Sister Soffie Ceesay,

Many many thanks for this wonderfully readable report on the meeting of Gambia government representatives at Howard University. It has obviously been a tremendously  interesting meeting, with the regime's mouthpieces in top spin, ironically lauding the freedom of the press while preparing the inauguration of the Media Commission back home; chanting hymns on the good President's donation of tractors to farmers while Gambian peasants disappear daily on the yoke of incessant price increases and unmarketable products; lecturing on good governance while the souls of Gambian school children butchered in broad daylight by soldiers three years ago, remain restless for want of justice. 
To have the courage to put up a very brave face in the United States never mind the issues of injustice and corruption you and other progressive Gambians raised, is indeed the stuff of legend. The composition of the delegation itself is awesome. I would not have dreamt that Crispin(?) Grey-Johnson, who introduced many students and myself to Samir Amin's "The Pillage of the Third World", himself would be watchdog of a regime pillaging the Gambia.

George W. Bush will be visiting Senegal and several African countries from July 7th. Of course Bush, like other world leaders before him will overfly Gambia on his way to Nigeria and South Africa. Gambian leaders have rightly calculated they need to bring their case for investment opportunities in the Gambia to Washington since Washington will not come to Banjul. It is a case of the mountain coming to Muhammad. I think again that the Gambian government is knocking on the wrong door. Militating against its economic potential is Gambia's very very small market size; much smaller than that of most American cities with a population of 100,000.

It is a good idea to want to sell Gambia abroad, but Gambia must first get its priorities right if it wants to become more attrractive in the international marketplace.  The government needs to woo overseas-based Gambians to gradually convince them that it is in their best interest to invest at home; and it cannot do that if their is apparent disregard for the rule of law, if it continues to muzzle critical voices, both of individuals and of the media, and if does not reinstate its previously overhyped slogans of accountability, transparency and probity. Our country is too small to continuously experience the politics of division rather than inclusion. Our very small size endows us with the possibility of creating and maintaining a consensus on political culture; an inclusive culture that while encouraging difference in thinking an association, nevertheless instills a unity of national purpose; and because it has the power of executing its wishes, the government needs to take the initiative in this regard. 

Besides, Mr. Blaise Jagne needs to understand that Gambians will continue to insult the government if itself continues to violate the integrity and abuse the dignity of Gambians. A better Gambia is not just desirable, it is indeed possible.

Momodou S Sidibeh


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ceesay, Soffie" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 10:26 PM
Subject: Trade & Investment Session at Howard University by Reps from the AFPRC - 2


> Hello again -
> 
> For the great benefit of having Dumo and his co-accused freed, we will
> tolerate, only so far, the carrot and stick games of this regime.  The
> majority of those in attendance had no idea that two square meals a day for
> the average Gambian was a luxury, that our society has been reduced to a
> beggar-dom, that there is no such thing as accountability and transparency
> or probity, that there is no freedom of the press, or that law and justice
> took flight when the soldiers with a difference marched in.  Granted, the
> reps from the government were not there to talk about my musings or the
> realities on the ground.  They were there to sell the idea that trade with
> the Gambia is a good thing.  Yes, it is a good thing but for whom?
> 
> The representatives extolled the virtues of our "democracy", our wonderful
> health care and communication systems, amongst the reasons why to invest in
> our country. The media bill which in effect, puts into law the further
> muzzling of the press, opened up the question and answer session at Howard
> on Monday.
> 
> Pa Samba averred the failure of the delegation to mention the media amongst
> the independent institutions in the country.  He said he found it
> interesting given that the media suffers the "brunt of the government's
> harsh treatment of people".  He followed with this question - "Mr. Jagne,
> you stated that investment will result to growth and stability.  How do you
> expect people to invest in a country whose government is one of the most
> vicious dictatorships in Africa, where people who are deemed to be opponents
> of the government are targeted and seen as enemies?  You do not have to take
> my work for this but you can go to the internet and check the Amnesty report
> and the US state department report."
> 
> "We were told that there would be Gambians who would be hurling insults at
> the Gambia regardless of what we say here" responded Blaise Jagne, after
> which asked Mr. Sallah to respond.
> 
> "If the Gambia was as bad as this man is making it to be, then we would not
> be doing business with the US.  We all know that the US does not do business
> with governments that are not democratic."  He went on to name the number of
> private radio stations and print media houses and briefly mentioned the
> incident when supporters of the regime set a radio station on fire.
> 
> Saul Saidy Khan told them to drop that crap and educated them, not that I
> think they are ignorant of them, about the countries that the US does
> business with and how anathema democracy is to them.  Saul asked how they
> can brag about being #3 for good governance when they cannot account for
> $500 million from the crude oil saga being investigated in Nigeria.  Of
> course, Mr. Sallah downplayed the issue, calling into question the
> credibility of the newspaper that reported the deal and that Gambia
> government responded to the inquiries.  In effect, saying that there were no
> improprieties in regards to the crude oil.
> 
> Yes, they kept repeating this #3 standing which, like a magic pill, has
> catapulted them into this regime that does everything right and as a result,
> has qualified and has been accepted into the world's business circles.
> 
> I welcomed and thanked them for representing our country so well.  I said
> that if their pronouncements and hopes come to fruition, Gambia will benefit
> which hopefully, will result in the cessation of children eating out of
> dumpsters, that with our health care system being what they say it is, the
> president's wife can now take her baby to our able doctors for well-baby
> visits instead of jetting to the US for such.  Having said that, I reminded
> them of what they said - that the government bought tractors for our
> farmers, agriculture being the backbone of our economy.  I wanted them to
> tell the audience why our farmers could not afford to buy their own tractors
> and what their earning power is.  This was never answered.  Instead we were
> treated "to my family use our health facilities" and I don't know what the
> president's wife does and that the country is a poor developing country,
> that the country now graduates so many students who do not have to come here
> and spend so much money to be educated, and that perhaps I am able to raise
> these issues because of my privileged station in life and should go home -
> excuses ad nauseam.
> 
> None of their responses was a surprise.  Except for Blaise Jagne's
> disingenuousness in responding to Pa Samba and former ambassador Hailey's
> sad comment that Gambia was the finest and most stable country in Africa and
> that Pa Samba should do more research to know his country, no surprises.
> Interestingly, the ambassador was not there for the whole session so that Pa
> Samba could make good on his promise to speak to him afterwards.  Yes,
> Gambia is a fine country but stability is relative.  If we are being
> compared to the Ivory Coast of Sierra Leone, or Liberia, of course it is
> stable.  However, ask those whose rights and liberties are abrogated on the
> whim of gun totting, torture enjoying do-no-gooders, and they may tell you
> differently.
> 
> Thanks for your indulgence and the struggle continues.
> 
> Soffie
> 
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