By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Ya Kumba Jaiteh, nominated member of National Assembly, doubling as member of the United Democratic Party, has accused the government-led by President Adama Barrow of according preferential treatment to businessman, Abubacarr Jawara for his involvement in the ongoing petroleum theft saga that occurred at Gam Petroleum depot at Mandinary Village, valued at $25 million (twenty-five million dollar).
The theft of the petroleum stock belonging to International Traders led to shortages of fuel across the country resulting to travel difficulties for commuters and huge losses to the economy of the country.
The Nominated Member of the National Assembly made this allegation on Saturday 29th, November, 2021, at Bundungka Kunda, while addressing UDP supporters, militants and well-wishers ahead of the December 4 Presidential election.
Honorable Ya Kumba Jaiteh, also brandished Gambia government press release and its subsequent press conference as a mockery to the conscience of the Gambian people, alleging that the three Cabinet Ministers who convene the press conference did not know their job.
Last week, Gambian government through the Minister of Information, Honorable Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Energy, Honorable Fafa Sanyang and Minister of Trade, Honorable Seedy Keita held a joint press conference where they disclosed that Gambian Government has set up a taskforce which has started investigations into the saga, revealing that two managers of Gam Petroleum already arrested.
They expressed government’s commitment to probe deeply into the saga, while highlighting difficulties in obtaining information from the officials of Gam Petroleum. “On the Petroleum Saga, the lack of fuel, they arrested Saihou Drammeh and his arrest is about one week and the law says if you arrest someone within 72hrs you should either charge or set free that person.
“They are still detaining Saihou Drammeh while Abubacarr Jawara working free and going on with his normal business,” Honorable Ya Kumba Jaiteh, revealed and added that government is playing double standard in the saga.
She added: “President Barrow did not do the right thing, we are not crazy nor under devils influence because we all knows that it is Abubacarr Jawara who won the contract for supply of fuel in the country but since been awarded this contract, he has never imported fuel into this country.
“He has been supplying fuel that belongs to International Traders Stocked at Gam Petroleum depot,” she lamented and continued that “let Abubacarr Jawara come out and tell us (Gambians) where he gets the fuel that he has been supplying. He was only engaged in supplying the missing fuels at Gam Petroleum depot belonging to people, he has never import any fuel into the country since he was awarded this contract.”
She however challenged GACH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to clear the air to Gambians.
According to her, UDP government will never condone such type of corruption in the country, adducing that leader of UDP Ousainou Darboe and his team will dig out the $25million corruption saga reported at Gam Petroleum if for nothing but for their integrity.
She condemned government’s new approach to containing the petroleum saga by ways of waiving taxes on imported fuels into the country saying “The tax they are going to waive is the money that should have been used to procure beds for our hospitals so that women will not queue for beds at the health centers.”