Until we come up with counter credible argument/body Yahya/GOTG will continue to benefit from bilaterals/multilaterals. Partly is the way they do business and partly the global geo-politics has drastically change in favor of those who would otherwise once be considered bad actors.

Contesting with Yahya in traditional political dispensation as if we are in a somewhat democratic nation is a mistake to say the least.

Regards

Burama

On Thursday, May 7, 2015, Malanding Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

On April 2, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) in the amount equivalent to SDR7.775 million (about US$10.8 million) for The Gambia for what the institute said is “to enable the authorities to meet their urgent balance of payment and fiscal needs”. This followed recommendations by an earlier mission led by Mr. Bhaswar Mukhopadhyay January 8-14, 2015. 

The Executive Board went on to say, “The Gambia is facing urgent balance of payments needs triggered mostly by the impact of the regional Ebola outbreak on tourism. Although the country remains free of Ebola, the regional outbreak is expected to cut by more than half tourism receipts for the 2014/15 season, giving rise to an urgent balance of payments need. At the same time, the delayed summer rain has led to a significant drop in agricultural production with serious implications for growth in 2014 and food security. Policy slippages and persistent financial difficulties in public enterprises have exacerbated the problems and pushed The Gambia’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement off track.”

What IMF did not say is that since seizing power in a military coup in 1994,:

·         Yahya Jammeh  run the affairs of the Gambia as personal property. Yahya dismantled and appropriated the once prosperous national institutions like Gamtel, National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), Gambia Ports Authority, Ministry of Agriculture’s Jahali-Pacharr rice fields, Gambia Public Transportation Corporation (GPTC) and Livestock Marketing Board.

·         Yahya Jammeh established multitude of business ventures including Kanila Group International (KGI), Kanilai Family Farms and National Youth Enterprise by diverting public funds while shielding these companies and their proceeds from paying tax. In the process Yahya has used public servants (civil and military) to work at his many businesses with blatant disregard for laws and regulations.

·         Yahya Jammeh is the only President in the world who is actively and overtly engaged in importation and sale of all petroleum products, foreign exchange, cement, construction supplies, cooking oil, rice, flour, school uniforms, farm equipment, electronics, etc, thereby under-cutting and out-competing private citizens.

In IMF’s own words, “even before the crisis, 2014 was a difficult year for the Gambian economy. The consequences of past fiscal slippages put pressure on the government budget, public enterprises, the private sector, and households. Government borrowing lifted interest rates, which increased interest payments considerably. Banks have restricted their lending to the private sector while higher debt burdens and import costs due to currency depreciation have weighed on the public enterprises. Difficulties in public enterprises have put further stress on the public budget. The local currency price of imported goods, especially basic foods, has risen.”

What the IMF did not say is that while past fiscal slippages put pressure on the government budget, public enterprises, the private sector, and households, Yahya Jammeh continues to waste public funds on incessant public ceremonies, expensive overseas travels, foreign mansions and lavish gifts.

A case in point, less than 10 days after the Executive Board approved the emergency financial assistance, Yahya Jammeh invited Senegalese wrestling champion Eumeu Sene and comedian and Yahya-impersonator Kouthia for a private audience during which Yahya presented Eumeu two vehicles as gift-

http://www.seneweb.com/news/Video/jammeh-offre-2-vehicules-a-eumeu-sene-et_n_152452.html

Please sign the petition to tell the IMF that:

Gambians do not want a bailout that would strengthen Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship and misrule.

after 20 years of Yahya Jammeh, Gambians have come to the conclusion that no emergency bailout or staff monitored program will constrain Yahya’s spending habits or the misuse of public funds.

Gambians are a very proud and industrious people who had once before Yahya Jammeh, built a vibrant free market economy making The Gambia a center for re-export trade in West Africa.

it is Yahya Jammeh’s irresponsible leadership that’s bent on transforming The Gambia into personal property, which is a threat to Gambia’ economy and not the threat of Ebola or lack of rains.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask]');" target="_blank">[log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤