Mr. Bojang,
I agree w/ you in that real comparative figures from the two periods (Pre &
Post Coup d'etat,) would have provided a more helpful picture. I like to
believe that Ceesay's analysis is merely an overview of Gambian reality as
oppose to what the govt boasts of. The Health and Education sectors
especially have clearly improved since the coup. Empty schools and hospitals
are better than none. At least someday, we can fill them appropriately. The
inflation rates, and even the economy's growth rate are both impressive too.
So, the Yaya Jammeh govt needs to be given credit for these successes if you
want to call them that.
However, what we all need to be cognizant of is that, these "successes"
haven't necessarily translate into a higher living standard for the average
Gambian. The average Gambian is no better off today than he/she was six
years ago. So, some of us really wonder what the hoopla is all about when we
read of Yaya Jammeh and his supporters bragging about how they've
"developed" the Gambia since 1994. Yes, several things have changed for the
better, but much remains to be done even by Developing Countries' standards.
I see Ceesay's paper as an overview exposing Appearance V. Reality. I'm not
speaking for Ceesay. He can do that. This is my opinion from what I've read
from his piece.
But to assess your comments in one sentence: you're right about Ceesay not
doing a real comparatively analysis. I'm not sure you'll like some of the
figures he'll come up with, but that would have helped.
Peace.
Saul.
>From: LaminLams Bojang <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Assessing Jammeh's 5 years in Office (Part 1)
>Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 10:04:05 +0100
>
>Hello Ebrima,
>Your initiative of making an assessment of the 5 year of the Jammeh`s rule
>in the Gambia is very good, but there is a lot to be included to help us
>analyze the report and make our conclusions.
>Your assessment of the Jammeh´s five year rule has not given me any
>evidence of either a failure or a success . You stated that said you are
>going to asses a five year period but gave us a report of 1998/99
>You did not give us any background of the different sectors you have
>treated in you report, so that we could compared the figures before the
>coup and figures from the report you presented. You have not given us
>any figures of unemployment, GNP , to be compared to the present figure to
>make our conclusion.
>In you report you did not take into consideration the 2 year period of
>the military rule and the last 3 years of the democratic elected
>government comprising of all other parties.
>You mention schools and lack of teachers, but did not mention the increase
>in human capital the Gambia will achieve in the future by creating more
>educated students .You mentioned the hospital but did not give any
>information about what the better health condition of the population can
>do for the country.
>You compared the income per capita but , that does not say a lot about a
>country´s development, you know there are a lot of disparities in
>comparing countries by their peer capita income. Your comparison will be
>more helpful if you use figures from the 1994 rather average of the
>developing countries. These countries are of the same category but have a
>many different economies and possibilities to growth and development.
>You mentioned the investment in the infrastructure which have be paid on
>interest , but you did not mention any advantages of the a good
>infrastructure of a country. These loans should be use careful, because a
>failure with these projects will put a heavy debt burden on us and the
>future generations. You mentioned many other sectors but never stated
>what government investment have been carried out after 1994, did they
>failed or succeeded etc?
>I hope you will give us some more information in your part two to enable
>us make an evaluation and a conclusion
>Lams
>
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