Dr. Jeng:
You are indeed right on the money. Tax evasion is a serious
problem in The Gambia. Maybe with proper tax codes and
uncorruptible tax agents, we may be able to collect more taxes.
The legislature has a primary responsibility in enacting tax
codes that are fair. The civil service alone should not be the
only viable tax entity.
Our engagement is a solid approach to reconciliation. We cannot
constantly lay blame on the government without providing needed
suggestions. One must realize that there is an absolute difference
of being an opposition, and a willing partner for the overall
success of our country. We all shine mighty well when our country
does well.
The Gambia belongs to all of us. It is disheartening to continue
endless blame on the government. Our responsibility is to come
up with the meeting of minds for the development of our country.
This approach is indeed inclusive of every stakeholder in our
country.
I hope with your knowledge, the government can use use in a very
positive way in improving our financial outlay. I treasure
your input in this needed debate. I am proud that I can engage
a talent like yours.
Naphiyo,
Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Dr. Alhaji Jeng [log in to unmask]
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 17:08:57 +0000
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The 2002 National Budget
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>
<P>Messers Jassey-Conteh & Jeng,</P>
<P>I cannot agree more with you that taxes paid by every income earner are absolutely crucial in national development. But you will also agree with me that in the Gambia today, only those in government employment pay their fair share of taxes (they do so unwillingly). The majority of property owners in the Gambia, evade paying taxes on their wealth. It is also no secret that business tycoons "butter the bread" of senior tax authorities in order to avoid paying their fair share. In the final analyis, it is government (the Gambian people) that stands to loose.</P>
<P>I think the urgency in revisiting our tax regulations, so that every income earner pays her/his taxes correctly, cannot be overemphsised. If the taxes collected are put to tangible use, benefiting every Gambian, then and only then would the population beging to realise the importance of taxes. </P>
<P>As it is now, civil sevants who have no way of evading paying taxes, complain that the taxes are too high, and those who are not paying now are doing everything in their power to make sure that the situation stays that way. This is so because the Gambian people have not been able to see for themselves anything possitive and tangible that has come about using tax revenue. Most of the physical developments we see today are as result of one form of foreign aid or another. Forign aid can never give us the welfare we need as a people. We are bound to sweat it out ourselves.</P>
<P>The Norwegian, Japanese and American welfare systems would crumble to the ground today had it not been for taxes. This must be realised by each and every Gambian. <BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Dr. A. S. Jeng
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P>>From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]></P>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>To: [log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: The 2002 National Budget
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 07:22:30 -0500
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Mr. Jeng:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Your article on our national debt is very revealing. You have
<DIV></DIV>>actually started a debate that I think is very important in
<DIV></DIV>>our national development. Development cannot take place without
<DIV></DIV>>citizens paying their fair share of taxes.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>It is disturbing that a home owner's home appraised at D500,000 does
<DIV></DIV>>not pay any property taxes. This I think should be properly looked
<DIV></DIV>>into by the local and national governments. If for example, a tax on
<DIV></DIV>>an appraised property is D10 for every thousand Dalasis the government
<DIV></DIV>>will be able to raise D5,000 dalsis for every D500,000 property value. Now if this tax levy is imposed on every home owner fairly
<DIV></DIV>>and consistently, it will be possible for us to develop our infrastructure. The government alone cannot build incentives for its citizens. We
<DIV></DIV>>collectively must pay our fair share of taxes.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>In terms of infrastructure development, the government can either
<DIV></DIV>>engage in financing or incur debt. At this critical time of our
<DIV></DIV>>economy, it is feasible that the government takes a look at capital
<DIV></DIV>>financing as a way to development our country. We must be willing
<DIV></DIV>>to buy government bonds at favorable market rates.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>We must also be contributing members in our gross domestic output.
<DIV></DIV>>We must learn trades to be viable members of our communities. We
<DIV></DIV>>must take risks in setting small proprietorships, rather than
<DIV></DIV>>depending on the government as a source of employment. We must
<DIV></DIV>>equally pay our fair share of taxes.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>On the issue of national debt, it is sad that our country's debt
<DIV></DIV>>has increased. This is a very risky undertaking because it will
<DIV></DIV>>take us significant amount of time to raise funds to even pay
<DIV></DIV>>interest on the debt.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I want to thank you for pinpointing a very important subject. The
<DIV></DIV>>national debt is our responsibility. We must as citizens provide
<DIV></DIV>>incentives for the government to finance projects, instead of
<DIV></DIV>>borrowing money. We must also reduce the government's responsibility
<DIV></DIV>>of being the only soul employer in our economy. This is what I call
<DIV></DIV>>participatory development.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Naphiyo,
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
<DIV></DIV>>Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Original Message:
<DIV></DIV>>-----------------
<DIV></DIV>>From: Musa Jeng [log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 22:53:11 -0500
<DIV></DIV>>To: [log in to unmask]
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: The 2002 National Budget
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>From the 2002 National Budget, supposedly lies the development roadmap,
<DIV></DIV>>or lack of it, to our dear country. The National Budget event has become
<DIV></DIV>>a yearly ritual to our political and social evolution. The reading of
<DIV></DIV>>the budget that takes for hours is somehow a necessity to our democratic
<DIV></DIV>>values, but ironically serious debates from civic groups and interested
<DIV></DIV>>parties and most importantly the lack of any form of serious debate from
<DIV></DIV>>the legislature. Other points that I found rather interesting, maybe
<DIV></DIV>>some one can help with the constitutionality of it. What is the role of
<DIV></DIV>>the legislature in regards to the putting together of the budget and the
<DIV></DIV>>final approval of the National budget?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>It is very interesting to read the comparison of the deliberation of the
<DIV></DIV>>National Budget by SM Dibba in the seventies, and Mr. Jatta’s 2002
<DIV></DIV>>Budget. And to re-echo Katim’s sentiments, after 30 years of National
<DIV></DIV>>budget deliberations, has there been significant changes in terms of the
<DIV></DIV>>lives of average Gambians. And it is with this backdrop that brings me
<DIV></DIV>>to the spirit of this paper. There should be a refocus to the role of
<DIV></DIV>>Municipalities, Area councils and City governments in terms of giving
<DIV></DIV>>them significant roles, It is over due to start holding these offices
<DIV></DIV>>accountable for development initiatives. It is time to remove functional
<DIV></DIV>>illiterates and replace them with effective Administrators. Unless
<DIV></DIV>>Municipalities, Area councils, Cities and Towns start to play a
<DIV></DIV>>significant role in our development challenges, the average Gambian
<DIV></DIV>>would continue to find this whole National budget ritual meaningless and
<DIV></DIV>>would always questions its impact to their social and economic lives. I
<DIV></DIV>>was born in Kaur, and have heard of an office call the Area council, of
<DIV></DIV>>course like many Kaurians; we have always expected the National
<DIV></DIV>>Government to bring in the electricity, the roads and other
<DIV></DIV>>infrastructure developments. Well, we are still waiting. I have never
<DIV></DIV>>heard of the annual budget of the Kaur Area council, Its annual revenue
<DIV></DIV>>flow, whether in terms of Government subvention, taxes collected? Or
<DIV></DIV>>annual development projects within the area. Ok maybe, I am expecting a
<DIV></DIV>>little bit too much because Kaur is just a Town in the rural areas, and
<DIV></DIV>>most of the real organization and structures are concentrated within the
<DIV></DIV>>colony. I have also spent my adult live in Banjul, and cannot recall the
<DIV></DIV>>city buzz with the annual budget from the BCC. The Annual budget for the
<DIV></DIV>>city of Banjul would most likely have a direct impact to the daily lives
<DIV></DIV>>of the people in the city. It would be interesting to review the 2001
<DIV></DIV>>budget for the city of Banjul, in terms of tax collections and
<DIV></DIV>>infrastructure development layout plans. What strategic plan does the
<DIV></DIV>>Mayor of Banjul has to bring Bathurst back to its heydays?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>A friend of mine once told me, I have a D500, 000 home at Kerr Seringe
<DIV></DIV>>and I am surrounded by expensive homes. This is one area that most
<DIV></DIV>>Gambians would like to live in, and most are willing to start small
<DIV></DIV>>businesses and services in areas like these in the metropolitan area of
<DIV></DIV>>the Kombos, but there is absolutely no infrastructure development in
<DIV></DIV>>these areas. Kerr Seringe and Kotu are well known as the Real estate
<DIV></DIV>>investment dream for most Gambian, and they have been around for the
<DIV></DIV>>last twenty years, and there is not a not a single road constructed in
<DIV></DIV>>most of these areas. During the rainy season, Kerr seringe and most of
<DIV></DIV>>these expensive dream areas are inaccessible, not to mention
<DIV></DIV>>electricity, water supply and other service amenities. I have never paid
<DIV></DIV>>any property taxes, my friend lamented and most of my rich neighbors
<DIV></DIV>>have not either, and this may logically explain the lack of
<DIV></DIV>>infrastructure development in most of these areas. I am told we are
<DIV></DIV>>under Brikama Area council, and I seriously doubt that they have any
<DIV></DIV>>effective structure for the collection of taxes, or governance for that
<DIV></DIV>>matter. The only official link between Brikama Area council to our city
<DIV></DIV>>is the Alkalo, and with him God helps us. The Man is incapable of his
<DIV></DIV>>functions, uneducated, cannot read or write and is clueless to how
<DIV></DIV>>government works, and corrupt to the core. If there is any fees or taxes
<DIV></DIV>>been collected, I am really interested to know the structure in place
<DIV></DIV>>and how are these funds use for the development of the area. Having that
<DIV></DIV>>kind of awareness about the reading of the National budget should be
<DIV></DIV>>extended to these local municipalities and start holding these
<DIV></DIV>>Administrators accountable, this will at least create the structure and
<DIV></DIV>>help us begins to address the development challenges of our City. The
<DIV></DIV>>KMC is one of the most notable and influential municipalities; here you
<DIV></DIV>>have kanifing, Bakau, kotu, The Fajara and Serekunda and Jesewang. The
<DIV></DIV>>KMC if brought under a dynamic, effective leadership can be the
<DIV></DIV>>lightening rod for the development of the Kombos and can set the tone
<DIV></DIV>>for the development of The Gambia. Unless these governments are given
<DIV></DIV>>the challenge and the expectation of delivering the goods, there is
<DIV></DIV>>always of course corruption, but worst a lack of serious structure and
<DIV></DIV>>accountability makes these offices useless. I f we continue to hold
<DIV></DIV>>President Jammeh, or ExPresidefnt Jawara for the lack of development of
<DIV></DIV>>these municipalities and areas, these areas and cities will continue to
<DIV></DIV>>deteriorate. President Jammeh cannot be accountable if the trash in
<DIV></DIV>>serekunda is not getting pickup, or if not a single road is constructed
<DIV></DIV>>in the Kanifing area. We have to start holding the KMC chairman, Mayor
<DIV></DIV>>of Banjul and Area council leaders equally accountable for the issues
<DIV></DIV>>confronting their cities and areas, and this would at least focus on the
<DIV></DIV>>issues that affect our daily lives. If we start focusing on these so
<DIV></DIV>>called local champions, and start putting the heat on, budgetary issues
<DIV></DIV>>from them will bring some of it closer to home.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>The National Government and the 2002 National budget may have the
<DIV></DIV>>answers to our development challenges, but to expect the 2002 National
<DIV></DIV>>Budget to significantly affect our daily lives is wishful thinking on
<DIV></DIV>>our part. There has to be a new thinking and attitude towards city and
<DIV></DIV>>local governments. The creation of effective city and Area governments
<DIV></DIV>>can have a direct impact to the lives of Gambians. Imagine a City
<DIV></DIV>>government at Kerr Seringe that taxes are effectively collected, and an
<DIV></DIV>>annual community budget that will begin to address road development,
<DIV></DIV>>schools and other amenities. Local leaders can be held accountable for
<DIV></DIV>>the development the area, or the lack of it for that matter. Take for
<DIV></DIV>>instance, Fajara, it has always been one area that every successful
<DIV></DIV>>person wanted to live, it is also known for having expensive houses and
<DIV></DIV>>I am yet to see one single road constructed by the KMC inside the
<DIV></DIV>>Fajara, or street lights for that matter. There is a need to revisit the
<DIV></DIV>>role of community governments in our search for making a difference in
<DIV></DIV>>the lives of Gambians, and the National Government alone has not done it
<DIV></DIV>>yet, and is incapable of doing it. Effective City and Community
<DIV></DIV>>governments hold the key to at least confront the infrastructure
<DIV></DIV>>development of our cities and towns. The 2002 National budget, yes
<DIV></DIV>>crucial to our development roadmap, but the non-existence of serious and
<DIV></DIV>>effective municipal and city governments will make our development
<DIV></DIV>>initiatives very difficult indeed. President Jammeh is preoccupied with
<DIV></DIV>>the macro-economic forces and our relationship with funding agencies,
<DIV></DIV>>and I will be able to sleep better if Kaur Area Council with a serious
<DIV></DIV>>local government is looking into development challenges of my dear
<DIV></DIV>>Dandimayo and its surroundings.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Musa Jeng
<DIV></DIV>>
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