Konteh,
Our monthly meeting is scheduled for sunday the 29th at park green apts,
green road, in raleigh.  We hope to see you and our folks in charlotte area.
THANKS
LAMIN


>From: MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Dr. Jones:Re: why I can support the APRC Government despite...Pt2.
>Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:36:18 -0400
>
>Dr. Jones:
>
>I welcome your contribution to the L, but I
>partially disagree with part of your economic
>theory.  While I disagree in principle, I want
>to reiterate that you have a right to be
>nonpolitical in your assertion of elements
>for a sustainable increase in The Gambia's
>per capita income.
>
>It is also true that no two economists will
>unilaterally agree in economic principle in
>terms of fiscal and social parameters in
>sustaining an economic growth.  We are at a
>point of conclusion that ideologies and lack
>of sound political and economic policies are
>culprits that are decaying The Gambia's
>economic growth.
>
>The reality of the situation is that dictator
>yahya has nothing to say, and thus is saying a
>lot about nothing.  This dictator is consumed with
>power and prestige and has violated the basic
>principles and foundations of human dignity and
>cares less about human rights.  A dictator who
>cannot lead a civilian government has constantly
>agitated the basic foundations of democracy.
>
>The Gambia of today suffers from chronic lack of
>democracy, new ideas, new entrepreneurs, new
>products, new services, good jobs, progressive
>business sectors and life, liberty and pursuit of
>happiness.  In short, The Gambia is lacking
>better mouse-traps.
>
>The burst of entrepreneurship that so amplified
>economic growth and political developments in
>other developing countries should be encouraged
>in The Gambia.  For this to take place, Dictator
>yahya must be driven out of The Gambia.  The
>culprit is not a dearth of new ideas, but far
>more spurious and chronic shortcomings: a lack
>of readily available working capital and the
>ignorance of the military junta of The Gambia.
>It is indeed unfortunate that The Gambia's
>entrepreneurial zeal is been sapped by the
>chronic malady of capital financing and
>military dictatorship at the direction of dictator
>yahya jammeh
>
>Today's entrepreneurs in The Gambia should
>realize that jobs, especially good jobs with
>decent wages and opportunity for advancement and
>growth are such precious commodities that
>without them the entrepreneur sector is dead.  As
>such, there exists in The Gambia inadequate
>operating capital in local, state and regional
>economic development programs.
>
>Our responsibility therefore, is to engage
>economists in debates that are quantifiable and
>understanding.  We also advocate truth in
>analysis and welcome critical reasoning in our
>assertions.
>
>Naphiyo,
>
>Comrae ML Jassey-Conteh
>
>
>------Original Message------
>From: basil jones <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: April 26, 2001 10:26:20 AM GMT
>Subject: Re: why I can support the APRC Government despite...Pt2.
>
>
>The sooner people stop talking about the "Vision 2020" and concentrate  on
>the primordial challenge of reducing the incidence of poverty in The
>Gambia,
>the better it is for the country. To make The Gambia a middle income
>country
>by 2020, means that we should achieve a minimum per capita income of $800.
>The current level of per capita income is around $350. With an average
>growth rate of 4 percent per annum, it will take a minimum of 18 years for
>our nation's income to double to $700. (this comes from the rule of 70 in
>economics).  18 years from now will take us close to 2020. So even the
>lower
>end of a middle income country will not be achieved. There is only one
>middle income country in the whole of West Africa and surprisingly it is
>Cape Verde, not Senegal or Cote d'Ivoire and these countries have a higher
>per capita income that Gambia. Vision 2020 was articulated without any
>empirical work done as to the sustainability of economic policies
>and the attainability of making The Gambia a middle income country.
>
>There is no doubt that the incidence of poverty is on the increase. What we
>should be concentrating on is how to achieve the development goal of
>reducing poverty in the Gambia by 50 percent by 2015, achieving universal
>primary education, reducing infant mortality rates. To do so need at least
>a
>growth rate of 7 percent. These are the challenges. For there to be
>sustainable development in Gambia, accelerated investment is needed in
>health and education and rural infrastructure. It is only fair to say that
>the government has made some progress in these sectors. The payoffs,
>however
>from such investments are long term. It takes up to the time a student
>finishes school to contribute productively to the society. There are
>lessons
>of experience we could learn from the most financially stable, democratic
>and pluralistic countries in Africa (Botswana and Mauritius, the two
>countries that have registered the most impressive growth and development
>record in Africa). Economic development does not only depend on economic
>policy. Improving the welfare of Gambians is predicated by improved
>accountability for public resource management, developing democratic
>institutions and an unblemished and good governance record and implementing
>codes of good practice in fiscal transparency
>
>The government has intervened in health and education, but still the level
>of poverty is on the increase. We need to take stock and reappraise the
>policy interventions. COllective action is need.
>
>The challenge is not vision 2020 or to make The Gambia the Singapore of
>Africa but integrating pro poor macroeconomic policies with social and
>sectoral objectives to spur growth and reduce poverty.
>
>Dr. Basil Jones
>26/04/01
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