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          Omar Ceesay, Transport Union President By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambia Transport Union (GTU) has said in its recent press release that the transport fares will be increase from all the official routes across the country effective Friday, 20th January 2023.  Below reads the full statements: “The General Transport Union wishes to inform the public that, following a series of consultations with the government through the Ministry of Transport Works and Infrastructure and relevant stakeholders has reached an agreement to increase the Transport fares for all the official routes across the country effective 20th January 2023.  The General Transport Union wishes to further inform all its members, commercial drivers, and commercial vehicle owners that, an agreement has been made between the Union, Government and other stakeholders in connection to the implementation of the routes licensing scheme within the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region.  In this regard, we are calling on

  ECOWAS CONDEMNS COUP PLOT IN THE GAMBIA The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has received with utter dismay and shock the news of an attempted coup in the Gambia.  ECOWAS Commission strongly condemns the attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Gambia and underscores ECOWAS total rejection of all unconstitutional change of government in any member State. ECOWAS Commission salutes the leadership and personnel of the Gambia security services for their adherence to their constitutional role and for foiling this illegal plot. ECOWAS Commission stands firmly by the democratically elected government of the Gambia and once again reiterates its total condemnation of the attempted coup plot. Abuja, 21 December 2022

Modou Sowe The Gambian environmentalist and Executive Director of the Gambia Association for Nature and Biodiversity Modou Sowe has been fired 10 days after he left for COP 15 Part 2 in Canada. The decision was made in a Board Meeting and announced in a Press Conference by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.  According to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GANB Mrs Fatou Jallow, the decision was made at a Board Meeting. Speaking to the press, Mrs Jallow said this is one of the most difficult decisions of the institution because Modou is irreplaceable, however, the decision is made to protect the institution’s reputation as its funds and partners are not happy with the present role of the Executive Director in protecting the Monkey Park at Bijilo.  We have engaged him in dialogues to desist away from such activities but his commitment to the protection of nature is beyond our control, however, we as an institution need to protect our source of funding for sustainability

  Yahya Sonko      OUR AFRICAN HEAD OF STATES SHOULD START TO BLAME EUROPEAN UNION INSTEAD OF THEIR CITIZENS WHO ARE TAKING IRREGULAR MIGRATION TO LOOK FOR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS .  Reports from survivors relayed to IOM indicate that at least 252 people died during alleged forced expulsions by European authorities, also known as pushbacks, since 2021.Beyond a structural failure to provide adequate safe pathways, Missing Migrants Project records show that many of the deaths on migratory routes to destination countries in Europe could have been prevented by prompt and effective assistance to migrants in distress. As a Gambian German base migration activist, I am calling on my Government and other African heads to emulate Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who in 2018 has expressed deep concerns over the cold-hearted treatment of African migrants in Europe.Ghanaian President did not mince words when he criticised the inhumane and abusive treatment of African migrants in Europe. He

  International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists Fajara, Gambia, November 2, 2022: Today, as we mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes committed against Journalists. The Gambia Press Union join calls by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and 600,000 media professionals from 187 trade unions and associations in more than 140 countries worldwide, for governments, journalists and media groups to support the adoption of a UN Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionals. In order to “Break the Cycle of Impunity”, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) agrees that more safeguards and guarantees must be implemented beyond the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which has been unable to deliver the “free and safe environment for journalists and media workers” it promised, according to the IFJ. In the Gambia and elsewhere around the world, journalists continue to be

  Muhammed S. Bah, GPU President Fajara, 3 May, 2022 – Every year, 3 rd May is observed as a day to remind governments and other stakeholders of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is a day for media workers globally to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. The day is also set aside to support media that are oftentimes targets of violation and abuse.    This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme “Journalism under digital siege,” spotlights the multiple ways in which journalism is endangered by surveillance and digitally-mediated attacks on journalists, and the consequences of all this on public trust in digital communications. The theme also looks at how big data collection and Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacts journalism, freedom of expression and privacy, and offers an opportunity to discuss and deal with digital inspired surveillance, trolls and privacy violations against journalists and their sources.   In the context of the press free

  The Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, Justice and human rights worldwide. Below reads their full statement: “The Elders today denounced President Vladimir Putin’s decision to place Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal on “special alert” status as a reckless escalation of the conflict in Ukraine that underscores the existential threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons. NATO’s nuclear powers have maintained restraint and kept their own nuclear weapons off high alert. They must persist in this stance to avoid aggravating an already extremely dangerous situation.   The Elders have long called for all nuclear arsenals to be moved off high alert status as part of a wider agenda of de-escalation, disarmament and risk reduction. Current events show precisely why these steps are urgently needed. The Elders also voiced grave concerns about Belarus’ move to renounce its non-nuclear status and potentially allow Russian nuclear weapons to b

     Below reads their statement   O n December 4 th 2021, Gambians came out in large numbers to vote in the presidential elections. Twenty-four hours later no clear winner has been declared by the Independent Electoral Commission. The United Democratic Party and its partners, GFA and Hon. Marie Sock, GDC, and Hon. Essa Mbaye Faal have the following preliminary observations on the just concluded electoral process: 1)   1   Considering that The Gambia has an electorate of approximately 900,000 with on-the-spot counting system, we are concerned that there has been an inordinate delay in the announcement of the results. 1)    2  A number of issues have been raised by our agents and representatives of the above mentioned candidates at the polling stations/centres and at the IEC Headquarters. As a result, the representatives of the aforementioned candidates at the IEC Headquarters refused to endorse some of the results that were announced through the public media. We are investigating the

Mr Emmanuel Joof, NHRC Chairman The National Human Rights Commission has learned with grave concern the arbitrary arrest and the unlawful detention of one Nenneh Freda Gomez and Lamin Sey by officers of the Gambia Police Force. According to reports and information gathered by the NHRC, Nenneh Freda Gomez, the Country Representative of Global Hearts of Medical Mission  (GLOBAL HOMM) and a staff of the same Mission, Lamin Sey, were initially arrested and charged with 2 counts of malicious injury to property and criminal trespass by the Inspector General of Police. They were subsequently granted bail but the charges against them never proceeded before the courts. As a result, Ms Gomez filed a case before the High Court challenging the legality of her arrest. The High Court ruled on Wednesday 17th November 2021 and declared that their arrest and detention was unlawful and contrary to Section 19 of the 1997 Constitution. Taking note of the High Court judgments in the matter, The Government

  WORRYING CONCERNS ABOUT STATEMENTS MADE BY HE PRESIDENT ADAMA BARROW AND THE UDP LEADER AND FLAG BEARER OUSAINOU DAROBOE DURING THEIR POLITICAL RALLIES/CAMPAIGNS The NHRC is extremely concerned about the statements uttered by President Adama Barrow at his recent political campaign in Farafenni when he seemingly took pride in the use of tear gas by the paramilitary unit of the Gambia Police Force to forceful dispersal a protest of the Three Years Jotna movement.  In that same vein, the NHRC is equally perturbed by the remarks of  Mr Ousainou Darboe, the UDP leader and presidential aspirant, to the President’s reference to him as the “CEO” of the 3 Year Jotna Movement by threatening to “ destroy” the President  Such statements by political leaders have the potential to threaten the peace and stability of the country, as well as instigate violation of the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and political participation as guaranteed by the 1997 Constitution o