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.

Gambia Must Speed-up investigation into the Killing, Of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh

Photo: IGP Jobe (photo Credit Culled from Facebook)

By Ousman A. Marong

It is exactly Four-teen (14) years since the abduction of Gambian journalist Ebrima Manneh widely known as Chief Manneh.

Manneh, an investigative journalist working for The Daily Observer but was abducted on July 7, 2006 by unidentified security officers, while in his office.

Police had arrested six persons on suspicion of involvement in the killing one month later, but later released all of them due to a lack of evidence.

Since the new government came three years ago, we are still waiting for answers. We want to know who arrested and detained him, who killed him and where was he laid to rest?

Photo: The Late Chief Ebrima Manneh.

The slow pace of an investigation from the side of The Gambia government is discouraging.

It has been 14-years now since Ebrima Manneh was abducted by Jammeh’s hit-men who are still at large. We need justice now!

Witness Says He Did His ‘Jungler’ Training In Kanilai

By Ousman A Marong

                                   

WO2 Lamin Sillah, a serving member of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) who doubles as a one-time ‘jungler’ under the AFPRC/APRC government has told the Truth, Commission that he did his ‘jungler’ training in Kanilai, the birthplace of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.

“I did my jungler training in Kanilai with people like Omar Jallow alias ‘Oya’, Dembo Jatta, Ismaila Jammeh, Malick Jatta alias ‘Alfidie’ Kawsu Camara alias ‘Bombardier. I did bodyguard training too and I went to Thieze in Dakar where I did my ‘day-go’ exercise training,” said WO2 Lamin Sillah.

Sillah 50, has mentioned Outsiders, Sweepers, Mobile vehicles, Plainclothes, and Presidential bodyguards, Command vehicle and Principal Presidential vehicle to be those responsible in the protection of former President Jammeh’s Convoy.

“Lamin, please speak so that people could hear you,” Lead Counsel Essa M. Faal told the witness.

“Counsel, it is not easy to sit on this seat that’s why,” replied the witness.

“It would only be hot when you are not speaking up the truth. You can make it easy for yourself too,” Lead Counsel fired back.

The witness said upon completing the ‘jungler’ training he went for a bodyguard and counter-terrorism training that took almost a month.

“Upon completion of our bodyguard and counter-terrorism training, we reported back to the State House. We were given a two (2) day off after we reported back to State House. We were never trained to kill and I have never killed a being in my entire life. Our jungler and counter-terrorism training was centered on how to better manage the VIP and the patrol team,” he remarked.

He informed the Commission that Lieutenant OB Baldeh, was the convoy commander at the time of the accident when an Arab man was smashed to death. He further alleged that the late Almamo Manneh had shot a Nigerian taxi driver to death.

“Almamo Manneh’s shooting of the Nigerian man was willful. It was Baboucarr Jatta who later orders the Military Police (MP’s) to go and collect the dead body. Almamo was that fearless soldier and everybody feared him. He was someone who will threaten soldiers at gun-point. He used to threaten soldiers that if anyone tries to arrest him will defecate bullets. He was all the time with his pistol,” said WO2 Lamin Sillah.

The former presidential convoy driver has admitted hitting a Mercedes Benz along the ‘Bertil Harding Highway on their return from Kanilai.

“After hitting him he died instantly inside the vehicle. The sweepers order the convoy to leave the road and he did not. He then passed the military sweepers and that was the time I hit him and he died instantly,” he concluded.

Sittings continue on Monday.

GPA Hopeful To Build New Ferry Landers For Barra Banjul / Barra Crossing Points

Photo: Mr. Hali Abdoulie Gaye Addressing the press

By Ousman A. Marong

The Management teams of The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) are hopeful to build new ferry landers for the Barra/Banjul ferry landing sites.

Mr. Hali Abdoulie Cham, The Deputy Director of The Gambia Ferry Services (GFS), has revealed that procurement to established new ferry landing sites between Barra/Banjul has already been attained.

“The GPA Management is working very hard to procure new landers from damming to start the operation. We already have the landers and the winches in place. They have already arrived at the Ports but the only impediment is the COVID-19,” Hali Gaye told News Bite Gambia.

According to him, under normal circumstances the replacement of the old ferry landing sides should have been completed in April.

“All the borders across the globe are closed and our teams of engineers who are supposed to do the replacement is still in the Netherlands because there are no flights from the Netherlands,” he said.

He made these disclosures yesterday while addressing the media on way forward for the two ferry landing sites.  

Gaye has commended the tireless efforts of the government to ensure that operations start in earnest at the ferry services.

“If we start work, operations between Banjul and Barra ferry services will be close for a month and we did not want to create any inconvenience as the “Tobaski” is fast approaching that will cause difficulties at the two ferry crossing points. We are currently working with our counterparts in Damming and suppose they cannot come then we will start the work in August,” said Deputy Director Gaye.

Mr. Gage further revealed that the two landers are made up of wenches and manual. He said a sum of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Euro €140, 000, has been budgeted for the rehabilitation.

“Our technical team is currently engaged in damming which is the fabrication of the counterweight to access points and they are doing a lot of civil engineering work. The engineers are from Damming and are already here. There’s no time to waste. There would be an inconvenience as to when we start the work but the Senegambia bridge will be open for easy accessing of passengers;” he remarked. 

Omar Ndure, a Master Dragger from Senegal praised the quality of his company (NSMTP) work, saying the company has been working on the dragging system within the sub-region. He said the dragging system in the Barra landing side would be of good quality and its work process would be faster.

Meanwhile, the distance between Barra/ Banjul ferry is 8 nautical miles. 

Brikama South MP receives prestigious Global Humanitarian Award

Photo: The Prestigious Award

The Member of Parliament for Brikama South, Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh was Sunday awarded with the prestigious Global Humanitarian Award by the World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) for his “selfless contribution to humanity”.

WHD is a global organization that promotes humanity towards peace, understanding, and harmony, and inspires people to promote peace through all available positive mediums such as education, sports, arts, trade, and media around the world.

At a virtual ceremony Sunday, WHD recognised one hundred people across the world, including Honourable Sanneh dubbed Stars of Covid, for their contributions in the fight against Covid 19. WHD founder Dr. Abdul Basit Syed

 “STARS OF COVID”, is considered as part of an initiative by WHD founder Dr. Abdul Basit Syed said the award was to show gratitude and honour courageous volunteers contributing to the betterment of humanity, especially during this crisis of Covid-19.

“We decided to appreciate those unsung heroes of humanity and bring them to the limelight. We often forget to say thank you or acknowledge those who have always been contributing to the betterment of humanity especially during this crisis of COVID-19”, he said.

Photo: Honorable Ceesay with a Philanthropists

Since the outbreak of the Covid 19, Honourable Sanneh, a social worker for many years has been leading the fight against the pandemic in his constituency, using community-based initiatives to sensitize and empower his people against it.

This year, WHD received more than 1,600 nominations from all seven continents and 52 countries. The shortlist of the award includes 550 projects. 100 projects from 35 countries, including nominees from Russia, India, and South Africa, are shortlisted. Winners were awarded in twelve categories including Excellence in Medical Service, Education, and Research, Politics, Public Service, Media Service, Business, Innovation, and Research, Social Welfare, Nature Preservation, Charity, Social Work, and Entertainment Service.

Reacting to the award, Honorable Sanneh expressed great pleasure and honor to be among the winners of the Global Humanitarian Awards from World Humanitarian Drive.

“On my own behalf, my entire family, my constituency Brikama South and the Gambia at large, I want to sincerely thank World Humanitarian Drive for the gesture and the initiative,  I, therefore, challenge sister institutions around the world to emulate (WHD). The gesture is encouraging me more and it is also increasing my commitment yawning for more Awards in the future.

Photo: Donated Items

Since declaration of covid 19 as a Global pandemic by WHO, my institution the National Assembly of The Gambia declared a State of Public Emergency after which I was involved in numerous activities as a containment strategy of covid 19 ranging from radio sensitization, provision of sanitizers, face masks, hand washing materials and closure of our borders as my constituency is a border community.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place later this year at a location to be determined by the WHD. https://youtu.be/ZTbrO8wfr40

Gambia: Agritech Enterprise Donate 2000 Face masks to Farmers

Photo: Mr. Gassama and delegation.

 By Mamadou Edrisa Njie

A Gambian-own Enterprise locally dubbed Agritech Enterprise has on Thursday 5 June 2020, joined the ongoing crusade against in the distribution of face masks admits the Novel Coronavirus virus also is known as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agritech Enterprise is a Gambian-own registered business enterprise specializing in supplying different types of farming machinery.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Agrictech Enterprise have taken it upon themselves to donate 2000 face masks to the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema).

The onward distribution was part of Nema’s support to beneficiary community farmers as part of humanitarian efforts.

The protective items were handed over to Mr. Momodou L. Gassama, Director Nema Project.

Gassama lauded the benefactors for the gesture while promising to distribute the face masks as agreed.  

He adduced his office cordial working relationship with Agrictech Enterprise in which he described to be the service provider for the project.

“Agritech Enterprise is serving as the provider for the project.  The project has been effectively working with us for the past years. They have honored and respect all the agreements we have signed with them,” he said.

He hailed Agritech Enterprise on their timely intervention in the donation of face masks to rural farmers.

“Farmers in rural areas needed face masks the most as it will help them to prevent themselves from COVID-19. With the help of these face masks, farmers can now work in their farms conductively.

He opined that the only way to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic is that community farmers need to protect themselves with the donated face masks while at work.

On his part, Mr. Mohammed Kora, Proprietor of Agritech said: “the donation made to Nema project is geared towards protecting the lives and live hoods of beneficiary farmers.”

He said Agritech is here to support the Gambian farmers so that they can improve in their farming activities.

He promised his company’s continued plowing back to Gambians particularly to farmers.

He highlighted the areas in which his company deals activities is centered on to be agro-machinery, agricultural inputs-fertilizer, seeds, and farming tools.

“We have this year added in the services of general construction, drilling of boreholes sola installation, fencing of gardens, construction of cattle troughs and construction of garden storage facilities,” he listed.

  

He added: “Today is another great day in the annals of my company’s history, because we are plowing back to society.”

He commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Nema project in their fruitful partnership and cooperation.

Lamin Badjie, Programme Manager, Agritech Enterprise, said the donation was geared toward contributing their quarter nation-building.

“The distribution of these face masks to our beneficiary community farmers is intended to remember them. We cannot afford to forget them in this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he concluded.