Hello Tomaa,

Really good editorial from the Independent you forwarded here. I truely salute the paper for daring to say what should be said, like it is! 

How, in the face of such ungradeable poverty, our elected officials and fat civil servants can manage to perpetuate this colonial robbery is truely awesome.

Sidibeh


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Momodou Camara" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 3:50 PM
Subject: FWD:Our Per Diem Rot


Our Per Diem Rot

http://allafrica.com/stories/200307070519.html

The Independent (Banjul)
NEWS
July 4, 2003
Posted to the web July 7, 2003
Banjul

Take it or leave it, bad governance is usually effortlessly handed down
from predecessors to successors of political leadership. When such
undesirable continuity occurs, especially in Africa, we cannot usually tell
the difference between those who have left the mantle of power and their
eager and for the most part greedy successors.

This is the situation in Jammeh's Gambia today when we talk about the per
diem rot, which smells the same as the bad old days of Jawara. Both
generations of leadership represent two sides of the same coin. The
parochial concept of political leadership patronage, the injurious
preferential treatment reserved for the privileged, the selective inclusion
of some at the detrimental exclusion of others, summarise the similitude of
pre and post coup Gambia. As far as this is concerned the past is not so
much the past because what had obtained before 1994 still obtains today
despite all these ubble gubble about change.

Just like the bad old days when those who kept watch over the national cake
did everything, from scheming, dealing, cajoling to persuading and coercing
in order to lay hands on the loot, those at the helm today are just as
determined to loot us white and still perpetuate our lot as one of the
world's least developed countries.

Before the 1994 upheaval Jawara was paid 180 pounds (D7, 200) as Per Diem
per night for each of his many trips abroad and even for the final one he
made just before the coupists struck. Almost nine years later the same
amount in per diem is received by Jammeh in all his foreign trips for as
short a visit as from Banjul to Dakar. Before 1994 ministers and
Ambassadors were given 120 pounds (D4, 800) as per diem for every night
spent outside the country. Disconcertedly that has not changed as minsters
and Ambassadors under the current regime enjoy the same treat.

Past and present directors and other civil servants receive 90 pounds (D3,
600) as travel allowance.

The only difference (which stands oddly for the current regime) is that
Jawara was being paid D20, 833 for his position as president while Jammeh
is being paid more (D26, 664). From there the similarities continue with
the first ladies. Former president Jawara's wives (he had two) were
receiving D1, 950 as travel allowance. The same goes for Zainab Jammeh the
current Gambian First Lady.

The experience with Jawara's administration teaches us that per diems are
one of the most insidious ways of looting the common treasury clean, while
allowing the trustees of power who always get away with the booty to keep a
brave face and pretend that their conscience is clear. It is not a surprise
therefore why government zombies like to go on foreign trips. Who will not?
The sheer promise of fat night allowances and other mochats (benefits) is
too good to be ignored in these trying times when no amount of money is
enough to satisfy our desires. If others are "rich" at the expense of the
state and the people, who would care if more should join the party. It is
the monkey work baboon eat scenario, which some take for granted. However,
many a Gambian taxpayer cringe at the thought of a few individuals carting
off their hard-earned contribution to the treasury, which is there to
maintain social services, build infrastructure and service and settle our
debt to the outside world.

Per diems are a nemesis to our development efforts as a poor national,
where every drop of our resources counts. They are an excuse for us to be
corrupt and yet feel good about it.

Those who rule this nation do not have a choice between sacrifice and
personal gratification. The only choice is to sacrifice one's personal
desires so that collectively we can reach the "promised land".

A nation's prosperity reflects on its people but the prosperity of an
individual does not reflect on the country. That should be living proof why
we must first be collective-minded even if it means forfeiting or reducing
per diems.




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