No Matter How High The Walls Are Built Illegal Migration Cannot Be Stopped.

The last time I checked Illegal migration is a burning and hot topic in Africa. It is believed that lack of job opportunities and prospects is the main reason forcing a number of young people in search of greener pastures in the European Union (EU) countries via the Mediterranean, which many passed through hell before reaching their final destination.

Border and Coastguard Agency Frontex estimated that 150,000 people entered the EU through irregular crossings in 2018. That represents the lowest total since 2013 and is 92% below the peak recorded during the migration crisis in 2015. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) puts the number of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe last year at close to 142,000, most of whom made the hazardous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. (Laura, 2019).

Besides, Africa is blessed with natural resources that can be utilized to benefit the whole continent. However, poverty in Africa is the lack of provision to satisfy the basic human needs of certain people in Africa. African nations typically fall toward the bottom of any list measuring small size economic activity, such as income per capita or GDP per capita, despite a wealth of natural resources.

Furthermore, the question of leadership in Africa was first faced in the 1990s, during the start of the democratization of African States. The quality of leaders has become a major concern in the founding of the democratic process and its success. Besides, those leaders who supposed to oversee the affairs of the State turned to be murderers and looters of our minimal resources. This resulted in her young people running away from the continent.

However, the young people of Africa taught that one day her continent will produce leaders who have all that it takes to transform the continent and lead them to the promised land. Unfortunately, most Africa leaders lack the foresight to lead us to the promise land as per AU Agenda 2063.

The question is; how do our leaders sleep considering the monumental catastrophic faced by our young people via the Mediterranean to live a better life in the EU countries. That, the African leaders themselves failed to provide for its citizens. After decades of colonization, the young people of Africa taught that one day Africa will be the last place of hope on earth.

In conclusion, I submit to us that no matter how high the walls are built illegal migration cannot be stopped. Unless we desist from election looters who have no vision into public offices the continent will continue to lose her young people to the Mediterranean. I pray to Allah may the departed souls of the young people who died while trying to reach Europe rest in eternal peace. Amen!

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/ Political Activist

The Gambia’s Independence Celebration Is Meaningless

The Gambia gained its so-called independence on 18 February 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, with Elizabeth II as Queen of The Gambia, represented by the Governor-General. On 24 April 1970, it became a republic within the Commonwealth, following a second referendum.

The last time I checked Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory.

However, The Gambia as a country cannot claim to be an Independence State when self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-support, self-sustenance, self-standing, self-government and access to healthcare remain a mystery. After 53 years from the struggle of the so-called Independence. Yet still, The Gambia as a nation cannot feed her citizens and access to communication is a challenge in the 21 Century.

Meanwhile, Independence Day should not be a day of clapping, dancing, singing and to hold abundant ceremonial extravaganzas, which are of course footed by poor taxpayers. Instead, it should be a day of ‘‘National Thinking Day’’ to reflect on our achievements and problems as a nation, think about how to get out of these problems with our own strength and reward those who make an amazing contribution to the cause.

Furthermore, it should also be a day which calls upon the nationalism of Gambians. One thing, we do not do as a country is to reward those who in diverse ways contribute their very best, even at the expense of their life, to help move The Gambia in front. Independence Day puts too much emphasis on the colonizers who left decades and whose legacy we have not yet succeeded to improve upon.

I submit to us that; The Gambia may no longer be ruled by Britain. However, a number of its economic policies are dictated by donors such as China and the European Union to a tiny extent, international corporations who have imposed neo-liberal policies which are totally against Pan-Africanism. Some of the policies that have been adopted have increased economic growth, but that growth has not trickled down to the common man.

In conclusion, I will advise President Adama Barrow, the Commander-in-Chief to use the money budgeted for Independence celebration to buy equipment, ambulances for our sinking and failed health care for a better Gambia we want.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

‘‘The Gambia Bar Association Should Desist From Hypocrisy’’

Rachael Mendy

The last time I checked its mission is to represent its members and contribute to the strengthening of participatory legal development, the rule of law and human rights standards in the Gambia. With a vision to seek an enlightened and transparent legal environment in The Gambia in which the rule of law is upheld, access to justice is assured and the protection and integrity of the legal profession is guaranteed.

Of recent, the president of the Gambia Bar Association Rachael Mendy speaking at the official opening of the 2019 legal year noted that PBYND was set up to promote the agenda of President Barrow. Therefore, “It is for this reason that we are opposed to the action taken recently to resuscitate the establishment of a youth movement based on a personal agenda. Such action can only result in the perpetuation of disunity among the youth who should now be encouraged to work in harmony incredible social activities.”

The said statement from the GBA President was not only unfortunate but disappointing since there are salient issues that the GBA should work on. The question is where was the Bar Association during the 22 years Jammeh’s brutal rule and when the NIA was turned into a torture chamber, when Solo Sandeng was killed and on April 10th and 11th, 2000 when 14 Gambian students were massacred when they held a demonstration against the regime of president Jammeh for alleged murder of Ebrima Barry and the rape of a Brikamaba school girl. Considering its mandate for a better country we want as per defending and upholding freedom, justice and the rule of law in The Gambia.

Furthermore, Article 2 (a) of the Constitution of The Gambia Bar Association reads; to maintain the standards, integrity, honour and independence of the Bar, to promote, preserve and improve the services and functions of the Bar, and to represent and act for the Bar generally as well as in matters affecting the administration of justice.

I might not agree with the mode of operations of the PBYND. However, its formation is constitutional and legally binding as it is a charitable organization said to be registered under the Companies Act 2013. Besides, Section 25 of Subsection 1 (e) of the 1997 Constitution granted all citizens the freedom of association, which shall include freedom to form and join associations and unions, including political parties and trade unions.

‘‘Rachael Mboge Mendy cannot use her position to pay political and she has no right and basis for her ill-judicial comment against the PBYNP. That statement doesn't fit in the mouth of someone promoting judicial independence and reconciliation, especially after knowing that PBYNP was a legally registered body’’. Said, Jeng.

Rachael should tell the sovereign citizens how she reached at the conclusion about the illegality and the unethical formation of the PBYND. The judicial sector should be the last resort of any democratic dispensation in the 21 Century. As well its decisions should not be politically motivated, either to promote the agenda of an individual/entity.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

RE: RESPONSE TO SAIDINA ALIEU JARJOU

Dear Comrade Kexx Sanneh,

Reference is invited from your response published on your Facebook timeline on January 31, 2019, as per the above subject matter. Pertaining to the open letter I wrote to Halifa Sallah earlier yesterday. Please be informed that your letter is well received and its content is well noted.

Besides, since you decided to respond on his behalf I would like to take this opportunity to correct your ill-informed and misleading letter for a better society we want. The submission on your letter really tells a lot about the integrity of your godfather Halifa. Please note that I never backtracked my judge that Halifa being too petty. Halifa is on record that he chose not to appear before the TRRC Commission because he has no pain in his heart to heal. Duty compelled him to do everything he had done to combat injustice.

Unpredictably, on 13 January 2019 Halifa wrote a letter to the TRRC through Ref: PF/13/1/2019(1). Requesting for Confrontation with Ex-captain Mamat Cham to Rebut Fabrication of Evidence he Halifa claimed.

To my consternation the TRRC responded that ‘‘The Provision Rules of Procedure of the Commission (Section 70), however, allows for persons who have been adversely mentioned or implicated in human rights violations during its proceedings to be given reasonable opportunity to respond to allegations made against them by way of written statements or by personal appearance before the Commission’’.

Halifa should be schooled that the TRRC is not only about people who are hurt or grieving. The core of TRRC’s mandate is to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of nature, cause and extent of violation and abuses of human rights committed during the period July 1994 to January 2017 and to consider the granting of reparation to victims and connected matters.

With allusion to the slogan ‘NEVER AGAIN’. The aforesaid statement shows Halifa’s lack of understanding on his part on the mandate of the commission and the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission Act, 2017. If he had done his homework well, it would have prevented him from this monumental and mammoth academic shame.

Moreover, I submit to you that Halifa is denying the sovereign citizens the opportunity to hear what he has or knows about the ongoing TRRC. While I understand that testifying is purely voluntary, we can expect that much from him as a Politician.

Furthermore, he decided to decline to testify, meaning, he gave up the opportunity to lucid himself of any inaccuracies raised by Cham and OJ in their testimonies. He should just live with that perfectionist syndrome of his. It is definitely petty to be writing responses challenging people’s testimony when you decline to testify and give your side of the story.

Yours in the service for a better Gambia we want!

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist

An Open Letter to Honourable Halifa Sallah, PDOIS Secretary-General

Honourable Sallah, I must admit that you are one of the very few politicians that are helping to reshape Gambia’s political arena by enlightening the masses through your many write-ups which include but not limited to; ‘‘the young people should be told the truth’’ platform. Besides, when the going was indeed very tough during the political impasse, you wore the hat of a de-facto Head of State, at a time someone like you was needed the most. While our Commander-In-Chief ran for cover in Senegal, you stood to the taste of time issuing guidelines to the sovereign citizens, centre to which was a plea for respect to the rule of law for a better Gambia we want.

These heroics earned you a lot of admirers including my humble self; however, some of us were taken aback by your recent dossiers about the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). The last time I checked Section 13(a) of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission Act, 2017 has it that the objective of the commission is to create an impartial historical record of violation and abuses of human right from July 1994 to January 2017.

Honourable Sallah, I don’t mean to be disrespectful in my open letter but I submit to you that, I am not only disappointed but flabbergasted and bowl over on your recent reaction to the witnesses of the TRRC. Surprisingly, you made mentioned that through Foroyaa January 17, 2019 publication that; ‘‘I still chose not to appear before the Commission because I have no pain in my heart to heal. Duty compelled me to do everything I had done to combat injustice’’.

Honourable Sallah, I am not sure that if the Commission's rules of procedure will permit "confrontation" especially between a witness and someone who has chosen not to appear before the commission. I think it is better you appear before the said commission to testify and put the records straight which is your constitutional right, especially that you were offended by both Cham and Omar A. Jallow’s testimony. Some might say that you have a duty to correct the records. Meanwhile, if you cannot appear before the commission, it is better to kindly submit a written piece to the Research and Investigations Unit of the TRRC.

Arnold H. Glasow noted that a good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit. Please be informed that no matter how good you think you are as a leader, my goodness, the people around you will have all kinds of ideas for how you can get better. So for me, the most fundamental thing about leadership is to have the humility to continue to get feedback and to try to get better in attaining your dream of the presidency.

Honourable Sallah, I will not be surprised to receive your response in the form of a PhD thesis with a citation from the various sections of the 1997 constitution, in which you are good at. Besides, you seem to be a good Lecturer it is in that note I take this opportunity to beg you, to kindly desist from politics and focus on academia especially at the University of The Gambia where your services might be needed.

Yours in the service of open letter writing.

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Political Activist