Mrs Esther John Audu, the Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia, yesterday, paid a courtesy call on Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, the speaker of the National Assembly, at her office at the National Assembly building, Banjul.

During the meeting, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay, informed Mrs Adu that The Gambia, as a member of the Commonwealth, has a unique Assembly which unites all members and has established joint friendship associations with other sister assemblies. She spoke of the existing cordial relations between The Gambia and Nigeria. She added that this has been invigorated by the attendance of the minority and majority leaders of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the state opening of the parliament.

She also briefed the High Commissioner on the progress in transforming the National Assembly and in ensuring that both the opposition and ruling party parliamentarians are united as well as the membership.

Momodou Sanneh, the minority leader and NAM for Kiang West, paid tribute to the speaker, saying “she is a leader who brings us together and deserves credit for that,” he said, adding that they will give all necessaary support to the commission.

Netty Baldeh, the NAM for Tumana, made similar remarks and welcomed High Commissioner Audu to The Gambia.

In her response, High Commissioner Esther John Audu, who was accompanied by Mr Obase Okongon, the head of Chancery, thanked the speaker for the good work she has been doing, saying “I have been admiring you from a long distance”. She also expressed her admiration with President Jammeh’s ‘Back to the Land Call’ and urged Gambians to support him. She assured of her readiness to work with the Assembly

president Alhaji Dr Yahya jammeh, has given the June 27 Presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe a clean bill of health, saying “Zimbabwe’s election is valid”.  The president, in addition, branded the leader of the main opposition mDC, morgan Tchangarai, as a  “blue-eyed boy” and “puppet” of the West, emphasising that Zimbabwe will never be colonised again.

The plain speaking Gambian leader made these remarks in an interview with newsmen at the airport, upon his arrival from the 11th AU summit in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, which lasted for two days.

According to Dr Jammeh, the summit was not diversion on the Zimbabwe issue but rather showed African leaders working for the continent’s interest and those who are for West. He added: “The pronouncements of major Western media before the summit was what those representing Western interests came with, but they have regretted it’.

The Gambian leader made comparison to an election recently held in an Eastern African country, which was described as not free and fair by all institutions involved in the process, yet the West decided to be mute about it. the aftermath of that election was marred by violence during which many were killed, thousands displaced and the end result was a unity government.

To him, Africans accept Mugabe’s re-election, because it was lawful as the country’s laws do not ban elections if a party decides to boycott.

hypocrisy

Dr Jammeh again made reference to an event in a country in the Horn of Africa, where opposition protesters were shot and killed with impunity. he added that the government went to the extent of refusing to release the dead bodies unless the relatives paid for the bullets, but yet still the West made no noise, because that government was serving their interests.

“Why Zimbabwe?” he asked. “Because the whites are involved,” he said, answering his rhetorical question.  he observed that the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe was not Mugabe’s making, but the West’s just because they want to effect a change of government, which will be ruled by their puppet.

Dr Jammeh wondered why the West during the first round of the election decreed the process foul only to endorse it when the MDC emerged as the winner.

He agreed with President  Museveni of Uganda that elections cannot be free and fair, when the opposition are backed by external forces to destablise a country by launching attacks on ruling party supporters and use NGOs to induce the electorate.

inclusive government

To Dr Jammeh, president Mugabe can accommodate “nationalists” and “patriots” who have divergent views with him but have the country’s interest at heart. But the decision for that mechanism to be in place lies with the government and people of Zimbabwe.

Prosecuting Mugabe

The Gambian leader called  the Western ploy to prosecute President Mugabe on the pretext of misrule as “free, fair and fine”. But  questioned why they are not calling for the prosecution of the then white minority government in Zimbabwe and South Africa, where they carried out mass killings of Blacks, which was stopped by Mugabe and his fellow nationalists.

He added that today, the perpetrators of those crimes are living freely and no one is calling for their prosecution.

“We Africans should learn a lesson from this. They (the West) think they can dictate to us (Africans) and this is not acceptable. Africans should stand for Zimbabwe. After all what did the West did for Africa?,” he rhetorically asked.

The theme

Commenting on the theme of the summit, which was “Meeting the Millennium Development Goals in Water and Sanitation”, Dr Jammeh said sanitation is the problem in Africa and not water. “Leaders have realise that collective approach at continental level will enable the continent to meet the MDGs in 2015,” he added.

President Jammeh has urged Banjulians to close ranks and work for the interest of the capital city, as he wrapped up the 2008 ‘Dialogue with the People Tour’ on Sunday, at the July 22 Square, Banjul.

Addressing thousands of supporters at the square, President Jammeh used the opportunity to thank all those who had in one way or the other contributed to the success of the tour.

The president then talked of the political difference that trailed the last general elections in the capital and thanked Alieu Mboge, the director general of the Gambia Tourism Authority, mayor Samba Faal, Nancy Njie, the secretary of state for Tourism and Culture and Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, former secretary of state for Communications and Information Technology, for delivering unity to the Banjulians. He told the gathering that Banjul is a small city, where disunity must not be allowed. “I am therefore delighted with the unity in Banjul today,” he said.

The president warned genuine APRC supporters against opposition elements in green-coloured outfits, pretending to be APRC militants. He advised Banjulians to avoid such individuals, as they are usually bend on poisoning the mindset of true APRC supporters.

President Jammeh then gave the crowd a flashback of Banjul’s glory. “There was a time when Banjul was the most decent capital in Africa, but it has lost its face when the people voted in for an opposition mayor who did not do anything in Banjul, but selling public toilets. At that time, when I entered Banjul, I felt ashamed because of the untidy environment”, he recalled.

President Jammeh advised the people to reject independent candidates, who give promises to join APRC party, when voted into office. He stressed that there has never been any independent-APRC candidate in the country.

Assuring the Banjulians of his determination to live up to his promises, the president expressed his preparedness to transform Banjul into one of the best capitals in the West African sub-region.

He then dismissed excuses that Banjulians cannot respond to his call for back to the land, saying that “you have the river, where you can engage in fishing and other farming activities to be self-reliant. But unfortunately, foreigners are utilising the opportunities. Over US$12 million fishing project is in Banjul today, but 98 per cent of the employees are foreigners”.

He stressed the need for a changes of attitude, especially among the youth folk. He urged them to engage in skillful activities, emphasising that without hard work, poverty cannot be eradicated in the country.

Yankuba Touray, the secretary of state for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, elaborated major projects embarked upon by the Jammeh administration, pointing to the coastal protection project and the electrification of the capital city. SoS Touray highlighted a US$4 million electricity project from Kanifing Municipality to Banjul, a US$8 million for a special port for fishermen, amongst others.
 
He then called on the people to support President Jammeh’s back to the land call, saying that independence is not just about raising a country’s flag, but to be food self-sufficient as a nation.

Samba Faal, the mayor of Banjul, presented a cheque of D200,000 for the rehabilitation of Banjul mini-stadium and another one for D812,160 for the construction of the gutters at Spalden, Hills, Ma Samba, Primet, Dobson and Gloucester streets, as his council’s counterpart contribution to Gamworks.

Other speakers at the meeting included SoS Nancy Njie, Alhagie OB Conateh, Pa Ebou Sanneh, a youth mobiliser, Aji Fatou Sallah, deputy APRC national mobiliser.

The meeting, the BCC presented certificates of appreciation to President Jammeh, Alhaji OB Conateh, amongst many other public figures and distinguished Gambians for their support to the council.

At the end of the ceremony, President Jammeh also presented a brand new van to the National Patriotic Students Association.

Mrs Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, the Speaker of the National Assembly yesterday received the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarains from the 15 member states in the sub-region at the National Assembly Chambers in Banjul.

The delegation are currently in The Gambia attending the delocalisation ECOWAS committee meeting on gender, employment, labour and social welfare.

Speaking at the ceremony, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay briefed the delegation on the plans to construct a state of the art parliament by President Yahya Jammeh ad saluted him for the tremendous efforts towards transforming the National Assembly.

She also informed the delegates of the priority the Jammeh administration accords to the women folk saying "we have 53 National Assembly members in which 48 are elected directly by the people to serve for five years.

Within these amount ,five were nominated members including the Speaker and the deputy Speaker which is a constitutional requirement for the President of the Republic to do so. From those constitutional elected from the seven regions, we have five female members, two elected in which one went for direct election and the other one went unopposed. The other three were nominated. We also have six opposition members led by the majority leader" she told the delegates.

She added The Gambia is striving hard to develop its policies into programmes to empower women of this country noting that when conventions are signed at state levels, it is not just to ratify it, but implementation is vital.

Implementation according to her has a process and The Gambia is today trying to inculcate several conventions into its domestic laws. "The UN convention on the rights of the child has even gone beyond implementation because a bill on that has been passed and now an act. Equally, very soon, we will also have the women’s bill before deputies for ratification and actualising it into our different laws" she said.

According to her, first constitution of the Gambia in the 1970s, the women of this country were not considered but quickly noted that in the advent of the AFPRC and later APRC under President Yahya Jammeh’s leadership, the women were considered in the constitution as mention specifically in Section 27 (the right to marry), Section 28 (the rights of women), section 33 (protection from discrimination) among others.

She then dilated on the importance of the delocalisation meeting of the ECOWAS female parliamentarians on gender, employment, labour and social welfare as very important. She noted the difficulties they face during her time as the Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament to conduct delocalisation meetings, This meetings she added, are part of the integration process of ECOWAS.

"You are not here representing your National Assemblies but the 114 million people in the sub-region. This meeting being hosted for the second time in The Gambia is therefore vita and called on the committee on transport and communication to follow suit.

Speaker FJC informed the delegates of the success the Gambia registered in the telecommunication industry noting that communication is very important.

She then lauded the move in choosing The Gambia as the venue for the meeting but quickly noted that it is for the fact that the Gambia is committed and has signed international conventions such as the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and the international convention on population and development.

She then observed that as stated in the CEDAW convention, the Gambia has inculcate all in its constitution more especially the right of women and has gave the basic rights of women in this country.

She on behalf of the women of this country saluted the Gambian leader for recognising her and supporting them and assured them of her continues support. She reiterated that the Gambia will be proud to host the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarian Association (ECOFEPA) launching of the 114 million people of the sub-region.

For her part, Dr Fatamata Hassan, 4th Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS female parliamentarians on gender, employment, labour and social welfare from Sierra Leone expressed delight for the warmed welcome accorded them and reiterated the Gambia’s effective contribution to end the discrimination against women.

She described The Gambia as a role model in West Africa towards the crusade and called on African countries to follow the good steps. "The Gambia is always emancipating and saying no to poverty and discrimination against women. This is laudable as women are vital in society and we appreciate this country’s efforts. The Gambia is a pioneer to the emancipation of women rights" she stated.

Other speakers included Honourable Yahya Hydara, chairman of the ECOWAS female parliamentarians on gender, employment, labour and social welfare, Honourable Madlane Thia, Vice Chairperson of the ECOWAS female parliamentarians on gender, employment, labour and social welfare, Sanator Roland C Kaine from Liberia and the committee’s Rappateur as well as Honourable Sellu Bah, NAM for Basse, Honourable Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East, Momodou Sanneh, Minority leader.

Honourable Sulayman Joof, NAM for Serrekunda West chaired the ceremony.

Hon. Sidia Jatta, National Assembly Member for Wuli west Constituency and one of the leading lights of the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development, has expressed strong opposition to the recently amended National Security Agency bill establishing four new security agencies in addition to the National Intelligence Agency.

The new security agency bill, which among others aims to strengthen national security against military and other related threats, was passed by the National Assembly on Monday.

In his contribution to the motion for the amendment of the bill, Hon. Sidia Jatta conceded that The Gambia might be under threat of some kind, the real threat facing the country is poverty of the people.

In Hon. Jatta’s view, the money that should have gone into supplementing efforts into alleviating poverty in the country is going to be pumped into creating four new intelligence agencies in addition to the National Intelligence Agency.

“This is what I call bureacratisation coming down to totalitarisation of our country. A small country like The Gambia, little tiny Gambia, five intelligence agencies in addition to the CID. What is going to happen to the CID? Is the CID going to be integrated into what we called the Criminal Intelligence Agency or what?,” he enquired.

According to the Wuli West parliamentarian, the move is in fact going to increase the threat to the sovereignty of this country because, as he put it, money that should have been used to alleviate poverty, to help develop this country, is going to be invested into bureaucratising intelligence education in this country.

“Such a situation does not help the growth of democracy and freedom in this country. We have fought to become free from colonialism because we want to be ourselves, have a voice and be individuals with dignity to contribute meaningfully towards the development of our country but this cannot be done in fear,” Hon. Jatta noted.

For the Wuli West parliamentarian, The Gambia could become a model in spite of everything but only if such is done away with. “Where ever you turn your back in this country there is somebody watching at you, which is not helpful”.

He went further to express concern about the disappearance of individuals despite the numerous security agencies in the country. “Individuals disappear and nobody knows their whereabouts. People are killed, nobody knows who the killers are and yet we have intelligence agencies or whatever you call it in this country.”

Hon. Sidia Jatta went on to lament: “How many people were killed at gun point and up to date, we don’t know who the culprits are? We have the NIA, the police, paramilitary among others but some four to five years now, individuals have disappeared, others killed and nothing has been said about it”.

Barely 48 hours before polling day, Banjulians have assured the APRC of victory in both mayoral and councillorship elections in the city.

Speaking at a mass political rally attended by thousands of APRC militants at James Senegal Street on Monday, Honourable Lie Saine, National Assembly member for Banjul Central, said Banjul is for the APRC and nobody else. He added that all the contested seats in Banjul are a foregone conclusion as the pendulum will swing in favour of the ruling APRC come tomorrow.

“There are so many projects in the pipeline for Banjul to be   implemented.The opposition cannot get us projects,” he said.

Aji Saffie Hydara, the Yai-Compin of Banjul North, representing the wifes of the police expressed her joy over Samba Faal’s mayoral candidature and pledged the support of her colleagues  for Samba Faal and the APRC party.

She added that they shall never forget what Samba has been doing for them and wherever he leads, they should follow.

Aji Yama Njie, youth mobilizer challenged Banjulians to massively cast their votes for APRC.

Yaya Ceesay, youth leader at Crab Island, also speaking at the rally urged youths to desist from the attitude of not voting on election day.

“Your vote represents your voice,” he said. He also called on students to show their gratitude to the Gambian leader who is going all out to satisfy their needs by voting for the APRC.

Adama Sarr, speaking on behalf of the Serere community prayed to Allah to facilitate a peaceful process of voting throughout the nation.

According to her, the issue is not the dancing and singing but that all APRC militants must go to the polling stations to vote.

Speaking to the gathering, Samba Faal, mayoral candidate for the APRC commended party militants, especially the youth, for their active participation in making sure that the APRC secures another batch of hard working and visionary councillors and mayors to work towards the development of the city.

He emphasised the importance of voting for the ruling APRC candidates.

According to him, President Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh has a vision of making Banjul an exemplary city in Africa.

Present at the rally were the SoS for Education, Fatou Lamin Faye, SoS for Youth and Sports Alh. Mass Axi Gai and the APRC secretary, Alh. OB Fisco Conateh.

Latest reports reaching The Point indicate that the forthcoming January 24th Local Government elections would have the hallmarks of a keen contest, this owing to the number of opposition and independent candidates bracing for the much-hyped elections. At least it promises to be a far cry from the 2002 Local Government election, which was boycotted by the opposition- hence the predominance of APRC candidates as Chairmen and councillors in local councils throughout the country.

A resonant testimony to this reality is the nomination of Mr. Momodou A. Danso, better known as Master Danso, as the UDP/NRP alliance mayoral candidate for the Kanifing Municipality, and that of Mr. Femi Peters, the UDP Campaign Manager, for Banjul.

In a statement shortly after the nominations, Master Danso made an undertaking that if elected he would make sure that the streets in the municipality are properly taken care of both during and after the rainy season. “I will make sure that the gutters that are existing are dug again and then put into service. I will make sure that the standpipes within the municipality will be increased. We will also, if possible, give them toilet facilities because there are virtually very few or none in the municipality,” he stated.

Mr Danso added: “When elected, I and my team will make sure that we will have or hire transport to dispose all refuse to the appropriate positions. We will educate them and tell them about the impacts of dumping refuse.”

Asked about the point in contesting an election whose effect could be neutralised by the dismissal of the victor from office, as is made possible by the amendment to the Local Government Act, he said: “It is not futile. It is important to contest these elections. To support the ruling party is easy but to be honest and strong to oppose the errors that the government is making is another thing.”

For his part, Mr Femi Peters vowed to improve the sanitary condition of the capital city. He deplored the lack of a strategic plan for Banjul and gave hope that he would, if elected, put in place what he called a ‘Marshal Plan’ for the development of the city of Banjul.

A total number of 29 candidates from UDP, 11 from NRP, 4 from NADD and 21 independent candidates were nominated on Friday and Saturday across the country for the January 24 Local Government Elections. See our subsequent editions for the names of the opposition and Independent candidates.