Last Friday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the reception organized by supporters of Preseident Yahya in mid-town, Manhattan. I thought I should share with you my impressions.
The President's team included H.E. as they call him, Honorable SOSs, Joseph Joof, Blaise Jagne, Susan Wafa-Ogoo (my apologies if get the spelling wrong), Terese Ndong and Speaker S.M. Dibba and many other aides and securities.
The gathering reminded me of former President Jawara's meet-the-farmers-tour rallies. Atendance was between 2 to 3 hundred (my estimate), including many women and children, Jalibaas( professional and amateur praise singers), die-hard partisans and on-lookers.
List of speakers included Yai-Compins, Bai-Compins, representatives of several Yahya Jammeh support groups across the eastern seaboard to welcome the President to New York and the US as well as share regrets that many of their supporters could not attend. All expressed how wonderful it was to meet him and pledged their undivided support.
The Secreatry of States' expressed their appreciation to the kind of reception. More importantly a few remarked how different it was from the reception they received a couple of years. They informed the crowd about all the good things that happened since their last visit. The the infrastructure, the free and fair elections (and H.E.'s) landslide victory, and the lifting of the sanctions by the US.
Speaker Dibba felt it necessary to confess once again on why he decided to be part of the government. Familiar to those who follow events.
The H.E. gave a long lecture on democracy, patriotism, tolerance, hardwork and investing in the future. He highliged that all patriotic Gambians should work hard for a better Gambia. That Gambia's democracy is alive and well. That every Gambian has the right to do whatever they want, support whoever they want but criminals and those who want to cause trouble have NO rights (enphasis mine). He asked all those in diaspora to work hard, cut the waste and save for their kids future.
My impression:
Visitors relieved that there were no demostrations. It is eveident that the demonstrations of 2000 were not forgotten. H.E. said he forgive all those who wronged him, called him terrorist and murderer then. He admitted that he may have wronged some people but fall short of asking for forgiveness or apologizing . According to him those he wronged should understand that his actions were in the best interest of the Gambia. Unfortunately he was not specific about what those wrongs might be.
Suprised that the SOS failed to address key issues as to what the government is doing in areas of Gambia-US relations eapecially in areas that really matter to those in the diaspora. Issues such as how to protect Gambians in light of Sept 11 and the after, issues of US visa, or enabling Gambians overseas to vote or ways to encourage investment.
Disappointed that organizers did not give time for questions and answers. This would have given Jammeh the opportunity to here from some of the opposition.
Stunned to hear that he has donated twenty thousand ($20,000) to Gambians to celebrate his victory. I find this totally unacceptable for a number of reasons. I can think of 101 uses for Four hundred thousand dalasis that do not include organizing a Jammeh victory celebration in hte US.
Disappointed that those who yelled their heads off (or should I say burn their fingers on the keyboard) on the L as anti-Jammeh did not show up at the gathering to voice out their case. Shows that we are yet to learn to walk the walk.
Was very much facinated by the number of language groups that were present in that little room. We had Sahahullehs, Fullas, Mandinkas, wollof, Manjakos, Akus, Jolas and Seres just to name a few. We had people from Banjul to Sandu. Hardly can you differentiate who was who. Most of the speakers spoke, more than one language. Infact on many occasions speakers rectify translators. I must say that was the most fascinating moment for me.
Malanding Jaiteh
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