The Libyan Leader Col. Maumarr Gaddafi has sent heartfelt best wishes to the people of The Gambia on the holly month of Ramadan.

In his message, addressed to President Jammeh, the Libyan leader prays that God the Almighty grant him good health and happiness and also grant the brotherly people of The Gambia peace, blessing and prosperity.

Following reports of a foiled coup in the West African nation of Guinea Bissau, The Gambia Government has announced the arrest of the alleged coup leader, Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubu Na Tchuto. News of this development was contained in a press release sent to the Daily Observer and signed by the secretary general, Office of the President, State House.

Below, we reproduce the full text of the release.

The government of The Gambia hereby announces the arrest in The Gambia of Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubu Na Tchuto, alleged leader of the coup plot foiled in Guinea Bissau, on 6th August 2008.

Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubu Na Tchuto, accompanied by his orderly, Lieutenant Papis Jammeh, arrived in The Gambia by sea on Monday, 11th August 2008, and has since been arrested and detained by the Gambian authorities.

The government of Guinea Bissau, the representatives of the UN and ECOWAS in The Gambia have been informed about this development.

Reports monitored on GRTS last evening spoke of Gambia government’s announcement ofthe arrest in The Gambia of Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubu Na Tchuto, leader of the alleged foiled coup on 6thAugust 2008 in Guinea Bissau.

Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubu Tchuto, accompanied by his orderly, Papis Jammeh, are said to have arrived in The Gambia by sea on Monday, 11th August 2008. They have since been arrested and detained by Gambian authorities. The government of Guinea Bissau, the representatives of UN and ECOWAS in the Gambia, according to the news release, have been informed about the development.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Point, Mr. Baldeh revealed that he believes most Gambians are pessimistic by nature and always see the negative side of things. He said that if we join our heads together and forget about our differences we can develop small, peaceful Gambia without delay.

According to Mr. Baldeh, no government in the world has met the full needs of her people and so The Gambia is no exception. He was however quick to add that over 60% of our needs are in full force ranging from education, health, agriculture and infrastructural developments. “Yes we may not have performed to our maximum as a government because some of us refuse to contribute our ideas towards certain activities taken by the government but only to criticise,” he stated.

The former majority leader believes that the way forward is to join heads together for the betterment of The Gambia and offer politics rather than criticism. He used the opportunity to call on other party leaders to join with the government and share ideas for the well being of our noble Gambia offering Senegal as an example that Gambian leaders should follow.

He finally called on the government to introduce what he called a cross-sector reference system so that different departments can exchange ideas in how to develop and alleviate poverty. He also sought the introduction of a strict monitoring system that would report to the president within a specific time period to correct certain practices within state departments.

IMr. Ousainou Darboe, leader of the main opposition party, United Democratic Party (UDP), has maintained that his reputation as a leading opposition politician is not driven by any lust for power but that he is motivated by the patriotic desire to put right the wrongs of the government on certain fundamental things concerning the way and manner the affairs of the nation are being conducted.  “If the government is handling things in the proper manner, I will not be opposing them. So this is why I am in the opposing then,” he maintained.

Mr. Darboe made these remarks recently in an exclusive interview with this paper.

Reflecting on the much-vaunted achievements of the Jammeh administration over the past 14 years, Mr. Darboe acknowledged that no matter how “incompetent a government might be, it will not be in charge of the affairs of a state for 14 years and not achieve anything.”

He however noted that a more conscious approach would be to assess the degree and proportion of the achievement in relation to a specific time span- which in the case of the APRC is 14 years now- rather than a naïve and credulous acceptance of supposed achievements and accomplishments. “That would be utterly wrong and anyone in my view who says that the government has not achieved anything in the past 14 years would really be doing some moment of disservice to himself and probably disservice to the regime, but then it is the degree of the achievement that one should talk about,” he said.

The UDP leader used the occasion to call on the government to improve on the relation between the opposition and government, reiterating that it would be in order for government to be consulting the opposition on some major national issues. “What I know of relations between the opposition and government is, a responsible government would always consult the opposition, not on all issues, but on some major issues.

“I think it is important that government consults the opposition and listens to their views, whether they accept it or not. But then they would have had the opportunity of listening to views that may be different from theirs,” he said.

Further asked whether he would consider working with the government if invited to do so, Mr. Darboe replied in the affirmative, but was quick to add that it will have to be based on certain terms and conditions.

No sooner had the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted Sudan’s leader Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity than his loyalists cried out against the action, saying that it would jeopardise the peace process. But that is just one objection. The other objection is that the ICC is on a witch hunt of African leaders. A more ridiculous objection we have never heard.

Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia now standing trial at the ICC, is notorious for his terrible acts as a rebel leader and as president. His arrest and trial are therefore justified. He now has the chance to establish his innocence. For the many people whose lives Taylor ruined, having him on trial for his atrocities is not punishment, but justice. This monster called Charles Taylor deserves no less. But if the court finds him innocent, so be it.

The Sudanese conflict is on record as the longest armed conflict on the continent. And the humanitarian challenge it has posed ever since its outbreak is unimaginable. Millions have lost their lives and many more have been displaced, condemned permanently to a life of tragedy and misery. And al-Bashir is seen as a key perpetration of this tragedy. Like Taylor, he should go to the ICC to clear himself. Why the fear, if he knows that his hands are clean?

What is happening to Taylor and al-Bashir is not an anti-African leader campaign. Even if it is, then these leaders have given the prosecutor cause for them to have them on trial. If they had practiced good governance, with respect for human rights, transparency and accountability, then they would not have been going through this ordeal.

This then should serve as a lesson to other incumbent leaders that they cannot misgovern us, plunge us into civil wars and degradation and hope to get away with it. It is our contention that what is happening to both Taylor and al-Bashir is a positive development in the sense that the few remaining dictators on the continent will have to learn; otherwise, the long arm of justice will slowly but surely catch up with them someday.

The MO Prize has rewarded an African leader who served his people well. If we have to go by the dictum that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, then al-Bashir is only about to reap what he has sown.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King

The Majority Leader of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, last Friday presented a pumping machine to the women of Alkali Kunda in Upper Baddibu as part of his contribution in spurring them on in their response to President Jammeh’s call for increased agricultural activities.

The majority leader’s intervention came barely a few days after making a pledge to the Alkali Kunda women following his adoption as the honorary father of the Alkali Kunda women Kafoo.

He presented the machine to the sitting National Assembly member for Upper Baddibu for onward delivery to the Alkali Kunda Women Kafoo. Hon. Jatta explained to journalists after the presentation that the donation was motivated by the visible desire of the people of Alkali Kunda to help themselves improve the standard of their lives.

According to the House Chief Whip, the women of Alkali Kunda have a vegetable garden some 4km outside their settlement but that inadequate water resources are besetting their horticultural activity.

“The women of Alkali Kunda are committed, steadfast, industrious and willing to respond to the President’s encouragement for people to go back to the farmlands to ensure food security and food self-sufficiency. We would, therefore, go all out to help them in becoming the best they can be as it’s easy to help she who wants to help herself,” Hon. Jatta stated.

“On behalf of the villagers of Alkali Kunda, I would like to thank their Desk Officer, Hon. Ablie Suku Singhateh, the member for Upper Baddibu, Lamin Kebba Jammeh, Kalifa Kambi and Momodou S. Touray for helping me in the fulfillment of my pledge.”

Hon. Jatta also thanked H.E. Salifu Jaiteh, Cyprus Gambia Consul also a native of Alkali Kunda, Karamo Marong, Alhaji Jamang Marong, Nemuna Marong, Salifu Camara and the entire people of Alkali Kunda both within and in Kombo for making the adoption ceremony the success it deserve.

For his part, the Desk Officer for North Bank Region, Hon. Ablie Suku Singhateh, expressed delight in Hon. Jatta’s intervention, adding that it’s in tandem with President Jammeh’s vision and mission in ensuring increased productivity in the agricultural sector.

“The pumping machine will increase horticultural activity. This will in turn boost productivity and a boost in productivity means more income generation and more food available for those who need it,” added he.

Speaking to reporters, the National Assembly member for Upper Baddibu, Hon. Lamin Kebba Jammeh, acknowledged his happiness and satisfaction over the gesture, enthusing that the move glaringly indicates the solidarity and unity of interest in the legislature.

“Being the leader of the majority in the House, Hon. Jatta’s support to my constituents is worthy of note because it shows the solidarity in the Assembly. It also belies the notion that one should render help to only his/her people.

“At the same time, the donation is timely in that it will help us to adequately respond to President Jammeh’s back to the land call as well as following his example of putting women uppermost in his agenda.”  

It is excellent to see that President Jammeh and his government are taking the world food crisis seriously. Just recently the Majority Leader of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, donated a water-pumping machine to the women of Alkali Kunda in the North Bank Region to help them answer to the President’s back-to-the-land call. The women of Alkali Kunda have a vegetable garden just outside the village and now their work will be a lot easier because they will not have to carry the water to the garden like women all over the rest of the country.

Here in The Gambia we are blessed with fertile land, almost year round sunlight and plentiful water. If we can combine all of these things, we can easily answer the President’s call, feed ourselves and even export food to other countries.

At the moment if you go to the market and ask where the cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, potatoes and even onions are from the most likely answer would be Senegal. How can we import these vegetables that are easily grown here? The Senegalese are less fortunate than us as a comparatively great part of their land is turning into desert. When the food crisis starts to bite them, they will eat the food themselves and stop exporting to us. What will we do then? We cannot rely on others.

The way this disaster is headed, we should be the ones exporting. This is Africa’s opportunity. When the food starts to run out and the prices get too high in Europe, they will be forced to get rid of the extortionate tariffs they put on imports from us. Then we will be able to sell food to them at reasonable prices for everyone involved.

Our opportunity is coming soon . . . Last year the amount of food aid given worldwide was 40% of that which was given in 1999. The prices are too high now and there isn’t enough to be giving it away. This is a clear warning that those who used to give food aid will soon need it.

Seeds are not expensive and they will pay for themselves a hundred times over as long as you are well organised. So go out and start growing. Even if you just grow a few vegetables, have a fruit tree or keep some animals in your compound, that is the first step in helping The Gambia gain rather than lose out because of this worldwide food crisis.

Forex Bureau Rates:

M J Finance 9965635

Buying

GBP  =        D40.00

US    =       D20.00

5000CFA =  D240.00

EURO =      D31.00

Swedish Kroner D320

Danish Kroner= D370

Selling

GBP   =       D41.50

 US     =      D21.50

5000CFA     D250.00

EURO        D33.50

Kroner              D350.00

Danish Kroner D425

Newspapers and individuals wrote about Sheriff Mustapha Dibba’s autobiography and his contributions towards national development.

But I am here to write about Hon. S.M. Dibba as an individual and as a politician.

May I start with Hon. Sheriff .M. Dibba as an individual, he was a gentleman in totality, he was honest, truthful and never wanted to cheat anyone in any dealing with him.

He was very intelligent and very aware of his environment. He never unnecessarily risked his life. Sheriff .M. Dibba knew what to say, when to say things, where to say things and to whom. He was not easily carried away by a crowd or the sentiments of one. Sheriff .M. Dibba was very organised, he had an enormous amount of knowledge which, is the unique faculty of man and was an integral part of his personality and his being.  All of this in the face of the fact that he had suffered because of truth.

He was always concerned about his credibility as a leader and being born of a family, he never wanted to disappoint anyone. He was fully aware that academic respectability depends on an adherence to truth.  This is what I know about the late Hon. S.M. Dibba as an individual.

As a politician the late Hon. S.M. Dibba was a very active and influential man.  He started politics with the first republic in 1959 when I was in standard two and 14 years old. Hon. Sheriff .M. Dibba was a prominent figure and complex personality. The political history of The Gambia cannot be completed without him.

Mr Dibba was a mature politician who never involved himself in petty and parochial matters.

He was one of the most effective and progressive ministers of the P.P.P regime and had a great love for his country.  Dibba had never at any moment of his life had any intention to exchange this love for his country for any material wealth. What he did want was the rapid development of this country so much so that while he was a member of the P.P.P. he changed parties in order to achieve it.  In 7th September 1975, the late Sheriff .M. Dibba and colleagues formed an opposition party known as National Convention Party (NCP) of which I am a member. He led this particular party till his death.  He believed in the ballot box and aspired to become the president of this country. He was a principled opposition leader and a great respecter of the law.

He never believed in any form of violence. He was never hostile to his opponents in political field and always played a decent straightforward political game. He respected the rules of honest politics in spite of the fact that his opponents more often than not didn’t.

In 1992, I was in parliament with him as an opposition member and he gave me the advice that as parliamentary members, we should always be good examples to others. I was one of the heady ones in particular but I always took his advice because he was very experienced when it came to politics.

I will now close my tribute with a few remarks about the late Hon. S.M. Dibba.

He was am impregnable rock of central Badibou and an ardent and dedicated politician of the Gambia.

He was an ENCYCLOPEDIA, an excellent example for generations to come and he will always be remembered for the excellent work he did while he was alive.  I love him because he was honest, I like him because he told the truth and I admire him because he was content with what God gave him.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Prepared by

Ex NCP Member of Parliament

Hon. Ibraima Janko Sanyang

Western Foni

Western Region