 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 18:20:29
|
FOROYAA Editorial
WHO ARE THE ADVISERS OF THE PRESIDENT?
President Jammeh addressed the Nation on Friday 24th March 2006 regarding the alleged coup d’etat which is reported to have been foiled on Tuesday 21st March 2006. This was the first appearance of the President after the allegations became public knowledge.
One expected a solemn speech stating key facts as well as reiterating the commitment to conduct fair investigation giving assurance that no innocent person would be held indefinitely. One expected calls for Gambians to adhere to the letter and spirit of the MOU signed by the political parties give and the democratic process a chance.
Such a speech was necessary because of the fact that many people have been arrested who are to be presumed innocent until they plead or are found to be guilty. Prior to that what the public is interested in is the assurance that there will be no victimization or vindictiveness. When justice is pursued without victimization or vindictiveness verdicts are accepted in good faith and public confidence in a system is enhanced.
The President should always bear in mind that he is talking to the nation and not those who are against him alone. Consequently national addresses should be different from addresses on political platforms. It does not help the President’s cause to threaten to punish without mercy or using the term nonsense. What is needed in a time of uncertainty is reassurance of the pursuit of justice under the law without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
Foroyaa hopes that those who are involved in investigating the alledged plot will carry out their duties without fear or favour, affection or ill will in accordance with the dictates of the law. They should absolve those who are not implicated with immediacy so that they can be released to join their families. The quicker this is done the more they will contribute to the promotion of justice and peace.
At this very moment, religious leaders, elders and people of good will should visit the President in private to give their advice. A culture of impunity can never lead to national stability. Only a culture of respect for rights, tolerance, and magnanimity to opponents can do so. Just conduct pays well while a government governs and after it has ceased to govern.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.23/2006, 27-29 March, 2006
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 18:59:52
|
| Junkung has no adviser period. If there is any one i would like to know. The man is a loner and takes no advise. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
 |
|
|
serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 19:44:48
|
I am an outsider and maybe totally ignorant, but for a long time I was wondering who could be Jammeh's counsellors. To see him making one avoidable mistake after the other sometimes is almost hurting.
I heard people in Gambia say: "Jawara was corrupt, but friendly. Jammeh is corrupt and brutal - that's the only difference". But I think that Jammeh at least tried to change some things. In the beginning, he had good ideas, and I would really like to know what was the reason for him to become despotic. Maybe it was the struggle against the old, famously corrupt Jawara clique, who tried to regain power over years. Anyway - he seems to have (had) lousy counsellors... |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 19:53:24
|
Yaya has no advisers. When you take power by force, it is natural that you would continue to oppress. That is what he knows and secondly he was a youn man(29 years)with no manangement experience. military style cannot work in a civilian setting.
Regardding corruption, i think Jammeh has more wealth in 12 years than 30 years of Jawara. The most expensive car under jawara was the Benz 200s now we have tailor made Hummers. See the topic HUMMER FOR A RIDE posted by some memebr of the Bantaba.
Jammeh has openly said ontelevision that even his grand children will never be poor from a man who came to power with a negative balance in his checking account. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 20:14:02
|
Then I would like to ask, and I would expect a true answer: Would people in Gambia ever trust a man who did not use his power to become rich?
Power inextricably linked with wealth always says a lot about the political culture of a country. Every citizen takes part in this culture, even if he/she does not know. What would happen if you, Kondorong, would be president tomorrow? Which benefits would your family expect? Your (political) friends, your neighbours, your lovers...? |
|
|
|
bamba
Sweden
401 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 21:04:42
|
| What a hypothetical question posed by Serenata!!!! As long as power in black Africa is absolute and not subjected to independent body for scruntiny, virtually all Africans in Yaya Jammehs position will behave likewise. No mortal man can handle absolute power. |
Bamba |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 21:06:06
|
I am no president yet. if i were to be one, they will not expect favors from me. I will aply the rule of law, ensure the independence of the Judiciary and separate the Civil service and politics. They have to be professional and i will stamp out corruption. I will guarantee the freedom of speech and assembly, invest in educaton and health, disband the army and have a professional police force, lock up all the historians (laugh), increase the wages of teachers an nurses, invest in science education and technology, build roads, fire 25% of the civil service because there are a lot o carry on bags, make public institutions accountable, have a cabinet that is well educated and committed, have a vice president who has authority and responsibilities, set up a sytem that can function in my absence and not around me, stop any newspaper that publishes seasons greeting( it is a source of patronage)for me, strengthen a the local goverment structure and pursue decentralsation of administration, review the concepts of projects, improve financial prudence, reduce the debt burden by reducing administrative costs related to projects, create a forum for the citizenry to have access to their leaders, there will be a state of nation address every 60 days and Gambians will be able to ask me questions or raise concerns, there will not be an anual meet the farmers tour( because it is a political function),opposition will be in my cabinet and they will head major or be memebers of audit bodies especiallly the human rights committee, (after all an opposition is a government in waiting), i will stop the presidential parades at the airport especially whe i travel or am coming home, nomore parading of Gambians on the streets to greet foreign presidents, ( it is bellitling), school children will never be used as political tools, the national media will become public property and be acccesible to all. In short every Gambian will have a share they deserve. Appointees to public office will declare their assets, i will restore the sense of patriotism to Gambia, have a foreign policy that is just and mutual, raise the criteria for becoming a national assembly memebre and also for office of president, reduce a lot of executive powers, have an independent Public Service Commission, set up criteria for advancement in the public service based on merit and not seniority, etc
I am not sure if the people will not kill me. It looks like all those who tried this in Africa were either killed or died in exile. may be it is cultural or genetic.
There was a very honest Civil servant and was the Director General of Customs. he retired poor. I have seen him drive one of the oldest cars in the Gambia and be careful not to rub against it otherwise you might have tetanus. He is commonly called " TOURAY BUGUT DARA" Meaning touray who does not like money. Every civil servant knows him or have heard of him. I will use people like him.
The society blames you for being honest. Gambia has not had a public officer like him since independence.
I have had thesame friends since high school and they know how i function. I have made decisions that many people in the Gambia were scared to handled. I have made decisions that are today a source of reference in the civil service and is being applied after ten years since my resignation, i defeneded the defenseless especially the teachers and nurses while i was in public office, i resigned my job in protest to a wrongful dismissal of staffs( perhaps the only gambian to have done so under the current government), i have improved lives of many Gambians, trained many by providing scholarships to staff, who unfortunately are all fired or redundant at home, i was part of a team that provided homes to employees to build houses ( on loan), and today, that institutions has nearly 50 million dalssis debt from a surplus.
I will be back but not now. i am somtimes wary of politicians and i dont think i will make a good one because i am too frank and has little patience for bereaucracy.
|
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
Edited by - kondorong on 27 Mar 2006 21:16:38 |
|
|
|
njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 21:36:20
|
hahhaa,kondorong
your text seems to be 'You, You, You...'. you will do this , you will do that , you will....
just a warning from a potential voter, those who will oppose you will accuse you of being a Dictator. but i guess 'you' will tolerate them 
 |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 21:50:19
|
THE "YOU" IS NOT MEANT IN A LITERAL SENSE. YOU CAN SEE THE INSTITUTIONS THAT WILL BE BUILT AND HAVE TO BE MANAGED BY OTHER PEOPLE. INFACT I SAID THAT I WILL SET UP A SYTEM THAT CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT ME.
I AM SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION. I WILL BE VERY TOLERANT AND INFACT I WILL SET UP A SQUARE JUST LIKE HYDE PARK IN LONDON WHERE YOU CAN GO WITHOUT A LICENSE FROM THE POLICE AND SAY WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO SAY. I WILL ALSO INVEST IN COMPANIES THAT ADD VALUE TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND CREATE JOBS FOR GAMBIANS. THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE THE EMPLOYER WILL BE DISCOURAGED AND WE WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR WEALTH CREATION FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT POLICED GENTLY FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
yOU SEE nJUKS, SOMETIMES AS A LEADER YOU HAVE TO MAKE DIFFFICULT AND UNPOPULAR DECISIONS BUT WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY BE FOR PUBLIC GOOD AND THE BUCK STOPS THERE. THAT IS WHY THERE IS A LEADER ( PRESIDENT)AND NOT A COMMITEE. I HAD ALWAYS BELIEVD THAT A COMMITTEE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A GROUP OF THE INCOMPETENT ASKED TO DO THE UNNECESSARY. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE COMMITTEES BUT TOO MANY COMMITTEES AND TOO MANY MEETINGS IS A SIGN OF INCOMPETENCE. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 22:42:24
|
kondorong
i must admit that perhaps our believes and ideas are converging but your last posts shows a slight difference.perhaps i am lonely in this camp but i strongly believe that at our level of development the private sector is not the answer. i would prefer great 'efficiency in government'. when you have a society with a lot of poor people and you allow privatisation it does nothing other than propel a small minority to unbelievable wealth. the corrruption that you eliminate through privatisation only translates to greed and disprotionate profits from the private sector. it can be dangerous. but the private sector is almost like a Cartel, deliberate keeping prices high by operating undercapacity (hoarding, import shortages etc).
there is nothing stopping the private sector growing by itself! in our attempts to understand the problems of Africa we place too much emphasis on leadership. but the problems are inherent. from Karang to Dakar you have countless customs officials trying to rip you off, this has nothing to do with Abdoulaye Wade. as you rightly put part of the problem is INCOMPETENCE by well educated 'administrators' all over africa. i have seen a road being built twice by 'engineers'. |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 23:06:51
|
nJUKS
i THINK I AM QUITE FAMILIAR TO THE TOPIC OF PRIVATISATION. tHE TITLE OF MY THESESIS WAS " Structural Adjustment and the Privatisation Thesis: An Evaluation of Public Enterprise Reforms in the Gambia.".
Your concerns are noted but i still beleieve that the business of governmenet is not business itself. What is really needed is honest public officials. You are very right about corruption but it must start with the leader. We had a lot of commissions but yaya is yet to face them and declare his assets.
All the road projects in the Gambia by CSE have not gone through public tender which is common knowledge and yet no one raised an issue. What has become of TRANSPARENCY, PROBITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. hAS ANY ONE SEEN THE TENDER DOCUMENT IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. I HAVE NOT YET SEEN ONE.
THE DANGER TO THE POOR PEOPLE IN AFRICA IS NOT THE PIVATE SECTOR BUT THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THEIR INTEREST.
GOVERNMENT BY ITS NATUE IS BEREAUCRATIC AND CANNOT EASILY RESPOND TO MARKET FORCES IF YOU THINK OF THE GLOBAL MARKET AND RED TAPE IS INIMICAL TO BUSINESS. BUT GOVERNMENT WILL POLICE AND BE THE REFEREE TO PROTECT THE SECTORS THAT AFFECT THE POOR. THAT SHOULD BE IN PLACE. EVEN THATCHER, THE ARCHITECT OF RPIVATISATION DID LEAVE SOME AREAS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 23:25:44
|
Kondorong,serenata,njucks,
I think Junkung has got advisersIt is either he doesn't listen to them or they are so afraid to do their job.No president in the world would have no adviser constitutionally.I heard Jammeh said himself that he has no adviser because those that advise him always misleads him.This shows the greedy nature of some civil servants.Their greed blinds them off their duties.Also the wife of the president would have to discuss state affairs in the private room..Ha Ha.This is true,everybody sometimes discusses their duties with their love ones.
If the wife is listening to the cries,she could be the best state unofficial adviser.
I frankly agree with njucks Privatisation is too bad(on coate)"the corrruption that you eliminate through privatisation only translates to greed and disprotionate profits from the private sector. it can be dangerous. but the private sector is almost like a Cartel, deliberate keeping prices high by operating undercapacity (hoarding, import shortages etc)."This a hard fact brother njucks.
Kon,I will vote for you if you should stand for president but....what would you do to someone who takes a gun and goes to the market shooting at people killing twenty?If you answer this question the way I think you should,then I can serve in your government if you answer it wrongly,then I cannot serve you "your excellency"
Serenata, you said...(on coate)"Jawara was corrupt, but friendly. Jammeh is corrupt and brutal - that's the only difference". But I think that Jammeh at least tried to change some things. In the beginning, he had good ideas, and I would really like to know what was the reason for him to become despotic. Maybe it was the struggle against the old, famously corrupt Jawara clique, who tried to regain power over years. Anyway - he seems to have (had) lousy counsellors......... Now if Jammeh tried some improvements,what is his reason of being brutal now?I think that is your question?Well think of Jammeh's early close friends amongst the presidents of Africa...Sanni Abacha, Charlse Tailor,Ahmad ould Taya,Colonel Gadafi,ect.Now ask yourself who are these people?Then that would be your answer.
I think he can still learn from his mistakes and recover.You see most Gambian easily forgets the past .They only care about the present so if Jammeh tries hard, he could be hailed as Gambia's best but he can only do that while in office as Gambians would tend to forget most of him when he is out of office and all his so called good loyal friends would never even visit him much more talk good of him.
Mankajkang Janyanfara |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 27 Mar 2006 23:26:14 |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 23:33:05
|
Well what should happen to some one who takes a gun to the market and kills twenty people is a complex issue. Like i said here before, we are a relection of the society that moulds us. But my simple answer will be the laws of the land will prevail. He will be tried in a court of law by an independent judiciary.
It is up to the defense and the prosecution to argue their case. That is not a matter for the executive branch of government. Period. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 23:45:27
|
May be i need to convince you guys Njuks and Jayangfara about privatisation. i do not think we should privatise all national institutions of production and growth. No. But what we should not do is overburden the state to police itself. Governmments business is to set a level field and be an honest refereee. Remember, government does not create jobs it creates the environment for job growth. To interfere in the process infact leads to the scenario you are attempting to potray.
Certain national institutions will be managed by government or incentives given for private sector investment in those areas. Wealth creation leads to improved savings which leads to investments and which leads to job creation and which leads to more revenue for the state and leads to developemt. Cashflow is necessary even in the case of the government since we cannot just print money without a corresponding increase in out put which leads to inflation. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 23:48:42
|
You are my president!
I expect you also to give the judiciary the complete independance so as execute the rule of law without you mighty fist into every organ of the government.
Law is the most important component of a state.With rule of law,engolving yourself,the state can forge ahead.
I still would not go in for privisation.Though it is noot a bad idea,but not good for the Gambia no way. |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 27 Mar 2006 23:50:33 |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 23:57:24
|
| Well that is democracy and we will continue to convince each other regarding privatisation. My conclusion is the history of the process for Africa had failed for a lot of reasons beyond the scope of the bantaba and perhaps boring to many. But they all had one thing in common, dishonest and corrupt public officials selling national interests to friends in the name of efficiency. This we can correct by widening the ownership to be inclusive and not to the old boys club. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
