Following the recent sad demise of their President (Kebba Njie ‘Master’) and Vice-President (Saihou Ceesay) of blessed memory, the Gambia Football Veterans Club met in extra-ordinary session on Sunday September 21 to fill the relevant vacant positions as well as few newly created positions. The full composition of the organization is provided below. They are to complete the current executive term which expires 3 June 2009.

It would be recalled that the Veterans Club was established with the primary objective of promoting football development in The Gambia.

Ways of accomplishing their objective, range from providing material or training support to young players, internal programme support to league teams, and confidence-building on the national teams. In this last regard, it would be of interest to report that few selected Veterans have in the past travelled with our national teams to give management advice and front-line support. One of the leading agenda items of their Sunday meeting, therefore, was to lay down plans for effective contribution in the upcoming qualifiers between Gambia and Senegal. As was reported in the 2nd September edition of this paper, the Gambia Veterans have already made an advance visit to Senegal by way of a football friendly against Senegal Veterans team. During the visit both Senegalese and Gambian former national football stars took the opportunity jointly to address the nation in all sections of the media on the strong family ties between the two countries which we should not allow football to destroy. Mention was made of the match of 11th October in Dakar with prayers and all hopes that the game would be played in a spirit and environment of peace and true sportsmanship. It would be recalled that the Senegalese Veterans also had made a prior visit to Gambia and expressed the same sentiments here.

NEW EXECUTIVE

President               - Amadou Touray

Vice President        -  Alhajie Abdou MC Jallow (also team Captain)

Treasurer                -  Abdoulie ‘Star’ Jallow

Auditor                   -   Alhajie M.L.Conteh

Secretary General   -   Essa Faye

Asst. Secretary       -   Sankare Jawo

Social Secretary      -   Alhaji Mohammed Lamin

Asst. Social Secretary  -   Pa Modou Lowe

Team Manager         -   Baboucarr Joof

Asst. Manager         -   Dodou Ndure

Kits Manager           -    Aki Goswell

Management and Technical Advisers:

Alhajie Njie ‘Biri’; Baboucarr Kah; Sulay Jallow; Lamin Nyang; Kebba Ceesay; Kebba Touray; Kebba Jobe.

Administrative Adviser: Charles Thomas

The National Assembly wishes to make clarification on the editorial of Point Newspaper of Tuesday 16th September 2008 captioned, LIVE UP TO THE TITLE “HONOURABLE”. The publication has done great disservice to the National Assembly.

The general public is hereby informed that the National Assembly has always and will always stand to protect the dignity, integrity of the State as enshrined in the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Assembly. The National Assembly has even gone further by developing a code of conduct for Members, which was tabled before the whole House and unanimously approved.

The National Assembly would want to inform the general public that the Point Newspaper editorial is indeed malicious and would be very misleading towards tarnishing the good image of the Assembly and to honour the up-keep which has been built on dedication, commitment and hard work over the years. The fact that a Member of the Assembly is involved in acts contrary to the laws of The Gambia does not mean that the Assembly is not a credible institution. Whosoever is engaged in any wrongful act or behaves in such manner that is not in conformity with the law, the person must face the full force of the law be it a National Assembly Member or not.

Finally, the National Assembly under the stewardship of the Honourable Speaker, Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay would want to assure H.E. The President of the Republic Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh its continued support and loyalty. The National Assembly would not and would never associate itself with anything that would destroy or tarnish the good name of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  The editorial to which this PRESS RELEASE makes reference, has repeatedly emphasised the supremacy and high distinction of the National Assembly as an institution. In fact it is for that unequalled excellence and unreproachable attribute that we expressed regret about anyone or anything that would tarnish its integrity. Hence the Editorial is in fact reproaching individuals who have not protected their honour by being associated with criminal activities, and thereby spoiling the image of the Assembly as a prestigious and paramount institution of the land. The Editorial is in fact highly upholding this respectable institution by chastising anyone who brings its image into disrepute. There is no case of malice against this noble institution as alleged, just the need to hold it in highest respect and esteem.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  The editorial to which this PRESS RELEASE makes reference, has repeatedly emphasised the supremacy and high distinction of the National Assembly as an institution. In fact it is for that unequalled excellence and unreproachable attribute that we expressed regret about anyone or anything that would tarnish its integrity. Hence the Editorial is in fact reproaching individuals who have not protected their honour by being associated with criminal activities, and thereby spoiling the image of the Assembly as a prestigious and paramount institution of the land. The Editorial is in fact highly upholding this respectable institution by chastising anyone who brings its image into disrepute. There is no case of malice against this noble institution as alleged, just the need to hold it in highest respect and esteem.

“Make yourself an honest man and then you can be sure there is one rascal less in the world.”

Thomas Carlyle

It is extremely disappointing to read of the arrest of Hon. Dawda Manneh the APRC National Assembly member for Nianija constituency on suspicion of drug trafficking. He must now face the justice process and prove his innocence if he is innocent. If he is guilty he must face the full force of the law. His arrest unfortunately brings back bad memories for many in the form of the Musa Susso case.

The APRC National Assembly Member for Kombo North in the year 2000 was arrested and later convicted of drug trafficking. He was given a seven-year jail term but later pardoned. When that case finished most people hoped that there might never be another like it as when people elect National Assembly Members they, rightly, expect them to be utterly beyond reproach.

It is an honour to serve the people of this nation as their elected representative and this scale of this honour should never be lost on any elected representative. Politicians are the servants of the people. They make the laws of the land which are supposed to be there to protect the peace and prosperity of the nation. The least that we as a public can expect is that the elected representatives adhere to these laws.

A National Assembly Member must be beyond reproach in all matters but most especially with regard to the law. Few things enrage the public like the exposure of hypocrisy. To see the laws broken by those who are elected to make them sticks firmly in the craw of the electorate. When a man or women is given the privilege of being referred to as Honourable when elected they should live up to the name.                    

To ensure that people live up to this title we would ask the parties to vet their candidates very thoroughly before elections to ensure that no bad apples make their way onto the ticket.

This process would help all concerned avoid the kind of embarrassment and negative political fallout that comes from a case like the Musa Susso case. Unfortunately the cases of alleged wrongdoing on the part of National Assembly Members are not confined to drugs and involve other types of alleged offences.

We pray for the day when all elected to our national parliament to represent the people of their constituencies will not be hypocrites and serve their people and always respect and obey the laws of this great nation.

“O what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”

Sir Walter Scott

Justice Mabel Maame Agyemang of the Banjul High Court yesterday convicted and sentenced one Salifu Nyang, a Senegalese national, to death for murdering his fellow Senegalese national one Alfonse Faye.

In her Judgement Justice Agyemang, stated that the convict Salifu Nyang was charged with the offence of murder and destroying the evidence. She said in proving their case, the state prosecutors called in four witnesses while the defence called in two witnesses including the convict.

Justice Mabel Maame Agyemang further stated that the convict in his statement to the police acknowledged stabbing the deceased as he was trying to free himself from the deceased. She added that the medical certificate also confirmed that the death of the deceased was as a result of the stab wounds.

Justice Agyemang finally stated that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses remained uncontroverted.

She therefore sentenced the accused Salifu Nyang to death.

It will be recalled that the convict Salifu Nyang was in the month of April 2005 at Gunjur beach said to have murdered one Alfonse Faye by stabbing him with a knife three times.

According to the particulars of the offence, between June and July 2008 at Kanilai Village, the accused engaged himself in an act of spying.

Meanwhile the accused was remanded in custody until the next adjourned date.

In a separate development, the trial of one Kemo Saho could not proceed at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate John Njie, as the police prosecutor was said to be indisposed.

It could be recalled that the accused Kemo Saho in 2007 at Farato Village unlawfully assaulted one Samba Bah an Iman in Farato by stabbing him with an animal horn all over his body thereby causing him actual bodily harm. He denied the charge.

The case was adjourned to 11 September 2008.

One Alhagie Bah, a Senegalese national, on Monday 25^th August 2008 appeared before the Brikama Magistrates’ Court presided over by Magistrate John Njie on a charge of stealing. He denied the charge.

According to the particulars of the offence, on 17^th July 2008 along the Brikama-Serekunda Highway, the accused Alhagie Bah stole a motor vehicle with the registration number BJL 8821, and a black briefcase content valued at D6, 175, being the property of one Samba Gassama.

Hearing continues.

The National Union of Gambia Students will on Saturday August 30th hold its 2nd handing over ceremony of leadership at the Joint Officer’s Mess in Kotu, Youth Forum can confirm.

The National Union of Gambia Students is the umbrella body tasked with the responsibility of uniting and defending the interests of students at the tertiary level. Formed in 2005 with a view to inculcating knowledge, discipline and a spirit of hard work among students through collective and conscious means.

Saturday’s historic event will begin at 3pm.

The trial of Musa Suso, former National Assembly Member for Kombo North, was on Wednesday deferred until 20th August 2008. The case, which was scheduled for a ruling on the defence counsel’s application for the prosecution to provide the defence with all the information they needed to carry on their defence, could not proceed as the Presiding Magistrate, Kayode, was due to proceed on leave, necessitating the transfer of the case.

Musa Suso is standing trial at Banjul Magistrates Court on four counts of giving false information to a public officer, contrary to section 114(a) of the criminal code, cap. 10 volume III, Laws of the Gambia.

It is being alleged that the accused, Musa Suso, in 2007 at police headquarters in Banjul, gave false information to the then IGP, Benedict Jammeh, and the then Crime Management Co-ordinator, that the Director of Prisons, David Colley, had received an unspecified amount of fuel from one Ebou Khan (Musa’s friend) while Musa was incarcerated at Mile II, knowing it to be false or believed it to be untrue at the time.

It is also alleged that Musa Suso in the year 2007 at the police headquarters falsely informed the then IGP and the then Crime Management Co-ordinator, Burama Dibba, that the Director of Prisons, David Colley, had diverted a satellite dish bought by Ndey Conteh for the inmates of Mile II to his personal use, which he knew to be false or believed it to be untrue at the time.

Furthermore Musa Suso is accused of having in the year 2007 at police headquarters in Banjul falsely informed the then IGP, Benedict Jammeh, and the then CMC, Burama Dibba, that the Director of Prisons, David Colley, had fed the carcass of a bull to inmates at Mile II Prisons and that it led to the death of several inmates, which he knew to be false or believed to be untrue at the time.

The offence further stated that in the year 2007 at police headquarters in Banjul the accused, Musa Suso, falsely informed the then IGP and the then CMC that David Colley made his (Musa’s) friend, Sedia Jatta, to paint a prison truck through his influence while he (Musa) was incarcerated at Mile II, which he knew to be false or did not believe it to be true at the time.

The police have preferred fresh charges against Musa Suso, former National Assembly Member for Kombo North.

Muso Suso was yesterday arraigned before Senior Magistrate Kayode of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court charged with four counts of giving false information to a public officer contrary to section 114(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code cap. 10, volume III, Laws of The Gambia 1990.

In count one the particulars of the offence stated that “the accused, Musa Suso, in the year 2007 at the police headquarters in Banjul, gave false information to the then IGP, Ben Jammeh, and the then Crime Management that the Director of Prisons, Mr David Colley, has received an unspecified amount of fuel from your friend Ebou Khan while you were incarcerated at the Mile II prisons knowing it to be false or believed it to be untrue at the time.”

The offence in count two read that the accused, Musa Suso, in 2007 at the police headquarters in Banjul falsely informed the then IGP, Benedict Jammeh, and the then CMC Burama Dibba that Mr David Colley, the Director of Prisons, had diverted a satellite dish bought for the prison’s inmates by Ndey Conteh, inmate Batch Faye’s mother, to his personal use, which information he knew to be false or believed it to be untrue at the time.

In count three the offence stated that in 2007 at the police headquarters in Banjul the accused gave false information to the then IGP, Ben Jammeh, and the then Crime Management Co-ordinator, Burama Dibba, that Director of Prisons David Colley had fed carcass of a bull to inmates at Mile II prisons and that the action led to the death of several inmates. The statement of offence further noted that the accused knew that the information was false or believed it to be untrue at the time.

The particulars of offence for count four indicated that the accused in 2007 at police headquarters gave false information to the then IGP and the then Crime Management Co-ordinator, to the effect that the Director of Prisons made Musa’s friend Sedia Jatta to paint a prison truck through his influence while Musa was incarcerated at the Mile II Prisons which he knew to be false or did not believe to be true at the time.

Meanwhile the defence counsel, Lamin Jobarteh, made an application for the prosecution to make certain documents available to the defence to enable them prepare their defence.

The police prosecutor, ASP Badjie, objected to the defence’s application, arguing that the application seeks to disarm the prosecution because the documents in question are the original documents that the prosecution was going to use against the accused.

The case was adjourned to 13th August for ruling on the defence’s application.