In a message dated 8/3/2001 8:35:57 PM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > However, in our quest to return > our country to sanity, we must not forget that Jawara and his > compatriots can do a lot to help us get to where we need to > be. Its still many Gambians willing to listen to Jawara or OJ. > If thse folks come to help the opposition back home, let us > welcome them with open arms. Right now, the situation in the > Gambia is desperate and we need desperate situations. Whatever > Jawara and his folks did in the past, posterity shall decide. > Jawara may be our history but we should use our history as a > yardstick for our present and future. Let us not just cast the > old man into oblivion. He has a role to play. If the man > wants to come back to help the opposition unite and restore > sanity to our homeland, lets open our doors to him. I am not > Jawara but I doubt if the old really harbours feelings of > leading the opposition. Let us not let our emotions dictate what > is reality to us. > > > Alagie Barrow > > Alagie, I agree. In saying that we need to move on from the Jawara regime and give the other opposition parties and candidates a chance, we must be cautious to realize that this does not mean that Jawara and the old politicians of the PPP cannot make a useful contribution. Infact, I would say it was imcumbent upon them to do so simply because the yowe it to the Gambian people to do whatever they can to help us get rid of this regime. The point is well understood that Jawara probably cannot aspire to the presidency anymore for various reasons, but there are also the other members of his former government they may aim for political office. These people have had their chance for a longer time than was required, and the best thing all of them can do for our country is to use their experience to advice and lend support to the opposition parties and leave it at that. Even the notion that Jawara may not be allowed to come home is a rather stupid one because Jawara afterall is a Gambian. The issue is that the people in the former government need to call it a day, and do some "community service" for a change. Jabou Joh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------