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                                By Sheriff Saidykhan  Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organised Crime (ENACT) in partnership with the European Union (EU) has on Wednesday called on member states of the African Commission to take urgent action in combatting Transnational Organised Crime across the continent. The event held at Kairaba Hotel, brought together human rights lawyers and people from different walks of life to devise strategies towards combatting transnational organised crime. Dr. Feyi Ogunade, Enact Regional Coordinator highlighted key concepts to understanding the human rights systems in Africa. Speaking at the gathering, the EU Representative Mr. Raphael Brigandi said the Enact project is committed to strengthening Africa’s capacity to combat Transnational Organised Crime  He said Enact accomplishes this goal by creating awareness, producing evidence -based knowledge, building skills and providing technical expertise to government's and regional institution

By Sheriff Saidykhan  Passengers crossing from Banjul to Barra route have lamented their growing frustration over the closure of the ferries. On Friday, the Kanilai ferry had experienced engine failure near the turning buoy en route to the Barra lander. Due to the severe weather conditions, the ferry was unable to reach the lander and eventually drifted towards the beach.  Lamin Jammeh, a frequent traveller from Banjul to the Barra route expressed his frustration, saying it will delay the transportation of goods and services. This he added will hinder the socio-economic development of the country. “As a frequent traveller of Banjul Barra ferry crossing, it will be very stressful to see the closure of the Ferry service, it's the fastest way one can use when going to North Bank compared to using the south Bank. The closure of the Ferry service will delay the transportation of good and service from and to the urban center this will seriously hinder the socio- economic development of t

Team Outpost  President Adama Barrow has called on religious leaders to preach peace in the country. The annual Eid-ul-Fitr Meeting with Banjul Elders is a practice initiated during the colonial days to bring issues of concern to the leadership. President Barrow thanked the Banjul Elders for expanding the annual event to include representatives of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, Ahmadiya Jamaat and religious sects.  He urged his guests and all Gambians to maintain the peace in the country, emphasising the obligation of all citizens to live and work hard for the country.  President Barrow called on Muslim Preachers to understand that even though The Gambia is 95% Muslim, the Constitution and other laws of the land govern the country, and not Sharia Law. “There are Laws that may not favour everyone but must be respected by all for peace to reign.” He emphasised.  Responding to various issues raised by the speakers, including the state of the traffic on the Bertil Harding Highway, the

Team Outpost The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (COPG) have critiqued government foreign policy.  The group expressed its deep concern over the recent treatment of Gambians in the diaspora particularly on the recent deaths of Gambians in Egypt and Germany and the inhumane treatment of Gambians deported from Germany.  “In the 21st century where international law and order in line with human rights is advocated globally, it is disappointing and disheartening to see the gross violation of human rights by custodians of the laws in those countries that champion the advocacy of human rights.  We call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come out and explain to The Gambian people the reasons for the deaths and inhumane treatment of Gambians abroad and deportees as well” the release said. The group further called on the government through its foreign ministry, to redefine its foreign policy approach to deploy the right personnel with ethical standards.   “Its time for the Ministry to redef

By Sheriff Saidykhan  The Gambian-U.S based criminologist have dismissed the cybercrime bill initiated by the government of President Adama Barrow to effectively crush online freedom of expression and dissent. Mod Lamin Faye, a specialist on law enforcement and national security matters made these remarks recently in a telephone interview with The Outpost Media. “It just did not make sense. Cybercrime doesn't have to do anything with freedom of expression. Freedom of expression does not consitute cybercrime.The currently administration is basically trying to bring a law that only favors them. Anyone who understand the word cybercrime will tell you it does not have to do with freedom of expression,” he said On 18 March 2023, the proposed 2023 Cybercrime Bill (the draft Bill) was approved in the  first reading in the National Assembly of the Gambia and committed to the second reading in the Assembly Business Committee. He added: “What they are trying to do is not going to work. Is on

  By Sheriff Saidykhan President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said there's need for systemic change, to sustainably put Senegal on the path of economic and social progress. He made these remarks on Tuesday during his inaugural speech held at the Abdou Diouf International Center. The event saw the attendance of President Adama Barrow and other state dignitaries. “I am aware that the results coming out of the polls expressed a deep desire for systemic change. Through my election, the Senegalese people are committed to the path of creating a just Senegal, a prosperous Senegal in a progressing Africa. And in this work of building a new Senegal, I will work tirelessly to preserve peace and national cohesion. I will keep in mind that our most precious resource remains the stability of our country. I will mobilize the Senegalese here and in the diaspora around a unifying national project and guide towards a peaceful future. I am committed by promoting the cult of work, the ethics of management,

Team Outpost  ARTICLE 19, a human rights organisation have diagnosed the draft cybercrime bill as a threat to effectively crush online  freedom of expression and dissent. “ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned that a draft cybercrime bill (the Draft Bill) currently under consideration in the Gambia will serve to effectively crush online freedom of expression and dissent”. On 18 March 2023, the proposed 2023 Cybercrime Bill (the draft Bill) was approved in the  first reading in the National Assembly of the Gambia and committed to the second reading in the Assembly Business Committee. ARTICLE 19, further expressed discontent of the  Draft Bill to be ‘fatally flawed in its current state,’ and urge the drafters to address its severe shortcomings to bring it in line with international standards on freedom of expression. “In our analysis, ARTICLE 19 provides a close look at structural flaws and legal issues in the Draft Bill. We also note that nations, including the Gambia, are currently debating a

President-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye will be sworn in on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at the Abdou Diouf International Centre - CICAD, in Diamniadio. Ceremony will start at 11 Following his swearing-in, the new president will be officially sworn in during a transfer of power with outgoing president Macky Sall later in the afternoon of the same day. On this occasion, the outgoing president, Macky Sall, will officially hand over the reins of the country to his elected successor, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. This transfer of power will mark the beginning of Bassirou Diomaye Faye's presidential term, newly elected with 54.28% of the vote, according to official provisional results announced on Wednesday.

   Photo credit: SenTV Team Oupost Campaign have ended ahead of Sunday's presidential election. Seventeen contenders are running for the election. The election is widely seen between the two main contenders Amadou Ba, of the Government party candidate and Bassirou Diomaye FAYE of the Opposition defunct PASTEF party.  Earlier last month, President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the  February 24th election, citing irregularities of some candidates.  His pronouncement sparked many civil unrest. The Supreme Court rejected his moved and called on him to organise fresh election.  Diomaye Faye is the backup candidate of Ousmane Sonko, after their party was dissolved in November last year by Macky Sall to formed a coalition. The duo were released last week after Macky Sall granted amnesty to political prisoners.  Many young voters are seeing Amadou Ba as a continuity of President Macky Sall, saying Bassirou Diomaye Faye will sweep the polls.

  By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambia Women are Free to Choose (GWA-FC) a pro female circumcision advocacy group have threatened to demonstrate against any external interference on FGM in the country.  “We will mobilize and respond in our numbers to demonstrate against any interference from external FGM organizations or actions from donor countries that infringe on our democratic and constitutional rights as Gambian citizens,” the release said In a press release yesterday, the group expressed concerned with Amnesty International’s misguided call on Gambin Parliamentarians to maintain a ban on FGM  “W are concerned about misleading statements made by human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International. First, the terminology that is used in the Women’s Act 2010 is “Female Circumcision” and not Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), as we also mistakenly assumed. Gambian women do not practice or support the “mutilation” of females or males.  Second, for an international human rights organiza

  By Sheriff Saidykhan Fatou A. Darboe, Programme Coordinator, Nutrition unit at the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education has urged Muslims to eat more warm foods during the period of fasting. She made these remarks on Wednesday at her office in Kotu. “When breaking the fast, it is ideal to eat something warm so that the intestine will be activated.  And the body will be ready to consume the diets. So we are encouraging individuals to eat warm foods and local tea.  They are nutritious and very good for our health. We need to stay healthy by eating nutritious diets. Because In Ramadan people will be fasting for so many hours.  And also dates. So these food options are very good for our health when breaking the fast" she urged. She encouraged people to eat local combination of foods, taken into account the healthy ones.  “We can also eat other combination of foods that we have at our disposal, taken into consideration the health ones.  When we talk about healthy ones, we ar

  Team Outpost As the debate on the FGM gather pace in the country, the Honourable member for Serrekunda West Constituency has called for the FGM bill to proceed to committe level for debate. War of words continue to ensue between the pro and anti FGM campaigners.  Rights holders of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) called for the total ban of the practice, whilst the pro campaigners called on law makers to repeal the bill.  Madi MK Ceesay said the bill should proceed to committe level for public consultation.  “My position is  for the Bill to  proceed to committee level, so that the public engaged. Law makers can't make paws for people without consultations,” he said.  He added: “Its is only then that the public can fully participate in law making. The members should not think for people they need to be consulted.  That has always being my position any time a Bill is before members” he concluded.

  Team Outpost   The Africa Catalyzing Action for Nutrition (AfriCAN) in partnership with the National Nutrition Agency (NANA) have begun training of youths and journalists  on nutrition.  The training started from 26 February to 8 March 2024. The Theme: “Good Nutrition Starts With Me” focuses on the thematic areas to understand and promote a healthy diet currently held at NANA. The training is meant to equip youths and media groups on basic nutrition.  Haddy Crookes, the facilitator highlighted the significance of food classification, and the different nutrients found in foods.  Jackline Colley, of the Fatou Network and a trainee said the training will provider her with the requisite knowledge on nutrition related issues. She added that the training will help her as a journalist to raising awareness and to promote a healthy diet.    “As a media practitioner, I expect the training to provide me with a comprehensive understanding of nutrition-related issues, including their social and h

   By Sheriff Saidykhan The Local Government committee have recently concluded a nationwide public hearings on the draft rent bill. The consultation hearings started from Banjul, West Coast, Lower River Region, Upper River Region and Central River Region of the country.  The committee held country wide public hearings on the draft rent bill.  The committee convened twelve public meetings, and public concerned were raised on the exorbitant rent charges.  Farafenni The committee also tabled wide range of discussions ranging from agent issues, tenants and deposits. The committee put together a report capturing all the concerns. The report will be laid before parliament on the 5th of March 2024. The amendments will look at key areas of the bill. The annual increament of not less than five per cent. Madi MK Ceesay, National Assembly member for Serrekunda West, said if the law come into force it will will “control that, and the issue of deposit will also be captured and address.  The issue o

  Team Outpost Alagie Saidy-Barrow, former TRRC Investigator has called on the government of President Adama Barrow to take a new paradigm shift towards tackling crime rates in the country.  In his regular contribution on Coffee Time show on Tuesday, he said keeping data on crime will help reduce the high rate of crimes in the country.  “Keeping statistic on crime is critical in internal security. Not that does this guides authorities or resource allocation, but it also helps with the formulation of crime policies.  Importantly data on  crime rates helps with the perception of crime trends,” he said  Statistic on crime and development he said,  can be very political.  “We have reduce our security matters into partisan politics. Instead of a holistic debate in crime and its cause and consequences, it becomes an emotionally charged and minds of back of forth without any substance”.  He continued: “given the lack of centralised crime data base. The level of crime in The Gambia becomes a m

  By Sheriff Saidykhan Momodou Gassama, of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that one in every eight person in the world has a mental health disorder.  He made these remarks on Thursday at a press briefing, held at Kanifing in collaboration with the Ministry of Health  on the Mental Health draft Bill.  “Which means one billion of the world population  has a mental health disorder” he said. He said two per cent of the global health ministries budgets are pumped into the mental health disorders.  “All the health Ministries, and compile all their mental health budgets together. Only two per cent of world health budgets goes to mental health disorder.  In some countries it is far less that that. Some 0.5 per cent  of their budgets goes into mental health” he revealed.  He added that the world is not doing ‘enough’ to tackle global mental health disorders.  “The world is not doing enough to address the needs. The mental health is high, and the response are slow,” He said people r

Team Outpost Hassoum Ceesay, renowned historian and Director General at the National Centre for Arts and Culture said Gambia attained its independence from Great Britain through political mobilisation of political parties led by former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.  He made these remarks in an interview yesterday with The Outpost Media.  “Independence was basically a political project. Gambia won her independence through political mobilisation, and not through war or massive civil disobedience, it was largely won through political mobilisation” he remarked.  He said the political mobilisation of political parties, played a significant role in the fight for independence. “The United Party (UP) of Pierre Njie and the Democratic Party of Reverend J.C Faye, the Gambia Muslim Congress of I.M Garba Jahumpa and the People's Progressive Party of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara” Through these political parties he said, Gambians were mobilised in the fight for independence.  He said they were

By Sheriff Saidykhan  President Adama Barrow called for the preservation of the nation, safeguarding the state and securing the country's resources. During his speech marking the country's 59th Independence day celebration on Sunday, Barrow said: “Preserving the nation, for what it is worth, requires us to cherish and safeguard our identity, history, culture, social structures, relationships and everything else that distinguishes us as a people. Embedded in these traits are our shared values and ways of co-existing in peace and harmony as Gambians, hence we must make sure that they are not corrupted to give way to indecency. To succeed in this national endeavour, the government we choose to manage our affairs, the Constitution and Laws that regulate behaviour, the institutions that provide services and the territorial boundaries that define our land surface must be at the heart of whatever we do. Without this, our resources would be wasted, which we must collectively resolve to

By Sheiff Saidykhan Alagie Saidy-Barrow, former TRRC investigator has said that the national dialogue is the resemblance to the national think tank.  He made these remarks in his regular contribution on the Coffee Time show with Peters Gomez on Tuesday.  The rationale behind the national dialogue and the national think tank he said, is of two sides of the same coin.   “Some years ago at the height of the euphoria of the first exit of Yahya Jameh. Some genius came with the idea of the national think tank.  I remember how so many people waited to know who will be the individuals  selected to be part of this national tink tank.  As usual some among us waited what drive the notion of the think tank.  When I read the concept note of the tink tank, I suspected that it was a vehicle going nowhere and time has proven my predictions right.  Today I wake with another prediction. This national dialogue like the national think tank is also a vehicle to nowhere,” he posited. He continued: “Yes some

    By Sheriff Saidykhan  Dr. Cherno Omar Barry the Deputy Executive Secretary (DES) of the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat has said that there's need for  dialogue to quel off the on going political crisis in Senegal.  “Now there's national dialogue being called, hopefully that could be an opportunity to begin to discuss with the President to find solution. Why we are monitoring, we know there are efforts going to ensure there's peace and stability,” he said. In his interview on Coffee Time show with Peters Gomez on Tuesday, he said the Senegalo-Gambian Secretariat is aimed at ensuring peace, security and general development. As a secretariat he said they are concern of the current political instability in Senegal.  “Now if there is instability, because of the riots that are on going right now - so we are concern. Then there is a peace rupture,” said Dr. Cherno Omar Barry. He added that Gambia and Senegal shared a thinning geographical boundary. Any political crisis