Hamjatta,
This is an election year. It is a period when the political will of the
Gambian people ought to be shaped so that they can make informed choices.
This means that Gambians should be keen in examining the manifesto or
pronouncements of all political parties in good faith so that they will be
able to gauge which party is most suitable to earn their trust. I had
assumed that people like you will be at the fore front in reviewing the
views disseminated by all political parties and conveying your enlightened
opinions to the people to enhance our collective enlightenment.
One characteristic of PDOIS is our determination not to induce or intimidate
anyone to support the party. This is why we want to be engaged so that
through debates we can convince people that our principles, policies and
programmes are viable. I came to England to be engaged by independent
thinkers. I went to Washington, New York to be engaged by independent
thinkers.
I did not see you in England. I did not meet the Ebou Colleys in New York.
Yet you do not hesitate to waste our time in the Gambia-L writing about
issues which could be discussed and thrashed in few minutes in a
face-to-face conversation.
Why have you become so malicious and disruptive Hamjatta? What can you gain
from this? What is more refreshing that sharing ideas on how to end the
subjugation, ignorance and poverty of the Gambian people?
What have I said in my last piece which promotes the subjugation, ignorance
and poverty of our people to evoke such outrageous disinformation campaign.
Cast a fleeting glance at your piece. You wrote:
"I was, however, dismayed that you could mischievously use such inept words
like "tragicomical" to subtly cast aspersion and doubt on Colley's narration
of how the so-called 22nd July Coup chanced. This is very unbecoming of you.
If the intention is give allure to those who want Colley discredited -
especially his version of what occurred on July 22nd and its aftermath-then
you shall fail miserably. If one has any quarrels with what Colley has said
or has got to say, then the most honourable thing to do is to contest him
DIRECTLY with the facts and Gambia-L audience will choose what to go along
with. After all Gambia-L is not GRTS; where only one version of any event is
allowed an audience."
How do you hope to gain respect by attributing to me such outrageous views
and express dismay on matters that are figments of your own imagination? I
hope you will have the honesty to withdraw such erroneous remarks. I have
never made any comment regarding Ebou's narration of events connected to
the coup or its aftermath.
Secondly, the point at issue is coalition. After making very trivial remarks
regarding PDOIS' Economic Programme and how it bars the possibility of
coalition you concluded on the following note.
"Your exposition on PDOIS' position on a future coalition with other
opposition are very encouraging and enlightening. It is a pity that your
"new" stance on a coalition was always not as crystal clear as you now
expounded. Most of our misunderstandings were largely a making of your
earlier and oft vacillating tone in the debates you had people on this
issue. I will come back to you on this."
In short you are acknowledging that you understand our position on
coalition.
Hamjatta, if you were not a "programmed apologist" for Ebou you would not
have made attempt to explain that differences in economic policies and claim
that they make coalition impossible after you have fully grasped what I had
written. Coalition is a tactical instrument. Political parties can form
coalition on the basis of a minimum programme of simply removing a
particular government in office and then separate to pursue their different
programmes instead of forming a government. The limited programme can be
agreement to improve constitution, electoral systems, accord access to media
and so on and so forth so that the people can be free to choose their
leaders without intimidation or inducement. PDOIS is in a position to take
part in such coalition and then pursue its own independence immediately
after the new government is formed without having to participate in the
government. Coalition can be based on a maximum programme where parties can
even collaborate to form a government. Under such circumstances the parties
will share collective responsibility for all policies and programmes of the
government. Clearly PDOIS will never join a government with policies and
programmes it cannot agree with. The type of coalition PDOIS could join is
one with a minimum programme.
If the coalition is to be formed before the people had been consulted
democratically in a first round of voting the leader of the coalition must
have a limited mandate and tenure so that once the limited mandate to create
coalition for free and fair elections is fulfilled a new election will be
held to leave the people to make their choices.
After the people select an opposition party to participate in the second
round coalition can be formed on the basis of the agreement on a minimum
programme that the party will establish a more democratic governance
environment during its five year term. Such conditions can be stipulated and
agreed upon. After the government is established the party can then play the
role of constructive opposition to see to it that the minimum programme of
reform in governance is achieved.
Thousand and one forms of coalitions can be formed and economic programmes
do not bar coalitions. All the other quackery regarding people utilising
PDOIS as cover to attack others interest us very little.
Any body is free to support PDOIS whole heartedly, half heartedly or to
leave PDOIS. Your attitude towards PDOIS cannot be worse than those who
allegedly disguise to be PDOIS. If you are out to defend our integrity I
wonder who is out to destroy it.
PDOIS invites support from anyone who is convinced of what we are doing. We
are not engaged in any political cleansing of voters. We do not appreciate
Ebou's help in telling us who is pure PDOIS and who is not.
PDOIS knows how to protect its integrity and we are very inspired that
people hold us in high esteem irrespective of party affiliation. This is a
sign of strength and not weakness. UDP members do praise us daily when ever
they hear FOROYAA being read over radio Citizen FM. This only shows that
PDOIS is a party of last resort. All Gambians know that in the final
analysis there will be no witch hunting in a PDOIS government. If there are
APRC members who appreciate what we say we say they are welcome. After all
PDOIS can only grow by absorbing support from other parties.
Lastly, you wrote that you are "bemused because, socialism no matter how one
adroitly rehashes, repackages, regurgitates or try to tidy its internal
incoherence, will remain a discredited form of economic management. I will
save my overall judgements of this "new" version of your socialism until I
get to read your manifesto and or your polemical exchanges with Dr. Taal. I
wouldn't, however, be surprised if it turns out to the "old" thing being
smartly dressed up as "new."
Hamjatta, sometimes I wonder what type of books you read and lectures you
have. You cannot even pass for a liberal. You pass judgement before evidence
and then reserve your overall judgement until you receive evidence. Do you
scrutinise what you write before despatching it.
I cannot emphasise how hungry I am to meet you face to face. I still find it
difficult to comprehend how any literate African from a country classified
as a "Least developed country" or "highly indebted poor country" can stand
and argue against what we are proposing as an alternative economic policy
and programme. It is people like you I went to search for in Washington and
New York but none, with the stubbornness you appear to display, was
forthcoming. Wait for the cassette from Washington and New York and I Hope
you will `do a critique on them. After our congress on 29 we will launch our
website in earnest and you will be able to review all our principles,
policies and programmes. I really want you to engage us. It will be
constructive for us and the country at large.
Notwithstanding, I would like to suggest that if you do have ideas to end
the subjugation, ignorance and poverty of our people to the point of
dismissing what we have to offer it would be best to pass them on to the
UDP, NRP or any other opposition party since PDOIS is not your choice.
As far as we are concerned to serve a country is not a privilege.
It is a duty. Our wish is to have the freest and most empowered people on
the face of the earth. Once we set eyes on a party or group of people with
convincing ideas on how to eradicate the poverty and ignorance of our people
we will gladly give them all the support they want from us. Personally I
belong to the teaching field. I am hoping for the day when I can spend my
life producing learning materials for generations to come according to my
capacity. I can sense despair in youths when I when I said the following in
Basse.
"Ask of your country the opportunities you require to develop yourself to
the fullest and ask for no more and give your country what its requires to
develop to the fullest and give no less." I yearn for the day when this
becomes a way of life in the Gambia.
The reality which gives justifications to an alternative economic programme
is evident to you. I do not see why you need a manifesto to challenge our
alternative economic policies. Let me put the facts before you again.
In 1992, 60% of the population stood below the poverty line. Farmers earned
1812 dalasis a year. In 1998 69% of the population earn less that D2400 a
year. They fall below the poverty line. 37% of such people are absolute
destitute. 57% of the labour force depends on agriculture which provides
only 22% of GDP. I guess you know what this means in terms of earnings.
Hamjatta, the government depends on taxes especially income from import
duties for the recurrent budget. Out of 1.3 billion dalasis 417 million goes
to debt servicing. This is more than the education, health, agriculture and
mass communication budget.
Now, Hamjatta in a growing with debt service charges and a constricting tax
base where will the government get money to expand services? The Gambian
people are already over taxed. Needless to say, the private sector is very
small. High interest rates make it unprofitable to borrow and invest. Hence
the private sector is asking for tax relief. Where is the money to come from
for expanding services. The past and the present government have been
depending on loans and grants to finance the development budget. For example
out of the 454 million estimated for the development budget only 61 million
is to come from local contribution. Over 86% of the budget comes from loans
and grants. Since independence almost 90% of development budget had always
come from loans or grants. Today, the country has no public sector or
private sector led growth. Only 11% of the work forces are employed by
government, parastatals and private sector. This is why we say that we need
a productive public sector to generate income rather than rely entirely on
taxation. We maintain that the private sector should be productive according
its capacity. We argue that since 57% of the work force rely on agriculture
the informal sector holds the key to the national economy. In our view, if a
company can rely on 1000 acres of land to make millions in producing fruits
vegetables we can organise a cooperative system where those engaged in
horticulture can be provided with bore holes to produce and share their
income as well as to contribute to the provision of services to their
villages. We therefore stand for the building of co-operatives to enhance
personal income and promote community development. This is one way of
developing the informal sector. We would like you to give us your
alternative liberal economic plan.
I hope you will abandon demagogy. The 21st century is no longer in need of
rhetoric. This is why I give you facts and not rhetoric. I have given you
Gambian realities not soviet realities. I hope you will not go back to your
intellectual escape routes by talking about other countries rather than
concentrate on your highly indebted poor country. Words! ! Words! are what
Africa is tired of. Facts! Fact! Facts! are what Africa needs.
I hope to receive a blue print of what Hamjatta has for the poor Gambian
people. I slept in a hut in Koba Kunda. There was only candle and pit
latrine; no electricity or pipe borne water facility. Of course as guest I
could have been provided accommodation by the commissioner. However we learn
from people by living with them. This is your country after 36 years of
independent. What is the economic system of management which can become
successful here? I pause for your reply.
Halifa Sallah
----- Original Message -----
From: Hamjatta Kanteh <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 11, 2001 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: Halifa Sallah's Reply To Ebou Colley - Coup In The Gambia Six
> Halifa,
>
> With respect to your comments and or interpretations of what you perceive
to
> be Brother Ebou Colly's subjective and prejudice-laden reportage of your
> positions vis-a-vis a united opposition and the socialist-capitalist
> dichotomy, i believe, after going back to what both you and Colly has
> written, you have sloppily misconstrued what the Brother was trying to
say.
>
> First things first: As usual with Colly's narratives, each weekend's slot
of
> his memoirs of the so-called 22nd. July Coup kicks off with
> observations-cum-responses to his readership's comments, suggestions,
queries
> and enquiries that ensued from the previous weekend's narrative. It is
within
> this context, that Colly made his current observations about the New York
> meeting and the shrewd judgements that: there are many people who profess
to
> be PDOIS supporters who are in fact closet APRC apologists who use the
PDOIS
> cover to launch unjustified attacks on the Opposition - especially the
UDP.
> This is a very fair remark; one which i have always said privately. The
> reason for this is quite simple. Since PDOIS' rhetoric is still tilted
> against both the old order and the party most likely to unseat the APRC in
> free and fair elections - as it happens the UDP - and also PDOIS rhetoric
is
> relatively sparing of the AFPRC/APRC record, it becomes an almost perfect
> alibi for closet and undercover APRC supporters and agents to put on the
garb
> of PDOIS. Neither Colly nor i are suggesting or inferring that this is
your
> fault. It is merely a point that ought to be pointed out. And i believe
Colly
> has done it without being or sounding "tragicomical" - to use a very inept
> word from you.
>
> On your economic programme vis-a-vis its potential to shackle any future
> coalescing of opposition efforts, i don't think Colly misrepresented your
> position - again this is gauged by revisiting what you claim to be a
"newer"
> version of what you herald as the panacea for the country's economic woes.
> What Colly was pointing out was not so much the potentialities or the
> crankiness of the socialist ideology; or give a historical account of the
> repudiation of socialism. He was merely stating a very fair comment that
> insofar as one sticks to a classical socialist position and another takes
up
> a laissez faire one, it is virtually impossible to bring about a consensus
on
> this issue if the coalition between the parties will take a whole
> parliamentary/presidential term to expire. This is a very fair comment.
Colly
> never sought to philosophically repudiate socialism - as if in this age
that
> were needed anymore. Rather, he merely pointed out what could later
hamstring
> any future attempt to coalesce the resources of three parties that espouse
> two diametrically opposed political, economic and social philosophies. Are
> you trying to intimate here that in the event you go ahead with a
coalition
> with the two other parties - that espouse laissez faire economics - were
they
> to privatise GPTC, you will have no problems adding your imprint to such a
> development? This is Colly's point.
>
> I was, however, dismayed that you could mischieviously use such inept
words
> like "tragicomical" to subtly cast aspersion and doubt on Colly's
narrations
> of how the so-called 22nd July Coup chanced. This is very unbecoming of
you.
> If the intention is to give allure to those who want Colly discredited -
> especially his version of what occurred on July 22nd and its aftermath -
then
> you shall fail miserably. If one has any quarrels with what Colly has
said
> or has got to say, then the most honourable thing to do is to contest him
> DIRECTLY with the facts and Gambia-L audience will choose what to go along
> with. After all Gambia-L is not GRTS; where only one version of any event
is
> allowed an audience.
>
> Admittedly, not everything you wrote in your piece was mischievious. I
was,
> for instance, bemused to read you rehash a "new" for socialism as a
credible
> form of economic management. Bemused because, socialism no matter how one
> adroitly rehashes, repackages, regurgigates or try to tidy its internal
> incoherences, will remain a discredited form of economic management. I
will
> save my overall judgements of this "new" version of your socialism until i
> get to read your manifesto and or your polemical exchanges with Dr Taal. I
> wouldn't, however, be surprised if it turns out to be the "old" thing
being
> smartly dresssed up as "new".
>
> Your expositions on PDOIS' position on a future coalition with the other
> opposition are very encouraging and enlightening. It is a pity that your
> "new" stance on a coalition was always not as crystal clear as you now
> expounded. Most of our misunderstandings were largely a making of your
> earlier and oft vacillating tone in the debates you had people on this
issue.
> I will come back to you on this.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Hamjatta Kanteh
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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