It is announced the passing away at the Medical Research Council, on
Tuesday, 4th July 2017, of Mrs D’Almeida. The great Lady was popularly
known as Ma D’ Almeida in academic circles, as a mark of respect for her
teaching career. Mrs D’Almeida was an educationist, an administrator and a
genuine academic.

So to say Ma D’Almeida has thought many Gambians at various schools,
including my own self at Armitage Grammar School at Georgetown in the
1970s. Thereafter she was lecturer and Vice Principal at Yundum College now
Gambia College and in her later years, she was a Senior Lecturer at the
nascent University of the Gambia (UTG). Her area of speciality was Gender
Studies, a course that she diligently handled with her astute knowledge of the
subject matter. Her dedication in this regard enhanced the cause of gender
emancipation in the country. Before her lecturing career at UTG, Ma was the
first Executive Director of the Women’s Bureau, established during the first
Republic to champion the cause of women status in the country.

At Armitage I knew her as a morally upright Teacher, who not only inculcated
subject matter knowledge but was resolute when it comes to enforcing rules
on punctuality to class, politeness, dress code, and moral standards. We owe
her gratitude for those moral values and social etiquette she inculcated in us
which undeniably made us we are today, responsible citizens of The Gambia.
No doubt, we would realise that such important moral values are fast
diminishing in today’s society.

When I met her at UTG where I started lecturing from 2002, I paid her the
respect she splendidly deserved. In return, I richly benefited from the mentor
hood of the wonderful mother who had done a lot by giving me knowledge
and shaping my attitude in society. Ma D’Almeida was a special character of
self-respect, gifted with immense drive for hard work. Besides, she
demonstrated her uprightness, as a matter of principle, in standing by those
who addressed the wrongs at the university during its tumultuous years.
Particularly during the war I waged against corrupt practices at the university
which resulted in litigations. I owe her unquantifiable gratitude for her
resolute support during the tribulations we were subjected to but vindicated absolutely and ostensibly.

As an academic, she belonged to the old genera, meticulous with English
grammar where every punctuation, word, or sentence mattered. She was a
prolific writer. Her works include a booklet published in 2011 titled “A
Succinct History of the Kingdom of Pachesi in the Empire of Kaabu”, an
historical work reminiscent of her days at Armitage as History teacher.
As years roll by, we were both at UTG, another opportunity we had to come
closer. Indeed, the more you are closer to a person, the closer one is to a
person, the more they appreciate each other. For us our closeness brought
better understanding, enhanced trust, and collegiality. Ma became more of a
parent to me, as an adviser in life and a mentor. She was more of a mother to
me. I visited her regularly at her Pipeline home behind the Fajara War
Cemetery, a gesture which she reciprocated many times at our home at Kotu
West Layout. My children equally paid her regular visits with presents. She
never forgot us at during Christmas and Easter festivities during which she
showered gifts on the children and the entire family. Truly a great bond existed
in between us.

Her passing away is indeed a big family loss and to the Gambian academic
community. But as no life is eternal, we take solace in her undisputed fortitude
of mind, as an educator who contributed immensely to the welfare of this
country and above all as a fine mother of character and deep religious
conviction. A mother who did all she could to push back the frontiers of
poverty and illiteracy that once engulfed the women and children of The
Gambia. We shall miss Ma D’Almeida but her memory will always remain
deep in our hearts.

On behalf of my family and particularly the young ones, Pa Abdoulie and Awa
Yombeh, who she was very fond of, we pray to God to grant her all the
forgiveness and lead her to heavenly paradise as a final resting place. Ameen.

Adieu Ma D’ Almeida!

Gumbo Ali Touray
Former Director of International Affairs and Information

Alagi Yorro Jallow

I am still struggling to get my mind around what democracy means for our collective future. I won’t try to sort it out here in a Facebook post. Alas! The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That is a dictatorship—the ownership of a government by an individual, by a group, or by any controlling private power is an anathema to democracy.

What I will say is that what happened can’t be explained simply as a failure of the political establishment—although it has failed spectacularly. Nor is it simply a problem of demagoguery or sycophancy—although both are alive and well and flourishing at this moment. Nor is this fledgling democracy simply a matter of humans being treated as disposable—like plastic bottles tossed in a landfill—as political and social media elites spew propaganda that encourages us to view “the others” as the enemy.

The problem runs deeper than all of that. The truth is we are stumbling badly in large part because we are just beginning to learn to walk. Roughly 22 years ago, we had a quasi-democracy; it was not a true democracy by any stretch. We still don’t have a real democracy. But we’ve recently managed to revive a new democratic-like system. In the words of William Faulkner, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” Our leaders should be aware of democracy and avoid demagoguery but again be mindful of “clicktivism and sycophantism politics.”

It is said that humans are creatures of habit; perhaps that is why George Sanataya cautioned, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” On the other hand, maybe you agree with Mark Twain who said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” In today’s Gambia, with what rhyme and reason do we proceed? As we listen to our nation’s leaders and watch their ways, it is becoming quite apparent that history continues to repeat itself. Consider the following.

Our political leaders are often misadvised and misdirected because the majority of those they rely on to govern are demagogues and sycophants who hardly tell them the truth.

The extent to which demagoguery and sycophancy have taken over reality and stunted our political development can be gauged from the daily praising of failed politicians, so-called muckrakers, and spineless pundits on social media, often selling to innocent Gambians falsehood and propaganda to the extent that the wrong people are appointed to sensitive and important positions. No leader would say that things should not move forward in the country. The problem is the people around them, who don’t advise them well. I have observed that ninety-nine percent of people who hover around our political leaders are sycophants and praise-singers. Let us be frank with our leaders to get us out of where we are today.

Gambian politics is in trouble because the citizens have allowed deception, denial, disinformation, diversion, evasion, exaggeration, indoctrination, lying, media manipulation, mind control, propaganda, scapegoating and smear campaigns, which are the signs of sycophancy in our politics and governance.
I believe our democracy must be freed from the suffocating grip of an all-knowing typical “African Big Man” myth. Comrades Solo Sandeng and Solo Nkrumah, along with other folks, did not die for us to have a quasi-democracy. They died so that we can be free; they died so that we can reap the abundant benefits of a democracy. Think of Colonel Lamin Sanneh, Captain Ngaga Jagne and others who died fighting for our democracy. Gambians will spit on their graves when we let democracy slip away into the sewer of benevolent dictatorship akin to Yahya Jammeh. Never Again!

Gambia is a country ready to be taken—in fact, longing to be taken—by political leaders ready to restore democracy and trust the political process after all the bitter horrors of Yahya Jammeh’s rule.
The Gambian people don’t want a democracy that can’t guarantee its citizens one square meal a day, a democracy that can’t guarantee three hours of electricity daily, a democracy that can’t afford to allow people to protest, a democracy that can’t guarantee the freedom of the press and of speech and respect for the Constitution, a democracy that is standing on its head, a democracy that takes one step forward and three backward.

Let us never forget that the government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not President Barrow and government officials, but the voters of this country. The government is us; we are the government, you and me. We can heal the wounds of this nation or aggravate such wounds. We can bring peace to this nation or cause chaos to erupt in it.

We are very hungry for a new beginning. We want President Barrow to help “Make the Gambia Great Again” by making our institutions strong, as strong institutions would make our democracy great again. We want our leaders to build a thriving multi-ethnic, multi-faith, egalitarian democracy out of the rubble of dictatorship. Gambian people are interested in being part of something larger than the sort of small, petty, slash-and-burn politics that we have been seeing over the past several years.

The Budget….

In the past few days, the National Assembly Members have been scrutinizing the 2017 Budget Estimates. Although I’ve not seen and perused the whole budget estimate, I have seen that the budget of the Office of the President has been reduced by D158 million while the Ministry of Agriculture has been reduced by D3 million.

Mr President, the others like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs been cut by D10 million. I wish to raise concerns over the amount of money reduced from the Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and majority of our citizens are engaged in agriculture. The advancement of agriculture translates into the advancement of the country.

Last week, while I was on a talkshow at Paradise FM Radio talking about the rainy season, some farmers called to express their desire to have assistance from the government. They said that as the last harvest was not good, they are even finding it difficult to buy rice at D1200 talk less of being able to buy a bag of groundnut seeds at D4000.00 with an additional D700 to be spent on fertilizer.

Naturally, if these farmers are not assisted by government, they will not be able to grow crops to the extent that will be beneficial to them and the country. The farmers are the ones who cultivate groundnuts, rice and other stuff that the Gambia exports in order for us to get foreign currency; but more importantly, it is the farmers who produce the food that we eat. As such, it is very important that we consider the farmers in the development agenda.

We commend the minister of finance and the National Assembly for a job well done. But we also call on them to even reduce more from the other ministries and the Office of the President but increase the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture.

We are calling on our youth to come home and stop the back way migration. In order to ensure that when they come home they stay, we need to provide them with jobs. The best way to do that [and the most feasible] is through agriculture. Let us invest in agriculture and education so that we will be able to stand on our own feet.

When we are able to do that then we can open ourselves to the rest of the world through foreign embassies. At the moment, we should think of reducing and/or amalgamating some of the embassies. That will cut cost. Use the money wisely for the priority areas.

It’s about austerity we say!

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

RE: Why Is Baboucarr Nani Sey Reporting to Serre Kunda Police Every 2 Days?

For the past two weeks Baboucarr Nani Sey has been reporting to the police every two days. No reason has been given to him as to why he should do that. Meantime his file is said to be with the police prosecution pending advice from the AG’s Chambers. If that is the case, what then is the value of this man reporting to Serre Kunda Police Station every other day? Is he reporting to the police because he is going to flee the country or is he reporting because he poses a threat to society? How does a man reporting to the police every two days serve the purpose of justice?

Baboucarr was first arrested on June 9 and detained until June 11 for a matter that took place at least three weeks earlier. That was when he chaired a press conference as part of a peaceful public gathering on May 15 to highlight the issue of a piece of land in Kololi in the interest of the public. After initially being detained and then bailed Baboucarr was charged with four so-called offences, i.e. conspiracy to commit felony, assembly without seeking police permit, destruction of private property and unlawful use of banners. Media reports say these charges were later dropped to only one, i.e. ‘illegal gathering without a permit’. However since June 15 Baboucarr has been reporting to the police every two days. Why?

Mr. Minister, the mere fact that Baboucarr is charged and not taken to court but asked to report to the police constantly is a violation of his freedom. This is a clear manifestation of police harassment of a citizen. By asking him to report to the police, Baboucarr is being forced to incur costs for nothing. His money, work and time are being wasted while his peace of mind tormented hence this tantamount to inflicting psychological torture on him. Such a practice of subjecting a citizen to this insidious form of control is characteristic of only dictatorships that must have stopped since this government took power on 19 January 2017. Citizens who damage the law must be charged and tried immediately but not inconvenienced through such control mechanisms.

The mere fact that the man is subjected to such unbearable harassment clearly shows the police have no case against him because the man has done nothing wrong. That means the police do not know what to do with this matter because there is nothing to do with the matter other than to free Baboucarr. Therefore the police are themselves acting outside of the law for that matter. This also means Baboucarr is now within his rights to sue the State and the IGP for unlawful arrest, detention and harassment thus constituting a violation of the Constitution as per Section 5(b) or be compensated as per Section 19(6) of our Constitution.

That aside, the case against Baboucarr raises a fundamental legal, moral and political question for all Gambians. To me, Baboucarr’s case speaks to the heart of democracy and sovereignty and the very basis of the change we achieved on December 1. The right to assemble and to demonstrate peacefully is an entrenched right in our constitution [(Section 25(d)]. This was what Baboucarr did to highlight how land that belongs to the people was confiscated by Yaya Jammeh only for KMC to then sell that land to a private enterprise. Neither KMC nor the private company was asked questions, but the person who raised the issue got arrested and subjected to harassment.

Baboucarr’s case brings to the forefront the case of Solo Sandeng and his compatriots, and the case of Ousainou Darboe and the UDP leadership and well before these two, it also brings to the front the case of Femi Peters in 2009. Today all Gambians celebrate Solo Sandeng and defend him for engaging in a peaceful protest on 14 April 2016. Two days later, Ousainou Darboe led his party members to march on the streets only to be arrested and sentenced for holding a procession without permit and unlawful assembly among others. In their defense they proclaimed the right to peaceful protest in our constitution as a hallmark of democracy.

Earlier in 2010 when Femi Peters was illegally sent to prison for the same offences in the Public Order Act, the UDP under the same distinguished lawyer Ousainou Darboe challenged the constitutionality of the Act in the Supreme Court. During the trial Lawyer Darboe likened Mr. Peters to Nelson Mandela who was also imprisoned by the application of the same unjust laws. Darboe described the Public Order Act as colonial and saying that if Peters were sentenced because of that law then the court would be perpetuating colonial legacy. Yet in 2017, a Gambian is once again facing the same law. Why? Where is our morality? Where is the legality?

Thus from a moral and political standpoint if Baboucarr Nani Sey is not freed immediately then it means this new government of which you are the chief legal adviser and the Attorney General would be perpetuating colonialism in the Gambia. If this persecution of Baboucarr continues then it means we are saying that the imprisonment of Femi Peters and Ousainou Darboe and all the rest of our compatriots in July 2017 were justified. It means we are saying the April 14 protest by Solo Sandeng was illegal. This is the moral and political question that Baboucarr pose to all of us as citizens.

Let us remember that the Coalition stated in their MoU and Manifesto that they would repeal all laws that are unconstitutional and impede human rights. We commend the Government for having conceded that sedition is unconstitutional a few weeks ago. But for this government to show that indeed they understand and mean what they say about system change, then the Public Order Act must be disregarded and all efforts made to repeal it immediately.

The Public Order Act and Sedition are colonial laws found in all former British colonies. While many countries have abolished these laws others have not yet done so. For example the Gambia and Nigeria are yet to abolish the Public Order Act. But in Uganda, the Constitutional Court declared sedition unconstitutional and undemocratic in 2010 as the Gambia also did in 2017.

In light of the foregoing, I wish to put it to you that the sovereign rights of Baboucarr and all Gambians for that matter are being violated with impunity if this man remains under State harassment. The continued seizing of Baboucarr over this matter threatens the rights of each and every Gambian. The heart of democracy and good governance is the right and ability of citizens to freedom of expression, freedom of association, right to assemble and the right to demonstrate peacefully. Any law or government that seeks to limit or take away these four freedoms in anyway means dictatorship.

If this matter goes any further then it means we have eroded all of the gains we have fought for over the years until today. Conscience and the law dictate that Baboucarr be set free and all charges against him be dropped. To make him to continue reporting to the police is harassment and abuse of his rights.

In the Service of the Nation
…………………..
Signed: Madi Jobarteh

Alagi Yorro Jallow

Successive governments have left us with a tax regime so complex it verges on a chaotic system. Which is exactly why we should be suspicious of politicians who talk imprecisely about tax avoidance and tax evasion – or who muddle the two terms, or use them interchangeably.

Tax avoidance and tax evasion is what we do when we fill in tax returns and carefully recall the legitimate expenses with which to reduce taxable profits. Tax avoidance and tax evasion is illegal, and it’s immoral. Most people expect, and are not fully prepared, to pay their due taxes. Not wanting to pay more tax than that isn’t something to be proud of. It’s dodgy or morally questionable or anti-social. It’s naturally evil.

The word beautifully describes the nonsensical, Alice-in-Wonderland world where people who seek legitimately to minimize tax end up being impugned as selfish, criminal, unpatriotic and the rest. Tax avoidance and tax evasion is not something that just the wealthy and the politicians can take advantage of. Whilst there are some big names that have squirreled away piles of cash in offshore bank accounts and taken dodgy tax avoidance and tax evasion procedures, there are also people like poor or middle-income people who have paid as much as they can into their pension fund to secure a reasonable standard of living (i.e., not on the breadline) once they have retired.

But the biggest irony is that those doing the impugning are the very people who created our tax system with its endless layering of tax rates and allowances, and the fiendishly complex interrelation of the two: tax evasion and tax avoidance.

The tax system now works in such a way as to produce numerous cliff edges where, for instance, a tiny increase in earnings results in a huge jump in tax. In several cases the extra money earned would result in marginal tax rates of well over any amount.

Who would not act to try to avoid these and other tax traps: there is no “spirit of the law” unless you know exactly what was inside each lawmaker’s head at the time they voted for a law. There are laws made by National Assembly. If the laws made by National Assembly have more holes than a teabag then that is the fault of National Assembly, and there is no point in them whining about it. Either something is allowed or it isn’t. What next? How about we have “aggressive law avoidance” for people we don’t like, doing things we don’t like, but who are not breaking the law? It is up to the government to write tax legislation in such a way that it cannot be exploited through so called loopholes. The law on taxation is too complicated with far too many concessions which leads to exploitative schemes which then must be decided in court.

Aggressive tax avoidance sticks in the public craw as much as the drunk driver who kills someone then gets off on a technicality or the politician maximizing expenses. The public has a very good strong sense of what is right and wrong.

The answer is to significantly cut public spending and significantly cut the rate of integral taxation. There would then be little incentive for taxpayers to put so much effort into avoidance, and practically none to encourage taxpayers to take the risks of evasion! But of course, the politicians do not and will not do it, because their profligacy and corruption has no limits.

Alagi Yorro Jallow

When has the Gambia changed? What has happened to our values; our virtues; respect for ourselves and elders;( “Ngorr, Joom and Koleeray”): Politics always divides us as a people. But we’re greater than our politics. We’re One people and One nation. That’s what we are and that’s how we should move forward for new Gambia.

Gambians can no longer be divided about certain fundamental issues. It was said that “a person’s behavior is a function of the environment which surrounds and influences them.”

Section of Gambians have allowed the environment of the Gambia to decay. It has become confused, filled with mixed messages, misunderstanding, loss of reliability, unpredictability, and confusion.
This is the environment which we allowed to be created for our beloved children and their future.
Why has this happened, and, continuing without an indication of positive change?

I think – I fervently hope – that these tactics and the whole strategy of hate and contempt will fail over time. Our history argues that, in the Gambia, the pendulum almost invariably swings back to common sense and tolerance after the fever breaks. But in the meantime, much damage has been done. In the present case, lives have already been broken. Anxiety and unease—and yes, downright hatred—seep through if not sweep over so many.

But as I’ve said before, and I believe it bears repeating: Tribal politics breeds contempt and hate. Sadder still, it’s going on anyhow.

The Gambia has forever changed and changing. In a matter of time Gambians helped one another. We cared for one another. We comforted one another. We became united over a common enemy (“Kang Killing” and “Yerr Maandeeh”). The flag was flown from nearly every home, business from and car. The national anthem was a source of pride. Police officers and Field force were our heroes and now, we not, we are suspicious of each other. Our motto became, the national anthem:

“For the Gambia, our homeland
We strive and work and pray,
That all may live in unity,
Freedom and peace each day.
Let justice guide our actions
Towards the common good,
And join our diverse peoples
To prove man’s brotherhood”.

In July 1994 and later, we became more divided than ever. We don’t even know who are enemies, who are foreigners and who are Gambians. Tribalism, bigotry, hypocrisy, (“Hasidiya”,” Wakk Buseew”,” Garuwalleh”) and misogyny have become common. The flag is disrespected and elders blackmailed. The national anthem became offensively dishonored. “Hasidiya” and hate politics became the order of the day. Our country has fallen by our own hands and continues to be dragged into disunity and fighting amongst ourselves.

The level of hatred being displayed especially on social media is unprecedented. In the past, out of self-respect or shame, some people would hide behind pseudonyms when they succumbed to pressure of publishing what they clearly knew was unacceptable. But alas! Today there is no sense of guilt or shame. Both young and old, male and female are freely posting hate messages and insulting one another openly. Tribal fights and comments have become a daily occurrence. What was a taboo is slowly becoming a norm? This is a big shame! This is not who we are. This must stop!

Let’s not bury our heads in the sand. If we allow the status quo, each day that passes, the Gambia will become more divided, the Gambia has become more tribal (I hate to admit it but we can’t be in denial forever – it’s clearly out there). It’s on the streets, in politics, at work places and slowly entering the mosques and churches. Unfortunately, even political, religious and community leaders from all walks of life speak unresponsively. This must stop!!!

There is so much pettiness, bickering and tearing of each other apart on social media. What has happened to One Gambia One People and One Nation. What is the future of our children if we continue to tear each other apart.

Each one of us may have strong opinions. We may have different views. We may disagree to agree, that is okay. But we should never allow ourselves to be divided. How will we condemn misogyny, tribalism, hate and contempt? Brothers and Sisters, these things start slowly. We may take this lightly. Every Gambian should be concerned on what is slowly developing into a national catastrophe.

This calls for serious reflection and action from all of us. Some of the postings on social media including pages which were sound and balanced have unfortunately fallen to this degradation. Let us resist the temptation and repent from our sin. There are better ways of resolving issues.

The presentation of the revised budget by Finance Minster Amadou Sanneh is not only long overdue but also utterly urgent and necessary given the gross financial indiscipline and severe mismanagement leading to the dire state of the economy by APRC. The budgets prepared by Yaya Jammeh were never realistic and pragmatic and this was why his budgets were consistently and constantly busted only for former Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy to go back to parliament to seek additional funds. I have not seen the full details of the revised budget but judging by the critical issues raised by NAMs today indicate that while it contains some sober and realistic revisions, yet there are also major issues of concern.

Members indeed have raised some very important issues that show that they need to take more time to study this budget quite well in order to further cut it according to our size. The suggestion put up by Halifa Sallah that the ministry to have prior consultation with the parliament is critical because that would have addressed a lot of the concerns and issues raised. We must realize that the budget is the second most important law after the constitution. Hence the budget is not an ordinary law. In fact it is the budget that enables the government to protect our rights and satisfy our needs. Hence the budget is the lifeblood of our constitution and sovereignty. Without the budget schools, roads, the police and hospitals among others will not function.

For that matter, the preparation of the budget must be taken up in the most serious manner possible. Therefore Halifa’s suggestion is in place that since the parliament is the body that approves the budget, the Finance Minister would ease his job and also empower the parliament to do their job more efficiently if he first creates a consultative engagement with NAMs until they are able to agree on the issues, costs and items of the budget. This revised budget is to fund the current and development expenditure of the government for 2017 hence expenditure must be kept at its bare minimum. Areas that are not social sectors but only maintaining offices and personnel must be cut down.

Another important issue Halifa raised is about public enterprises. Public enterprises help to decentralize and decongest the provision of public goods and services to make them more accessible and affordable to the masses. Secondly public enterprises are also created to serve as income generation for the government hence they are business enterprises. APRC Government severely mismanaged the public enterprises as Yaya Jammeh turned them into his personal golden goose. Consequently the dividends these enterprises were supposed to provide to the government were not coming. It is such interference that is responsible for the huge debts confronting these enterprises. Therefore the parliament must pursue this matter to bring to book managing directors and board chairpersons to answer to such mismanagement and economic loss. Furthermore, permanent secretaries of line ministries of each and every public enterprise must be called to answer as to why these enterprises failed to pay their dividends. The matter must not be left forgotten.

But we must tell all the members who spoke to realize that their job is not just to highlight, expose, disagree or suggest, but the parliament must realize that they are the driver of this process. Hence they must follow up, demand and summon persons and institutions of interest to come to the parliament to testify. For example, it is not enough for one to express issues about mining in the country, or raise concern about vehicle use, fuel consumption and foreign travels. We want to see the parliament take a definitive stand to give an order to the Minister of Finance on those issues.

Halifa also raised the issue of salaries and pensions and the need to create commissions to determine the state of affairs in these areas. Yes, that is a good recommendation that the government must do. But whether the government does that or not, the parliament on its own must also launch its own enquiry to enlighten themselves on the matter so that they can take clear position and advice the government accordingly.

It is indeed commendable the Minister of Finance produced a revised budget, but let him also understand that this budget must be backed by serious system and attitudinal changes. For example the issue of foreign travels must be controlled particularly at the highest level. The president and ministers must by now limit their travels and stop flying on business class. Members did well to highlight the huge costs spent on embassies, ministers and their vehicles, national celebrations and other operational costs. While it is commendable that cuts have been made to the Office of the President as well as plans to dispose off the planes of the dictator, yet it is still necessary to further cut down cost.

Going forward, the parliament must also set a ceiling for loans. In the past there was no limit as to how much the country can borrow, locally and externally. The current debacle we face is because there were no standards and checkpoints and those that exist were disregarded. Hence the parliament must ensure that we set targets and abide by checks and balances in order not to harm ourselves. We have to have a ceiling for loans particularly the issuance of treasury bills by the Central Bank. The uncontrolled and unlimited use of T-Bills in the past was just mindboggling. This must stop through the creation of necessary legislation.

Finally, it is important that the Minister of Finance and the National Assembly look into the Finance and Audit Act again because there are a number of regulations that have been either ignored or abused. For example there are regulations for the creation of funds for ox-plough, community development, relief to fight hunger, housing loans, transport loans, leprosy fund, medical supplies among others. These are specified amounts of money earmarked to address specific issues. Yet these regulations have not been usually utilized which would have helped to ease some of the hardships in our communities, institutions and in the life of individuals.

The government’s contribution to local councils must also be addressed. The Local Government Act requires that the Government provide 25% of the development budget of local governments yet for years this has not been honoured. The local councils and municipalities were also denied many revenue sources that they usually controlled. Hence if they continued to be denied those sources of revenue and the government contribution to their development budget is not also fulfilled then how do we expect the local governments and municipalities to provide the services and functions they are mandated to provide under the Local Government Act?

God Bless The Gambia

Language of Peace….

One of the reasons I am in a hurry for the beginning of the Constitution is so that the new Constitution will not only change the out-dated draconian laws, but will also put in place laws that are meant to protect the country from any form of civil strife while at the same time being democratic.

As your government has provided the space for the freedom of the press and freedom of expression, there is a need to put in place measures which will ensure that no one abuses these freedoms. You see, Mr President, human beings are such that if you open a window for them some will seek to make it a door.

Speech is very important. Similarly, it is very powerful. We should not joke with the power of speech. Whoever jokes with speech does not understand its power to do good or cause evil. In the Second World War, a time came when the allied forces, especially the British soldiers, lost hope and were about to be defeated. Sir Winston Churchill delivered a powerful speech which served as a rallying call to galvanize the soldiers. They reorganized themselves with renewed zeal and enthusiasm. The rest is history, as they say.

In April, 1994 a speech by a disk jockey sparked a genocide in Rwanda which killed up to eight hundred (800 000) thousand people. This was simply because of the way he reported a particular incident inciting violence between the two major ethnic groups in that country. These two examples show us how speech can both be useful and dangerous.

It is for this reason that in some advanced countries, even though they value freedom of expression, they still put in place laws which ban hate speech. If a speech is seen to have the potential of causing a war, a strife, or unrest in the country it is considered hate speech. This will not be contrary to freedom of expression because everything has two sides; the good and the bad. A good law will ensure that we make the best use of the good side of freedom of expression and discourage the bad side of it.

Mr President, I have written before that our country is polarized due to obvious reasons. We should endeavour to nurture the peace and security we enjoy and not behave in a way that will plunge our country into chaos. The Gambia is too small for civil unrest. We are too interconnected to embark on a path of revenge.

Considering the forgoing, we must make laws that protect the peace and security of the country. No one – political leader, religious leader or ordinary person – should be allowed to make statements that can result in to chaos or war. We must guard our cherished peace with all our might!

Let us talk about peace and reconciliation rather than revenge and war.

May God bless the Gambia.

Tha Scribbler Bah

A Concerned Citizen

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Marina Parade

Banjul.

Dearest:

For the attention of the Honourable Minister, Ousainou Darboe

I was left distressed and flabbergasted as to reasons why the United States Embassy in Banjul chose to refuse bright school-going Gambian kids mere visas to partake in a global competition of a robotics nature. The cruel actions taken by Embassy officials denying those kids of barely teenage ages the chance to attend a gathering of such magnitude has come to define the whole visa process Western diplomats assigned to the country have used for years in sending signals to shore up power. I do not care for the explanation of the American counsellor, nor will I fall for baseless reasoning on this and every other case found to be detestable, thus indefensible.

From an expertise analytical viewpoint – The issue here and all such recent offerings has come to signify US bargaining chip in furtherance of its foreign policy objectives. In simple terms, America is after something from the Gambia government, but clearly negotiations aren’t met as they’d wanted. I recognise cruel intentions on the part of the State Department as to rationale behind such a move. Fellow Gambians – Foresight has allowed me to analyse and conclude that the United States government through its embassy in Banjul is conniving to send diplomatic signals, the intimidating kind, to the ‘Barrow’ government playing up strength in bargain positioning. Folks, America is forcing the hand of the Gambia government to accept a costly demand which can only be described as unacceptable. And that demand largely hinges on deportation orders ascribed on all persons of Gambian origin being held by US immigration department and in prisons. As captured by local press, the embassy came out throwing ‘carrots’ for Gambia to accept deportees from US in exchange for warmer ties and financial benefit. How unethical, and pathetic too.
Let me make it abundantly clear that the diaspora is watching this space with great concern. And I will not hesitate to thank the Foreign Ministry in standing firm protecting its constituency abroad. A vital national interest is determinant on this and all such demands from Western governments in motion. The pattern is uncanny on coercive diplomatic moves the United States has gotten away with, for decades, bullying lesser enhanced states in furtherance of its national interest. If ever in doubt just look at the delaying tactics Gambia government officials are met with in securing visas on foreign travels. Make no mistake the deportation orders are illegal under international law. Let Foreign Minister Darboe be assured of diaspora support & fraternity at all times, encouraging push-back against bullying tactics. Similarly, the President and his government deserve noteworthy praise for recent successes across the spectrum, and for diplomatic manoeuvres and contributions to African progress through multilateral means at ECOWAS, the African Union, and through United Nations systems respectively.

As for ambassador Patricia Allsop, she should be declared persona non-grata – pack your bags and get the hell out. The American government need to recognise trends, changes in polarity, emerging international order, in that the world has moved on from the old norms. And that exorbitant visa fees thrown on applicants’ way wills never be understood. The ‘West’ continues to milk millions out of ordinary applicants through visa fees, otherwise unrefunded. Britain is charging close to D100,000 all those seeking to reunite with other-halves; a similar cost is attached by other embassies. This is unacceptable given jurisdiction or otherwise: It is along those lines that I wish to commend & send profound gratitude and appreciations to the Peoples’ Republic of China through ambassador Jiming. I call on government to prioritise Banjul-Beijing ties thereby by deepening economic cooperation & linkages in a broad range of areas for mutual interest. The same policy should apply to Banjul-Moscow ties and to our friends in the Arab world.

The writer encourages his countryfolks to exercise patience, and to cooperate with one another for the interest of the nation. The Gambian people need to recognise a new century of African renaissance and wise up to it, of an emergent educated elite who second-guess and pre-empt foreign intentions. A confident people in decision-making skills, to excel in negotiations and contract makings. America and Europe must open eyes to the realities of a new-world in which the old ways of bullying-tactics won’t stand, thus obsolete. It is along such thinking that Tanzania‘s President John Magufuli ordered the suspension of new mining licenses to foreign firms, stating that expired licenses will not be renewed; accuses foreign companies of tax evasion.

Gibril Saine, LONDON