George, thanks for your contributions. I especially want to touch on the
issue about the elections fundraising drive you mentioned in your piece. I
know you do not mean to question the integrity of the people leading this
noble endeavor, but you raised a very valid point; a point that several
people have raised with me privately.

It was because of that cynicism that I also raised the issue earlier on.
There are people like myself that believe that we need to put the coalition
together before we embark on the issue of funding. I agree with you that
people will perhaps be more eager to donate if they had confidence that the
Opposition parties are willing to come together to form a coalition for the
purpose of contesting the October Elections.

In that vein, it is important that the Opposition parties come together and
start liaising with organizations in the Diaspora that are willing to raise
funds for them. We do not have a lot of time in our hands. I will again
reiterate my appeal to the Movements both in New York and in London to
redouble efforts to bring the Opposition together and also to liaise with
organizations like the one in Chicago to pool all the funds in one basket.
With that purse, we (in the Diaspora) will be in a better position to talk
to the Opposition back home.

Again, this is not a knock on the people in Chicago who I think are doing a
magnificent job. I just feel that it is important that all the organizations
in the Diaspora pool together and ensure forthwith that there is a United
Opposition before engaging in an aggressive fundraising drive. Most people
are reluctant to contribute because they do not know where their money is
going. It is important that the Opposition come together before we part with
our money.
KB



>From: Mr Makaveli <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Hamjatta Re: To Brother Saul Khan
>Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2001 14:21:09 -0500
>
>While I commend Joe Sambou's and others initiating a fund drive for the
>opposition as a noble deed, I'm somewhat not surprised by the low turnout
>of contributors. Maybe the opposition leaders are not passing their agendas
>properly through the proper channels to retain voter confidence, I don't
>know. But I do know that it will make a hell of a difference if they tell
>us their needs rather us in the G_L trying to figure it out for them. I
>personally don't have the slightest problem chipping in $50 to the fund
>drive but I would be more generous and make that atleast 20 times over if
>they implement our viable proposal to form a unified opposition. We should
>be fight the same course unless opposition party leaders start making it
>apparent that they are only after their political aspirations and what not.
>I also concur with Kebba Dampha's suggestion on trying to get the MRDGuk/ny
>to spearhead the fund drive and basically get all organisations involved.
>Otherwise we can attribute the low turnout to lack of organistion. As it
>stands right now, the fund drive seems like a secret society club thing
>and unless we make it official globally, we might as well have a barbecue
>cook-out with it, in which case i'll be more than willing to bring the
>silverware and refreshments. (o-:)..just kidding..
>
>See, I promised to be brief and look at me all caught up in these issues.
>I guess issues of national interest are more pressing afterall. Goodnight
>everyone.
>
>                                                       MR MAKAVELI
>
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