THE POINT http://www.thepoint.gm/headlines2258.htm Reported on some Gambians In the USA trying to reunite the former opposition coalition NADD which broke up shortly before the last elections. Even though I believe it would have been more realistic and productive to have the initiative from the different party leaders themselves, it still is a worthy cause. This is a more productive and sensible approach to the “sit here and whine” attitude and the “military intervention” theories we’re flooded with. I hope the opposition leaders realize that the Gambian people are counting on them and it is as much a burden on them to “deliver” as it is on the ruling party. The interests of the Gambian people must take center stage ahead of individual power-hungry goals. If you’re more concerned in being president than what’s best for the people then you’re certainly not the right man for the job.
Magistrate Richards Warns NIA, Police to Stay off Civil Matters - http://www.thepoint.gm/headlines2264.htm
It’s about time someone did something about the security forces interfering in civil matters that they have no business in. I sometimes feel they just don’t have anything better to do. Too many times do we see or hear of a soldier arresting someone because they got into a fight with someone else. It’s about time we all know our responsibilities or have someone tell us if we don’t. To that, I’d like to remind our security forces that they should be “friends” and “helpers” of the public rather than intimidators. I haven’t been to Gambia in a while but I really hope the chest beating “do you know who you’re talking to” speech is a thing of the past. If it isn’t, “please help us Magistrate Richards”.
Operation Save Ebo Town Takes Centre Stage - http://www.thepoint.gm/National%20Stories1335.htm
A story about a “…multitude of people from various walks of life on Saturday took to the homes and streets of the area to drain stagnant waters in the compounds as well as to clean the streets of filth”. Though not a surprise, it just reminds me of how we Gambians take care of each other. It is always beautiful to see people helping those in need and no one does it quite like Gambians. We indeed are a blessed people. It’s what keeps us going and I hope we stay that way through the end of time.
SENEGAMBIA NEWS http://www.senegambianews.com/article.cfm?articleID=1884
Under the heading “Juwara asks Jammeh to step down”, Senegambia News reported on former Parliamentarian Lamin Waa Juwara asking President Jammeh to step down. According to Senegambia News, the reasons cited by Juwara included 13 years of mismanagement and corruption as a result of lack of fiscal discipline brought about by the Jammeh government.
I would love to comment on the story but unfortunately, Senegambia News did not give me any sign of credibility to their story. We don’t even know where or when Juwara made the said remarks. Next time, please give us an occasion, date or venue of speech. Juwara could have been speaking at a comedy club for all I know.
I must add that Juwara’s recent comments are indeed confusing to a lot of followers of Gambian politics. They sound very “un-mbarodi like”. I saw the interview on Freedomnewspaper and I’m contemplating whether to comment on it. Stay tuned to see if I do.
THE GAMBIA ECHO
http://www.thegambiaecho.com/Homepage/tabid/36/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/719/Default.aspx
Under the heading “Senior Police Officer Assaults President Jammeh At Kanilai Farm”, the Gambia echo wrote “Unimpeachable sources from Kanilai reveal a welcome development, the confrontation of President Yahya Jammeh by a senior no-nonsense police officer at the dictator’s slave farms at his native Kanilai.”
Again, coming from them, it was not a surprise that they call this a welcome development. I did say in my reviews that they do seem like they’re out for vengeance and this was further proof of it. Even for people who hate Jammeh, there are many words and ways to “celebrate” this than to call it a welcome development. For example, you could call it “sad” that our people are driven to such acts of insanity. You could question just what desperation and suffering “caused by the government” could push someone to such desperate measures…etc.
People, don’t get me wrong. I am not defending Jammeh. Nor am I in anyway implying that the said officer should not be mad at him. My contention is to have respect for the law. As a police officer (or an individual), one needs to know and respect the laws set to guide our society and prevent anarchy. Assault is illegal and unacceptable in every society I know of and should be condemned and not celebrated like the Gambia Echo did. There are numerous “legal” ways to take a stance and make your voice heard. The said individual would have served his cause much better by refusing to work on the farm for example, rather than work and then assault the president.
To the Echo I ask, “what does this man or anyone else gain from assaulting the president?” I would also like to know if you will pledge to take care of his family if/while he is sent to jail for assault? I would ask you if you would personally ever have done the same thing but I already have my answer since you crossed the oceans to even do your job as a journalist.
I would also remind all Gambians that regardless of our feelings for the person occupying the office, we need to respect THE OFFICE. Despite all the hardships, we must keep our sanity and deal with things the right way. It’s the only way to bring better and brighter days.
http://www.thegambiaecho.com/Homepage/tabid/36/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/718/The-Gambia-A-Country-That-God-Forgot-Analysis.aspx
In the article “The Gambia: A Country That God Forgot (Analysis)”, writer Matthew K. Jallow does an excellent job in highlighting the effects of dictatorships on people. Mr. Jallow rightly states that “dictatorships by their very nature force their subjects to think inwardly and passively to the extent that after a while their proactive, reactive and creative thoughts become moribund, the whole society will fall into disillusionment and dysfunctional state of being”. This sound analysis gives us hope that we have journalists, (and hopefully politicians), like Mr. Jallow, who know better and will refuse to let the Gambia fall totally in such a sad predicament. Unfortunately, that hope is quickly shattered in by the rest of the same article. In his “weekly news round up”, Mr. Jallow’s tone and reasoning, or lack thereof, demonstrates how moribund, meaning about to die, (yeah I grab my dictionary when reading the echo) his own sense of reason has become. He affirms his support for a military removal of the government AND tries to justify corruption by public officials just because “Jammeh is doing the same thing”. A smart man like him would normally have known that two wrongs don’t make a right but I guess he can be excused on grounds of being “turned moribund by the dictatorship”.
I would conclude by reminding Mr. Jallow that despite all the suffering, we still have a lot to be thankful for. Iraq, Sudan and I’m sure many others, would give anything to be in our position. We can keep it that way and even make things much better but only if we avoid letting our sanity go “moribund”.
We are a blessed people and God has not forgotten us. Just as when Jesus cried “El, Ely, lamach sabachtani” {My God, My God, why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46)}, I’m sure God had a plan. Jesus dying on the cross was the price paid for pardoning our sins. He was NOT forsaken by God and maybe, just maybe, God has not forgotten Gambians either.
Stay blessed
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