Issue No. 64/2004, 12-15 August, 2004

EDITORIAL

THE NAWEC BILLS FRIGHTEN CONSUMERS

What are the coping strategies?

When the newspapers published the new tariffs many readers could not
understand the consequences of a unit of electricity increasing in price by
88% should the consumers utilize between 41 and 60 units of electricity per
month. Suffice it say that if one 60 watts bulb consumes one unit of
electricity every 10 hours in 30 days one is likely to consume 41 units. In
short, most client of NAWEC consume between 41-600 units of electricity per
month. This means that while they used to pay 2.80 dalasis per unit before
the rate went up now they are paying 5.25 dalasis per unit. This means that
the prices have almost doubled. They have increased by 88% to be precise.
Hence if one used to pay 500 dalasis bill yesterday one would be paying 940
dalasis today. This is more than a “Sadam” bag of rice. It is above the
salary of uncertificated teachers. This is why many consumers are saying
that if NAWEC provides twenty four hours generating capacity they would
still have to switch off their electricity to reduce the cost. Instead,
load shedding will be replaced by a “switching off” strategy.

Gambians should now come to terms with the reality that the high cost of
living is here to stay. What is necessary now is to develop coping
strategies Foroyaa will try to talk to the experts so that the unit of
electricity consumed by all appliances per hour can be known. It will
publish this information for general consumption. All Gambians should also
become electricity literate. One should be able to read a meter
periodically to know how much is being consumed and regulate consumption so
that it remains below the 40 unit mark. Each consumer should be able to
write down the last reading of each meter in a diary and follow up the
units consumed every week. Enlightenment is required to live in a society
whose hardship is increasing. We must not just submit to adversity. We must
develop coping strategies until better solutions are found to our common
problem.



Coalition/Collision Scenario

Halifa Sallah On The Observer Editorial

The Daily Observer Editorial has set the pace for a debate on the nature
and essence of coalitions or alliances. The public debate on any issue
gives it a sense of public ownership. Nations do not belong to leaders.
They belong to the people. Leaders cannot bring what the people do not
want. Leaders cannot suppress what the people want. The voice of the people
is the voice of the Nation. Their stand is the determining factor in
shaping the destiny of a nation. The importance of the media is its ability
to capture the public mind. Hence, the Daily Observer Editorial does
reflect the views of some sectors in Gambian society. It is therefore
necessary to do a critic of the situation.
The Daily Observer referred to Kenya where the Kibaki led a coalition,
which is considered to be in shambles and is given as an example of
coalitions resulting in collisions between partners. Senegal is also given
as an example where coalition partners fell apart. The editorial concluded
that coalitions are political marriages of convenience devoid of any clear
cut political programmes beyond winning power; that they are agglomerations
of interest groups bound by nothing but the desire to win power and do not
have vision beyond getting into power; that a coalition built on the
promise of regime change only will not solve problems, they will compound
problems.

First and foremost, it is necessary to note the political transition in
Mali, which is very different from what happened in Kenya and Senegal. The
refusal of Tumani Toure to take over the government after the overthrow of
President Traore led to a transition programme to build a political system
that would put an end to the self perpetuating rule of the past.
Consequently, a new constitution limiting that term of office of President
to two years was established. Konare reinvented the constitution and
decided not to give favours to his party members. This led to free contest
of the Presidential elections and the emergence of a non party candidate as
President. This is a lesson that Gambia should learn from. A coalition may
be imposed by necessity instead of being a mere marriage of convenience. It
is elementary knowledge that where a second round of voting does not exist
a government can emerge without the votes of the absolute majority when
opposition parties split their shares of the vote. Division can therefore
bar the determination of the undiluted choice of the people. This is what
dictates a tactical move to establish an Alliance to prevent a regime from
winning by exploiting the divisions among the opposition. Of course, if
opposition parties are to form an alliance they must determine the basis of
the alliance. An alliance just to change a regime is inadequate. What to
put in its place is what is of paramount importance. In our view, political
parties of different shades had formed a coalition government in South
Africa only to build a more stable democratic system that allows each party
to go on its own to seek the mandate of the people if it so desires. Any
viable coalition should aim to create better constitutions, laws,
administrative structures and offer each partner a better environment to
seek the mandate of the people. This is also achievable. Hence it is left
to the parties in the Gambia and the people to decide whether they are
truly committed to the type of rectification agenda that is implemented by
a transitional president and government with a short mandate too create the
type of governance environment that will earn the confidence of the people
at home and our partners abroad and provide a ground start for any
subsequent government. This is the question that should be the focus of the
debate. We must not be disturbed by what is happening in Kenya. We should
learn from it and create something that others will be proud to emulate.
History is made by people who are innovators and not imitators. We must
dare to be innovative and dare to succeed where others failed.



ALKALOSHIP CRISIS IN NJAWARA

By Modou Nyang

An Alkaloship crisis has threatened to divide the people of Njawara in the
Lower Baddibu Constituency North Bank Division, following the demise of the
former Alkalo of the village, Mr. Babou Panneh.

On Friday a delegation of National Assembly members Abdoulie Kanagi Jawla
and Kebba Touray, including Dr Ahmed Gibril Jassey chairman of the Brikama
area council and the deputy permanent secretary at the department of state
for local

Government and lands converged in the village in a desperate effort to
strike a deal between the contending parties to the crisis in a bid to
avert any dissatisfaction against the government and a possible fear of
offending either faction by imposing an Alkalo on the people, which the
constitution asserts since its amendment by the National Assembly.

The delegation 'sent' by the SOS for local government and lands, Manlafi
Jarjue to resolve the matter ‘amicably’ after a twice-unsuccessful
attempt by the chief of the area Fafanding Kinteh and commissioner Batata
Juwara, encountered hard-line and uncompromising factions, one clamouring
support for the succession of the Alkaloship by the wife of the former
Alkalo Ya Haddy Panneh. Whilst on the other hand, the mainly youthful group
stood for a change of the status quo in favour of Njundu Touray, an elder
of the village.

Advocating for a change, Amadou Mbowe a youth of the village, categorically
said that they (youths) need change for the better in accordance with
democratic values. He pointed out that those clamouring for the succession
of the Alkaloship by Ya Haddy Panneh do not command the support of the
majority of the villagers. The forward speaking Amadou Mbowe continued by
faulting the former ‘Panneh’ leadership by pointing out some of their
wrongs as the confiscation of the village women’s garden and the village’s
‘model’ compound and turning them in to their own properties. ‘They
gathered their own people (Panneh family) to select Ya Haddy, thereby
hijacking the whole process’ said Amadou, to the gaping and perplexed
crowd. Showing support to Ya Haddy Panneh, Ablie Touray refuted the claims
that their side did not have the support of the majority of the villagers.
‘There are less than three hundred (300) eligible voters in the village
and we collected one hundred and eighty nine (189) voters cards’ said Ablie
Touray in support of the lady Alkalo aspirant.

As more comments in support of either side flared from the gathering at the
village bantaba, trouble almost erupted when one Malick Mbowe a member of
the Njawara development society based in the Kombos said that an Alkalo for
the village should be selected away from the Panneh family and that the
village elders are refusing to speak the truth. This statement received
wild condemnation and the near exchange of blows between the two contending
parties. But determined to ensure that the process went on unhindered, the
members of the delegation played a mediator’s role by urging the
protagonist to exercise restrain and continue the dialogue. Abdoulie Kanagi
Jawla, National Assembly Member for Sandu in a question form told the
various speakers that the issue of selecting an Alkalo in an election type
process would mean violating the law that they themselves enacted. ‘Each
side is claming to have the majority support of the villagers, if we
support what the speakers are saying then it means we will have an
election. I want the elders and youths to know that the president has the
power after consulting few elders, to select someone. Whether you like it
or not’ an overwhelmed Abdoulie Jawla put to the zealous crowd.

Furthermore, as night approached and no conclusion at sight, Kebba Touray,
National Assembly Member for Kombo East interjected by asking for the names
of ten people each from the village’s council of elders, village
development committee (VDC), the village women’s group and the Njawara
development society in the Kombos. He finally told the people of the
village that they (the delegation) would report back exactly what
transpired at the meeting to the authorities.

Meanwhile as the 'ministerial' delegation departed from the meeting ground,
confusion gripped the minds of many of the villagers as they speculated
that the names of the people submitted to the delegation would do the final
selection. Alagie Njundu Touray, the male Alkalo aspirant joined the
dissatisfied people who were complaining, that most of the names of people
submitted are sympathizers of the ‘Panneh family’. Whilst the other side
representing Ya Haddy Panneh who was at home mourning her late husband,
refuted the claims saying that the names submitted represented the whole of
the village. It could be recalled that the constitution of the republic of
the Gambia had earlier on in established for the election of an Alkalo
whenever there is a disagreement in filling the post.  However the national
Assembly has usurped this power from the people by amending the section and
handing over the authority to the president and secretary of state
responsible.



FAO Country Representative Bemoans Poor Performance Of The Agric Sector

Heimon Nicola, the FAO Country Representative in The Gambia has bemoaned
the poor performance of the country’s agriculture sector. Mr. Nicola was
speaking at a validation workshop on the involvement of the private sector
on food production.

The FAO representative said the country’s agriculture sector has failed to
deliver the objectives set for attaining food sufficiency.

“ The traditional sector has failed and the private sector is not coming
in. We should be nationalistic to take care of our food security than
relying on somebody to take care of our food supply. If there is something
wrong with that person, then we will be affected. We are doing extremely
bad in inputs supply. We are doing better in the fisheries and horticulture
sector”, he remarked.

For his part, Yahya Sanyang, the Action Aid Director said despite several
years of interventions by his institution, poverty is still on the increase
in the country. He said his institution has strategically directed its
programmes in the country, whilst noting that Action Aid has expanded its
programmes to Guinea Bissau. He said the Gambia is presently faced with a
potential locust invasion, which could wipe out the efforts in food
production.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gambia Chamber of
Commerce, Kebba Njie said the government should endeavour to see to it that
an agriculture development bank is established. He said this would provide
capital to those who wish to invest in the agriculture sector whilst noting
that efforts should be made to ensure that the Kuntaur rice mills utilized
with maximum output. Mr. Njie said the central government should encourage
the private sector to engage local rice growers to reduce the volume of
rice importation.



A CAUSE FOR ALARM AGAINST
LOCUST INVASION

By Amie Sanneh

The Secretary of State for Agriculture, Sulayman Mboob has said that
government has already spent over US$500,000 towards the campaign against
locust calamity.

SOS Mboob was speaking to Journalists at a press conference at state house
on Friday. He indicated that government has mobilized all human resources
at its disposal towards the campaign.

He expressed disappointment over the delay respond from the International
Community adding that this situation is serious and need urgent response.
Despite all these SOS Mboob said the government is so concerned that they
will try their best towards this calamity.

He said instead of them concentrating on the affected regions, the region
has lost its capacity that is why each country is concentrating on its
own. “In the presence of such imminent disaster, it is appalling that our
sub-region has totally lost its capacity to confront the threat regionally
and as a result, all individual countries are putting up their own
strategies to tackle the situation.” He pointed out.

However he said government has mobilized over D60 million in the fight
against the locust invasion, which he said is increasing in the sub-region
and the latest being in Senegal’s northern region.

He said as part of their contingency plan there is a command centre at
Yundum where everything will be planned and executed and also an
Information Centre, which he said, will be set at the Department of
Agriculture and it will deal with enquiries and responses.

SOS Mboob revealed that a well-equipped mobile unit comprising of vehicles,
motor bicycles, human resource, pesticides, spraying equipments, etc are
online so as to tackle the situation. At the level of the field, he said
that there are fifteen teams, which are already on duty. He however said a
budget of D41,280,170 and a mobile brigade fully equipped together with
$1.5 million  is needed for the campaign.

For her part, the vice President and Chairperson of the National Disaster
Relief Committee, Madam Isatou Njie Saidy said that the imminent locust
invasion in the country is a national problem adding that it is a serious
threat to the country.

She however urged Gambians donor partners and friends of the Gambia to come
to board in the fight against this calamity.

Madam Njie Saidy thanked all those who contributed positively towards the
fight against this threat.

For his part the Action Aid’s country Director, Mr. Yaya Sanyang gave an
overview of the NGOs who have showed their commitment towards the fight
against the locust invasion adding that sixteen of them have contributed.
Action Aid has contributed D3 million; Methodist Mission Agric Program
provided sight extension staff, four motor bicycles, a pick up vehicle,
training facilities, surveillance and monitoring equipments, etc; concern
universal provided two trained sprayers, a pick up vehicle and a motor
cycle. The Point Newspaper also contributed D2,000 and a free publication
on locust. Many other organisations also contributed in the fight against
this menace.

Locusts live in a barn in North West African region in the desert (semi-
arid areas). It is one of the most deadly pests to crops. Its life cycle is
short and can lay 150 eggs per adult. It takes about 10 days to hatch and
each adult consumes about two grams of food per day.  More adults are said
to be laying eggs in the Senegal River Basin, Western Mali and Mauritania.
A lot of farmers have stopped planting in that area because of the locust
invasion.



WELLINGARA GARBAGE DUMP SITE IN A DEPLORABLE CONDITION

By Sainey I Gibba

The President of the Wellingara Social and Environmental Studies Club, Miss
Fatoumatta Small Njie has raised concern over the deplorable condition of
the garbage dumping site which she described as getting worst day by day.
Miss Njie made this remarks after a visit she and her Vice President made
to the site recently. The dumping site she said is not hygienic at all for
the people especially the children going to a nearby nursery school and the
customers and vendors at the village central market. When asked what was
the purpose of the visit to the site, Miss Njie said as a social and
environmental club it is among their primary objectives to ensure a healthy
environment but when they reach at the dumping site, the condition in which
they found it was indeed unhygienic and hence her club have not got access
to preventive material there is nothing they can do but to only call on the
Brikama Area Council to help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~