Haruna, you didn't say this fellow is an accomplished author? Baba,
watch out at 2 books a pop this fellow will dwarf, Mao Zedong, grandad
Kim and Gaddafi.
Frightening if you consider some facts:
50 % of today's Gambia were not born in 1994
2 out of 3 Gambians alive today were less than 10 yrs in 1994
Malanding
West Coast receives presidential messages on Commonwealth
withdrawal, 'British misrule"
Africa <http://observer.gm/africa/news>腐ambia
<http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news>
Friday, February 14, 2014
*After the successful Banjul meeting, it was the turn of the West Coast
Region (WCR) on Thursday to digest the messages contained in two books
authored by the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh
Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh.*
*
*
The books entitled; 'A million reasons to leave the Commonwealth'; and
'How the tragic consequences of British looting and misrule in The
Gambia inspired the founding of the United Nations and its drive for
decolonisation in January 1943 and beyond'; explained extensively how
colonial hegemony has contributed in no small measure to the
underdevelopment of the nation.
Organised under the aegis of the 'National Youth Bantaba' TV show crew,
the Brikama meeting which was held at the Governor's Office was no
different from that of Banjul, as participants were exposed to the
contents of the books in an attempt to make them understand the key issues.
At the Brikama meeting, the two books were welcomed by the local
authorities, with their message beares hailed for enlightening the
general public on the realities that Gambians had to endure in the hands
of imperialists. But the Gambian leader was the main focus, as he was
praised for bringing to the attention of the general the injustice meted
out on Gambians.
Speaking at the meeting, Chief Bakary Badjie of Foni Bondali opined that
the books will provide more answers than questions as regard the
decision by the president and his government to pull out from the
Commonwealth, a then 54-member bloc that draws its membership from
mainly ex-British colonies.
He condemned as "unacceptable" the British 'misrule' and occupation in
The Gambia that contributed to the country's underdevelopment. "It
brought nothing but backwardness," he charged, referring to British
colonialism in The Gambia.
The district head encouraged the people to grab copies of the books and
not to be distracted by the West, whom he said had "looted" the
country's resources.
The National Assembly member for Foni Bintang, Hon. Ebrima Solo Jammeh,
also joined the chief in welcoming the two books, which he said could be
good learning materials for the people. He mentioned the unprecedented
developments brought about by the Jammeh Administration within a very
short period of time, something he said, wasn't done by the British.
Chiefs Basiru Jarju of Kombo East, Alhaji Junkung Camara of Foni
Berefet, Ajeh Janneh of Kombo South and Momodou 'Lungs' Jarju
representing the paramount chief, all commended the president for the
books, while assuring that they will disseminate their messages to their
respective communities.
They also used the meeting to acknowledge the unprecedented developments
registered under President Jammeh compared to the 400 years of British
occupation. The local administrators concurred that the messages are
very educative and not misleading, urging the people, particularly the
young ones to read the books.
Reviewing the books at the start of the meeting, a nominated National
Assembly member, Hon. Seedy SK Njie, also the coordinator of the
'National Youth Bantaba' TV show on The Gambia Radio and Television
Services (GRTS), said the intellectual exercise of the Gambian leader is
designed to enlighten the people about the British 'misrule' and what
Gambians should learn from it.
Also contained in the books, he informed, are the president's landmark
speech he delivered at the 68th Summit of the UN General Assembly in
which he advocated for equal treatment of member states of the global body.
Hon. Njie urged the chiefs, women leaders, youth leaders, and alkalolou
to organise meetings at their different levels to sensitise their people
on the two books for them to better understand and digest their contents.
Njie told the meeting that the president highlighted the visit by the
then president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt who denounced
the poor conditions of Bathurst (now Banjul) under British colonial
rule. The prevailing conditions at the city, he noted, is in sharp
contrast to its current status under the leadership of President Jammeh.
"The American president had witnessed the worst situation British
colonialism could present. Everyone familiar with British-Africa agreed
with Roosevelt that The Gambia was a miserable little place full of
sick, unhappy people. Even friendly visitors called it "deplorable," an
"open eyesore," or "one of the worst tropical slums in Africa and a
disgrace to the Colonial Empire," he quoted author Donald Wright on the
former president Roosevelt short visit to the then Britain's prime
minister, Winston Churchill in Casablanca, January 1943.
Another nominated National Assembly member; Hon. Babou Gaye-Sonko and
Pierre Minteh, APRC national youth mobiliser, both co-coordinators of
'National Youth Bantaba' TV show, said The Gambia's membership of the
Commonwealth had brought nothing to the country.
The duo encouraged the people to read the books to know how the country
was faring during British rule compared to the numerous developments
registered in present day Gambia.
The meeting was moderated by Tijan Janneh of GRTS.
Author:*Alieu Ceesay*
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