THIS ARTICLE IS CULLED FROM THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER. 'Govt to pay D332 million in external loans' The Gambia Government is indebted to international financiers by over D332 million arranged as loans and credits to fund development projects across the country, Sidia Jatta the National Assembly member for Wuli told a PDOIS rally in Brufut recently. 'From July 1994, when the regime forcibly assumed power, the loan burden has constantly increased by D200 million, making it a total of D332 million as this year winds to a close,' Mr. Jatta opined. Mr. Jatta who was PDOIS' presidential candidate in the 1996 presidential elections said all the development programmes, which the president has been 'boasting' about during his meet the people tour are yet to be paid by Gambian taxpayers. He cited the Kombo coastal roads and the airport as the results of projects implemented through such loans. According to him, for the airport alone The Gambia Government should pay back D100 million. Mr. Jatta claimed that all the schools, hospitals, bridges, roads and other projects the government 'so proudly refer to' were funded by loans, which he said are ruining the country's economy, already manifested by the dwindling value of the Dalasi. As far as development is concerned, he said the economy should make maximum utility of its revenue, instead of depending on 'countless' loans from international financiers. He posited that any nation depending on external credits and loans to fund its development works is indecisive and bankrupt in its resource management. He suggested that the 'millions of dalasis', which have been collected 'from the pockets of taxpayers' during the recurrent financial year could have been properly utilised to build vibrant structures, such as good roads. Mr. Jatta charged that there was no sensible use of the country's meagre resources, which he said were being used for paying frequent presidential trips and buying flamboyant cars for state officials. According to Mr. Jatta the President alone receives a monthly salary of D26, 000 'apart from over D2000 given to him for each of the nights spent away'. He said the secretaries of state receive D16, 000 each while the Vice President receives D23, 000. Commenting on the importance of politics in the lives of the people, he said it creates a forum through which people can discuss national issues that are relevant to their survival. He warned Gambians not be deceived by those who use the political platform to destabilise, disintegrate and blindfold them. 'The lives of human beings are useless and meaningless if they are spent on fruitless and thoughtless initiatives', he averred, The Gambia he said belongs to its citizens with whom the sovereignty of the country rests 'as indicated in Section one of the constitution'. In this vein, Mr. Jatta said no power should exist that deprives the people of their constitutional rights, and encourages a situation in which leaders are 'worshipped as God or as Mansas'. 'This idea should completely be negated in the minds of Gambians and allow their conscience to dictate the affairs of the nation', he demanded. Leaders, Mr. Jatta believed should always show themselves as humble servants of the people, instead of posing as 'omnipotent lords'. Furthermore, he said PDOIS is committed to enlightening and awakening the consciousness of Gambians by informing them about relevant issues affecting them. 'In a gathering where national issues and the election of responsible officials are discussed, flamboyance and drumming are not given any chance to manifest,' he observed. Mr. Jatta called on Gambians to become 'the masters of their minds and control the affairs of the state to salvage themselves from external domination'. Commenting on the flight of Gambians to other countries from where some face deportation Mr. Jatta blamed economic hardship, which forces the country's youths to 'escape to greener pastures'. The Wuli Assembly member reflected somberly on the country's economic situation, which he said is worsening at a 'very fast pace'. He said that as a consequence of the economic crisis Gambians are hardly placed in good stead financially to build houses out of their limited resources, and salaries. 'Thus the nerve syndrome has become acute as the years go by,' he posited. On political intolerance and thuggery, Halifah Sallah another PDOIS strongman said such a situation only exists in a country 'where there is ignorance and disunity among its people' _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. 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