Saul,
I find your analysis very disturbing simply because, there have been a lot
of misrepresentation of facts. I know the state of affairs in the DC area is
not the most desirable, however I do not think your analysis paints the
correct picture. The second troubling aspect is what you claimed to have
been said by Haddy Mundow. Even if it is true that she said so, I do not
think exposing it will help in bring the unity we are all looking for in
the DC area in particular and among Gambians in the Diaspora in general.
You are right by pointing out that the Gambia Foundation is the oldest
organisation in the DC Metropolitan Area. I still believe that its ideals
are very high and stand to do a lot for Gambians both at home and abroad.
The Gambia Foundation was the only registered Gambian Organisation with
legal status and proper bank account (used to bank with the Riggs Bank). Had
it not been for selfish individuals with anterior motives, this would have
been the only organisation in the area or at least the umbrella organisation
because it is there for the interest of every Gambian despite the political,
tribal, professional differences. It is unfortunate that around 1995 & 96,
other organisations began cropping up.
You mentioned that the Gambia Foundation publishes the JALIBA. I beg to
differ on this. The JALIBA is older than the Gambia Foundation and as far as
I can remember, it has nothing to do with the Foundation. However it
happened that the persons (Ousainou Mbenga and myself) who were publishing
the JALIBA were also among the founding members of the Foundation. I fully
remembered the fact the we agreed not to merge the two since the JALIBA was
at the time seen as an anti-Jawara paper while we have some members of the
Gambia Foundation who were pro-Jawara. One case in point was Muhammadu
Jawara (Jawara Bread), who played very important roles in the early days of
the Foundation. In the beginning we used our own funds to pay for the rent
(we had an office on Georgia Avenue, NW DC), registration and other costs.
We used to publish our annual accounts as well. But the JALIBA was never
part of the Gambia Foundation. I do not know whether things have changed now
and it became absorbed in to the Foundation or vice versa. I will not get
into the other things you said since they are subjective judgements and
would not get us any where.
I cannot comment much on the other organisations because most of them came
into existence in my absence and the information I have on them are all
second hand and not adequate to give a proper judgement or analysis.
Despite the existence of numerous organisations in the DC area, I think
there is still room for one umbrella organisation accepted by all. The
success of such an organisation should be based on the following:
1. An APOLITICAL organisation. Should accommodate all and everyone.
2. Should be seen to represent the interest of all Gambians and should be
seen to be making a difference in their lives.
3. All members should elect the leadership at an agreed interval.
I believe, Gambians around the DC area should have a town meeting to look
into all the existing organisation with the aim of coming with one umbrella
organisation. My recommendation would be for the Gambia Foundation to be
embraced by all Gambians and amend the constitution as seen to be necessary.
I am recommending the Gambia Foundation because it already has a good track
record and is legally recognised by the US Government. All we have to do is
to look into it with the aim of adjusting certain things and may be give it
a face lift, if there is a need for it, to make it the ultimate Gambian
Organisation in the DC Area.
I hope the incidents of 10 & 11 April would galvanise all Gambians in the DC
area in particular and the Diaspora in general to come up with a more
permanent organisation. The ALD is a gold mind if exploited to the fullest.
I can see an organisation raising up to $50, 000 during the ALD weekend
alone. It is a shame that anytime some body dies or is in trouble with law,
we run around collecting few dollars here and there ("lu waye am teh attan")
instead of using the funds and services of an organisation. With the
existence of a proper and accepted organisation by all, Gambian in the DC
area could make their voices heard in the various local legislatures and
councils, and would receive certain subsidies they deserve.
There are a lot of good, mature and experience Gambians in the DC area and
if one could bring them together under one roof, a lot could be done in
solving the this nagging problem once and for all.
PEACE
TOMBONG
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
