Maila:
You and the group that met with Mr. Mcdonald must be commended for a job
well done. Keep it up.
Abdoulaye
Maila Touray wrote:
> As we adamantly monitors events leading up to Gambia's Presidential
> election, Concerned Gambian Residents in the USA, met with the new US
> Ambassador to Gambia, Mr. Mcdonald, at the State Department. During the
> almost, two hour briefing, a seven-page PETITION FOR HELP IN BUILDING A
> BETTER GAMBIA, was handed to the Ambassador and after giving a brief
> background and comparison on Gambian socio-political/economic history, a
> quarter of
> the time was spent on the lack of good governance, tolerance,
> accountability, misuse of power and privilege, abrogation of law and
> order, illegal detention and torture of citizens, constant intimidation
> of the press and opposition parties and the upcoming presidential
> election.
>
> Since the current US embargo on Gambia [508] imposed on the Gambia in
> July 1994, is still in full force, the outcome of a free and fair
> presidential election, determines whether 508 is lifted or kept in
> force. This lies in the hands of local and international observers,
> currently on the ground.
>
> The second topic was on the US-Gambia business/visitor/student visa
> problems faced by applicants [duration of stay]. The Ambassador was
> asked to consider changing of current system, short-term and
> high/expensive application fee, to free and long validity/multiple entry
> visas, thereby, eliminating the doubt of overstaying. The Ambassador was
> very receptive to this idea and will make it a priority, pending
> Banjul's reciprocity to US Citizens.
>
> Since the AFPRC/APRC with its authoritarian tendencies, continuously
> violates its end of the mandate and violates the contractual
> agreement/relationship of give and take, Gambians en-mass, began
> questioning whether they are obligated to obey its, AFPRC/APRC's
> rulings, decrees and indemnities or to pledge allegiance to such
> government. We therefore pleaded with the US State Department and the
> international community to
> keep a watchful eye on events leading to and after the elections.
>
> On the economic developmental front, the past seven years vis-a-vis 508
> [limited development assistance to Gambia], we urged the Ambassador to
> help secure technical assistance, grants and aid, to help avert the
> alarming poverty, indebtedness and misery index, made worst by the
> events of July 22, 1994. The issue of Debt reduction or elimination for
> Gambia was discussed and the Ambassador raised some serious insights
> into the HIPC [Highly Indebted Poor Countries] program in relation to
> the US Treasury Department's fear of abuse and misuse of relief funds.
>
> Other issues discussed includes more access to US airspace, i.e. more
> support to facilitate more direct flights to/from Gambia, Democracy and
> Human Rights in The Gambia, Press freedom, Good governance and
> corruption, Economic development (trade, investment, development
> assistance) and US-Gambia Relations - how they can be improved, and how
> ordinary Gambians and Americans can help.
>
> Thank you all for your continued support.
>
> Maila
>
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>
> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
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>
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To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
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