quote:

---

Originally posted by kondorong

quote:

---

Originally posted by dbaldeh

Kon, please understand that I am not comparing Jammeh to Jawara. To me they are the worst that ever happened to the Gambia. My arguement has been that ONE is the PRODUCT of another and Gambia as a whole derserves better than what these people offered us. I however, want to compare to the U.S and any other nation that is able to provide for their people what they deserve. If they can do it why couldn't we? Or are we accepting inferiority to their ability over us?

My points of arguement is that Gambia doen't derserve someone like Jammeh and his government. In connecting the history that led us to Jammeh, Jawara became the center of the arguement. Indeed it was because of his recklessness that led us to Jammeh and our present situation in the Gambia.

I would like us to conclude on this topic and move on to something probably more productive. I would suggest each of us state our positions in summary about the following:

1. To your understanding, at this point in the history of our nation, 42 years after independence, who, Jawara or Jammeh had or has a greater opportunity to turn Gambia into, a political, social, and economic decent nation? Who is better politically and intellectually positioned to have a greater impact on the welbeing of the Gambian people?

---

I dont think Gambia deserves anyone better than Jammeh. Gambia deserves jammeh because gambians elected him to do what he is doing. If we never wished it, we would have voted him out. Its that simple. Jammeh was voted in office twice so the Gambian people have spoken
and must be respected. As to whether individual wishes should take precedence over majority wishes, is something subject to a debate.

As to who is better positioned to develop gambia better, i think Jammeh is. He came in at a time where we have far greater number of educated Gambians than anytime in hour history. By 1965, we could hardly boast of 15 university Graduates and a few hundred high school graduates in our economy.

Our foreign ministry in 1965 could boast of only two employees because there were no qualified Gambians even to fill the position of a Records Clerk.

That is why over half of the 3000 employees in the Ministry of Agriculture have no formal education whatsover. These are people who could not differentiate the alphabeths.

Roads, communication infrastructure in 1965 was like prehistoric times and perhaps The Gambia River Transport's (GRT) steam boat plying the river from Banjul to Basse offered the only means of facilitating travel. Infact with the Sinking of Lady Chilel, trading towns like Dandeeh Mayo, Chaaku Bantang, Bansang, KTR, Basse etc saw hughe decline in the economic importance of these settlement.

By 1965, we copuld not even pay salaries of Civil Servants. We had subventions from the British Government. Thats why Senegal gave us fish as our Independence Gift reaffirming our difficulties to feed ourselves and be a viable nation. Gambia was a write off in 1965 not only by Senegal's standard but even by the United Nations standard.

We still hold the record as the only independent nation to have been questioned by our ability to survive as a nation. A UN Mission had to be dispatched by the Security Council to see if we can survive as the UN did not want to admit a starving Memeber. We were to be "given" to Senegal so that we could stand a chance. In the end, we convinced the United Nations not beacuse we could survive, but by the will Gambians showed to be free and Independent. I am not sure if you were old enough to attend the demonstrations in Banjul.

This horrible state of Gambia is clearly indicated in the letters of United States President Roosevelt to Winston Churchill describing us as a "...a hell-hole on earth" on his way to Casablanca during the 2nd World War.

Forget about Cape Point Fajara, Pipeline etc. By 1965, very few people would ever venture plying between Westfield junction to Bakau. It was all bushy and remanants of thaose bushes are reflected the large concentration of mango trees in Pipeline. They grew there through seed dispersals.

Serrekunda stretched only up to Bambo. Beyond that, was a wild forest. Bakoteh and Sukuta were basically hamlets accessible mainly by Donkey Carts. Going to Gunjur was like travelling in the times of the Caveman. By the end of the second world war, Gambia High School grounds was a potato field farmed by a family member, who in 1937, came to Banjul.

You see, you cannot manufacture diplomas. It takes time. Besides, many gambians never embraced western education. And rightly so, the TUSEH-MANO you made mockery of PPP, may perhaps influenced you getting education you have today. It was motivating to provide lunches at school and as a former teacher, i have seen children enrolling themselves because their friends talked about food being provided at school.

Up to 1977, western education was not embraced by Gambians and many schools closed due to low enrolments. Like Kebba Sanneh indicated on Freedom Newspaper, parents wanted their chldren educated enough to read the scales of the Co-operative Society so that they could get value for their peanuts.

Today, the amount of foreign currency sent to gambia by Gambians, is far greater than anytime in our history. gambians have more wealth in this century than anytime. So silicon valley is not far from our sight if we can do a few things right. But in 1965, our main objective was to reach the village. There were very few settlements that qualify to be called towns. The rest were all hamlets.

Up to the 1980s, a transistor Radio was a priced possession in town and i have seen young men in the villages travelling to Libya with the hope making enough money to buy a big transistor and come home to their village.

Infact its safe to say that more than half of the dead in the 1981 coup died trying to own a radio or stand fan which were looted from CFAO, Maurel and Prom stores.

Dont get me wrong here. I am not defending the PPP. I am answering your question as to who is well placed to develop Gambia. I believe jammeh is. Its easy to hear people saying Jammeh is developing to roads etc. Yes thats true but its because he found a foundaton to stand on. In 1965, there was no such foundation.

We came a long way from 1965 to 1994 and your generaton saw the fastest technological developements that the forty years of Jawara providing opportunities never before available. This has made it possible for you to explore life not only on land and sea, but beneath the waves and above the clouds.

This is why, those old enough to witness independence in 1965, have forever remained grateful to Jawara. I am not sure if you were born by 1965 and it will hard for you to relate to it. HE WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT ALL(BOB MARLEY)

You sound emotional when it to comes to Jawara and you have said it is difficult for you to accept him. That is your right. By 1965, you could guess with 90% accurcay that the sound of a vehicle passing by your village or miles away was the vehicle of the Travelling Magistrate or the Commissioner.

Even in the late 1980s, farmers would stop work on their farms to sound of an engine, a rare sound or sight in their life. The Colonial administration only started experimenting with education in 1957. From 1815 to 1957, the British Colonialist took little steps to educate Gambians.

Educatio was provided to the children of opinion leaders. Descendants of slaves also embrace western education. Thats why the Civil service constituted of a core of few families up until in the 1990s. Almost all senior public officials were related one way or another.

Had it not been for the Missioanries, perhaps most Gambians would still be without education. Catholic, Methodist schools were the only schools during the colonial period. After the second world war, only one High school was built called Gambia Hig School in 1957 which infact is a consequence of the joining of Boys Hgh School and Girls High School. One can argue they did not build a new school. They just transferred location.

If we stand tall, its because we stand on the backs of those who came before us.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MADIBA

Kondorong i may not agree with your choice of Jammeh as the one who has the better chance than Jawara to make The Gambia a better place. I will come to that later, time permiting.

However, i must say that this history you provided in a beautiful language is a masterpiece in all senses. Hat off for you. You may have been inspired by a Mawdo Poulo( a Fula Sage).

The beauty of bantaba is divergent views and trading knowledge.

Kudos my Serahuleh man.

---

quote:

---

NOW LETS MOVE ON TO SOMETHING MORE PRODUCTIVE

What can we do as individuals or collectively to join hands in one way or the other to help bring about positive development in the Gambia?

How can we use our intellectual minds and resources to contribute as citizens to our dear Gambia regardless of our political affiliation?

Are we ready to use our minds to correct on build on whatever Jawara and Jammeh are able or not able to do?

How many of us are willing to not only do the talking but also get into action and get the ball rolling? Or are we in fact all living in our little comfort zones castigating everything wrong and not doing anything? Could we challenge each other through ideas and creativity in moving forward?

What is our responsibility to our nation? Please response and lets change the debate to something more productive. What say you???

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alhassandbaldeh,
The last bit of your posting is very intresting indeed. I have asked similar questions before, but no answers. What you mean here are the real actions needed if we want a change in the Gambia. Paper tigers cannot biring about development. Gambia has too many lawyers, proffesors, doctors and maybe even scientis, but how come it is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world?There has been too much talking. Now is time for action. I am ready to go to Gambia and start if there are otheres who are willing to do so. It could even be an NGO if the support is there.

---

quote:

---

Majority of the scientists, professors,doctors are not residing in the Gambia simply because the incentives are not there. This is why we need people like yourself who are willing to sacrifice in order to create that kind of an environment. An environment that going to invest in it's citizens and attract talents. An environment that provide opportunities to the opposition and not discourage divergent views, etc.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ylowe


Majority of the scientists, professors,doctors are not residing in the Gambia simply because the incentives are not there. This is why we need people like yourself who are willing to sacrifice in order to create that kind of an environment. An environment that going to invest in it's citizens and attract talents. An environment that provide opportunities to the opposition and not discourage divergent views, etc.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Janyanfara

Brother Dbaldeh First I must say appologies accepted no heart feelings.We are all aiming for a better Gambia and I pray may we achieve that.

I agree with mawdo Dbaldeh that one is a product of the other.This is the real truth but though all are bad,the product is far far worse than the main so thus comparing Jawara to Jammeh is an insult to the oldpa.

---