Hi Johnson

Let's be confident that the man entrusted with the job is competent enough to the work.I am sure he will deliver the goods at the end of the day.What we have to do is to assist him in all ways either by genuine advice and prayers that the responsibility of deciding the nation's leader is done on a level play ground.

Election is not a new thing in The Gambia; infact many countries should be seeking assistance of how to conduct  elections from us than we need to do.The presence of international observers makes no difference.Why do we need international observers? Don't you have trust on your own people? Are you saying Gambians are so faithless that they will sway away the victory from the real winner to somebody else? I hope not.It is high time we threw those backward mentalities that what is done or headed by a Gambian is never done in the right way.This is a wrong concept that can lead to wrong judgements.If you think Gambians can be corrupted and biased,the so-called international observers can do the same.After all what do they have to lose? Nothing! How many times have international organizations fail their assignements,especially in Africa?These ideas are colonial mentalities to blindfold us that Western ways are always the best.Don't be fooled they are the worst.

To me it is the people who matters.They should work hard to make sure that the election is conducted in a peaceful and fair manner for the good of the nation.It is always the pessimistists who cry foul earlier before the game.It is not healthy to build a wrong preconception in the mind of the people on delicate issues like elections. Let's assume reasonably that Roberts and his camp will do the job perfectly.If he fails then we turn to the constitution and rule of law.

It is not uncommon for oppostion candidates to cry foul when they lost elections.They always run to the West to register their protest.But I think the new century has offered us a lot of opportunities and experience to learn from. The election sagga in USA tells us that there is no perfect system; and when there is a national problem the nationals should handle it squarely without running to the outside world.The election scandal in the USA was maturedly handled by the US citizens.This was done out of trust and honesty.When your kitchen is on fire try to put it off as long as you can.Do not stand shouting for help from outside.We should learn to solve our national problems independently.Not every issue should be taken to outside world.

I therefore disagree with those who doubt the credibility of ICE and oppose the invitation of international observers. We have competent citizens who can do it.What we need is cooperation of all the citizens.

Paul Caneckouteh.