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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jun 2007 : 21:01:24
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Foroyaa Editorial
GAMBIANS ABROAD SHOULD BECOME FULLY ENGAGED WITH THE COUNTRY
After the Presidential elections, many Gambians called for the birth of a new political leadership in the country. One expected that, as we call for the retirement of some long serving political figures, new ones will emerge to take their places. The current constitution requires a person to be resident in the country for a period of five years to be able to stand as a Presidential candidate.
It is important to emphasize that Gambians abroad constitute an economic power base of the country. They also constitute an intellectual power base. However, this power of wealth and knowledge can never impact on change and development if it is not linked to organised politics. It is important for Gambians abroad to realise that the finance department has already informed the nation that they transferred a sum of 1,700 million or 1.7 billion dalasis to the country in 2005 and that this sum increased to D1,800 million or 1.8 billion dalasis in 2006.
They should therefore be concerned about how this country is governed. They should give support to those in whom they have confidence in the political arena or come back home and provide the force of example that the nation needs to develop. Apathy is not an option.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.71/2007, June 20 21 June 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2007 : 23:56:46
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To command economic and knowledge power without determining political power is the short conclusion from this text. The price for intellectuals not taking interest in politics is, being ruled by lesser intelligent persons and fools. |
Karamba |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 02:44:02
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Spot on Karamba. I had previously asked on this forum whether we in fact did abandon our nation and people. It is deeply disturbing to travel around and see the number of Gambian youths and intellectuals that have abandoned our nation in search of greener pastures.
I am on the process of authoring a piece entitled "A nation's survival without its most precious resources- the Youths". At some point we must stop and re-evaluate what role we played in people of Jammeh's caliber coming into power?
If all the most brilliant or resourceful youths abandon our nation, who is going to run the affairs of our state? In the kingdom of blind men, the one eye man is the king. This is the situation where Jammeh finds himself. In a way he is very fortunate that we decided to leave the country to him instead of staying put and challenging every move he makes.
I guess we need a sense of patriotism injected back into many of us if not all of us. It is not and never be enough to send remittance back home. Sending remittance is like providing daily meals and if they are finish people have to look for more to eat tomorrow.
For the record, we are all a part of this problem and until we look in the mirror and say what have we done? things will not go right... |
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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Karl
136 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 16:01:42
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dbaldeh,
Your points on this topic are hard fact,and i totally agreed with you. Suprisingly, Gambians home and abroad have so much unseen energy that in my opinion could be channel into more successful actions to safe our country. It seems to me, foroyaa's article is more or less a cry for lack of patriotism we Gambian failed to notice about ourselves. No doubt, more support is rendered to our individual families and friends all over the country. But this is not enough without we collectively taken actions. We need to start creating momentum right now whereever we are USA or Europe for actions geared towards necessary political, social and economic corrections needed to safe Gambia from Jammeh. This i mean immediate and persistent actions home and abroad which may trigger all sort of support from international community. |
"People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster" J Baldwin |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 16:38:16
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I agree with some of the points made here, but i do think the help that is being given is not getting through. How much is sent home via western union, bayba express and other similiar organisations. MILLIONS, but you do not see it. if gambian abroad helped their own villages that would be a boost, if every gambian abroad helped a local school, water project, hospital, clinic or some project for their family area, region, village how far down the road would gambia be. Well ahead of the rest.
I understand that many gambians are helping, but there are a few that could help more . it seems that some gambians in the disapora have forgotten what they left behind. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 17:08:04
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When you say the help is not getting through, what do you mean?
I have sent money via bayba, western union and my bank to trust bank and each time it has been successfully received.
What people choose to do with their hard earnt cash is a personal matter. I am sure many many Gambians already help their families in what way they can.
It would be nice to see more community projects sponsored by wealthy Gambians both in USA, UK, Europe and those rich in Gambia too. But it is a matter of personal choice.
In the UK many people of Indian origin send money back to their home communities. This is a well trodded path. It would be nice for Gambians to do the same. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 17:31:25
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Bev that is what i mean, "It would be nice to see more community projects sponsored by wealthy Gambians both in USA, UK, Europe and those rich in Gambia too. But it is a matter of personal choice.
In the UK many people of Indian origin send money back to their home communities. This is a well trodded path. It would be nice for Gambians to do the same." if you make the wrong choice, or no choice then you reap the benefits, i have sent money and it has arrived but if they spent it on what it was meant for they would be earning money now.
How many Gambians have sent money back to Gambia and go back and do not see any benefit at all, taxes not paid, land not developed all this could be done and would benefit the local people. MAKE THE WRONG CHOICE AND YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jun 2007 : 19:57:26
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Bottom line of matters in Jammeh's Gambia is one big blow of failure. This greedy pig is taking undue advantage of all that goes in the name of being president. It is the economic environment that is destroyed almost beyond repair. Face it flat, unless this greedy pig is out, there is no security in all spheres of life in Gambia. The guy deserves being swept out. Gambians have to intensify our collective resistance against this senseless tyranny. You may be seeing only the little slot in personal remittance to family and friends. Added together, the financial big picture is huge. Those who feel they deserve better economic environment and greater can draw a ring of like minds to restore the economy and every aspect of our livelihood. It is possible to build a network of like minds by which this ugly state of affairs will end for good. |
Karamba |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 10:01:33
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I additionally think we have so far failed to make any political impact on the Gambia. While we need to continue to fight on the political front, it is time we INITIATE new ideas to systematically eliminate a regime like the Jammeh regime.
I would suggest an economic and social movement to directly engage our people on the ground in development projects. The Gambian people are very well aware of what is good and bad for them. They only turn to Jammeh for everything because there is no other viable option presented.
The government can only hate us so much. If we are genuinely engage in social and educational development, there is no way people can rally behind Jammeh. Jammeh's fight cannot be physical, it must be strategic and mental.
As at now, we are doing disserve to our people. We ask them to turn against Jammeh but we are no where to rescue them. It is like what the Americans did to Iraqis during Saddam's regime. They rose against Saddam only to be abandoned at the mercy of a brutal dictator. Our people are too fragile to stand against a tyrant.
The economic prosperity and social engagement language is the only one that can turn brave people against Jammeh and his gang. So lets brainstorm and draw sound ideas to fight against this regime. The fight will be long but eventually it will be won.
Keep it up guys |
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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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 13:26:59
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| i agree with you dbaldeh, but how doyou get the social and economic levels. also the opposition party should not complain because they let this happen, they had the means and tools to put up a better campaign than they did. |
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Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 13:41:02
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I think people are scared about what might happen to them it they speak out loud. Look at what happened to Fatou Jaw Manneh. She was just doing her job. If you speak against Jammeh you either get killed or locked up. I think the people both in gambia and abroad need gauranteed security before they will speak up.
Ii is very wrong to rob people of heir freedom of speach and freedom of expression. L believe in people speaking thei minds. But if your life is threaten of taken every time you speak you speak your mind then I donīt blame people for being quite.
I am not justifying Gambians including myself for just passively watching that crazy ass excuse for a president running our beloved country down under, but we are all scared.
I think itīs about time we face our fear and see what will happen. I mean He canīt kill all of us.....
And about the community projects,we all want to help our communities. But the thing is the money always ends up in the wrong hands. There was a Danish organisation that some time ago sent a lot of clothes to some village in gambia for the school kids and the other kids in the village, but those clothes ended up at serrekunda market being sold. That was on TV and all. so when people see that kind of things happening they get discouraged. Theyīll be thinking that their hepl will not get to the people that need it, which in this case is the reality. So you canīt have a community project going on in gambia without having reliable people behind you. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 14:54:54
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QUOTES FROM ABOVE:
"The current constitution requires a person to be resident in the country for a period of five years to be able to stand as a Presidential candidate."
On new breeds for leadership and contests for Presidential elections. Who do you think stand chances before next elections? We have young potentials like Former Accountant General Amadou Sanneh (U.D.P), Lawyer Hawa Ceesay Sabally, Halifa Sallah, Sam Sarr, Gomez etc. Anymore prospective candidates. Kons do you reside in Gambia or Janyafara  |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 17:14:08
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Baldeh, your idea of Community Projects is good enough for salvation from economic bondage. Why it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to have such projects is because THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT is not there for it. The current environment is Jammeh's very presence. For any community project to stand the test, it has to be carried in a freer and fairer environment. All projects are taken to be government (Jammeh) projects. Even the Local Government Decentralisation efforts is being challenged by the Speaker of Gambia National Asssembley as one of defiance. If Gambians outside start a project that is not seen as part of government, it takes only a day to stay alive. The next day, all those in the project will get arrested, killed, or at least severely tortured. Every good plans we all may have in mind, we have to shelf those ideas for now. Let us get the information flow. Don't think we are not moving. Look at the difference when there was no much information and now when we have a wider spread of valid information! Quite frankly, no project for communities along the lines of building their political muscles will work for now. The task at hand is, working on the ENVIRONMENT. Jammeh is stumbling block to progress in Gambia. He is into a game without an idea of what he is doing.When we start projects without first tackling Jammeh, it is another waste of resources. Even Jammeh's own information system is now being rendered impotent. They are unable to handle the wild sea of information that is now advancing to swallow their master alive. We have a national desaster. As it is not feasible to buy tools for a sick workman before curing him, it is equally not feasible to inject funds and all other resources in a sick economic environment manned by a sick mind. |
Karamba |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 17:45:03
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quote:
Originally posted by kobo
QUOTES FROM ABOVE:
"The current constitution requires a person to be resident in the country for a period of five years to be able to stand as a Presidential candidate."
On new breeds for leadership and contests for Presidential elections. Who do you think stand chances before next elections? We have young potentials like Former Accountant General Amadou Sanneh (U.D.P), Lawyer Hawa Ceesay Sabally, Halifa Sallah, Sam Sarr, Gomez etc. Anymore prospective candidates. Kons do you reside in Gambia or Janyafara
kOBO
yOUR ABOVE POSTING MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. It looks like most smart Gambians have left the country. It showed how the regime is scared of Gambians overseas and is prepared to disenfranchise them from running for office as President.
I think its constitutionally and legally biased for a Gambian to be denied the right to elect and be elected on the basis that he was not "resident"in the country for five years preceding the election.
Residency matters not at all. Its competence which matters and being resident in the Gambia guarantees no competence otherwise he himself would not have sought scholarship for overseas military training in the U.S. Besides, its only gambia which looses to make use of well rounded technocrats in the international circles.
Like the wolof say: SO BANYEH KI NGA DON, DAFA FEKA, NGA GEN SA NYAW
Dont worry about that Kobo. That clause will be changed. Its not the Ten Commandments and therefore subject to review. Like the mandinka say: BULO MENG YEH JATO SITI, WOLEH KA FI RING( The hand that tied a lion, is the same hand that loosens the knot. |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 20:53:18
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| In all serious thinking the whole of Gambia share this one big blame; the acceptance of Jammeh as President in the first place. This is THE joke of a century. It is clear to all in the 13 years now, that Jammeh only holds a desire to escape poverty. What he does is nothing less than armed robbery. As poor army lad, Jammeh saw no hope in life and taking up arms to scare first the government in power and now the entire citizenry. The power base of Diaspora Gambians and their friends is both knowledge and economic. Let each progressive Diaspora Gambia direct the energy of change from immediate family level to close friends. THERE IS NO RAY OF TRUST THAT JAMMEH IS NOT CIVIL ENOUGH TO ALLOW REASON PREVAIL. The guy is blunt and completely deprived of reason. He is a man of wild passion. We cannot change him and need not direct our energies on that. We have power to change our own perception and position. Jammeh has no fit in the new making of Gambia. |
Karamba |
Edited by - Karamba on 22 Jun 2007 20:56:27 |
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ylowe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2007 : 22:09:30
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KOBO,
How about Fatou Jaw Manneh? |
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