Government terminates partnership with Spectrum
<http://observer.gm/africa/news>
<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news>
<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/11/10/government-terminates-partnership-with-spectrum#>

Author: *DO  *Courtesy
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2008/11/10/government-terminates-partnership-with-spectrum


This is a lengthy but interesting article on what President Jammeh said
at the signing ceremony 14 months ago.
As far as I am concern, there are no lesser Gambians or less patriotic
Gambians. Once upon a time Gamtel was the envy of the world, thanks to
many ordinary Gambians who dedicated their lives to do extraordinary
things.  Many of these people have seen their many years of service push
down toilet. Some were dragged through the courts with frivolous charges
while the lucky ones were forced to quietly leave their jobs just to
start all over again. For Mr. Jammeh to say that "Those who think that
we are wrong by the type of action we have taken, I will say to you that
you are very much ignorant of the Qur'an and should seek guidance from
Allah, and read the Qura'n. And we will know who's right or wrong. Those
who think it will not work, my warning to you is to stay away." clearly
shows lack of appreciation of Gamtel's problems.


Malanding Jaiteh


*Gambia: Gamtel / Gamcel, Spectrum Sign Partnership*



The Daily Observer <http://www.observer.gm/enews/> (Banjul)

28 September 2007
Posted to the web 29 September 2007

Ousamn Darboe

Spectrum International Investment Company Group, yesterday signed a
strategic partnership agreement with Gamtel/Gamcel Telecommunication
Company Ltd, presided over by President Yahya Jammeh, at State House,
Banjul.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, President Jammeh, described the
strategic partnership and management agreement as a turning point for
his government since 1994. He then noted that his wish "is to see
Gambians manage their economic activities and manage it towards better
standards".


He said he has given the management of Gamtel/Gamcel chances to prove
themselves for 13 years, but unfortunately certain sectors have failed,
noting that he is more interested in the well-being of Gambians.

President Jammeh said if Gambians fail to render services that will
usher in a modern Gambia, then he has the right to call on others who
will render such services. "What we have in Gamtel/Gamcel is very appalling.

It is very sad that at times you have to take very drastic action to
salvage a company that is an envy of Africa. We put in so many things in
the management and each one of them failed, alongside the other, but why
should I allow people to fail with the management? I will not allow this.

What we are looking for as far as my government is concerned, is if you
are up, we will always go up with you until the sky is the limit. We
will never allow a situation where we are going up, while you go down.
So, this is a turning point for Gamtel/Gamcel. We must have the best,"
he said.

The Gambian leader added that he wants Spectrum to deliver the best,
otherwise his government will look further to the one with the best. He
said there is no reason why Spectrum cannot give their best as they have
very seasoned management cadre.

He assured them of his government's full cooperation and the people of
The Gambia, adding that telecommunication is the key to development,
just like education is the key to development.

"We want The Gambia to be a commercial centre, not only for the
sub-region of Africa, but an important financial sector for the rest of
the world. The Gambia will become a financial centre by the will of God.
We have not regretted the partnership as this world is about
partnership. This type of partnership will bring the regions and people
closer, and of course will lead to world peace, as without peace there
cannot be any meaningful development," he added.

He pointed out that no matter what his rivals may say, he will not be
deterred from what he wants to do, because whatever he does is in the
best interest of Gambians and the country. He cited the Almighty Allah
as his witness and then noted that whatever he does, is in the best
interest of humankind but not for personal gain or glory.

"Those who think that we are wrong by the type of action we have taken,
I will say to you that you are very much ignorant of the Qur'an and
should seek guidance from Allah, and read the Qura'n. And we will know
who's right or wrong. Those who think it will not work, my warning to
you is to stay away.

If you want to ensure that it will not work, you will not work, but the
agreement will work for the interest of Gambians and the patriotic
citizens of this country. If you stay to ensure that it will not work,
it will mean one of the two things, either a hotel accommodation or you
will join "Mbye-wahu", and that will be the best you can have. The best
you will have is to be kicked out of the place.

The other best you can have is to keep you to Seven Star Hotel for a
number of years. So, if you don't want to work, leave honorably. If you
don't want to work and you stay, we will deal with you because you know
us. I would have taken drastic action, because I will know what each and
every one of you have done. I believe in giving people two chances," he
warned.

President Jammeh further, said though "we have signed the management
contract, it means that those that can be kept, be kept and those that
cannot be kept would have to go". After all, he said, he has given the
management of Gamtel/Gamcel thirteen good years to prove themselve, but
they have failed.

According to him, since the former government up till now, they have
spent a lot of money on training of Gamtel staff in various parts of the
world. Despite this, he said something shocking has happened in recent
times. "With all the trainings that you have gone through, we need an
Alcatel guy and we have to pay 35 thousand Euros for the person to come
and lay whatever we have to put in Kanilai and one in Bwiam, which came
as a shock. More than twenty-five years of existence and training, yet
you cannot do that, and we have to get somebody for 35 thousand Euros to
do it within a couple of minutes", he said, adding that "let the
sleeping dogs lye".

President Jammeh further revealed that those who cannot deliver should
give chance to those that can deliver, before any legal action is taken
against them or are sent to jail. "Sending you to jail, is also a burden
to the government as you will still be fed. If you think you cannot
work, please leave. "This is a warning to Spectrum Group.

You have no friends and I don't want any excuse. What we want is the
result and how to get the result is up to you. It will work with Yahya
Jammeh, whether you like it or not. If anyone thinks that this
partnership will not work and government will regret it, you are fooling
yourself and if you are not careful, you will be the one who will regret
it, because I am not going to compromise on this. It will not be an
excuse if Spectrum fails to deliver and start giving excuses.

Government has no friend and my friends are those who can deliver. We
know all the problems, as these problems are man-made. There is no
problem that cannot be solved. We have signed a partnership and all what
we want is the result," he pointed out.

President Jammeh added that people must work hard to eradicate poverty
which, he said, "could have been done by the British who have colonised
The Gambia for four hundred years and took all our wealth".

For him, he said, "democracy means those who can deliver and are ready
to work for the interest of his or her people", noting that he does not
care how others may define democracy, good governance and human rights.

He further stressed that "government is in the implementation period and
if anyone fails to deliver, you either go to jail or be dismissed".

He said The Gambia was sanctioned for four or five years, but with the
help of Allah the people survived. He told Spectrum Group to dismiss
anyone who they think is not delivering, noting that they cannot be more
merciful than the Almighty Allah and that there are people who deserve
to go to hell. He called on Gambians to change their attitudes for the
socio-economic development of the country.

For her part, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for
Communications and Information Technology, said it's both a golden
opportunity, and an important milestone in the drive to inject the
needed financial capital, technical and managerial competence in the
national telecommunication company, in a bid to develop the
infrastructure, expand the network and quality of services, provide
universal access and ultimately the advancement of telecommunication
services.

She said "our country deserves nothing less, if we are to transform into
a middle income country as envisaged in Vision 2020. The productivity of
investment and international competitiveness of any economy in this
information age relies to a great extent on efficiency, reliability and
productivity of telephone services".

The partnership between the government and Spectrum Group, she added,
will mean good for both Gamtel and Gamcel. "With the business models
presented by Spectrum, government has no doubt the model will bring in
the needed revival that has long eluded us. We are confident that the
country will soon benefit from a world class telecommunication
infrastructure that will provide good quality services, so that The
Gambia will regain its adorned position of being second only to South
Africa," SoS Macdoual-Gaye said.

To Spectrum Group and the management team of Detecon, she added, The
Gambia Government has provided you with an opportunity to prove yourself
as a true strategic business partner to help achieve the goals the
government always set for Gamtel. "You must do everything to ensure that
Gambians and residents of The Gambia benefit from this partnership,
through quality of services and expansion of infrastructure at pace with
modernisation, population and economic growth trends.

Internal control systems, especially on procurement and billing failed
completely. The company piled-up debt to over a billion Dalasi and got
encumbered and could not free itself from the clutches of some
unscrupulous vendors. This situation detoriated to a level where Gamtel,
a company that used to finance projects worth tens of millions of Dalasi
from its own coffers could not even pay salaries without borrowing.

To arrest any further deterioration in services, company exposure and
encumbrance, cash flow situation and the meeting of basic recurrent
commitments, the government under the leadership of Dr Alhaji Yahya
Jammeh, felt it necessary to take the bold step of a strategic
partnership that will bring in financial capital and know-how," she
remarked.

Michel Tenn, Representative of Spectrum Group, said the chances to
change Gamtel/Gamcel networking is very high and with this partnership
agreement more things will be put in place.

According to him, they have the technical know-how in the communication
sector and will make telecommunication in The Gambia the best, by
upgrading it to be second to none.

SoS Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, finally signed the partnership agreement, on
behalf of the government of The Gambia, while Michel Tenn, signed on
behalf of Spectrum group.

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