Recently we have read on this list from a Kebba Jobe the supposed "good
things" done by the present government to uplift the well being of Gambians.
He listed the number schools built, the tractors rented to farmers,
hospitals built and the poverty alleviation program. I ask, what is THIS
governments priority? How do you expect the poor farmers to pay for their
kids education in all the schools built when you don't care if they get paid
for their toil in the farms? How do you expect these poor farmers to buy the
medication and pay for the doctors visit at all your hospitals built? How do
you expect these farmers to feed their families? I would think that if you
really care about poverty, good health and above average level of education,
you will first make sure that each and every farming family gets the reward
of their toil at the end of the farming season. How will you motivate
farmers to send their kids to school when there is nothing to eat at home?
When we trashed the likes of Hilo Trading - the facilitators of this scam -
here on this forum, this was what we were trying to stop from happening.
These poor farmers' harvest was taken from them months ago in anticipation
of the meagre dalasis they are supposed to get, only to hear lie upon lies
from these what nots. Not even talking about the fact that their families
are scratching for food in anticipation!
Who in their right frame of mind will peddle fringes about how well this
governement is doing. My standards for good governance start from the buttom
up, not from the top down. We need to look at how well the masses are
fairing before we look at how many schools, hospitals, arches etc. are
built. Those things are all secondary to the basic needs of the society.
The story below was extracted from The Daily Observer at Allfrica.com. Shows
just how "WELL" the poor farmers are doing.
Read on!

======================================================================
Brikama Farmers Angry


Daily Observer (Banjul)

February 27, 2001
Posted to the web February 27, 2001

Augustus Mendy
Banjul

A group of farmers in Brikama and its environs have raised their voices in
protest for the late payment for their groundnuts.

Speaking to Daily Observer at the Brikama Co-operative Union offices, an
angry-looking farmer said, "I brought my groundnuts here since January and
up till now, I cannot get my money back and nothing has been done. Whenever
I come here, they tell me my money will come tomorrow at 10 O'clock only to
stay here till evening. Since January, I have not got a single butut."

Another farmer, Lamin Danso, complained that he brought his groundnuts to
the secco in mid-January but that he had not received a butut from the
buyers. "My children,' he lamented, 'were nearly sent away from school
because of school fees and Tobaski is fast approaching. I cannot even buy a
ram for my family and worst of all, feeding is becoming a headache for my
family."

Yet another farmer noted that he was totally discouraged with the way
farmers were being treated. "Imagine someone bringing 40 bags of groundnuts
here for four weeks now and he could not get his money. But anyway, they
have promised to pay us this week, "he said.

To yet another, "I have been bringing my groundnuts here. This year, I
brought about 400 bags in mid-February, thinking I was going to get my money
without delay, only to be given the unending "go and come tomorrow"
promises. What can we do about Tobaski, feeding and school fees?" he
queried.

Also speaking on the issue, Sarjo Jarju, a farmer, asserted that he was
discouraged about the delay in payment, threatening to take his groundnuts
to Casamance next year.

Contacted, the secretary of state for Agriculture, Hassan Sallah, said all
those who brought their groundnuts to Brikama in January were all paid
except those who brought theirs in mid-February.

"We are doing our best to pay them. We have already paid many, but within
the next three days, D10 million will be disbursed to all seccos
country-wide. I can understand that we bought about D87 million worth of
groundnuts and only D70 million was paid, remaining D17 million, which we
are trying to pay within three days."

SoS Sallah disclosed that groundnuts worth D289,000 were bought at Brikama
secco and that D255,000 was paid, remaining a balance of D43,729.6, which
would be paid within three days. He reaffirmed the APRC government's
commitment to farmers and said there should be no cause for alarm as they
would be paid soon.
======================================================================

Abdoulie A. Jallow
Toll-free number: 1-888-392-4832(Excite2)
Personal extension for v/mail/fax: 291-368-1519





_______________________________________________________
Send a cool gift with your E-Card
http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/

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

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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------