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Editorial Since the advent of new media technologies; it has somewhat contributed significantly towards the advancement of shaping popular discourse.  There is rapid cognizance among concern citizens as a result of the influence of the new social media applications like Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube among others. The influence has created an avenue for citizens to be abreast with daily happenings of the time. Thanks to the influence of the new social media,  the citizens as right holders are now holding the duty bearers both private and public sectors accountable to ensure that they work towards addressing their needs and aspirations.  In sharp contrast, it is well-nigh impossible to browse online nowadays without finding irrational discourse, hate speeches, cyber bullying, graphic nude pictures and videos in many online platforms.  The exploitive use of social media among teens has negatively impacted their lives and livelihoods, with their abiding...

    By Amo Manneh The United Democratic Party (UDP) has won the Mayoral seat of Banjul, the Kanifing Municipal Council, the Chairman seat of both West Coast Region and Lower River Region respectively.  Election results Ahmed Talib Bensouda of UDP has 56,094 votes while his main opponent Bakary Y. Badjie has 42, 432 votes. The independent candidate  has 5,092 votes.  In Banjul City Council, Rohey malick  Lowe has 8,299 votes  an NPP'S Ebou Faye  has 6,992 votes. In Brikama Area council, UDP'S Yankuba Darboe has 77,946 votes; Jainaba Bah of PPP has 2,023 votes; Ibrahim J.S Sanneh,  has 24,558; Baisey Sawo, independent  candidate  has 1,183 votes; Salieu Jallow,  independent candidate has 1,022, Ahmed Gitteh, independent has 6,718,  Seedy Ceesay of NPP has 51,429 votes. It has been a disappointing election for the ruling National People's Party, after loosing a heavy defeat in Banjul, Kanifing and West Coast Region.  Wit...

By Amo Manneh The National People's Party (NPP) in the ongoing Local Government Elections has won all the provincial  administrative area councils.   The party won the chairmanship of Janjangbureh, Basse, Kuntaur and Kerewan  Administrative Council respectively. Election  Results In Janjangbureh Administrative area,Sulayman Sawaneh of NPP has 11, 924 votes. Malick Sowe, of United Democratic Party (UDP)  has 8, 225 votes; Haruna of Gambia Democratic Congress has 2,614 votes and Alhagie AS  Boye, an independent candidate  has 1, 458 votes. In Kuntaur Area Council, NPP's Saihou Jawara has 13,681 votes; UDP's Alhagie SB Sillah has 10, 365 votes, and GFA's Abdoulie Keita has 1, 227 votes. In Kerewan Area Council, NNP's Papa Tunkar has 24, 130 votes; UDP's Malamin I.L Bojang has 22, 572 votes; Independent candidate  Babou Kebbeh has 2,475 votes.  In Basse Administrative Area, NPP'S Mamadou Ceesay  has 28,902 votes; UDP's Foday Banjo has 8...

Late Hon Omar Amadou (O.J) Jallow  | Former NAWEC boss, Alpha Robinson’s solemn tribute to the late venerable Hon Omar (O.J) Jallow | By Alpha Robinson In memory of Honourable Omar Amadou Jallow, alias OJ, as I remember him. He contributed his quota! Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. May he Rest In Peace in Janatul Firdaus. He spoke - a poem  He spoke when most were mute He said it as it was, standing on refute  He refused to bow when many froze in salute He spoke  He looked the devil in the eye without a flinch  They could not move him an inch A man wearing a demeanor without a switch Staring at death without a twitch  He spoke So Honourable you are rich While they scramble for earthly material riches Men and women in frantic pitching Yours truly found a niche In the corner of glorious loners by choice He spoke  You looked your tormentor in the eye and smiled  Yes, with a broken eye you looked and smiled To help heal broken hearts...

| Community Leader, Philip Saine sheds light on ongoing ‘veil’ issue, urges vigilance against extremist ideologies packaged as something else | By Phillip Saine The Veil Civil Suit in the Gambia initiated by  ‘Concerning Citizens’  came as a surprise to many but never-the-less does not surprise many Gambians   who are versed with their  disturbing  agenda . At this stage of Gambia development, it would have been thought that  ‘Concerning Citizens’ , rather than striving for the wearing of veils at schools, they should have spent time and energy to upgrade standards of education, provision of appropriate school learning materials, device ways to improve on school transportation, improving on school performance and examination results. These would have been most ideal tenants for contest for an honest and concerned citizen. It is apparent that the veil issue harmonizes well with the attempt to pursue the ‘Islamic State’ agenda started under Ex-President Jamme...

By Sheriff Saidykhan Flex Fuzion Entertainment, and performing arts Company has on Saturday 13 May, 2023 graduated its second cohort of trainess into performing arts.  The graduants successfully completed performing arts and entrepreneurship training funded by the U.S. Embassy in Banjul.  The project was designed to equip young and aspiring performing artists with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the business world. The participants completed an intensive three months program in dance, music, modelling and theatre.  The ceremony held at the Alliance Française ground, was attended by Sharon L Croner, the U.S Ambassador to The Gambia and people from different walks of life.  Speaking at the event, Ndéy Fatou Jabang, the Founder of Flex Fuzion expressed delight and extended gratitude to the U.S embassy in Banjul for their show of support. Sharon L Corner, the U.S in The Gambia thanked Flex Fuzion for their role towards promoting culture, through performing ...

By Sheriff Saidykhan The Media Council of The Gambia (MCG) in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has on Friday 12, May 2023 trained 20 Journalists from various media houses  on election reporting.  The two day capacity building training is geared towards equipping Journalists on ethical reporting ahead of the Mayoral and Chairperson election.  Speaking at the event held at TANGO, the Vice President of the Gambia Press Union Isatou Keita underscored the significance of ethical reporting during elections.   “The media plays a crucial role in informing citizens and holding those in power accountable. As we approach the upcoming elections, it is important that journalists are able to report on the electoral process in a professional and ethical manner,” she remarked.  Baboucarr Cham, the Chairperson of the media council said Journalists need to inform and educate the young people about the dangers of “cyberbullying” and "hat...

By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambia Christian Council (GCC) have condemned the recent deregatory remarks of Momodou Sabally, the campaign manager of the United Democratic Party (UDP), about the Christian faith. Readers could that, the recent ‘veil’ banning in some Christian based school's have sparked a nationwide debate across different social strata, over religious tolerance and vis-à-vis school's code of conduct. The Christian Council said it is fully aware of the deregatory and unhealthy remarks made by Momodou Sabally. The Council further urges his party to disassociate itself from such unacceptable views. “The Christian Council is also aware of derogatory, unhealthy, and ill informed-pronouncements made by Mr. Momodou Sabally, the campaign manager of one of the leading political parties in our nation. These may be his personal views or those of his party.  We expect the national executive of his party to dissociate the party from such unacceptable views,” the Council urged. T...

  By Amo Manneh  Peace Network, a non profit organisation called the Indepedent Electoral Commission (IEC) to increase the requirement and qualifications for Councilorship, Mayoral, National Assembly and Presidential aspiring candidates in the country. Accroding to Alasana Justice Jallow Chief Executive Officer of Peace Network, the qualifications for councilorship should be graded with Senior Secondary School Certificate with at least three credits. He added that, the qualifications for mayoral candiatates should be undergraduate degree or Higher National Diploma whilst parliamentarian or presidential candidates should have a minium of first-degree.  He made these remarks on Wednesday during the Peace Network recommendation statement ahead of the local government election. Mr. Jallow further stated that differently abled and visually impaired people have experience some challenges during the election. He stated that despite differently abled being given priority to cast ...

| The veiled ploy, masked behind the school ‘veil’ civil suit |   By Pa Louis Sambou P overty, crime, corruption, unemployment, worse than poor healthcare facilities and outcomes but to name a few of those issues which confronts The Gambia and which has serious societal consequences for ordinary people. In the face of such crises, apparently, in the unconventional wisdom of some, pupils’ ‘right’ to rebel against reasonable school regulations, is top priority – a ‘fundamental right’ which merits ‘special’ legal protection some fancifully argue (with a straight face no doubt), and hence the targeted civil suit against the respective Christian mission schools all of which indicate a very strong determination to vigorously resist the insidious invitation to permit the boundaries of school discipline to be the domain of external forces whose views and values are so antithetical to their own, among other things, they’re fatally hostile to the interests and principle of education as we...

  By Sheriff Saidykhan The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in Senegal  has on Wednesday 3, May 2023 joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Press Freedom Day (WPFD). The event held at Metzy hotel in Kololi, brought together Journalists' and media Chief's to device strategies to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. The day is set aside to support the media that are oftentimes targets of violation and abuse.    This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights” signifies the enabling element of freedom of expression to enjoy and protect all other human rights. Muhammed S Bah, the President of the Gambia Press Union underscored the significance of freedom of expression saying “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right from which all other human rights can be realised. In fact, a new UNESCO analysis o...

       By Sheriff Saidykhan Alagie Saidy- Barrow, the former TRRC Investigator has diagnosed the growing deepening rift within the National People's Party (NPP).  The recent leaked audio of Ebrima Ceesay, former  Secretary to Cabinet of President Barrow, saying all of them will go to jail if the party collapses has added to the growing fracas in the party. He blamed the National People's Party (NPP) for its underperformance in the recent Parliamentary and council elections. Mr Barrow made these remarks on Tuesday 2, May 2023 at the West Coast Radio, Coffee Time show with Peter Radio.    Alagie Barrow, described the leaked audio of Ebrima Ceesay and other growing feud within NPP as lack of core values in the party. In his own words: “Ebrima Ceesay's message to his NPP colleagues got my attention for three reasons; it affirmed my believe that when you coalesce within anyone or anything other than shared values, it is only a matter of time before the...

  Photo Credit: IEC By AMO MANNEH     The people of Kanifing Municipality (KMC) will head to the polls in about 19 days to elect the mayor who will run the administrative affairs of the municipal council for the next five year term.   As the aspiring candidtates submits their nomination forms, the race may appear little crowded but ‘the  electoral campaign and the popular expecation so far has been crystalized around two major contenders’: the incumbent mayor, Talibeh Ahmed Bensouda of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and the Minister for Youth and Sport, Bakary Badjie of National People’s Party (NPP). The United Democratic Party (UDP) is the largest opposition party in the Gambia formed in 1996. In the recent concluded councilorship election in Kanifing, the UDP has defeated the National People’s Party in the race for ward councilors. NPP and UDP are the main contenders and rivals in the Gambia’s electoral landscape. In this edition, the Outpost Media ch...