Gov’t announces bread price at D7 per loaf

 Amid a sudden escalation of bread price in town, the Gambia government yesterday issued a strongly worded statement urging traders to keep the price at D7 per loaf.

 The full statement reads:

“Following the recent increase in the price of locally produced flour, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment MOTIE is hereby informing the general public that: 1. An agreement has been reached with Nessim Trading Company Limited for the price of Ferry brand flour to be restored to D1, 425.00 per bag, Bridge brand at D1, 385.00 and Golden Brown maintained at D1, 350 with immediate effect. 2. Locally produced flour should not be exported to neighboring countries in line with the earlier press release from this Ministry. 3. Bakeries are encouraged to buy flour from the factory to save costs and benefit from other applicable discounts. Given that flour milling companies have agreed to restore their original prices as stated above, this Ministry is calling on all bakeries to continue their production of bread and ensure that the price of bread is maintained at D7 per loaf. The public is hereby reassured that the ministry and the MOTIE/GCCPC is fully committed to ensuring the availability and affordability of essential commodities including flour and will work diligently to find a permanent solution as we grapple with global price increments brought about by the effects of Covid-19 on global supply chains.

Standard Newspaper.gm  DECEMBER 15, 2021

UDP PETITIONS BARROW OVER ‘ELECTION FRAUD’ …Asks court to declare polls invalid

 By Omar Bah

The opposition United Democratic Party yesterday filed a petition at the Supreme Court urging the apex court to “nullify” the December 4 Presidential election due to alleged corrupt practices by Adama Barrow and his National People’s Party.

The petition obtained by The Standard, showed the UDP alleging that President Adama Barrow and members of his National People’s Party bribed voters by giving them money, cooking utensils and milling machines.

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Elsewhere in the petition, the party alleged that non-citizens were inserted in the register of voters in the length and breadth of the country.

The UDP also complained about a wide range of issues including; the turning away of voters for non-wearing of masks, refusal to supply counted results to UDP agents at some of the counting centers, reopening of polls for voting after the official closure of at 5PM, continuation of voting into the night for up to midnight, widespread appearance of resident non-Gambians to vote in the elections, widespread appearance of people across the borders from both northern and southern Senegal to vote in the elections and numerous complaints relating to lack of transparency in the election process. The party also complained that chiefs and governors were engaged in the campaign to support Barrow’s candidature and that the election was invalid by reason of hate speech against the Mandinka tribe and in order to induce fear in the voters against the petitioners when it became the campaign slogan of the NPP that if UDP wins the election, Wollofs, Serere, the Fulas and other ethnic minorities will be expelled from the country.

The UDP also claimed that the IEC and NPP conspired to absorb renown supporters of the NPP as presiding officers to supervise the election. They identified such people as  Fabakary Ceesay – Jambur, Fansu Sambou – Brikama, Ousman Manneh – Kembujeh, Ramatoulie Bajinka –Brikama, Oumie Hydara – Brikama Wellingara, Rose Basse –Lamin, Nyarra Sowe – Sibanor, Lamin K Jawara – Farato, Malick Jammeh – Kembujeh, L.S.A.Jatta – Sifoe, Lamin M Manneh –Brikama, Amadou Sanneh – Brikama, Alasana Bah – Basse, Alfusainey Jarjusy – Nyofelleh, Fatou Jammeh – Kuloro and Fabakary Gibba – Ndemban .

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The party alleged that the NPP in an attempt to induce voters distributed cooking utensils in Kachang, Conteh Kunda, Sabach Sanjal, Sarra Kunda and Kerr Bamba. The party said Barrow and his NPP were engaged in giving financial inducement to voters throughout the country during political campaign. They said these corrupt practices violated section 116 of the Election Act,which renders the elections invalid. The UDP also alleged that the corrupt practices and inducements complained of were allegedly carried out on behalf of President Barrow or with his knowledge and by persons acting with his authority. The party argued that the IEC did not permit its agents to be present when the ballot boxes were sealed on the morning before the commencement of the polls and that alkalolu(village heads) presence at some polling stations throughout the day was condoned by IEC officials adding that in Basse, Gen Ensa Badjie appeared at the polling station and ordered the IEC to re-open the polling station for those who came late. The UDP also argued that polling stations such as Busumbala Mission School, Old Yundum and Sukuta were congested and the IEC did not provide enough booths and that UDP agents at the IEC were merely given a fax copy.

Meanwhile, legal sources told The Standard that Mr Barrow has about 21 days to respond to the petition after which a date will be appointed for hearing.

Standard Newspaper.gm  DECEMBER 15, 2021

Darboe calls for end to QCell boycott campaign

 By Alagie Manneh

UDP leader Ousainu Darboe has advised against calls to boycott the QGroup, the commercial enterprises of businessman Muhammed Jah.

The UDP leader’s appeal came after former ambassador and UDP supporter Jainaba Bah called for a boycott by UDP supporters of the businesses of Mr Jah for his support of President Barrow. Madame Bah had however said she did so on her own right and not on behalf the UDP. 

However, the UDP leader reacted on his Facebook page yesterday saying: “I see the campaign for a boycott of the Jah’s businesses is intensifying. I agree entirely that we should be liberal minded, accept and respect choices made by individuals and groups. This campaign strongly validates the label of intolerance attached to us. Although I asked the media team to issue a statement confirming that Ambassador [Jainaba] Bah’s appeal was her personal view and not the official position of the party, it does appear that the party is supporting the campaign as our platform is being used to promote the boycott.

“As a responsible and accommodating party we should engage Jah to win him over. We are putting our party in bad light. Let us accept that not everyone will support us but that does not mean we should adopt a stand that will further alienate us from some section of the population”.

Standard Newspaper.gm  DECEMBER 15, 2021

UDP man arrainged over colleague’s inciting audio explains

 By Omar Bah

Sarjo Jarjue, a top UDP financier who was among those mentioned by arrested party supporter Lamin Darboe who made an audio inciting a Rwanda-type violence has dissociate himself from the author’s behavior.

Last week a former fire service officer and native of Jarra Bureng Lamin Darboe circulated an audio, inciting Gambians to go out and burn the country. In the audio, Mr Darboe was heard calling on the likes of Sarjo Jarjue and others to come out and join the process. The audio prompted an angry reaction from UDP leader Ousainu Darboe who suggested that the police should trace those mentioned in the audio to help identify the voice behind the audio.

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Sarjo who was among those named by Lamin said he has nothing to do with the author of the audio or its content. “The only connection I have with the author of the audio is that we both support the UDP and share the same Whatsapp group. I want to assure the UDP membership more especially Ousainu Darboe that I will never under any circumstances take part in irresponsible actions like this. I am better than that,” Jarjue said.

Mr Jarjue said when the audio was released, he was not even in the country.

“It was when I return from my trip that my niece informed me about it so when I listened to the audio the following morning, I contacted one Omar Ndow a CID officer at Banjulinding police about it. But moments after someone sent me Ousainu Darboe’s audio suggesting that the police should trace me to get the author,” he said.

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He added: “Immediately I reported myself to the Banjulinding police station to clear my name. They didn’t allow me to talk instead they asked me about Lamin Darboe and I told them I don’t know Lamin Darboe’s home and that is the fact,” he said.

He said after Banjulinding they were taken to the PIU where they were asked questions about the WhatsApp Group and why it was formed.

“We were then moved to the Police Headquarters’ where we spent the night,” he said.

DECEMBER 13, 2021  Standard newspaper

Jammeh’s guards celebrate Barrow’s victory in E. Guinea

 A video has emerged of some guards of former president Yahya Jammeh celebrating last Saturday’s victory of President Adama Barrow with a song and dance.

In the video, the guards and people believed to be their family members, could be seen singing, dancing and clapping to the refrain of “Vive Barrow! Vive Barrow!”.

The celebrations were led by Lt Col Wandifa Barrow, the loyal aide-de-camp who went into exile with Jammeh and has remained with him to date. Also seen in the video was Major Amadou Joof, a personal protection officer to the former first lady, Staff Sgt LB Jammeh and Sgt Lamin Nyassi.

Sources close to the former president indicated that many of those living with him in his exile base, did not agree with his decision to part company with the APRC leadership under Fabakary Tombong Jatta and initially endorse Sheikh Tijan Hydara and later GDC’s Mamma Kandeh instead of NPP’s President Adama Barrow.

Jammeh had repeatedly addressed GDC campaign rallies through telephone and called Barrow an illegitimate president and even a donkey.

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The video of the celebration by his guards of Barrow’s victory is a public confirmation of their disagreement with his position.

An APRC source told The Standard that plans are afoot to repatriate the guards and their dependents from Equatorial Guinea as soon as possible.

DECEMBER 10, 2021  Standard newspaper

Darboe, Faal, Kandeh reject election results.

 By Tabora Bojang

Three of the five defeated candidates; Ousainu Darboe of UDP, Mamma Kandeh of GDC and independent Essa Faal, have jointly issued a statement rejecting the election results.

Adama Barrow, the leader of the National People’s Party, emerged winner of Saturday’s president election, beating his political godfather Ousainu Darboe who finished a distant second.

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However, even before a winner was declared, Faal and Kandeh met with Mr Darboe at his Fajara residence where he later read a statement on behalf his fellow defeated candidates.

“Considering that The Gambia has an electorate of approximately 900,000, with on-the-spot counting, we are concerned that there has been an inordinate delay in the announcement of results,” Darboe said. “Two, our agents and representatives have raised a number of issues at the polling stations and 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.”

Mr Darboe said such issues will be probed. “We are investigating this matter with our partners to determine our future course of action. At this point in time, we reject the results announced thus far by the IEC. We reserve the right to embark on any course of action the situation requires. To this end, all actions are on the table. In the meantime, we urge all Gambians to remain calm and peaceful while we continue our investigation of these concerns,” he added.

At the time of reading the statement, hundreds of supporters of Mr Darboe had gathered outside his residence chanting “ayeh ji, ayeh ji!” translating as “step down, step down!”

Riot police were noticed in the vicinity.

DECEMBER 6, 2021 Standard newspaper

Suspects arrested over civil servant’s murder

 By Tabora Bojang

Standard newspaper,  SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

A principal suspect and several others were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of murdering a civil servant, police confirmed.

Ousman Jarju, a staff of the National Audit Office, was stabbed to death Wednesday by suspected thieves who attempted to rob him at the Palma Rima beach.

According to police sources, one Hadim Jeng, 18, was arrested in Bakoteh in connection with the killing and charged with murder.

 Another suspect, Muhammed Njie was equally arrested and is helping police with their investigations.

Police sources revealed that its investigators have recovered the knife and other evidential materials allegedly used by the suspects in the commission of the crime.

The police further disclosed that they made a breakthrough after recovering a bag containing several national documents, a notebook, air tickets and boarding pass all bearing the name of Ousman, found at a football field and a street in Bakoteh which prompted them to beef up investigations within the Bakoteh area and surroundings leading to multiple arrests.

According to other police sources, the suspect was arrested by the Tourism Security Unit and handed over to the Kotu police station where he confessed to have taken part in the robbery and stabbing of Ousman Jarju with his accomplices.

The source further added that the suspect initially denied knowledge of the crime but following the arrest of about a dozen suspects at a crime hideout in Bakoteh one of them [arrested suspects] confirmed to investigators at Kotu police that he saw the principal suspect Hadim and 3 others at the Palma beach area on Wednesday.

“After intensive interrogations by the police the principal suspect [Hadim] confessed to have attacked the deceased with one Muhammed Njie and another friend [name withheld] and stabbed the deceased with a knife while Muhammed and the other friend snatched the bag away, but they later met at Bakoteh,” a  police source  said.

Second suspect Muhammed Njie also corroborated Hadim’s statement detailing his involvement in the crime. He [Njie] claimed he got D100 from the money stolen from Ousman’s bag.