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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 10:46:26
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Since participating on Allafrica.com Au consultation debate over the net in 2002. I wondered what effects such forums have made is Africa really on it's way to improving its infrastructure. Here are some issues which were raised in these consultations.
http://allafrica.com/specials/adf/debate/infrastructure/index.html?full_response=1#res28
I look forward to hearing your comments.
Peace Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 11:19:57
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I have started to look at this....... the main thing that struck me was the dates on the postings...2002..still discussing the same issues. I will read more this evening.
The road from Kombos to Tendaba and onwards is getting WORSE and if it isnt improved another couple of heavy raining seasons will make it virtually unpassable at certain points. This should be a priority.
Also I jokingly suggested to a friend..how about another airport at the end of the Gambia inland. That would open that end of the country and other countries beyond for trade and tourism.
I wonder if that could be a serious project? |
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justice
United Kingdom
44 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2006 : 06:48:17
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| if we can elimenate those leaders who are just there to still our wealth then africa is on the right way but if we still have leaders like Junkung Jalangba Jammeh we might as well forget about the whloe issue of improving our infrastructure good leaders improve and develop their country not (deremos)like you know who |
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2006 : 21:48:40
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| I think the best way to develop our infrastructure while benefiting economically is to look at inter-state trading and commerce with neigboring coutries.Even though we have it in primitive stages now,I will suggest building a state of the art transportation system begining with Gambia and Senegal.A very good highway link from amdalai at the senegalese border through banjul ,the combos and then to senegal.Widen and rebuild the present system from banjul to basse and the same at the other bank.Get another airport at URD and widen the river canals in the inlands of the river gambia all the way to KOina to facilitate commercial shipping handling freight and other bulky goods.Wont that be real nice? |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 00:15:35
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Hi Medotech, So what do you think about Gambia's new railway which was made in President Jammeh Independence Day Speech?
peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 02:36:19
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Railway is fine but I dont think we really need it.Its gonna be really expensive and will take a long time.The thing they should do now is improve the conditions of the roads making them wide and up to international standard.If we have a real good road network that will link all parts of the country and neighboring countries while making the river gambia accessible to commercial shipping all the way to the border,this will be excellent for inter-state commerce.
After that the only thing we will need is to libralize the economy and put real importance into the agricultural sector.Soon we will start exporting gambian products all over the world.I had a proffessor that was telling me that any country should choose one good product that they will be specialised with.Since Gambia we are known for peanuts,it will make real economic sense to take control of the peanut business and have it on lock.soon with hard work and real zeal to develop we will hopefully monopolise the whole peanut market,just like the ivory coast with cocoa a couple of years back.I mean we could actually compete internationally. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 09:15:32
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I was talking to a business man last time in Gambia who is very interested in exporting peanuts as peanut butter. There is a large market for this AND it has higher profits I think as a processed product.
I also know someone in Holland that imports peanuts. He said a few yeas ago that the quality wasnt good enough in Gambia because of toxins from chemicals used on the ground gathering in the nuts. I understand from the first mentioned businessman that the standard has improved now........
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 19:23:30
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quote:
Originally posted by medotech
Railway is fine but I dont think we really need it.Its gonna be really expensive and will take a long time.The thing they should do now is improve the conditions of the roads making them wide and up to international standard.If we have a real good road network that will link all parts of the country and neighboring countries while making the river gambia accessible to commercial shipping all the way to the border,this will be excellent for inter-state commerce.
After that the only thing we will need is to libralize the economy and put real importance into the agricultural sector.Soon we will start exporting gambian products all over the world.I had a proffessor that was telling me that any country should choose one good product that they will be specialised with.Since Gambia we are known for peanuts,it will make real economic sense to take control of the peanut business and have it on lock.soon with hard work and real zeal to develop we will hopefully monopolise the whole peanut market,just like the ivory coast with cocoa a couple of years back.I mean we could actually compete internationally.
Ohh, medotec!!! Some of your ideas are really dangerous..! I don't like to dim your enthusiasm, but before you start to conquer the world, you should think about a few things.
Don't you remember what happened to Senegal after they became dependant on only one cash crop - which was, after all, groundnut? Do you know what happens to Ivory Coast with its cocoa, to the Philippines with sugar, to Ecuador with bananas, to Guatemala with coffee, and so on, and so on... The world market prices are kept artificially low for agricultural products from non-white countries, and if you choose to depend on only one product, you could as well hang yourself. In addition, monocultural farming destroys your environment, and it makes you use more and more pesticides and other chemical poison. Never heard of that? What the hell did that stupid professor tell you?
I agree with you in the point that a lot has to be done to advance infrastructure in Gambia. And of course agriculture is VERY important for the country. Until now, you have sufficient diversity in agriculture, and you should by all means try to maintain this.
The idea of widening the river is extremely dangerous, too. Every German can tell you about the consequences. After canalizing our rivers to make them accessable for shipping, we have severe floods every year, and now we spend a lot of money to correct our errors from 30, 40 years ago. So, don't step into this trap!
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 19:46:06
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That was just a suggestion and it doesnt mean am right.Its just an idea I had going.About the crops,i didnt mean we should put everything on peanuts,that would be a death trap,i was just talking about having one that we will be synonimous with and monopolise the market,ofcourse we could diversify and grow other crops which is perfect.
About the river,with proper planing,I believe it could be done.We just have to plan right and tackle the erosion that most of the time contribute to these floods.Can you imagine all the possibilities that will bring to the hinterlands of the river Gambia.Again like I said,these are just some crazy ideas that need debate and mind you ideas that were once thought to be crazy really revolutionalised the way we live. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 11:37:45
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As Formby rightly has pointed out the pitfuls in cashcrop dependency. Medotech just imagine if Gambia combined its peanut production and started to capitalise on 300 uses of peanuts patented by George Washington Carver. Then Gambia could have a better edge in the peanut international trade because it is the manufacturing and service sectors which make more profits than primary producers.
I think a railway in Gambia would be a positive step forward for its transport system because it would help to cut down carbon emissions, by taking congestion pressure off the roads and it would be good for trade in general.
Greater use of the River Gambia the major artery of the country could be put to better use again in easing road congestion and to bring more opportunities into the countryside, and help to reverse the trade of outmigration to tourist centers. I agree with Serenata it is far too dangerous to interfere with the ecological system of the river. There are so many river diasters that have occurred, so I think it would be far better to use the river as a sustainable transport channel to help control the adverse effects of Climate Change.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 02 Mar 2006 11:39:40 |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 12:14:40
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The river could be excellent for passenger transportation, without ecological impacts and done in small business. In Ecuador they take long logboats with an outboard motor to go up and down the rivers; these boats can take up to 30 people. I saw these boats in Gambia, but not much. Maybe it is a question of wood, which is plenty in Ecuador but rare in Gambia.
Anyway, for me those simple but efficient methods are much more impressing than big hightec projects whose negative effects show years later - when it is too late. Sorry I am such a technical pessimist... |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 14:07:38
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Yes. well Serenata I don't blame you for that just take a look at the river Danue daming projects which severely destroyed its ecology. Deforestation is a big issue in the Sahel as a whole and as you probably are aware hardwoods take a longtime to grow. So maybe Gambia's forestry could look into introducing faster growing tree species which are suitable for their ebvironment and don't require a lot of rainfall to grow.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 18:54:41
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The gambia river is the most navigable rivers in Africa and was the main reason why gambia's size has evolved around the river. The infrastructure is in place for ships to go up river. The wharfs have been built and have not generated a dime for the economy.
Since Lady Chile(ship) sunk Gambia was not able to replace it and hence trade collapse and all the trading posts like Georgetown, Kaur Kuntaur commonly known as KTR in its hay hays, Basse, Bansang have all lost their significance. Karantaba in the sami district which is close by the historical place of pisanai where Mungo park was believd to have perished is now in ruins. I grew up in the interior of the gambia and the source of produce for us was Lady Chilel and it helped boost our economy.
Our problem is sutainability. The railway is premature for now because the human capital is not in place and the market being very small it is not worth the investment. having twenty properly managed buses travelling upcountry can easily solve our transportation problems.
Value added is essential. remember, GPMB ( Gambia produce Marketing Board ) was set up to make soap from peanuts and also process oil. This collapsed due to mismanagement. There is hardly anything new that is being suggested that has not been tested and failed. We lack the commitment to excel and until then we must be prepared to be consumers for others' produce. Soap is imported, oil is imported, biscuits are imported. Currently we are not growing enough peanuts to sustain domestic consumption let alone export. Sankung Sillah's soap factory is not producing enough soap for the local market because of limited raw materials for soap making.
The reality is that we are not adding value to international trade. We are only consumers in the game.
The poultry farm set up by the department of Livestock services with modern equipment is lying unused because we do not grow enough corn to process poultry food. Even chickens are imported. The only thing we do not import to survive is air. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 19:19:13
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| Sister Omega, you are absolutely right. Even though Gambia is not as much as Senegal endangered by desertification, there is a high risk, and trees and forests need strong protection. And dams (like this monster project in China, the Narmada dam and all the others in India Arundhati Roy mentioned in her excellent book 'The Cost of Living') are no option. |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 21:53:14
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
The gambia river is the most navigable rivers in Africa and was the main reason why gambia's size has evolved around the river. The infrastructure is in place for ships to go up river. The wharfs have been built and have not generated a dime for the economy.
Since Lady Chile(ship) sunk Gambia was not able to replace it and hence trade collapse and all the trading posts like Georgetown, Kaur Kuntaur commonly known as KTR in its hay hays, Basse, Bansang have all lost their significance. Karantaba in the sami district which is close by the historical place of pisanai where Mungo park was believd to have perished is now in ruins. I grew up in the interior of the gambia and the source of produce for us was Lady Chilel and it helped boost our economy.
Our problem is sutainability. The railway is premature for now because the human capital is not in place and the market being very small it is not worth the investment. having twenty properly managed buses travelling upcountry can easily solve our transportation problems.
Value added is essential. remember, GPMB ( Gambia produce Marketing Board ) was set up to make soap from peanuts and also process oil. This collapsed due to mismanagement. There is hardly anything new that is being suggested that has not been tested and failed. We lack the commitment to excel and until then we must be prepared to be consumers for others' produce. Soap is imported, oil is imported, biscuits are imported. Currently we are not growing enough peanuts to sustain domestic consumption let alone export. Sankung Sillah's soap factory is not producing enough soap for the local market because of limited raw materials for soap making.
The reality is that we are not adding value to international trade. We are only consumers in the game.
The poultry farm set up by the department of Livestock services with modern equipment is lying unused because we do not grow enough corn to process poultry food. Even chickens are imported. The only thing we do not import to survive is air.
wow, if you put it that way things seem pretty bad. however, do you have any suggestions of how things can improve. i was thinking of having a fabric factory in Gambia, but how can i have a fabric factory if a soap factory cannot work |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 23:00:30
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I saw in the news that electricty will now be available 24 hrs from July. That is a good start. We need to grow enough to survive. We need a good political climate for business. As a businessman you have to be an APRC memebr or you will most likely run into trouble. You have to have a lot of time for the Yai Compins.
I will deal with this in detail later. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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