Alhagie Sulayman Touray, the newly appointed Alkalo of Gunjur, in the Kombo South District, on Monday paid a courtesy call on the governor of Western Region at his office in Brikama. The visit was meant to familiarize the newly appointed alkalo with the authorities in his region.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, governor Sanneh said former Alkalo Sabaki Touray’s resignation was neither a decision of the governor’s office nor a decision of the people of Gunjur. He disclosed that the former alkalo’s resignation was a decision from the public service regulation.

During the familiarization meeting, Governor Sanneh reaffirmed his office’s commitment to closely collaborate with the local authorities in his region. He urged the new Alkalo to live up to expectations in safeguarding the integrity of his village and The Gambia as a whole.

Other speakers included the Chief of Kombo South, Ajay Janneh and Lamin Bojang, the National Assembly Member for Kombo East.

The meet was attended by chiefs and National Assembly Members of the region as well as other local authorities.

It could be recalled that the former alkalo’s resignation came after some problems broke out within the people of the village, who demanded his immediate handing over of the Alkalorship.

Confirmed reports reaching The Point reveal that the Alkalo of Gunjur in Kombo South, Western Region, Alhagie Sabaki Touray, has been removed from his position with effect from last Monday.

According to reports, Alhagie Sabaki Touray, who has served in his position for over a decade, was removed on grounds of advancing years and potential incapability of discharging the functions of his office efficiently. Reports also have it that his removal was due to his lack of affiliation to any Kabilo (ward) in his own village and therefore he cannot lead the people as Alkalo of Gunjur.

Meanwhile, he is said to have been replaced by Alhagie Sulayman Touray, the current chairman of the Gunjur Village Elders Counci

The long awaiting tournament organised by the Kombo South Sports Committee will soon kick off after the conflict was resolved as the Committee and the District authorities finally met and solved the problem with immediate effect.

Speaking on the occasion, the PRO of Kombo South Sports Committee, Mr. Lamin Jarju, expressed concern and worries over the pending tournament as it was deferring them from further activities. He appealed to the authorities and villages to come to terms and solved this regrettable incident.

In his remarks Alhaji Kebba JaJa Bojang, the Alkalo of Jambur Village in Kombo South, advised the youth and organising Committee to be peace-loving. “As a former footballer I was really feeling bad to see that the tournament was pending due to a riot between same Villages,” he said.

Omar SB Jabang, VDC chairman Kartong, appealed to the authorities to grant a go ahead for the tournament as villages involved deeply regretted the incident at Sifoe.

Responding on behalf of the  district authorities, chief Sheriff Ajay Janneh said, “we all love football because it is a nice game. But this does not mean that it will jeorpadise the peace of the people. We will of course grant you pardon to go ahead with your finals but with peace, love and understanding.”

Other speakers included the Alkalo’s of Tanjeh, Tujereng, Sifoe, Katong and a representative of Sanyang Alkolo. All expressed the desire for peace to flourish within Kombo south. Buba Bada Bojang, chairman of Kombo South Sports Committee, thanked the authorities for their concern and promised that such an incident will never again occur in Kombo South.

The Alkalo of Tallinding has called on the people of his community to positively change their attitude on the environment in a bid to provide better heath for all the people. He warned that any person who fails to live to expectation would face the full wrath of the anti-littering law which was enacted by President Jammeh.

Alh. Ebou Badgie made these statements during an anti-littering sensitisation tour in Tallinding organised by the National Environment Agency. He strongly warned that any person, tenant or compound owner who allows his or her waste water into the street in one way or the other will be taken to courts without delay. He therefore called on all to desist from such negative practices, and substitute it by digging soaker ways in compounds for waste water collection.

He however said that the negative effects of poor sanitation will steadily erode all the gains achieved in recent years, and prevent our nation attain the environmental and health objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2020. If the current trend continues, he said every inhabitant in our nation will be adversely affected directly or indirectly.

Following the successful raid at the Rasta Garden in Kololi by the police by The Alkalo of Kololi, Mr. Abdoulie Joof he has written a letter of appreciation to The Inspector of Police expressing his profound gratitude. The raid followed an appeal from residents who were concerned at the activities taking place at the garden.

Full text of the letter is reproduced below.

I am writing self this letter on behalf of the community elders of Kololi and on my own humble behalf to express our profound gratitude to you the Inspector General and your deputy and of course the gallant paramilitary officers who made that effective raid on Sunday the 20th July 2008.

Since that effective raid the hovering of boys around the Rasta Garden has ended and greatly reduced. All responsible elders in the community have expressed their inexpressible gratitude to you the I.G in particular and to your able team in general.

This gratitude has been expressed in various ways i.e. by coming to my home to say thank you and also using their mobiles or home lines to express similar sentiments.

Once again we say a big THANK YOU!! And also to promise that we are ready to collaborate with the entire police fraternity to have an effective police-community relationship in order to eliminate all unconstitutional vices within the Community.

Before concluding we wish to pray for you and your deputy for a very long and successful term in office and also for Allah Saubhana Huwa Tala to guide and protect you and all the security officers within and without your domain.

Long live The President of the Republic of The Gambia !Long live Gambia Police Force! Long live Community Policing! Long live The Gambia.

The Alkalo of Gilanfarr, Kawsu Badjie, has told The Point that the recent upsurge in rebel attacks in Foni is beginning to subside. According to him, people in the area, particularly farmers, have for the past few months been living lives of discomfort and fear because of the attacks. He stated that they are now enjoying a period of relative peace of mind as the attacks are decreasing. “This is something we really have been praying for. We now have some peace of mind and we can go back to our farms without any fear of intimidation,” Mr. Badjie said.

The Alkalo, who has been serving in the position for 27 years, confirmed that there is safety in parts of Foni now including some border villages. He finally thanked the Gambian and Senegalese governments for their efforts in bringing about a cease-fire that has allowed proper farming to resume.

Many farmers who spoke to this reporter confirmed what the Alkalo said and expressed similar sentiments. They expressed their desire to see the end of the rebellion in Cassamance.

The Alkalo of Gunjur in Kombo South, Alhagi Sabaki Touray, has expressed his intention to keep up the peace in his village despite the numerous problems that exist among the villagers.

Speaking to a large crowd at a recent village meeting in the area, Alkalo Touray said Gunjur is so interconnected that you hardly pass a compound without meeting your close relation.

“This is because of the intermarriages between the different clans in the village. Trouble has no space in Gunjur. We should all work together for the development of the village,” he advised.

Alkalo Touray went further to state that without peace, all the development that they are talking about will be meaningless, and he thus called on the villagers to unite for the attainment of their development aspirations.

“I will do all I can to ensure that we enjoy the peace that we have and continue to enjoy in the area,” he fervently re-assured.

The aim and objective of the meeting was to discuss the way forward for the village. Speaking at the meeting, the Alkalo of Gunjur, Alhagie Sabaki Touray, hailed the youth of the village for their initiative. He stated that unity and understanding among young people will bring about the development of Gunjur.

Amat Gibrial Jassey, the former chairman of Brikama Area council welcomed the youths and said their enthusiasm would create a lot of development for Gunjur.

The youth leader Abdou K. Touray said that the young people of Gunjur are ready to work towards the development of the village. He appealed to the youth to be calm and continue with their development process.

As part of their continuing contribution to the development of Gunjur the youths of the area recently held a general meeting.

The aim and objective of the meeting was to discuss the way forward for the village. Speaking at the meeting, the Alkalo of Gunjur, Alhagie Sabaki Touray, hailed the youth of the village for their initiative. He stated that unity and understanding among young people will bring about the development of Gunjur.

Amat Gibrial Jassey, the former chairman of Brikama Area council welcomed the youths and said their enthusiasm would create a lot of development for Gunjur.

The youth leader Abdou K. Touray said that the young people of Gunjur are ready to work towards the development of the village. He appealed to the youth to be calm and continue with their development process.