Reviewing the News: Week Ending February 25th 2010
Hello My Good Friends. It’s been a while. Too much going on and I’ve been mad busy. I’m back -well, I hope I’m back. In any case, I would really appreciate a hand to keep the blog going when I go into hibernation in future although I hope it doesn’t happen again. Please send articles, comments etc. to louisfriend4@gmail.com and I’ll be glad to publish. Now on to the news items.
Woman goes to court to have land dispute resolved. Told that judgment could not be given because … “the new judge was unable to read the old judge’s handwriting”.
If the story is true, then yes it’s ludicrous and you have every right to be upset. However, I find it rather silly for Echo to claim that’s “exposing” our “wanting judicial process”…making a mountain out of a mole hill.
- I know of friends who lost great opportunities to work in the UK simply because Immigration LOST their paperwork and wasted months, sometimes years, before admitting they did.
- Don’t act like hiccups in judicial systems only happen only in The Gambia.
I’m in no way trying to justify or defend such a ridiculous statement from a judge but I’d like to point out land disputes happen all the time in the Gambia and it has nothing to do with that the letter writer’s nationality. If you have the right paperwork for your ownership of the land, then produce it and pursue the case. Let us know how you fare.
I’m in no way trying to justify or defend such a ridiculous statement from a judge but I’d like to point out land disputes happen all the time in the Gambia and it has nothing to do with that the letter writer’s nationality. If you have the right paperwork for your ownership of the land, then produce it and pursue the case. Let us know how you fare.
Millions Wasted as Jammeh orders demolition of Old Yundum Buildings: reports that government issued a “decree” to demolish buildings on Army Reserve Land in Old Yundum
- The Gambia Echo calls it land grabbing by the president but they have not verified whether it is indeed reserve land.
-I repeat my calls for you to quit the arm chair journalism and DO YOUR JOB the right way. VERIFY whether it indeed is reserve land. Where are your trusted “Kissy Kissy Mansa” and other “reliable sources” when you need them?
- If you prove it is not reserve land then you can justify your claims that it’s simply unlawful and unjust land grabbing by the government.
If, on the other hand, you find out it is reserve land, then tough luck to anyone who erected structures without getting the required permits. In any case, government needs to do a better job of monitoring what’s going on and regulating land. Better to stop people building when it was one or two structures than wait till now.
Gambians endure another embarrassment
Story reports that the Gambia Government has expelled the UN Resident Representative.
Not only would this be embarrassing to Gambia but also to the UN Systems and International Community. I haven’t verified this one but I remember the representative who was declared persona non-grata and asked to leave the Gambia immediately when she called for caution on the president’s claims of curing AIDS. These incidents only serve to give more credibility to the Lame Duck accusation levied on the United Nations.
If small Gambia cannot respect the International Community, then what hope is there for the Gambian People? Perhaps worse, what hope is there for any country in the world to respect International Organizations and laws?
This is a call by some fool on the military to overthrow the government and arrest Jammeh.
Not only is the call comical, it’s also cowardly and clearly not well-thought out. These are the punks living outside of the country and trying to stir up trouble. They’re the same cowards who never uttered a word when they were living in The Gambia and are even too scared to take a vacation.
Not only is the call comical, it’s also cowardly and clearly not well-thought out. These are the punks living outside of the country and trying to stir up trouble. They’re the same cowards who never uttered a word when they were living in The Gambia and are even too scared to take a vacation.
In addition, how democratic are you if you’re calling for a military intervention? Two wrongs don’t make a right. Engage in some progressive criticism, some civic education or promote a political party. If you’re hell bent on using military action then grab a gun and head on down to Gambia… or ask Gibril Saidy for tips…lol (see story on “Man Charged with Treason” below in The Point)
Former KMC Mayor Lie Conteh is in court for economic crimes. According to Freedom, the defense is now offering to pay back the monies he allegedly took and the prosecution is agreeing to dropping the charges.
- I say Bull Shit! (Yea, you heard me!) It’s a crime to steal and if you commit the crime you should do the time. Either you’re innocent and should not pay any money back or you are guilty and need to pay the money back AND face punishment for stealing from the people of the Gambia and betraying their trust. Teach our kids that it’s wrong to steal, whether you’re caught or not
- If this logic holds, then a burglar breaking into your house should be set free as long as he can go back and recover your items???
Ex Agric Minister in Court for Car Loan
Not too interesting of a story, and, as with all things from Freedom newspaper, I doubt the credibility of the story. They claim Kanja Sanneh, former Agriculture Minister, is in court for non-payment of a car loan. My point has nothing to do with the case.
All I’m saying is, if they’re right and Kanja is indeed broke after being fired as Minister, then I say he had what was coming to him. The story reports that Mr. Sanneh was a nurse in the USA before being appointed as to cabinet. Again, IF these reports are true, WHY on earth would a nurse accept an appointment as Minister of Agriculture???
Ex Agric Minister in Court for Car Loan
Not too interesting of a story, and, as with all things from Freedom newspaper, I doubt the credibility of the story. They claim Kanja Sanneh, former Agriculture Minister, is in court for non-payment of a car loan. My point has nothing to do with the case.
All I’m saying is, if they’re right and Kanja is indeed broke after being fired as Minister, then I say he had what was coming to him. The story reports that Mr. Sanneh was a nurse in the USA before being appointed as to cabinet. Again, IF these reports are true, WHY on earth would a nurse accept an appointment as Minister of Agriculture???
I can still remember Freedom editor Pa Nderry heaping praise Michael Scales when Scales donated money when Mr. Mbai’s child was born. Well Mr. Scales, until the next check for a naming ceremony comes along, your “bff-ship” is on shelf. The gripe is that Scales wants to donate money for an award to “Journalist of the Year”. Scales nominates Hatab Fatera of Daily Observer and Freedom “reject the nomination and Scales told to keep his money”.
Where is the FREEDOM in this? Does Hatab Fadera not have the right and freedom to support who he wants including Jammeh? As usual, it shows how Immature and hypocrite this news medium is. They despise Jammeh partly because he is intolerant to opposing views yet they’re telling us that one is disqualified from being “journalist of the year” simply because of who you work for or support regardless of how good you are at your job.
Well with the regime’s track record, this story should normally not have been worth mentioning. However, I can still hear those words on the radio back in 1994 from the then AFPRC…rampant corruption, flamboyant lifestyles in flashy cars, NEPOTISM… I sincerely hope Mr. Jammeh is qualified and would not give a toss if he does the job right. Just not sure how many people know that Ansumana is someone’s brother???
According to the Point,” Gibril Saidy was alleged to have attempted to overthrow the government of The Gambia on 25 December 2009, by soliciting assistance from military personnel on duty at Yundum Army Barracks in the Western Region”
I say, thank God he did not succeed because the brother is clearly not the brightest.
This Genius thinks the way to stage a coup is to just walk up to some random military guys and ask them for help to overthrow the government of the day. - Great plan buddy! !! Dude must have pissed off his “marabout” to be led into believing he has some magical powers.
Even the government find him so toothless that they take him to court instead making him magically disappear like others previously accused of attempting to overthrow the government.
Well, at least he has the guts to be in the country and attempt something rather than stay abroad and write a bunch of bull.
I say, thank God he did not succeed because the brother is clearly not the brightest.
This Genius thinks the way to stage a coup is to just walk up to some random military guys and ask them for help to overthrow the government of the day. - Great plan buddy! !! Dude must have pissed off his “marabout” to be led into believing he has some magical powers.
Even the government find him so toothless that they take him to court instead making him magically disappear like others previously accused of attempting to overthrow the government.
Well, at least he has the guts to be in the country and attempt something rather than stay abroad and write a bunch of bull.
Seriously though, whoever goes on to defend Mr. Saidy in court has a strong case of Insanity defence.
NYAMATOO Says: If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Louis Friend needs to either continue writing the blog or hand it over to someone else. Enough of the start-stop attitude”
