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Tairema
24 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 14:01:26
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At this moment the Dutch politician Mr Hildebrand Nawijn is on holiday in The Gambia.
This man is co responsible for the inhumain immigration laws in Holland and is a member of one of the most rightwing political parties in Holland.
I only wish he would have found his entry onto Gambian soil as hard and inhumain as he makes the entries for many Gambians who want to enter Holland and who's visa are turned down for petty reasons.
Wouldn't it be funny if this man would stumble on the same laws and regulations when he wants to enter The Gambia as he does force upon the immigrants who want to enter his country? That he would be checked if he forms a threat that he won't leave the country after is visum expired? That he would have to follow a Gambian integration course where he would have to learn at least 500 Gambian words, the political structure of The Gambia and all the social etiquette and also pay 830 euros for a Gambian visum? That he would have to check in reguraly during his stay with the police so they can check he is not making a mess of things?
But the most urgent question I would like him to answer is that why he thinks he has a right to go on holiday anyywhere he wants to without providing the same courtesy to others. aaah, the wicked duplicity of it all!
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 17:28:30
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Tairema,
to be fair he is not immigrating but on holiday, but the most important thing is perhaps Gambian warmth, hospitality (teranga), kindness and above all the genuine smiles will make him a changed man.
The Gambia does have an effect on people. |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 18:20:34
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Tairema,
are you Dutch or a Gambian living in Holland? Because what you are describing is true, and there are even worse examples of Dutch xenophobia in politics. I understand there are a few BN-ers (=well-known Dutchmen) in the Gambia at the moment in connection with a football match where Dutch veterans play against Gambian ones. If you are indeed living in Holland you will probably know that these rightwing politicians are heading towards an almost certain victory in the 2007 elections, because a large part of the Dutch population thinks we have too many foreigners in the country already.
Njucks, thank you for your optimism - you might be right, you know. Coming to the Gambia changed my perspective fundamentally as well, although i haste to add that i would never have voted for a man like Nawijn (who once said on tv that he wouldn't mind having capital punishment reinstated in Dutch law).
I have to tell you though, that even coming on holiday to the Netherlands is not easy for Gambians. They will have to submit all kinds of papers so that the embassy feels they have proof that the applicant for a tourist visa has everything to come back to the Gambia for. The visa has to be paid for, the 'tourist' has to have proof of medical insurance, and enough money when he enters the country to take care of him/herself. Still, i have to add that where all the rules and regulations we have in Holland sometimes irritate me no end, my (Gambian)partner was really enthusiastic about them because he could see they make for an efficient society. As another famous Dutchman (Mr J. Cruyff) is famous for saying: there is an advantage to every disadvantage (isn't he wise?). |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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dembis
Sweden
71 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 19:39:41
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| to identify the dutch politician would be very difficult since i know he would be disguised.what you would want the immigration to treat him is not going to happened and the saddest thing is because we see white people as rich and helpful.i want to fly over and give him a kick on his gay butt.if they don`t want people to come to holland is find but they should stop travelling to other countries.i believe europeans should stayed in europe and africans stayed in africa.everybody knows dutch people were the ones in south africa who imposed apårthied on the black people so is not surprising with there political aggression.gambia is twice or more smaller than hollamd and we shelter almost two million foreigners so we african are different from them.smoke skunk. |
dembis |
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Tairema
24 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 20:27:49
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Dembis, don't be a riot starting intolerant generalising fool.You make yourself look like an ***** as it is nowhere stated this is a gay issue. It is about the double standards of SOME people.Not based on skincolour, sexual preference or nationality. This particular individual Nawijn is of the opinion that certain laws should be upheld when tourists visit his country but he seems to expect (and get) different rules where his own holiday is concerned.That was the point I was trying to bring across. Don't make my posting into something it is not by making all Dutch people look bad and racist. Most of the charities that are active in The Gambia are Dutch and many many students are sponsored by genuine good Dutch people.Every country has it's bad history, even some of our own people helped to sell their fellow Gambians to slavemasters. Yes, know your history so you know your future but don't judge a modern day situation with an outdated point of view.
Njucks, try being a Gambian wanting to go on holiday to Holland...you think you can book your ticket three days in advance like probabaly this Nawijn man did? heee,no! You will have to apply for a visa, will need a wealthy sponsor, and all other things Anna also said and then most likely you will be denied access. Wether you are wanting to come on holiday or for permanent residence, it is the same story: close to impossible. I understand there have to be rules and regulations to keep the scumbags out but this current day law makes every foreigner out to be a scumbag untill proven otherwise and it grosly makes very insulting generalisations towards foreigners wanting to visit. I was just wondering if Mr Nawijn wouldlike a taste of his own medicine.
Anna,I am a Gambian woman living in Holland for many years now.
I love The Gambia and go back as often as I can and I have also grown to love The Netherlands and many Dutch people whom I have become great friends with.I think you are Dutch? As you seem to have a lot of background information. I don't know anything about this footballmatch, can you tell me more about this, please? And about the elections: wasn't it a major victory for the left wing parties a few weeks ago with the city municipal elections? And don't they expect a large left wing victory too when the governemental elections are up? But maybe this is only in Amsterdam where people attitudes are very different and tolerant towards foreigners more than in the farmers areas where many Dutch people have never seen an African.
I could be wrong here about the elections but this is what I understood, so please correct me if I am wrong.
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2006 : 22:58:23
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Tairema,
nice to meet you here! The match was played last Saturday and it was Dutch veteran internationals against Gambian veteran internationals. The whole thing was sponsored by (among others)Olympia Tours, the tour operator. I have no idea who thought of inviting Mr Nawijn (he is not gay. by the way). Yes, you are right about leftwing parties winning the last municipal elections, particularly in the big cities. But the government parties are coming up with a strategy that might prove successful. Most threatening: Mrs Verdonk,our minister of immigration, in the picture as party leader of one of the major political parties. Her decisions make me feel ashamed of being a Dutchwoman.
And it is true: in the big cities people never look at my Gambian man twice. But even 'in the provinces' we never experienced hostility, just stares.
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When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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mavaric
Turkmenistan
94 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2006 : 16:20:29
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| you all need to calm down and drink some Baobab Juice like am doing now. |
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lizzielou
United Kingdom
36 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2006 : 13:39:43
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Let Gambiams come to England, we welcome any colour, religion, sexual persuasion. What I find insulting about the Dutch power crazed man is that he as you say is having the holiday in Gambia with warm, welcoming people certainly the nicest people I have come across in my wide worldly travels but unwilling to reciprocate in the same way to Gambians wanting to broaden their knowledge of his country.
I also have Dutch friends who I have never heard denegrate the people whose country they have visited. But alas, you always get the minority who are ignorant.
Peace |
Elizabeth Bojang Ellis |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 09:01:56
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I cannot imagine Gambians wouldn't have an equally hard time to get into the UK! Try getting your new lover to come and live with you! My Gambian man has now got a visa that allows him to visit almost every European country, but England!
These visas are not to keep people of a certain colour out or of a certain religion. When it comes to sexual persuasion (you brought it up, not me) you might know, having Dutch friends, that Holland is a very liberal country. All this has to do with the government wanting to keep people out of whom they are afraid they cannot find jobs and they will need government benefits.
Do you believe the Gambia would be welcoming people of another sexual persuasion than the heterosexual one? Come off it!
I love my Gambian and i love his country, but i put off my pink glasses a long time ago. |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 09:39:45
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Anna, you are SO right! Most Gambian men I have met DENY GAY Gambians exist. I was very surprised in a night club to see an openly gay couple. The Koran is against same sex partners i hear.....its a sin? 
Uk is tolerant on the whole ONCE you manage to get here! The problem is getting a visa. EVERYONE is tarred with the same brush and considered to be a risk. I am trying to help someone get a visa at the moment. He was refused because they didnt believe he would return home. This is very insulting and disappointing. He is paying the price for all those that have gone before him and overstayed their visa.
We are not giving up. He wants to study environmental science in Wales and then come back and work in Gambia for the forestry dept.
He is exactly the tye of perdon that Gambia needs to educate....someone who will come back and work for his country. |
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lizzielou
United Kingdom
36 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 10:47:26
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| I guess I am really naive then. Don't get me wrong, England has allowed itself to become a dumping ground at our expense.I am sorry that it is so hard for decent people. I would have thought that the best way to get your friend a visa is for someone to sponsor him, what I mean is, someone over here that would be responsible for him not overstaying his visas. You see, the problem with Governments is that they are so shortsighted, tied up with their own importance and red tape, they never look at the bigger picture. Good luck to your friend. |
Elizabeth Bojang Ellis |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 11:06:06
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| I AM his sponsor. I have written a reference, provided bank statements, etc. I went to the embassy with him. I was not allowed in through the door. I waited outside for 3 hours whilst he was interviewed. He had to go back the next day and we were very optimistic. But he was refused. Simply because he is poor, they didnt believe he would return. |
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lizzielou
United Kingdom
36 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 14:23:50
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I'm sorry to hear that gambiabev. It must be so hard for him. One thought I had was to try and get some support from the Forestry Commision to go out there on a voluntary basis to train people like your friend. There are a lot of people in this country and the USA that are passionate about preserving our forests....just an idea
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Elizabeth Bojang Ellis |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 17:15:50
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Thanks for that. After the Easter hols I am going to contact the college direct to see if they can put any pressure on for him to get visa.
By the way, I didnt mean to offend you in anyway, or belittle your LOVE. it is just that in Gambia LOVE and ECONOMIC interest are often confused. DOn't quite have the same notion of romantic love as we do..whatever words they may say.
EG my guide 'loves' his girlfriend. But is marrying her because his mum is getting old and they need a younger women to work in the compound. It is a pragmatic approach. Just be careful and cautious. I hope it works and you dont get hurt. |
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salimina
253 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 17:29:28
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| Gambiabev, college is not the solution.Talk to solicitors in the uk and they will file and appeal. It works! |
Edited by salimina |
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lizzielou
United Kingdom
36 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2006 : 17:43:33
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Thanks bev, I do appreciate your concern, was maybe a little sensitive to it all the other day but beleive me, no-one is getting me working no compound, if and when I go back there to settle whether it be with Patrick or on my own, beleive me I have enough money to have a beautiful house built over there and the money to allow mw to work voluntarily with the children. Thanks once again.
PEACE xx |
Elizabeth Bojang Ellis |
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