You wrote:
“Gassa, we are still here incase you forget. You talked about cell phones
in the Gambia, ask anyone from this end how many times they get folks with
cell phones in the Gambia. The few times one gets through you can't here
each other and please don't tell me it's the US end. Owners of cell phones
in the Gambia will tell you that they are useless for they do not work
most of the time”.
Yes Joe. I know you are still around. Otherwise what’s the point of
visiting? Yes, getting through to the cell phones in The Gambia can
sometimes be very difficult; and this applies to even those resident in
the country. The networks may be congested, but it is not true that they
don’t work and are useless. The figures do not support that notion. Take a
look:
From 1992 – 2000, the analogue mobile had a customer base of 4,600.
1st GSM operator (Gamcel) - Commercial lunch in May 2001
2nd GSM operator (Africel) - Commercial lunch in October 2001
Customer base end 2001 (est.) - 30,000
Customer base end 2002 (est.) - 75,000
For your information, the estimated total number of mobiles in service, as
at now, is about 110,000 and growing! This is, despite our economic crisis
and very poor and congested network! You wait for a few months when by
that time both operators would have finished their capacity and coverage
expansion projects, then you would see by how much more these figures
would grow.
You are the economist; I am not. However, I have been told that there is a
correlation between the growth in communications, coupled with a booming
construction industry, and economic growth.
You again wrote:
“"During the past two or three weeks the Dalasi has appreciated by more
than 20% against some of these...."
Gassa, the above is the same nonsense that Yaya lobbed at Gambians in his
neurotic state for a speech. So, please come with authentic stats.”
No! You aren’t going to get any stats from. You figure it out yourself!
You wrote:
“Regarding Agriculture, Gassa, we hear the same nonsense for Yaya for the
past nine years. Every year is a bumper harvest for Gambians, yet the
very farmers you are touting are the most marginalized and hungry.”
No Joe. Last year we declared a national crop failure! Then we tried to
alleviate the plight of those affected by setting up a disaster relief
fund under Her Excellency, the vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy. Farm
implement such as tractors (200) where provided to our farming communities
as well as inputs such as fertilizers and seeds provided. Experts to help
improve farming practices where brought in from places as far away as
Egypt, Bangladesh and Taiwan. The President’s for people to go back to the
landed was heeded and more land was cultivated.
These efforts, together with good rains are beginning to yield the desired
results. In fact, according to General manager of the Kuntaur Rice mill,
they bought 50 tonnes of rice during the first month of the season
compared to 32 tonnes for the whole of 2002. For other crops, we have to
wait and see!
You wrote:
“As for Tourism, please quit the disinformation. And don't be shy with
your cooked up statistics and translate your idea of "A Good Star" to us
in stats. I know you can drop us percentages faster than Alan Greenspan
so spit them out”.
Again, no stats from me. What I can tell however is that for the past
years, we’ve been told that our major constraint has been the availability
of beds. These years, we have been told that two hotels that did not
effectively participate in the past two years’ tourist seasons, Kotu
Strand and Sunwing, together with all the other hotels have embarked on
extensive renovation exercises amounting to over 100 million Dalasis have
resulted in more beds and higher quality. We have also been told that all
beds have been sold for the just-started tourist season.
In another development, the Director of The Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA)
has disclosed that his Authority has already approved proposals for the
construction of many hotels on the Brufut Heights Resorts Layout. “As a
result, the TDA demarcation will be extended in the light of the land
allocation which would precede the development and Investment on
infrastructures such as hotels, restaurants and the like”, he told a
National Stakeholders’ Conference last month.
He further said that investors whose projects have been approved have
deposited a certain percentage of their total investment cost in a
specific account, which would be gradually refunded to them as their
projects progress towards completion.
You also wrote:
“Gassa, one more mention of construction projects from you and I will ask
George Sarr to delist you for deception in advertisement. How many times
have I told you that 9.5 out of every 10 fine construction that you boast
about is financed by diasporans? Are you that out of touch or in denial”?
Don’t worry Joe. The construction projects would be left for later. As for
9.5 out of every 10 fine construction being financed by Diasporans, I am
elated! It shows that those Diasporans have hope in where the country is
heading. Otherwise, they would be arranging for their folks to go meet
them! And no. I am neither out of touch nor in denial. How about you?
You asked:
“On hospitals, if they are so equipped, why is Yaya and family not using
them? Also, why is your type not using them? How many times have we seen
you folks come to places like the US to steal health care”?
We’ve seen the “first-world” European citizens doing that too! For the
record however, count me out. Our health care system is good enough for me
for the time being!
On the 2003 Human Development Index, you wrote:
“Gassa, Gassa, Gassa! You really believe we need to launch on
a "Saurubaa" dancing rave on the above UN development index? What's the
matter with you”?
There is nothing the matter with me. By the way, is there any reason why
we shouldn’t launch on a “Saurubaa”? The previous reports nearly gave us
all heart attacks.
You wrote:
“Gassa, what I do not understand from you is that most of the state
departments you mentioned ( Agriculture, Energy, etc) are headed Yaya and
you don't hear him say a word about them. Why, because electric supply is
almost nonexistent”.
I told you a new transmission network is being built to replace the
archaic one we inherited from the British some 40 years ago.
You wrote:
“We are counted among the 25 worst on earth and you are grinning about
being the top dog among the wretched list. Really nice”!
Very nice indeed. Now that we are at the edge, a little bit more effort
and we will be out of it. Don’t you think it is easier to escape from that
list from the edge than from the center?
You again wrote:
“Gassa, why did you conveniently leave out the great strides at GRTS? You
knew you could not fabricate on that one, for Borra admitted that half the
country is not receiving signals for the past six months”.
No, I did not conveniently leave out GRTS. I did not consider it relevant
to what I had to say. For the rest of your queries, I have nothing to say.
Finally, let me ask you this. I know that you are actively canvassing for
contributions for a “Save The Gambia Fund”. What puzzles me is that
despite the horrific devastation that has happened to our URD farmers, you
are yet to suggest doing something for them. Is the URD not a part of The
Gambia or are they not worth saving?
Have a good day, Gassa.
> [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Joe Sambou"
> <[log in to unmask]> ]
>
>
> Chei Jali Gassa! Gassa, we are still here incase you forget. You
> talked about cell phones in the Gambia, ask anyone from this end how
> many times they get folks with cell phones in the Gambia. The few
> times one gets through you can't here each other and please don't tell
> me it's the US end. Owners of cell phones in the Gambia will tell you
> that they are useless for they do not work most of the time.
>
> "During the past two or three weeks the Dalasi has appreciated by more
> than 20% against some of these...."
>
> Gassa, the above is the same nonsense that Yaya lobbed at Gambians in
> his neurotic state for a speech. So, please come with authentic
> stats.
>
> "Having said that, it is important to point out that it is misleading
> to portray us as a desperate and starving lot. We are not!
> Unbelievable as it may sound, we are coping reasonably well under the
> circumstances."
>
> Gassa, are you speaking for yourself or for the masses? We had this
> discussion before. We are not measuring the plight of Gambians by your
> situation or your other club members', but the masses in the country.
> Coping reasonably well! Are you joking?
>
> Regarding Agriculture, Gassa, we hear the same nonsense for Yaya for
> the past nine years. Every year is a bumper harvest for Gambians, yet
> the very farmers you are touting are the most marginalized and hungry.
>
> As for Tourism, please quit the disinformation. And don't be shy with
> your cooked up statistics and translate your idea of "A Good Star" to
> us in stats. I know you can drop us percentages faster than Alan
> Greenspan so spit them out.
>
> Gassa, one more mention of construction projects from you and I will
> ask George Sarr to delist you for deception in advertisement. How
> many times have I told you that 9.5 out of every 10 fine construction
> that you boast about is financed by diasporans? Are you that out of
> touch or in denial?
>
> On hospitals, if they are so equipped, why is Yaya and family not using
> them? Also, why is your type not using them? How many times have we
> seen you folks come to places like the US to steal health care? So,
> please don't get me started on the health situation in that country.
>
> "Finally, according to the 2003 UN human Development Index, Gambia now
> ranks 25th out of the 25 least livable countries, ahead of many
> countries endowed with resources we do not have. Of the 25 least
> livable countries, The Gambia is the most livable!!!"
>
> Gassa, Gassa, Gassa! You really believe we need to launch on a
> "Saurubaa" dancing rave on the above UN development index? What's the
> matter with you?
>
> Gassa, what I do not understand from you is that most of the state
> departments you mentioned ( Agriculture, Energy, etc) are headed Yaya
> and you don't hear him say a word about them. Why, because electric
> supply is almost nonexistent. We are counter among the 25 worst on
> earth and you are grinning about being the top dog among the wretched
> list. Really nice!
>
> Gassa, why did you conveniently leave out the great strides at GRTS?
> You knew you could not fabricate on that one, for Borra admitted that
> half the country is not receiving signals for the past six months.
>
> Gassa, I think you are really overstaying your welcome, already. How
> about giving us an eye witness account on the illegal incarceration of
> Dumo et al, Waa, Abdoulaye Sey, and other's arrests, or the tourching
> of the Independent Newspaper premesis? You can also douse us a bonus
> on the firing of your ex-boss, Bakary Njie. I suppose the switch of
> Yanks and Ngorr Sikim (Sillah Bai) is going to do us wonders. Please
> tell us by how many percent their respective departments are going to
> grow with their presence.
>
> Question, is Yaya taking econ/finance lessons from Balla Gaye? The
> reason why I ask is that Yaya was ignorant about the economy all
> throughout his 9 year stay, and still is. However, with the hiring of
> Balla Gaye, Songular all of a sudden is embarked on redefining
> economics and the economy, morphing into an Econ Prof. My guess is he
> just told Balla his idea of economics and Balla knowing his Caligula
> character, just told him he's absolutely on track. For, a word is
> never sufficient to a fool. Let the idiot hang himself. Under Famara
> Jatta, he talked/dabbled in Beef and rice.
> Now under Balla, he switched to Jahatu. Folks, lookout, for the next
> item
> on the menu may be your favorite veggie of food source. Look, the dude
> is a wisefool and all the Kotos that hang around him know that and
> he'll continue to be game. Folks, if you think education is
> expensive, try ignorance. Gassa, get lost, will you.
>
> Chi Jaama
>
> Joe Sambou
>
>>From: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>,
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>Subject: Re: [>-<] Unbelievable but true!!!!
>>Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 22:28:52 -0500
>>
>>[ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by
>><[log in to unmask]> ]
>>
>>
>>
>> > "Unbelievable but true" Your heading indicates that you as the
>> > author do
>>not beleive what you saying. Gassa, lets not settle for less; we can do
>> much, much better. As a matter of fact Gambians are worst off today
>>than nine years ago.
>>
>>Kebb Foon
>> > From: "Jungle Sunrise" <[log in to unmask]>
>> > Date: 2003/10/29 Wed AM 08:20:42 EST
>> > To: <[log in to unmask]>, <[log in to unmask]>
>> > Subject: [>-<] Unbelievable but true!!!!
>> >
>> > [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by "Jungle
>> > Sunrise"
>><[log in to unmask]> ]
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Unbelievable but true
>> >
>> > There has been a lot of inquiries and some speculation as to where I
>> > am and what, if any, is wrong. Well, I'm right here in The Gambia
>>everything
>> > is fine with me. I’m just a little bit busier than usual.
>> > Nonetheless I
>>do
>> > peep in once in a while to keep abreast of what peoples’ opinion of
>> > what is going on in our country are. This visit would be a short
>> > one,
>>intended
>> > only to share with folks what I consider the flipside of the coin.
>> >
>> > Whilst it cannot be denied that Gambians have been going through
>> > some
>>very
>> > trying moments the past few months, it is equally undeniable that it
>> > is not all gloom and that things are not as dire as is sometimes
>> > portrayed. Thanks to The Almighty Allah, we are managing to to live
>> > through what is normally referred to as the hungry season in Gambia,
>> > months of June to November. This, despite our last year’s failed
>> > cropping season and the ever escalating prices of basic commodities
>> > that has hit a lot of families, only goes show our resilience.
>> >
>> > Having said that, it is important to point out that it is misleading
>> > to portray us as a desperate and starving lot. We are not!
>> > Unbelievable as
>>it
>> > may sound, we are coping reasonably well under the circumstances.
>> >
>> > Now to the present and what we hope for the future. Except for the
>>people
>> > of the URD, this year’s harvests look very promising and many
>> > experts suggest a bumper harvest for the rest of the farming
>> > communities. In the URD however, floods have ruined what many
>> > believed was going to be a bumper harvest for our rural folks living
>> > there. Unfortunately for these people, sustained heavy rains lasting
>> > a few weeks have not only
>>devastated
>> > their homes, flooded their towns and villages but has taken away the
>> > little respite they had hoped for from this year’s cropping season.
>>Rice,
>> > cotton, groundnuts, you name it; all have been lost to the heavy
>> > rains
>>and
>> > accompanying gale-force winds. The devastation in that area is just
>> > unbelievable. For the rest of the country however, things look very
>> > promising.
>> >
>> > On the socio-economic situation of the country, things are looking
>> > much brighter. The tourist season has got off to a very good start
>> > and the madness that gripped our Dalasi and the ever-increasing
>> > price of basic commodities seem to have peaked. The Dalasi has
>> > appreciated
>>significantly
>> > against most major currencies. During the past two or three weeks
>> > the Dalasi has appreciated by more than 20% against some of these.
>> > Though prices are beginning to come down, we have a long way to go
>> > if Gambians are to regain their lost buying power.
>> >
>> > On the side of infrastructural development, well, what can I say?
>> > The construction industry is booming with more and more beautiful
>> > buildings coming up. The Sere Kunda hospital construction is
>> > progressing very
>>well,
>> > wells are being constructed, watering holes constructed, schools are
>> >
>>being
>> > built and equipped, health centres are being built, and a new
>>electricity
>> > transmission network is under construction both in the Greater
>> > Banjul
>>Area
>> > (GBA) and some selected towns and that have been identified under
>> > the rural electrification project. Thanks to the beach restoration
>> > project under way, several kilometers of lost beaches are being
>> > reclaimed. The project is being implemented quite magnificently and
>> > Gambians are very impressed by what they are seeing. From behind the
>> > Banjul Market, all
>>the
>> > way to Radio Syd four cars can now race along side each other and
>> > work
>>is
>> > still continuing.
>> >
>> > On the side of communications, cellular customer base has risen to
>> > over 100,000 from under 5,000 by end 2000. This massive increase is
>> > in itself quite remarkable when you consider how congested their
>> > networks are. According to reports from the two mobile operators,
>> > planned expansions this year could see their customer base increase
>> > to more than 200,000.
>> >
>> > In another development, a fortnight ago, a workshop organized by the
>> > department of State for Finance conducted a three-day workshop to
>> > review their baseline study to evaluate government’s readiness to
>> > implement e- governance. The study, which was conducted nationwide,
>> > was to establish available resources in terms of equipment, human
>> > resources,
>> > infrastructure, legal etc, etc. The first phase of the project is
>>expected
>> > to link up departments under the office of the President and those
>> > of finance. This is to improve on work practices by minimizing the
>> > use of paper, reduce the time it takes for some transactions to be
>> > done and increase transparency. This project is expected to serve as
>> > a model that may be replicated else where in Africa and is supported
>> > by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). It is
>> > envisaged that
>>after
>> > the successful implementation of the pilot project, all the relevant
>> > institutions and services across the country will be subsequently
>> > interconnected electronically.
>> >
>> > Like I mentioned earlier, this year’s farming season seem to been
>> > very successful with many predicting a bumper harvest. Many have
>> > heeded the response to President Jammeh’s call for people to go back
>> > to the land
>>and
>> > it seems to be paying dividends. It is reported that the Kuntaur
>> > rice
>>mill
>> > milled more rice during the first three months this season than it
>> > did
>>the
>> > whole of last year. The army is also said to have been actively
>> > involved in farming. See
>> > (http://allafrica.com/stories/200310270375.html).
>> >
>> > Finally, according to the 2003 UN human Development Index, Gambia
>> > now ranks 25th out of the 25 least livable countries, ahead of many
>>countries
>> > endowed with resources we do not have. Of the 25 least livable
>>countries,
>> > The Gambia is the most livable!!!
>> > (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0778562.html).
>> >
>> > The same report also tells us that The Gambia is now ranked 151, an
>> > improvement of nine places from 160 in 2002. For comparison with the
>> >
>>rest
>> > of the world, Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, you may want to read
>> > the full report from
>> > (http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/pdf/hdr03_indicators.pdf).
>> > For indicators specific to The Gambia, you may visit
>> > (http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/cty_f_GMB.html).
>> >
>> > According to the UN, “The HDI is an attempt to broaden the
>> > definition of development by including both economic and social
>> > indicators. The index combines three factors: opportunity for long
>> > and healthy lives (life expectancy), educational attainment (adult
>> > literacy rate and school enrollment), and standard of living (gross
>> > domestic product or GDP)”.
>> >
>> > Have a good day, Gassa.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough
>> > to
>>see,
>> > yet small enough to solve (Mike Leavitt)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
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