Within Gambia Times

22/04/2024

As it stands, Ousainou Darboe is still our flag bearer and Party leader till 2026. Almameh Taal.

18/04/2024

The government has approved D40 million for the following media houses to promote government agenda:

~ Fatu Network
~ Star TV
~ QTV
~ Paradise TV
~ Eye Africa TV
~ Sparklibg Media
~ Fandema Multimedia

Each media house will receive over D5 million.

Source: Standard Newspaper

07/04/2024

BOB KEITA Said he was disappointed with the president when he was in custody.

During a marathon interview aired last night with Fatou camara, Bob Keita who is now considered a celebrity and was once accused of r**e by his ex wife said he was disappointed with the president because the president did not support him in any aspect.

" Am not saying that he interfere in the case, but because I was Barrow youth movement infact I was one of the founders, I thought he would have rendered moral support to me or my family".

Bob said is only God who took him out from prison and the prayers of some good people.
He was thankful to people like Kexx Sanneh who gave lot of attention to the case.

Bob said he lost his brother and sister whiles he was detained at mile2 and they hide that information from him. He said at one point he asked his mother to stop visiting because it was always very emotional whenever she visits.
Bob said up to date he still blame the ministry of justice for delaying his case and some staff at the judiciary has special interest in his case.

07/04/2024

As promised. Our full interview with Doudou Jah is here please watch and subscribe to the channel.

05/04/2024

Message of gratitude from former Police PRO

As I officially hand over The public relations office of The Gambia Police Force to my successor, Cadet ASP Modou Musa Sisawo and reflect on my time serving as the Public Relations Officer, I am humbled by the opportunity to have worked alongside dedicated individuals committed to safeguarding our nation's security. At this pivotal moment of transition, I extend my deepest gratitude to those who have supported me throughout this journey.

First and foremost, I express my sincere appreciation to the former Inspector General of Police, Abdoulie Sanyang, who appointed me to this role. His leadership, guidance, and unwavering commitment to excellence has been a source of inspiration to us all. Now, as you assume the esteemed position of Interior Minister, I am confident that your vision and wisdom will continue to shape the future of law enforcement in our country.

To the Inspector General of Police, IGP Seedy Muctar Touray, I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations and assure you of my relentless support in whatever capacity i serve within the force to ensure respect for human rights and uphold the rule of law.

I am also deeply indebted to the Gambians/non-Gambians, both at home and abroad, whose unwavering support has been the driving force behind our collective achievements. Your trust, cooperation, and constructive feedback have been invaluable in shaping our policies and initiatives. It is your resilience and spirit of unity that continue to propel us forward in the face of challenges.

To my colleagues, friends, and family, your unwavering encouragement and understanding have sustained me through the highs and lows of public service. Your sacrifices and unwavering support have not gone unnoticed, and I am deeply grateful for your steadfast presence in my life.

Last but not the least, I express sincere appreciation to my colleagues in the media for their role in fostering transparency, accountability, and public awareness. Your dedication to impartial reporting and ethical journalism has been instrumental in promoting dialogue and cooperation between The GPF and the public.

Be rest assured of my relentless service to country, as I am not the PRO but still a Cop.

05/04/2024

Police gets new PRO.....

Rumours are, Binta Njie former PRO resigned.

Sources close to this medium has indicated that the Police have now hired a new PRO Mr Sisawo who was the deputy to ASP cadet Binta Njie.

There are reports that former PRO Binta who became the first female PRO has tendered her resignation to the high command of the Gambia Police force.
It's reported that Binta Njie has always complained about Sabotage in her line of work as PRO.

The first female PRO warmed people's hearts when she emerged as the spokesperson of the force some two years ago.
Her fluent English and how she responds to questions was top notch.
She has various degrees in communication and policing.
She did part of her studies in Nigeria and Sweden.
As Matters stand at the moment, the police higher command has not allowed her to resign but demoted her to other departments of the force.

01/04/2024

Pa Manneh, Senior UDP Party Member Calls Alhagie S Darboe’s Press Release "Nonsense".

“Personally! I think the press release from Alagie S Darboe is NONSENSE. If the party supporters and sympathizers have no say regarding party issues. Then they have no voice in the party and their support is useless. The easiest was to reach out to the concern and mentioned names to address the issue and put to rest the whole thing. If that isn't possible, then truth is hidden from the party supporters.

Since when it became an issue to call out Ousainou Darboe's name as (UDP) flag bearer for next presidential elections? Something is fishy and we aren't ready to be factual to the party supporters.

Let's speak the truth because I see no truthfulness in that press release..

Darboe for 2026 is no harm and can't be harmful to anyone. Unless we turn the tune other wise.

For me, I have a voice to say in this party.. And I will speak it. No matter the consequences.”

01/04/2024

In a strong statement today, UDP asked its WhatsApp forums administrators to delete all audios discussing flag-bearer. Many party members have been stating it’s time UDP got a new flagbearer who is not the ageing Darboe ahead of the 2026 polls.

But party big beast Alhagie S Darboe warned today: “The senior administrative secretary honourable Alhagie S Darboe seriously advised all members of the UDP, especially the executive members, to completely desist from talking about the flag bearer issue in any form either in audio or Facebook or Tiktok.

“All audios related to the flagbearership issue in all affiliated UDP forums should be deleted forthwith by the group admins and those who are associated with the position should not entertain it, as it will only divide us rather than unite us. The party doesn't have the issue of a flagbearer in their activity plan as the flagbearer will be selected in 2026.

“We should all focus on 2026 and not entertain the discussion of flagbearers in our forums and platforms. The UDP flagbearer position should not be attached to any individual from the party leader to the last member until 2026, when it will be open to all members who wish to apply.

“In line with the Party’s constitution, the position of flagbearer is not granted to anyone automatically.

“We, therefore, call on all operators in UDP media platforms to heed this clarion call and devote our energies entirely to campaigning for UDP to win the polls in 2026.”

31/03/2024

We had an exclusive with Mr Doudou Jah the deputy spokesman of the Fabakary Tombong led APRC where he answered the following questions.

* Is he in the verge of leaving the APRC for UDP?

* What agreement did he just sign with Talib Ahmed BENSOUDA?

* Are they working on their own party?

* What's the beef between him Tombong and president Barrow?

* What's his prediction for 2026 elections.

* Is the Gambia Government doing much to fight corruption?
Among other things.
Full interview coming on Wednesday.

26/03/2024

DO YOU KNOW
▪️Senegal will arguably become another Africa's country with two first ladies after the Gambia.
▪️The 44-Yr-Old Senegalese President-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye is blessed with two wives, namely Marie Khone Faye and
Absa Faye. They've 4 children.
▪️Faye is a close friend of Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, that he even named one his sons Ousmane in honor of their friendship.
▪️Faye says he believes in system change and left-wing pan-Africanism to reclaim Senegal’s sovereignty, a rhetoric some analysts believe is an allusion to intentions to distance the country from Western powers especially former colonial ruler France.
▪️During political campaigns, Faye also vowed to fight the “French economic stranglehold” over Senegal if elected.
▪️In 2000, Faye earned his baccalaureate. He successfully attained a master’s degree in law and subsequently cleared both competitive exams, enrolling at the National School of Administration (ENA) and the magistracy in 2004.
What's your opinion on polygamy in Africa?

17/03/2024

Exclusive with Talib Ahmed BENSOUDA.

Gambia Times: Is the mbalit project a success? We saw politicians going to the Dumpsite saying the project is a failure?

Talib: Thank you very much. The mbalit project is for the community and we collecting over 600 tones of waste daily from the community. I think it's a famous project now and the community have been benefiting. This has never been done in the Gambia and as far we know not in the sub region too. It has an impact and let me remind you that KMC is a service provider, when we came to council we found only two old vehicles that were bought by the office and just two tractors. These can't serve the community. KMC was in crisis and many saw in the last regime what people were going through with Mbalit, infact at one point they came to the former mayors office to dump the waste. So I will not call it a fail project. You don't need to look far, just check the entire councils in the country who has this kind of project? No body. No body has that amount of waste collection capacity. Politicians will always talk. We are from Elections ten months ago. If this project and other projects were failures, the people will not vote me in again.

Gambia Times: How is recycling done? People who live around the dumpsite complain of heavy smoke sometimes

TALIB: There is ministry of Environment. They should be responsible for waste management. KMC is not responsible for waste management we are service provider. There is no where in the local government act saying we are responsible for waste management. If you ask me if there is recycling in Bakoteh I will say yes, but informal.

Gambia Times: So what happened to the waste dumped?

Talib: 70 percent of the waste is uncollected. We try to collect about 50percent on a daily basis and sustainable. All our 30 trucks are on the road daily.

Gambia Times: What's the work force? How many people employed under this project.

TALIB: The mbalit project has employed 176 workers and they are all newly employed people. Different sectors different capacities but all under the project.

Gambia Times: Many people saying that you will be the next flag bearer for UDP. How true is this?

TALIB: Well as you said this are just rumours. The day that it becomes true it will be announced. Am a politician who don't minse my words. I do as I say and do what I say. You also have to understand something, the sit I occupied here as Mayor, I also belong to a party that's UDP as an executive member. So what ever I do people talk, sometimes even internally. The party has a structure and has rules, there is processes in whatever we do. The flag bearer is always selected at the congress so I think we wait for that. It's an open application and election year we will know who is interested and who is not. ( Laughs)

Gambia Times: If this position is offered to you, will you be interested?

TALIB: Well at that point in time..... You know politics is about opportunities and timing. So at that point in time the decision will be made.

Gambia Times: So at the moment you can't tell?

TALIB: No I can't.

Gambia Times: Of recent we saw many people leaving the UDP for NPP. Recently your camping manager left for NPP. What does this means to you as a politician?

TALIB: Well I think is normal, but let me add in Gambian politics Lol. Since I started politics in the Gambia I have seen it as a normal thing. People left other parties and came to the UDP and the other way round. This has been happening since the PPP era. In Gambian politics is ok but in other part of the world it's not quite normal. Because in other countries subscribing to a political party means subscribing to certain believe and values. In terms of cross carpeting I don't really belive in it. So this is not threatening because yes our camping manager left but we saw people like Pateh Baldeh who was NRP coming to UDP. But it's still democracy. It's people's right to decide when to go or when to join. They should not be condemned. When they were joining us they were celebrated.

Gambia Times: But let's talk about Sabally as an individual and a heavyweight in Gambian politics. Doe's his going hit you?

TALIB: well I will not like to comment on the matter but anybody who switches will not surprise me. I can't judge people. Bro as I said, it's their right to join any party. Who ever comes to UDP we will celebrate you and whoever leaves we will not be happy.

Gambia Times: You became so close to Darboe and people said that's why people like Sabally call it quit?

TALIB: I think this are just rumours. And politics and rumours leaves together. I will not like to deny that I heard such things but just address them as rumours. At one point rumours says I was forming my own party, at one point they said I was trying to coup d'etat the party leader and now the rumours is the party leader is pointing fingers on me. Mind you all these rumours came up within the span of six months. This rumours are just speculations and not the facts.
Even at the NPP side sometimes we hear the president may not contest, sometimes you hear otherwise.

Gambia Times: Why did you went on a nationwide tour?

TALIB: I am the chairman of all the campaign structures in the Gambia for my party. The executive created an annual plan. So part of the plan is for me to go on quartly tours. So based on that plan I went on tour. But my tour was hyped and people started talking again haha. It was just a normal tour organized by my party.

Gambia Times: What is this rumours that you heard about yourself that made you want to write a press release or go to media houses to clerify?

TALIB: Lol well politics is a daily thing and I tend to forget most of this things. But am sure there were issues that came up and I wanted to go clarify them. I can't just pin point at the moment.

Gambia Times: KMC has a radio and the plan is to go on air. What's holding that?

TALIB: I always like to base my conversation on things I know. Generally when we started the license issue we were told there was an embargo. However we don't believe that embargo should affect council because we work with Government. This should not also affect community stations.
There are rumors that it might be politically motivated. They think may be we will run programmes that favours the UDP. We don't know what to believe but we will still persue to get the license through the right channel. What I can tell you is that the radio is up and running online and has very interesting programs.

Gambia Times: You are partnering with another radio station outside to broadcast some of your materials?

TALIB: Yes exactly because we are not on air. So this will allow us to be on the FM band because KMC radio is just online.

Gambia Times: Did you see this as a dictatorial regime. Because you can't get a radio license?

TALIB: Well if it's about the license as I said they said there was an embargo. This was in place before we even attempt to get a radio here. I can't call that dictatorial.

Gambia Times: Share with us councils most successful stories 2024.

TALIB: The first one will be the library we are about to open which will be the biggest public library. We also about to start the road network which will begin around next month. These projects are key successes for 2024.
I want to make something clear, when people compare our development they should compare us with other councils not Gambia Government.

Gambia Times: Have you ever been approached by NPP to join them?

TALIB: Hmmmm, even if I was I will not tell you. 🤣. Politics also has ethics. Been approached by another party to join them is not something you should advertise. Well to me this is like football and each team trying to get the best players. But wether am approached by NPP or not I will keep that to myself.

Gambia Times: Many thanks for your tim
TALIB: Thanks for having me.

14/03/2024

GERMANY TO BRING BACK GAMBIANS TODAY

Nyima Sillah

Migration and human rights activist in Germany, Yahya Sonko, has disclosed that the second deportation flight from Germany for 2024 will arrive in The Gambia today with 35 deportees.

He explained that the first deportation flight in 2024 landed in The Gambia on 28th February and the second chartered flight arrives today.

The firebrand activist contended that this year, the Barrow Government would receive more deportees than the previous year.

“As the Gambia navigates through these turbulent times, it is imperative for all stakeholders to collaborate effectively and uphold their commitments to safeguard the welfare and dignity of all individuals, including deportees. Only through concerted efforts and inclusive policies can The Gambia surmount the challenges at hand and build a future that promises hope and prosperity for all its citizens,” activist Sonkotold The Voice.

He called for accountability and transparency from both domestic and international stakeholders involved in the reintegration process of the deportees, saying that civil society organizations and human rights advocates have voiced their concerns to the authorities about prioritizing the needs of deportees and implementing comprehensive support mechanisms to facilitate their successful reintegration into society.

He pointed out that in 2023, Gambians residing in theEU, particularly in Germany faced a tumultuous period as the government of The Gambia struck an agreement with the bloc to repatriate over 600 Gambians.

“The agreement ostensibly, aimed at facilitating the reintegration of deportees, has since proven to be fraught with challenges, leaving many individuals in dire straits upon their return to The Gambia,” Sonkoasserted.

The Germany-based migration and human rightsactivist said despite assurances from both the EU and Gambian authorities, the reality on the ground paints a grim picture of failed reintegration efforts and a sharp rise in unemployment rates, arguing that reports from the deportee groups indicated that not a single deportee has received adequate support to effectively reintegrate into Gambian society, exacerbating the already precarious situation.

He, however, stated that this failure is acutely felt among the youthful population, with many facing limited prospects for employment and succumbing to the allure of illicit activities, notably the trade in hard drugs.

“The resultant surge in drug-related activities not only perpetuates social instability but also poses significant public health concerns for the nation,” he said.

09/03/2024

https://youtu.be/7DfS3KH2v9M?si=64xeqHZTxuGGOHd3 Interesting interview with Mayor Talib Ahmed Brnsouda by Kebba Camara

The interview centred mainly on issues about him. The rumors and the facts.

17/02/2024

https://youtu.be/I79ThmFMhCM?si=W7oIdjyz3pkDn4I0

Subscribe for more! KEBBA LA AUDIO is a podcast that mainly focus on politics, burning issues and more.In this podcast Kebba Camara talk to Momodou Sabally...

21/12/2023

Momodou Sabally speaks after meeting the president.