From FOROYAA Burning Issues NO: 1/2003 2 - 5 January, 2003
The Lessons For 2002 And 2003
The Gambia is at a cross road. The past may have gone but its realities are
still with us. There is no break between 2002 and 2003. The dalasi is still
depreciating against the CFA and other currencies. 5000 CFA Francs is
exchanged
for 190 dalasis.
Gambians can remember when the 10,000 francs could be changed for 180
dalasis.
The cost of bread per loaf has increased to D2.50. A tin of Milk with which
only the middle earners can afford is 7 dalasis. Sugar is D2.50 per cup. A
family of five would need 25 dalasi daily just for each to eat half a loaf
of bread with butter milk and tea. Breakfast alone would require a monthly
income of 750 dalasis which is one third the annual income of the average
farmer. It is therefore no surprise that 69% of the Gambian population are
living in abject poverty.
The youth population constitute 60% of the population. 195,000 children are
in primary school and 68,000 in Upper Basic School. The youth population is
growing so is youth employment. 2003 would therefore be crucial in
developing means to tackle growing youth problems.
The attitude of the Department of State for Tourism towards the youths
classified as bumsters indicates a trend towards coercion. There is an
attempt to try to solve youth social problems by enacting harsh laws which
may further marginalise and antagonise the youths. A national campaign
needs to be launched by the civil society to sensitise the youth to become
guardians of their own destiny, instead of accepting to be marginalised by
raids, arrests, detention, degrading treatments. The youth constitute the
majority of the population. They do not have to become desperate. They
should be alert and judge objectively who can best protect their collective
interests.
The women of the country are very hard working. Some are in the gardens and
others in the markets. They are the teachers, nurses and administrators of
few entrepreneurs. They are becoming conscious of their dignity and worth.
They desire to develop a rewarding partnership with men. The government
pays lip service to women empowerment. Neither the rural nor urban are
economically and politically empowered. Loans of few hundred dalasis are
dragging them down to indebtedness.
Subservience to political patrons for little favours is still the order of
the day. After many debates it appears that women are now taking themselves
seriously as a force which can shape Gambian society. In 2003, it is
necessary for women to refuse to be rivals to men as many agents of
government perpetuates. they are quite aware that our traditions have
separated men and women and assigned them different roles which have
disadvantaged women more than men. Women however are becoming conscious
that men too are disadvantaged that they should work together in harmony to
put an end to all disadvantages.
There is need for raising the awareness of women in that they will not be
used by any political personality or group. They should know their
enlightened interest as pioneers of a just, humane and prosperous society.
By their love and care for the young they will inspire men to express the
same care and love for their family members and this build a stable
families.
The workers in the country are undergoing very difficult period of their
lives.
There wages are stagnant while cost of living is becoming higher and higher.
They have always been beggars even though they work from sun up to sun down.
Those who are watchmen, street cleaners are being subjected to hazardous
work conditions everyday end up with pension allowances less than 500
dalasis and live wretched lives after using all their muscles to others.
They need enlightenment to understand how to defend their interest.
The Trade Unions need to be incorporated in the administrative life of the
society.
The farmers who constitute 67% of the labour force and whose efforts
provide 70% of export earnings are left to earn less than 3000 a year. Many
of them live in poverty and destitution. Agriculture, the main stay of the
economy cannot feed the population. our food import bill is high and what
we produced is hardly processed. this trade deficit of 2.5 billion dalasis.
We earn only 417 million from exports and pay 2900 million on imports.
There is need to reverse such trends and more towards food security. Any
government which is unable to accomplish this is not fit to govern.
2002 witnessed the continued closure of Citizen FM. Walfajri in Senegal is
still operating despite its critical pasture. The media is as mature as the
society which gives and receives information. No media can survive without
an audience.
A government which is accountable and transparent has nothing to fear. Its
officials will challenge any one who disseminates wrong information and
expose them.
The country does not need a media commission which is a quasi judicial body
to try journalists. What it needs is a media commission that will look into
laws and practices which fetter the freedom of media and promote standards
that will ensure that truth is disseminated in good faith in the public
interest.
2003 should witness the shaping of a new Gambian who is alert, conscious and
active, working for a society of liberty.
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Source: FOROYAA (Freedom) NO: 1/2003 2 - 5 January, 2003 ISSN: 0796- 08573
Address: FOROYAA, P.O.Box 2306, Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa
Telephone: (220) 393177 Fax: (220) 393177
Email address: [log in to unmask]
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