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babygirl
United Kingdom
89 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 14:36:35
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When i left the Gambia several years ago, which was shortly after this government was elected it was D15 to the £1 ......it is now roughly D50 to the £1 .........
That in simply terms shows that all is not well....
That this government has not helped this country at all in my eyes....
I had not been back for a few years and on arrival i saw the new roads and the new buildings but what i also saw was that there seems to be an even bigger divide between the rich and the poor.
The price of everything has risen but the salaries have not risen in comparison or even come close.
There is corruption the whole world over.
The difference in Gambia now and then for me is back then the cream was seeping thru for most people to taste, now the cream has clotted and only the people on the top are getting to taste that cream.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 15:16:39
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| Babygirl you are talking of simple or basic economics and not simplifying the economic trends. We are trying to radicalise the political system and art of government to deter, minimise substantially or exterminate corruption. The Police, Army, Intellegence, Judiciary or all organs of government is being manipulated to consolidate Jammeh in power and squander all nations' assets without accountability and transparency. We envisaged Gambia moving from under-development to development in all sectors. This could be brought about by building on demcratic structures in place and encourage freedom of expression and liberty to criticise the goivernment for its shortcomings and made them accountable as Public servants. Look how the Police, Army, Intellegence and law enforcement agencies are being manipulated under APRC and a compulsory loyalty (by all civil or public servants, institutions either public or private) pledged to Jammeh rather than the community or protect national interests for the good of this small nation. Anyone who have adifferent political persuasion is subjected to threats and intimidation to demoralise you in the most inhuman treatment and you can't be vocal and no justice to protect you. You have even seen how Halifa and others are being continuosly subjected to arrests and detention. However thanks for pleaing for description of the situation in simple terms please. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 15:20:32
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| Sorry to edit the word economic for political "not simplifying the political trends, instead of ecenomic" of first sentence above. |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 16:11:28
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Babygirl, your view of Gambia is very simplistic which makes it remote from reality. I am not sure about the cream that you are talking about, but I will put a brave face and say you are one of the people from the Kombos where the cream of national cake is shared with no sympathy to those in the villages. High stytle luxurious life for those living beyond their means at the expense of the poor, the "Jambarrs".
It pains my soul when I hear people like you saying, the good old Jawara days, certainly not my village or family, it was the dried old days and its got worse since. Parents still struggle to pay their tax (contribution for cream junkies in quanrangle), the same struggle pay their children's fees (while the children of cream junkies win scholarships and bussaries paid by the poor tax payers) and the same old story, selling their crops (while the cream junkies reward themselves daily and greedily waiting for the farmers taxes)... if any anything it just gets worse by the year.
So as new and old junkies watch and wait in optimism for the next president to roll out the cream, knowing not which direction or course it will take, I ask who the loosers will be. |
Edited by - somita on 02 Apr 2006 16:14:31 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 16:57:41
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| Corruption is wrong , whether it trickles down or not ! Nothing can justify it. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 20:21:48
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well i think struggling to pay school fees and the like is universal everywhere. people have common problems whether in a rural or urban setting.
those ''jambarrs' at the Quadrangle are all (99%) village boy/girls and it is their choice to stay in the kombos.
also i dont think 'poor rural' people are the only ones who pay taxes or are being specifically over taxed!!! this is not the case. everyone pays taxes and more so in the Kombos. infact if you compare what rural people contribute to Custom Receipts, Re-export trade, petrol (fuel) taxes,corporate taxes, etc their contribution is not very significant.
secondly that type of tax 'namo/lempo' does not reach the National level it stops at the area council level in their locality, managed by people they elect from within. there is no cream in reality after all.
not everyone in the Kombos is a 'cream junkie', their are people who make their money honestly from different fields not everyone is in government, people are in business , private work etc. |
Edited by - njucks on 02 Apr 2006 20:23:30 |
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Nyancho
Switzerland
22 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 19:45:41
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| Yes "everybody"pay tax,but the difference is,some people particularly those urban folk were or are still enjoying the amenities and services provided from "everybody`s" tax more than those toiling in the rural settings. |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 21:00:17
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What a pathethic view, everybody pay tax, another cream junkie that fail to see the other side of the divide. I hope you can say everybody has gamtel service, has nawec service, has postal service, has good roads, has good football parks, has school buses, the list goes on. The rural folks always have are worse off.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 21:26:24
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I have said it here a few times. We need real and genuine decentralisation in the gambia. I was suprised to have met people who have never been to Brikama and grew up in the environs of Banjul and serrekunda.
Our policies are geared toward this area and hence a lot of migration for jobs that do not exist. Agriculture is on the downward slope because farmers are not paid when they sell their peanusts and wait for months. Basically every document has to be processed in banjul and some villages in the gambia have not had any share of developemnt that we are being told to believe. I grew up in the village but it seems like we do not belong to the Gambia. Most people will tune to Radio Senegal for news as Radio Gambia is never heard. They deal in CFA Francs more and have more friends accross the border.
The rural folks have become pawns in the political lanscape and we owe them a lot of apologies. They have been betrayed by all governments both yaya anf Jawara and left to fend for themselves. I said it here that a friend of mine had an accident about three months ago and died. There was no ambulance at bansang and the only working ambulance was in Kaur. The family paid 3000.00 to fuel it to bansang so that this boy could be transported to RVH in Banjul. During this time, the whole of the north bank was without an ambulance leaving them to rot and die in despair. yet these are the people who for some reason cling on to hope and are very optimistic. I guess that is all they have to keep surviving.
Youssou Ndour said it well in his song "Bai kat". "SU TAWEH SU TA WOUT NYOU FEY BORR" which means no matter what their conditons, they always pay their loans. I have personally seen the cooperative union staff seizing personal belongings of farmers into trucks because they could not pay the cost of fertiliser loaned to them. They were exercising justice to themselves. Some of these farmers will argue they owe nothing yet the books indicate otherwise.Where is our police. Interestingly they come with police officers whose duty should have been to protect the law. There are many sad stories.
The rural folks irrespective of tribe have always had a rough deal and until we begin to honesty serve them, we will never see progress. They are treated as though they are not Gambians and have had no moments of peace with their governments. They are paraded as drummers and dancers to the political "masters" during election time and given hadouts and made to believ that it was a priviledge to have some of the crumbs. These monies are actually theirs.
I vividly remember an old man i met who came to Serrekunda and visited a home in Fajara. he told me that people in Serrekunda are competing with God. he said that in the Holy Quran, it is stated that in heaven there will be pools and gardens and the like for those who had salvation. He said some of the homes are just like heaven being explained in the Quran and as such he believes it was sinful to lead such lives as though they are competing with God. He has never had luxury in his life and there are thousands like him. yet we can afford, special limousines, 747 aircraft for the president until lately and an expensive core of people who have taken for themselves the right to deny the rural folks a descent standard of living. Sometimes it looks like they do not belong to the Gambia. |
“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.” |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 13:35:15
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Somita, i have worked in the quadrangle for 5 years and i must say that there is lot to improve on work ethics. Howver i am not a defender of yaya or anyone. i defend what is right. |
Edited by - kondorong on 04 Apr 2006 20:49:43 |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 13:41:02
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| Kondorong, what a sad reality!Our problems are numerous.I have my doubts whether it can be solve in our life time. |
Edited by salimina |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 15:48:30
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HI KONDORONG, i agree decentralization would help, i am looking after a family in jufreh and I might as well talk to them about europe rather than banjul.
LIGHTER POINTS HAPPY NEWS
hi to all, i though i would cheer you and share my news. After the worries over the last ten days. I sponsored some children to go to schools in 2005.
One student took in year 7 at St theresa, Westfield took first place for last terms exams and looks like taking first place for summer exams.
Binta in primary school St peter, Lamin took first place in her class exams. When I return I shall have a small party for them in Senegambia at Hot pepper. After al the stress of last visit, it will be good to see happy faces. Pizzas and fantas all round |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 19:19:19
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somita,
i mistakenly erased your posting above. I thought i was replying with a quote when infact i was editing it. My apologies and please dont send Sankofa to me. |
“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.” |
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admin
130 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 20:59:58
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
somita,
i mistakenly erased your posting above. I thought i was replying with a quote when infact i was editing it. My apologies and please dont send Sankofa to me.
Hi Somita and all, the reason for Kondorong being able to edit your posting is because of his status as a moderator of the forum. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum Moderator or the forum Administrator as stated in the topic http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 21:29:02
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| Thanks for the clarification. |
“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.” |
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