NEWS
DOLLAR RAINS AT THE SAVE THE GAMBIA MINNESOTA NADD FUNDRAISING DRIVE
By Bubacarr Ceesay
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October 5, 2005
Sons and daughters of The Gambia, recently gathered in Minnesota, here in
the United States to raise funds for the new opposition party NADD. The
meeting which was spearheaded by the Save The Gambia Democracy Project
Minnesota branch, exposes the current maladministration characterised by
massive corruption in the West African country. In what was widely
described as a "dollar" rain fundraising drive also attracted a good
number of friends of The Gambia, who were there to grace the occasion.
Speakers upon speakers commented on the atrocities committed under
dictator Jammeh's rule. Our managing Editor Bubacarr Ceesay attended the
Minnesota meeting and he now files this report.
Minneapolis, MN -Save the Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP), Minnesota
chapter held their first fundraising event on September 24, 2005 in the
booming city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The city which is resident to many
Gambians has become a political hot spot for visiting Gambian politicians
-- specifically, heavy weights like Hon. Halifa Sallah and Lawyer Ousainou
Darboe.
The event which was mainly geared to extend financial support to the
by-election campaigns of the opposition coalition National Alliance for
Democracy and Development (NADD) candidates was graced by guest speakers
in the persons of Lamin Sabally a former electoral expert and journalist,
STGDP chairman Kebba Foon, and Professor Dr. Abdoulie Saine.
The chairman of the occasion Lamin Dibba commended the gathering for their
turnout and commitment to salvage their motherland from decadence.
Tales of savagery
Mr. Dibba reminded the audience about violence unleashed on opposition
supporters during the past presidential election. The chairman who
witnessed one such incident, narrated in graphical detail how state guard
soldiers posted at the Denton Bridge ordered the driver of a truck load of
young Gambians to drive straight into the shallow river to their perish.
The driver, who obviously refused to comply with such an evil demand, was
beaten to near death together with several others in the convoy. He also
reminded the gathering about the unforgettable remarks made by former
education secretary Ann Therese Ndong Jatta that she endorsed the use of
deadly weapons against criminals posing as students while referring to the
April 10th and 11th , 2000 student demonstrators.
Every vote counts
In his remarks, panelist Lamin Sabally gave an insightful analysis of the
electioneering process in the Gambia. He posited that substantial number
of Gambians resides outside their homeland and all efforts must be made to
ensure their enfranchisement in the 2006 presidential election as required
by the constitution.
Dragging Dr. Jammeh to debate
For his part the chairman of the STGDP, Kebba Foon gave a brief background
of the organization as well as the successes and challenges they face
among other things. Mr. Foon made the revelation that STGDP intends to
organize a US styled presidential debate between incumbent Yahya Jammeh
and the un-named NADD flag bearer. The debate, said Mr. Foon will be live
televised in a major US institution and retransmitted for Gambians to
witness back home.
National security under spotlight
Also addressing the Minnesota meeting was Native Gambian, Prof. Abdoulie
Saine of Miami Oxford University, Ohio, who harps on the Gambia's
deteriorating security crisis from 1994 to date, amidst recent
authoritative research findings by the Foreign Policy and Fund for Peace
that found the Gambia to be among nations on the brink of collapse as a
"failed state". Dr. Saine lamented that the African Union must reconsider
plans for a 2006 summit in Banjul, which coincides with a decisive
election year in the country.
Taste of Gambia
Goodies included abundance of mouthwatering Gambian dishes. NADD t-shirts
were also on hand for purchase. Meanwhile, the organizers of the event
categorized it as a huge success and similar events in the pipeline as the
race for 2006 heats up.
Speeches delivered at the meeting will be published in our subsequent
publications. Please look out for them.
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