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BornAfrican
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
 Posted - 16 May 2007 : 17:52:36
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"The former champion of democracy, the able leader, the merciful, and the messiah sent by god to save the Gambians": such was the joyous cry of Gambians back in the 90s when this evil man hypocritically said he was relinquishing his post at the president's office. But now the messiah is sitting on his backside watching his legacy unfold.
Every day, we die and cry in the Gambia. We exist in a situation to which most of us don't have any solution. We see prices hike up every day, our brothers harassed and killed by brutal security forces (who fix hot plates for their families because we pay the tax to pay their salaries). This monkey in our back is too heavy and we still can’t drop it. I turned to our ancestors, went down on my knees but they too seem not to have the answer. I flipped back a few pages through the history books of the Gambia and I came across an evil name that caught my eyes; it is Dawda Jawara (former president of the Gambia).
Jawara committed the worst crime against Gambians. He had the opportunity to turn things round for the Gambians for the better. He refused to educate and inform the Gambian. Do you remember the corrupt days of Jawara regime in the Gambia when scholarships from overseas came for poor students but they are denied? He created a Gambia that he and members of his group were meant to dictate for ever. Is it not his (Jawara’s) evilness that created and inspired Yaya to kick him out?
Today we unfortunately have Yaya doing what he is doing and everyone is crying but we forgot about the main architect of this system. Jawara is sitting at the back watching his legacy slowly unfold, he is one of the most evil people god has created and I hope and pray he live longer to see more unfold. No wonder all his mates are dying but god is keeping him alive.
I’m not saying I won’t blame Yaya for what is happening, but it’s limited since Jawara designed this system which is consuming Gambians in the most unfortunate way. I still wonder why no one is calling for his indictment to The Hague.
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Edited by - BornAfrican on 16 May 2007 18:09:39 |
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bread man
300 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2007 : 19:22:07
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| Well said bornafrican. |
It is the mark of intelligence to entertain an idea without accepting it. |
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Banjul Bandit
1 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2007 : 19:03:36
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You are fool to compare Jawara with Jammeh. To suggest that Jawara should be indicted to the Hague makes you a bigger fool. If as child if you see you father beating your mother does that mean you should beat your wife?. Every person should take responsibilities for their actions.
In the eyes of many Jawara may not have been an ideal president but he did his bit for his Country. Jawara along with his cronies brought independence to Gambia without them you will still be singing God Safe the Queen. I forgot you live in the UK so probably do every morning when you wake up at 4am to go and do your cleaning job or have now been promoted to cleaning supervisor?.
Why can’t Africans look at the bigger picture? Many Ghanaians considered Nkrumah a bad leader, so they celebrated in the streets when he was overthrown and look at what followed, military dictator after military dictator with the most resent Rawlings (I am told this is the person Jammeh model himself on). After 20 years of killing, abuse of power pillaging they finally got rid of Rawlings.
ONE DAY GAMBIAN WILL COME TO APPRECIATE JAWARA IN THE WAY GHANAIAN NOW APPRECIATE NKRUMAH
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2007 : 21:31:34
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It is important to know what role Jawara played during Gambia's fight for independence. Most of the work was done by others like PS Njie and others. Jawara was basically recruited from a vetinary school and handed over the thrown.
He played some dirty games during that period dividing the urban from the rest of the protectorates. He continued that division right into his administration. I do not even want to go too far into Jawara's 30 years of wasted history.
Jammeh is off course no solution, but Jawara laid down the terrible foundation for a military coup. It is a shame and probably the only thing we can appreciate him for would be turning us from self sufficient agricultural producers to dependence and beggers of Western assistance. Don't let me put up an editorial on this topic.... |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2007 : 23:39:28
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I beg to differ. UP infact delayed our independence. They campaign for the no vote on the referendum and the No camp won by 1% margin.
There were many graffitti in Banjul titled: "Jawara Go Home" etc. I would recommend you read the Book " The Birth of an Improbable nation" By Rice Berkley. This book was banned by Jawara inview of its contents which he thought did not help national reconciliation efforst after independence.
UP campaign on the issues that if jawara won, the rural people will take over all the homes in Banjul which unfortunately was not true as PPP had a clear mandate in 1966 and nothing happened.
The UP leader was quoted saying that Jawara was not fit for the presidency because that position should go to people who grew up with "servants" around them and not a commoner. Ofcourse he was boasting for the fact that his grandfather (his fathers's uncle)Semu Joof, was the last king of Saloum.
see my earlier posting on bantaba below.
Sorry.
Posted - 17 Nov 2006 : 18:38:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Alhassan
Kondorong,
I have a different story about the PPP. My father was a strong UP supporter. He was also a good friend of Tamba Jammeh, Touray Sanyang, Landing Barabali Bojang, Cherno Bandeh and many other chiefs. The elections were only restricted to Banjul and Kombo St. Marys by the colonial masters. PPP came because of the difference between PS Njie and the British rule. PS Njie was said to be selling the Gambia to Senegal by the British rulere because of the cordial relationship he had with Wal Djojo Ndiayé of Senegal. It was the Crown that started the PPP . First it was Dr. Marenah they contacted but he was not intrested and refered them to DK Jawara at the vet camp. I remembered "" SIKO GAMBIA AT KAMPO TO". I was seen as the son of UPKEBBA. Do you fully remember the promise the PPP gave to the people in the countryside? Our house was chjosen by people we did not know. They said we were to move out because ppp has won the elections. The promise was if the party wins , all people of Banjul will move out and be replaced by people from the countryside. There were many chiefs who were still loyal to Per Sarr Njie up to the time of independance.
The only thing I have heard as a story was when PS Njie won his case at the Queens Council. He was a great man as we remembered him.
Points of correction.
1. Pierre Njie never won his case as far as I know. May be I am wrong or there were many cases. The case started before he became chief minister and by the time it was over, he was already head of Government (Chief Minister). The colonialist did not want to create any constitutional crisis by dragging the first African leader of a country to serve his term. I have a quotation from a colonial official about the case. So it was all propaganda. I now know why this book by Rice Berkley was banned in the Gambia. The statements of the colonial official can be found on page 337.
His firm the Njie Brothers was Patent and Trademark lawyers and worked on the Daimler Benz, Coca Cola and Planters Punch trademarks. As a compromise, Njie was disbarred from practicing law but saved his office as Chief Minister. In fact UP lost three of its MPs who left for the PPP and they were Janneh, Jones and Jagana. The two brothers Sheriff Aidara Njie and Ebrima Dawda Njie MP and also a one-time minister were doing most of the work of the firm.
Please check page 337 of this book for a confirmation. May be there was another case different from the one I was talking about. You will be surprised what you would find on page 338 on tribal issues. I am certainly not proud of our history from 1951 to 1970. It was the darkest hour of Gambian political evolution. I hope not to be reminded about this period.
2. The reason why the chiefs favored Mr. Njie was because with Independence, the chiefs role had to be curtailed under a republican status. During colonial rule, the principle was Indirect Rule introduced by Lord Luggard. This decline in their power was one reason why the Chiefs supported Njie not because of anything but to preserved their authority, which unfortunately even Njie could not guarantee. It was based on the old principle of my friend's enemy is my enemy.
3. The story that provincial people were to take over the whole of Banjul was a political ploy labeled against PPP. It was never a PPP strategy. In fact, there were graffiti on many walls in Banjul that read: D.K JAWARA GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY perhaps as a result of fear instilled in people of banjul to the "take-over" of their homes. Which country did Jawara come from other than Gambia. An angry opposition member who then thought the Protectorate was a different country may have written this. Such ignorance will lay on the doors of the colonial administration who saw no interest in educating her subjects.
4. PPP did win 28 seats and the opposition had 4 seats in parliament. So if the allegation that PPP was to ask the rural people to take your house, then they had a clear mandate to do that. Its not true. It was POLITIKI NAHATEH (politics by deceit). Halifa Sallah was right and this politics of deceit is still practiced today. Instilling fear to gain votes.
In fact in the 1966 elections PPP lost four seats in parliament but still had 24 seats whilst the opposition had 8. This was the only story of its kind in Africa where a sitting government has lost seats in an election. No Party ever managed to have a true and fair election even though we were the last to be independent on the west coast and for Africa except for Zimbabwe. The loss of four seats was still a clear outright majority and yet no house was taken in Banjul. This bad blood in politics is what delayed our Republican status for five years. Gambians were their own enemies.
4. In 1965, about half of MPs in the house have some form of criminal records or have been charged with conduct unbecoming of a memeber of the legislature or served some jail terms which disqualified them for public office. That is the reason why Gambia never had bankruptcy legislation because; it was practically going to close the house of Parliament as no bill would have passed because no quorum would have been achieved.
5. In the referendum that PPP lost was actually by all accounts not a serious loss. Of a total of 93,489 ballots cast, 61,568 voted yes for a Republic and only 31,921 voted against. The constitutional requirements then were a two third majority, which they lost by 1%. By the rules of engagement in 2006, this was a clear victory since the APRC party changed the constitution for a simple majority.
Its safe to say that PPP did not loose the referendum of 1966. The PPP party moved the resolution for a republican status, but actually it was gambia as a country that lost true independence. To say PPP lost the referendum is to believe that only the PPP wanted true independence whilst the rest wanted monarchical rule from Buckingham
Again another history was recorded in African politics by Gambia, being very recent into independence yet never "made up for the votes” as done by other countries. No challenge to the results ever found its way to the courts, a remarkable achievement that many international print media congratulated us for. We proofed to be the beacon of stability and good governance right from the start in post independence Africa. POLITIKI NAHATEH is what led to the confusions and some parties survived by pursuing this strategy. In the end every party joined the bandwagon just to get votes and clearly very few honest strategies were ever used. It was a question of if you cant defeat them join them.
NO PEOPLE IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS WOULD CHOOSE SUBJUGATION, DESTITUTE OVER INDEPENDENCE. THE REASON WHY THE REFERENDUM FAILED IN 1966, WAS BECAUSE OF SELFISH AND PERSONAL AGGRANDISEMENTS RATHER THAN NATIONAL INTEREST.
This reminds me of Youssou Ndour when he said: LEKO CHI NDABLI, NGELLAH BUCHI KOOPA SOOF. (If you think you are not eating or you have had enough, please don’t pour sand in the food and spoil it for others.) Gambian politics up to and after independence really took this attitude of, if not for me then not for anyone else.
But like Halifa Sallah said, when people begin to take charge of their destinies, no one can fool them. Halifa should have been in politics in 1951. What an opportunity we have missed to have Halifa , Sedia and Edward Francis Small in one party.
The only true Gambian force by 1962 and up to independence was M.E. Jalllow that you don’t hear in our political and social evolution. He defended the rights of the down trodden and engaged the police, Field force in riots in Banjul until troop re-enforcements had to be flown in from Sierra Leone.
There are many unsung heroes in the Gambia. But as long as I live, I have taken this role to help rewrite our history. Hopefully, I will go back to the classroom that I had always enjoyed.
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 00:04:50
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actually kondo you are right. jawara wanted early independence but you forgot to mension the role sir fariman singhateh as a played in the early struggle for independence. dk jawara wasn't a fast player but he earleir on plan some good things .the system then fool them ,less educated people means easy ride no question. his failure to me wasn't bringing in a tv station but not creating a university was one thing i will never foregive jawara for.
fear of student union shouldn't let him betray the gambian masses. |
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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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 10:02:42
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Kon. thanks for the history lesson on the issue between the Urban and rural inhabitants. While Jawara may have wanted an earlier Independence, many thought he was not prepared to asume office for genuine change. In fact it is on record that one of his brothers mentioned that if he Jawara was able to betray his religion Islam and convert to another religion for political gains, then something was flawed about his mental prepareness to lift his people.
That fear expressed by elders lived to be true of this mysterious man from Barajali. He was on the band wagen for independence but truly did not have a clue what needed to be done for our society to be truly independent.
It was one thing to gain political independence, but another thing to mentally and economically free our people from foreign domination and economic dependence. Jawara to me was just there by historic accidence just like how Yahya became President.
Jawara has always been mentally handicap when it came to standing up for what was better for our people. His facial mask of human rights champion was a myth and never transformed into our peoples' lives. While he did not gun down people or burry them six feet deep, his stewardship of the boat led to one economic collapse to the next. I wish we could rewrite his decades of administrative history and give our people a fresh opportunity when things were much for easier to build.
I am forever betrayed by Jawara regardless of his role towards independence. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 12:19:42
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which religion did Jawara convert to???
My school carrier in gambia was short(I left gambia in the middle of primary 5), but when I came to Denmark I could see that the school system in gambia is very poor. I remember some of the teachers at brufut primary could not even speak proper english. the stuff they thought us were useless, there was no history lessons whatsoever.If the teachers were not properly thought how can they teach their students.Education is one of the most important things these days and that is something that Jawara denied us, so obviously he did not have the best interest of gambians in mind. I am not a fan of Jammeh and his goverment, but I have to say he did a great job building a university in the country. Not everybody who wants a futher education can afford to go to abroad for studies. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 17:48:58
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quote:
Originally posted by dbaldeh
Kon. thanks for the history lesson on the issue between the Urban and rural inhabitants.
In fact it is on record that one of his brothers mentioned that if he Jawara was able to betray his religion Islam and convert to another religion for political gains, then something was flawed about his mental prepareness to lift his people.
That is not true either. Jawara was a Christian before he entered politics so he did not betray his old religion(Islam) for politics when he was not in politics in the first place.
He converted to christianity as an ordinary man. Lets keep the record straight. I may not vote for him, but you are now in the no spin zone.
This story of the brother having said so is unfounded and political ploy just like it was believed that with PPP in power, rural folks will take all the houses in Banjul. This is what Halifa calls POLITIKI NAHATEH. Its that simple.
Baldeh
Did you know that Njie's license was taken from him as a lawyer. Do you know why the law firm closed down.This was when he was Chief Minister and head of the country reporting only to the Governor General who was the representative of the Crown.
He was by then, the most senior Gambian leader in Government.People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Why did PS think that the Presidency was only good enough for someone who grew up with servants in their households.
Baldeh is that the kind of system you want to champion? Come on. You can do better.There is to much distortions in our history and i tell you what lets research first.
Well we do understand that he has some "royal" claims in Saloum through Semu Joof who was the last king of that region but for Gods sake, Gambians wanted a Republican Government not a monarchy.
All Baldehs are related in the Gambia. They come from Niamina, to Fula Bantang, to Yoro Beri Kunda, to Basse Mansajang. May be you should also run on a ticket based on your royal connection with Musa Molloh or Falai baldeh. They are also related to Jawo families in Kuntaur and the Kandehs of Niamina.
Jawara was probably the only person in the Govt. who had no claim to some royalty or elitism in 1965. He was the son of a cobbler from humble backgrounds, a trade very much dispised in the Gambia. Thats why NCP's tune is " BANKU KANTALA NING MANSA TEH KILING TI" because the Dibba's ruled the waves in Baddibu and the main reason why Chiefs did not like Jawara because by default, he was to be a servant in the royal courts.
Besides Gambia is not Saloum. African leaders at independence were trying to relive the past and draw on family past influences to justify why they were competent rather show us what they are made of. Like the wolof say: DONNA SA BAYE, DON SA BAYE KO GEN.( Being like your father isbetter than inheriting him. Work hard like he did instead of waiting for him to die so you could claim notoriety.)
I dont want to trade a British colonialist for an African Emperor. I would rather die under British rule than be subject to similar attempts by my own kins folk. UP was also playing the politics of elitism just like the Dankwahs of Ghana.
Piere Njie did play part in independence struggles but the foundation was laid by Edward Francis Small who initiated "Taxation without Representation" much like Bai Bureh's "Hut tax" revolt in Sierraleone. Other key personnel are ME Jallow the trade Unionist who fought for just wages in Banjul, probably the worst civil disobedence gambia ever saw second to the Battle of Sankandi but larger than the April 10 student demonstartions.Banjul was ungovernale for some days until troop reinforcements of the West India regiment flew in from Sierra Leone.
The Like of garba Jahumpa also did play part when he became the first elected Chairman of the Brthusrt Town Councli in 1959.He was a founding memeber of Bathurst Young Muslim Society.
He enetered politics in 1951 and later became agriculture minister. He was very friendly with the Communist block having been invited many times in North Korea, China, USSR and the Czech Republic. He was also a friend of Nasser(Egypt).
He represented Gambia in 1945 in London at the Fifth Pan African Conference and it was there he met Kwammeh Nkrummah and Jomo Kenyatta who were his prsonal friend. Upon return in 1945, his political life began and formed the Barthurst Young Muslim Society. That was just a front for loftier political ambitions. Muhammedan Primary School was the front in formation of The Muslim Congress party most of whose members were former students of the School.
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BornAfrican
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 23:06:20
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Banjul Bandit:
You are fool to compare Jawara with Jammeh. To suggest that Jawara should be indicted to the Hague makes you a bigger fool. If as child if you see you father beating your mother does that mean you should beat your wife?. Every person should take responsibilities for their actions.
In the eyes of many Jawara may not have been an ideal president but he did his bit for his Country. Jawara along with his cronies brought independence to Gambia without them you will still be singing God Safe the Queen. I forgot you live in the UK so probably do every morning when you wake up at 4am to go and do your cleaning job or have now been promoted to cleaning supervisor?.
Born African:
Banjul Bandit,
your name tells who you are. i am sure you are one of the Banjul mafia. but you see, i am too much for you. i will not sit here to exchange ill conceived words with you.
to further show how ill informed you are, you think everyone in Europe is just another rag. your claim shows how lazy you are. just because one is in England, he/she is a cleaner shows your unfortunate reverse pshchology. atleast those people here in England doing cleaning jobs have respect for themselves and are earning a living.
i speak based on facts. well, i know many people were shaking their heads in disagreement as you flabber your gums over jawara's bringing independence to the Gambia. who was independent in the Gambia under Jawara? brother, try to put your facts across constructively and intellectually next time you write. you seem to be a very angry person but i won't blame you, the manner in which you put across your message depicts your mental model about a lot. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2007 : 19:30:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Santanfara
actually kondo you are right. jawara wanted early independence but you forgot to mension the role sir fariman singhateh as a played in the early struggle for independence. dk jawara wasn't a fast player but he earleir on plan some good things .the system then fool them ,less educated people means easy ride no question. his failure to me wasn't bringing in a tv station but not creating a university was one thing i will never foregive jawara for.
fear of student union shouldn't let him betray the gambian masses.
I am not aware of the roles played by Farimang Singhateh in our independence struggle. His job was to protect the interest of the Crown. At that time, we had internal rule but no foreign policy rights. Farimang was if you like the foreign secretary of the British Crown in the Gambia.
Thats why you dont hear anything about him other than his title. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2007 : 15:40:28
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BornAfrican what are your crimes committed or your charge sheet for Jawara to be tried at HAGUE? Please summarised and be specific on each allegations? Am also a bit confused that you went further not to distincquish the different regimes, with different policies and different legacy; how can Jawara be liable for craeting the political mess as perceived from your article? Should Jawara account for Jammeh's, AFPRC & APRC deeds? Are you not happy that Jammeh has develope the nation?
Awaiting your response to dissect the article quoted below. Pleasre corraborate your facts 
quote:
Originally posted by BornAfrican
"The former champion of democracy, the able leader, the merciful, and the messiah sent by god to save the Gambians": such was the joyous cry of Gambians back in the 90s when this evil man hypocritically said he was relinquishing his post at the president's office. But now the messiah is sitting on his backside watching his legacy unfold.
Every day, we die and cry in the Gambia. We exist in a situation to which most of us don't have any solution. We see prices hike up every day, our brothers harassed and killed by brutal security forces (who fix hot plates for their families because we pay the tax to pay their salaries). This monkey in our back is too heavy and we still can’t drop it. I turned to our ancestors, went down on my knees but they too seem not to have the answer. I flipped back a few pages through the history books of the Gambia and I came across an evil name that caught my eyes; it is Dawda Jawara (former president of the Gambia).
Jawara committed the worst crime against Gambians. He had the opportunity to turn things round for the Gambians for the better. He refused to educate and inform the Gambian. Do you remember the corrupt days of Jawara regime in the Gambia when scholarships from overseas came for poor students but they are denied? He created a Gambia that he and members of his group were meant to dictate for ever. Is it not his (Jawara’s) evilness that created and inspired Yaya to kick him out?
Today we unfortunately have Yaya doing what he is doing and everyone is crying but we forgot about the main architect of this system. Jawara is sitting at the back watching his legacy slowly unfold, he is one of the most evil people god has created and I hope and pray he live longer to see more unfold. No wonder all his mates are dying but god is keeping him alive.
I’m not saying I won’t blame Yaya for what is happening, but it’s limited since Jawara designed this system which is consuming Gambians in the most unfortunate way. I still wonder why no one is calling for his indictment to The Hague.
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2007 : 03:01:53
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Kondorong, I will leave the history to you, but I am willing to challenge some of the facts you are given us on this forum. Kindly give us an exact time when Jawara converted to Christianity? Was it related to governing affairs? if not justify please.
I must correct you on the origin of the Baldeh's. The Baldeh's did not originate from Niamina. In fact their origin or spring board can be directly tracedto Fuladu. It was from there that they spilled over to other parts of the Gambia. I will however give you some credit on trying to connect the dots.
There is off course a lot of POLITIKI NAHATEH in what you sighted as facts. I would agree with you that PS Njie and others from Banjul may have tried to sideline Jawara and people from the rural areas in the new administration. Sometimes a fact is hard to swallow. May be what many speculated as Jawara being unprepared to shoulder the true change in the Gambia had some facts to it. In fact his administration was full of inconsistencies to an extent that he had no sense of direction for the nation. His whole administration through out the 30 years was full of division and sectornalism.
In every rumor there is a degree of truth to it. So I stand by the notion that Jawara's people even from Niani where you may be from had their reservation about his administration or ability to rescue his own people much more the nation as a whole. There is still a joke in Niani that Barajali never look like a place Jawara is from. Atleast he should have had a sense of what need to be done to uplift your own people and apply the samething across the nation.
Don't get me wrong, I disapproved a President using the nation's coffers to develop his own village like Jammeh is doing. The least Jawara could have done was to recognize the economic viability of places like Kuntaur, Georgetown, Jaharr Patcharr rice irrigation just to mention a few. His failure to sustain or develop those local projects seems to justify his lack of vision for the country. What say you???
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Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2007 : 10:33:47
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| mawdo Demba you are spot on. could Konds tell us why did Jawara convert frm islam to christianity and vice versa if not prepare for his political career by marrying to ladies Augusta and Jilel both frm influential and rich homes respectively.The first an elite AKU frm bjl, the second daughter of a fula (MODU MUSA NJIE(dede)) biz tycoon frm the provincial capital Basse. Why did he call the PPP,protectorate peoples party? POLITIKI NAHATEH(politics of deceit) |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 17 Jun 2007 11:38:19 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2007 : 22:09:41
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quote:
Originally posted by dbaldeh
Kondorong, I will leave the history to you, but I am willing to challenge some of the facts you are given us on this forum. Kindly give us an exact time when Jawara converted to Christianity? Was it related to governing affairs? if not justify please.
I must correct you on the origin of the Baldeh's. The Baldeh's did not originate from Niamina. In fact their origin or spring board can be directly tracedto Fuladu. It was from there that they spilled over to other parts of the Gambia. I will however give you some credit on trying to connect the dots.
There is off course a lot of POLITIKI NAHATEH in what you sighted as facts. I would agree with you that PS Njie and others from Banjul may have tried to sideline Jawara and people from the rural areas in the new administration. Sometimes a fact is hard to swallow. May be what many speculated as Jawara being unprepared to shoulder the true change in the Gambia had some facts to it. In fact his administration was full of inconsistencies to an extent that he had no sense of direction for the nation. His whole administration through out the 30 years was full of division and sectornalism.
In every rumor there is a degree of truth to it. So I stand by the notion that Jawara's people even from Niani where you may be from had their reservation about his administration or ability to rescue his own people much more the nation as a whole. There is still a joke in Niani that Barajali never look like a place Jawara is from. Atleast he should have had a sense of what need to be done to uplift your own people and apply the samething across the nation.
Don't get me wrong, I disapproved a President using the nation's coffers to develop his own village like Jammeh is doing. The least Jawara could have done was to recognize the economic viability of places like Kuntaur, Georgetown, Jaharr Patcharr rice irrigation just to mention a few. His failure to sustain or develop those local projects seems to justify his lack of vision for the country. What say you???
You have not said anything that has disproved any of my postings yet. So your assertion that you are “.. willing to challenge some of the facts… given on this forum” has yet to to show anything. Come on the floor is open. I don’t write anything based on sensation. I have been doeing research on Gambian history for many years now.
Baldeh
1. You asked for me tell you when Jawara became a Muslim and then Christian etc. That’s not my business. Jawara is still alive and may be a phone call will do that. People have a right to belong to any religion of their choice and I will not condemn any one for exercising that right as guaranteed in our constitution.
In Islam, after age 18, one is considered matured enough to be independent enough and one is accountable for one’s deeds. If God can give us the right to be independent at age 18, who are any of you to condemn him. I am just so surprised that you are all over the internet calling for press freedom but you cannot give Jawara the freedom to worship and choose his religion. I do not subscribe to a government that dictates what religion I can belong to.
Mind you, Jawara was not the only person to have converted. Assan Musa Camara, who is also from Fulladu, was Andrew Camara before he became Assan. He rose to become the Vice President of Gambia under the PPP administration. Why are you not questioning Assan Musa Camara for his actions? Is it because of his tribal affiliation with you? Assan is also alive and perhaps a phone call will answer your question.
Let me give you a brief history of Christianity. In the early days of the religion, one has to be converted to Judaism before one could become a Christian. That’s why the Bible talks about the Gentiles. Over time, the Gentiles campaigned against it, and that led to the embracing of the Christian faith by many people. Religion is a personal issue and I don’t want my Govt. to tell me what or who I can worship. That’s for religious leaders to do DAWA and Fellowships to recruit people into their faiths. If you are a true advocate of democracy, then you must have religious tolerance. Democracy calls for self critiquing.
2. I made no mistake on the origins of the Baldehs. I never used the word originate in my posting. I said they come from Niamina… all the way to Basse mansa Jang. What I mean is they are found in all those areas. Naturally one can only come from one place and not all places. That’s is simple logic. You have not scored any point. Nice try though. May be we can forgive each other as Enlish is not our native language.
Besides, Yoro Beri Kunda, Basse Mansa Jang and even Niamina are all part of Fulladu pre-colonial times. Let me tell. The present boundaries of Fulladu do not refelct its original boundaries. Present day JIMARA is the reminder of early historical semblance. The story of the SOFA NAYAMA Bridge has to do with that. That is the bridge which borders CRD and LRD marking the boundary of Fulladu and Jarra in the days of Musa Molloh Baldeh when Foday Kabba attacked him. Those who wonder where the brdge is, it’s the narrowest bridge on the south bank with steel beams and only one car could cross at a time.
I have already explained what SOFA NYAMA means. Search Bantaba because I cannot repeat myself.
To tell you that I know the Baldehs very well, I will also added the Cham family to this clan. The Chams in Nianija of Chief Musa Cham are related to the Baldeh’s partly through Churchill Baldeh (then leader of the house) who married into the family with Maram Cham. They had two sons: Boy Good and lamin Baldeh living in the compound of Kebba Cham the only TB/Leprosy Inspector serving most of the northern CRD. I knew kebba on his treks visiting Leprosy patients while I was a teacher then.
Quite close to this is the relation with the Mbackeh’s through Kolley Mbackeh then Chief of Sami. Kolly’s brethren is now a Magistrate who used to work as a clerk at the Attorney General’s Chambers before taking a late undergraduate training in Law in Nigeria having previously been to Australia some years earlier.
Some of the places I visited in Niamina are: Yoro Yaa, TATI MAYI(although the official name says “Thirty Mile” which is wrong). I already explained why on this forum; Dankunku; Karantaba, Kudang, Nana and Katamina.
3 You have also raised the issue of Jawara not developing his home village of Barajally and made mockery of that by “quoting” people of Niani. In the same vein, you also condemn public officials using public funds to develop their home towns. Baldeh you cant have it both ways. You either like Jawara for not TAKING PUBLIC FUNDS TO develop his village or hate him for not doing it. Stop sitting on the fence.
Leadership is about making tough difficult decisions but which ultimately will serve the common good. Why is every one then complaining about Jammeh developing his Village? If we condemn Jawara for not doing so but then condemn Jammeh for doing so, then I don’t think Gambians know what they want. Then again, I am reminded by the WOMMAT song by Youssou Ndour that you can’t please every one and people never agree on one thing. That is ok from a diverse group but not in one person. The fact that you brought up the saying in Niani about jawara not developing his home village indicates that you too aligned your self with their thought but then again condemn any public official for doing so.
CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOU STAND ON THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT STATED YOUR OPINION YET?
3. I think its untrue when you said the following: ”His (Jawara) whole administration throughout the 30 years was full of division and sectionalism.” I will give you examples.
a. Jawara reached out to every part of the Gambia in the name of reconciliation. Judging from your postings, I don’t think you are 36 years old yet. So I will not be very harsh on you because you are a victim like many Gambians who don’t know their history. You were all taught by Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian teachers about our history who also knew very little about Gambia. They came because Gambia had no qualified nationals to teach. In fact your kinsmen, the Baldehs, are the only family that enjoyed more privileges under PPP than any family in the Gambia. Let’s begin to dissect.
i. Paul Baldeh was the first Education Minister in the Gambia from Basse Mansajang
ii. Buba Baldeh was the Youths and Sports Minister from Basse Mansa jang
iii. Mathew yaya Baldeh was the Works and Communication minster from Fulladu, still the same family. No other family managed to have 3 cabinet ministers under PPP. So sectionalism and divisions favoring his (Jawara) kinsmen is unfounded.
iv. Although not a baldeh, Omar Sey, also from Fulladu (Basse) was the Foreign Affairs Minister.
v. Jawara managed to reach out to Jahumapa to join PPP and later became Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and I think Agriculture Minister before OJ was.
vi. Omar Jallow was later appointed Minister and rose to political prominence under PPP up to this day.
vii. Lamin Kiti Jabang, who is not mandinka, was the interior Minister.
viii. Yaya jammeh who is not mandinka, was the Head of the Presidential Guards.
ix. Kama Badgie, who is not Mandinka, became Education Minister.
x. The position of Secreatary General was if I remember well, was never headed by a Mandinka. Jarjussey was a Permanent Secretay in the Presidents Office. All throughout, this prominent civil service job including Inspector general of Police, Auditor General and Accountant Generals were never headed by a Mandinka. One David Davies was Auditor General before M.I Secka.
If there were any inconsistencies, it was because Gambians chose to be inconsistent. Jawara reached out to every tribe.
xi. He married an Aku wife first then a Fula wife before he married a mandinka
xii. The PPP Secretary Genaral was not a mandinka(Kelepha Samba).
xiii. The PPP National Women Chairman was not mandinka but wolof
xiv. M.C Cham, who later became Minister, was infact not mandinka but Fulani and was earlier a United Party MP from Basse area. Contray to the believe, Jawara did reached out to UP party.
xv. Jawara’s opposition came from mandinkas than any tribe. Ousainou darboe’s father was the UP MP in Upper Fulladu West before Kebba jawara came in. NCP was his biggest headache. The biggest non supporters were mandinka chiefs who supported a non mandinka candidature of PS Njie.
In fact if any one tribe rose against jawara, it was the Mandinkas. Try that in Foni and see what you get. Even Jammeh benefited under the PPP, had a scholarship, was trained in the US which few military officers can only dream of, and then became State House Commander. The only few prominent mandinka in the security forces were the likes of Kebba Ceesay (NSS)Tambajang (who became prominent after the foiled coup of 1981 when he defended the Central bank) and one Marong who was with the then Confederal Gendarmerie.
Madiba
To answer your question why it was called the protectorate Peoples Party is because Gambia had two colonial administrative divisions: The Colony (which went all the way to Lamin Bridge by the Abuko nature reserve) and the Protectorate which extends to the border with Senegal. That historical reality gave rise to the Protectorate People Party. Realising the effect it had in dividing the Gambian people, the name was changed to the People’s Progressive party. I hope your question is answered.
For a simpler definition of the colony, it is the area which includes Banjul and the Kombo St. Mary’s Division.
By 1965, Gambia could not boast of 15 university Graduates. The colonial Govt. only looked at education in the 1950s when most of the old primary schools were built. Earlier schools except Armitage, were run by Christian Missions which benefited the Baldehs in Mansajang, Fula Bantang as they operated through the Houses of Chiefs.
It therefore means that the first post independent High School graduates came out in 1976 when the Civil Service was hungry for skilled Gambians that never existed. Let me tell you how bad it was in 1965(independence). Days before indepence in 1965, Banjul was being given a face lift by painting walls and buildings by PWD.
Some paint was stolen from the store meant for this programme. It was later discovered that the guy who stole the paint was the only qualified painter the Govt. had. So they had to let him free otherwise there was no one to paint the streets and walls. So criminals were let loose not because of indifference, but because there were no other qualified persons to take their jobs once they go to prison.
Why did you think Senegal gave us fish as our independent gift? It was because we were never thought to survive as a nation. To this day, Gambia holds the record in the United Nations as the only colony whose independence was questioned on the grounds that they do not want to see a member die of starvation. Even when the British wanted to give us independence, the UN had to ask for a fact finding mission to see for themselves if it was ok for us to be a viable nation.
The UN Mission was met with strong opposition in Banjul to the idea of giving us to Senegal and many Gambians filled the street carrying banners against the move. In the end, it was not because we were a viable nation in the eyes of the United Nations, but because of the resolve we showed that we were prepared to be part of history.
On 18th February 1965, there were only 20 commercial taxi cars in Banjul and the environment which the govt hired all and even asked private car owners to rent out their cars so visiting dignatories could ride from Yundum airport which was just a waiting shed, to Maccarthy Square. The ABC reporter who refused to join the congested cars opted to rent his own car only to be told that there was no car in town left to be used.
The organizing team had to sandwich usually two visiting country delegates in one car. For example, they would ask the Guinean delegate to join with the Nigerian delegate. In fact, hotel accommodation was not possible and the organizers had to insist to foreign countries how many they could accommodate, and in fact could not extend invitations to other countries because we could not lodge them.
Some stayed in the homes of “well to do” Gambians to ease accommodation. We came a long way.
In fact in the memorandum signed for internal rule, it was agreed that we will only ask for full independence after two years. Jawara asked for referendum in 1966 one year earlier to which PS Njie objected and that’s why we could not get a republican status for five years.
Jawara had always had that foresight to lead us to full independence with many distractions. He managed to unite the country just like Mandela did in South Africa. Otherwise why would anyone tell his head of Government "Jawara Go Back to your Country" written on walls in banjul in 1965.
I would personally have wanted him gone by 1985. He was more of a diplomat uniting the country than “offending” others which we needed at some point. There were some in the PPP who were growing horns and he was incapable by then to lead his party but became a follower of the party just like Tony Blair said to John Major in the days leading to British election during Prime Ministers Question Time in parliament. Please watch BBC for this session.
Blair was referring to the challenges John Major was experiencing to his leadership from back benchers like John Reed. Blair told Major “.. the difference between me and him(Major) is that, I lead my party and not follow the party…”
By 1965, we could not even pay salaries. Even though we were independent, Downing Street still helped pay our recurrent budget.
At independence, some constituencies had virtually no High school graduate and that is why the qualification for MPs had to be lowered otherwise, the house will not function.
Education is a gradual process and takes years for one to have it. You can’t manufacture degrees in a workshop. This is why by 1985, more than haalf of the 3000 employees in ministry of Agriculture have no formal education and about one third of personnel in the ministry of health have no health training. Check World Bank Report on Gambia in 1985).
In Kiang for example, they had to “borrow” an MP from other constituencies as the PPP could not find someone educated enough to run for office. The “borrowed” MP I was told floated the idea of an airport to win his position. That airport project could be twinned with the Lamin Koto Passamas road although the latter did finally come to fruition.
Whether we like it or not, we must credit Jawara for being bold enough to ask for independence and proved to the whole world that we can survive. Like Kwammeh said “… If you measure my success by the heights I have attained, then you must be prepared to measure the depths from which I came…” Most independent news print have dubbed us the "improble" nation. Our independence was received with lukewarm attitude as many never thought it will last and eventually we will form with Senegal.
Colonial story in Africa is the same all over. Education was neglected and in Botswana, there was only one university graduate at independence.
I will now attempt t answer you question on Geortown, Kuntaur and jahally pacharr. Please note that I am not the spokesman nor are the answers exhaustive.
Georgetown rose to prominence with the Wesleyan Mission which arrived with the British settlers in 1823 as the land for freed slaves in the Atlantic during the abolition movement many of whom were in fact Ghanaians and Nigerians. So any indigenous citizen of McCarthy may in fact be from Ghana or Nigeria as there were no settlers on the island except one religious family called Moro Kunda.
So Baldeh, McCarthy lost its strategic role with the end of slavery which was why the island was founded to protect its inhabitants and not opening it for purposes of a business venture. Living on an island is an expensive thing every where in the world.
To answer your question about Kuntaur, this settlement had the disadvantage of being sandwiched between the river and the muddy and flooded marshlands used for rice cultivation. It could not expand any further and the reason why Wassu Village (with stone circles) offered a better option to commerce. GRT, CFAO and Maurel and Prom were the main life line of Kuntaur and with the collapse of these foreign business companies except for GRT which was a public corporation, Kuntaur became a shadow of its former glory. It ceased to be the KTR as it was known. Even the APRC has realized this and moved the car park to Wassu last year.
About Jahally Pacharr, I agree mismanagement was a problem, but capacity was another. Projects are not sustainable but programmes are. If you read development studies you will know what I mean. Once the World Bank financing ended, recurrent capital was not in existence to repair the power tillers and coupled with low rainfall, the river level shrunk and tidal irrigation which was one time highly depended on was lost forever. Infact the same can be said of the rice fields in Kuntaur to Fula Kunda, Jaka Baa and Touba to Kayai and Sukuta. Technology transfer requires both the technical hardware and human software which we never had.
Efforts to improve agriculture through Mixed farming Centers failed woefully because the few educated Gambians preferred to sit behind desks and push pens.
Eventually, saline intrusion from the Atlantic destroyed the fields as rice is a fresh water plant. The same problem faced the Small Scale Agricultural Project in Niamina.
Your generation saw improvements in technology, communication and science unprecedented in history of mankind. Therefore it has made you enjoy life not only on land and sea, but beneath the waves and above the clouds. However, for the generation that saw Gambia in 1965; have forever remained grateful for the strides made. Traveling from Basse to Banjul was a matter for days or sometimes a week. Some people walked the distance and MBUDACKEH was a favorite food that travelers carried on the journey.
Personally I am not a fan of PPP from 1985 on wards but I am prepared to stick my neck out for them from then to 1965. We came a long way and the history of colonialism in Gambia was so bad, that President Roosevelt, who was the first sitting US president to visit Africa and first in Gambia, wrote to Churchill about how bad colonialism has robbed the Gambia of all dignity. He spent the night on board a warship in Banjul on his way to attend the Casablanca Conference with the Allied Countries during the Second World War.
In that letter to Churchill, Roosevelt further said that the conditions in Gambia all the more justified the need for the United Nations. Our condition was that desperate. In fact if I may quote Roosevelt, he described Gambia as “… a hell-hole on earth…”
To understand Gambian history in the days before independence read an article called “ Senegambia Alliance or Entente” a copy of which should be at the National Archives.
I am not a supporter of PPP and this posting is turning me into one. I am doing it because I want to be fair and balanced. Just because I was not a supporter for them will not make me indifferent to the good things they did.
You cannot compare Gambia in 1965 to 2007. In our sub region, Gambia was the beacon of hope to many Guinean (Conakry and Bissau), Senegalese and Malian nationals. Smuggling to neighboring states was at its peak then and even up to 1994, the re-export trade brought in almost more money that our exports especially to Bissau and Mauritania which depended on our re-exports. We have to compare Gambia within the context of its time at independence and how we did with the rest of our neighbors.
"..We must meaure from the depts we came from..." (Kwammeh). If we stand tall, its becacause we stand on the backs of those who came before us.
I rest my case.
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2007 : 23:52:32
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Uncle Kondorong, don't rest your case yet. You have succeeded in narrating the history of the Gambia from precolonial to Jawara, post Jawara and now Jammeh. We need you to go further and discuss what is the best way forward for the next generation.
I enjoyed reading every bit of history you have given us on this forum. I commend you for educating the younger generation. Your comments vividly highlight the different approach and contendment between the older generation and the younger one. I will explain.
While you were previllege to witness pre Jawara administration and post Jawara, many of us were not. We look at where we came from, where we are, and where we should be going from here. As far as I can see, Gambia is not any different economy wise from pre or post colonial. In fact though the hardship was different, one could reasonably argue that our people had more dignity and respect then than they have now. Atleast, they were comfortable eating their own "Mudakeh" and "Serenko".
Our fundamental difference in the way we see things is that the older folks seem to be contend with what Jawara brought to them post colonial. This is much understandable. However, the younger generation and to my point is that Jawara could have done better post colonial rule. He could have turned Gambia into economic heaven or atleast into a decent nation given all the incentives available to him and his administration.
I am or should I say we are with the opinion that an incredible opportunity was squandered because of ignorance and lack of vision for future generations. In fact, there is so much execuse we can take from Jawara and his administration. He was at liberty to travel to Europe, United States and many other areas. He couldn't see that those people were doing better and looking past where they came from. I can only see it as selfish to travel abroad, see all the developments only to come home and act death. This is one area the younger generation cannot forgive Jawara and his administration.
Come on uncle Kon. Could Gambia have done better than it did? Did we deserve to compete with the rest of the world in every aspect? Was it enought just to drive the white man out and continue to under educate your people? Did we deserve to listen to the same radio station, attend the same educational institutions, visit the same dirty markets and eat the same sand or worst even expired foods imported from other countries. Did we deserve the same lack of access to decent healthcare? Why the need for independence if in fact we couldn't even survive without western intervention? I can go on and on. It is my humble belief that the very reason Jawara and others fought for independence was lost right after they got into office. Proof me wrong uncle kon.
To go a little more into your argument I quote, "You have also raised the issue of Jawara not developing his home village of Barajally and made mockery of that by “quoting” people of Niani. In the same vein, you also condemn public officials using public funds to develop their home towns. Baldeh you cant have it both ways. You either like Jawara for not TAKING PUBLIC FUNDS TO develop his village or hate him for not doing it. Stop sitting on the fence".
I am not sitting on the fence Uncle Kon. It is call compare and contrast. I specifically mentioned that Jawara did not have a vision of what his own home is expected to look like years ahead. I was not condenming him for not developing his home village like I did on Jammeh for developing his. Instead, I was trying to imply that charity begins at home. You need to have a vision for what you wish for yourself and your nation. DO NOT DO IT BY USING PUBLIC FUNDS THAT BELONGS TO THE NATION as Jammeh is doing, but atleast have an idea of where and what you want your village (Nation refered to here as village)to look like in 40 years. Jawara and many of the people that worked around him lack this vision and there was and will never be an excuse for it.
This is my point, it is too simplistic and immature for me to say Jawara did not develop his village. I hope you understand my line of arguement and reasoning. So to make the story short I was by no means condenming Jawara's right to religion far from it.
Lastly, thanks for bringing the idea of Jawara reaching out to all sectors in our society. While I whole heartly endorse that move, I strongly attribute it to lack of vision in leadership. He was basically trying to appease everyone fit or not fit for any position. It tells volume on Jawara's leadership weakness. There was no criteria for his appointments just like Jammeh is doing. It doesn't matter if you are Baldeh, Jammeh or Darboe. What matters was that we needed people where they were most effective and if they had failed we expected the regime to take drastic actions against them and not send them on early retirement like the folks that ruined the COOPERATIVE UNION.
The above paragraph is an understatement of what transpired during Jawara's days and I don't have to know about Colonialism to understand that it was fundamentally flawed. How could you give any credit whatsoever to someone who oversee a whole nation gradually get ruined one day after another? Am sure this is not what you are trying to defend.
Uncle Kon, I have too much to say but can't say it all on this forum. Am basically disappointed that our post colonial regime could not see pass what transpired during colonial days. off course the United States was not what it today, neither is all other developing countries. They needed leadership with vision to bring them to where they are today and it CANNOT be disputed that our people were busy enjoying the MANSA syndrome instead of using their heads.
For the record, I came from the least previllege Baldeh's in the Gambia. I am the first to get western education in my family not to speak of going to high school or university. I am mindful that I did not get my education alone, but I did not enjoy a penny of the previllege the Baldeh's enjoy in Gambia. This is why I can stand tall and speak my mind as I see fit. So by no means does highlighting the Baldeh's previlleges take my mind of the bigger picture, the need for more economic and political freedom for our people.
May be you and I can focus our energy on where do we go from here after learning the failures of the past. If we fail to do so with our historic knowledge of what had transpired, we will be worst than Jawara and others. It is time we think years ahead and work for something better. Our people deserve better. What is your take Uncle Kon? |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
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