Momodou,
Thanks for this input. I agree with you fully. Sound planning and
organization is a necessary prerequisite for oil exploration and
production. Norway did it right, but it took them 20-25 years of planning,
studies, organization and hard work before production started. During this
period, even though multinational corporations were necessarily invoved, the
state had the upper hand in virtually all major decisions. Solid investments
were made on training Norwegian nationals in all fields of oil prodution and
trade. They made sure that corruption never had a solid footing in this
venture. The resource belonged to the nation and this was made clear to all
Norwegians and foreign investors alike right from the beginning. This made
it work for them, and we have a lot to learn from them.
As soon as documentation of exploitable quantities is on the table, training
programmes in all oil related fields should be outlined and implemented. By
the time production is ready to commence, we would have been assured of
highly trained manpower who would be in a position to participate fully and
monitor the activities of foreign companies.
I agree with you one hundred percent that our backyard should be swept clean
and is in order. Investors should feel secure to put in their money and
resources in The Gambia. The Senegal-Cassamance problem should be brrought
to an end in a manner which will assure lasting peace. Otherwise investors
will not feel secure.
Environmental impact assessment is also necessary. But the impact of oil
production on the environment is very much related to the type of production
technology. The negative impacts on the terrestrial and aquatic enviroments
are those to receive most attention. If we should resort to and accept old
and archaic technologies, just because they are cheaper, (the NAWEC
generators are an example) then we are doomed to fail, resulting in
destruction for the generations to come.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Momodou Camara" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 29 June, 2002 1:07 AM
Subject: Re: Gambian oil prospects (4/5)
> On 28 Jun 2002 at 0:13, Dr. Alhaji S. Jeng wrote:
>
> > Folks,
> >
> > I am a Gambian, a patriotic one at that. If I had the means The Gambia
would be
> > the most well-off country in the world, catering well for its citizens.
BUT if
> > oil for the Gambia turns out to be similar to what oil is for Nigeria,
then I
> > pray to God Almighty that economically large quantities are not found at
all.
> > Our small Gambia would then be much better off without.
> >
> > Dr. Jeng
> >
>
> Alhaji,
> If this is true then I think it should be a big boost for the whole
Gambian
> National economy. I share the same opinion with you. It is very important
that
> Gambians debate this thoroughly especially our politicians and put very
sound
> policies in place in the interest of the whole nation and not just the
interest
> of a few.
> Nigeria is a good example of how things could go wrong even though they
are an
> oil producing nation. We could learn a lot from countries like Norway that
was
> a poor country only a few years ago and now one of the richest countries
in the
> whole world. It is very important that there are guarantees that Gambians
are
> trained in various fields of Engineering, oil management and the upgrading
of
> the Technical schools and Institutions by the interested oil companies so
that
> the most part of the future work force are Gambians and not outsiders.
>
>
> Feet dragging by those in responsible positions should not take place just
> because they wants to squeeze a bribe and delay whole processes if they
can't
> have have for their pockets.
>
> During the 1970s, Denmark used to offer up to 20 scholarships to The
Gambia
> government every year but people (potential students) were never informed,
> probably because those who were sitting with the information did not have
> children or nephews and nieces who were old enough to be sent at that
time.
> Since they did not send anyone, the Danes then just diverted all their
> attention to Eastern Africa (Kenya and Tanzania).
>
> It should also be the interest of The Gambia that there is peace in
Cassamance
> because I think companies would find it more attractive to invest only if
there
> is peace in our backyard.
> The issue of releasing all political detainees is also a factor that has
to be
> taken care of because there can't be reconciliation and thereby security
if
> people are detained just because of political opinions or personal
grudges.
>
> Environmental impact assessment is also a very important factor as
mentioned by
> Abdou Sanneh.
>
> These are my few bututs!
>
> Good night and have a good weekend.
>
> Momodou Camara
>
> *******************************************************
> http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
> http://www.gambia.dk
>
> **"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's
> possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
>
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