Mr. Touray: Thanks for your recent posting, quite
scary and shocking. You've posted some very
interesting writings. I've been X'mly b-z and just
have enough time to browse thru the board recently. I
want add a couple of lines.
Are we going to sit here in cyberspace and hold
endless comments on the problem or are we going to
REALLY do something about it as Gambians. A time
comes in the life of every nation when there remains
only a few choices. And that time has arrived in The
Gambia.
It hurts to know that all the constructive comments
posted on this list are probably never delivered to
the appropriate recipients. Even assuming that they
get to it, it will be tossed in a garbage can coz
there is no force behind it. It also hurts that the L
is full of great intellects, some abroad holding PhDs
with amazing experiences with little or no
contributions to their country. Are we cursed or are
we fearful? When will we have amongst us, someone
with the courage of Nelson Mandela, the heart of Dr.
King, and the beliefs of Ghandi to lead us against
injustice and open up new light for all of us. Only
God knows. When will we be united for a common cause
that frees us all from political bondage and social
malpractices?
It's nice to read and enjoy these postings, but do we
ever think about our children. Have we paved a way
for our children or just a bush track that leads you
to the middle of nowhere. And not a map or prayer
would help you retrack your path.
WE NEED TO BE HEARD AND WE CAN ONLY DO SO THROUGH
COMING TOGETHER AS ONE.
Regards!
Essa
--- [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Judging by recent news accounts, illegal drug
> trafficking is no longer a
> creeping societal menace. Instead, the nation has in
> it's hands a full blown
> crisis. If one attributes much of the increased
> prosecutions or interdictions
> on vigilant law enforcement particularly on the part
> of the drug squad, you
> are left to wonder whether the sheer size or
> frequency of cases don't point
> to a marked increase in the overall volume of drug
> dealing. From the seaport
> to the airport not to mention at the numerous porous
> borders, police are said
> to be seizing large volumes of drugs that seem to be
> headed to third
> countries primarily in Europe. Over the years
> dealers have evolved a rather
> sophisticated method of operation that relies on
> moving the drugs from
> producer countries, taking them to transshipment
> countries and finally to
> consumer nations. Typically the dealers look to
> small and strategically
> located countries like those in the Caribbean for
> dealers interested in the
> US market and West Africa for dealers angling for
> Western Europe. Countries
> where there is a penchant for corruption and greed
> become particularly
> susceptible as the dealers are more than willing to
> aggressively buy access
> and influence. Even individuals who up until the
> drug proliferation have been
> engaged in legitimate business may not be immune to
> the ever present desire
> to make quick money relatively easily either through
> participation in
> laundering transactions or serving as conduits
> during transshipment. Our
> country fits this rather ominous bill and I fear the
> emerging trends point to
> a nation at the cusp of being gradually overwhelmed
> by crime syndicates who
> want to use Gambia as a major drug transshipment
> point by taking advantage of
> the nation's weak capacity for law enforcement and
> overall border insecurity
> and pervasive corruption. We don't frown on much
> less investigate folks who
> display sudden wealth. Instead they can expect much
> adulation and respect
> thus fueling the never ending myth that there is
> indeed easy and fast money
> to made out there. Once we manage to get stuck with
> the dubious distinction
> of being a major drug transshipment point, we will
> find out that it is almost
> impossible to shake off such a label. Just ask the
> good people of Nigeria who
> must endure humiliating treatment as they travel the
> world. Bad reputations
> on nations are often like albatrosses; they
> persistently hang on the necks of
> citizens. As a result a legitimate businessman who
> just wants to come to New
> York or Madrid to buy merchandise for his store in
> Albert Market would find
> himself subject to endless scrutiny for simple
> business visa application that
> should be routine and automatic.
> Consequently, list members I would suggest the
> government do two things
> as a matter of urgency. First enact into law severe
> penalties that includes
> mandatory sentences for those found guilty of
> possession, distribution and
> laundering drug proceeds. The current laws are
> inadequate to serve as a
> deterrent. Secondly the scope, training and
> resources of the drug squad has
> to be vastly increased if the problem can even begin
> to be addressed. One way
> to make the unit more effective is to reconstitute
> it to incorporate a marine
> detachment that would be assigned through a
> defense department laison , a
> similar detachment from customs specifically trained
> to look for drugs and a
> phalanx of trained detectives all under the overall
> command of the director
> of the drug squad. This would enable the unit to
> have better surveillance
> especially at the airport and at the sea where the
> transshipments must occur.
> The idea is to choke off the dealers ability to ship
> the drugs out of the
> Gambia to the consuming markets assuming he has an
> easier time getting it in
> through the porous border. While I do not
> underestimate the threat drugs pose
> to our own people considering all the attendant
> problems of crime and other
> ills drug consumption precipitates, the real
> incentive for these hideous
> dealers is the richer overseas markets. We must slay
> this monster before the
> nation is overwhelmed. The resources for a revamped
> drug squad should come
> from existing government allocations. I would get it
> from two sources; from
> the D60 million allocated to the Presidency over
> D3million of which is slated
> to be paid to Yahya Jammeh as perdiem and personal
> allowances for the
> nonsensical trips he makes the world over. The rest
> would be the entire
> allocation for the N.I.A for fiscal 2000. They ought
> to be disbanded , and
> be asked to hand in their radios and expensive cell
> phones and summarily
> dismissed because they are up to no good other than
> hauling reporters and
> other innocent civilians to their dingy offices to
> visit evil on them.
> If we don't do anything soon, we will find ourselves
> run by drug kingpins.
>
> Karamba
>
>
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