The University of the Gambia is currently answering to a civil suit by its former employee, Dr Felixtina Eileen Dowu Jonsyn-Ellis.

The plaintiff's claims include the payment of her one month's salary, being damage for wrongful dismissal; the payment of her five years salary for compensation for loss of future earnings; the payment of all her social security contributions, until she attain the retirement age of 60 years. The plaintiff, Dr. Felixtina Eileen Dowu Jonsyn-Ellis, is a Gambian by birth, holding a PhD in Environmental Micro Biology.

On the 6 of September, 2000, she was appointed, by the University's Council, as an associate professor in microbiology. She later served as the acting Dean of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. She was later promoted to the rank of Dean of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, in 2003. In 2004, she served the University as an acting Vice Chancellor up to 2005 and was also the Head of Department of Agricultural and Biological Science. However, on the 2 of November, 2006, she received a letter from the University indicating the termination of her employment without prior notice.

At the time of her dismissal, she was at the age of 58 years, while she intended to work up to her retirement age of 60 years.

Her net salary at the time of her dismissal was D13, 271. She is now claiming her payment of one month's salary being compensation for damages for wrongful dismissal. Her payment of 5 years salary being compensation for loss of future earnings, her payments of social security contribution up to her retirement age.

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
20 March 2008
Fabakary B. Ceesay