Brothers,
I my humble view, we all seem to be dancing around the the main issue. I
recall the a submission from Bro Yus Jow sometime ago about 'The Death of
Tourism'. Frankly, I think he should have better entitled it 'The Death of
the Development in The Gambia'. Our nation's progress and development turned
300 degrees with the cration of the Armed Forces which we should NEVER
FORGIVE SIR D.K. JAWARA. That was the begining of our woes and we will NEVER
SEE THE LIGHT UNTIL WE DIS-BAN (TO SAY THE LEAST)our useless, expensive and
UNNECESSARY Armed Forces and regain our RIGHTFUL PLACE in the civilized
world. All these theories and philosopies will not get us anywhere. YAYA AND
THE APRC WILL RIG THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND GET AWAY WITH IT!!!! As one of
the organizers of the first ADL (check the centre page of JET in the early
70s), we talked a lot about BLACK POWER AND RETURN TO DEVELOP MOTHER
AFRIKA!!!!. I can tell you Brothers/Sisters very few of us turned out to be
worthy professionals LET ALONE returned to serve our dear continent albiet
for some years. One thing is certain, Sir D.K. JAWARA greatest mistake was
the creation of the Army which led to the birth of THE YAYAS., THE SIGATEHS,
THE EBOU JALLOWS,THE Ltd MENDYS ET AL. LET US STRIVE TO HAVE A GAMBIA DEVOID
OF MILITARISM AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATES. My (shall I say son) Yusu Jow's
posting is very relevant . Please permit me to repost it for a second
reading.
Subject:      Re: The death of Tourism (Addendum)
>
>I think the main factor affecting tourism(THE GAMBIA'S DEVELOPMENT -MINE)
>is the change in the political
>climate.
>
>Tourists came to the Gambia for one overlying reason: The peace and
>serenity
>that the country offered. I am sure some of us can recall the period of
>the
>late 70's and 80's when there was no army.  The Field Force was present
>but
>their presence was rarely felt on the beaches and most areas of the
>country.
>There was the occasional police man walking unarmed perhaps with a
>truncheon
>for unruly elements.  No guns, and no menacing or threatening attitude.
>Our
>faithful tourists would come to the country year after year to enjoy this
>peace and serenity.
>
>Now the situation is different.  Like it or not, The Gambia is a military
>state and the presence of men with little education and much less regard
>for
>basic human rights carrying AK 47s and M16s cannot be avoided.  Most of
>the
>repeat visitors, of which there were many, have most likely noticed the
>change in political climate.  And, except for the few brave faithful, the
>majority have decided to stay away.
>
>I understand that there are other underlying factors that are killing this
>trade. the country's multitude of attractions have not been adequately
>developed to cater to tourists nor is their a good campaign to get these
>people to visit beautiful Gambia.  But I can bet my last Dollar that if
>the
>Gambian returns to civility and once again becomes the civil, relaxed,
>beautiful place it once was, the old faithful will return in record
>numbers.
>Until then, the tourist industry will continue to die slowly.


>From: MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Dr. Jones:Re: why I can support the APRC Government despite...Pt2.
>Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:36:18 -0400
>
>Dr. Jones:
>
>I welcome your contribution to the L, but I
>partially disagree with part of your economic
>theory.  While I disagree in principle, I want
>to reiterate that you have a right to be
>nonpolitical in your assertion of elements
>for a sustainable increase in The Gambia's
>per capita income.
>
>It is also true that no two economists will
>unilaterally agree in economic principle in
>terms of fiscal and social parameters in
>sustaining an economic growth.  We are at a
>point of conclusion that ideologies and lack
>of sound political and economic policies are
>culprits that are decaying The Gambia's
>economic growth.
>
>The reality of the situation is that dictator
>yahya has nothing to say, and thus is saying a
>lot about nothing.  This dictator is consumed with
>power and prestige and has violated the basic
>principles and foundations of human dignity and
>cares less about human rights.  A dictator who
>cannot lead a civilian government has constantly
>agitated the basic foundations of democracy.
>
>The Gambia of today suffers from chronic lack of
>democracy, new ideas, new entrepreneurs, new
>products, new services, good jobs, progressive
>business sectors and life, liberty and pursuit of
>happiness.  In short, The Gambia is lacking
>better mouse-traps.
>
>The burst of entrepreneurship that so amplified
>economic growth and political developments in
>other developing countries should be encouraged
>in The Gambia.  For this to take place, Dictator
>yahya must be driven out of The Gambia.  The
>culprit is not a dearth of new ideas, but far
>more spurious and chronic shortcomings: a lack
>of readily available working capital and the
>ignorance of the military junta of The Gambia.
>It is indeed unfortunate that The Gambia's
>entrepreneurial zeal is been sapped by the
>chronic malady of capital financing and
>military dictatorship at the direction of dictator
>yahya jammeh
>
>Today's entrepreneurs in The Gambia should
>realize that jobs, especially good jobs with
>decent wages and opportunity for advancement and
>growth are such precious commodities that
>without them the entrepreneur sector is dead.  As
>such, there exists in The Gambia inadequate
>operating capital in local, state and regional
>economic development programs.
>
>Our responsibility therefore, is to engage
>economists in debates that are quantifiable and
>understanding.  We also advocate truth in
>analysis and welcome critical reasoning in our
>assertions.
>
>Naphiyo,
>
>Comrae ML Jassey-Conteh
>
>
>------Original Message------
>From: basil jones <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: April 26, 2001 10:26:20 AM GMT
>Subject: Re: why I can support the APRC Government despite...Pt2.
>
>
>The sooner people stop talking about the "Vision 2020" and concentrate  on
>the primordial challenge of reducing the incidence of poverty in The
>Gambia,
>the better it is for the country. To make The Gambia a middle income
>country
>by 2020, means that we should achieve a minimum per capita income of $800.
>The current level of per capita income is around $350. With an average
>growth rate of 4 percent per annum, it will take a minimum of 18 years for
>our nation's income to double to $700. (this comes from the rule of 70 in
>economics).  18 years from now will take us close to 2020. So even the
>lower
>end of a middle income country will not be achieved. There is only one
>middle income country in the whole of West Africa and surprisingly it is
>Cape Verde, not Senegal or Cote d'Ivoire and these countries have a higher
>per capita income that Gambia. Vision 2020 was articulated without any
>empirical work done as to the sustainability of economic policies
>and the attainability of making The Gambia a middle income country.
>
>There is no doubt that the incidence of poverty is on the increase. What we
>should be concentrating on is how to achieve the development goal of
>reducing poverty in the Gambia by 50 percent by 2015, achieving universal
>primary education, reducing infant mortality rates. To do so need at least
>a
>growth rate of 7 percent. These are the challenges. For there to be
>sustainable development in Gambia, accelerated investment is needed in
>health and education and rural infrastructure. It is only fair to say that
>the government has made some progress in these sectors. The payoffs,
>however
>from such investments are long term. It takes up to the time a student
>finishes school to contribute productively to the society. There are
>lessons
>of experience we could learn from the most financially stable, democratic
>and pluralistic countries in Africa (Botswana and Mauritius, the two
>countries that have registered the most impressive growth and development
>record in Africa). Economic development does not only depend on economic
>policy. Improving the welfare of Gambians is predicated by improved
>accountability for public resource management, developing democratic
>institutions and an unblemished and good governance record and implementing
>codes of good practice in fiscal transparency
>
>The government has intervened in health and education, but still the level
>of poverty is on the increase. We need to take stock and reappraise the
>policy interventions. COllective action is need.
>
>The challenge is not vision 2020 or to make The Gambia the Singapore of
>Africa but integrating pro poor macroeconomic policies with social and
>sectoral objectives to spur growth and reduce poverty.
>
>Dr. Basil Jones
>26/04/01
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