OK
https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/
Websites
Runtime: 13.3s
On March 24, 2025, 05:52 PM UTC, https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/ was accessible when tested on AS37323 in Gambia.
Failures
HTTP Experiment
null
DNS Experiment
null
Control
null
DNS Queries
Resolver:
192.178.37.146
Query:
IN A sidisanneh.blogspot.com
Engine:
system
Name
Class
TTL
Type
DATA
@
IN
A
142.250.200.65
Query:
IN AAAA sidisanneh.blogspot.com
Engine:
system
Name
Class
TTL
Type
DATA
@
IN
AAAA
2a00:1450:4003:80f::2001
TCP Connections
Connection to 2a00:1450:4003:80f::2001:443 was blocked.
Connection to 142.250.200.65:443 succeeded.
HTTP Requests
URL
GET https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/
Response Headers
Accept-Ranges:noneAlt-Svc:h3=":443"; ma=2592000,h3-29=":443"; ma=2592000Cache-Control:private, max-age=0Content-Type:text/html; charset=UTF-8Date:Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:52:37 GMTExpires:Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:52:37 GMTLast-Modified:Thu, 13 Feb 2025 10:11:02 GMTServer:GSEVary:Accept-EncodingX-Content-Type-Options:nosniffX-Xss-Protection:1; mode=block
Response Body
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html class='v2' dir='ltr' lang='en'>
<head>
<link href='https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/widgets/3566091532-css_bundle_v2.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/>
<meta content='width=1100' name='viewport'/>
<meta content='text/html; charset=UTF-8' http-equiv='Content-Type'/>
<meta content='blogger' name='generator'/>
<link href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/favicon.ico' rel='icon' type='image/x-icon'/>
<link href='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/' rel='canonical'/>
<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Sidi Sanneh - Atom" href="https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Sidi Sanneh - RSS" href="https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss" />
<link rel="service.post" type="application/atom+xml" title="Sidi Sanneh - Atom" href="https://www.blogger.com/feeds/404860931917051805/posts/default" />
<link rel="me" href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018" />
<!--Can't find substitution for tag [blog.ieCssRetrofitLinks]-->
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/' property='og:url'/>
<meta content='Sidi Sanneh' property='og:title'/>
<meta content='' property='og:description'/>
<title>Sidi Sanneh</title>
<style id='page-skin-1' type='text/css'><!--
/*
-----------------------------------------------
Blogger Template Style
Name: Simple
Designer: Blogger
URL: www.blogger.com
----------------------------------------------- */
/* Content
----------------------------------------------- */
body {
font: normal normal 14px Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;
color: #222222;
background: #513831 url(//themes.googleusercontent.com/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il) repeat scroll top center /* Credit: luoman (http://www.istockphoto.com/googleimages.php?id=11394138&platform=blogger) */;
padding: 0 40px 40px 40px;
}
html body .region-inner {
min-width: 0;
max-width: 100%;
width: auto;
}
h2 {
font-size: 22px;
}
a:link {
text-decoration:none;
color: #993300;
}
a:visited {
text-decoration:none;
color: #888888;
}
a:hover {
text-decoration:underline;
color: #ff1900;
}
.body-fauxcolumn-outer .fauxcolumn-inner {
background: transparent none repeat scroll top left;
_background-image: none;
}
.body-fauxcolumn-outer .cap-top {
position: absolute;
z-index: 1;
height: 400px;
width: 100%;
}
.body-fauxcolumn-outer .cap-top .cap-left {
width: 100%;
background: transparent none repeat-x scroll top left;
_background-image: none;
}
.content-outer {
-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15);
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15);
-goog-ms-box-shadow: 0 0 10px #333333;
box-shadow: 0 0 40px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15);
margin-bottom: 1px;
}
.content-inner {
padding: 10px 10px;
}
.content-inner {
background-color: #fff9ee;
}
/* Header
----------------------------------------------- */
.header-outer {
background: #ccb666 url(//www.blogblog.com/1kt/simple/gradients_light.png) repeat-x scroll 0 -400px;
_background-image: none;
}
.Header h1 {
font: normal normal 48px Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;
color: #ffffff;
text-shadow: 1px 2px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .2);
}
.Header h1 a {
color: #ffffff;
}
.Header .description {
font-size: 140%;
color: #ffffff;
}
.header-inner .Header .titlewrapper {
padding: 22px 30px;
}
.header-inner .Header .descriptionwrapper {
padding: 0 30px;
}
/* Tabs
----------------------------------------------- */
.tabs-inner .section:first-child {
border-top: 0 solid #eee5dd;
}
.tabs-inner .section:first-child ul {
margin-top: -0;
border-top: 0 solid #eee5dd;
border-left: 0 solid #eee5dd;
border-right: 0 solid #eee5dd;
}
.tabs-inner .widget ul {
background: #fff9ee none repeat-x scroll 0 -800px;
_background-image: none;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee5dd;
margin-top: 0;
margin-left: -30px;
margin-right: -30px;
}
.tabs-inner .widget li a {
display: inline-block;
padding: .6em 1em;
font: normal normal 16px Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;
color: #998877;
border-left: 1px solid #fff9ee;
border-right: 1px solid #eee5dd;
}
.tabs-inner .widget li:first-child a {
border-left: none;
}
.tabs-inner .widget li.selected a, .tabs-inner .widget li a:hover {
color: #000000;
background-color: #fff9ee;
text-decoration: none;
}
/* Columns
----------------------------------------------- */
.main-outer {
border-top: 0 solid #eee5dd;
}
.fauxcolumn-left-outer .fauxcolumn-inner {
border-right: 1px solid #eee5dd;
}
.fauxcolumn-right-outer .fauxcolumn-inner {
border-left: 1px solid #eee5dd;
}
/* Headings
----------------------------------------------- */
div.widget > h2,
div.widget h2.title {
margin: 0 0 1em 0;
font: normal bold 12px Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;
color: #000000;
}
/* Widgets
----------------------------------------------- */
.widget .zippy {
color: #999999;
text-shadow: 2px 2px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
}
.widget .popular-posts ul {
list-style: none;
}
/* Posts
----------------------------------------------- */
h2.date-header {
font: normal bold 11px Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;
}
.date-header span {
background-color: transparent;
color: #222222;
padding: inherit;
letter-spacing: inherit;
margin: inherit;
}
.main-inner {
padding-top: 30px;
padding-bottom: 30px;
}
.main-inner .column-center-inner {
padding: 0 15px;
}
.main-inner .column-center-inner .section {
margin: 0 15px;
}
.post {
margin: 0 0 25px 0;
}
h3.post-title, .comments h4 {
font: normal normal 24px Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;
margin: .75em 0 0;
}
.post-body {
font-size: 110%;
line-height: 1.4;
position: relative;
}
.post-body img, .post-body .tr-caption-container, .Profile img, .Image img,
.BlogList .item-thumbnail img {
padding: 2px;
background: #ffffff;
border: 1px solid #eeeeee;
-moz-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
-webkit-box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
box-shadow: 1px 1px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
}
.post-body img, .post-body .tr-caption-container {
padding: 5px;
}
.post-body .tr-caption-container {
color: #222222;
}
.post-body .tr-caption-container img {
padding: 0;
background: transparent;
border: none;
-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
box-shadow: 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
}
.post-header {
margin: 0 0 1.5em;
line-height: 1.6;
font-size: 90%;
}
.post-footer {
margin: 20px -2px 0;
padding: 5px 10px;
color: #666555;
background-color: #eee9dd;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eeeeee;
line-height: 1.6;
font-size: 90%;
}
#comments .comment-author {
padding-top: 1.5em;
border-top: 1px solid #eee5dd;
background-position: 0 1.5em;
}
#comments .comment-author:first-child {
padding-top: 0;
border-top: none;
}
.avatar-image-container {
margin: .2em 0 0;
}
#comments .avatar-image-container img {
border: 1px solid #eeeeee;
}
/* Comments
----------------------------------------------- */
.comments .comments-content .icon.blog-author {
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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);
}
.comments .comments-content .loadmore a {
border-top: 1px solid #999999;
border-bottom: 1px solid #999999;
}
.comments .comment-thread.inline-thread {
background-color: #eee9dd;
}
.comments .continue {
border-top: 2px solid #999999;
}
/* Accents
---------------------------------------------- */
.section-columns td.columns-cell {
border-left: 1px solid #eee5dd;
}
.blog-pager {
background: transparent none no-repeat scroll top center;
}
.blog-pager-older-link, .home-link,
.blog-pager-newer-link {
background-color: #fff9ee;
padding: 5px;
}
.footer-outer {
border-top: 0 dashed #bbbbbb;
}
/* Mobile
----------------------------------------------- */
body.mobile {
background-size: auto;
}
.mobile .body-fauxcolumn-outer {
background: transparent none repeat scroll top left;
}
.mobile .body-fauxcolumn-outer .cap-top {
background-size: 100% auto;
}
.mobile .content-outer {
-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15);
box-shadow: 0 0 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .15);
}
.mobile .tabs-inner .widget ul {
margin-left: 0;
margin-right: 0;
}
.mobile .post {
margin: 0;
}
.mobile .main-inner .column-center-inner .section {
margin: 0;
}
.mobile .date-header span {
padding: 0.1em 10px;
margin: 0 -10px;
}
.mobile h3.post-title {
margin: 0;
}
.mobile .blog-pager {
background: transparent none no-repeat scroll top center;
}
.mobile .footer-outer {
border-top: none;
}
.mobile .main-inner, .mobile .footer-inner {
background-color: #fff9ee;
}
.mobile-index-contents {
color: #222222;
}
.mobile-link-button {
background-color: #993300;
}
.mobile-link-button a:link, .mobile-link-button a:visited {
color: #ffffff;
}
.mobile .tabs-inner .section:first-child {
border-top: none;
}
.mobile .tabs-inner .PageList .widget-content {
background-color: #fff9ee;
color: #000000;
border-top: 1px solid #eee5dd;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee5dd;
}
.mobile .tabs-inner .PageList .widget-content .pagelist-arrow {
border-left: 1px solid #eee5dd;
}
--></style>
<style id='template-skin-1' type='text/css'><!--
body {
min-width: 960px;
}
.content-outer, .content-fauxcolumn-outer, .region-inner {
min-width: 960px;
max-width: 960px;
_width: 960px;
}
.main-inner .columns {
padding-left: 0px;
padding-right: 310px;
}
.main-inner .fauxcolumn-center-outer {
left: 0px;
right: 310px;
/* IE6 does not respect left and right together */
_width: expression(this.parentNode.offsetWidth -
parseInt("0px") -
parseInt("310px") + 'px');
}
.main-inner .fauxcolumn-left-outer {
width: 0px;
}
.main-inner .fauxcolumn-right-outer {
width: 310px;
}
.main-inner .column-left-outer {
width: 0px;
right: 100%;
margin-left: -0px;
}
.main-inner .column-right-outer {
width: 310px;
margin-right: -310px;
}
#layout {
min-width: 0;
}
#layout .content-outer {
min-width: 0;
width: 800px;
}
#layout .region-inner {
min-width: 0;
width: auto;
}
body#layout div.add_widget {
padding: 8px;
}
body#layout div.add_widget a {
margin-left: 32px;
}
--></style>
<style>
body {background-image:url(\/\/themes.googleusercontent.com\/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il);}
@media (max-width: 200px) { body {background-image:url(\/\/themes.googleusercontent.com\/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il&options=w200);}}
@media (max-width: 400px) and (min-width: 201px) { body {background-image:url(\/\/themes.googleusercontent.com\/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il&options=w400);}}
@media (max-width: 800px) and (min-width: 401px) { body {background-image:url(\/\/themes.googleusercontent.com\/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il&options=w800);}}
@media (max-width: 1200px) and (min-width: 801px) { body {background-image:url(\/\/themes.googleusercontent.com\/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il&options=w1200);}}
/* Last tag covers anything over one higher than the previous max-size cap. */
@media (min-width: 1201px) { body {background-image:url(\/\/themes.googleusercontent.com\/image?id=1KH22PlFqsiVYxboQNAoJjYmRbw5M4REHmdJbHT5M2x9zVMGrCqwSjZvaQW_A10KPc6Il&options=w1600);}}
</style>
<link href='https://www.blogger.com/dyn-css/authorization.css?targetBlogID=404860931917051805&zx=3ac09da7-f280-49b7-aa37-b75761b3971f' media='none' onload='if(media!='all')media='all'' rel='stylesheet'/><noscript><link href='https://www.blogger.com/dyn-css/authorization.css?targetBlogID=404860931917051805&zx=3ac09da7-f280-49b7-aa37-b75761b3971f' rel='stylesheet'/></noscript>
<meta name='google-adsense-platform-account' content='ca-host-pub-1556223355139109'/>
<meta name='google-adsense-platform-domain' content='blogspot.com'/>
<!-- data-ad-client=ca-pub-4055533383738481 -->
</head>
<body class='loading variant-literate'>
<div class='navbar section' id='navbar' name='Navbar'><div class='widget Navbar' data-version='1' id='Navbar1'><script type="text/javascript">
function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) {
if(window.addEventListener) {
window.addEventListener('load',
function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false);
} else {
window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; });
}
}
</script>
<div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() {
if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) {
gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({
url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar/404860931917051805?origin\x3dhttps://sidisanneh.blogspot.com',
where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"),
id: "navbar-iframe"
});
}
});
</script><script type="text/javascript">
(function() {
var script = document.createElement('script');
script.type = 'text/javascript';
script.src = '//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/google_top_exp.js';
var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];
if (head) {
head.appendChild(script);
}})();
</script>
</div></div>
<div itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Blog' style='display: none;'>
<meta content='Sidi Sanneh' itemprop='name'/>
</div>
<div class='body-fauxcolumns'>
<div class='fauxcolumn-outer body-fauxcolumn-outer'>
<div class='cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-inner'>
</div>
</div>
<div class='cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='content'>
<div class='content-fauxcolumns'>
<div class='fauxcolumn-outer content-fauxcolumn-outer'>
<div class='cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-inner'>
</div>
</div>
<div class='cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='content-outer'>
<div class='content-cap-top cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left content-fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right content-fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='content-inner'>
<header>
<div class='header-outer'>
<div class='header-cap-top cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left header-fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right header-fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='region-inner header-inner'>
<div class='header section' id='header' name='Header'><div class='widget Header' data-version='1' id='Header1'>
<div id='header-inner'>
<div class='titlewrapper'>
<h1 class='title'>
Sidi Sanneh
</h1>
</div>
<div class='descriptionwrapper'>
<p class='description'><span>
</span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='header-cap-bottom cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div class='tabs-outer'>
<div class='tabs-cap-top cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left tabs-fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right tabs-fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='region-inner tabs-inner'>
<div class='tabs no-items section' id='crosscol' name='Cross-Column'></div>
<div class='tabs no-items section' id='crosscol-overflow' name='Cross-Column 2'></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='tabs-cap-bottom cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='main-outer'>
<div class='main-cap-top cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left main-fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right main-fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='region-inner main-inner'>
<div class='columns fauxcolumns'>
<div class='fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-center-outer'>
<div class='cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-inner'>
</div>
</div>
<div class='cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-left-outer'>
<div class='cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-inner'>
</div>
</div>
<div class='cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-right-outer'>
<div class='cap-top'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
<div class='fauxborder-left'>
<div class='fauxborder-right'></div>
<div class='fauxcolumn-inner'>
</div>
</div>
<div class='cap-bottom'>
<div class='cap-left'></div>
<div class='cap-right'></div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- corrects IE6 width calculation -->
<div class='columns-inner'>
<div class='column-center-outer'>
<div class='column-center-inner'>
<div class='main section' id='main' name='Main'><div class='widget Blog' data-version='1' id='Blog1'>
<div class='blog-posts hfeed'>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Thursday, May 27, 2021</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcpeU2c3dpblWHUTMLBQeGgdNqOIZu3LcXkL-PitOnfFVe_OVBvk2TRkJR2VktbXczhk1UldyZAnTpMMVBL75QZ137KXkMDF-aFZBj_VGzSTAXKrDok58StPXvDxR099veklkxczPUA1q/s320/Right2know+logo.png' itemprop='image_url'/>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='2117277714563796511' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='2117277714563796511'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2021/05/open-letter-to-president-adama-barrow.html'>Open Letter to President Adama Barrow of The Republic of The Gambia </a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-2117277714563796511' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcpeU2c3dpblWHUTMLBQeGgdNqOIZu3LcXkL-PitOnfFVe_OVBvk2TRkJR2VktbXczhk1UldyZAnTpMMVBL75QZ137KXkMDF-aFZBj_VGzSTAXKrDok58StPXvDxR099veklkxczPUA1q/s344/Right2know+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcpeU2c3dpblWHUTMLBQeGgdNqOIZu3LcXkL-PitOnfFVe_OVBvk2TRkJR2VktbXczhk1UldyZAnTpMMVBL75QZ137KXkMDF-aFZBj_VGzSTAXKrDok58StPXvDxR099veklkxczPUA1q/s320/Right2know+logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs__az-PeFb2Z7rNZO4TcDwPGxkoKYTfkeXyFL1g8tsKMeK1XA2SKa84dOai9yAYWKY0AUmbps-07Dx-A1_O_GIRPvsHsZXDlcDawNyp3u2b3QenZzQPUxHUHnWyp8BCxpjJIk6yGZiR8/s379/DUGA+DC+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs__az-PeFb2Z7rNZO4TcDwPGxkoKYTfkeXyFL1g8tsKMeK1XA2SKa84dOai9yAYWKY0AUmbps-07Dx-A1_O_GIRPvsHsZXDlcDawNyp3u2b3QenZzQPUxHUHnWyp8BCxpjJIk6yGZiR8/s320/DUGA+DC+Logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div><p></p><p>Your Excellency</p><p>President Adama Barrow
President of the Republic of the Gambia
No 1 Anne Marie Javouhey Ave, The State House
Banjul
The Gambia
24th May 2021
Your Excellency, President Adama Barrow,
Disenfranchisement of 200,000 Diaspora Gambians cannot be allowed to continue under
your watch
The undersigned Gambian diaspora organizations and individual citizens, resident in foreign
countries, are deeply concerned about the slow pace of preparedness of the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) to actualize diaspora voting for the Presidential Election
scheduled for December 2021. </p><p>We are equally worried that barely seven months to the said Presidential Election, the apparent
lack of commitment on the part of other relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MoFA), responsible for diaspora affairs and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the line
Ministry overseeing the IEC, have evidently failed to show reasonable haste, to coordinate their
efforts in order to expedite the necessary processes that will ensure that the diaspora’s right to
vote in compliance with both existing laws and government policy, materializes in good time
for the scheduled election. </p><p>Your Excellency, we respectfully draw your attention to the policy statement contained in your
government’s flagship policy documents, the National Development Plan (NDP), 2018-2021,
specifically under the heading of ‘Diaspora in Development’, as one of the seven (7) critical
enablers of the NDP, in which your government gave a cast-iron guarantee to actualize the
enfranchisement of the Gambian Diaspora, in accordance with sections 39(1) and 26 of the
1997 Constitution. We also call your attention to the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case
of Bakary Bunja Dabo and others vs Attorney General of the 27th January 2021, in which the
country’s apex court reaffirmed the right of Gambians living abroad, to be registered and to
vote in all elections and referenda amongst other rights. </p><p>Your Excellency, continuing to tolerate the disenfranchisement of the Gambian Diaspora is
proven to be difficult, because it is the same as disenfranchising the whole of Kerewan Local
Area Council, which has a similar population size to the Gambian Diaspora. It will also amount
to a deliberate and direct discrimination of around 9% of the Gambian population, in clear
violation of constitutional provisions (Sections 17 and 33) of the 1997 Constitution, based
merely on where a citizen resides. The supreme laws of the Gambia prohibit such act, the
Gambian people abhor it, and so should you, Your Excellency.</p><p> As the 2021 presidential elections draws closer, the Gambian Diaspora and their supporters at
the home front, continue to demand for the Gambian Diaspora’s legal right to be registered and
to vote, and we call on Your Excellency to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the promise
you made to the 8th region of the Gambia (The Diaspora) in your NDP, is respected and
fulfilled. The implementation of this legitimate demand will be in keeping with the obligations
of your government to respect the Constitution of the Gambia, to project a culture of sound
democratic practice, to promote the principles of popular and inclusive participation, and to
demonstrate respect for the rule of law. </p><p>Your Excellency, the implications of doing anything less, by continuing the illegal policy of
deliberate inaction on the part of your government, and the continuing disenfranchisement of
bona fide Gambian citizens, who just happen to live abroad, will prolong the more than two
decade long policy of marginalization by the ousted dictatorship, that deprived the Gambia
Diaspora of their constitutional entitlement to participate in national affairs since the advent of
the second republic. In fact, anything short of registering the Gambian Diaspora, in line with
constitutional stipulations, to actualize the Gambian Diaspora’s right to vote in the December
election, will call into question, the legitimacy and credibility of the Presidential Election; and
could trigger further unintended consequences. It will also no doubt, Your Excellency,
negatively impact on your legacy. </p><p>So, as we endeavor to find an expeditious path to the realization of our full legal entitlement
to participate in national decision making at the highest level, along with our brothers and
sisters, and our larger Gambian family, please be assured Your Excellency, of our highest
consideration and respect. </p><p>Yours Sincerely </p><p><b>Ndey Jobarteh </b></p><p>For and on behalf of the under mentioned signatories. </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Right to Know (R2K) </b></p><p><b>Democratic Union of Gambian Activists (DUGA) </b></p><p><b>Gambia House </b></p><p>Cc:
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) </p><p>Ministry of Justice (MOJ) </p><p>Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) </p><p>Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) </p><p>Joint Committees of the FASC and LGRA of the National Assembly of the Gambia </p><p>African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights </p><p>British High Commissioner to The Gambia </p><p>EU Delegation to The Gambia </p><p>Article 19</p>
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2021/05/open-letter-to-president-adama-barrow.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2021/05/open-letter-to-president-adama-barrow.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2021-05-27T10:14:00-04:00'>10:14 AM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2117277714563796511&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2117277714563796511&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2117277714563796511&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2117277714563796511&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2117277714563796511&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2117277714563796511&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='inline-ad'>
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- sidisanneh_main_Blog1_1x1_as -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-4055533383738481"
data-ad-host="ca-host-pub-1556223355139109"
data-ad-host-channel="L0007"
data-ad-slot="2031004149"
data-ad-format="auto"
data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Wednesday, October 7, 2020</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D_UlNnrkVjV5jpXxPNOCfifBWJ9s3OM62qsKZSoV98ZOAWTEynWBoCl5vjS5a-voVqOHwJH6lqYqvOkP-a1hiSR-p9BmU4_YWiBLIehqkNJKfVzy4gm_AtE_muVBCQfF3IS8kbuN_z2-/s320/Barrow+and+Darboe.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='2337230407984486124' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='2337230407984486124'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-fracture-that-threatens-peace-and.html'>The fracture that threatens the peace and stability: A re-publication</a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-2337230407984486124' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D_UlNnrkVjV5jpXxPNOCfifBWJ9s3OM62qsKZSoV98ZOAWTEynWBoCl5vjS5a-voVqOHwJH6lqYqvOkP-a1hiSR-p9BmU4_YWiBLIehqkNJKfVzy4gm_AtE_muVBCQfF3IS8kbuN_z2-/s1600/Barrow+and+Darboe.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D_UlNnrkVjV5jpXxPNOCfifBWJ9s3OM62qsKZSoV98ZOAWTEynWBoCl5vjS5a-voVqOHwJH6lqYqvOkP-a1hiSR-p9BmU4_YWiBLIehqkNJKfVzy4gm_AtE_muVBCQfF3IS8kbuN_z2-/s320/Barrow+and+Darboe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barrow and Darboe </td></tr></tbody></table><b>Re-publication of a blogpost first published October 7th, 2018</b><br /><div>----------------------------</div><div>The coalition of opposition parties that contested the December 2016 presidential elections against the regime of Jammeh, although it ended up victorious, was wittingly or unwittingly made to fracture. Halfway into the three-year transition government of Adama Barrow, discernible cracks, deep enough to prove irreparable, emerged, confirming the temporary nature of what can now be characterized as a political alliance of convenience - an admission that would have invited the wrath of the partisan supporters of the coalition.<br /><br />Presidential candidate Adama Barrow was the by-product of the political realities of the time when the leader of the single largest opposition party, Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) was imprisoned for leading a demonstration to demand the release of the body of Solo Sandeng, a member of his party's executive and youth leader killed by paramilitary police. In addition to facing a leadership deficit, the unification of a plethora of opposition parties into a coercive and unified force to contest the December 2016 presidential elections, will again, prove to be a special challenge after failures in three successive times in 2001, 2006 and 2011.<br /><br />The coalition of opposition parties was finally realized but not before it became a precondition of the electorate who demanded it. Days into the campaign, it became clear that the electorate will not tolerate another fragmented opposition to fail at the hands of a well-financed and state-subsidized incumbent candidate with all the state machinery behind him. Only a coalition of all of the opposition parties can defeat Jammeh. In response to this demand, a convention of opposition parties was convened, literally days before the December 1st 2016 elections, that produced an obscure UDP party treasurer of unknown quantity to many named Adama Barrow, the UDP party treasurer, as the coalition's candidate for the presidency.<br /><br />Recognizing his lack of experience in governance with low public profile, presidential candidate Barrow pleaded for patience, and solicited support and assistance from coalition members in his quest for the presidency. After his surprise win, followed by a political impasse that lasted several tense weeks of negotiations, Jammeh finally decided to vacate State House under threat of the ECOMIG forces. He went into involuntary exile to Equatorial Guinea and President-elect Barrow assumed office in January 2017,<br /><br />Few days after he won the presidential elections, Ousainou Darboe, the leader of the UDP was released on bail from Mile II prisons and subsequently pardoned together with other senior members of his political party. The man the incoming president refers to as his political 'father' swiftly assumed a central role in the kitchen cabinet of the incoming administration and helped shaped the cabinet. He assumed the post of Foreign Minister, a strategic error in the eyes of some astute observers of the political scene. By insisting on being a member of the cabinet, the UDP leader voluntarily subordinated himself to his political 'son', The President.<br /><br />Mr. Darboe's subsequent promotion to his current position of Vice President notwithstanding, the prevailing view is that he should have opted to stay away from assuming a cabinet post in a transition government that would have allowed time to take care of his health after being a imprisoner at Yaya Jammeh's notorious Mile II prisons before embarking on the task of preparing his party for the next presidential elections. This option would have also made it possible for him to act as adviser to the Barrow government while concurrently strengthening the UDP into a formidable political machine in time for the 2021 presidential elections.<br /><br />It can be argued that by joining the transition government, Darboe inadvertently introduced an element of competition between the boss (Barrow) and his subordinate (Darboe), a role reversal that is manifesting itself in a very complex relationship between the two gentlemen. <br /><br />Conversely, Adama Barrow's performance as president only adds to the imbroglio the transition is turning out to be. The results of the first eighteen months of the Barrow has been anything but encouraging. On the economic management front, the economy is still anemic with high youth unemployment. Little or nothing has happened on the restructuring front which was a top priority of the coalition because the institutions were seriously seriously weakened under Jammeh. Lack of fiscal discipline is still pervasive despite promises to control the recurrent budget.<br /><br />The scourge of corruption has come to be associated with the Barrow government with a series of recent scandals involving over US$750,000 deposited into and transferred from the First Lady's Foundation, SEMLEX, the 57 vehicles gifted to parliamentarians and the latest being the alleged D10,000 per month stipend offered to some parliamentarians by President Barrow which was reported by a sitting member of the National Assembly.<br /><br />Barrow's record has caused him to lose political support by increasing doubts about his ability and competence to manage The Gambia as president, further making his political position untenable. Thus his recent move to organize a Youth Movement to rival a similar movement in the party he calls home - the United Democratic Party led by Ousainou Darboe.<br /><br />Tensions are already high as a result of competing camps within the same political party, with allegations of huge sums of money being handed out to UDP leaders in the length and breadth of the country by the Barrow camp as a means of encouraging them to switch allegiance from Darboe too Barrow. In fact, social media is awash with rumors including a claim that Barrow dispatched a delegation to Darboe encouraging him to step down from the leadership of the UDP that will permit him to be nominated the presidential candidate of the UDP in the 2021 presidential elections.<br /><br />The political maneuverings have taken its toll with Barrow spending more time politicking at the expense of his main task of governing a country whose economy and security are both in a fragile state as a result of 22 years of bad governance. Popular dissatisfaction with Barrow style of governance is growing with every new scandal that has cost him dear, further dimming his chances of securing an <a href="http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2018/02/president-barrow-must-set-down-in-2019.html">extended term of five</a> instead of the current three stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding - the document outlining both his Manifesto and his term of office as a non-party affiliated candidate of the coalition of the unified opposition parties.<br /><br />The peace and security implications of an uncertain alliance between President Barrow and Vice President Darboe are great and may have played a part in the Gambian president, inappropriately and publicly requesting through the AU Chairperson the extension of the ECOMIG Mission in The Gambia to 2021, instead of through ECOWAS as dictated by and in accordance with AU's principle of subsidiarity. This is a move that signals to donors, investors, tourists and Gambians that the peace and security of the country cannot be guaranteed by the transition government, even after eighteen months at the helm, thus sending a message that is anything but reassuring.<br /><br /> ####<br /> </div>
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-fracture-that-threatens-peace-and.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-fracture-that-threatens-peace-and.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2020-10-07T10:28:00-04:00'>10:28 AM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2337230407984486124&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2337230407984486124&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2337230407984486124&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2337230407984486124&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2337230407984486124&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2337230407984486124&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='inline-ad'>
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- sidisanneh_main_Blog1_1x1_as -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-4055533383738481"
data-ad-host="ca-host-pub-1556223355139109"
data-ad-host-channel="L0007"
data-ad-slot="2031004149"
data-ad-format="auto"
data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Monday, August 10, 2020</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4UOWy6kl6TBSzjMncm1qIt5nD8Mx-8LortiUwKgDcc9bw-PEOgLOJ6XeUGgPm2qYzkZO_fgshCRdpfOLWCNzjO9rwtZevssFboSEcMgLfGuwSsxm1Dc76xjgR0DKSIjlPLcLwCVMm1A/s320/Kololi+Bakoteh+land+sold+by+Jammeh+%2528enhanced%2529+%25282%2529.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='2446717660356362825' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='2446717660356362825'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-barrow-administration-must.html'>The Barrow administration must intervene in the Bakoteh - Kololi land grab </a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-2446717660356362825' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<p> <b>By public demand, we are republishing this blog post first published June 1st, 2017</b></p><p>------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p>The youth of Kololi, Bakoteh, Manjaikunda, Sanchaba and satellite towns are battling Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Global Properties and Swami India International Ltd. for a parcel of land that initially belonged to the State by an Act of Parliament. <br /><br />In 1991, the Land Act was passed transferring the land to the State. It is unclear when it was transferred to the Kanifing Municipal Council. Equally unclear was whether the transfer was done according to law and if so when did the transfer took place and what were the terms and conditions of the transfer.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4UOWy6kl6TBSzjMncm1qIt5nD8Mx-8LortiUwKgDcc9bw-PEOgLOJ6XeUGgPm2qYzkZO_fgshCRdpfOLWCNzjO9rwtZevssFboSEcMgLfGuwSsxm1Dc76xjgR0DKSIjlPLcLwCVMm1A/s1600/Kololi+Bakoteh+land+sold+by+Jammeh+%2528enhanced%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="960" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4UOWy6kl6TBSzjMncm1qIt5nD8Mx-8LortiUwKgDcc9bw-PEOgLOJ6XeUGgPm2qYzkZO_fgshCRdpfOLWCNzjO9rwtZevssFboSEcMgLfGuwSsxm1Dc76xjgR0DKSIjlPLcLwCVMm1A/s320/Kololi+Bakoteh+land+sold+by+Jammeh+%2528enhanced%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />The second question is under what authority was the Kanifing Municipal Council acting when it sub-leased the entire track of land, measuring 58,743 sq m and a distance of 992 meters to Swami India International Ltd. on the 15th August 2015 and a total measly sum of D 5,646 (five thousand, six hundred and forty six dalasi) paid on 13th October of the same year as cost of the title deed ("fencing fee"), good for 99 years. We are in possession of a copy of the sub-lease signed by the CEO of KMC.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUghJNsz44ouTp3XswNmuFOcguaLnGkvzuhyphenhyphenYBWFH28sdMLQAx1pC0fezV6AUiqg6Szbij5fURipBWk4m_CCTaQv6-B0SY0XMsfXwRUp1-duDiFH9rPIIfm4dwyP-aaiSgnUOjlfMs-Y8/s1600/Kololi+Land+Protests+%2528Lease+-+partial%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUghJNsz44ouTp3XswNmuFOcguaLnGkvzuhyphenhyphenYBWFH28sdMLQAx1pC0fezV6AUiqg6Szbij5fURipBWk4m_CCTaQv6-B0SY0XMsfXwRUp1-duDiFH9rPIIfm4dwyP-aaiSgnUOjlfMs-Y8/s320/Kololi+Land+Protests+%2528Lease+-+partial%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p><br />What is the relationship between Swami India and Global Properties and how did these two entities come to own this huge track of land and what were the details of the deal. Did KMC or the Mayor, Yankuba Colley or any members of the KMC benefit financially? How were these financial proceeds treated? <br /><br />What is/was Yaya Jammeh's role in all of the shenanigans going on not only in Kololi but also in Gunjur and Kartong? It doesn't look like much has changed since Jammeh left town in January. <br /><br />These questions are important and require answers because the lives of tens of thousand, in not hundreds of thousands of lives are impacted by this huge land transaction that will not nothing but to sow the seeds of instability in a country that is trying to find its feet after 22 years of pillage by Jammeh and his cronies.<br /><br />Last week Monday, the youth of the area, their parents, elders came out to<a href="http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2017/05/demonstrations-tomorrow-monday-by.html"> peacefully display</a> their grievances against the CEO of Global Properties, Saul Frazier and Swami India International Ltd. The issue is more than losing a football field, when every inch of open space is consumed by a handful of greedy land speculators and their contractor friends. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnfW7s7dNWVirfje1R0ByhAkDm6ZTGya01fWOp8nwSD8xGk9JHUXKXLlwTxXO8ib34Ze3F68OSNdktxQQ24_2iA7MWWF-cqI0VD31AJH3vwMG828nYPlbFbI0zeRz_mVaAP_OCXwnsHk/s1600/Kololi+LAnd+Protest+6+.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnfW7s7dNWVirfje1R0ByhAkDm6ZTGya01fWOp8nwSD8xGk9JHUXKXLlwTxXO8ib34Ze3F68OSNdktxQQ24_2iA7MWWF-cqI0VD31AJH3vwMG828nYPlbFbI0zeRz_mVaAP_OCXwnsHk/s320/Kololi+LAnd+Protest+6+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />We decided to go to press earlier than planned because we learned the police intend to storm and occupy the area, after bribery attempts and other enticements by the land grabbers have failed. According to our sources, the police they have been going around family compounds urging the youth not to participate in demonstrating against the police; at whose direction one might ask.<br /><br />It is their right to peacefully demonstrate if they so chose. Where were these land grabbers when some of the colleagues of these same young people were being killed, maimed, tortured, exiled and sent to Mile II prisons by these very same policemen were doing the bidding for Yaya Jammeh? They are the very same elements the authorities want to unleash on these young men and women who are fighting what they believe to be an injustice. <br /><br />We are respectfully requesting that the Barrow government intervene in this and similar cases in Farato, Gunjur and Kartong to avert what can only be characterize as a potentially explosive environment. Gambians will not expel a dictator of 22 years only to permit the same conditions that prevailed in the Jammeh era to continue under the Barrow government. Things cannot stay the same. They will have to change for the better. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjVXTFYyDyW6PI1TWaAQYmgKgWcoBKZjIvKl4xHoSoOa1MKNNIMo-1qWWrqVSd10u8TjfKVd3h4LeKo9eNgpZVgMLp9b1iArjOGunewy9EVP_lzIdB0SYGX-Ga7chLZC3OrWtfDObWUA/s1600/Kololi+Land+Protest+1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjVXTFYyDyW6PI1TWaAQYmgKgWcoBKZjIvKl4xHoSoOa1MKNNIMo-1qWWrqVSd10u8TjfKVd3h4LeKo9eNgpZVgMLp9b1iArjOGunewy9EVP_lzIdB0SYGX-Ga7chLZC3OrWtfDObWUA/s200/Kololi+Land+Protest+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Sources on the ground disclosed that legal recourse is being contemplated and maybe an imminent outcome of what is considered to be a blatant misuse of political and financial power against the residents of Kololi, Bakoteh and the other affected satellite towns. It is an option that promises to enjoy a wide public support. <br /></p>
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-barrow-administration-must.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-barrow-administration-must.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2020-08-10T17:48:00-04:00'>5:48 PM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2446717660356362825&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2446717660356362825&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2446717660356362825&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2446717660356362825&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2446717660356362825&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2446717660356362825&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Monday, July 13, 2020</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='5301821621687009110' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='5301821621687009110'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/07/press-release-of-us-embassy-in-banjul.html'>Press Release of the US Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia on the continued progress in advancing Fiscal Transparency </a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-5301821621687009110' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">EMBASSY
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Banjul, The Gambia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">For Immediate Release<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span> Kathryn
Edwards, Public Affairs Officer, 439-2856<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">July
13, 2020</span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h1>
PRESS RELEASE: The Gambia’s Continued Progress in Advancing Fiscal
Transparency<o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On June 15, 2020, the United States Department of State
released the 2020 Fiscal Transparency Report, which assessed that The Gambia
made significant progress in its continuing efforts at government fiscal
reform. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Department’s fiscal
transparency review process assesses whether governments meet minimum
requirements of fiscal transparency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
the purpose of this report, the minimum requirements of fiscal transparency
include having key budget documents that are publicly available, substantially
complete, and generally reliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
review includes an assessment of the transparency of processes for awarding
government contracts and licenses for natural resource extraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiscal transparency is a critical element of
effective public financial management, helps build market confidence, and
underpins economic sustainability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fiscal transparency fosters greater government accountability by
providing a window into government budgets for citizens, helping citizens hold
their leadership accountable, and facilitating better-informed public debate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the review period, The Gambia published its enacted
budget and end-of-year report online and improved the completeness of budget
documents.  <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Information on debt
obligations was publicly available and updated at least annually.  <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Budget documents were substantially
complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The criteria and procedures by
which the national government awards contracts or licenses for natural resource
extraction were specified in law and followed in practice.  <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basic information about natural resource
extraction awards was publicly available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The report also noted that The Gambia’s fiscal transparency would be
improved by publishing its executive budget proposal online within a reasonable
period of time and ensuring the supreme audit institution publishes audit
reports within a reasonable period of time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The U.S. Embassy in The Gambia commends the government of
The Republic of The Gambia, and in particular the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Affairs and the National Assembly, for the continued focus and
attention on enhancing transparency in this and other important areas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The full report is available at: <a href="https://www.state.gov/fiscal-transparency-report/">https://www.state.gov/fiscal-transparency-report/</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">######</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/07/press-release-of-us-embassy-in-banjul.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/07/press-release-of-us-embassy-in-banjul.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2020-07-13T18:01:00-04:00'>6:01 PM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=5301821621687009110&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=5301821621687009110&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=5301821621687009110&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=5301821621687009110&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=5301821621687009110&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=5301821621687009110&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Sunday, July 12, 2020</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO50FM6rG-jk0n7YYp-H4bq0oaAps-PAk_bjhkyTBk3X-4mTLBGRLw9AvhS6RfnXq_Qe_pVRY4tuYG8Q-Od09Al6eBlUXNI24TCt3RL-NVZ20dpOiumAViRCoAPMeKw11OUtC03Xew15W/s200/right2know+LOGO+gambia.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='7004278265195232896' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='7004278265195232896'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/07/statement-on-state-of-affairs-in-gambia.html'>Statement on State of Affairs in The Gambia of the Right2Know Civic Society Group</a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-7004278265195232896' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO50FM6rG-jk0n7YYp-H4bq0oaAps-PAk_bjhkyTBk3X-4mTLBGRLw9AvhS6RfnXq_Qe_pVRY4tuYG8Q-Od09Al6eBlUXNI24TCt3RL-NVZ20dpOiumAViRCoAPMeKw11OUtC03Xew15W/s1600/right2know+LOGO+gambia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="406" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO50FM6rG-jk0n7YYp-H4bq0oaAps-PAk_bjhkyTBk3X-4mTLBGRLw9AvhS6RfnXq_Qe_pVRY4tuYG8Q-Od09Al6eBlUXNI24TCt3RL-NVZ20dpOiumAViRCoAPMeKw11OUtC03Xew15W/s200/right2know+LOGO+gambia.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Dear R2Kers: It is now abundantly clear that the country is
on a slippery slope to disaster. We have a government that has demonstrated
time and again, that the it will not put country first and abide by the most
sacrosanct wishes of the people, that they be governed well. In 2016, December
2</span><sup>nd</sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">, our collective future was pregnant with hope and possibilities
that a new beginning, after being abused and scared for </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">over 22 years of brutality and authoritarian
dispensation, had arrived.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We voted for
CHANGE. We voted and expected a new era of hope- hope for a better life; hope </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">for job prospects for the youth, health care
for all, especially our vulnerable children and women in hard to reach
areas.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We thought we voted for a
compassionate administration, that would deliver and live up to expectations of
a country renewed.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We had the world
behind us in this aspiration.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We even had the intervention of a region that demanded that
our wishes be respected and fulfilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambia
was the envy of the continent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our flag,
that was tattered and torn, was given a chance of liberty and pride to flutter anew,
in an atmosphere of freedom vested in people power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we were the envy of African states that
yearned for the opportunity we had in 2016. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it has been four difficult years
since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear R2Kers: In this period of hardship, disbelief, dashed
expectations, and wonderment, we are now left to ponder on our next steps in
this journey, which for many is filled with worry, despondency, anxiety and
anger. And rightfully so. The possibilities of being Gambians again remains in
doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since when did things get so dark
that we no longer recognize each other? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are known as a society where religion, ethnicity, socio-economic
or regional background never mattered- hence we were known as the smiling coast,
a happy people filled with optimism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is no accident that our birth, all be it improbable, at the dawn of
independence, was in fact debunked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
forged on, and became a viable nation- although not perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were viable. We were viable in the eyes of
the world. We were that little hamlet on a Hill that punched above its weight. We
sustained a vibrant re export trade, becoming a breadbasket for nations that surrounded
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A safe haven to those that were
displaced in 1980’s and ‘90’s (Liberians, Sierra Leoneans; Guineans;).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We became a bastion of Human Rights, and a
pluralistic democracy in a sea of military regimes, until that reputation ended
in 1994. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">After 22 years of surviving an ordeal that almost consumed
us, we decided- Gambians and Gambia Decided that enough was enough and we
unshackled ourselves from the bondage of dictatorship.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We vowed to each other- a bond that cannot be
broken- that no more shall we be held hostage to corruption, incompetence,
abuse of the constitution, weaponization of state institution to perpetuate
injustice, non-delivery of basic services on education, health, infrastructure,
water and electricity. We AGREED.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Those
that we put in power to safeguard these agreement ACCEPTED to do right by us
and respect our wishes.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">They FAILED us.
They failed on their promise.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear R2Kers: In 2017, we, as Right to Know, sent them a
reminder of their obligations to stay true to the social contract of putting
people first, when the Semlex deal, which was fraught with irregularities and
corruption, surfaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ignored us. The
Barrow administration, with the Coalition still on honeymoon, told untruths to
justify their actions. They went ahead, despite our concerns, went ahead and
signed an illegal contract with a company that was at the time being
investigated for corruption and money laundering activities in Belgium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The matter was also at the level of the NA for an inquiry
when Pres Barrow signed a new contract with Semlex regardless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the first year into the new Gambia. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We have now taken Semlex and GoTG to court
over the matter. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the same vein we have the evidence to show that the Barrow
administration is not a listening government and are out of touch with reality.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have chosen to proactively engage
with this administration from inception. As far back as 10 April, 2018, (the 18th anniversary of the killing of protesting students), we wrote urging the
president to show political will and leadership in confronting acts of
illegality and corruption in government and prioritize civil and security
sector reforms, by ensuring that impunity is rooted out of the system of
government he inherited. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We never received a response. President Barrow,
instead demonstrated the exact opposite actions, to what we had expected from
an incumbency, which enjoyed enormous goodwill, both internally and externally.
He did nothing. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Impunity reigns supreme in this government, and lessons and
warnings have gone unheeded. We have communicated to Pres. Barrow our utterly
dismay at the signs of an uncaring, unresponsive and defensive administration,
which he leads, uncanny traits, which are being routinely displayed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have, over time, also sent out several more missives to
members of his cabinet. On 28 September, 2019, (International Day for Universal
Access to Information), we released a letter to former Minister of Justice Tambadou
and current minister of Communications & Information, Ebrima Sillah,
requesting them to make the Janneh Commission report accessible to the public.
In that letter, we demanded access to the Janneh Commission report, because it
was financed by the public purse, through tax payers’ money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This was something that no citizen should have to request
for, especially after the lofty promises were made towards deepening and
promoting a culture of a transparent government. Sadly, no response has been
forthcoming from either Minsters, and to date, the Janneh Commission report
remains inaccessible to the public. However, today, we hear and see evidence of
mass impropriety on how Jammeh’s assets were ‘sold’, with little or no
transparency in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Assessing the figures one would see that the value placed on
most items sold, including luxury cars, landed properties, tractors, is a total
mismatch to proceeds received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides,
there is clear evidence that the process of sales of Jammeh’s property may have
been illegally done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undermining all the
efforts put forth in bringing to bare those responsible for looting our
country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So many people are now left wondering whether this was all
worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if it was, the benefits of
the process to investigate corruption under Jammeh has not translated to
effective recovery of stolen assets by the state for the benefit of the Gambian
people….but instead it was for the benefit of a few people that are politically
connected. Including those in Cabinet, friends and family members of Cabinet,
and those directly linked to the Janneh Commission itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We
will be issuing a separate report on this in the near future.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, we are faced with a culmination of outright endemic
corruption in our body politick, where funds have been looted with impunity. The
COVID response has been an utter disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The funds have been subject to abuse, and mis-allocation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original resource envelope pegged at D500
million, has since ballooned to four times that amount. The contradictions made
by ministers as to the utilization of these funds is shocking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">More bizarre still, is the fact that health workers who are
on the frontline of the COVID-19 response, for which these resources were
initially meant, have confirmed not receiving anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only remuneration they got was a paltry
D5000, that was over three months ago. So the question remains: <u>where did
the COVID money vanish to?</u> <u>Where did more that D2 billion disappear to
over a period of four months? </u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Gambia Participates, a partner of R2K, has produced a report, which documented
the COVID response:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On 28th April,
2020, we are told that D160 million was already expended. In addition, that
D100 million was spent on medical equipment, including ambulances and D60
million was spent on hotels, allowances, training, and rehabilitation of health
centers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Upon closer
analysis, the report shows that of the said expenditure only 12% or D3.3
million was spent on actual medical equipment (sanitary items); 40% or D12.8
million went to purchasing new cars; 45% or D14.5 million went to paying hotels
for holding people in quarantine. The rest went to food (3% or D1.1 Million)
and office equipment 0.3% or D111,700).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>D3.7 million
dalasi was said to be spent at the Basse District Hospital, yet the 126 staff
lack hand sanitizers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are 12
identified COVID-19 centers with 67 beds in total.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Soma District
Hospital (a population of 82,201), it only has capacity to hold six infected
patients- as it only has six beds, which were put in place 20 years ago. This
means that if there is a COVID case they will not utilize the facility but will
instead send the patients west to Banjul, 178 kms away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">• The entire LRR region has only one overhead thermometer,
which is used by border health officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The hospital however, does have one armpit thermometer, which
is unsuitable for responding to a COVID cases (s). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Despite the D2
billion in financial resources meant for combat COVID-19, the LRR regional
health directorate was compelled to apply for a small grant from the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) to conduct outreach and
sensitization within its region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Basse, the
hospital is severely handicapped. A massive power surge, which occurred on
March 2nd 2020, due to some maintenance work by NAWEC, affected all the
electronic medical equipment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Staff complain about lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and training, even
though the Finance Ministry claims that a part of the D160 million was spent on
these things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As if these major anomalies were not enough, we have a
President that decided to take ‘leave’ off us. President Barrow spoke to the
nation twice- by way of a recording to explain his government’s response to the
pandemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have not seen him in public
in months- this is at a time when the country, like much of the world, is in a
state of disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is at a time
when the country needs leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>President Barrow had decided to be ‘missing in action’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is extremely worrying that with this act
of abdication of responsibility to lead, he keeps extending the SoPE, through
his aides, without showing the courtesy, respect and statesmanship, to explain
to the citizens his reasons for such baffling extensions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On April 6, R2K and other CSOs and business entities wrote to
Barrow, imploring him to take the country in his confidence. We reminded him
that a State of Public Emergency, where movement and freedoms are curtailed,
must include incentives and other actions that would buffer against the
opportunity cost and consequences of such a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We told him that Government must give support to the populace
and the various sectors of the nerve center of the economy, if such a decision
to declare a SoPE wishes to receive reciprocal support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must have the backing of the public,
without which any plan will not succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We attached these suggestions to an outlined proposal titled: “Policy
options for Gambia’s convid-19 response.” Again, our proposal was ignored. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nevertheless, it is now clear that President Barrow has and
will continue to attract the wrath of his citizens, many of whom have lamented
the overall state of governance in the country, compounded by the mounting
evidence that has emerged over the collusion to loot, redistribute and
re-purpose state resources under the guise of a COVID response activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And evidence shows that GoTG expended
$15 million in 72 hours through a ‘food assistance program’, yet we are to
receive evidence that the targeted 80% of the population’s most vulnerable,
received such food assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All such
bungling and calamitous outcome, despite the fact that we were told that the
government had a Cabinet Committee; an Emergency Committee (at Health); the
World Bank Expert/Committee; a Procurement Committee formed for the D500 million disbursement. Plus six sub-committees dealing with COVID. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are all these Committees doing?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are yet to receive a plausible explanation as to how D115
million was spent of a school feeding program that supposedly took place at a
time when schools were closed due to the COVID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are yet to receive a plausible
explanation as to why the ambulances ordered form Turkey, at an astronomical
cost, millions of USD we are told, are yet to arrive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are yet to see any form of action taken
against those that the Minister referenced in a scam, to create a payroll of
ghost workers, so as to establish and racket of fraud and corruption. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are yet to receive a plausible explanation as to why in
less than one month into the job, a very competent, high reputable health
expert, in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the name of Mr. Alasan
Senghore, threw in the towel and resigned as the COVID -19 national
coordinator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But we probably will not receive any explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because this government, under a Barrow
presidency does not think, nor believe that it owes the citizens an explanation
for anything they do or fail to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
this government must and will be held to account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that day of reckoning is fast approaching
for this government. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear R2Kers: Next week is a pivotal one for the country- it
will be the week that shall witness the first encounter between the National
Assembly and the Executive, namely the President, over his abuse of the
constitution and arbitrary adoption to deploying his powers given to him by the
1997 constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">President Barrow, through the Vice President, will have to
explain to the nation, via the NA, the rationale, and purpose for his decision
to subject us into perpetual SoPE for the last 56 days. He will have to, for
the first time in his presidency, make a spirited submission as to whether he
failed in his duties to adhere to the constitution- in essence he will have to
show us that he is not a law breaker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On the other hand, the NA must ensure that they too abide by
their oath, and defend the constitution at all costs, and do the needful and
expected, if President Barrow has been found to have broken the law in his
Executive exuberance in taking the decisions he has taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The country watches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this is a first of several tests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear R2Kers: The most pivotal test is yet still to come, and
that is the issue of the Referendum. We must ready ourselves for this chapter
of our national history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We see signs of impunity being firmly entrenched at a time
when processes we invested (emotionally and financially) as a nation, are being
systematically undermined by the leadership of this country starting with the
President Barrow himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sound and
impactful investment made into the CRC and the processes of constitutional
making is at risk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The irrational utterances emanating from the Presidency-the
irrational and irresponsible grumblings about dismantling guardrails around
term limits, Executive power over the National Assembly, and other
anti-democratic ideas being bandied about, including the encouragement of the
military to speak up on civilian matters, for public sympathy and eventual
support WILL NOT WASH. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The tactics being employed by President Barrow, and his
ministers and possibly his new NPP, is a clear demonstration of the lack of
leadership to steer us in the transition to transform the country from one of
trauma to one of triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have
chosen the former.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And this is why we as R2K Gambia, are currently on the early
stages of establishing a plan whose objective is simple: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to ensure that the decision to Birth the Third Republic must reside
with us- the people.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the
vestiges of legislative procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We will be asking, in the coming weeks, the NA to resort to
unanimously voting for the referendum; in essence agreeing to a national
plebiscite; whereby, us the citizens, who were central to the CRC consultative
process, will be the final arbiter on whether the time has arrived for this
Country to become a Third Republic, through a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>YES or a NO vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be
our main focus in the coming weeks and months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will be our priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we
hope that it shall also be yours. So the coming weeks are pivotal for our
country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need to remain vigilant, embark on citizenry activism,
engagement and solidarity to ensure that our voices are heard, and that we are listened
to and respected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The elements of imperial presidencies are over; endemic
corruption will be probed and rooted out, and the people shall govern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear R2Kers let us remain united, as citizens who care for
and love this country, and citizens who shall protect our ideals to dare to
dream of a better Gambia- we deserve it, and only we can deliver it- but we can
only do so if we remain united and focused in our resolve in the demanding hat
we are governed well, through a strong, compassionate and capable leadership
that espouses the principles of clean<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
ethical government. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> ###</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/07/statement-on-state-of-affairs-in-gambia.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/07/statement-on-state-of-affairs-in-gambia.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2020-07-12T16:33:00-04:00'>4:33 PM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=7004278265195232896&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=7004278265195232896&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=7004278265195232896&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=7004278265195232896&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=7004278265195232896&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=7004278265195232896&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Wednesday, April 8, 2020</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrp7vEryq64zSSLgM4KWn9IbJJsSP__006ym8i7eHbRP5EYZwhKBuHCrR9nJl-K3tPsRX2CC-BLPAW8aynGmHXnF4fxtXWeG9Y2E7n55Y2XkhmhlSyrMI6BbhV32u6a2n_iwv5PxqAsbU/s200/right2know+LOGO+gambia.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='1541384052230730653' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='1541384052230730653'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-gambia-stimulus-plan-to-address.html'>The Gambia: A Stimulus Plan to address the socio-economic impact of Coronavirus on lives and livelihoods</a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-1541384052230730653' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrp7vEryq64zSSLgM4KWn9IbJJsSP__006ym8i7eHbRP5EYZwhKBuHCrR9nJl-K3tPsRX2CC-BLPAW8aynGmHXnF4fxtXWeG9Y2E7n55Y2XkhmhlSyrMI6BbhV32u6a2n_iwv5PxqAsbU/s1600/right2know+LOGO+gambia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="406" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrp7vEryq64zSSLgM4KWn9IbJJsSP__006ym8i7eHbRP5EYZwhKBuHCrR9nJl-K3tPsRX2CC-BLPAW8aynGmHXnF4fxtXWeG9Y2E7n55Y2XkhmhlSyrMI6BbhV32u6a2n_iwv5PxqAsbU/s200/right2know+LOGO+gambia.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Business, civil
society and youth ask the Gambia to prioritize poor and vulnerable in its
Covid-19 response plan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Banjul- April 8, 2020 </i>- A four-page proposal entitled: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Draft
Concept Paper for a Stimulus Plan: ‘Addressing the Socio-economic Impact of the
Coronavirus on lives and livelihoods’”</i></b> calling on the government of
President Adama Barrow to prioritize its resource allocation to the poor,
vulnerable and struggling SMEs and strategic businesses, was released today. It
details modes of financial assistance to the poor and vulnerable to provide
cash transfers/payments using Government – to – person (G2P) and other
mechanisms to cover three months of lost income to those who have lost their
jobs and/or their incomes due to Covid – 19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also proposes the introduction of systems and mechanisms to obtain
data on the informal sector, like taxi drivers via the Transport Union to
assist them with fuel subsidy using fuel coupon schemes, to incentivize those
who adhere to the 50% passenger regulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also proposes support to SME’s/businesses affected by the economic
slowdown in the form of tax and import duty rebates, access to foreign
currency, concessional loans and other economic stimulants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It proposes a set aside financial package of thirty
million dollars for this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“We understand the rationale for
a effecting a State of Public Emergency, we concur that this is indeed is a
necessary strategy to ‘flattening the curve’. However, a State of Public
Emergency, where movement and freedoms are curtailed, must include incentives
and other actions that would buffer against the opportunity cost and
consequences of such a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must
give [financial] incentives to the populace and the various sectors of the
nerve center of the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must
have the backing of the public, without which any plan will not succeed,”</b>
said one of the authors of the plan. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The backers of the plan, which
includes the Gambia Chamber of Commerce, have asked President Barrow to
consider giving support to strengthen the Central Bank’s Supervision Department
to better manage the licensing, regulation and supervision of the banking
sector and mobile money operations. It also proposes a lowering of interest
rates and introduction of deferrals on repayment of loans in critical sectors,
like the hospitality industry, to cover the January- May 2020 period, where
loss of tourist revenue has had a direct impact on the sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eighteen million dollars is proposed, as an
allotment, for this component. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“This proposal is smart, realistic, time bound, attainable and
applicable to our unique circumstances as a nation that is struggling
economically, and is still to recover from a legacy of attendant corruption,
and poor governance experienced over a period of 22 years of its half a century
of existence,”</b> said one of the endorsees of the proposal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The proposal is coming at a time
when the country rests at a precipice of a health, social and economic
catastrophe, as it stares down into an abyss whose depths are unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a letter, which accompanied the submission
sent to the President Barrow, the endorsers stated that: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘We hope that this modest proposal will be taken in the spirit in which
it is meant: to strengthen our national response to the situation through
collective action; transparent partnership led by an accountable government and
supported by a willing and able citizenry at home and abroad.’ <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Background:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The proposal has been forward to
the Authority of the national Assembly and the multi-lateral and bilateral
partners of The Gambia. The proposal was endorsed by: Gambia
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); BPAS- Democratic Union of Gambian
Activists (DUGA); Gambia Participates; Gambia Conference of Reforms and Democracy
(GAMCORD); Right to Know (R2K) Gambia; The Association of Non-Governmental
Organizations in the Gambia (TANGO); and Team Gom Sa Borpa.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
For more information, please
contact: <a href="mailto:r2kgambia@gmail.com">r2kgambia@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
***End***<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Context:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Gambian President, Adama Barrow,
declared a State of Public Emergency, in a televised statement, on 27 March.
The proclamation orders closure of non-essential commodity shops, bars, cafés,
casinos, sporting venues, and all forms of public gatherings. The order also
included all public and private institutions scaling down staff presence at
work. It was revealed that an Emergency Fund of half a billion dalasi has been
earmarked to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, which had infected four and killed
two. On 3 April 2020, the National Assembly granted the President an extension
to the proclamation by an added 45 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A detailed plan of the Covid-19 task force, nor has its aggregated budget
been made public. The National Assembly has constituted an oversight committee
that would monitor the implementation of the Covid-19 task force.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-gambia-stimulus-plan-to-address.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-gambia-stimulus-plan-to-address.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2020-04-08T15:34:00-04:00'>3:34 PM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=1541384052230730653&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=1541384052230730653&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=1541384052230730653&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=1541384052230730653&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=1541384052230730653&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=1541384052230730653&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class='date-header'><span>Monday, March 23, 2020</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class='post-outer'>
<div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'>
<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROFpZdr3nPHGNaDWL-_QOTTBAIYOgwuXRPl6gcYxoJJoxshFGccw5rLbraoLKGM0pBurAtk6JeFszbpHDE7pUZNA-vDli5yZCwZ1W3bAZKJ10tRz8heoQT1gQwfn93XJ5Jkl5_Lj86olq/s320/Nicolae+Bogdan+Buzaianu+%2528Rumanian+businessman%2529.png' itemprop='image_url'/>
<meta content='404860931917051805' itemprop='blogId'/>
<meta content='2088167013877070241' itemprop='postId'/>
<a name='2088167013877070241'></a>
<h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'>
<a href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/westwood-dealing-in-conflict-timber.html'>WESTWOOD : Dealing in conflict timber, criminal complaint against Mr. Buzaianu at a Swiss court</a>
</h3>
<div class='post-header'>
<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-2088167013877070241' itemprop='description articleBody'>
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROFpZdr3nPHGNaDWL-_QOTTBAIYOgwuXRPl6gcYxoJJoxshFGccw5rLbraoLKGM0pBurAtk6JeFszbpHDE7pUZNA-vDli5yZCwZ1W3bAZKJ10tRz8heoQT1gQwfn93XJ5Jkl5_Lj86olq/s320/Nicolae+Bogdan+Buzaianu+%2528Rumanian+businessman%2529.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Between 2014 and 2017, The Gambia exported nearly 163 million US dollars-worth of rosewood, a rare and precious
tree species, to China. During this time, Westwood, a Gambian company allegedly owned by Swiss national Nicolae
Bogdan Buzaianu and former Gambian President Jammeh, had the exclusive license to export rosewood. The timber
it exported was illegally felled in neighboring Casamance where the separatist armed group has been fighting the
Senegalese army for decades. TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint with the Swiss Office of the Attorney
General against Mr. Buzaianu accusing him of having pillaged conflict timber. </div>
<br />
<u>A TRIAL International Press Release</u><br />
<u>about the criminal complaint filed against Mr. Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu </u><br />
<br />
<br />
According to the criminal complaint (denonciation penale) filed by TRIAL International, Swiss businessman Nicolae
Bogdan Buzaianu’s company was involved in the pillaging of precious rosewood from Casamance between 2014 and
2017. During this period, Westwood Company Ltd –which TRIAL International alleges Mr. Buzaianu co-founded with
former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh– had a monopoly on the export of rosewood, a precious tropical wood from
The Gambia. But with Gambian rosewood nearly depleted since 2011, most of the timber was actually imported from
Casamance, a region in southern Senegal that borders The Gambia. For several decades, large areas of this region have
been under the control of the separatist armed group, the Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance (MFDC).<br />
<br />
‘Exploiting natural resources from a conflict zone is a war crime that must be punished. Without the pillaging of natural
resources, many armed groups would have no means of financing their wars’, said Montse Ferrer, Senior Legal Advisor and
Corporate Accountability Coordinator at TRIAL International. ‘Despite numerous documented cases of pillage, not a single
conviction against corporate actors has been made since the end of World War II.’<br />
<br />
TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint for pillage against Mr. Buzaianu in Switzerland with the Office of the
Attorney General (OAG) in June 2019. ‘We have waited until today to go public because we wanted to give the Swiss
prosecutorial authorities sufficient time to review the evidence and take decisive action against Mr. Buzaianu. We are hopeful
that these steps have been taken and that the OAG is investigating the matter’, she added.<br />
<br />
LOGGING THAT BENEFITS AN ARMED GROUP<br />
<br />
Some estimates suggest that Senegal loses the equivalent of 40,000 hectares of forest per year, several dozen
hectares of which are lost due to the illegal exploitation of rosewood in Casamance. This selective deforestation has
led to a decrease in rainfall and increased desertification in the region. It has also led to conflicts between rebels and
communities who can no longer use the forests for sustainable livelihoods.<br />
<br />
Illegal logging of precious woods is problematic, as it undermines reforestation efforts in the region. According to the
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), "in the village of Koudioube, the restoration of the
community forest has helped to overcome conflicts." Illegal logging has stopped, fruits and wildlife are abundant, and
local people are once again able to sell forest products. Communities that used to fight each other are now working
together.<br />
<br />
A large share of the trafficking and logging has been taking place directly in the territory controlled by the MFDC for
almost thirty years. ‘Westwood’s illegal activity is all the more serious because it contributed to an illegal timber trade that
has historically financed the MFDC. Equally striking is that this trade has had such a negative impact on the lives of local people
contributing directly to the deforestation of the region’, said Jennifer Triscone, Legal Advisor at TRIAL International. The
armed group exercises de facto control over the precious wood industry by issuing logging authorizations and transport
permits, and by ensuring the security of the latter. The rebels also illegally exploit and sell precious hardwood timber to
finance their armed struggle: an illegal trade fuelled by demand from the global tropical hardwood market. |
TRIAL International is a non-governmental organization fighting
impunity for international crimes and supporting victims in their quest
for justice.<br />
_________________________________<br />
<br />
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SUMMARY OF THE CASE<br />
<br />
In June 2019, TRIAL International
filed a criminal complaint against
Swiss national Nicolae Bogdan
Buzaianu, a close business associate
of former Gambian President Yahya
Jammeh, for the alleged pillaging
of protected, Senegalese rosewood.
Between June 2014 and March 2017,
Westwood, a Gambian company
owned by entities affiliated to Mr.
Buzaianu and former President
Jammeh, allegedly exported over
315,000 tons of Pterocarpus erinaceus
to China (roughly equivalent to
USD 163 million). This precious
rosewood species was illegally
harvested from the neighboring
Casamance region, where the
armed group the Mouvement des
forces démocratiques de Casamance
(MFDC), has been fighting the
Senegalese army since the 1980s.<br />
<br />
Yahya Jammeh as an ally, the MFDC
was able to monopolize the timber
trade in Lower Casamance, using its
profits to finance its armed struggle.
Westwood benefited generously
from this trade, transferring its
profits to individuals and companies
associated with Former President
Jammeh and Mr. Buzaianu.
FILING’S STATEMENTS
Ê A Swiss national partnered with –and benefited from– former
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, accused by the Gambian
Commission of Inquiry of having stolen millions of dollars in
state funds. The MFDC exercised de facto control over the timber trade out
of Lower Casamance by issuing authorizations for logging and
transport permits and by providing safe passage to the timber
traders. Westwood benefited generously from this trade, transferring
millions of dollars in profits to individuals and companies
associated with Former President Jammeh and Mr. Buzaianu. The illegal felling of rosewood has had a detrimental impact
on the Senegalese forests, contributing to declines in rainfall
and desertification, as well as preventing the sustainable
livelihood of local communities.<br />
<br />
© TRIAL International / Montse Ferrer
TRIAL International filed the criminal
complaint before the Swiss War
Crimes Unit. This is the first case
where illicit timber traders are accused
of pillaging conflict resources in
Switzerland; and if this case succeeds,
it would be the first case anywhere
to convict someone for the pillaging
of timber or any natural resource. It
is also a groundbreaking case as it
seeks to use the existing international
criminal legal framework to punish
non-enumerated environmental
crimes, a subset of crimes that go
mostly unpunished, in part given the
lack of applicable legal regimes.<br />
------------------------------------------<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>References from the sidisanneh.blogspot.com </b>on the subject of Westwood and suspected/possible resource flows:-<br />
<a href="https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2016/10/how-westwood-company-ltd-and-yaya.html%20(Part%20I%20)">https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2016/10/how-westwood-company-ltd-and-yaya.html (Part I )</a><br />
<a href="https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2016/10/how-westwood-company-ltd-and-yaya_26.html%20(Part%20II)">https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2016/10/how-westwood-company-ltd-and-yaya_26.html (Part II)</a><br />
<a href="https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/900000000-from-gambian-registered.html">https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/900000000-from-gambian-registered.html</a><br />
<a href="https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-ocean-bay-hotel-and-resorts-and-sun.html">https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-ocean-bay-hotel-and-resorts-and-sun.html</a><br />
<br />
###<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style='clear: both;'></div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer'>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'>
<span class='post-author vcard'>
Posted by
<span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'>
<meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/14842740001172363018' rel='author' title='author profile'>
<span itemprop='name'>Sidi Sanneh</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span class='post-timestamp'>
at
<meta content='http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/westwood-dealing-in-conflict-timber.html' itemprop='url'/>
<a class='timestamp-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2020/03/westwood-dealing-in-conflict-timber.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2020-03-23T00:11:00-04:00'>12:11 AM</abbr></a>
</span>
<span class='post-comment-link'>
</span>
<span class='post-icons'>
<span class='item-control blog-admin pid-67148513'>
<a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2088167013877070241&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'>
<img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'>
<a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2088167013877070241&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2088167013877070241&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2088167013877070241&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2088167013877070241&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=404860931917051805&postID=2088167013877070241&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a>
</div>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'>
<span class='post-labels'>
</span>
</div>
<div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'>
<span class='post-location'>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<div class='blog-pager' id='blog-pager'>
<span id='blog-pager-older-link'>
<a class='blog-pager-older-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2020-03-23T00:11:00-04:00&max-results=7' id='Blog1_blog-pager-older-link' title='Older Posts'>Older Posts</a>
</span>
<a class='home-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/'>Home</a>
</div>
<div class='clear'></div>
<div class='blog-feeds'>
<div class='feed-links'>
Subscribe to:
<a class='feed-link' href='https://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default' target='_blank' type='application/atom+xml'>Posts (Atom)</a>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class='column-left-outer'>
<div class='column-left-inner'>
<aside>
</aside>
</div>
</div>
<div class='column-right-outer'>
<div class='column-right-inner'>
<aside>
<div class='sidebar section' id='sidebar-right-1'><div class='widget AdSense' data-version='1' id='AdSense1'>
<div class='widget-content'>
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- sidisanneh_sidebar-right-1_AdSense1_1x1_as -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:block"
Resolver
Resolver ASN
AS15169
Resolver IP
192.178.37.146
Resolver Network Name
Google LLC
Report ID
20250324T174513Z_webconnectivity_GM_37323_n1_eNw27OpqoXcvlDhv
Platform
android
Software Name
ooniprobe-android-unattended (5.0.3)
Measurement Engine
ooniprobe-engine (3.24.0)