Suppose representatives of UDP, PDOIS  and NRP retreat into a room somewhere
in town and work tirelessly until a deal is cut that encompasses to an extent
what each  of them feels is the right path for the country. At the suceesful
conclusion of the talks leaders of all three parties emerge to publicly
initial the agreement and an addendum that broadly describes the agenda they
intend to pursue. Here is what I envisage to be at the core of such a
historic allaince.
1-A single slate for both the presidential and parliamentary elections  that
would pin alliance members only against the APRC. This would mean the faction
with the most viable candidate would present the alliance's choice for a
particular constituency. This would avoid spliting the vote in such critical
constituencies as Serrekunda east and west.
2- A strategic decision to vigourously campaign for only 26 constiuency seats
because trying to equally compete in all would spread them too thin to
effectively do the kind of door to door campaign centered on personailities
crucial in electoral politics in Gambia
3-While the UDP would field the Presidential candidate, the agreement must
give Pdois atleast two cabinet portfolios they believe they can make the most
impact in with a clear cut mandate to shape it in a manner that reflects
their ideas. Similarly the NRP too should have one cabinet position. Besides
the cabinet allocations the coalition partners would all pertake in the
general direction of any and all government policy especially those at the
core of their agreed upon agenda. The presidency would be structured so that
the Chief Executive is able hear out all his partners enabling him to make
well informed decisions that do not necessarily reflect the minds of his
close aids even if those people turn out to be the best.
4-Since reforming the structure of the Gambia government which they all
concluded during their coalition talks is utterly dysfunctional, a small
technical group would be empanneled to come up with ideas that would tailor
the government to do the people's business in a much more efficient manner so
that by 2001 a blueprint for the new government structure would be ready for
implimentation.

Finally since this grand coalition would actually have be elected to begin to
reverse what has surely been a sorry post independence history, a  manumental
effort to secure resources has to be a critical part of the entire effort.
In that case two things are clear: first they need a lot of mnoey to
successfully campaign since they would be either ostracised or totally
ignored by the shamefull entity that passes for our national media.  Secondly
they would never be able to raise that  kind of money from their supporters
who are already reeling under grinding poverty. That then leaves those of us
who are abroad  to do all we can to give the coalition a fighting chance.
Sure it is a struggle for most of us out here , we are nonetheless the only
hope  if we are ever going to make a difference. To this end assuming the
coalition comes into being before the end of the year, preparations can begin
for Mr Darboe , Mr Sallah and Mr Bah to embark on a one month swing into
Europe and North America with message in hand and appeal for all the help and
support they can get from us the sons and daugthers of Gambia  and all the
while meeting US and European government officials. Here in the US they can
meet and raise funds in auditoriums, town houses and apartments in the
following regions where Gambians are centered: NewYork encompassing the New
Jersey area, the Washington DC metro area comprising of DC ,Maryland ,
Virginia and Pennsylvania,North Carolina , Atlanta where the very proficient
organiserscan get the folks from Texas  and Florida  to all come together
and finally to Seattle where people in California can join up. I am sure we
can have our great DJs, Kora  players photographers and vodoe operators all
pitch in to make for very successful fund raisers. It might be physically
gruelling for the leaders but i am sure it is price they would very wiiliing
pay. A similar kind of swing can be arranged in Europe with special emphasis
laid on the need to meet as many people as possible. While they may not
return with a plane load of money , they would surely have had heard from us
the assurance that they are not alone in their battle to make a difference.
Helping them become a winning allaince, list members, would constitute the
greatest contribution we can make from afar. By the same token the opposition
politicians must realise that a divided house can never stand and they would
be condemning themselves to perpetual marginalisation and the nation to the
abyss if they insist on singularly taking on a ruthless tyrant. I say come
together now.

Karamba




european governmet officials

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