- Advertisement - By Omar Bah The Sanyang Village Development Committee (VDC) issued a statement yesterday claiming that the planned new ports project will affect 3,000 properties instead of the 461 projected by the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA). - Advertisement - “Our assessment on the flyers issued to property owners by GPA revealed that these properties include hotels, beach bars, guesthouses, lodges, canteens, stalls, residential properties, schools, among others,” the VDC said. Mr Gaye said the VDC alone stand to lose over 200 properties along the beach, including restaurants, beach bars, lodges, residential properties and other businesses.

Colonel Samsudeen Sarr President Donald Trump’s latest executive order—slamming sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials for daring to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant—is yet another wrecking ball aimed at the crumbling edifice of international justice. The hypocrisy reached new heights when Biden, who had decried Trump’s strong-arming of the ICC, eagerly cheered on the court’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, issued by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan—an old friend and protégé of Essa Faal—for alleged war crimes in the Russo-Ukrainian war. In The Gambia, despite relentless warnings against the neocolonial maneuvering that seeks to push President Adama Barrow into prosecuting former President Yahya Jammeh and members of his administration based on the highly flawed Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) report, human rights activists continue their dogged campaign to see it implemented, brandishing the ever-present specter of Western-backed retribution.

Despite mounting evidence and damning reports from the auditor general, the government has shown little interest in accountability, with President Barrow himself dismissing audit reports as “just an opinion”. The Barrow government will not take any serious action to fight corruption, but a UDP government will take urgent actions to restore accountability and rebuild public trust. Corruption in The Gambia under President Adama Barrow’s government has reached alarming levels, with every sector and ministry affected.

As part of this strategy, Russia intends to open embassies in The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, South Sudan, Niger, and the Comoros. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated during the inauguration of the new department that Russia is returning to Africa. As part of its reopening to Africa, Russia plans to soon reopen embassies that were closed years ago in Liberia, neighbouring Sierra Leone, Gambia, Togo, Niger, the Comoros, and South Sudan.

- Advertisement - By Omar Bah Reed Brody, the top American human rights lawyer has cautioned that US president Donald Trump’s freezing of all programmes depending on US funding will affect The Gambia’s plans to prosecute Yahya Jammeh. Responding to Trump’s announcement in a Standard exclusive, Reed said the US aid freeze is “a devastating blow” to The Gambia’s development and that Jammeh should “thank Trump for making it more challenging to set up the Special Tribunal”. - Advertisement - Reed said the US was set to be a leading donor to the Ecowas Hybrid Court designed to prosecute those responsible for the worst abuses of Jammeh’s regime, and to the Special Prosecutor’s office.

- Advertisement - By Olimatou Coker The Gambia Police Force Sunday evening tracked down a BMW sedan believed to have been used by armed robbers in a daylight attack on a shop in Banjul where they made away with at least a million dalasis. Police spokesman Modou Musa Sisawo said operatives arrested the owner of a vehicle that was believed to have been involved in the armed robbery at El Hella Shop on Daniel Goddard Street Sunday morning. - Advertisement - He also said preliminary findings indicate that two suspects, one wearing a face mask and the other unmasked, arrived in an ash-colored BMW with no number plate, parked opposite the shop.

- Advertisement - Gambian taekwondo star Maria Sainabou Marchlinaki continues to make waves on the international stage as she gears up for the prestigious US Open 2025. Next weekend, Maria will represent The Gambia at the US Open, where she will compete in the highly competitive 57kg weight class, facing 26 other athletes from around the world. - Advertisement - Speaking about her preparation, Maria said, “I’m definitely ready.” Her strong performance in the national qualifier is a testament to her hard work and dedication, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament.

According to its proponents, entering into an agreement of this kind is common between nations as it is well-known that no government can provide employment for all the citizens in a country. They say that there is hardly any country that has one hundred percent employment rate and therefore, this agreement is one of the ways in which the government is reducing unemployment in The Gambia. Whatever the case, the government of The Gambia has a huge task in making sure that there are more job opportunities for the young people of the country.

Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Top American human rights lawyer Reed Brody has warned that US President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze all US-funded programs will severely impact The Gambia’s efforts to prosecute former President Yahya Jammeh. Now, organizations like the Centre for Justice and Accountability have paused work due to the aid freeze, and many Gambian groups are facing the same crisis.” Despite the setback, Brody noted that organizations are seeking alternative funding sources, engaging the diaspora, and pursuing diplomatic efforts to reverse the cuts. The fight for justice, democracy, and human dignity is far from over.” Growing Resistance to the Aid Freeze Brody highlighted that US congressional Democrats are pushing for legislative measures to restore funding, while advocacy groups, faith-based organizations, and NGOs are mobilizing public pressure to reverse the cuts.

Gambiaj.com – (TEHRAN, Iran) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, has called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take urgent action to prevent what he described as an orchestrated plan to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza. In a telephone conversation on Sunday night with his Gambian counterpart, Mamadou Tangara, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the OIC, Araghchi condemned the alleged US-Israeli scheme to expel Palestinians from the war-torn enclave. The Iranian top diplomat stressed the need for a unified and forceful response from the international community, urging OIC member states to convene an emergency meeting of their foreign ministers to address the crisis.

Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The Gambia Police Force has made significant progress in its investigation into the armed robbery at El Hella Shop in Banjul, leading to multiple arrests and the recovery of stolen cash and firearms. The robbery took place on Hagan Street, Banjul, at approximately 09:08 hrs, when two armed individuals stormed the shop, held the complainant, Muhammed Seedy Hydra, at gunpoint, and stole D1,245,000.00 and 1,650,000.00 CFA before fleeing. Further police inquiries revealed that Amadou Wurry Jallow, a mechanic, had been instructed to drive the vehicle out of Banjul for maintenance and repainting to conceal evidence.

Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has provided clarifications regarding its decision to use the Olof language as a trial medium of instruction in the Mainstreaming Effective Intervention Strategies in Schools (MEISS) pilot program. According to MoBSE, the MEISS program is part of efforts to improve foundational literacy and numeracy among young learners in Grades 1-3 by integrating strategies that have proven effective in out-of-school programs run by the NGO Effective Intervention (EI). The MEISS pilot, supported by the World Bank’s Resilience, Inclusive, Skills, and Equity (RISE) project, is currently being implemented in 55 public lower basic schools across Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5 (North and South), covering only 10% of public schools.

The Point has learned that the armed robbers responsible for the attack on the El Hella Shop in Banjul, the capital city, have also been apprehended. The robbers were said to have made away with D1,245,000.00 and 1,650,000.00 CFA. A reliable source, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, confirmed this news, stating: "I can confirm that the armed robbers who targeted Access Bank in Brusubi have been arrested in Guinea-Bissau." When asked about their extradition to the country, t

For decades, USAID has been a lifeline for organisations addressing issues such as human rights, healthcare, democracy, and economic development. Now, with funding frozen and projects halted, the very communities that depend on this support face an uncertain future. In The Gambia, USAID-backed programs have played a crucial role in transitional justice, democracy-building, and human rights efforts. Activists warn that the funding suspension will have severe consequences, particularly for surviv

The suspects are presently in the custody of the narcotics agency while the investigation is ongoing. They have reportedly been apprehended with substantial amounts of suspected cannabis sativa, cannabis seeds, and unlicensed hunting firearms. Ousman Saidybah, the spokesperson of the DLEAG, confirmed the development to our reporter, saying: "On Saturday, February 8, 2025, DLEAG operatives, supported by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) of The Gambia Police Force (GPF), executed a pre-dawn oper

The presentation held in Sapu in the Central River Region was formally done by Tong Zhan, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Gambia. The occasion brought together officials of the Embassy and the ministry who witnessed the presentation of various varieties of rice which include Sahel 134, Sahel 177, Y-manno, Orylux 6 and IR841. Speaking on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, Counsellor Tong Zhang revealed that the occasion marked the outco

Muhammed Njie, MD of the NFSPM, discusses Gambia's groundnut sector project to boost oil production and aid farmers in poverty reduction. Under the government's initiative, progress has been made with Islamic Development Bank support, aiming to achieve local cooking oil self-sufficiency.

Cornerstone Construction Company, working on a fifty-kilometer road in Basse, donated a borehole for a remote Central River Region North community and provided food items to Upper River Region communities, showcasing their corporate social responsibility efforts and commitment to quality work since 1991.

A brazen armed robbery at El-Hella shop on Hegan Street in the capital sparks security concerns among business owners, with the Gambia Police Force confirming the incident involving two masked suspects fleeing with a substantial sum of money.

The NCCRM received smart gadgets from ECO-PHSICM to enhance data collection on human security threats, improving national security and decision-making. ECOWAS aims to boost The Gambia's protection and security efforts through the donation.

National Assembly Member for Serrekunda, Hon. Musa Cham, distributed D50,000 in scholarships to students in his constituency, providing financial aid for tuition fees through the "GUI GUE" Scholarship Program focusing on academic merit and humanitarian assistance, with priority given to STEM and vocational students.

DLEAG and PIU conduct major drug raid in Nyang-bolong Village, Gambia, leading to eight arrests and seizure of cannabis sativa, seeds, and unlicensed rifles. Suspects in custody, investigation ongoing.

The village of Gilanfari in The Gambia held its annual congress to discuss development and raise funds, with this year's event dedicated to Minister Bakary Y. Badjie who pledged to address local needs like clean water and infrastructure.

Amadou Bojang, also known as Amalie Taal, tragically died from electrocution while repairing an overhead water tank in Kombo Mandinary. The incident underscores the importance of electrical safety, sparking calls for improved measures by NAWEC to prevent such tragedies.

The village of Gilanfari in The Gambia held its annual congress to discuss development initiatives and raise funds for local needs. Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports, was honored, pledging to address community concerns with unity and collaboration.

Amadou Bojang, known as Amalie Taal, tragically died from electrocution while repairing a water tank in Kombo Mandinary, sparking mourning in the community. The incident underscores the vital need for improved electrical safety measures to prevent such tragedies.