Wednesday November 6, 2000  
 
 Jammeh gives ultimatum on Brikama crisis 

President Yahya Jammeh has given the elders council of Western Division until Saturday, November 11, to settle the 2-year dispute over the imamate of the town, following the removal, arrest and detention of former Imam Karamo Touray and some of his subjects.

The president was addressing thousands of supporters in Brikama, Saturday, as part of his Meet The People Tour. Imam Touray was accused of ordering in mid 1998, the demolition of pillars at the Brikama Mosque. President Jammeh said deposed Imam Karamo Touray had indicated his commitment to reconciliation in a discussion he held with him.

President Jammeh therefore charged the elders council of Western Division to resolve the matter before next Saturday or else, he will be "harsh" on them. "Peace and unity must be restored immediately in this town. My peace initiatives elsewhere will be questionable if the home of my uncles remain in turmoil. As Muslims, we must learn to forgive and forget," he stressed. President Jammeh promised that more development projects are in store for Brikama. He observed that there is no space for the expansion of the Brikama Health Centre as requested by certain speakers but that the health centre's theatre will be operational soon. 

He said the health centre's laboratory is being improved so that blood transfusion could be done at the health centre as well. The APRC national mobiliser, Yankuba Touray, said the UDP leader, Ousainou Darbo, should resign as leader of the opposition because there is no space for someone of his age in modern Gambian politics. 

He said the PDOIS leader, Sidia Jatta, should consider lecturing at the University of The Gambia because he has failed to secure the votes of Gambians for the past 15 years. SoS Touray said that the NRP leader, Hamat Bah, could be more useful in entertaining the many tourists expected to visit as he had been doing before entering politics. "This country can only be ruled by people with high social standing," he said. Hamat Bah, he insisted "should go back to the tourism industry because the APRC has already captured his seat in Upper Saloum". 

The former Local Government secretary, Lamin Kaba Bajo, urged natives of Kiang Jarra and Baddibu resident in the Kombos to quit the opposition because their kin at home are beginning to change their minds because of the "positive difference" made in their lives by the government. He claimed that the people of Brikama were initially in support of President Jammeh until they were "manipulated and misled by certain groups that were out to safeguard their own interests". 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------