Editorial:The Gambia Clock 44!!!

Our Dear Motherland Celebrates Independence From Colonial Rule In 1965!!!Gambiaaffairs Blog In The Wagon Of Celebration

February 18th of each year marks an important day in the calendar of the Gambia. It is a day set aside in remembering a day when the country gained its independence from our colonial masters, thus paving the way for self governance.

Precisely, Wednesday February 18th of this week, Gambians will once again take stock of the trials and tribulations that our men of courage fought hard in cutting that bondage of white colonial rule.

It is a day when we shall look both inwardly and outwardly to examine how far as a nation have moved towards developing our country both infrastructure and socio-economic wise.

On this day, we must but remember the likes of Sir Farimang Singhateh, I.M Garba Jahumpa, P.S Njie, Sir Dawda Jawara and a host of others who have fought for this small but beautiful country of ours.

We owe these great men and women a deserving pat on the back and for some of them who must have departed this world, we pray for the good lord to grant them eternal resting place. For those that are still alive, we pray that God give them long life as we continue looking forward to their guidance.

On this day, let us see each other as brothers and sisters of the same nation. As human beings, we are bound to offend each other as the saying goes, to err is human. Let us as the same people forgive and forget for what might have happened in the past and forge ahead.

It is only through dialogue, tolerance and respect for one another that this country will continue to live in peace, progress and prosperity. Happy anniversary!

"For the Gambia our homeland, we strive and work and pray that all may live in unity freedom and peace each day"

Gambia National Anthem

Authored Saikou Ceesay,Banjul

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Breaking News:Jailed British National in Trouble Again!!!

As David Fulton Dragged To Court

David Fulton, a British national who is currently serving a one-year mandatory jailed term for seditious publication is in trouble again.

Mr David Fulton was on Monday 16th February 2009, arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Lamin George charged with forgery and impersonating a public officer.
On Count I, he was charged with forgery contrary to section 324 of the criminal code cap 10 volume III, laws of The Gambia. The particulars of the offence read that David Fulton some time in the year 2007 and 2008 in the city of Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, without authority and with intent to defraud or deceive, forged a Technical Assistance registration number plate GSC 1 TA and thereby committed an offence.
On Count II, he was charged with impersonating a public officer contrary to section 352 of the criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia. The alleged offence revealed that, the accused, David Fulton, some time in the year 2007 and 2008 in the city of Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, falsely represented himself as a military officer by wearing a military uniform and thereby committed an offence.
The accused, David Fulton, later informed the court that he wanted to consult his lawyer before he takes his plea as he did not have the chance to talk to his lawyer.
The case has been adjourned to 3rd March 2009.
It could be recalled that the accused David Fulton alongside his wife Fiona Fulton, are currently serving a one-year mandatory jail term for seditious publication. They were also in that case of seditious publication fined D250, 000 in default to serve one year and six months imprisonment.

Author:Saikou Ceesay,Banjul

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Editorial:We Belief In Press Freedom, Democracy!!!

GAMBIAAFFAIRS SAYS....

The leader of the People Progressive Party, Omar Jallow, alias OJ, has made an extremely important statement in today's edition of Gambiaaffairs. He has stated that there cannot be any genuine and sustainable democracy without a free and vibrant independent press. Mr. Jallow observed that the playing field for journalists in The Gambia is not the least level. He therefore called for what he said a serious improvement in The Gambia to have a vibrant and independent free press.

How those of us in the media fraternity have yearned for this scenario. We work every day burdened not only by draconian media laws but by heavy taxes on printing materials which from time to time threaten to push us over the financial edge and into bankruptcy.

Despite these constraints the media fraternity in The Gambia struggle every day to inform the people so that they might make informed political choices and also be aware of what is going on in the world around them.

This is by no means an easy task but it is an essential one and that is why we continue in our vocation.

We pray that the press freedom will increase in The Gambia in the coming years because when it does the health of our democracy will increase in tandem. We have seen a new political party emerge in recent times we hope that in the coming months and years we will see an explosion in the number of titles and publications that will join the media fraternity in bringing all the facts to the people of The Gambia so that they might make informed democratic choices.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

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News:Fatim Badjie, Crispin Removed...

As Omar Ndow Takes Over Communication Portfolio!!!

According to news monitored over GRTS last evening, President Yahya Jammeh has relieved Secretaries of State Fatim Badjie-Janneh and Crispin Grey-Johnson from their cabinet portfolio effective yesterday.

The news release further stated that Mr. Omar Ndow has now been appointed as Secretary of State  for Communication, Information and Information Technology replacing Fatim Badjie.

The portfolio for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology now moves to the Office of The President to be overseen by the Secretary to the Cabinet.

Source: Pictures: Secy Omar Ndow 

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IFJ Condemns Charges against Gambian Editor!!!

Published 02/04/2009 - 5:53 a.m. GMT

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Credit - The Point newspaper

The Point Managing Editor, Pap Saine faces charges of publishing 'false information'

Media Release | 3 February 2009
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the Gambian authorities' decision to charge Pape Saine, co-proprietor and editor of the Point newspaper, with publication of false information following the printing of an article concerning the arrest of a Gambian diplomat.
"Journalists in The Gambia continue to work in a very hostile environment due to the repressive nature of the Government" said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "Over the past decade, the government has orchestrated a systematic pattern of harassment against journalists and caused many journalists to flee the country. Arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists have become common place while there is evidence of torture being used against journalists in detention."
According to reports from The Gambia, Pap Saine was arrested in the afternoon on Monday 2 February and detained for eight hours before being released on bail. His arrest followed the publication in The Point of a story about a Gambian diplomat who had been arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The article said the diplomat was moved from the NIA headquarters to the main prison. The authorities are however contesting this statement, insisting that the diplomat is still detained at the NIA headquarters, and using this as the basis of the charges
The IFJ is calling for these charges to be dropped and the journalist fully exonerated.
"These charges just prove the shocking abuse of the justice system by the Gambian authorities," added Baglo.
For more information contact the IFJ at + 221 33 867 95 87
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries world

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Political Maturity Must Prevail for Our Democracy!!!

President Jammeh tells us that "criticism is fertilizer" for him. Many will not be surprised by this revelation as many citizens know the president to be both direct and definite in responding and reacting to critics in the past. It is a happy thing however that we can criticize, it is an essential component of a healthy democracy.

No human being is perfect so it is the most natural thing in the world that we all get things wrong from time to time. Only God Almighty is possessed of the ability to never make mistakes.

We can try to emulate him of course but ultimately we are destined to fail from time to time. Where we fail or make mistakes however our fellow citizens, advisors, family and friends can often see where we went wrong and give us advice as to how we might rectify our mistakes.

This kind of dialogue and discussion is not only healthy but also extremely productive. Two heads, as the saying goes, are better than one.  It obscures the facts and truth behind a wall of disingenuous pandering.

The ability to accept criticism is also very positive as it shows not only humility but a willingness to grow and learn through the life experience which can be the best teacher one can learn from.

Of course criticism for criticisms sake is a betrayal of the positive aspects of offering reasonable advice on mistakes. Some people misuse the facility and in doing so cheapen it. It must be wielded with great care so as to as effective as possible when advice is given or criticism offered.

Thankfully we have an opposition in The Gambia which does only criticize when necessary and they feel they can do so constructively. This is why it is such a positive thing to hear President Jammeh say that he will listen to criticism and take it on board. Our democracy needs this kind of approach if it is to remain healthy.

For far too long on this continent people have been subjected to megalomaniacal leaders who thought of themselves not as men but as infallible gods whose word and every whim was law.

Unfortunately our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe are still suffering this kind of torment today but we pray that soon Mugabe will begin to think of his people rather than himself and relinquish his grip on power.

Meanwhile we pray that a vibrant democracy can continue to flourish in The Gambia where criticism is both offered and taken in the spirit that it should be; for the benefit of all the Gambian people.

"Nor in the Critic let the Man be lost. Good-nature and good-sense must ever join; to err is human, to forgive, divine"

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