Mr. Sidibeh,
Your brilliant piece is a very good overview of the underlying factors of
our present political quagmire. Some things very obvious to me: We have to
WALK THE WALK (after all the big talk!) There is no doubt that we talk a
good game. But that simply isn't enough. To effect any changes, we have to
put our money where our mouth is! Because irrespective of what our
individual ideas are regarding how to get rid of the rascals destroying our
country, the one constant needed is MONEY. Now, how do we get the needed
money, and what do we do with it?
First, we have to raise money in order to raise money. By this I mean, those
of us on this List and others outside of it who are cognizant of the urgent
need to throw out the APRC regime, need to set up a framework where we can
pool together our resources. My understanding is that we have about 600
members on this List. If you count out students and others who cannot afford
to contribute anything, my feeling is you'll still have at least 150 people
who can afford to give something. Now, assuming that each of those 150
people contribute $20.00 towards a common fund, we'll have $3,000.00. Hardly
an amount to loose sleep over. But don't despair yet, because with that
$3,000, we can organize a fundraiser or commercial dance in any Metro area
(in the US) with a high concentration of Gambians(DC, Atlanta & NYC are sure
winners,) and easily double the amount. After having just three such events,
we'll definitely pool well over $15,000! And if adventurous members like
myself have our way, we'll invest a third of that amount -about $5,000 in
the Stock Market. Yes the Stock Mkt! If the European side could pull off a
similar feat, the better. So, do we have 150 members willing to put down
$20.00 to jump start the idea? I'm willing to challenge anyone!
With that money, we could buy communication equipment for Opposition parties
back home, or buy them air time on private radio stations to counter the
constant lies and propaganda that Radio Gambia and Gambia TV puts out. If
things work according to plan, we could buy stationery for Gambian schools,
or even school buses. This isn't far fetched at all. It's within our reach.
But, like a former business prof of mine used to say, identifying "the"
problem is the same as solving the problem halfway (50%.) What therefore is
our main stumbling block?
To answer this question, one merely needs to look at the number of petty
Gambian organizations in the diaspora. Since, I'm a little familiar with the
US scene, and the Wash DC Metro Area in particular, I'll tell you what I
know for a fact about the organizations we have here. You can decide if the
story is familiar or not.
In the DC area, we have the Gambian Foundation. As far as I know, it's the
oldest Gambian organization in this area. The org is being run by Ousainou
M'bengue, Soffie Ceesay, and Mbye Sarr. It was the one that Tombong Saidy
was mainly involved with. Apparently Tombong has used his association with
this organization as political capital (refer to his interview with Ebrima
Drammeh of "Who's On" fame on Gambianet.com back in '98/'99.) His claims
about how he was helping Gambians through this org is to say the very least
grossly exaggerated. The few that he Tombong has "helped" are the foolish
people who come to this country (a level playing field by my judgment,)
refuse to go to school, or hold any job longer than six months, but then
involve themselves in petty crookery. I fail to see how bailing such fools
from jail helps the Gambia. But, not to deviate from the gist of my story,
the Gambia Foundation to it's credit, is the only org in this area that has
consistently organized demonstrations against all forms of injustice in the
Gambia - from Korro Ceesay's murder, through Sadibu Hydara's, to the latest
massacre of our students. The org publishes Jaliba, a news letter. However,
it is worth mentioning that there has been allegations of
mismanagement/financial impropriety levelled against the group by some
people. The good thing for the GF is that many of their accusers are people
of dubious character. I'll touch on this shortly.
Then there is the Gambia People's Association led by Sheik Jallow, Korro
Sillah and co. Tijan "Eku Bopa" Ceesay features prominently in the group.
For the life of me, I cannot tell you what this group stands for. Maybe one
of them will seize this opportunity to do that. All I can tell you
categorically is that, they used to organize commercial parties frequently
prior to '96. They do so today with less frequency. What I also can tell you
is that there's always some type of fracas at their events -90% of the time
(normally some drunken fool starting a fight or something like that.) But
then their MC is always conspicuously drunk himself, so no surprises there.
For some reason, they seem to have a knack for attracting the underbelly of
the Gambian community in this area. To be blunt, some of the most degenerate
characters among Gambians belong to that group. I'm talking about the type
who'd rather buy a car they can ill-afford than spend that money on some
school; the type who tell you they cannot donate $20.00 to a Gambian charity
because it would take away from the $100 they plan to spend at some night
club; the type who rents out the most expensive cars during the ALD to
impress some brainless shallow girl, when mom and dad would kill for a bag
of rice back home! You get the picture? Apparently they tried to amalgamate
with the Gambia Foundation some time ago. Knowing the people in the two
groups, I'm not surprised that that proposal was a non-starter. That was
when the allegations against the GF started.
I had gone to see Haddy Mundow, one of the local MoneyGram (transmit
money home for a fee) biz people back in '98 when Sheik Jallow walked in. On
Haddy's cupboard were two shields/trophies with the "GPA" insignia and some
citation written on them. I thought the woman was some sort of athlete (you
never know with America.) I asked her what I was missing. Before long, I was
privy to testimony in which all Gambian orgs -but the GPA, are useless or
divisive. The GF particularly was painted as the domain of three people who
use the association's tax-exempt status to enrich themselves. Also that the
GF trio had even gone to the extent of calling the immigration people on
them. Blah, blah, blah... Now, I'm not good at hiding my emotions or
shutting up when I feel I'm being lied to. So, despite my wife's constant
tugging of my shirt to silence me, I threw out some few questions. Not to
bore you with those details, but both Haddy Mundow and Sheik Jallow realized
I wasn't buying their story. Here is an org that has been around for god
knows how long without absolutely nothing to show for it, and they're
blaming everyone but themselves. Go figure, like they say around here!
Also, there is the Gambia Support Group of which I am secretary. Alasana
Samateh of Baltimore is Chairman. The org was founded in '96 to help the
Gambian community in the US in times of need, and to assist as many Gambian
high school students as the org can afford with scholarships. That program
continues. However, the GSG isn't without it's problems. A combination of
egoistic behavior, pettiness, ineffective leadership, and sheer indiscipline
has retarded serious attempts to move the org forward. We're currently in
the throes of a serious lethargy that threatens the very survival of the
association. Whether the GSG will make it or not depends on a break from the
past that the association has simply been unable to muster.
And finally, there is the Gambia Leadership Conference led by Latjor Ndow
and Karamba Touray notably. The GLC is supposed to be the "umbrella" group.
The only problem is, it's not! A classic idea of an umbrella group is one
that brings together representatives of all associations under one "tent"
where they strategize the "larger picture" and filter that info down to the
parts that form the whole - just like the European parliament. But what we
have with the GLC is no such thing. Instead, it's merely a case of people
going around telling those with time to listen that they are the "umbrella"
group. Is it any wonder that after over two years of existence, the GLC
neither has the membership nor the resources to do anything substantive? As
a matter of fact, many people regard the GLC as something of a joke. It's a
brilliant idea gone awry. For this association to have any kind of
credibility, the numerous Gambian orgs in this area and around the country
need to be invited to send Reps who'll then elect a Supreme Council that
would chart the direction this org needs to take. Otherwise, this noble idea
will continue to be symbolized by nothing more than an annual EVENT where a
few intellectuals gather for a few hours in a vain attempt to preach to a
congregation that neither wants nor appreciates their sermon. So, no offense
intended Latjor and Karamba, but this GLC thing is a classic quixotic
venture as it is. Do you want to change it, or do you want to continue
fooling yourselves that you're the "umbrella" group? The choice is yours!
One last issue I'd like to touch on, is the ALD annual event. These
gatherings frankly speaking, have been nothing but money-making ventures for
a few individual Gambians. In the case of the ALD, the name needs to go in
my view. Why? Because when one goes to the so-called ALD, it's for every
reason other than the plight of Africa. One may go there to see long-lost
friends, to chase after some girl/woman, to enjoy oneself etc, etc, but the
last thing on one's mind is African Liberation. Now, the Gambia is the
smallest country on continental Africa. If there is to be a genuine "African
Liberation Day" in DC, then common sense tells one that our bigger brothers
ought to be involved. I've asked African friends from Liberia, Zimbabwe,
Mali, S. Africa, Senegal about this ALD, and the answer is always "what
ALD?" So, why continue to pretend that this annual event is about Africa?
What African country, charity, or institution has ever benefitted from this
ALD? Where in Africa has the proceeds of the past ALD events been spent?
Where has the profits of the past ALDs gone - PERIOD? Any time you ask this
question, every one plays dumb! But at the very least, let these people be
honest for once, and call this event something more appropriate. Call it
"Gambia week," or "Gambia Family Re-union." Hell, call it whatever you want,
but stop lying to yourself and others that it's an African Liberation Day.
The last time I checked, much of Africa remains under the yolk of home-grown
tyranny. The events of April 10th and 11th in our very own Gambia bears
testimony to that. So, if for nothing else, it's a little premature to be
celebrating African Liberation! So if you ALD organizers know something I
don't, I'm all ears.
So, Mr Sidibeh, there you have the Gambian community in the Wash DC Metro
area. I've deliberately left out the religious orgs, but the four orgs
discussed are the main ones Gambian around this end. As you can see, except
for the GPA, each has something to give. Now, the question is: how do we
overcome the ego problem, the appetite for corruption, and the common
indiscipline that are the bane of our society, in order to pool our
resources to get rid of the cancer that Yaya Jammeh represents. It's time
for serious introspection. I wish I could have given you a better picture of
us here, but this is the reality. I'm not re-writing or doctoring anyone's
history, I'm telling you what I know first hand. The sooner we throw the
little we can afford together and face Yaya with a concerted effort, the
better for all of us.
Thanks for your overview, and keep it coming.
Saul.
remain nothing bu asked th
On the other hand, there simply isn't regularly or precisely because The
organization
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
