The Point has gathered from unimpeachable sources that the heads of the two sister public enterprises recently sold in part to Spectrum company, Gamtel and Gamcel, as well as some other top officials, have got the sack. Mr. Katim Touray, Managing Director of Gambia Telecommunications Company Ltd. (GAMTEL); Mr. Foday Sisay, General Manager of Gamcel, have been relieved of their posts with immediate effect, reliable sources disclosed to this paper.

According to our sources, Mr. Katim Touray was given his marching orders yesterday but no official reason was advanced for his sacking at the time of going to press. It would be recalled that Mr. Touray was appointed Managing Director of Gamtel in December 2006, succeeding the former holder of the position, Mr. Omar Ndow, who is currently standing trial on charges related to economic crimes.

In addition, Messrs. Ousman Njie, Director of Abuko Earth Station; Alieu Bah, Director of Billing Gamtel and Pierre Chery, Deputy General Manager of Gamcel, have also been sacked.

The latest twist to the fortunes of top officials of the two companies comes hot on the heels of the signing ceremony of the Gamtel/Gamcel-Spectrum partnership at which the president made it clear to the Spectrum executives that it was up to them to get rid of any official they do not consider worthy of being retained, warning that the government would not accept any excuse bordering on personnel incompetence in the event of any failure.