NEWS
APRC Chairperson Takes Jammeh to Task
By Our New York Correspondent



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September 18, 2005
A call made by an APRC supporter for Jammeh to tackle the country's ailing
energy sector, lack of medicines and teachers to man our school systems was
not received well by The Gambian leader and his delegation currently in New
York, The ALLGAMBIAN online newspaper can reveal.

According to our correspondent who covered the Jammeh meeting, which was
attended by his APRC supporters in New York, Ms. Mbara Nyang the APRC
Chairperson in New York took President Jammeh to task by challenging him to
address Gambia's electricity crisis once and for all, which according to Ms.
Nyang is getting from bad to worst.

Ms. Nyang who was repeatedly interrupted by Tijan Ceesay alias "Ecou Bopa"
to hand over the microphone, told President Jammeh that due to the lack of
electricity her sons could not spent their vacations in The Gambia, as they
were moved from The Gambia to neighbouring Senegal Dakar. She added that
despite numerous promises by NAWEC management that they will improve the
situation she said, electricity is still something to come by in The Gambia.

She therefore appealed to the President to address the serious state of
affairs, which she said is hindering development in the tiny West African
country. Also part of her concerns were the collapsing health and
educational sectors in The Gambia. Ms. Mbara urged the President to throw
light on claims that there are no drugs in our hospitals and teachers in
Gambia's schools.

While ignoring calls by Ecou Bopa for Ms. Nyang to hand over the microphone,
the APRC New York Chairperson said the forum was an opportune moment for her
to talk to President Jammeh and vowed not hand over the microphone without
completing her address. "I want to promise to the President that once my
demands are met, I will certainly return to my home village Kuntaur." she
said.

In response President Jammeh who earlier frowned at what many called the
direct criticism of his administration by his own supporter assured Ms.
Nyang that the electricity problem will soon be a thing of the past. He
unveiled that his government is negotiating with Singapore to address the
energy problem facing the country. On the issue of lack of teachers to man
our schools, the President attributed this to the growing number of schools
built by his government.

While blaming the deposed PPP administration for the country's educational
underdevelopment and lack of good health care services, Jammeh said under
the PPP rule there were only two public schools in the country. Such schools
he went on, "were The Gambia Methodist Boy High School and the Armitage High
School." Jammeh added that teachers were paid from a fund provided by the
Commonwealth. He attributed the lack of enough teachers to what he called
the growing number schools built by his government.

With regards to health delivery system, Jammeh said under Jawara's rule
there were only two hospitals across the country, namely the Bansang and the
Royal Victoria Hospitals. But today he went on "thanks myself Yahya Jammeh,
we are able to have 350 doctors from Cuba. The PPP government could not even
have 10 trained doctors at the time"

Still commenting on PPP'S shortcomings, Jammeh told the New York meeting
that under Jawara's rule, there were only 10 air conditioners across The
Gambia, while under his government "thanks Jammeh there are 10,000 air
conditioners across the country. This is the government that is trying to
come back to power. This is a government that ruled The Gambia for 30 years
and I was able to get rid of them within three hours." Jammeh bragged.

Also speaking at the meeting was Gambia's Trade minister Neneh Macdowl Gaye,
who urged APRC supporters to open their doors to the opposition. This she
said, will prevent any opposition threat against the current administration.

APRC Chairpersons here in the US, such as Abdoulie Sosseh of Atlanta, Penda
Sarr, Washington DC, Alhagie Jobarteh, Columbus Ohio were in attendance at
the New York meeting. They all Pledged their continued support and loyalty
to the APRC.



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