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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 09:13:41
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Foroyaa Editorial: WE COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR EYES? CHARITY OR REVELATION OF POVERTY
By Publisher on 16-08-11
The supporters of the ruling party describe it as an act of generosity but Foroyaa has constantly lamented that the battle for biscuits thrown by the President and for milk, meat and sugar in plastic bags thrown to the crowd by the soldiers on behalf of the President reveals the high level of poverty in the Country. Statistics reveal that over 61 percent of the population is living in abject poverty in the Gambia.
This became manifested on Friday, 12 August 2011 when we witnessed a stampeding crowd at both King Fahd Mosque in Banjul and the Ghadaffi Mosque in Serrekunda. Military trucks carried the food items and soldiers did the distribution. The Crowd consisted young men and women. Lactating mothers, those living with disability and some who appeared well dressed.
Many people would jump at the same time to grab the plastic bags. It was the survival of the fittest. The strong boys would elbow the lactating women and one would hear the complaints of injuries and insults. Some of the mothers were no longer conscious of the safety of the babies on their back as they battled for food. When over- powered they would accuse the boys of insensitivity and mercilessness.
One could hear the guys responding “Don’t say that. We are all equal here. What Kumba wants is also what Samba wants.” Some visually impaired men and women were also seen struggling in the midst of the uncontrollable crowd in order to attract the attention of a more sympathetic member of the mob who would grab or spare something for them. Apparently, everybody was busy trying to get one or more bags of the food item.
The worse aspect of the pandemonium was the physical confrontation of angry and hungry youth. The whole atmosphere was catastrophic. The more people heard about the food being distributed in the streets the more they turned up in their numbers hoping that mother luck would be in their favour.
It is very clear that the lottery mentality is developing in the Gambia. Many are expecting to get benefits out of nowhere, only few would realise their dream.
In our view the country needs certainty. It is not sufficient for the President to use military trucks to ferry gifts around or throw biscuits from his motorcade. This cannot feed hungry stomachs on a daily basis.
It goes without saying that selling meat at 75 dalasi for meat and bone and 90 dalasi for beef steak is not meant to reduce the poverty of the poor who receive less than 50 dalasi a day. What is clear as noon day is that a family of five would have to buy bread at four dalasi amounting to 20 dalasi, sugar at 9 dalasi per cup, milk at 10 dalasi, and coffee 3 dalasi and tea bag 50 bututs. Hence a family of five needs 50 dalasi daily to eat empty bread and drink tea or coffee with milk. to As for lunch, a cup of rice is being sold in the market at 4 dalasi, 3 set of fish at 10 or 20 dalasi, 3 small onions at 10 dalasi, 3 small firewood at 5 dalasi. In short if one does not have another 100 dalasi one would not be able to cook a regular meal.
Hence the throwing of biscuits and bags of food as well as the selling of meat and oil below what other business persons are selling will not automatically lead to the reduction of poverty.. On the contrary, the scramble for biscuits and other food items only shows more vividly the ugly face of poverty. What is needed is a welfare programme to address the problem of the poor in a dignified way. Secondly, the President needs to show the Gambian businessmen where he is buying oil and other commodities and then negotiate the retail price with the Gambia Chamber of commerce so that both the consumers and the retailers would be served.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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snuggels
960 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 09:21:45
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| Its a carnival and a shocking sight to behold |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 13:46:50
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A good story by foroyaa. This is neither, its wanton lunacy of the President. He was a poor soldier and nobody was giving him biscuits, why treat our people like this?
This man who feeds on the best delicacy every day is reducing our folks to beggars, what a sad state. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 19:29:04
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If he wanted to encourage people to go to school and get an education he could set up organised, FREE feeding stations for children within the school system.
ALL school aged children getting 1 free meal a day. It would help their body and brain develop and encourage school attendance.
This 'circus' he organises of drawing a crowd by throwing out food to them is terrible. It is humiliating to people to be treated like this. It is also dangerous for young children to be in these crowds amongst vehicles.
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Dembish
Gambia
284 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 19:42:20
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| Can't the food be given to the Gambian people in a more civilised and respectful manner? |
There is no egg without a chicken, and no chicken without egg. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2011 : 20:32:00
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| This is why I suggested giving it at school. |
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