Gassa, thanks for your post.  I do not know Charles Sam and it is not
important to me.  If in fact the below recap are his views, then he again is
saying the same things that we "Kora" about on this list.  If Masamba,
Macoumba, or Pateh have the same views and I agree with them, then I see no
reason why I should disagree with Sam, regardless of what side of the fence
he stands.  A person may be a liar and a crook to all, but that does not
devalue his views that is shared by many, regarding the state of our nation.
  I trust Karamba and many others know the background of this individual and
it is their right to disagree with his pronouncements and this in no way
make me think any less of them.  One thing is for sure, all parties to this
exchange (within/out of The Gambia) are really concerned about the state of
our nation, and to me that is something good for us to have.  That is the
energy we will need to forge on in the days, months, and years ahead.
Thanks all for keeping it real.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: Jungle Sunrise <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: On Charles Sam
>Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 11:05:57 +0000
>
>Yus wrote:
>
>"I have not had much time to review Charles' comments, but I figured
>putting
>things in a bit of perspective might help.  And finally, I do think that
>Charles is a citizen of The Gambia by now".
>
>In the light of the above, I would like to reproduce one of his essays
>about
>Charles Sam's observations of the Gambia and his hopes for the future. What
>follows is what he himself wrote and not what he is quoted to have said. It
>is reproduced from the viewpoint column of the Daily Observer of November2,
>2001 and because I had to retype it myself, any typos are mind and is
>deeply
>regreted.
>
>BREAKING AWAY FROM THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES - BY CHARLES SAM.
>
>The Gambia, the unique nation with untapped potential and resourcefulness,
>has remained faithful on the track of desired development. However, she has
>never seriously paused for a deep reflection and an honest assessment of
>her
>actual condition. Thus the nation has not realised that though on the right
>track, she has been running in the wrong direction and with the wrong
>rules.
>The result has been that she has been moving round the race tracks without
>any finishing line nor measurable results. This has disqualified the nation
>from serious development and attainingan honourable place in the global
>market place.
>
>As we get deeper into the millenium, it is about time we stopped running
>through purposeless motions, do a criticla observation and assessment of of
>ourselves as well as our condition. When we look at ourselves, we realise
>that we are like very dry bones. All that we used to pride ourselves in are
>not with us today. We have gone down.
>
>There is a very serious question which has been going through our hearts
>and
>minds secretly which should now come out openly for serious discussion.
>
>CAN THESE BONES LIVE?
>
>Is there any hope of us surviving and having an honourable presence in the
>new millenium? Is ther any hope of us having our voice heard in the world?
>Can we ever be noted for anything possitive and significant? Will the
>stigma
>of all the evils associated with the Gambia ever be removed? With all our
>education, why have we not been able to transform our nation into a
>powerful
>force like other developde third worl nations? What can we boast of? Can we
>ever have the right leadership and structures for true stability,
>investment
>and serious development? Can our judiciary ever be trusted as being
>autonomous and offering fair judgement? Cab corruption, starvation, lack of
>serious productivity, poor family structures and the chaotic manner in
>which
>we approach development ever be eradicated? Can we ever back our prayers to
>God, conferences, workshops, seminars, sub-regional and regional protocols
>with serious concrete action? Can these bones live?
>
>The Gambian leadership is bewildered when it is asked to explain the reason
>for our embarrasing and humiliating situation or to suggest a direction for
>the future. The citizenry, who are under the highest disposition of
>helplessness have resigned everything to God Almighty because they have
>been
>without credible leadership for about a third of the just ended century.
>Most of us are praying to God without following it with concerted,
>well-planned action. What we have failed to realise is that God works in
>partnership with man and this explains why we have human management
>structures on planet earth. If God wanted to do everything for us, there
>would have been no need for leadership on earth. He is the real estate
>owner
>and holds the title deed to planet earth but he has over the management
>contract to man.
>
>For every hopeless situation, there is a solution of hope. But without a
>proper non-partisan and honest diagnosis of the situation as well as a
>serious price paying search for answers by every Gambian, we will never
>execute the right prescriptions to bail ourselves out of our catastrophic
>situation. God has given us the required tools, skills, talents, abilities,
>gifts, brains, wisdom, experience, the dynamic capability to change our
>beloved nation from its catastrphic and and totally humiliated state to a
>very powerful base. The Gambia should be reminded that it is
>resourcefulness, and not reources, that will determine winners in the new
>millenium. Our focus and confessions should now change from the search for
>resources to the discovery, harnessing and use of resourcefulness.
>
>For change to beging, the must first be the coming together of the
>scattered
>dry bones which make noise and represent an awakening. We need to take
>serious steps to come together in terms of geographical territory,
>development-oriented groupings, sharing of ideas, concensus building,
>discovering our individual and collective roles as well as purpose in the
>new vision. This would fit ourselves or position ourselves properly in
>readiness for action. The rattlin noise, as the very dry bones come
>together
>could also represent the fact that we knock against each other in the
>process, tread on each others toes and have disagreements, because we all
>different personality and have diverse backgrounds. This can be handled
>maturely and should not prevent us from moving forward.
>
>After the dry bones come together, they need flesh on them which signifies
>the beefing up of our coming together through dialogue, putting the right
>structures in place, a change of negative attitude, a renewal of the mind
>and putting our house in order. Flesh needs skin to protect it from
>external
>dangers and this represents the concretising of our plans with agreements
>etc sealed with a convenant of protection from negative infiltration.
>
>Breath is necessary for human existense and life comes from God. Bones,
>flesh and skin need life to make them complete. It is imperitive for us to
>put ourselves, nation and plans before God Almighty, cut a convenant with
>Him through prayer of one accord for Him to bless our efforts by releasing
>the wind of resurrection power which is the spirit of life. The spirit of
>life will energise us and cause us to rise from the cursed, grave situation
>to conquer all our enemies. Our enemies are not our colonial rulers or the
>developed world, but rather, arrogance, laziness, deprivation,
>unemployment,
>immorality, corruption,wrong economic prescritions, economic stagnation,
>under development, indiscipline, lawlessness, self-centeredness, the
>get-rich-quick attitude, oppression and all other vices. The spirit of life
>which releases ressurection power, will cause us to rise up on our feet as
>an unsuallly large and powerful army which is ready for victory.
>
>I believe with all my heart that The Gambia can be transformed into a major
>service international spot with ofshore centres for all kinds financial
>institutions, captive insurance, resorts, international conference venues,
>meeting point for major world leaders and events, conflict prevention and
>conflict resolution research/execution centres, data processing centre
>(like
>Jamaica), major tourist activities, world class agricultural projects,
>world
>class educational institutions, major recruitment point, a new industrial
>revolution and much more.
>
>It is time for us to rise as movers and shakers in order to keep at the
>development world's pace. Lets not blow this opportunity. The Gambia is the
>virgin territory of the millenium! GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA.
>
>-----------------------------End----------------------------
>
>Nothing in this article suggests to me that he is non-Gambian or does not
>the wish the country and its people well. It needs an open mind and
>DEEEEEEEP reflection.
>
>Have a good day, Gassa.
>
>
>
>
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