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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 27 Apr 2018 : 10:54:18
The toxic Chinese Fishmeal Factory and Gunjur's Environmental Catastrophe
By Mathew K Jallow
 It was a bit of a mystery that rattled residents of this quiet coastal community. The once idyllic lagoon, Bolong Fengyo, on the outskirt of Gunjur, 35 miles south of the capital city, Banjul, had turned into a river of blood. And on its banks, plant and wildlife; birds, fish, crabs, mangroves, shrimps and other exotic marine life lay dead in large numbers. The mystery soon unraveled, and the community was left with a binary choice; the environmental health of their community or the Fishmeal factory on the outskirts of their village. Thus, began a year pursuing justice, a year that crystalized the dichotomy between Gunjur youth seeking to end the abuse and devastation of their environment, and government’s deliberate stonewalling, which effectively empowered the Fishmeal factory to continue dumping toxic sludge in both the lagoon and coastal fishing grounds. The environmental degradation that Fishmeal factory is causing, at its very root, is underwritten by characteristic state patronage reminisce of Yahya Jammeh’s lax environmental laws, nepotism, ethical indiscipline and corruption. But, the community of Gunjur, led by vibrant youthful consciousness of the pernicious ramifications of the festering environmental crisis, and motivated by primordial instincts, mobilized effective challenge to the state’s patronizing influence over the carnivorous mutilation of an environment critical to the quality of life of Gunjur villagers. The tragedy unfolding in Gunjur, it turns out, is only a snapshot of a much broader scourging of Gambia’s once pristine Atlantic coastline; from Kartong to Bakau, epicenter of Gambia’s booming tourist industry. The realization that coastal environmental degradation in one community can’t be localized exclusively to that community, awakened consciousness to the gravity of the Gunjur crisis; an epiphany, if you will, which drilled a significant level of environmental awareness in the minds of many Gambians, prompting worldwide interactive engagement around the ongoing Gunjur and coastal communities saga; from Kartong to Bakau, and more broadly; the Gambia.
The breadth of the reckless of the coastal environmental crisis and the tunnel vision that borders on ignorance, which government is showcasing, was the tipping point that incentivized Gambians, at home and abroad, to coalesce around the efforts to incite government to void the Fishmeal’s license and demolish their death trap; the factory of toxic chemicals. The insufferable greed, environmental cannibalism and the imperceptible ecological carnage Fishmeal has precipitated, unduly impacts the lives of communities along the entirety of the Atlantic coast, making the struggle against the malignant presence of Chinese leeches, and their poisonous Fishmeal factory, a chilling reminder of Gunjur’s slide into ecological tragedy of apocalyptic proportion. The challenge that confronts Gunjur and the Atlantic coastal villages is underpinned by the ignorant mystification of foreign investment, a Trumpian lack of depth in grasping the consequences of irreversible environmental damage, and the impact on the cottage fishing industry, the economy, tourism, and the culinary culture of St Mary’s Island, the Kombos. Like most African countries, Gambia is a terrible steward of its resources, and the ocean fish stock, at the undeniable mercy of mostly unlicensed broad-light Asian fishing pirates, will be depleted even before Gambia can fully benefit from its resource. The land and ocean pollution aside, the most pressing need now is halt the deliberate and indiscriminate death of millions of young fish, which is being accelerated by the Chinese on the Gunjur beach. This has a net effect of depleting the stock, creating a lifestyle and culture altering fish scarcity, Gambia’s stable food and, hitherto, most reliable source of protein. The urgency of halting this unregulated industrial fishing on Gambian waters cannot be overstated, given the scale of destruction the Chinese are causing in the years since the Fishmeal factory began operations in Gambia. But, there is another significant dimension to the Gunjur environmental ordeal, relating to a sector so imperative to the Gambia’s economic development in the foreseeable future.
Apart from the health consequences of sludge drainage into the ocean and dumping toxic waste on land to the residents of Gunjur, and consumers of contaminated fish in the Kombos and St Mary’s Island, there is no guarantee that the environmentally conscious tourist arrivals from Europe will continue to visit when the attraction, the pristine beaches, are transformed into hurricane swept Martian landscape. The destruction of an environment is one of the major reasons human kind has moved from place to place for millions of years. This isn’t my opinion, it’s a fact back by empirical evidence, which technically makes Gunjur a candidate for future exodus of its citizens. The rape of Gunjur land and environment prefaces that unpleasant chapter of the future of this quiet community life. Implicit in the life and death saga between the Gunjur community and the well-connected cabal in and out of government, who, motivated by greed, foreswore their civic compacts with the citizens in order to allow Chinese companies to splurge in their pursuit of wanton destruction of Africa’s pristine environment. With infinite resources to hypnotize Gunjur elders into a state of selective amnesia, in cohort with corrupt state actors, the Chinese Fishmeal factory is, through detachment, granted broad discretion to circumvent Gunjur’s authority in their quest to expand their cataclysmic ecological destruction of Gambia’s environment, as they have so successfully done elsewhere in East Africa. The ongoing saga between the community of Gunjur and the state, ostentatiously displays banal state overreach, and manifestations of debauchery so characteristic of African governments. Gunjur’s plight also reveals a fundamental weakness of the Gambia’s institutions, since the agency responsibility of oversee Gambia’s environmental health, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) is so powerless that a single government official, Economic Planning’s Isatou Touray, can casually and unilaterally override NEA decisions. This display of Trumpian ignorance is underpinned by assumptions of celestial authority, arrogant disregard for Gunjur community welfare and a touch of madness that puts material interest over the obligation to protect the national resources.
 
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 22 Feb 2020 : 15:30:41
https://foroyaa.gm/food-safety-mute-over-health-certificate-of-golden-lead-factory/
Oh dear....We will have to wait a little longer Dear Reader for the usual "clarification" to be issued,it will be interesting to note who issues that.
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By Madiba Singhateh on February 20, 2020
The Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) of the Gambia is mute over the controversial health certificate issued to Golden Lead Company Limited in Gunjur.
The Golden Lead Fishmeal Factory produces (FMFO) fishmeal and oils for fish farms and for consumption.
According to the information, FSQA sent a letter sometime in September last year notifying them about the invalidity of their Health certificate issued to them by one Muctar Sonko, the principal inspector; that the Health Certificate which was dated June 30th 2019, was forged and that this Sonko is no longer working with the FSQA; that the letter states that all certificates from FSQA are handwritten and are without electronic signature or stamp name tags.
The letter further informed that Muctarr Sonko was not the current signatory to any certificate(s) as he was no longer with the FSQA. This particular one is said to have been signed by Zainab Jallow, director at FSQA.
When contacted to shed light on the issue, Bai Dodou Jallow, the Director of Scientific Affairs at FSQA Office in Kotu East, said he did not know about the matter but later confirmed to this reporter that the letter is indeed from their office; hence it bears the stamp and logo of FSQA. He however said that he will get back to this reporter on the issue of the fake certificate issued to Golden Lead to no avail.
FSQA was established by an Act of Parliament called ‘The Food Safety and Quality Act 2011” and it became operational in 2013.
The FSQA is the sole national competent authority with powers of delegation mandated to officially control the safety and quality of food and animal feed, whether locally produced, imported or for export.
The FSQA is placed under the Office of the Vice President as its line Ministry for reporting and provision of political support for the implementation of its mandate. The work of the Authority is expected to contribute to consumer health and safety, the facilitation of trade and control of fraudulent and deceptive food marketing, labeling and advertising practices.
Its vision is to ensure an integrated and coherent approach by ensuring that all relevant food safety hazards are taken into account and that resources are allocated to control food safety hazards which can impact negatively on consumers’ health, trade and commerce. |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 20 Oct 2018 : 16:15:36
By Nelson Manneh October 19, 2018
The trial of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh at the Brikama Magistrates Court yesterday did not progress due to the absence of the trial magistrate handling the case.
The Principal Magistrate Omar Cham of the Brikama Magistrates Court who is handling the trial of the former Minister of Information in The Gambia was said to have been attending a workshop.
On 17 October 2018, Janneh the former Minister of Information under the former government was to appear before the Principal Magistrate Omar Cham to continue with his trial but Sergeant 3533 Bobo Jarju, the prosecuting officer told Foroyaa that the matter has been adjourned till 23 October 2018.
Our readers could recall that Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh has denied all charges in relation to damaging the discharge pipes belonging to the Golden Lead Import and Export Company in Gunjur.
The court granted him bail with two Gambian sureties in the sum of D400,000.
Janneh, is charged on two counts namely: On count one, the accused person is charged with criminal trespass contrary to section 285A of the Criminal Code of The Gambia; and on count two, the accused person is charged with Malicious Injury in General contrary to Section 312(1) of the Criminal Code of The Gambia.
Taking his plea before the court held in chambers, the accused person pleaded not guilty to all counts.
http://foroyaa.gm/scattred-jannehs-trial-hindered/
SOMEWHAT RELATED:
The Principal Magistrate Omar Cham of the Brikama Magistrates Court
does appear to like to keep a low profile.
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16191
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 03 Oct 2018 : 17:43:18
By Mustapha Jallow October 3, 2018
Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh has been rearrested and charged at the Gunjur Police station on Tuesday, 2 October, 2018, Sulayman Mbenga disclosed.
He said Dr. Janneh was picked at a funeral service of his uncle right at the Gunjur cemetery and that his subsequent detention is in connection with his activism against alleged coastal pollution by Golden Lead.
“We’re monitoring the outcome of this case which is another expression of the treatment meted on our own Gambians by leaders of this country to allegedly please Chinese,’’ he said.
Dr Janneh, who had since been released on bail in the sum of D500,000, told Foroyaa that he was approached by two plain clothes police officers from the Serious Crime unit of the Gambia Police Force, who took him away. He said he was told that they have been looking for him for the past six months. He added that he was escorted to his home to collect his travelling document which they then impounded. He further said the police asked him to report at the Brikama police Station today at 8.30 am.
At press-time, the Police spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lamin Njie confirmed the arrest of Dr. Janneh and said that this was in relation to the Golden Lead issue.
He said charges are been pressed against him and he will appear before the Brikama Magistrates’ Court with others. He was charged with willful damage to property, conspiracy and criminal trespass.
“His associates are currently standing trial and he will also join them as well. A bail has been opened him,’’ PRO Njie said. He added that because he was away he could not join them in the trial.
http://foroyaa.gm/dr-janneh-re-arrested-charged/
====================================================
quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
Perhaps they should have chosen their words and deeds more carefully to avoid this current situation,the lawyers will make the best out of this high profile case when it arrives before the Bench. !
A SCOOP for the Daily News ,I havn't seen another report on this subject !!
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By: Abie Demba
Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, former minister and one of Gambia’s leading activists along with five other men from Gunjur were last Wednesday charged at Brikama Magistrates’ Court over a saga involving a Chinese company.
Dr. Janneh, Alagie Bojang, Omar Darboe, Ousman Sanneh, Foday Darboe and Lamin Jassey face three-count charges of conspiracy to commit felony, criminal trespass and willful damage of property contrary to the laws of the Gambia. They were said to have carried out the offence against a Chinese company, Golden Lead Fish Meal which is operating in Gunjur Village at Kombo South District in West Coast Region.
When the charges were read out at the court, most of the accused persons who were present pleaded not guilty and Dr. Janneh was said to have travelled out of the country. The presiding magistrate, Omar Cham later granted bail for the accused persons to the tune of D4,000,000 each and two Gambian sureties. The case was adjourned to June 5th, 2018 for continuation.
Meanwhile, it could be recalled that police personnel at Gunjur, a coastal fishing town invited Dr. Janneh for questioning in last March following the removal of a waste pipe belonging to Golden Lead.
The police were said to have questioned the activist for over an hour before allowing him to return home. Dr. Janneh, who is a native of Gunjur, has spearheaded a campaign by youths from the fishing town against the Chinese fish meal processing plant which is accused of polluting their environment and the sea. Recently, the activist and hundreds of youths from the town held a protest against Golden Lead which has been accused of disposing of suspected toxic waste into the sea, resulting in the death of fish.
Dr Janneh and the protesting youths dug up pipes through which the company was pumping the toxic waste into the sea.
Prior to that, the Gunjur youths had given an ultimatum to the company for the pipes to be removed within a week else they would remove them.
“Here is a promise: If the pipe that is pumping waste into the sea at Gunjur Beach isn’t removed by Golden Lead by the deadline issued to the company, I will personally dismantle it and face any consequence,” Dr Janneh wrote on his face book wall before moving into action.
“We will be acting within the law to remove a pipe erected in the public domain by a private entity at the detriment of our community. Yes, we know about diplomacy, litigation, mediation, etc and continue to employ them as well,” he added.
http://dailynewsgm.com/dr-janneh-5-others-charged-over-chinese-fishing-firm-saga/
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 06 Jun 2018 : 15:47:08
"PW 1 testified that during the course of the hearings, the NEA widrew the case but he FAILS TO STATE THE REASONS FOR SUCH A MOVE." 
"The case was subsequently adjourned to 19th June at 10.00am."
Hmmmmmmmmmm SOMEONE has to answer some questions with credable answers.
I look forward to the adjournment date of 19th June 2018 and reports of proceedings by the media on thtat date. 
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15945 |
| Momodou |
Posted - 06 Jun 2018 : 11:53:09
The case involving the State VS Gunjur Environmentalist resumed today, June 5th at the Brikama magistrate court presided over by Magistrate Omar Cham.
The 4 activist are charged with THREE counts of offence ranging from;
1. Conspiracy to commit a felony , contrary to section 368 of the Criminal Code Cap 10.01 Vol. iii
2. Criminal trespass, contrary to section 285 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap 10.01Vol iii
3. Willfull damage to property, contrary to section 312 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 10.01 Vol ¡¡¡ Laws of the Gambia 2009.
The proceedings kicks off with the cross examination of Prosecution Witness 1
( PW 1) in the person of Mr. Bakary Darboe. He told the court that he is a native of Gunjur and that he is the General Manager of the Golden Lead Import and Export Company Ltd.
Asked what the said company does, the witness informed the court that they are into the business processing fish into fish meal and fish oil respectively and that they have employed 80 natives of Gunjur.
PW1 said prior to the Golden Lead operations in Gunjur, their management together with one Mr. Dibba of the National Environment Agency embarked on an assessment study at two similar factories in Senegal and Mauritania respectively.
"The primary intentions of our visit was to ascertain how those factories managed their waste products and we realised that the said two companies discharged their waste directly into the Atlantic Ocean" PW 1 stated.
He said upon their return in the Gambia, they also "thought that they could do the same thing since it Is the same Atlantic Ocean" and that is why they (Golden Lead) too connected pipes to discharge their waste into the Ocean.
He admitted that after some time, the NEA recommended that they should put In place a standard and a functional "treatment" Plant before continuing to discharge waste into the Ocean but they ( Golden Lead) failed to meet this requirement and then they were dragged to court by NEA and charged with 4 counts of offence.
PW 1 testified that during the course of the hearings, the NEA widrew the case but he FAILS TO STATE THE REASONS FOR SUCH A MOVE.
The case was subsequently adjourned to 19th June at 10.00am.
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 01 Jun 2018 : 23:45:16
Perhaps they should have chosen their words and deeds more carefully to avoid this current situation,the lawyers will make the best out of this high profile case when it arrives before the Bench. !
A SCOOP for the Daily News ,I havn't seen another report on this subject !!
======================================================================================================================
By: Abie Demba
Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, former minister and one of Gambia’s leading activists along with five other men from Gunjur were last Wednesday charged at Brikama Magistrates’ Court over a saga involving a Chinese company.
Dr. Janneh, Alagie Bojang, Omar Darboe, Ousman Sanneh, Foday Darboe and Lamin Jassey face three-count charges of conspiracy to commit felony, criminal trespass and willful damage of property contrary to the laws of the Gambia. They were said to have carried out the offence against a Chinese company, Golden Lead Fish Meal which is operating in Gunjur Village at Kombo South District in West Coast Region.
When the charges were read out at the court, most of the accused persons who were present pleaded not guilty and Dr. Janneh was said to have travelled out of the country. The presiding magistrate, Omar Cham later granted bail for the accused persons to the tune of D4,000,000 each and two Gambian sureties. The case was adjourned to June 5th, 2018 for continuation.
Meanwhile, it could be recalled that police personnel at Gunjur, a coastal fishing town invited Dr. Janneh for questioning in last March following the removal of a waste pipe belonging to Golden Lead.
The police were said to have questioned the activist for over an hour before allowing him to return home. Dr. Janneh, who is a native of Gunjur, has spearheaded a campaign by youths from the fishing town against the Chinese fish meal processing plant which is accused of polluting their environment and the sea. Recently, the activist and hundreds of youths from the town held a protest against Golden Lead which has been accused of disposing of suspected toxic waste into the sea, resulting in the death of fish.
Dr Janneh and the protesting youths dug up pipes through which the company was pumping the toxic waste into the sea.
Prior to that, the Gunjur youths had given an ultimatum to the company for the pipes to be removed within a week else they would remove them.
“Here is a promise: If the pipe that is pumping waste into the sea at Gunjur Beach isn’t removed by Golden Lead by the deadline issued to the company, I will personally dismantle it and face any consequence,” Dr Janneh wrote on his face book wall before moving into action.
“We will be acting within the law to remove a pipe erected in the public domain by a private entity at the detriment of our community. Yes, we know about diplomacy, litigation, mediation, etc and continue to employ them as well,” he added.
http://dailynewsgm.com/dr-janneh-5-others-charged-over-chinese-fishing-firm-saga/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 21 May 2018 : 23:46:05
The stink of rotten fish appears unlikely to be going away an time soon.
====================================================
By Tabora Bojang May 21, 2018
The Gunjur Environment Concern Group has called on the Gambia government to invite an independent expert to conduct a compressive eco-toxicological assessment of the effects of Golden Lead’s activities.
The activists made this call at a recent press briefing at the Tango office in Fajara where they also revealed that an assessment made by the community of Gunjur conducted in Germany seems to contradict the water quality assessment report of the National Environment Agency, NEA.
The NEA had earlier said analysis results of their eco-toxicological assessment showed no evidence of toxic materials in the samples of wastes taken from the factory.
”However we as concerned citizens of Gunjur conducted our own assessment in Germany and the result we got is not positive. Therefore, we are challenging the ministry and the NEA to share their results with the community and the people responsible so that we can have a transparent system pertaining to the activities of the Golden Lead,” Lamin Jassey, the PRO of the organisation stated.
Jassey further said the Environment Minister’s claim that all the processes pertaining to the assessment were supported by the Golden Lead is unconvincing and has raised more skepticism, since the factory was found wanting in breach of the law.
According to Kemo Fatty, Director Green Up Gambia “the NEA did not officially or publicly release the results of their findings as the community of Gunjur have done and the question now is who is wrong and who is right?”
He said the most effective way of determining this is to invite an independent expert to carefully compare and contrast the two reports and come with recommendations to the best interest of the human and ecosystem health
http://standard.gm/site/2018/05/21/gunjur-activists-call-for-independent-assessment-of-golden-lead/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 09 May 2018 : 09:11:06
Some interesting thoughts from this newspaper.
===========================================================================================================
The government of the Gambia is walking a tight rope, as it were. On one hand, the country desperately needs investment from outside in order to boost the economy which is almost at an all time low. The state of the economy is not very good and as a result unemployment is skyrocketing and there is no hope of stemming it anytime soon. Thus, they may accept any form of investment from anywhere.
Golden Lead Factory is perhaps a lucrative company from which the country can earn a lot of money and provide some employment. This is perhaps the explanation for the renewal of their operating license even after a horde of citizens raised concerns over the environmental cost of this company’s operation.
This is a complex issue and should be studied carefully in order for it to be a win-win situation instead of one side gaining and the other losing a lot. In the past day or two, some six people have been arrested for protesting over the issue of the operation of the Golden Lead factory. These people claim that they have been moved by the concern of citizens of the village over what could happen to their environment, which actually should be a concern for all Gambians.
Their arrest has been condemned by activists in the country who see it as government trying to muzzle dissent. This is the situation and should be looked into carefully for solutions to be sought and the problem resolved. Here comes what should have happened: dialogue. The fact that government chooses to remain tight-lipped most of the time is not helping this or any other situation. Both parties should engage in dialogue with a view to finding an amicable solution to the problem
http://standard.gm/site/2018/05/08/walking-a-tight-rope/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 03 May 2018 : 11:42:54
Latest Foroyaa input:
====================================================
Dear His Excellency Mr. Barrow,
I’m writing to contribute to your efforts to rebuild and reshape the economy of our beloved country. I believe your administration must be aware of the numerous environmental issues across the length and breadth of the country. Mr. President we knew that you have inherited a country which was and is still battling with severe environmental problems such as unsustainable commercial sand mining along the southern coastline of the country, deforestation, overfishing in the Gambian water, poor waste-management, trade in endangered tree species such as Rosewood, and improper zoning of development projects in highly ecological sensitive areas among others. Mr. President last year, many environmentalists both locally and internationally have raised our concerns about the construction of Gambia International Conference Centre right at the heart of Bijilo Monkey Park. Months after laying the foundation of this facility we came to realize that other plans are on the way to build a Presidential Villa, an Ultra-Modern Shopping Mall, and 5 – Star Resort. His Excellency your personal attention and action to towards the political ecology of the Gambia could make a whole lot of difference in what surely will be the most important matter of our time and to the best interest future generations.
Mr. President for your attention Bijilo Forest Park is among the famous ecotourism sites in The Gambia, popularly visited by tourists staying in and around Senegambia – Bakotu Resort area, and thus creating huge revenue for the Gambian Government and as well provides employment opportunities for local youths as tourist guides. The park also serves as a unique study site for students and researcher interested in ecology and conservation in The Gambia. The park also provides a sanctuary for the endangered species of Western Red Colobus Monkey (Procolobus badius), African Rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus), Rhun palm (Borassus aethiopum) and is also a unique birding spot. The park serves as a natural defence against windstorm to the communities of Bijilo and Kerr Serigne, it as well supports in regulating coastal erosion. Mr. President your administration’s plans of identifying the park to build a Presidential Villa, an Ultra-Modern Shopping Mall, and 5 – Star Resort in this highly ecological sensitive area will result to a huge negative ecological impacts on the biodiversity and as well on conservation efforts of protecting threatened and endangered species inhabiting the forest park, and it will also disturb the advancement of ecotourism in The Gambia.
Your Excellency, I wonder whether there was any socio-ecological baseline study conducted towards the construction of Gambia International Conference Center in Bijilo Monkey Park and as well about the new proposed building projects on the pipeline, to look into the following: 1) what is going to be the future of the Monkeys at the Park? 2) What are we going to report to the next Conference of Parties on Climate Change and Desertification? 3) What information is Gambia Tourism Board / Ministry of Tourism going to explain to Birders visiting the country? 4) Do we have a road network to accommodate the traffic for the Presidential Villa, an Ultra-Modern Shopping Mall, and 5 – Star Resort during the rush hours of The Bertil Herding Highway? 5) What is going to be the future of youths who used the park as their livelihood source? 6) Would the proposed project result in the generation of waste that cannot be recycled, reused, or disposed of in an environmentally and socially sound manner? 7) Is the proposed project likely to negatively affect the income levels or employment opportunities of vulnerable groups? Mr. President upon pondering over the few mentioned questions, I am hereby appealing to your administration to consider ceasing any future development plans at Bijilo Monkey Park on bases of socio-ecological concerns of the citizenry and friends of The Gambia.
Your Excellency, yes it’s true we knew that the meeting industry is not yet fully realised in the Gambia, and has not been substantially contributing the economic growth of destination like other destinations such as Singapore, Australia, Germany, London, Kenya, and South Africa etc. In this vein, for the Gambia to truly attract and host The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other International, and Sub-regional events to create employment opportunities and enhance tourism market in the country, however, I hope that your administration should look into the opportunities of decentralizing development projects to other parts of the country.
His Excellency your office, through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and line ministries, may develop a meeting industry development master-plan for the country if there is none, which should put into account the political ecology of the country. The Meeting Industry Masterplan of The Gambia should be a well oriented strategic plan exclusively for promoting the meeting industry in The Gambia, with emphasis on policies, strengthening institutional capacities, establishing a Meeting Incentive Convention & Exhibition planning and marketing office, developing a marketing and promotion master plan, develop the necessary human resource to run and manage the Gambia International Conference Center and as well put environmental issues into account. We got the vibrant cultures, well-designed hotels, great hospitality and good accessibility from most European and African countries. The environmental scenic area of the country can immensely contribute to the realisation of your development plans and strong policy emphasis should be placed on protecting the country’s remaining fauna and flora.
Your Excellency we have a responsibility as a nation to our future generations and to the world in building a country of prosperity for all, of which environmental issues cannot be seen as a simple subject but an integral of your development endeavours. I think it’s high time the Gambia as a country places emphasis on environmental quality measures and as well work on ISO certification of projects in The Gambia.
In conclusion, I respectfully appeal to you to look into the plight of the citizens and friends of The Gambia addressing environmental issues to your government both at home and away. We see environmental issues in the country as our responsibility to protect our environmental resources and maintain a clean environment that is sustainable for future generation. Mr. President, The Gambian people are highly optimistic that you are the CHANGE that the country has been yearning for and please prove us right in protecting Bijilo Monkey Park and as well address other environmental issues across the country. We count on your utmost consideration.
Sincerely Yours,
Omar A J Saho
http://foroyaa.gm/an-open-letter-to-his-excellency-president-adama-barrow-to-defend-our-environment-natural-resources/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 02 May 2018 : 22:43:26
Times have changed since 1977 which was a time when the population of Gambia for the most part respected the land and environment and neighborliness was the password instead of a time a few years ago when PERSONAL GREED and corruption became endemic and destruction of the forests for timber was all the rage
President Barrow has a big job on his hands to make his vision of a NEW GAMBIA a reality,"mistakes" in achieving this have already raised their ugly heads and await a swift rectification by the current administration. |
| Momodou |
Posted - 02 May 2018 : 09:16:37
This was a statement made by the then President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (DK) in 1977, aimed at calling attention for the need to protect The Gambia's quickly vanishing flora and fauna.
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 01 May 2018 : 20:57:22
Comment by Mr. Pa M. Sarr, former Executive Director of the National Environment Agency in relation to the Chinese Fishmeal Factory (Golden Lead) issue in Gunjur:
"The fish plant should NEVER have been granted an operational licence without constructing its own treatment facility for this toxic effluent INSIDE its premises. Simply said, this effluent type SHOULD NEVER leave the Gunjur plant".
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This posting from "Ex. NEA Executive Director" a person who obviously has a great knowledge of environmental matters must be taken seriously and MUST be taken into account in ANY investigation that MAY be started by the Barrow administration which is in charge of developing the fledgling NEW GAMBIA,I feel that this matter should be considered as a matter of urgency.
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| Momodou |
Posted - 30 Apr 2018 : 19:04:59
Comment by Mr. Pa M. Sarr, former Executive Director of the National Environment Agency in relation to the Chinese Fishmeal Factory (Golden Lead) issue in Gunjur:
1. "Institut Pasteur de Dakar is not a water quality analytical laboratory but instead an epidemiology research institute dealing with incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to public health. Effluent for water quality analysis from industries are sent to a water quality lab and not to an institute dealing with disease control of flu viruses etc..
2.The sewage treatment facility in Kotu applies the most rudimentary treatment technique and should be termed UNACCEPTABLE by any modern standards. Besides its most primitive technology, the facility was designed to treat raw sewage from only very few neighbouring hotels in the 1980s. Currently, it is too overburdened by far beyond its original design capacity with sewage being emptied there from all the households around the GBA. The likelihood of untreated or raw sewage regularly flowing into the open sea from this primitive facility through the Kotu Stream should be as high as 100% at most times. The Ministry of Tourism should be extremely concerned about the disastrous impact on our tourism should a European tourist get fatally sick from accidently swallowing raw sewage discharged through this primitive facility while swimming in the nearby sea.
3. There are two types of effluent from the Gunjur fish plant. One type is mainly the remnant biomass (bones, blood etc.) after extracting the fish flesh used in the fish meal production. This type of effluent poses major aesthetics concerns but its toxicity is low. The other type of effluent from cleaning the machines with strong detergents and other chemicals, is the one that should cause serious concern to all Gambians. The fish plant should NEVER have been granted an operational licence without constructing its own treatment facility for this toxic effluent INSIDE its premises. Simply said, this effluent type SHOULD NEVER leave the Gunjur plant".
Pa Momodou Sarr (Ex. NEA Executive Director) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 30 Apr 2018 : 19:04:07
Message from Minister of Information, Hon. Demba Ali Jawo on Golden Lead Factory!
Clarifications on the Golden Lead Situation
There has been a lot of debate surrounding some environmental issues involving Golden Lead, the Chinese fish processing plant in Gunjur. Of course the government welcomes public debate on issues of national concern and the environment is one such issue.
Therefore, it is incumbent on the government to clarify the situation so that the public would get the correct picture rather than depending on rumours and innuendos.
The government is of course as concerned as everyone else about any threat to the environment in Gunjur and everywhere else in the country. Therefore when people started raising concern about possible pollution of the environment by the discharge of the waste from the plant, the National Environment Agency (NEA) not only made sure that the plant properly treated the waste before it was discharged into the sea but the Agency also took samples of the treated waste to one of the most reputable labs in Africa, the Pasteur Institute in Dakar for testing, and the results showed that the treated waste was not toxic and therefore posed no environmental hazard either to the community or to the flora and fauna.
However, the NEA did not only stop there but insisted that the waste pipe is extended to a minimum of 350 metres into the sea in order to minimize any possibility of the waste getting back on the beach, and we are made to understand that the pipe has gone well beyond that distance.
Therefore, the people of the community of Gunjur and its surroundings are being reassured by the government that there is no threat to the environment from the activities of Golden Lead plant and that the NEA and all those concerned will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that any possible breach of the status quo will be promptly addressed. |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 28 Apr 2018 : 11:29:58
Further info from Foroyaa,have answered some of my questions and are on the case:
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By: Louise Jobe
Golden Lead, a Chinese fish meal processing factory mired in alleged waste dumping into the Ocean and surrounding environment of Gunjur, is yet again alleged of trading in CFA currency, to purchase fish from fishermen, in order to meet the demands of their factory. Local fish vendors at the Gunjur fish landing site indicate to this reporter that the fish scarcity most often experienced at the Coastal fish landing sites, is because the fishmeal factory has engaged fishing boats owned by Senegalese nationals, for the heavy supply of fish to their factory which they say, is purchased in CFA instead of the Dalasi, the national currency. According to this reporter, Senegalese boat owners can also confirm this allegation.
Speaking to this reporter, a local female fish vendor in Gunjur, said the Senegalese fishermen are also supported by the fish meal factory in subsidizing fuel and rendering maintenance services to their fishing boats.
‘‘Most of the catch purchased by the fishmeal factory is caught by Senegalese boat owners, in our waters. Our local market mostly experiences scarcity of fish mainly because the price given to Senegalese fishermen by the fishmeal factory, is quite different from what we the local fish vendors pay to them,’’ she said. Scores of people who work at the Gunjur fish landing site including Senegalese boat owners, say the fishermen find this comfortable, when paid in their own currency by the fishmeal factory.
The lady fish vendor said the agreement between the fishermen and the Government of the Gambia, is to first sell their catches to local fish vendors, before taking it to the Chinese fish meal factory for processing, which she said, has never happened.
‘‘The agreement between Government and the fishermen (including Senegalease fishermen), is to first supply fish to local vendors before selling to the fishmeal factory, in order to avoid scarcity in the local market. But this instruction is not followed by the fishermen simply due to the price paid to them by the Chinese fishmeal factory,’’ she posited.
When this reporter contacted the Marketing Manager of the Golden Lead Fishmeal Factory to shed light on the issue of trading with Senegalease fishermen in CFA, she declined to comment. She however indicated that the Factory for now, is not allowing interviews from media houses and that the allegation of trading in CFA currency with Senegalese fishermen, is unfounded. Jojo, the Chinese national and Marketing Manager of the Factory, said Bakary Darboe their Gambian counterpart, cannot also comment on this and that the reporter should go to the Chinese people.
This reporter made effort to contact both the Finance and Fisheries Ministries, to shed light on the issue after several attempts to reach them on telephone proved futile.
This reporter will continue with investigations into the issue to adequately inform the readership.
http://foroyaa.gm/golden-lead-factory-accused-of-allegedly-trading-in-foreign-currency/
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