I never knew Joe Sambou is called "Joe Tennis."

As far as I know, Joe Gomez is called "Joe Tennis." However, both are
Gambian soccer legends.

Seedy

----- Original Message -----
From: "George Sarr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 5:17 AM
Subject: Re: [>-<] Pro-Democracy Group Challenges Coalition


> [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "George Sarr"
<[log in to unmask]> ]
>
>
> <<Joseph ("Joe Tennis") Sambou, an Accountant and one of the founder
> members of the STGDP started collecting money for this fund. After a
> series of long debates and discussions over the Internet, which were
> sometimes very heated, the majority came to the conclusion that Save The
> Gambia Democracy Fund, as it was initially named, should do more than just
> help victims. >>
>
> What VICTIMS!!! That, my friends, is 100% pure, USDA grade A prime cut
> bullshit that you see being spewed. Chei!
>
>
>     (__)
>     /oo\################
>     \||/################\
>      \/ ################ |
>         ###########BULL# |
>         ################  SHIT
>          | |        | |
>
>
>
>
>
> > I have something to say. Can I say something? Of course. I'll be back as
> > soon as I'm done eating this lovely steak. Bear with me....
> >
> > Pro-Democracy Group Challenges Coalition
> >
> > Urges NADD to expedite the process of choosing a flag bear
> >
> >
> > By Baba Galleh Jallow
> >
> >
> > Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP), a U.S.-based group of
> > Gambians dedicated to the promotion of democracy, human rights and good
> > governance in the country has challenged the National Alliance for
> > Democracy and Development (NADD), to build on the momentum they have
> > generated so far "by wrapping things as expeditiously as possible" and
> > to expedite the process of choosing a flagbearer for the coalition in
> > the October 2006 elections.
> >
> >
> > In an exclusive interview with The Independent, STGDP chairman Kebba
> > Foon also challenged the Gambian people to work hand in hand with the
> > forces of democracy inside and outside the country to bring about what
> > he called "the much needed system change." Below we reproduce the full
> > text of Mr. Foon's interview with The Independent's Founder Editor Baba
> > Galleh Jallow.
> >
> >
> > Q. What is the origin of the STGDP? Why was it formed?
> >
> >
> > Mr. Foon: The Save the Gambia Democracy Project was conceived on the
> > Internet; on the Gambia L and the Gambia Post forums used by Gambians
> > and friends of The Gambia in the Diaspora to discuss issues concerning
> > The Gambia and Gambians. An idea was suggested by Dr. Abdoulaye Saine -
> > a prominent Political Scientist and Professor at Miami University in
> > Ohio - to set up a fund in which Gambians and friends of The Gambia in
> > the Diaspora will contribute to help the victims of the April 10th. and
> > 11th 2000 student massacre, the private media and in a nutshell, the
> > victims of the APRC tyranny. Joseph ("Joe Tennis") Sambou, an Accountant
> > and one of the founder members of the STGDP started collecting money for
> > this fund. After a series of long debates and discussions over the
> > Internet, which were sometimes very heated, the majority came to the
> > conclusion that Save The Gambia Democracy Fund, as it was initially
> > named, should do more than just help victims. STGDP was formed in order
> > to get to the root causes of the predicament of the Gambian situation:
> > dictatorship, lack of respect for the rule of law by the current
> > administration and non-adherence to the principles of democracy. The
> > mission of the STGDP as stated in our constitution, is to create an
> > environment in The Gambia within which democracy and all its instruments
> > can be nurtured and enhanced for a better Gambia. STGDP shall
> > accommodate all Gambians and friends of The Gambia regardless of their
> > religious, economic, regional, social, political or ethnic background.
> > These goals will be accomplished by working with Gambians and Gambian
> > Associations around the world.
> >
> >
> > Q. When and where was the STGDP formed?
> >
> >
> > A: STGDP was formed in Atlanta, Georgia on February 18, 2004. This was
> > the date when the organization and its structures were formally launched
> > and its officials elected. However, STGDP was very active prior to its
> > formalization. The launching of the organization took place on the
> > campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, which was fitting to start this
> > journey to freedom from tyranny and the establishment of true democracy
> > in The Gambia because it is the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
> > who spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement in the USA in the 1960s.
> >
> >
> > Q. What is the structure of the organization, roughly speaking?
> >
> >
> > A: We have a management committee that consists of the Chairman (myself)
> > Kebba Foon, Vice Chairman Mustapha Ceesay, Secretary General Musa Jeng,
> > Treasurer Banka Manneh, Public Relations Officer Sigga Jagne, Auditor
> > Saloum Njie, Political Liaison Maila Touray and regional coordinators
> > all over United States who represent the organization in their
> > localities. We also have a fund raising committee which is very vital to
> > the organization.
> >
> >
> > Q. Your term limit of one year expired last February. Why has there been
> > no election of a
> >
> > new chairman yet and what are the plans in this area?
> >
> >
> > A: We had been involved in a lot of work in strategizing and planning
> > for the upcoming election next year and because of this we did not start
> > on time to plan for our congress in February. As chairman of STGDP, I
> > was out of the country for over three weeks in December and January.
> > Because of the above reasons, we were unable to hold our annual congress
> > to elect officials of the organization. We voted on this issue and an
> > over whelming majority of our members voted to hold the congress during
> > the July 4th Gambian reunion in Atlanta this year.
> >
> >
> > Q. The STGDP clearly played a pivotal role in bringing the opposition
> > parties together to form NADD. What were the major steps in this
> > process?
> >
> >
> > A: Yes, we played a pivotal role in bringing the opposition parties
> > together to form NADD. AGERA (the Atlanta Gambian Emergency Relief
> > Association) invited all the political parties in The Gambia to send a
> > representative to a conference on July 4th 2003 to meet with Gambians in
> > the Diaspora and discuss a way forward in the political affairs of the
> > country. We took the opportunity to organize a meeting with the leaders
> > and representatives of all the major opposition parties in The Gambia to
> > discuss the idea of a coalition. The meeting was a success and the
> > present coordinator for NADD, Mr. Halifa Sallah was elected in that hall
> > at Morehouse College by his peers. I will take this opportunity to
> > congratulate him and all the party leaders for keeping their promise and
> > going ahead with making NADD a reality. I will reassert what I promised
> > them in that hall again and that is we in the Diaspora will also keep
> > our promise to fund NADD. The process that led to the creation of NADD
> > started from that meeting at Morehouse College after which the leaders
> > promised us that they will go back home and start deliberating on
> > forming the coalition, which they did.
> >
> >
> > Q. STGDP is involved in facilitating the coalition process. What are the
> > major steps taken in this direction so far?
> >
> >
> > A: STGDP had been in consultation with the coalition from the time the
> > parties started deliberating after they left Atlanta to the signing of
> > the MOU in January of this year. Actually I was supposed to witness the
> > signing of the MOU but due to some delay in logistics, I left Banjul
> > four days before the signing ceremony. We are partners with NADD in this
> > process to create a level playing field in the political arena and
> > ultimately true democracy in The Gambia. We asked the leaders to go back
> > and engage in the dialogue to forge a coalition and most importantly to
> > put the country first and put aside all their differences in order to
> > save our dear country. We contributed our ideas in the formulation of
> > the MOU. Our next challenge is to raise the much needed funds for NADD
> > to conduct a formidable campaign next year and bring about the much
> > needed system change in the country.
> >
> >
> > Q. There has been some delay in NADD choosing a flag bearer for the
> > coalition. What has been the problem and what's the situation now? Is
> > the STGDP helping facilitate this process?
> >
> >
> > A. I do not think there is a deliberate delay in choosing the flag
> > bearer. From my discussions with Mr. Halifa Sallah while I was in the
> > Gambia, the plan was to sign the MOU first, set up the Secretariat,
> > register NADD with the IEC as a political party, go on a nation wide
> > tour as a group to inform the Gambian people about NADD and its aims and
> > objectives, and then start the process of choosing the flag bearer.
> > Therefore, I do not think that they are delaying the choosing of the
> > flag bearer; they are going according to schedule. We at the STGDP are
> > asking the coalition partners to expedite the process. Anyhow, I will
> > take this opportunity to suggest to the NADD executive that in choosing
> > the flag bearer, they should consider more than anything else, that the
> > flag bearer should be one who can effectively execute the aims and
> > objectives of the coalition. We understand that all the opposition
> > leaders are capable of being the flag bearer but we can only have one
> > flag bearer. It is already clear that whoever is chosen with the support
> > of all the parties which consist of NADD will definitely clinch victory
> > come October 2006.
> >
> >
> > Q. What are some of the difficulties encountered by the STGDP so far
> > both at home and in the Diaspora?
> >
> >
> > A. Getting the information out to the people to create awareness both in
> > The Gambia and the Diaspora.
> >
> >
> > Q. And what would you say are its major successes?
> >
> >
> > A. First, helping forge the coalition and staying engaged with the
> > coalition partners; the cohesiveness of the STGDP management committee;
> > and the constant engagement of the general members in all matters that
> > affect the organization's goals. These are some of our major successes.
> >
> >
> > Q. Do you see the STGDP continuing beyond the 2006 elections and if so
> > what role do you foresee it playing, particularly in the event of a
> > coalition victory?
> >
> >
> > A. Yes STGDP will definitely be here beyond the 2006 elections. This
> > organization is here to stay and we are not just about regime change
> > which is only a step towards changing the political culture to one where
> > leaders will be accountable to the people. Our goal is to have this
> > organization be the watchdog for good governance and the rule of law in
> > The Gambia. Our biggest strength so far has been the diversity of this
> > organization. It consists of members from all political affiliations and
> > members who do not belong to any political party and that explains why
> > it is seen as an organization of conscience.
> >
> >
> > Q. What activities are the STGDP currently engaged in?
> >
> >
> > A. We are engaged in several activities such as raising awareness of the
> > existence of the organization, fund-raising and identifying local
> > coordinators around the world, among other things.
> >
> >
> > Q. Any final words to the coalition and the Gambian people?
> >
> >
> > A. To the coalition partners we say: we are proud of you for the awesome
> > job you have done so far. So let us build on that momentum by wrapping
> > things as expeditiously as possible. We are here as your partner and we
> > are all in this together.
> >
> >
> > To the Gambian people we say: we are sons, daughters and friends of The
> > Gambia and are just playing our part in helping establish good
> > governance and the rule of law. As democracy is a prerequisite for
> > development, we have to nurture and put its institutions in place in
> > order to bring about better and prosperous living conditions for the
> > entire nation.
> >
> >
> > Q. How can STGDP be contacted?
> >
> >
> > You can contact us through our website: www.sunugambia.com or by email
> > at [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> > ô¿ô
> >   ~
> >
> > --
> > Au Revoir
> > ____________ __o
> > -/ _/ _________ -\<,_
> > _/ / _/_/_/ (_)/(_)
> > _/_/ eor _/ g_/e _/_/
> > [log in to unmask]
> > http://www.gambiapost.net
> >
> >
> >
> > « L'un des fondements de la morale tient dans l'emploi judicieux des
> > mots adéquats, au bon moment et au bon endroit. »
> >
> >
> >
> > « "Sahn joong moe low ful how jee yah ching wong" - "When the mountain
> > has no tigers, the monkey will also declare himself king." Chinese
> > Proverb »
> >
> >
> >
> > « A bird is in the air but its mind is on the ground (Mandinka)-
> > Wherever you are it is important to remember where you come from
> > and what is important. »
>
>
> --
> Copyright © 2004 GambiaTALK® is a registered trademark of The GAMBIA POST
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