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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 13:35:18
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Over on the GTS chat board, there's a thread running about peoples experiences of crime whilst on holiday. It makes unpleasant reading. Has it always been like this, or is this a developing thing? It's not just pilfering, but violent, nasty crime that people are reporting.
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bamba
Sweden
401 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 19:05:48
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Formby, you are absolutely right, the escalating horrendous crimes in Gambia are problems that the Gambian government ought to look into. Much of the crimes can be blamed on centralisation. Everything is centred on the greater Banjul area (GTA). People are flocked there without means of employments.
The meagre resources of the country formerly for a population of over half a million are now for over 1.3 million. This is enough a recipe for escalating crimes.
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Bamba |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 20:16:22
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I knew there was crime in the local communities..some nasty crime....
rapes in Brikama (not helped by unreliable electricity supplies)...ghana town murders etc..... i am made aware of these and other crimes by reading the papers online.....
The sadest thing is that poor Gambians are stolen from by other Gambians......
I wasnt aware that crime was a big issue for tourists? I feel safer in Gambia than at home............
This is an important issue for me as I am travelling to Gambia on my own for two weeks very soon.
Within my hotel there is good security,,,,when I go out I have a Gambian friend as a guide.....but there are times when I walk around completely alone...... i find Muslim culture respectful to women who are not indecently dressed and therefore feel very safe wandering alone........... Should I be more careful and vigilant? |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 21:15:40
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| Hmm..not sure if ripping rings and ear-rings from a woman sprawled in the road after a motorbike accident, or someone being bashed over the head an left with his pockets rifled can be accounted for by urban crowding. Surely it is the immorality of the individual? |
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bamba
Sweden
401 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 08:54:31
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How can morality go down to people without jobs or food to eat for the day? People flocked together and left to the mercy of their fates. Desperate people forced to live side by side with fellow Gambians in expensive cars and beautiful villas. Morality becomes sophistication beyond the reach of the desperate.
Take Kenya with about two million squatters around Nairobi as an example. The Kenyan capital is now designated “Nairobbery” because of heinous crimes. You don’t preach morality to people living on the peripheries of society, do you?
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Bamba |
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twinkly
United Kingdom
190 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 12:22:30
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Formby I can understand your anger.
My hubby had a serious car crash, people came rushing.....to steal his mobile, a neclace that my deceased dad gave me(which meant a lot to me)and everything else that was not glued to the place.
Nobody checked for him. (By the way he is Gambian)
But he is fine, the materials are forgotten about.After all, they are only material things.Even my dad will still be with me in my thoughts, with or without the neclace
This type of crime happens to people who show that they have something.How would we feel if we struggle everyday(and please think about the word STRUGGLE EVERY DAY)and then some rich folks come along and show off their wealth and don't have a care in the world??????I can't blame them.Of course it is wrong but try and see things from a poor Gambian's point of view.We can come and do what we please, we have soooo much wealth compared to them.
What is hard for me to digest is the fact that they would easily leave someone to die, as long as they can take that persons belongings.I witnessed an accident in Brufut, when they were building these houses.People came rushing from the building sites, came to see and took everything they could, and ran away.......
These things don't just happen to whites. |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 12:22:36
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You are the first Gambian I've met who has expressed anything other than horror at those actions. I've been heartened by the reaction of others that it's still a very rare occurance, that sort of behaviour, and met with universal revulsion.
Are you Gambian? We can be anything we want here on the Internet... |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 14:04:22
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Poverty cannot be used as an excuse for crime...... You can be moral and poor. A good muslim would never steal from anyone. You can have a good upbringing in poverty and a poor upbringing in riches.
Perhaps your morality is tested more when you are poor and desperate......but you should try to remain strong and not be tempted. |
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twinkly
United Kingdom
190 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 14:31:15
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
Poverty cannot be used as an excuse for crime...... You can be moral and poor. A good muslim would never steal from anyone. You can have a good upbringing in poverty and a poor upbringing in riches.
Perhaps your morality is tested more when you are poor and desperate......but you should try to remain strong and not be tempted.
What a nice statement!
You are absolutely right.Now I'm lost again
Hmmm, crime is against good morals, but it must be very very hard to resist temptation in such a situation.Are we being moral, going on holiday, showing our wealth around while other people are starving and fighting for their daily bread?Of course I am against violence, no question.There is no wrong or right/moral,immoral anymore.The world is very complicated.Or maybe I'm confused |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 14:32:56
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Sickens me too. I'm not rich, I live in London, I walk past Buckingham Palace every day, does that inspire me to loot, pillage and mug? No, even though there are people here living right close to me that are as comparatively rich to me as I am to an average Gambian.
When people start making excuses for savagery that it's because of relative poverty you just want to throw your hands up and say start taking some responsibility for yourselves. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 14:55:46
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| I agree 100%. |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 15:07:12
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Poverty+Crime=Walks hand in hand.
Most criminals are from poor neighbourhoods. In the Gambia, in the USA, in Sweden. Over the world. It is sad and immoral, but the harsh reality. It´s always been like that.
I never walk around with all my bling bling around my neck when I travel in poor countries, it is always that risc that you will get mugged.
Leave those expensive stuff with people you trust or better yet, at home and wear things you can afford to lose. Things are not always safe in the hotels safety box either in poor countries. And don´t check in your bagage with your dearest belongings in it at the airport in the Gambia, I think most people know this.
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 15:34:00
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Pilfering is one thing but ripping possessions from someone as they lie on the road after an accident is beyond the pale. And as Twinkly has shown, it's not just the 'rich tourist' who suffers from this.
I must say it's come as a shock to learn all this about Gambians. |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 15:50:43
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| Yupp, doesn´t just happen to tourists. Anyone with something rather expensive is at risc. It´s awful, but I´m not really that surprised. |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 16:10:55
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Babylon, would you be surprised if, while out in sweden, you saw someone having an accident and then being swept on by a crowd of pickpockets and scavengers?
It's not a trick question and I'm not having a go or owt, just wodering why people are prepared to be more lenient with gambians. I don't think it's to do with relative wealth. |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2006 : 16:23:51
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To be frank, nothing really surprises me anymore. There´s too much trouble going on this world. Sorry, if I sound blunt or coldhearted.
I do understand your anger and dissapointment though.
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