Baldeh,
      Thanks for your very sobering and incissive  analysis of the current 
political developments  surrounding NADD. This is  all a goodwill gesture on the 
side of sincere people, who understands the  dynamics and consequent 
political situation that can prevail, if NADD is  allowed to disintegrate. 
 
      What has seemed impossible to achieve for  the last two decade and 
more, has now become seemingly possible. This is  where NADD draws a wider support 
among Gambians irrespective of their  political affiliations. To revamp all 
the political structures that alienates  the people, and build a free and 
dignified society where none would have to  cower, cringe and crawl before any 
other person; and everyone would exercise  their God-given right to have a 
liberated spirit and a free mind. This is the  essence of democracy; and this is the 
hope that NADD has rekindled in the hearts  and minds of the Gambian people. 
 
      The emergence of NADD as a political reality  is not an accident, but 
is borne out of necessity. The necessity to assure, as  you have already noted, 
that the will of the people to effect political change  must be respected, as 
recent changes in the constitution allow for a simple  majority, instead of 
the two-thirds? majority needed to avoid a second round of  voting. Thus NADD 
is a strategic alliance to deny the president of dividing the  opposition vote 
and win by a simple majority. This is very important and it is  the only way 
the opposition can win.
 
      Now, I am cognizant of the fact that the  country that we all call 
home, the Gambia, belongs to people who share different  loyalties. This is why as 
soon as the opposition is seen in a position of  strength to assume political 
power, all the people who share the same loyalties  coalesce around their 
loyalty. They are loyal to their interest groups; they are  loyal to their ethnic 
groups, and they are loyal to their different social and  cultural 
perceptions. This is a reality which cannot be changed, and will always  remain to be 
so. More so, why it is abundantly necessary for the fundamental  objective of 
NADD to change the whole system. To institute fundamental  democractic 
principles to govern political conduct and activities; to direct the  interest 
relations between the different interest groups, and create an  environment conducive 
to foster opposition and dissent. 
 
       The debates and discussions  started here is very helpful. Let all 
those whose voices can make a difference,  and in one way or another influence a 
positive outcome of the political  deliberations on the ground, continue to do 
so. 
 
       The Gambia I see emerging, has grown  more sophisticated and its 
politics cannot be purely dileanated on ethnic  grounds. This is one of the best 
hopes we have. Regards.
 
        Rene   

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