Joe,
I may not be in agreement of your diagnosis of the so called bumster menace
but do agree with you and those who expressed similar sentiment that the
government couldn't have handled this any worse.
The heavy-handedness of the security forces has more negative side effects
than the so-called bumster problem. Whereas it can be argued that there are
some very bad elements among them, it is safe to say that the majority are
very law abiding cirizens. These good ones encourage tourists to see Gambia
as it is rather than stay in their hotels. Such tourists are the ones who
see our abject poverty and often help in sponsoring school going kids and
engage in other philanthropic activities such as donation of drugs and
other humanitarean activities.
Finally, the danger of this heavy-handedness would be to turn away the
professional bumsters and replacing them by uncouth security personnel
lacking the finesse of the professional bumsters.
I hope the Department of State for Tourism and the Gambia Tourism Authority
revisits these new measures being employed to safeguard tourists visiting
us.
Have a good day, Gassa.
> Folks, what you sow is what you shall rip. Garbage in yields nothing
> but garbage out. Now that we have mass arrests, all of a sudden we see
> or realized the stupidity of the thought that created the result. See,
> before the victims had no face and thus no one cared. Now that it hit
> close to home and we saw our own sons and daughters carted away, all of
> a sudden its an emergency. We cannot praise these criminals for being
> roughnecks and at the same time don't expect casualties as a result.
> We were not careful what we asked for, and as faith would have it, we
> got it.
>
> Chi Jaama
>
> Joe Sambou
>
>
>>From: "Sidi M Sanneh" <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>>To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: [>-<] Reining in the bumsters (Observer Editorial)
>>Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 15:31:02 +0000
>>
>>[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Sidi M Sanneh"
>><[log in to unmask]> ]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>November 14, 2002
>>Posted to the web November 14, 2002
>>
>>Banjul
>>
>>The mass arrest of unwanted beach users otherwise known as 'bumsters',
>>is a cause for concern .
>>
>>Much as we agree with the elimination of all threats to our much
>>cherished tourist industry, we equally beg that care should be taken by
>>the security personnel currently doing the exercise. Their job is a
>>delicate one needing maximum level-headedness to avoid harming the
>>overall good in the process of weeding out the rot in our industry.
>>
>>The security forces must show professionalism in dealing with these
>>'bumsters'. High-handed approaches like brute force, is not desirable
>>and should only be the last resort. If there is reasonable suspicion
>>that they are up to no good, they should be arrested gently and led
>>away from the prying eyes of people or public places and be
>>interrogated based on the charges against them.
>>
>>We must also consider that the mere presence of heavy security can
>>dampen the atmosphere of a normally exciting night life which some
>>tourists like enjoying in The Gambia. Most tourists appreciate the
>>trouble taken to protect them but others would be easily scared at the
>>very sight of a uniformed man.
>>
>>A tourist who intends to partake in the daily lives of the people of
>>our country would also be deterred if there are scenes of uniform men
>>chasing people all around.
>>
>>We have no doubt that our security forces are mature but much more
>>restraint is asked of them in this bumster issues.
>>
>>After all, with the exception of notorious drug traffickers, there are
>>some genuine, honest bumsters who cultivate true relationship with the
>>tourists.
>>
>>The hotel workers and tourist taxi drivers would tell you that not all
>>are bad. But then how do you find out? Certainly not from their shabby
>>appearance and dreadlocks.
>>
>>That is why all the more, the authorities should know that the menace
>>cannot be wiped out so easily. It has been an entrenched past time and
>>curbing it requires a gradual approach, using persuasion,
>>re-orientation and only as a last resort, force where neccesary.
>>
>>They must be made aware of the sensitivity of the bumster issue, not
>>least because of the brighter side of it.
>>
>>Many would argue that bumsters, that is those successful, have helped
>>improve the lives of their families and communities. As long as it did
>>not get out of hand, most people would not mind young people following
>>the 'Toubabs'.
>>
>>
>>
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