Complaints
Dawda complaint about his wife denying him sex. He confronted her as usual. “You denied me sex at my time of need. You think I would die? I have survived it. I’ll get at you at your time of need. You are sadistic and a witch. You are the devil incarnate”. Rama protested. “What have I done to you? You have humiliated and tortured me enough. You cannot batter me during the day and have me at night. My soul and body is bruised. My heart is bleeding Dave. Stop torturing me!” “Next time you deny me, I’ll go out and get it”. Dave threatened. “Suit yourself. Isn’t it your money that you’ll spend? But be sure I’ll protect myself not to be infected with HIV/AIDS”. Rama posited. “I’ll not wear a condom to have a good time with my wife. Don’t you want an issue with me? We shall see who the man of the house is”. “I want an issue with you but not at my own risk. You are threatening to go outside to have fun. How sure am I that you’ll be adequately protected?” Rama defended her position. “Rama! Don’t mind. I’ll cross the bridge when I get there,” Dave bluffed.

Foroyaa: Do you have anything to say to people who claim that the people should have rejected the 1997 constitution?
Halifa: They are entitled to their opinion. I simply want to reiterate that the 1997 Constitution did not keep Jammeh and his Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council in Office. On the contrary, it did put an end to the existence of the Armed Forces Ruling Council. If we have a government today which shows little regard for Constitutional rule, it is not the Constitution which is responsible, but the Gambian people who have not shown much initiative in putting in office a government which would have respected and improved on the constitution. Furthermore, I would like the readers to note that we were not given any privileges to conduct Civic Education. After our arrest and detention for defying decree number four, which banned all dissemination of political ideas, we were tried and ordered not to interfere with the process. Despite this order I wrote a declaration on the Sovereignty of the people and circulated a petition for people to sign which called for a National Conference. All political leaders in the country were given copies. They ignored me. I held a press conference to launch the declaration which was put on a video cassette for circulation. The AFPRC labeled me a saboteur. Infact, one of the volunteers called Musa Manneh was arrested and detained. When I went to the Late Sadibou Hydara to facilitate his release I could recall passing many prominent persons in the queue like the former Chairman of the Kanifing Municipal Council. Mustapha Ceesay was either Permanent Secretary or Deputy Permanent Secretary. They should be able to confirm seeing me in Hydara’s office, even though they may not have known the purpose of my presence. I must admit that he took the things I said regarding the detention of Musa and people like the late Alkalo of Brufut, Pa Khalifa Sano, seriously. They eventually released Musa but dismissed him from the public service. One can imagine how tormented my conscience was to have the future of a person blocked because of carrying out tasks to defend the sovereignty of the people.

Here is another week of action by Gambian football exports around the world. It was a week of victory for some and defeat for others.

Former Scorpions Captain Jatto Ceesay has sustained an injury and he is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks.

THE END OF DECENTRALISATION
Section 101 of the Constitution of the Gambia states categorically that no bill shall be introduced into the National Assembly of the Gambia, unless it is accompanied by an explanatory memorandum setting out in detail the policies and principles of the bill, the defects it is intended to remedy and the necessity for its introduction.

Why didn’t you get a publisher for such an important book?
We are trying to build local capacity for book production. Edward Francis Small was a pioneer of the liberation struggle in the Gambia. Our printing press is named after him. The press is responsible for printing Dawda Faal’s history book. It is to print a Mathematics book prepared by Sam Sarr. Sidia Jatta has produced a book for learning in the local languages. I have five books in the pipe line: The manuscripts are ready. I will put one for sale and use the income as seed money to print the next one. President Jammeh has challenged his opponents to show what they can offer the nation during his term in office. We will be producing books which will enlighten the world. While he is purchasing musical instruments, we will be making savings to purchase printing machines and to build a Pan African Library. Since he claims to be a destroyer of HIV, we challenge him to put his knowledge in books for the medical students of the world just as we are going to be doing.

The Gambian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Crispin Grey-Johnson and the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio have signed a Joint Communiqué on Saturday, November 3, at the end of the 4th session of the Senegalo-Gambian Joint Ministerial commission held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.

Reliable sources informed this reporter that management teams have been appointed in all the administrative regions of the country. This is in conformity with the amended Local Government Act which calls for the automatic dissolution of councils ninety days before election.

The National Assembly in its extra-ordinary session on Wednesday, October 31, ratified two loan agreements of US $ 4 million dollars each between The Gambia and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

After One Year Of Arrest
The family sources of the former Chief of Foni Kansala, Momodou Lamin Nyassi, and two others, told Foroyaa that their loved ones’ whereabout are yet to be disclosed by the authorities. Family sources have it that the trio in the persons of the Foni Kansala Chief, Momodou Lamin Nyassi, Ndongo Mboob and Buba Sanyang were re-arrested by plain clothes officers at Bwiam in the month of April 2006.