Mr Best,

This is Coach!! Long time no see!! Hope everything is going on smoothly.
Anyway, I'll write privately, now that I've got your e-mail address, but I
am sending this write up to this forum, otherwise known as Gambia L, because
the Observer issue/sale was raised here, some time ago.

First of all, welcome to Gambia L, and I hope you'll find some of the
postings/articles useful and informative.

By the way, Gambia L is a forum/medium, where Gambians everywhere, and
friends of the Gambia worldwide, exchange ideas, share information, engage
in healthy debates etc.

Although, I must warn you now, that sometimes, these discussions do
degenerate into personal attacks. So one has to be very careful with what
one sends to this forum.

Anyway, one thing is clear, everybody is waiting to hear your side of the
story, regarding the sale of the Daily Observer to our good friend, Amadou
Samba.

In my view, it would be both useful and helpful, if you could issue, as soon
as possible, a statement to the Gambian people, through this forum and other
media, explaining why you had to sell the Observer Company.

The following questions arise, or come to one's mind:

1. Why did you have to sell the Observer, in the first place?
   Did you know Amadou Samba has close links with the Jammeh regime?

2. How was the sale conducted, especially given the fact that you
were/are not in the Gambia? Was is advertised? Were there other
bidders, apart from Amadou? Did you deal with Mr Samba yourself on the
phone, or was there an intermediary or a go-between? Is it possible to name
the intermediary.

3. Are you aware that D.A Jawo has been sacked, shortly after the sale
took place and also Baba Galleh Jallow had to tender his    resignation,
following Mr Jawo's dismissal? What is your reaction    to these
developments involving Jallow and Jawo?

4.Some people are also curious to know how much was the Observer sold   for?

5. Finally, being one of Africa's most respected veteran
journalists/publishers, what message/advise would you have for the new
management team at the Observer, the paper's faithful readers and the
Government itself?

Extend my warmest regards to your great wife, Mae Gene, and I eagerly
looking forward to hearing your side of the story. I miss your excellent and
lucid writings/commentaries. Hope Gambia L would have some of them. A topic
for you: Africa on the eve of the new millennium. Your thoughts.

Ebrima ceesay,
Birmingham, UK.

PS: Dr Abdoulaye Saine, I always enjoy reading your useful publications.
Again, this one on the Gambia's Foreign Policy was, as expected, a well
researched and a well written paper. keep it up!


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