GAMBIA’S ” TEACHERS FOR CHANGE” HAVE ANNOUNCED AN INDEFINITE STRIKE ACTION; PIU OFFICER ALLEGEDLY MANHANDLED AN EYE AFRICA TV CAMERAMAN
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“BY AYESHA”
In The Gambia, over three hundred Gambian teachers met on Sunday at the Abuko Upper Basic School, where they declared an indefinite strike with immediate effect. The teachers, calling themselves ” TEACHERS FOR CHANGE” have vowed that they will not return to work unless and until their demands are met by The Gambian government. The teachers are asking for 100 percent pay raise, good incentives among others.
Teachers protest is now becoming common thing under Adama Barrow’s rule. The government has been accused of neglecting the plight of Gambian teachers. The average Gambian teacher earns barely less than $60 United States dollar per month.
Armed police intervention unit officers were deployed to the venue of the meeting. The crowd seems to have outnumbered the officers; hence they couldn’t forcefully eject them.
A photo journalist working with the Banjul based Eye-Africa online television, was reportedly manhandled by the officers. He was treated and discharged by doctors.
Lamin Kanteh, the proprietor of Eye Africa TV, said he has filed a criminal complaint against the officers, who allegedly assaulted his photographer Baboucarr Manga. Kanteh told Freedom Newspaper that he is going to diligently pursue his photographer’s case; so that justice can be meted out to the accused officer.
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The Gambia Press Union hasn’t issued a statement yet to condemn the alleged incident. Gambia’s PIU officers have been accused excesses. Six officers are currently standing trial on murder charges.
This followed, a shooting incident in Faraba Banta, on the West Coast region of The Gambia, where some PIU officers were accused of killing three Gambian environmentalists, amid a sand mining dispute involving the Julakay Engineering Company.
Ansumana Marena owns the Julakay Engineering Company. He recently testified before the Faraba Commission.
The nation is awaiting the outcome of the Commission report, which was presented to Adama Barrow last week, by the Chairman of the Commission Emmanuel Joof.
Meanwhile, President Adama Barrow, is in the United States attending the UN General Assembly Summit.
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