Defence Counsel challenges GNIC Marketing Manager

Lawyer Badou Conteh on 2nd December 2010 challenged Ramond Ceesay, Marketing Manager of Gambia National Insurance Company, who testified against Anthony Manell, at the Industrial Tribunal.

Ceesay earlier testified that GNIC, the defendant, was not liable to pay the plaintiff, Anthony Manell, D384,000 as his total monthly salary for 16 years.

He added that the defendant did not owe the plaintiff anything.

Under cross-examination, defence counsel Badou Conteh reminded the witness that he earlier said the defendant gave the plaintiff several warnings, which the witness confirmed.

Counsel Conteh then put it to the witness that the defendant did not give the plaintiff any warning letters, but the witness maintained that the defendant did.

Counsel then asked the witness if the defendant has a way book to show that the plaintiff had received the warning letters, to which the witness replied, "No".

"Is it correct that your company has a way book?" asked the defence counsel. "Yes," the witness replied.

"You told the tribunal that you have called the plaintiff to your office to complain of the plaintiff's attitude, is it correct?" counsel questioned. "Yes," the witness said.

"How many years did the plaintiff work for the defendant, and in what capacity?" counsel further asked, and the answer was, "between 15-20 years as a messenger".

"I put it to you that D10,000 is not sufficient for a staff who worked for 20 years," declared the defence counsel.

"It is enough," the witness replied.

"I am putting it to you that your company did not pay the plaintiff social security for the last 16 years," said Badou Conteh.

"It is not true," the witness replied.

"Do you have any proof that you have paid the social security to the plaintiff?" counsel asked.

"I don't have the proof in court, but I can provide it for you," the witness stated.

At that juncture, the defence counsel applied for the witness to provide the court with proof of payment.

The case was adjourned to 14th December 2010 for the witness to bring to the tribunal the proof of payment of entire social security contributions by the GNIC on behalf of the plaintiff.