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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 18:08:11
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Foroyaa Editorial
DID WE HEAR THE PRESIDENT SAY THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE GAMBIA BELONGS TO HIM?
The Chairperson of the Council of the University of the Gambia and its Vice Chancellor paid a visit to the Chancellor, the president of the Republic, to inform him of the preparation for the convocation, which the council intended to hold to confer degrees to some graduands. To the surprise of the viewers, the GRTS cameras focused on an agitated Chancellor claiming that the University belongs to him and further threatening that if certain academic Staff are not purged by the University authorities he will do so himself. This was a terrible embarrassment to anyone who understands how the University of the Gambia should function. Why is this so? The answer is simple.
However, before going on to state the facts, it is necessary to recall that Foroyaa did expose the shortcomings of appointing a chief as a National Assembly member in contravention of the constitutional provisions only to witness the reversal of the appointment. State administration should not be conducted in such a haphazard manner. It is therefore important for the Attorney general to be consulted before any visit where the President intends to deal with procedural matters to avoid embarrassment. Take the threat of the President to purge the University of some lecturers and his claim that the University belongs to him.
The president has accented to a bill passed by the National Assembly to bring it into law which states in very unequivocal terms that he should not interfere with the Academic life of the University.
Section 15 of the University of the Gambia Act states that:
“The Academic Staff of the University shall be appointed by the council on the recommendation of the Senate.”
Section 5 subsection (2) empowers the University Council to prescribe its by-laws, disciplinary provisions for staff and students of the University...”
In short, “The governing body of the University shall be the University council.” The Senate serves as its advisory body.
A university is a Corpus. It is a depository of the intellectual treasures of human kind. It should also be the school of democratic governance. It should be the last haven for civility and refined thinking and conduct.
Once the law of the jungle invades the university and might is made right, academic freedom would be ousted and the rationale for maintaining a University shall be negated. A university cannot be partisan and sectarian and still remain a centre of learning and excellence. An Academic writes to address research questions arising from the problematics posed for Research. She or he has to rely on facts to prove or disprove a given hypothesis. An Academic must not invent facts. Those who do will earn themselves disrepute. Secretary Generals of political parties, like Abdoulie Batchilly of Senegal, are professors in the university in Senegal. Academics are required to follow regulations established for the course of instruction prepared by academic boards or senates and approved by governing boards. Hence if the president has read the work of any University lecturer which is erroneous he should get his Secretary of Higher Education to Launch a rebuttal and invite the Governing council to review the competence of the lecturer. Allegation of saboteurs infiltrating the University can only bring the university into disrepute.
Section 7 of the Act only seeks to give the president a ceremonial role not a governing one. Subsection (3) reads:
“The Chancellor has no function with respect to any matter concerning the affairs of the University other than matters involving the exercise of ceremonial functions.”
Hence, if the President wants a genuine University, he should have faith in the Governing council and the Senate to run a University.
Finally, section 18 of the Act states that: “The funds of the University shall consist of:
a) subvention from government
b) grants, donations and endowments that may be received from sources within or outside the country
c) any monies that may become payable to the University in the discharge of its function Subvention to the University of The Gambia amounted to 7.9 million in 2007 and 8.2 million in 2008. Subvention for Open Scholarship University of the Gambia amounted to 6 million in 2007 and 6.5 million in 2008.
In fact the subvention given to the Ex president, which amounts to 5 million for 2007 and 5 million for 2008, is almost equivalent to the scholarship award. The funds of the University are coming from tax payers’ money.
The University is a public institution and not the property of the president. The lecturers are making tremendous sacrifices and need to be encouraged and not demonized.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 12/2008, 28 – 29 January 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 19:29:09
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in the criminal mindset of Yaya Jammeh Gambia is his personal estate. Don't be surprised to see him rename the university after himself and a faculty after his son, daughter, wife, and sycophants. Truth to state, the damage is already done!! |
Karamba |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 20:59:07
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Bro Karamba,
Here is a typical speech given by Jammeh. You can't even doubt that's him talking. The piece is written by Alieu Badara sowe, formerly of the Daily Observer, now residing in UK. It's another nice read....
Courtesy of Alieu Badara Sowe/GPost mailing list:
quote:
As promised here is the transcript of President Jammeh's rantings/threats to GRTS:
"There is a lot of complaint about Radio Gambia. All Gambians are complaining about Radio Gambia. My broom has not yet arrived there, but do not think it is not on its way. It is on the way. A lot of things you say, what ought not to be said; in Jawara's era what you would not dare say, now is what you broadcast. Bilai Walai Talai, when I'm ready for you, many will forget their jobs. And they won't work again. You are getting out of hand. I know the good guys from the bad elements. But lets wait for the July 22nd Anniversary celebrations to go past...If you do not like me, go and attend to your business. If you do not like the government, shun everything government; do not take even the salary, go and attend to your business. Good citizens will step in and do the job.
Wherever you are, if you are not straightforward, know that you time is not yet up, but it will be up one day. The day your name reaches me, on that day you will pack, Bilai Walai Talai, however learned you may be. Bilai Walai Talai...when I Yahya Jammeh sacks you, the whole world sacks you!
Well, degree holders are among those I have sacked. Up to today they have not got F**kolls. Some are even afraid to walk the streets, even with all their learning. Bilai Walai Talai...if I sack anybody in this country, you go to all the four corners of this world, you won't find even a job, Bilai Walai Talai. You will find out. I do not sack someone just for nothing. And when I dismiss you, you know from that day on that your world is destroyed. Whoever I dismiss, you know your world is completely destroyed because you did something; you betrayed the nation. Whenever you betray this country, when I sack you, you become Godforsaken. Therefore, let us be aware!
Whoever, wherever you are, stay away from Fitna Kafoh (groups geared towards causing trouble). Because what we intend is that whoever wants trouble, we too are prepared for trouble. This is the sort of language some human beings understand; so you deal with them in this fashion. If you want peace we will give you peace; but if you want trouble we will put Maasibo (disaster) on you. So if you do not want maasibo, steer clear of trouble; do not go near it. If you go near it, you will see what befalls you."
Refering to the reaction of Western diplomats following the clash between APRC and UDP militants near Basse in URD in which an APRC militant was allegedly killed, President Jammeh went on:
"These people (UDP militants) went, seized an Alkalo and beat him up, and left him for dead. Up to today they (western diplomats) have not said a word about that incident. With all their hypocrisy, and talk of human rights, they have not said a word. We know their hypocrisy! Now they say, 'the APRC and UDP have fought, an APRC member was killed, the government must observe the rule of law.' In a UDP-APRC fight, and the APRC decides to go in for a real fight - the next time there is trouble, the whole world will see what will happen. Bilai Walai Talai...such nonsense is a thing of the past. We ask all Gambians to take note."
As if the "Almighty" Yahya has not ranted enough threats, he called the GRTS staff covering the meeting to one side and warned, "You must broadcast all that I have said. Whoever cuts anything out, tomorrow you will forget your job."
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 22:37:07
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| Dalton, i love this one. Classic!! If it was not coming from the president of our great nation, i would have laughed myself to sleep. If you can, can you please post it to the humour section for posterity. I might be tempted one day to publish a collection of comic tales from the Gambia and this one will top the list. |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 22:57:02
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laugh too.......
trust me, bro Shaka...him [Jammeh]. no one else doing the talk...
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2008 : 01:34:47
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| Who said our great leader is not a wise man!!! Arise Gambia's king Solomon!!! Affinjang!! Hail Sir Jilanka of Kanilai city. Damn all you hate mongers!!! |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2008 : 03:09:56
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| I busted out laughing when I read this story and my son wanted to know what I was laughing about. I explained this story to him and he responded by saying; it is not possible for a president to own an institution of higher learning. I swear he said some times power gets into people's head just like his class president. If my nine year old can get it why don’t the majority of Gambians get it. Why cant they see what is happening? |
“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2008 : 16:29:20
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If I didnt know better, I would think that this speach was written by a 5 year-old.
what kind of a leader talks to the people like this. Whats up with the threats. He is saying that these people´s turns are coming, let him not forget that one fine day, his turn is gonna come too..... I don´t know if he writes the his speach himself, but I cant help to notice a few gramma errors too.
He shoul be ashame of himself for talking like this
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2008 : 18:49:06
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Sibo
Gambians are entertaining something that is bad for us all. This bandit of a man knows that he staged a coup and now boasts of saying he is able to sack graduates and specially skilled persons. He takes foolish pride in that. Yes, his day is on the way but the big damage would have already been done. Beyond the joke of party politics Gambians have to wake up to tackle this beastly affairs. This man is coarse beyond fine-tuning. |
Karamba |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2008 : 19:59:17
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on this i have lost the plot. I would be upset to be sponsoring a student at university  |
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