Since you are very obsessed with the lengths of the roads that Jammeh has constructed or are being constructed, I will give you some figures that are readily available.

The Kombo Coastal highway is a network of first class roads linking most of the major settlements of the Kombo coast, particularly those actively involved in fishing. The total length of the road networks is 80 Km.

I don’t know the distance between Essau and Kerewan, but since you seem to know everything, I am sure you would have a fairly good idea of the distance. Incidentally, the construction of this stretch of road also included the construction of the longest bridge in The Gambia (350 Metres) across the Miniminiyang Bolong.

The Banjul to Sere Kunda dual carriageway is being extended from Westfield Clinic to just after the airport where it links up with one of the Kombo Coastal network of roads that takes you to the heart of the Tourism Development Area (TDA). I mean the Senegambia hotel area.

From Yundum airport, the road narrows to a single carriageway all the way to Soma. Again you should have a fairly good idea of the distance.

A contract has already been signed for the construction of the stretch from Fara Feni to Lamin Koto (Janjangbureh, formerly George Town).

The trans-Gambia road, which is very important for trans-Gambian trade, is also being constructed.

The European Union has pledged to fund the resurfacing of the Soma to Basse stretch this year, and these works are expected to start soon.

These are just a few of the roads built or are being built. I have deliberately left out the other network of small roads and the many bridges built elsewhere in the country just shorten by response.

Now to answer those who seem to think that Gambians do not value rule of law, good governance, human rights etc. let me just say that you must be deluding yourselves if that is what you think. There is nothing farther from the truth and reality on the ground is there for all to see. What the majority of Gambians living here and support Jammeh and his government are saying is that, we have our priorities. Someone who is dirty and needs a bath cares more for water than soap. Someone on a long journey and tired of walking does not care whether he gets a lift from donkey cart driver, horse cart driver or limousine driver. For one in that position, getting a lift is more of a priority than the mode of transport.

Here, in the Greater Banjul Area, many would rather be seen dead than be seen riding in a 404/505 (commonly called Kart san Mbar). Go to Dakar and guess what; the most beautiful of ladies ride in what we, in Gambia, shun and call Gele-Geles. Even though most of our public transport busses are new and air-conditioned, most of our so-called sophisticated folks in the GBA would not ride in them. These same people would queue or scramble for Kart san Mbarrs when they get to Fara Feni and want to travel to Kaur, Kuntaur or Janjangbureh. Is it because they are unwell, unconscious or just exercising their right to choose?

Growing up in Kuntaur, drinking river water with all its risks, are you people crazy to tell me not to appreciate it when the government brings us clean drinking water from a borehole that is treated and monitored? Are some of you for real, questioning our sanity or consciousness when we say that access to clean drinking water, education, health, markets, energy etc, etc are more of a priority to us than the other intangibles such as your understanding of what human rights are? Who cares about human rights when one is hungry or sick? Who cares about human rights when one is uneducated and unemployed? Who cares about good governance when there is civil war? We are more pre-occupied with providing those things, the lack of which has wrecked havoc in our sub-region. If some of you fail to understand these basic things because of your hatred of Jammeh, then there is very little any of us can do about that.

However, like it or not, our people have made a clear choice. The development of the key sectors of our society such as roads, clean drinking water, clinics and hospitals, schools and agricultural inputs are more of a priority to us than your so-called perception of what constitutes human rights. Curtailing our rapid population growth and feeding our people are more of a priority than all your notions of human rights and good governance. That, in essence, is my take on the issue.

Have a good day, Gassa.