By NJAMBU FARIMASANG COLLEY

Hi,

I'm sorry that all this silly thing is happening. It's rather a shame that people are being arrested for having subscribed to the freedom onlinenewspaper. Anyway stay focused for the struggle must continue.

Unfortunately I don't often have time to go on the net but I have resolved to join others in the crusade. I'm privileged to interact with people who close to the Jammeh nest and I will be giving you clues that would help you to follow interesting issues to their conclusive end.

Today I’ll begin with the March Coup attempt in The Gambia: DO YOU KNOW THAT ONE OF THE IMPLICATED MARABOUTS, OMAR FAAL IS A CLOSE RELATIVE OF YANKUBA TOURAY? Yes indeed! His real name is Omar Keita, from Keita Kunda in Yallal Tankonjala, Upper Baddibu District, North Bank Division. His father settled in Yallal from Mali through Senegal and Omar and his younger siblings were born there.

Omar's father Ousman Keita (later Alhaji) is a relative of Yank's father. They all left from Mali and came to Senegal, where Yanks was born and later Yank's father settled in NAWLERU VILLAGE. The two families still have a very close tie; infact the third wife of Alhaji Ousman comes from Nawleru but I don't know whether she is Yank's aunty or cousin. Recently, Yank's became their big brother and major family disputes were taken to him or his father to resolve. However, my surprise is that Yanks has not come out to inform The Gambian people about this and he knows something about the coup if he is not infact a party to it. This is just one clue and I’ll be giving you many more. Have a great.

By klabeng

I strongly agreed with the posting made by " the Gambian boy " in references to some of the comments made on the rating columns. regardless of how much we disagree with each other's opinion, we should not be using foul languages--- especially to the extent of our dear mother private--. That is not the Gambia I know of. We have always been known to be very respectful citizens in the face of the world. Thus I please ask you editors to do something about this. Yes is freedom of speech but let’s give our parent their due respect. than and keep the good work.

…………………………….

Dear Editors,
Please post this new Proposal for a United Opposition for all your readers. Comments, concerns, and critics are highly welcome.
Thanks for standing up.

Sincerely,
Demba Baldeh

NEW Proposal for A United Opposition: From Seattle Washington

By Baba Darboe & Demba S. Baldeh

This winning formula is being put together by some concerned members of the Gambian community in Seattle Washington. Our assumption is that the opposition parties in the Gambia need a balance of power proposal for them to overcome the recent stalemate between members of NADD and the UDP/NRP Alliance.

It is our believe that this proposal as well as many others put forward by concerned Gambians will give the opposition the opportunity to look at many different perspectives and not only choose a winning formula, but also one that will overcome recent adversity.


Key Assumptions:

WINNING 2006 ELECTION = FACTION A + FACTION B

UDP/ NRP alliance as Faction A
NADD as Faction B

Probability of selection for President and vice President (A or B) are mutually exclusive
14 ministerial positions in the cabinet (10 of which are coming from the rival faction)
Secretary General (SG)—head of the civil service (from the President’s Camp)
Speaker of house of Representative (from the camp not selected for President)

Diagram Summarizing key assumptions
Position In order Ranks Political Faction
President P A
Vice President VP A
Minster of xxxxxxx 1 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 2 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 3 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 4 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 5 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 6 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 7 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 8 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 9 B
Minster of xxxxxxx 10 B
Minister of xxxx 11 A
Minister of xxxx 12 A
Minister of xxxx 13 A
Minister of xxxx 14 A

Secretary General A
Speaker B


Other Duties:
President can only nominate Ambassadors, Commissioners, and other high level appointments
The 14 ministerial cabinet must be the sole body to confirm any presidential appointments

Only one faction (A or B) could become the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
In other words, Faction A and B are mutual exclusive when it comes to the selection of a flag bearer as well as the running mate. For instance, if faction (A) is chosen, they will put forth a presidential and vice presidential candidates from their alliance only. The other faction (B in this scenario) will not contest for presidency or vice presidency, but will be guaranteed the first 10 key-ministerial positions upon victory. The position of the Secretary General based on this example will go the faction (A). This is necessary to ensure that the president can rely and sometimes seeks the best the best possible advice from someone (SG) he / she trusts. The remaining (4) ministerial posts will also go to faction A
But under this scenario, the role of the president is going to be very limited. For instance, the only person the president can appointment without any cabinet approval will be the secretary general. The same may be true for the vice president to appointment his secretary without the cabinet approval. But apart from that any other political appointments made by the president most be approved by 2/3 of the 14 member-cabinet, of which the rival faction has the majority. They can withhold through their majority certain appointments that they think will not serve the best interest of the country. However, they cannot just arbitrary withhold appointments without explanations. An in an event of any disagreement between the president and the cabinet over certain appointments, a jury panel of certain number of electorates could be convened with the help of independence electoral commission to determine if that person is fit or not. And their arbitration is going to be final.

On the other hand, Faction (B) will be entitled to the 10 out of 14 ministerial positions available, and this 14 member cabinet will have the sole authority to confirm / not confirm any other appointments made by the president and were not address in the above. In essence, the cabinet will serve as an upper body of parliament, until there is parliamentary election when these roles will now transfer to various committees within the house of representative for overseeing, hearings and confirmations. The faction B must also be given the right of appointing (not confirm) the speaker of the House.
Reverse Assumption: The assumptions made in the diagram could also be reversed; Faction B becomes President and VP, whereas Faction A will be given 10 of 14 key positions.

Term of Office: the term of office of this transitional government is going to only 5 years. No one from the government will be bar from contesting the next presidential or other political elections.
However, anyone from the transitional government that intends to participate in presidential or vice presidential election must resign from his or her position 6 months from the Election Day. And any senior member of this transitional government running for presidency must identify his or her running mate 6 months before Election Day. All these are important to avoid conflict of interest in the transitional government few months running into elections. It will also ensure that some remnant of one faction within the government would not be using their influence in exchange of compensation from the leaders running for presidential elections. Comments, concerns, and critics are highly welcome