Gambia: At the Faraba Banta Commission - Ansumana Marena (Julakay), Others Testify

Ansumana Marena, alias 'Julakay', appeared before the Faraba Banta Commission on Saturday 14th July 2018, to testify. The Commission was set up by the President to probe into the unfortunate incident on that fateful day of June 18th 2018, when live bullets was sprayed on unarmed demonstrators, leaving three people dead and scores seriously injured. According to Marena who testified in Mandinka, he has been in the business of sand mining for one and a half to two decades now; that after securing a license from the Geology Department in 2007, one Jerreh Sanyang, the then acting Director of that department told him that a place will be identified, where he will carry out his activity of mining sand; that the issuance of his license had to get the blessing of NEA approval, who should inspect and tell him where to mine sand.

Marena said Jerreh Sanyang and one Nancy from the NEA, chose for him to do his work in Faraba, because mining was taking place in both Gunjur and kartong at that time; that after the survey, he was issued license with conditions attached; that among the conditions was the mechanization of his work, provision of access road to the site and royalty payment to Government. Marena testified that the period he would have spent mining sand at the time, would not have exceeded 6-7 months because his term for mining expires in one year, but was told to reapply or renew his license, after the term expires. Marena said this was during the former regime; that with the coming of the new dispensation, he returned to the Geology department to resume what he started during the former regime and met one Bakary fadera, who was the Secretary General at that time. Marena said Bakary advised him to reapply because he is someone who has the experience; that this was how he decided to go in for it, in order to repay the 11 Million dalasi loan he took from the Banks.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.