Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien gave what I consider to be an outstanding speech on Africa as part of the World Economic Forum events in NewYork on Friday. He spoke eloquently and passionately about the grave human problems our continent is facing, but perhaps more importantly Mr Chretien outlined a very practical set of initiatives that would begin by addressing basic societal needs like education and health and culminate in fully integrating the continent into global commerce as a meaningful partner. He said wealthy nations not only have a moral obligation to help Africans emerge from under poverty but it also made good economic sense since a healthy and productive continent would also be a viable trading partner. He spoke about a G8 initiative tasked to Canada that is working on developing a broad strategy on Africa with the aim of fully engaging governments on a genuine quest to transform the very negative trends that seem to characterize most of our nations. He said on a parallel track, the government of Canada was embarking on an ambitious plan that would continue it's debt relief programs and has made a special appropriation of $500million in it's current budget to facilitate economic and other reforms to African countries. He said he is determined to work with his fellow G8 leaders on this very important agenda and make sure that urgent action is taken. However he also stressed that any lasting solutions would hinge on active participation of the African leaders themselves. They must create a governance environment that is based on the rule of law, democracy and respect for the human rights of their own people. He said this was the only way aid and the rudiments of a market economy can take shape and ultimately lift people from abject poverty. With such a basic prerequisite, I am saddened that Mr Chretien and his colleagues at the G8 would find precious few partners in our continent. African leaders are for the most the only and biggest hindrance to the well being of their countries and people. It is an assortment of tyrants and incompetent bafoons who hang like albatrosses on their nations and have neither the inclination nor the ability to recognise the price their people and by extension the whole world is paying for their recalcitrance and viciousness. Meanwhile other thirdworld countries with similar needs in Asia and Latin American are eagerly forging partnerships and working tirelessly to ameliorate the difficult existence of their people. Development partners increasingly recognize the relative ease and value in helping people whose leaders genuinely care about them. In our corner of our beleaguered continent, Mr Chretien will find eager and genuine partners in Mr Wade of Senegal, Mr Kufor of Ghana and Mr Obasanjo. In Yahya Jammeh, Charles Taylor, Kumba Yalla, Lansana Conteh and Blaise Campoare, he will find unworthy retrogrades who are at the heart of the continent's bleak outlook. Karamba <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>