this region. As I speak now we have over seven thousand students within this campus,” he stated.

He said the overcrowding of students in L/K School would soon be a thing of the past if the new classroom buildings are completed.

Photo:Patrick Lorch Otieno Lumumba

PLO Of Africa To Chair JIFORM's  Summit On Migration 

Professor of Law and international speaker, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba has been named as the Chairman of an international migration summit to be staged between October 15 and 17, 2020 by the Journalists' International Forum For Migration (JIFORM).

Confirming his participation, the pan-Africanist and the Director of Kenyan Law School in his official response said: “I confirm my availability and willingness to serve as PLO of Africa”.

The summit that attracts participants and speakers across the globe would also have in attendance the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede; MFR who has been slated to officially unveiled the event, German migration advocate Johanna Mac; Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the Honourable Commissioner of Information, Lagos State, Nigeria; Harvard trained migration expert, Eric Chinje and United State based international migration lawyer, Samuel Adewusi.

The 3-day event themed 'Migration Governance and Media Strategy for Development During Pandemic', will be virtually held on zoom.

Juliet Makwama, the Secretary-General for JIFORM, in a statement issued in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday said the media body comprising over 200 journalists across the continents were targeting the summit to produce a glossary of terminologies for migration reportage.

She pointed out: “Since 2018, we have been leading advocacy against irregular migration, human trafficking and crises leading to the internal displacement of citizens in nations, despite the pandemic; we are determined to reshape migration reportage to further enhance media capacity.

“In 2019, our first conference was held in Abuja, Nigeria, this year, as a result of Covid-19 spread we have to channel the event through technology space.”

She added that the event would also have robust debates and participation of CNN, BBC, VOA, and German media with the use of English and French as languages of communication.

Agencies expected at the conference are International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Tony Elemelu Foundation, SEEFAR, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria and others from Europe, Asia, India, and the United Kingdom.

SBG Presents Essential Items To Prison Authorities

Photo: SBG Proppriator with Prison authorities (Photo Credit  Flex Dan)

By Ousman A Marong

Smart Business Group (SBG), a local business enterprise in The Gambia has today, presented various essential items to The Gambia Prison Services (GPS) to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the prison.

The presented items include large quantities of veronica buckets, 50 liquid soaps, 60 bags of laundering soaps, 5 thermometer guns, 15 washing buckets, 1800 face masks, etc.

In a brief presentation ceremony held at the Gambia Prison Services (GPS) Headquarters, the public relation officer of GPS superintendent Modou lamin Ceesay, expressed concern about the vulnerable that suffers from the pandemic the most because they cannot afford the key essentials to protect themselves.

“It is for this reason that SBG thought it wise to present these essentials items to the GPS to assist in protecting inmates and wardens,” PRO Ceesay said.

Superintendent Ceesay said COVID-19 has provided the opportunity to observe key hygiene rules, adding that they are doing all it takes to see that the prison is COVID-19 free.

Mr. Omar Njie, The proprietor of Smart Business Group (SBG) said it is a pleasure to give back to the prison services at the trying times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: Essential items (Photo Credit Yusuf Tylor aka Flex Dan)

“On behalf of my company (the Smart Business Group) I am proud to present sanitary items needed to assist our brothers and sisters in prison, especially the prisoners who are very vulnerable. The office of the vice president in consultation with the COVID-19 committee in The Gambia has made the wearing of face masks mandatory in public places. Therefore as concern citizens, we want to contribute our quota in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in our country,” said Omar Njie.

The SBG Proprietor said the reason behind the distribution is to encourage others to come forward to help the prisoners. He also called on the government to come to the aid of the prisoners.

“We have all seen what has happened when we watched the TRRC. The conditions in which the prisoners are living is really bad as we are in very trying times right now. The prison should not look like a place for criminals. It should be a correctional center that transforms people to become useful in society,” he concluded.

Saikou Kawsu Gassama, Director of Administrations at the Gambia Prison Services hailed SBG for their timely intervention to the GPS during this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are very glad to receive these gifts because they are very timely. These gifts have come at a time when the whole county is bracing for the lightning of the emergency regulations,” he concluded.