Dear Mr ceesay,
You have definitely freed yourself by your further clarification of your position.l was also very sceptical of your first report,as brother William.
Your example of John P Bojang as an unseasoned diplomat is very accurate.But as no one is born a seasoned diplomat,what criteria if not political should govern the selection of diplomats.Must it be only people who have studied lnternational relations or seasoned politicians.
You don`t need to respond to my wondering thoughts.
Praises are due to our ancestors!!
Landing Alkalo Sanyang.
-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
Till: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Datum: den 16 juni 1999 13:43
Ämne: Re: Two new Gambian Ambassadors Named
>William Njie,
>
>I read your reaction to my piece titled "Two New Gambian Ambassadors Named",
>and I am compelled to take issue with you, in order to set the records
>straight.
>
>However, before taking issue with Mr Njie, I must say that it is, indeed,
>encouraging to note that Gambians have now become more critically minded,
>more politically mature, more analytical and more dialectical.
>
>Indeed, these are very encouraging signs and, for me, they typify a bright
>and glossy future for our country. Consequently, let us continue to do more
>and more reading; let us continue to pose more and more questions; let us be
>more attentive, and do more listening, regardless of who is talking, so that
>we would be better equipped to chart out the right/correct path our country
>should take, especially at the dawn of the new millennium.
>
>I am quite sanguine that if we, as Gambians, become more open minded and
>more tolerant towards each other, regardless of our differences in beliefs
>and opinions, there would only be one winner: that's our country, The
>Gambia.
>
>Politically, we may have major differences, in terms of how the Gambia
>should be governed, but this shouldn't mean that we should see ourselves as
>enemies, for, at the end of the day, we all want to see a more developed and
>a more prosperous Gambia.
>
>We should always remind ourselves that the Gambia does not belong to Mr
>Jammeh alone; rather, it belongs to all of us. Therefore, all of us should
>have a say, in terms of how our country should be run, or managed.
>
>Let us continue the dialogue; let us continue to engage in healthy and
>honest debates, so that what is wrong in our country is righted and what is
>right is maintained.
>
>Now, let me move to the issue at hand. William Njie, if I understood you
>very well, your piece could be summed up as follows: Firstly, you wrote that
>I had said that Maodo Touray and Essa Sey were "not qualified to be
>(appointed) as ambassadors, without giving concrete reasons"...
>
>Secondly, you urged me to try and "get the facts" and also to "make sensible
>and reasonable recommendations"... In the case of Njogou Bah's withdrawal
>from Paris as our ambassador, you urged me to try and "interview the parties
>involved and (then) report my findings."
>
>Lastly, you indicated that (based on my writings), it appeared to you that I
>had something "personal against the government" - "a hidden agenda".
>
>Well, with regard to your first point, I didn't say that these two people
>are not qualified to be appointed ambassadors. In fact, I have no objection,
>or reservation, as far as Maodo Touray's appointment is concerned. Belgium
>is a key place, having in mind that the European Union is headquartered in
>Brussels, and let's hope that Mr Touray would live up to the challenge and
>do a good job for his country.
>
>I know he is hard working, he's been in the Foreign Ministry for a long time
>now, and he also speaks impeccable French. Yes, as for Essa Sey's
>appointment, I did express my reservation, but I am not going to belabour
>the point, before people think that there is something personal between Essa
>and myself. Anyway, thankfully, Essa himself knows that I always speak what
>is in my mind.
>
>I know he, too, is smart and hard working, but if I, Ebrima Ceesay, were to
>appoint an ambassador to such an important place like Paris, where the
>ambassador also doubles as The Gambia's permanent representative to UNESCO,
>it would be based on service, merit, experience, qualifications, tactfulness
>and, of course, loyalty.
>
>I know it is Jammeh's prerogative to appoint anyone he wants as ambassador,
>but, in my view, Mr Jammeh needs to appoint seasoned/career diplomats as our
>ambassadors, if he wants to project a good image of the Gambia and Gambians.
>Let me give you an example to back my point.
>
>Recently, our High Commissioner to the UK, John Bojang, unknowingly and
>unintentionally uttered what was seen as "an insulting statement", during a
>speech he was giving to a group of black British, who are planning to go to
>the Gambia, later this month, for the Roots Homecoming Festival.
>
>Among other things, the ambassador had said: ..."Slavery was a blessing for
>the black people"....
>
>Believe me, this statement angered so many black people here. In fact, many
>of the black newpapers here had reported it. Out of respect for those black
>British on the L, I am not going to repeat everything the High Commissioner
>said.
>
>People on the L, who are interested in knowing what and what the ambassador
>had said, can contact the editor-in-chief of the London-based Mano Vision
>Magazine, one of the publications that covered the story, for the full text
>of High Commissioner Bojang's speech. The editor's e-mail is
>[log in to unmask]
>
>I know, for a fact, that Mr Bojang didn't intend to insult, or offend the
>black people here. I believe he made these "insulting remarks"
>inadvertently, although the damaged had already been done. But this is the
>price you pay if you do not appoint tactful people, or seasoned diplomats,
>as ambassadors.
>
>I can bet that Baboucarr Blaise Jagne in New York, Bai Ousman Secka being
>currently wasted as a Commissioner in Mansa Konko, Njogou Bah or O.G Sallah,
>would never make such a diplomatic blunder.
>
>Regarding your second point, Mr Njie, I can tell you that when it comes to
>getting the facts, I am very good at it. I hardly write and people challenge
>the facts. You can do your own investigation in this regard. Of course, I am
>not perfect, so I am bound to make mistakes, once in a while.
>
>In fact, the NIA had to contact a particular government minister about me,
>thinking that this minister was the one leaking confidential government
>secrets to me.
>
>Of course, Mr Njie, I would want to interview Njogou Bah, or his wife, about
>what actually happened in Paris, but you know in your heart and in your
>mind, that the couple will never speak to me ON THE RECORD, because they
>know what the consequences would be at home.
>
>So even if one of them gave me an interview, I'll still quote "reliable
>sources" if I were to write the story, because the moment I attribute the
>story to them, they are in trouble.
>
>As for your last point, I can guarantee you that I have nothing personal
>against the government or Jammeh. Believe me, I have nothing against Mr
>Jammeh as a person. What I oppose, in the strongest terms, are Jammeh's
>policies.
>
>I believe his policies are retrogressing and furthermore, I, for one, am not
>convinced that this current government is capable of addressing the needs
>and aspirations of the Gambian People. This is Ebrima Ceesay's opinion,
>which I am entitled to. Equally, you are also entitled to your opinion and
>beliefs.
>
>And I do not also have any hidden agenda. I don't know what the future holds
>for me, but my wish is to continue in the role of a social watch dog, where
>I am convinced I will play a far more effective role, because it is a field
>where all my instincts drive me. But, of course, if people like Jammeh were
>to remain in power, it should not surprise you, if I go into full time
>politics.
>
>By the way, I was told that Dr Saja Taal, permanent Secretary at the
>Ministry of Education, had been sacked for the second time yesterday.
>Interestingly, someone who read my piece on the above subject, told me
>yesterday that these two latest ambassadorial appointments did not come the
>him as a "surprise", because, as he put it, "the Civil Service is empty
>nowadays".
>
>This person added: "Most of the smart people in the Civil Service have been
>sacked, or retired prematurely. In fact, there are so many vacant posts in
>the Civil Service right now. You want qualified people to fill these posts,
>you look around, and you wouldn't see anyone"...
>
>Isn't it ironic that while we, in the Gambia, complain about lack of
>teachers and doctors, and rely on volunteers from the US Peace Corps and the
>British VSO, our own qualified people are offering their services to these
>same countries.
>
>African development will become a reality, if and only when we are able to
>tap our rich human resources. The return or presence of such human resources
>will serve as a leverage for accelerated development.
>
>Finally, Mr Njie, if I do bore you with my postings, just use your delete
>button.
>
>Ebrima Ceesay,
>Birmingham, UK.
>
>
>______________________________________________________
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>
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