THE POINT NEWSPAPER


Monday, May 20, 2002



The Jet Fighter Pierces The Airspace Again

Yesterday, many people had shivers running down their spine when Jammeh’s
Jet fighter pierced the greater Banjul’s airspace. Some people opined that
some form of announcement about the matter should have been made before hand
to get the public prepared for the show. Some wondered why the Jet made its
second appearance at this point in time. Others advanced that it needed to
be ‘tried’ from time to time to ‘heat’ its engines. Some also claimed that
it came out because of the current upheaval in Casamance, speculating that
it flew in that direction. Sierra Leoneans were said to have said: “Na so
Salone been day”.

Overall, the ‘show’ was not very much appreciated as it frightened many
people (and animals as dogs were reported to have ran for shelter) with some
of them dashing for safety or to take cover. We feel that the Jet should not
have been flown following all that the President said about militarism
through his rendition of the young girl’s message at the UN as well as his
own statements. It would be recalled that the Banjul young girl said among
other things: “…we do not need weapons.” The President himself said in New
York: “I would finally like to urge all of us to help our children use their
energies in constructive and positive ways because the misdirection of their
energies resulting from neglect, poor health, lack of access to education,
abuse, exploitation, militarism and crime can only deepen social instability
and crises.”

Now, the question one may ask is whether the government as a unit deals and
works out issues as an entity or in a ‘piloting on sight’ manner? A policy
statement is made by a Head of State in the confines of the UN General
Assembly in the presence of Delegates from more than 180 countries and the
next minute an action that runs counter to this profession of faith is
carried out in contradiction of the stated commitment. What are we suffering
from? Do we have people alive to their roles? What about good advisers, do
we have them? People who make sure that policies and directives are adhered
to more so when commitments are made in public and/or international fora.

The other thing about the Jet is that it is costly to maintain and we still
need money for the education, health of our people. World Bank officials
have also decried its prohibitive maintenance envelope during a meeting with
the media. Farmers are more and more facing hardship with the poor groundnut
purchasing methods. Maybe the Jet should be sold and its proceeds used for
other development-oriented pursuits as the President himself hinted in New
York. - Or was that just one of diplomacy’s major rule, as we know it?





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