The Gambia West Africa is one of those countries were electorates still use marbles when casting their votes.From Sir DK Jawara's days to now ie from 1965 thru 1970 no elections were conducted without Gambians using those marbles at polling stations.Many experts did appreciate the way it was conducted during Jawara's time save the perspective of SOME critics or opponents here and there.Many heard the accompanying sound when a vote was cast at different ballot boxes.If there was an unusual sound it sent a signal that something was wrong! The same tradition was maintained when the 1996 election that ushered Yaya to the second phase of his reign were held.During Jawara's days we heard stories about ballot boxes being hung from ceilings and the like.True or false Jawara at least never stopped anyone from challenging the outcome of those results by BURNING DOWN houses and threatening people to be buried 6FT DEEP! Every regime uses different methods to side line or silence some opponents
 either by ENTICING or ELIMINATING.Brutes do  not hesitate to choose the latter.
Was Jawara a brute? Well Gambians can only remember his subtle approaches  more than the excessive harsh ones.I cannot see how one can call Jawara a brute compared to the nightmares that are traversing the minds of our folks these days.Neither am I attempting to white wash the PPP under Jawara.They had serious flaws but excessive killing and brutal torture was not an ongoing process under the old man at least one can say so for the sake of honesty.Politics apart no one can say Jawara insulted or said rude words to our people life on tv from 65 to July 22nd 1994.Anyway haven't we heard Yaya invite people who accuse him of certain things to bring their sisters on TV? We heard this over and over.That is the least on the "echelon of insults" from Yaya.

Now lets revisit the ISSUE OF THE MARBLES after Jawara was out.We continued to hear more and worse stories.Some of those are not only stories but facts that people have seen point blank!
Now lets ask Yaya if a contract to make more marbles was not given to a Chinese company in Taiwan? He cannot say no because he knows it is a fact that can be easily proven.
Why did he and those he used jump over the embassy therefore contacted the contractors directly? He knows who was asked to handle that.The people are there in Banjul.One is near his office and the other one is at home in Kerr Sering.I will not mention their names BUT! IF YAYA ANGERS ME EVEN  FOR A SECOND WITH HIS DISRESPECTFUL SPEECHES I WILL NOT HESITATE TO MENTION THEIR NAMES HERE RIGHT AWAY.
If they dispute these revelations let them sue me to court.I always have my evidences ready near my pillow case or wardrobe.Some at a safe deposit account.Cerainly those who see my criticism as personal vendetta are yet to realise that our unit in Banjul has been working on exposing these so-called pseudo revolutionaries well before I left! This what others(sound minds) call difference in political OPINION!

The marbles that were being used under Jawara are still there but this regime said that they are too old and have problems?! More marbles were sent in from Taipei, these are called the new ones or the new perles!
Now Lets ask these questions before going further down the line....
How many new marbles were received from Taipei?
Who ordered them? Who paid? Who processed the payment?
Who received the payments in Taipei?
Are the new marbles more than the registered number of voters if compared to the list with the IEC? Was the IEC involved in this process? If yes let them explain what they know with reference to the questions herein? If they are not aware then is that right in the first place?
How can the executive that is being mandated by Gambian voters order,process and then keep these marbles at undisclosed locations?
If the incumbent president ordered these marbles then why did he not make it public in the first place? Did parliament know about this? Do they really know the leads and the company that was asked to process the order?
Do they know if the company was asked to keep the samples for future production of more and more marbles? Do they know if the said company could as well be asked to help make new ballot boxes? If yes should we trust those ballot boxes?
Many people are shouting at the top of their voices when it comes to alleged voters from Casamance but I am more worried about matching the number of marbles to the registered number of voters than voters crossing from unknown places(if that is all we should see as a threat anyway???).
If I were Yaya I would not feel angry by such questions instead it could be a litmus test that can either clean the lanes before the race or put more thorns along the way for his opponents.With the current climate no wise politician would choose the latter.

Before the elections we MUST revisit every file and every box to make sure that people relate to what they consider themselves to be.
In wolof we have a famous proverb:" Na waaye di wuyo lamuy nuru".
Allah you know that all I am saying here is for the sake of justice and truth so safe me and guide me towards saying the truth Yaa Rabb!

Author:
Essa Bokarr Sey.



Think before you sink!
"Pessimists see difficulty in every opportunity and optimists see an opportunity in every challenge"
"Suits cannot be made without scissors and niddles,so decent minds disagree to agree"
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