Brother Joe Sambou,

I concur fully with O.J and yourself. But I think we infact need to go further than stating the political and socio-economic potential of Diasporan Gambians. It seems to me that our huge economic potential, deliberately and intelligently harnessed could send the most portent signals of our political significance to the ruling elite in Gambia.

We have only our own organisational weakness to blame for the regime's recalcitrance in denying 80,000 of us to vote in national elections. When we become truely conscious of our economic might, then and only then will we grasp the significance of coordinating our collective movement towards affecting our nation's destiny.

Cheers,
Momodou S Sidibeh


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Sambou" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 10:25 PM
Subject: Gambians in Diaspora Over 80,000 Strong


> I concur with OJ's analyses that Gambians in the diaspora can effect
> meaningful pressure on the tyrant on the ground.  I am also glad to hear OJ
> articulate his belief in our strength both in numbers and in helping the
> Gambian people and economy hobble along.  On that note, I am unofficially
> appealing to OJ, Halifa, Sidia, Hamat, Ousainou, and Waa, to attend the July
> 4 conference in Atlanta.  Gambians are counting on your presence and we look
> forward to a fruitful exchange of ideas and strategy to liberate Gambia from
> Yaya Jammeh and his fellow criminals.  We cannot do it individually or in
> small groups.  This is certainly a time for sacrifice for the common good.
> Let us liberate ourselves from the jaws of the beast first, and then we can
> focus on winning the hearts and minds of a future Gambia.  We owe that much
> to our peoples.  Please read on.
> 
> Gambians in Diaspora Over 80,000 Strong
> 
> The Independent (Banjul)
> 
> May 2, 2003
> Posted to the web May 2, 2003
> 
> S.B. Camara
> Banjul
> 
> Over eighty thousand (80, 000) Gambians are staying in the diaspora, and
> their influence on the Gambia's political and social scene shouldn't be
> under-estimated, according to facts and figures from Omar Jallow who
> recently ended a whistle-stop tour of Britain and the United States.
> 
> Gambians abroad have been a consistent source of foreign exchange as they
> send in millions of Dalasi for the upkeep of their families here and in the
> process help prop up the economy.
> 
> 
> OJ said this category of Gambians wield a potent influence to be reckoned
> with in The Gambia, where they can bring real pressure to bear on the
> established order to effect desired changes in the political status quo.
> 
> OJ said during his recent twelve-week tour of Britain and the United States
> he was able to reach a consensus with Gambians in these states to organise
> themselves into not only a numerically strong force to be reckoned with in
> those states and back home in The Gambia but as a social and political
> pressure group whose influence in The Gambia could be felt in all strata of
> society.
> 
> OJ explained that if Gambians in the diaspora should organise themselves
> they would be following in the footsteps of other African communities there
> who can boast of success stories in pursuing their interests. He said this
> include Senegalese, Ghanaian, and Nigerian communities who have succeeded in
> attracting attention from the administration, of their host countries.
> 
> "Whether we like it or not, there are some Gambians who will never return
> home. The diaspora has become their home, and we don't expect every Gambian
> in diaspora to come back" O.J said.
> 
> OJ said he made it clear to the British Parliament in a speech there since
> 2001, when he last visited the House of Commons that "we need help, not that
> I want all these Gambians to come back, but so that every Gambian will live
> freely in his or her country. But as long as you the British have come
> without our invitation and lived in Gambia for 75 years, I expect Gambians
> who are here to stay five times that number of years."
> 
> A growing number of Gambian families are being run by Gambians in the
> diaspora who can exert pressure on their dependents in matters of politics
> and influence them to change the status quo. He said the marginary
> difference that the APRC won against the opposition in the 2001 elections
> will be easily overturned with the current national state of affairs which
> continue to witness a huge deficit in the area of governance, human rights
> and rampant corruptions coupled with economic doldrums.
> 
> OJ believes that Gambians in the diaspora are immensely contributing to the
> socio-economic aspect of the national development scenario.
> 
> "These Gambians abroad are keenly monitoring how developments are unfolding.
> 
> Where necessary, they can act as a strong pressure group to the APRC
> government" he observed.
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
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