Gambia: 2017 Malaria Survey Publish

By Ousman A. Marong
The National Malaria Control
Programme (NMCP)in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare, has on Tuesday,
published its 2017 malaria
indication survey at the Djembe
Hotel in Kololi.
A joint–survey which was
conducted by The Gambia Bureau
of Statistics and UTICA
Organization in collaboration with
National Malaria Control
Programme, aims to provide
population-based estimates on
malaria indicators including
malaria prevention, knowledge and
prevalence, to make strategic
planning and evaluation.
The survey indicated that The
Gambia has made significant
progress in controlling malaria in
the sub-region with 0.4%.
Despite the new progressive report
on malaria control, its ailment still
prevails in The Gambia especially
during the rainy season.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary
at the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare, Karamba Keita, said the
survey was meant to measure
progress towards achieving the
goals and targets set in the malaria
strategic plan for malaria
prevention and control from 2014 –
2020.
DPS Keita revelead that they are
proud to be associated wih all the
partners who have contributed
immensely towards the successful
completion of this year‘s survey in
the implementation process to
achieve a malaria free country.
In his part, Momodou Kalleh,
Programme Monitoring and
Evaluation Specialist at Ministry of
Health, said the ministry‘s aim is
to ensure that 80% of the Gambian
population is malaria free.
He urged pregnant mothers to go
to the hospitals regularly to get
their drugs and regular preventive
measures for malaria.
“The National Malaria Control
Programme is currently spraying
two provincial regions of the
Gambia, ie; Upper River Region and
Central River Region, and if funds
are available we will spray the
entire country,” he asserted.
For Muhammed Ayad, Director of
UTICA Organization, despite the
progress made by the Gambia
government in controlling malaria,
there is still more to be done. He
challenged the Ministry of Health
to seek funds and continue
implementing such surveys in the
country in order to eradicate the
malaria virus.
A statistician at Gambia Bureau of
Statistics (GBoS), Alieu Saho, said
GBoS’ mandate is to provide
numbers to be used by programme
managers so as facilitate and to
see what they have been doing
over the past years in terms of
such targets related to malaria.

Norwagian Lady Sentenced For Racist Rants Against Gambian

PHOTO Lamin Samateh (PHOTO Credit MAMOS Tv)

by Ousman A. Marong
A Norwegean lower court in the Municipality of Telemark in the community of Skien, sentenced a Norwegean lady (Name withheld) for racist rants against one Lamin Samateh, a Gambian based in Porsgrunn, Norway. The lady was sentenced to pay a fine of 10,000 Norwegean Koroner or serve a jail term for 14 days for violating Norway’s racism law.
The complainant, Lamin Samateh, has lived in Norway for 10 years and was working as a teacher at the time of the incident sometime in December 2015. She was charged in 2017 and later judgement was delivered. The lady filed an appeal to the High Court in Norway but the court threw away the case and warned that she will now spend 20 days in jail instead of 14 days as earlier ruled by the lower court, if she fails to pay the fine.
Narrating the incident to Mamos Tv from his base in Norway, Lamin Samateh on 19th December, 2015 while he was out in town with his cousin brother, the lady met them at a “Kebab shop” and looked at him and called him a “saitanic nigga”.
“My cousin in UK visited and we went to town to buy kebab (Doner). A white lady (the Norwegean lady, name witheld) and her boyfriend (a white man) came to the shop. She looked at me and called us ‘nigga’. I told her not to call us ‘nigga’ and she repeated it and said to us “saitanic nigga.” By then there was another Norwegean couple beside us and they asked her to stop such act because the law does not permit anyone to be called such but she refused and said to the couple “you white bitches.” The (couple ) lady attacked her and then the police came to the scene. They took our statements and the following morning I filed a complain against her at the police,” Mr. Samateh explained.
According to him, after some weeks, the police called asked if he can meet with the lady at the Conflict Resolution Office to settle the case but he refused and after 9 months the police wrote to him and said they don’t have substantial evidence to try the lady in court.
“At first, I told them that I will forward it to the International Court of Justice but I later decided to request a power of attorney to give authority to the Centre Against Discrimination (anti-discrimination office) to fight my case, and the police had no choice and took the case to court. I did it to prevent such racist act in the future and to show to Gambians abroad that they have rights and can fight for their rights legally, without engaging in physical fight or doing something else that will jeopadize their stay in Europe or any where in the world,” he revealed.
Mr. Samateh said the said case against racism attracted the western media especially in Norway and that, the court’s ruling sends a strong signal that racism should not be tolerated.
Note: Also see this link for more details: https://www.nrk.no/telemark/kvinne-domt-for-a-ha-kalt-lamin-_jaevla-neger_-1.13498452

TRRC Visits Fajara Barracks, NIA Secret Detention Center

By Ousman A. Marong
Officials of the ongoing Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) have on Tuesday, 2nd April 2019, visited the Fajara Barracks, the Juvenile Wing of the Old Jeshwang Prison and a secret detention center created by the defunct state intelligence agency (NIA) at Old Jeshwang.
Led by its chairperson, Dr. Lamin J. Sise, the TRRC delegation were taken on a conducted tour of the Ante-Room, the Guard Room, the old Cook House, the gates (the four entrances of the camp), the Centry, the building used as a garage, etc at the Fajara Barracks.
The delegation was received by Warrant Officer Class 1, Lamin Fatty who doubles as the Camp’s RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) and the Camp Commander, Major Yaya M.S. Darboe.
Speaking to the TRRC Commissioners, RSM Fatty said he was an eyewitness of the November 11, 1994 mass execution of soldiers. In his explanation, Fatty said on the 10th November 1994, he saw Lieutenant Sanna Sabally came to the Fajara Barracks with the AFPRC Military Council members and some soldiers. He disclosed that he witnessed the execution of the soldiers by Sabally and his men at the field in the Fajara Barracks on November 11, 1994. He told the TRRC that the killings happened directly opposite the office of the Camp Commander.
He said the soldiers were lined-up at the field (the parade ground) within the Barracks.
“I was standing around the main gate but I saw them firing at the soldiers. Before firing at them, they were asked to run for their lives. The firing lasted for about 15 minutes,” RSM Fatty further revealed.
He said after 2 hours, Lt. Sanna Sabally and his men left the camp for Yundum Barracks, adding that all those who were killed were transported to the Yundum Barracks for burial.
“Have you participated in any torture of persons?” Dr. Sise asked RSM Fatty.
No sir, he replied and added: “I was trained by the Gendarmerie and I have never tortured any person.”
At the Jeshwang Prison
After the visit to Fajara Barracks, the TRRC entourage proceeded to the Juvenille and Adult Wings at the Old Jeshwang Prison. The delegation was received by the Deputy Director of the Gambia Prisons Services, Momodou Jarju; Commissioner of Prisons Haruna Jobe; and Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Alhagie Jobe.
Leading the TRRC entourage into the prison, Commissioner Alhagie Jobe revealed that there are 116 cells in the prison. He disclosed that the Adult Wing contains 57 convicted prisoners and 45 people under remand, whereas the Juvenile Wing has only one convict and 12 under remand.
At the Remand Wing of the Adult Center
Commissioner Jobe told the TRRC team that the Remand Wing of the adult prisons has been renovated. The Remand Wing is divided into three segments. One of the Remand Wings has air conditioners, fans, beds with sheets and net, and a toilet.
The inmates were complaining of their rights being violated by the authorities. They were heard complaining that they have been under custody for a long period without appearing before the court. Some further complained that they missed their court dates because the authorities won’t take them to court. Some said they are still undergoing trial since 4 years ago. One of them revealed that he missed going to court for the past 9 months.
It was disclosed to the TRRC team that one Ansumana Minteh has spent 15 years in detention and he is still undergoing trial.
The TRRC delegation also visited the famous “Bamba Dinka” cells within the Jeshwang Prisons. The structure is now abandoned and there are no inmates. The structure is made up of 2 cells with small windows.
The Commission later visited the detention center of the convicted prisoners. It was observed that inmates have their beds on the floor as well with old mattresses. Each of the beds has a bed net.
At the Juvenile Wing
At the Juvenile Wing, there is a school for the juvenile. It was detailed that Cell 1 has 7 inmates and Cell 2 has 6 inmates.
At the NIA Secret Detention Center
This is a place under the custody of the defunct NIA. It was used as a secret detention center. It was observed that each of the three cells has hooks on the wall. According to the Director of Research and Investigation at the TRRC, Alagie Barrow, this was a safe house for the NIA. He said it is a state-owned property under the SIS (NIA). It was observed that each of the cells have 5 or more hooks.
On the other side of the premises of this detention center, there is a well-furnished house with a lot of rooms as a resident for people. It was observed that each of the rooms has a bed, air conditioner, furniture among others.
The TRRC delegation is expected to visit the Janjangbureh Prisons in the Central River Region today, Wednesday, 3rd April, 2019.

PHOTO TRRC Crew (PHOTO credit Yankuba Jallow)

GIA Chief Security JBC Mendy Arrested

JBC Mendy (PHOTO Credit Online)

By Ousman A. Marong
The Gambia’s Justice Minister, Hon. Aboubacar Baa Tambadou has recommended the immediate arrest and detention of John CB Mendy, chief security of the Gambia International Airlines (GIA) following reports of his interception at the Giboro-Silleti border while trying to escape to neighbouring Senegal’s Casamance region.
Mendy had recently testified at the ongoing Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi.
JCB Mendy as he is widely called, was arrested since yesterday and is placed under police custody.
The Justice Minister further recommended the removal of Mr. Mendy at GIA as Chief Security Officer.
Mendy was also one of the body guards attached to the former vice president of the 1994 military junta in the Gambia, Sanna Sabally, who himself is also wanted. Sabally has sought asylum in Germany and is currently posted to Dakar, Senegal, where he is said to have been working for a German NGO.
Efforts to reach the police spokesperson ASP Lamin Njie for more details proved futile.

Gambia Celebrates World Cerebral Palsy Day

Mrs. Sidieh Sillah (PHOTO Credit Yankuba Jallow)

By Ousman A. Marong

On 30 March 2019, Penmar Physiotherapy Clinic in collaboration with special Mothers, parents and care-givers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) celebrated World Cerebral Palsy Day, at Penmar Physiotherapy Clinic in Kotu.

The Celebration is part of activities to commemorate World Cerebral Palsy Day, the first of its kind in The Gambia.

“Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder that affects children’s together with other neurological disorders which affect the muscles thus causes brain damage, visual problems,” said Mrs Penda Sidibeh Sillah – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Penmar Physiotherapy Clinic while addressing the gathering.

The celebration is on the theme: “All kids are equal-CP needs special attention,” (let’s shift the culture).

Mrs Sillah also said the celebration serves as a skill-learning platform for care-givers and the movement of people with CP and their families, and the organization that supports them.

“Our vision at Penmar Physiotherapy Clinic is to ensure that children have rights, access, and opportunities as anyone else in the society is guaranteed and safeguarded,” adding that “these are kids, with potentials.”

 

Parent's of Children With Celebral Palsy Disorder. (PHOTO Credit News Bite)

She highlighted that the severity of these conditions in children does not progress, but instead remain static in the brains of affected children, and leads to stunted growth of children.

Mrs. Amie Darboe the founder of ‘Isha-Ebra’ for her part said it is her passion to see every child with Cerebral Palsy disorder as properly taking good care of.

“I wish ‘Isha-Ebra’ could also open their own foundation, to support parents and care-givers with Cerebral Palsy disorder, but we have limited resources and cannot,” she said.

Mrs. Mariama Luis called on corporate organizations to support the Penmar Physiotherapy Clinic to enable them accept more children.

Captain Jangum: The late Ousman Koro Ceesay was assassinated in a mafia way

By Ousman A. Marong

Captain Amat Jangum of the Gambia Armed Forces has told the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) that the late Finance Minister under the AFPRC junta, Ousman Koro Ceesay was assassinated in a mafia way,

He testified that those of them (the guards) present at Captain Yankuba Touray’s resident in Kerr Sering where Ceesay was killed were fooled in a way they couldn’t even understand,

According to him. Ousman Koro Ceesay was assassinated during ex-president Jammeh’s visit to Ethiopia.

He said Yankuba Touray fooled them (the guards) that there were troops who wanted to come and overthrown the council member.

He added that as Yankuba Touray was seeing the president off to the airport he ordered them to evacuate his family to Ewdard Siganateh’s house before he returned.

Jangum was testifying before the TRRC at Dunes Hotel in Kololi.

He alleged that Yankuba Touray ordered them after evacuating his family into Edward Signateh’s house to go straight to the beaches to be monitoring and see as if they would see any warship trying the invade into the county.

He informed the commission that they went to the beaches at around 10:00 to 11:00PM to see if they would intercept any warship.

“While at the beaches it started to rain and I asked my colleagues to return back to their guard post at Yankuba’s resident,” he added.

He further explained that as we arrived at Yankuba’s house they saw Edward Signateh smoking in a wet army uniform with moody combat boots.

On the following day, Yankuba Touray’s wife, Mamie Ceesay came with a newspaper to break the news of the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay.

He said he then read the newspaper with Mamie where it was mentioned that Ousman Koro Ceesay was involved in an accident and he was found death along the Jambur Highway.

He narrated that in a week a later he read from Freedom Newspaper in an interview with Captain Ebou Jallow that the late Ousman Koro Ceesay was assassinated in a mafia way in Yankuba Touray’s resident in Kerr Sering when AFPRC junta council members fooled the guards on the ground.

He said after reading Ebou Jallow’s interview he knew what Ebou said was true, recalling from what had happened and that what Yankuba Touray ordered them to do. 

PHOTO: Captain Jangum (PHOTO Credit (TRRC)

Gambia: Former GNA Officer Alagie Kanyie Testifies in FJC & Yankuba Touray's Case

By Ousman A. Marong A former soldier of the Gambia National Army (GNA) Alagie Kanyie has on Friday, March 22, 2019, testified in the ongoing trial of Yankuba Touray, ex-minister and a member of the AFPRC military junta; and Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, (FJC) an ex-Speaker of the National Assembly, at the Kanifing Magistrate's Court. The two accused persons, Yankuba Touray and FJC are jointly facing 3 counts of criminal charges, contrary to the laws of The Gambia. When the case was called before Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh of the Kanifing Magistrate's Court, police prosecutor ASP Almameh Manga appeared for the Inspector General of Police whilst Lawyer Abdou Aziz Sissoho represented the accused persons. When the new charges were read, both accused persons denied the charges. According to the particulars of offence; the accused persons are jointly charged with conspiracy to commit felony, contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code and each of them face a single charge of interfering with information or witness, contrary to Section 36 (a) of the TRRC Act. The particulars of offence stated that the two accused persons agreed among themselves to influence, discourage or stop one Alagie Kanyi, a potential witness from testifying before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). Testifying before the court as the first prosecution witness (PW1), Alagie Kanyi said he is working with the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) and he is a native of Jarra Sankuya in the Lower River Region (LRR). He said before working with the GID, he was member of the Gambia National Army (GNA). He told the court that he knew the first accused person Yankuba Touray in the army and recognized the second accused person as a former Speaker of the National Assembly. Narrating what transpired between him and the accused persons, Kanyi said there was a day in the month of January 2019, when he received a call from someone who identified herself as Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay. He added that the person who called him was speaking in Wollof and told him that it is Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay. Kanyi narrated that lady then told him that she recognized him at Edward Singhateh’s residence. Kanyi adduced that FJC referred to him as an orderly to Edward Singhateh and that she got his number from Yankuba Touray. He added that the lady also enquired whether the TRRC has called him (the witness). PW1 told the court that he responded that he was called by the TRRC in relation to the November 11, 1994 incident. Kanyi revealed that Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay told him not to mind them (The TRRC) and asked him whether his mother is alive. "I told her yes my mother is around and she told me to be doing good things for her so that she will pray for me," he said. The witness told the court that Fatoumata Jahumpa asked him where he was and he told her that he was in Soma going home to Sankuya. He said Fatoumata Jahumpa further asked her whether the number she called him on is the one he is using on WhatsApp and he responded in the affirmitive. Kanyi said Madam Jahumpa promised to send him something whenever she reaches Dakar because she was on a trip, adding that there was where their conversation ended. "When she cuts off the call, I then called her back and thanked her for the good advice. I told her that I need her advice because the TRRC is not easy," he said. He said the number he was using on WhatsApp is 7633692. He told the court that, this was his first conversation with Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay; adding that he has never had any previous communications with her. The witness said it was on the same day when Yankuba Touray called him around 9pm towards 10 pm and identified himself as Yanks with regimental number 10529. "He said is me Yankuba Touray and even told me his Army number which is 10529. I then respond to him yes sir because I recognized the voice and he told me did these people call you? I asked him which people. He then told me the TRRC," the witness narrated. He said Touray inquired whether he went to the TRRC and what issues did the investigators asked him. Kanyi said he responded that he was called by the TRRC but he was yet to be asked about the issues. He explained that thereafter, Touray told him don't mind them (the TRRC) and he Touray also enquired from him whether Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay called him because he gave her his number. Kanyi said he responded in the positive. “He (Yanks) told me don't mind them (the TRRC), these people are only here for two years and they will fuck off from there,” Kanyi testified. He said the following day when he called Touray to go first to the TRRC because he was their commander, ‘he told me don’t mind them’. The witness said that he then called Touray for the second time and asked about the people captured during the November 11 incident. He said Touray told him that those people dance to their own tune because their intention was to kill them (the AFPRC members). The matter was then adjourned to the 2nd and 5th of April 2019 at 2 pm and 10 am respectively for the continuation of hearing. Yankuba Touray flank on left, Alhagi Kanyi in the middle followed by FJC (photo credit Yankuba Jallow)