By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia Transport Union (GTU) has announced a complete list of New Transport Fares set to come into effect tomorrow 20th January 2023 after agreeing on price increases with the Government. In their short statement published on Facebook, the GTU noted that “the implementation of the route licensing scheme in the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region the General Transport Union, Ministry of Transport Works & Infrastructure and other relevant stakeholders have worked on a National Transport Fares Tariff for all official routes across the country”. The GTU also seized the opportunity to “urge all…
Author: Yusef Taylor
Yusef Taylor
Yusef Taylor, commonly known as Flex Dan is an editor and practising journalist based in the Gambia with a keen interest in human rights, the economy and good governance among many others. He continues to break news on the economy, human rights violations and is highly engaged in security sector reforms, constitutional reform and the transition of the Gambia from dictatorship to a democracy, the NewGambia. Yusef has been working with Gainako as a media practitioner from 2015 to date. He has a degree in Civil Engineering with 5 years of Design Consultancy experience.
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The Gambia’s Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure (MoTWI) announced the price increase in transportation fares and a new tariff for the transportation of containers across the country on 16th January 2023. The announcement indicated that price increases become “effective 20th January 2023”. Speaking to the President of the Gambia’s Transport Union (GTU) he informed Gainako that the price increases are percentage-based ranging from 30% for Town Taxis down to 12% for fares above D100. The details according to GTU President Mr Omar Ceesay are as follows. Transport Fare Increases are based on percentages (Source GTU…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Only three days after the Government Spokesperson announced that two civilians and one Police Officer were charged for their alleged involvement in the alleged foiled coup, another eight soldiers were charged with Treason and Conspiracy to commit Felony on 6th January 2023. Rumours of an attempted coup started to make the rounds on the night of Tuesday 20th December 2022 and in response, Government Spokesperson Ebrima G Sankareh released numerous press releases updating the public. In addition, the newly appointed National Security Advisor held a press briefing with the media on Thursday 29th December 2022. President…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Gambian Christian Leaders have condemned Corruption and urged believers to resist falsehood in their new year message delivered over the final weekend of 2022. Aired on West Coast Radio’s Coffee Time on 1st January 2023 the Bishop of the Methodist Church and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul were both featured. Bishop Bannie EF Manga who is also the Chairperson of Gambia Christian Council declared that “we cannot continue to look at poverty, greed, wickedness, selfishness and sufferings in their various shades continue to flourish within our national walls”. Meanwhile, the Bishop of the…
By Yusef Taylor and Edrissa Jallow Alleged Coup Plotters Targetted State House and Other Government Institutions says Newly Appointed National Security Advisor President Adama Barrow’s newly appointed National Security Adviser, Mr Abubakarr Suleiman Jeng, revealed to the press that alleged coup plotters targetted State House and key government institutions in a “botched plan”. Speaking to the media on 29th December 2022 Mr Jeng says the coup plotters had support from outside the country and planned to take Cabinet Ministers hostage to avoid foreign intervention. Mr Jeng who appeared nervous during his speech revealed that “reports are pointing to the suspected…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT A communique by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) disclosed that the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) has extended its mandate for another year, until the end of 2023. The communique was published soon after President Adama Barrow and 11 other ECOWAS Heads of State flew into Abuja, Nigeria for the 62nd ECOWAS Ordinary Session of Heads of State which took place on 4th December 2022. The Gambia’s first President and now late, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara was also awarded a post-humus award alongside three other persons. According to the citation: “H.E. Sir…
By Yusef Taylor and Arret Jatta The road construction around the turntable area commenced in September 2022 and has started progressing towards Senegambia, disrupting already slow traffic along that route. Our reporter went on a trip from Senegambia to Turntable on 23rd December 2022 to engage commuters and drivers along this route. The first thing that’s easily noticeable is the dusty environment caused by the ongoing construction work and the lack of adequate alternative routes to ease the congestion. Feeder roads which could have been used had they been constructed prior to the commencement of construction of such a critical…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The 2023 Executive Budget is the focus of the Sixth Edition of the Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter (GPN). GPN was initiated in April 2022 with the First Edition published in May 2022 depicting all the Parliamentarians elected and nominated into the Sixth Legislature. The Executive Budget is the Government’s proposal submitted to Parliament and is often referred to as the Draft Budget. This edition highlights numerous government plans for the year 2023. Download the Sixth Edition here. 2022-10-GPN 6th Edition The latest edition highlights Parliament’s proposal to increase the salaries of National Assembly members by 30% with…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT Gambian National Assembly members have questioned Finance Minister Hon Seedy Keita on the provision of reparations for victims of the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and funds to implement the recommendations of the Commission in the 2023 Budget. The TRRC is a Commission enacted by the Fifth Legislature in 2017 to investigate the Human Rights Violations of the former Regime of President Yahya Jammeh. The current administration of President Adama Barrow accepted most of the recommendations of the TRRC in its White Paper issued on 25th May 2022. To implement the recommendations, member for Banjul…
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT The National Assembly member for Banjul North, Hon Momodou Lamin B. Bah has responded to President Adama Barrow’s plans to appoint a Governor to rival the Mayors of Banjul City Council (BCC) and Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC). The former BCC Spokesperson who worked under Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe believes the President’s statement “is a clear manifestation of Political dishonesty”. President Barrow told Gambians during his Meet the People’s Tour in Talinding’s Buffer Zone that his government would appoint Governors for KMC and BCC which traditionally had Mayors instead of Governors. The President made these statements…