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  By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA) called on the government of President Adama Barrow to rescind its decision for the allocation of stalls at the newly constructed Basse market, in the Upper River Region (URR).  Landing B. Sanneh, the President of Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities said the pronouncement of the President is contrary to the dictates of the Local Government Act 2002. He made these remarks at a press briefing held on Thursday 17 March 2022, at its main office in Tabokoto. “We the Local Government Authorities of The Gambia, comprising Chairmen and Mayor's of all the eight Area, Municipal and City Council's, have considered this announcement by the President as contrary to the dictates of the Local Government Act, 2022 and the powers vested on Basse Area Councils by the Act. The announcement has the potential of destabilizing and compromising smooth relations between the URR Regional Governor's O

  By Amadou Manjang The Truth Commission report that was submitted to the government months back has recommended that the government of The Gambia to repeal all repressive media laws and ensure the safety of journalists’.  “The government should with immediate effect, repeal all repressive legislation, including legislation that does not comply with international and regional human rights law, particularly the Information and Communication (Amendment) Act 2013 and Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2013; being criminal libel and defamation,” the report stated. The report further stated that the government should take all necessary steps to ensure that all journalists are able to freely exercise their right to freedom of expression without fear of arrest, detention, intimidation or harassment. “To ensure media and freedom of expression provisions contained within the Constitution comply with international standards, as outlined under article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Poli

  By Amadou Manjang The Truth Commission recommended that former President, Yahya Jammeh should be investigated and prosecuted for the murder of Deyda Hydara, the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, the arson attacks on Radio 1 FM and The Independent newspaper as well as torture on journalists’.  The commission's report stated that an investigation be carried out for the purpose of prosecuting the Junglers who participated in the murder of Deyda Hydara, arson attack on Radio 1 FM, attacks on The Independent newspaper and torture of the journalists and other persons mentioned in relation to the Freedom Online Newspaper issue. The commission has uncovered the killing, torture, disappearance of journalists and other Gambians for expressing their freedom of speech. “A study be carried out on the Criminal Code and the Criminal Offenses Bill 2020 and the Criminal Procedure Bill 2019 with a view to removing/repealing or amending any provisions contained in it that are repressive or undu

Lawyer Lamin J Darbo He is a towering intellectual and first rate orator, served simultaneously as Secretary General and Minister of Presidential Affairs under His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhagie Dr Yahya A. J. Jammeh (the Professor). In that role he met all stripes of leaders domestic and international and participated in the great public dramas of the day at the policy councils of the Gambian state. Allowing for the authoritarian vagaries of the system installed by the Professor, Momodou Sabally (Sabally) was for a year the great supervisor of the Public Service, sounding board of the President, his preeminent confidant, and primus among the Ministers. Having presided, or somewhat participated over the hiring and firing of senior government figures, including some cabinet colleagues, he knows a thing or two about policy and its implementation. After all, he is the Gambia’s Pen and vigorously expresses his enlightening and entertaining perspective on the burning public questions o

By:   Toney F Mendy The comments of  Chebbo Cham on  The Standard News Paper [March 3, 2022]   that The Gambia should be an Islamic State are an expression of potent delusional wishes, but even beyond that, a futile agenda long pursued by a considerable lot of citizens devoid of the very basic essential understanding of the tenet of The Gambian nationhood. Chebbo Cham, like Yahya Jammeh… like all others who stood for this ignoble agenda, is a threat to the very foundation of this nation. But what distinguished Chebbo Cham from a lot of brainwashed fellow citizens is his position as an imam, the timing of his comments ( Christian- lent period ), and manifested desire to embrace the open faults of a “ former ” despot of endless controversies, these, which highlight the epithets of the psyche of imam Cham, stand testimony of the reasons why he should not be left unanswered. Regardless of his psyche, belief, or his wishes, the very essential point of schooling for Imam Cham, is that The Ga

  By Amadou Manjang The former president Yahya Jammeh and his hit squad the “Junglers” has been recommended by the Truth Commission to be persecuted for crimes of murder, torture and other serious human rights violations.  The Junglers  as a killer squad was created by Yahya Jammeh, as a witch hunt to eliminate his enemies or people he perceived as threats to his rule. Whilst the then Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the truth commission held him as the ultimate commander of the Junglers.  The commission revealed that Jammeh occasionally directly, commanded or issued instructions directly to the Junglers to carry out certain killings or to carry them out in a particular manner. The commission recommends the prosecution of “Yahya Jammeh for the crimes referred to in this report and impose a life-ban on him from holding public office.”   “Prosecution of all the Junglers and other persons listed for their complicity in crimes referred to in this report subject to the grant of amnes

  By Amadou Manjang  As the new academic year begins, there is a growing tendency of fear among educators that the number of experience and qualify teachers leaving the field may increase.  Many teachers have quit the profession due to lack of motivation.The rate at which teachers are quitting the profession to other professions in search of greener pasture is increasing at an alarming rate. Alasana Jallow , a former high school teacher said he quit the profession to attend the university to further his education.  “I left because I was not focusing on my studies (at the University of the Gambia,” he said.  The Higher Teacher Certificate (HTC) holder further pointed out that for him to further his education and develop himself, he needs to quit the teaching profession. However, Mr. Jallow said that lack of motivation and respect are also among the key reasons he left the profession. “People are tired of this disgusting situation” he lamented. For his part, Salifu Manneh , a teacher a