The Independent

Reports reaching The Independent from prominent Gambian businessmen
operating in the country have accused the government of "bankruptcy and
financial constraint" while resorting to begging the business community to
help finance its activities. This followed reports that the government is
unable to finance the 2003 population and housing census, prompting them to
vigorously engage in seeking donations from the business community.

The concerned businessmen were said to have received letters from the
Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, addressed to many of
them including other local institutions asking for their contribution in
cash or kind towards the cost of the census. However, they outlined that the
business community has been facing enough problems during the past few years
and instead of government helping them solve such problems by reducing heavy
taxation and introducing a proper electricity system amongst other things,
they are creating more burden on the business community.

The concerned businessmen told The Independent that a government well known
for its lavishing of millions of Dalasis of taxpayers' money on a daily
basis should be well prepared for such an important undertaking and not to
expect private individuals to do it for them. In a letter addressed to local
institutions in January and signed by the Secretary of State for Finance,
Famara Jatta, states that "I am pleased to inform you that The Gambia
government is preparing for the 2003 population and housing census.

As you may be aware, censuses provide a wealth of data not just on
demographic characteristics but other social and economic information such
as educational attainment, literacy, housing stock and quality as well as
employment, unemployment, occupation etc."

The letter also indicated that in addition, it responds to growing data
needs, the 2003 population and housing census will seek information on
access to the media, disability, skills and access to health services,
housing conditions and modules addressing gender issues, in particular will
also be included. In the recent past, the letter states that, the issue of
"government and decentralization have become a burning issue of the
country's development process.

" It added that it is envisaged that data from the forthcoming census will
be an invaluable input in addressing the data needs of these "important
thematic issues". The letter noted that "as yet there are no commitments by
the development partners to find this census," and that "we have to resort
to mobilizing funding from within the country."

However insiders at the Finance Department, also acknowledged that due to
the "shortage of professional staff in the Central Statistics Department to
man the census, and considering the need for vehicles and census equipment,
the budget for the census is put at D33.5 million, which will cover the
census activities from 2001 - 2004." The letter added that the Gambia
Government is to contribute D2.5 million which will be stretched from 2001 -
2003, whilst the rest of the amount of D31 million is expected to come from
the donor community in the form of grants.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------