Bakary Huma, permanent secretary (PS) at the Department of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, yesterday, gave his testimony in the ongoing criminal trial of Bai Ousman Secka and Batata Juwara, former permanent secretary and chief of protocol of the Department of State for Foreign Affairs respectively. The two defendants are facing charges of abuse of office and uttering false documents.

In his short but precise testimony before Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates Court, Bakary Huma said he was appointed PS at the Department of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure in October, 2007, but said he never knew any driver named Ebou Manneh at the said department.

According to Mr Huma, an investigator came to his office to ask about the said Ebou Manneh, as a result of which he summoned the records officer to check through the record  files and to see if there was any employee at the department named Ebou Manneh.

“No record in connection to Ebou Manneh was seen. The investigating officer insisted that Ebou Manneh was either an employee of the ministry or a former employee. I then called one of the senior officials of the ministry to my office to [ask if] he knew any driver called Ebou Manneh in the Ministry,” he explained. According to Mr Huma, the senior officer replied that there had at one time been a driver called Ebou Manneh, who was moved from Studio International, a project, to the ministry as a driver,” PS Humma told the court.

He added that all the employees of the ministry have a record file but he  has never seen any file pertaining to Ebou Manneh. According to him, the investigating officer at that juncture instructed him to put in writing the fact the he (Bakary Huma) had received the information about Ebou Manneh. Mr Huma added that he complied and signed the document as the author. The said document was tendered and marked as Exhibit F.
Cross-examination

Bakary Huma, responding to questions, during his cross-examination, from Hawa Sisay-Sabally - counsel for the first accused person, Bai Ousman Secka - said the Department of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure is regarded as the contracting authority for national roads.

He further noted that the director of Technical Services is an employee of the said ministry and the SoS is responsible for policy matters whilst the PS is responsible for administrative matters.

Further responding to questions put to him by the defence counsel, Mr Huma explained that the director of Technical Services is an adviser to the PS on technical matters. He added that the issue of acquiring drivers for the Department falls under administrative matters.

Mr Bakary Huma further explained to the court that he received  information that Bala Garba Jahumpa had moved with Ebou Manneh to the Department of State for Foreign Affairs but he was quick to say that he did not know who gave orders for the minister to transfer the driver.

Examination malpractice has remained a bane of Gambia’s educational system.

No wonder the academic certificate being issued to graduates in The Gambia is not seen as valuable by many foreigners. What then is examination malpractice? This is a situation in which candidates for an exam are given unfair advantage before, during or after the exam, for cheap success.  Hence, the sanctity of the exam is broken or violated.  

Examination malpractice is bad  for the nation. In the first place, our graduates cannot stand the test of time.  

The negative trend can be seen in employees being engaged in jobs they are not suitable for since the certificates they claim to possess are not merited. In addition, seriousness is thrown to the wind.  

Students have little time for their studies as they attend parties, engage in drug addiction and other untoward behaviours.

Furthermore, bribery and corrupt practices accompany examination malpractices.  This is so because the cheats offer money to get illicit assistance.

In the examination hall, bribes are offered to invigilators and supervisors so cheats can have a field day in the hall.
Creativity and resourcefulness are hampered or discouraged in a nation where exam malpractices thrive.  The cankerworm named examination malpractice should be stamped out of the country. God help the Gambia to accomplish just this.

by Sulayman Jammeh
St Peter’s Senior
Secondary School

A booming economy and a Senegalese introduction an element of cordial senegambian relations and commerce

As a financial reporter and a social observer I am at my very best and most popped up when I come into contact with such challenging topics such as this one. One that touches on relations between countries and outside African circles we called them International Relations and this one has an icing on the cake and that is the money which we refer to as commerce in serious terms.

They are heart pleasing topics as when we talk about people and when we talk about people related, life changing circumstances and issues such as these very important definitions in relations between Gambia and Senegal. They touch the common man in the street who is not even interested in politics or what the country’s GDP is all about.

Our relations with Senegal is both strategic and sensitive, so when we see good works and good moves being channel in that direction of positive contributions to the welfare of the two countries we as the press must laud it. When there is cooperation and cementing the consolidation of our two countries then we are on the road towards the very building blocks of changing the lives and way of life of our respective citizenry.

In many of my varied write-ups I had time and time emphasised the need for dynamism especially when it affects people’s lives. Quit your job today if it does not in any way change lives for the better and I will call on you managers and heads of whatever you may call your positions to quit if your service delivery does not change lives for the better directly or indirectly. Please do something for Africa and your people today and remember this position of yours and this life is all on transit. Beware and be warned.


For the Gambia and Senegal, to work as one for the strategic interest of their common people who in history are one and same. The food, the way of dressing, the dialects, the music and art, the behaviour and above all the history and heritage is one and the same.

Gambia and Senegal must as a matter of necessity and common sense work hand in hand for their respective peoples who are apolitical and deserve better than what they getting at the moment. There are over 350,000 Senegalese people resident or ordinarily resident in the Gambia of 1,500,000 population, meaning 23% of the population of the Gambia is Senegalese. That is food for though for the Senegalese government especially the ministry of Foreign Affairs of Senegal.

Gambia on the other side should be mindful of the fact that through Senegal we have a vast market and through Senegal we have a route to many other African States for business and to run our re-export trade vibrantly and efficiently. These two countries need one and other today more than any other time in our history for the push for African integration. African States must integrate or work out strategies that will integrate our interest or we are doom as a continent state, a race and a people. Remember globalisation will kill off all African interest be it in commerce, politics or mathematics wise.

President Jammeh we all know and those in doubt and in the dark are now cognisant of the facts that he is the most hopeful of Pan-Africans since Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and in Maitre Abdoulie Wade we all know he could be a good asset if he so desires for African Integration. The two of them could work and start something historic for Africa and the resources are there, the capacity is there, the need is there, the people are ready so then let it be.

In the Gambia we have witness lots of small scale Senegalese businesses doing their own things to tap from the potentials that the Gambia offers and in return the Gambia sap taxes and other charges for its people from them. In the Gambia, we also see lots of Senegalese people plying their respective trades here as one man own-sole proprietorship but nothing to the scale of Matforce - A Multinational Corporation, with over a century in operations, present in many African countries and its headquarters based in Dakar.

Through this multi corporation we can derive a lot of benefits as a nation and a people. Matforce a company of such size and strategic importance can be a tool to champion Senegambian Integration. They contribute to the development of the Gambia as they are very frequent in the customs as they shipped and receive lots of consignments from our ports and that translate to lot of revenue for the Gambia. Most important of all is the taxes they pay annually which is also a very strategic source of revenue for the country.

About Matforce

Matforce is a Senegalese Company with its headquarters in Dakar. They are in The Gambia, in Mali, in Gabon and respectfully in Senegal and they employ over 300 people and in the Gambia there are about 20 employees.

Matforce annual turnover runs into more than $35M (Dollars) worldwide. In 1898 Unilever established in Senegal, in 1960 Motor BU created, in 1971 Matforce established, in 1989 Unilever withdraws, a new Matforce established, in 2006 Established in the Gambia.  Matforce deals in equipment sales that is cars, energy, cooling and farms equipments, they run projects such as Gabon electricity and they do servicing, spare parts and maintenances.

They have franchises with Hyundai, Cummins, New Holland, Airwell, Pimespo, Grundfos, Fleetguard, Mazda and Hatz Diesel among others. At Matforce there is a handling, energy, cars, agriculture and hydraulics, air conditioning and spare parts departments respectively. In the Gambia a respectable customer base including the likes of NAWEC, Trust Bank, Government Departments and others has been registered.

Before today Parastatals, NGOs, Businesses and individuals used to go to Senegal and get experts to service our plants and equipments and now is at your door step with the coming of Matforce in the Gambia. That has saved us thousands of Dalasi in travelling cost, accommodation, time and inconveniences. They are also involving lot more and even supply of power and electricity on a tailor need basis.

At their address in 2 Kairaba Avenue, FIB Building I was made to understand that they have also recruited some young Gambians and presently they are being trained in Senegal so that they will acquire the prerequisite knowledge and skills to operated anywhere Matforce is present irrespective of Anglophone or Francophone country. The skills and training that these young Gambians acquire will go a long way to complement Government efforts to meet the 2020 vision and they are Gambian that makes it even better as all the skills and knowledge acquired will benefit the Gambia long after Matforce is gone or replace by a new thinking or new organisation as Unilever gave way to Matforce in a friendly takeover.

I have the pleasure to bring to you extracts of my meeting and interview with Mr  Malick Gueye, a young, approachable, business-minded, and a gentlemen every inch of the way, the country director of Matforce Gambia, thus:

Pot-shot interview with

Mr Malick Gueye

Who is Matforce? -  Is a West African company long established in 1898 in Senegal but established in 2006 in the Gambia. Head office in Senegal, and we are now in The Gambia, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Gabon, also does services in Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso among others.

Why do you come to the Gambia? - Because Gambia is peaceful politically, developing fast, potential is present here and remember Gambia MOR KO YOR. We wish to also help in the cementing Senegambian relations. Lots of Gambian client coming all the way to Dakar before so we decided to come over here to be near to our Gambian clients.

What is your first target? - Professionalism and quality service delivery.

What is your second target? - Deal in only heavy duty products as if you do your customers will always respect you and your products and there is durability in that brand of products.

What is your third target - In order we can spread and share our years in business and experience in the market we operate in more so in the Gambia where there is huge potentials.

What is your strength in the Gambia?-Servicing as our service department is performing extremely very well, no worries and no complains.

How many years have you been operating here? – We have been here since 2006 but much of it we were settling and strategising and now we are fully facing you and your needs, I will say Matforce Gambia is ready, you welcome.

Who owns Matforce? – What I can say is that it is a long established private company operating in West Africa with its headquarters in Dakar.

What is your position here?-Country Director

What is your name? - Malick Gueye.

What other help will you need from the Gambia Government? - Patronage.

What about Sengambia Confederation?- At Matforce Gambia we are mixed  both Senegalese and Gambians- our work environment is too nice, we recruit here and train in Senegal so that they can learn about the two people  as the mix is very important for our corporate development and subsequent expansion. We are a West African company and for Senegal and The Gambia it  is historical and to separate us is easy but to bind is difficult, but that is the mission or should I say should be the mission of every Gambian and Senegalese. We share common interest and Matforce can facilitate that integration. We employ people (Gambians), pay taxes and try to help in the integration of our two countries and people.

What is the way forward for the Gambia and Senegal? – Peace is the fertile ground that all good oozes from. Africa today needs peace more than anything and if the peace is here we can build from it and then as President Jammeh said ‘the sky is the limit’. Africa as a whole has no choice but to unite, in the face of globalisation we must and should unite to stand a chance of liberating our people economically. It will happen one day and there is no doubt about it so between the Gambia and Senegal it is unity and peace. Matforce is a player in that angle and we will do our best. What is your weakness in the Gambia? -  Lacking exposure and being new in the Gambia.

What is the solution to Africa’s food problems? - Back to the land and we thank President Jammeh for being at the forefront of matters and championing the agenda. This should have been done by presidents as early as when we took power from the white colonial custodians.

What is the solution to Africa’s general problems? - Globalisation is killing Africa, we must now prepare for Africa’s time, it was first Europe then USA, now is Asia then Africa. Go back to the land, go back to education. We have no choice but we have to be masters of our destiny and start taking our own decisions. Imagine importing 90% of all the food we consume in sub-Saharan Africa. It is pity and a shame on all of us.

As a businessman or man who works in business how or what do you think will help Africa and the Gambia and Senegal particularly to solve our contact problems with the West especially if it involves oil and gas, as we are always cheated by western companies when it come to signing contracts. - Afria leadership woes, leadership to lead Africa to grow economically is lacking.

There are lots of wastes. Economise whenever you can be it at home or in the work place, you can fall back on your saving in times of needs and scarcity. Bad management is also a contributing factor. However, education is the way forward and I must salute Yaya AJJ Jammeh because he is a great visionary. Please keep up the good work for Africa, Senegal too is proud of you.

Best thing about the Gambia? - Friendly people and quite country, quality of life is good. Landscape is beautiful.

As a Senegalese if you are given the chance to take something from the Gambia and propagate it in Senegal what will it be? – The lack of traffic congestion. There is less bureaucracy and that is priceless, too much bureaucracy out there in Senegal. May be is the French policy of assimilation still making us look funny.

Senegal’s performances in the last African Cup of Nation was so poor, who or what is to blame? – Our players are party animals and there is lack of proper organisation and lot of politicking.

What is the best business that is prospering in the Gambia as a man who mixes with other business personalities? - Tourism and may be agriculture.

Have you ever experience nepotism or tribalism in the Gambia? - No, I feel home in the Gambia. The people are nice and I love it here as quality of life is very good not even Europe, trust me.

Best Gambian business personality? - Fatou Mass Jobe

What are your plans for Matforce Gambia- Expansion boost intervention into the energy sector and develop on and on.

What other experiences do you have at Matforce? – We have a wealth of experience in Solar Experience- We are at the fore in Rural electrification in Senegal, - Also in energy supply e.g.- Running a refinery power plant in Gabon, Senegal energy, Agriculture and hydraulics- , but there is still rooms for improvement.

What are your final words? I thank Daily Observer for the gesture and I believe they are a pioneer in the newspaper business in the Gambia and they are fulfilling their position as market leader. By responding to your environment and supporting businesses and newly introduce companies is a big plus and I must thank them for their initiative and may Allah look after their hopes and wishes. Thank you Daily Observer and thank you Mr. Camara for your time, skills and patriotism. May your wishes come true you are a real nationalist. To the public, come to us, Matforce is here to stay.

Note: Market Beat wishes to congratulate all you MAN U fans and please keep the partying and dancing going for another month. Remember the time has come to rule Europe for good. Bravo!!!

Alhagie B Gaye, director general of PURA, has described the institutionalisation of occupational health and safety policies at work places as a major challenge in ensuring effective health and safety practices within regulated utilities of PURA. He added that tackling this challenge, is one of their major concern and responsibility.

Mr Gaye made these remarks on Tuesday, at a one day health and safety seminar held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in kololi.

Mr Gaye further stated that; “with the help of PURA’s inspection teams who go round on regular visits to sites and installations as part of their regulatory mandate, PURA has discovered that most employees, especially technical personnel work under very challenging conditions, because standards of health and safety were generally ignored and not strictly adhered to”.

He stated that in certain cases workers will be supplied with protective gears and all other safety precaution materials but they will not used it for its purpose, noting that, there is still that culture of negligence, which according to him, calls for greater sensitisation on the need to observe high standards of occupational health and safety.

In his keynote address, Saul Samba, Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for health (DoSH), reminded the gathering on one of the fundamental aims of vision 2020, to turn the Gambia into a modern private sector led economy with a healthy, safety conscious and competent workforce.

Mr Samba also commended PURA for not only restricting itself to regulating technical standards and quality but engaging in raising awareness on safety and occupational health issues, which is of great concern to DoSH on a wider perspective.

According to him, policies and regulations are necessary but the most effective method to follow in fulfilling any mandate, is through public awareness campaigns and dialogue with stakeholders by organising seminars and other public outreach programmes.

For his part, Doudou Ndoye, commissioner of labour at PURA, stated that health and safety at work places must be everyone’s business adding that the human resource base in any institution, is the most important .

According to him, introducing occupational health requires a concerted effort by PURA and all stakeholders to ensure that regulations are upheld noting that it is vital to introduce health and safety in every management, organisation or institution, be it government or private.

On matters of compensation packages, Mr Ndoye disclosed that interest in this area is growing and that the Social Security and Housing Finance Cooperation (SSHFC), are the trustees of this fund wherein the one percent of every employee’s earning is deducted and saved for him in case of any accident or emergency, adding that the concerned victim must be registered with the SSHFC .

“There is a time frame for compensation, and that accidents must be reported immediately so that medical checks effected to evaluate the victim’s condition and registeration of compensation of medical bills are settled on time”.

Mr Ndoye further disclosed that this year, they will focus mainly on sensitisation and raising awareness, to ensure that regulations are fully enacted in all institutions.

Other speakers at the workshop include; Alex Dacosta Senior Communications Officer at PURA, who made a presentation on the use of communication mechanisms to ensure health and safety and Katchi Darboe of the Gambia Ports Authority.

Seven staff of the award winning GSM operator, Africell, were on Tuesday, presented with certificates after emerging with distinctions in  their external examinations at the Task Crown Training Institute.

This presentation ceremony took place at the Africel Headquarters along Kairaba Avenue, where praises were heaped on them for their meritorious accomplishment.

Mam Isatou Jallow, Momat Sosseh, Ebrima Jallow, Aminata Mbye, Muhtarr Trinn, Alagie Faal, and Lamin Touray, were fully sponsored by Africell in various disciplines, including customer care services, accounting, business management, human resource management, amongst others. Yassin Mboge, human resource director distributed the certificates.

The ceremony brought together members of staff and directors from different strata of the company as one big family to make known to the entire staff about the company’s achievement in the area of building the capacity of its staff.

In his remarks, Papa Leigh, the sales manager, informed the Africell family that the company has in the past sponsored deserving staff in different areas of their choice.

He said the recent achievement by seven Africell staff is an addendum to the quality services the company offers. He then advised the awardees to make good use of their knowledge.

For his part, the managing director of Africell, Badara Mbye, extolled the certified staff for their hard work during the course of their studies. He said the company will continue to help other deserving staff to further their education even at university level.

He encouraged the staff to make good use of the opportunity the company provides.  He further noted that the staff will continue to benefit from their achievement even after taking up another job.

"These certificates are for you for life," he emphasised. He assured that Africell will greatly contribute to the developmental strides of it employees.

Sam A. Ashcroft, director of Task Crown Training Institute, informed the Africell staff  that his institute is a certified centre by the British education system. He said it’s easier and affordable to learn at the institute than going to UK for some courses.

He commended Africell for bestowing trust on the institute by sending its staff for the training over the past years, adding that the certificate is an equivalent to the British standards which is recognised worldwide.