Laye,
Thank you, we have indeed come a long way. Happy Anniversary to all Gambians.

Below is a quote from a contributor at Bantaba some years ago about the book Enter Gambia which is a must read for all Gambians.

--------Quote--------------
From: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?whichpage=1&TOPIC_ID=2258

A MUST READ FOR ALL GAMBIANS
By Kondorong

I have almost finished the book: ENTER GAMBIA THE BIRTH OF AN IMPROBABLE NATION BY BERKELY RICE.

Its a must that every political commentator of Gambia try to read the book. It describes where we were at the time of independence and how long we have come as an independent nation. Some things i read so far are as follows.

1. There were only 20 taxi cars in Banjul and the environment in 1965.

2. That education was basically non-existent. In the independent cabinet of six Gambians only one had education beyond high School. As for the national assembly, your guess is as good as mine.

3. That Banjul had only one fire engine and when it fell into the river, it took six weeks to pull it out from help in London.

4. As for roads, they were few and far between and pass through " window-tall grass land.

5. Radio Gambia could only have money to operated for TWO HOURS A DAY partly due to money and partly due to skilled labor. The director had to turn down a scholarship to study in the United States because there was no one to operate the station in his absence.

6. That on one occasion the Banjul municipal sign writer was found guilty of stealing paint meant for giving Banjul a face lift days before independence celebration. However, he was let go instead of going to prison because he was the only one that could do painting at the Public works department.

So skilled labor was so short that culprits could walk free because by going to jail, the administrative machinery would grind to a halt. I think he should have served his term after the paint work was over

7. That days before 1965,many flocked to Banjul to look at houses they intend they take over because the understanding was with independence, Banjul was a free for all and people actually went into homes to inspect which house they wanted.

8. That the field force was only 150 in number to maintain the peace.

9. The Prime ministers' office was so accessible that, Jawara's office one time put up an advertisement asking someone who left his glasses in his office to go back and collect it.

10. It also showed that with independence, Gambians had hope as indicated by this comment:

" A visitor who noticed a television set on the counter of a dry goods store was startled, since Gambia has no plans for television.... Asked whether the set was for display only the Gambian clerk replied OH NO, SAH. HE BE FOR SALE". DO YOU HAVE TELEVISON HERE IN GAMBIA? HE REPLIED: OH NO SAH, BUT HE GO COME SMALL TIME WITH INDEPENDENCE". This clerk may perhaps have neevr seen a Gambian Televison in his lifetime. What a tragedy for this young man who believed and rightly so that independence should come with developement.

11.Few saloons operate in Banjul and one that was famous was Wadad's Beauty Saloon and it ran an advert like thus: WADAD'S BEAUTY SALOON HAS STARTED WORK FOR HAIRDRESSING, SETTING...AND DYEING. SALOON OPENS ALL DAY AT 3 LEMAN STREET. TELEPHONE 462. PLEASE WASH YOUR HAIR AT HOME UNTIL THE PIPES ARE READY". Why do you have to wash yourhead at home when that should be done at the saloon? Because there was no water.

12. What I also found surprising was people went to jail for trying to bribe police officers and some served terms at mile II. Today you don’t need eyes to see it on the streets. You can smell money circulating. Senior public officials went to jail for “fiddling” with money and Mile two in fact had more educated Gambian prisoners than the uneducated.

13. The foreign ministry had only two staff and the Foreign Service had only four employees.

Of all in the book, I find this amusing:

“ Shortly after I arrived, I stopped at the Survey Department to buy maps and found myself with only a five pound note. The unruffled official there dispatched a messenger by bicycle to the bank for change. Five months later, while strolling down Wellington street, the same official stopped to give me my receipt” (please note there was only one bank, one hospital and one dentist in Banjul by 1965.)

14. Also Gambia had a Top Ten list and by 1965 these tracks were on the list: ‘KANO’, “MASANEH CEESAAY”, “OUBIL MA YA BOI”, ‘MALIGUNDO,’ ‘MY LOLLIPO,’ ‘SALIMITO MINA LAHDA’, ‘I NEED YOU,’ ‘MEREGBUE HEARTBEATS,’ ‘JULIETTA’ and “TIEMSENG”

15. When you ask for direction from a police officer mounted on a bicycle, you are most likely going to be escorted to your point of interst and enjoy a free salute from the officer.

I don’t want to spoil your reading, but we have come a long way since independence. i am ready to forgive and mellow my expectations. As Kwammeh once said, " If you are going to measure my success by the heights i have attained, then you must be prepared to measure the depths from which i came". This book measures such depths at independence. You will sometimes laugh loud, some time sad and sometimes feel angry at some comments, but it provides an insight into our past. Some statements I don’t want to talk about here. In short, it’s a controversial book that every Gambian should read.

For many of us in this generation, technology has made it easy for us to enjoy life not only on land and sea, but also beneath the waves and above the clouds. However, those who witnessed 1965 have forever remained grateful.
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----- Original meddelelse -----

> Fra: A Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
> Til: [log in to unmask]
> Dato: Tor, 18. feb 2010 05:17
> Emne: Happy 45!!!!
> 
> Congratulations to my fellow country ladies and gentlemen.
> We have reached the age of 45 as a sovereign nation.
> We have come long ways and have more mighty steps to get to where we
> want to be as a nation.
> Let us all do our little bit to get there sooner.
> On jarama
> Ndokale lenko
> Alamang Maabe la jaari fana la.
> 
> -Laye

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