Saul, I find your analysis very disturbing simply because, there have been a lot of misrepresentation of facts. I know the state of affairs in the DC area is not the most desirable, however I do not think your analysis paints the correct picture. The second troubling aspect is what you claimed to have been said by Haddy Mundow. Even if it is true that she said so, I do not think exposing it will help in bring the unity we are all looking for in the DC area in particular and among Gambians in the Diaspora in general. You are right by pointing out that the Gambia Foundation is the oldest organisation in the DC Metropolitan Area. I still believe that its ideals are very high and stand to do a lot for Gambians both at home and abroad. The Gambia Foundation was the only registered Gambian Organisation with legal status and proper bank account (used to bank with the Riggs Bank). Had it not been for selfish individuals with anterior motives, this would have been the only organisation in the area or at least the umbrella organisation because it is there for the interest of every Gambian despite the political, tribal, professional differences. It is unfortunate that around 1995 & 96, other organisations began cropping up. You mentioned that the Gambia Foundation publishes the JALIBA. I beg to differ on this. The JALIBA is older than the Gambia Foundation and as far as I can remember, it has nothing to do with the Foundation. However it happened that the persons (Ousainou Mbenga and myself) who were publishing the JALIBA were also among the founding members of the Foundation. I fully remembered the fact the we agreed not to merge the two since the JALIBA was at the time seen as an anti-Jawara paper while we have some members of the Gambia Foundation who were pro-Jawara. One case in point was Muhammadu Jawara (Jawara Bread), who played very important roles in the early days of the Foundation. In the beginning we used our own funds to pay for the rent (we had an office on Georgia Avenue, NW DC), registration and other costs. We used to publish our annual accounts as well. But the JALIBA was never part of the Gambia Foundation. I do not know whether things have changed now and it became absorbed in to the Foundation or vice versa. I will not get into the other things you said since they are subjective judgements and would not get us any where. I cannot comment much on the other organisations because most of them came into existence in my absence and the information I have on them are all second hand and not adequate to give a proper judgement or analysis. Despite the existence of numerous organisations in the DC area, I think there is still room for one umbrella organisation accepted by all. The success of such an organisation should be based on the following: 1. An APOLITICAL organisation. Should accommodate all and everyone. 2. Should be seen to represent the interest of all Gambians and should be seen to be making a difference in their lives. 3. All members should elect the leadership at an agreed interval. I believe, Gambians around the DC area should have a town meeting to look into all the existing organisation with the aim of coming with one umbrella organisation. My recommendation would be for the Gambia Foundation to be embraced by all Gambians and amend the constitution as seen to be necessary. I am recommending the Gambia Foundation because it already has a good track record and is legally recognised by the US Government. All we have to do is to look into it with the aim of adjusting certain things and may be give it a face lift, if there is a need for it, to make it the ultimate Gambian Organisation in the DC Area. I hope the incidents of 10 & 11 April would galvanise all Gambians in the DC area in particular and the Diaspora in general to come up with a more permanent organisation. The ALD is a gold mind if exploited to the fullest. I can see an organisation raising up to $50, 000 during the ALD weekend alone. It is a shame that anytime some body dies or is in trouble with law, we run around collecting few dollars here and there ("lu waye am teh attan") instead of using the funds and services of an organisation. With the existence of a proper and accepted organisation by all, Gambian in the DC area could make their voices heard in the various local legislatures and councils, and would receive certain subsidies they deserve. There are a lot of good, mature and experience Gambians in the DC area and if one could bring them together under one roof, a lot could be done in solving the this nagging problem once and for all. PEACE TOMBONG ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------