Dr. Saine and Sanusi,
I think this is where diasprans should draw the line when it comes to this
"more patriotic than thou" game. I would any Gambian to come up with a
better source of money than that sent by diasporans. Although I am yet to
see any official figures, as how much money diasporans send to the Gambia
early, It can be argued that it by far surpasses any other source of foreign
exchange earnings ( i.e. tourism, groundnuts and even loans). One expert
estimated monthly cash remittance at on less than USD 500,000 (half a
million dollars). This of course does not include the container-loads of
goods sent each month.
Some three years ago I asked an expert how the Gambian economy (and the
Dalasi) managed to stay afloat despite our credit card economy. His answer
was the regular cash injection from diasporans. According to him between
1995 and 2000 the remittance were a kind of booster shot for the economy.
The regular supply of hard cash was able to dampen if not meet the demand on
foreign currency. However with no end to an ever-increasing appetite for
foreign exchange (largely due in part to uncontrolled spending and currency
hoarding) the remittance can only slow down the race to the bottom.
The Mandinka adage goes: the ear does not cross the river but hears all that
is said on the other side!
Malanding
-----Original Message-----
From: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Abdoulaye Saine
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 4:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [>-<] THE DEBATE: Are Gambians In The Diaspora OUTTA TOUCH?
Sanusi:
Well put! If I may add, remittances also help pay for school fees, compound
rates/ taxes, fees paid for medical, water, telephone and other services.
Gambians who have completed or are building houses at home can attest to the
fees for the building(s), water and electricity installation charges, not to
mention telephone service. Also, part of the money spent on other goods and
services, end up in government coffers as taxes. And given Gambia's social
system, many in the Diaspora help support people outside their immediate or
extended families.
The situation in The Gambia is, simply put, worrisome and no amount of
"talk" can mislead people of the reality. All one needs to do is call home,
which I am sure most of you do. In fact, one does not have to be political
or be critical of the regime to come to the conclusion that the bulk of
Gambians are suffering. It is a daily reality. Let us accept it as a given
and work to remdy it. And while the fuel, electricity, water and other
shortage(s) are emblematic of a deep economic crisis and mismanagement, the
fundamental problem is political. Jammeh can hire, fire, blame or assume
all Government portfolios but that will not solve the crisis. He can blame
all the oil companies and his ministers but responsibility for these
problems are primarily his. It is clear to me and most others, that the
Jammeh Administration, alone, can not reverse this crisis. Jamme's
"meat-money" and "lettuce" antidotes make my point.
I cringe and mourn personally whenever I hear or read of another hand-out or
act of charity to The Gambian people. This may continue well into the
future. The next major crisis is likely to be the impending Hajj to Mecca.
If Jammeh insists on business as usual, rather than leaving it to the Travel
Agents who know better, we may see a repeat of the problems.
Price: Thanks for your report.
Abdoulaye
>From: Sanusi Owens <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [>-<] THE DEBATE: Are Gambians In The Diaspora OUTTA TOUCH?
>Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2002 18:17:59 +0000 (GMT)
>
>[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by
>=?iso-8859-1?q?Sanusi=20Owens?= <[log in to unmask]> ]
>
>
>Gassa
>
>You wrote:
>
>"There are some who constantly keep on yapping at how
> much of a role the monies remitted by Diasporan
>Gambians have in propping up the economy of
> the country and as such how much we, in Gambia,
> should recognize and appreciate that role. To that
>extent, some seem to think of us as being
>ungrateful, unconscious and obviously irrelevant in
> the bigger scheme of things. However, what these
>people fail to realise is what becomes of those
> monies and how it indirectly has a role in worsening
> our plight."
>
>Gassa
>I am really shock with this analogy ! Don't you know
>that its not the hard cash that we only send to our
>families but other necessities which requires us to
>pay duty and this is actually a source of revenue for
>Customs and Excise. Don't you know that a good amount
>of gambians living diaspora do contribute towards
>generating revenue for Customs???
>
>You also wrote
>
>"For starters, those families for whom they are
>intended use the monies being remitted to family
>members. Money sent by George Sarr for the family
>of George Sarr goes to the Sarr family and not the
>Jaiteh, Gassama, Ndure or Gaye families. In other
>words, these monies are meant for the use of
>those families and not all of us. As such, it does
>not matter that much to the rest of us as
>individuals"
>
>The cash flow of foriegn currency that we send to OUR
>FAMILIES in the Gambia does aid our economy. If this
>is untrue then perhaps you should advise the APRC to
>scrap plans of introducing £5.00 Airport tax for all
>people from the UK visited the Gambia. This new levy
>is paid by all Gambians desperate to visit their
>families.
>
>Finall, how about the worthy causes that we support
>through recognised charitable organisation working in
>the Gambia. I would suggest that you give this topic a
>rethink before offending us for assisting our beloved
>ones sufferring under APRC.
>
>Have a wonderful day
>
>Sanusi Owens
>
>
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