By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor 

The Gambia Journal

Clearly, the most important news of the past week dealt with the sale of Gamtel and Gamcel to a Lebanese interest. The Gambia Journal’s report on this illegal and criminal transaction between Jammeh and the Lebanese party, is from the business point of view, one of the worst business adventures Jammeh has undertaken supposedly on behalf of The Gambian people. While there is support for privatization of government interests, the way this transaction was done, does not reflect the interest of the Gambian people who own both Gamtel and Gamcell.

The National Trading Corporation (NTC) was sold under similar circumstances by the previous regime and to date no one knows what happened to the money Cherbel Nachieff supposedly paid for it. But, coming back to the Gamtel and Gamcel issue, it is hard to believe that neither the Board of Gamtel and Gamcel, nor the management of the embattled corporation were involved in any of the negotiations that would determine their future and that of the rest of employees whose welfare they are responsible for. Jammeh has consistently shown that he has absolutely no respect or regard for anyone. He does what he wants regardless of how badly it will hurt and harm the interests and well being of our people and our country. Jammeh is only interested in himself, and as far as he is concerned, everyone else can go to hell, and he could not care less. This is yet another sad day for all Gambians. As Jammeh castigates Africa for being so poor despite its enormous wealth, he is giving away to an Asian interest the little wealth Bakary Njie and his team of well-trained Gamtel managers worked so hard to build for us over the past two decades. Jammeh continues to contribute to the creation and perpetuation of the African paradox, and in the process exposing his own hypocrisy. If this deal is allowed to stand, the inevitable price hikes will most definitely affect our people in a negative way, just as the exorbitant cost of stable items is reducing many to abject poverty.  

The Point Newspaper

The eminent departure of a Nigerian diplomat following the completion of her tour of duty saw Jammeh impulsively showing his generosity to her by making unilateral decisions that affect our country. Jammeh’s promise to her is to waive some immigration related fees for all Nigerians in the country, and this might be both illegal and unethical. Decisions of this nature have to be made by the National Assembly, and not arbitrarily and impulsively by Yahya Jammeh. We are supposed to have a government, and that government is supposed to function, but instead what we now have is a one-man run government. Jammeh makes every decision for everyone, and his decisions are always based on his self-interest. Only what Jammeh wants matters, everything and everyone else does not count. This is not going to impress Nigerian’s new President one bit, but Jammeh’s human-rights abuses, tortures, disappearances and murders could on the other hand aggravate him. Besides, it is wrong for us to treat ECOWAS member countries differently. We must have uniformity in the way the law is implemented to affect our regional partners. In short, the law must apply to all ECOWAS member countries exactly the same way. No favoritism and no preferences. Period 

Senegambia News

The implication of Edward Singateh, Yankuba Touray, Musa Jammeh, Kawsu Camara and Peter Singateh in tortures and murders is yet another bit of the puzzle that is coming to light. We are certain it may take some time, but we are confident that eventually the whole truth will see the light of day. Musa Jammeh in particular has consistently been named as perhaps this regime’s most brutal executioner, to the extent that he is renamed after Idi Amin’s most prolific murderer.

The powerful and Most Lethal Green Boys

As for Peter, Yankuba or Edward, we will continue to seek information regarding the level and extent of their involvement in Jammeh’s killing spree. Given the level of anger being exhibited by Gambians of all stripes, it is hard to see how these three, and many of this regime’s other collaborators, are ever going to enjoy peace and tranquility in The Gambia. 

"Quadruplets of Evil" On The Rampage

Finally, the United Nation’s move to ban regimes involved in the murders of their citizens from any peace-keeping missions (reported by The Gambia Echo’s Verdict, columnist, Adama Hawa) is not only laudable, it is noble. I do not know much about other countries, but Gambian soldiers are sent on these missions based on the money they will make from the U.N. There is no real humanitarian motivation for any of the contingents sent from our country, and consequently, the U.N. must properly screen all those they send to these sensitive and volatile missions. But, perhaps more important, the soldiers of murderous Gambian regime of Yahya Jammeh are absolutely unqualified to serve in any peace-keeping capacity due to the fact that Jammeh’s soldiers have the blood of many Gambians and non-Gambians on their hands. Secondly, Jammeh uses these peacekeeping missions as a training ground for his Jola tribesmen and others affiliated to them. With the experience gained, these then return to The Gambia where they carry out Jammeh’s acts of intimidation and barbarism on innocent Gambians. As a result, the United Nations must not inadvertently allow itself to train soldiers for Jammeh or any other regime who return to commit murders and executions of innocent Gambians.