My fellow Gambians, This is indeed a decisive period in Gambian Political history, and it requires decisive measures and actions from us all, if we want to carry the day and take The Gambia forwards into a bright future. Today, it is abundantly clear to all of us that the Gambia has no future with Jammeh at the helm: he continues to destroy our Nation, and the sad truth is that he will continue to do this as long as we allow him. Jammeh is a travesty of a leader, and he sets himself above every single one of us. It is therefore imperative that we Gambians turn this situation around. Indeed, the shaping of the future of our wonderful nation now lies fairly and squarely with us all as voters. We have now seen very clearly what happens when we allow our leadership to assume absolute power: mismanagement and failure follow closely on the people’s "laissez-faire" attitudes. The Gambia is therefore no different from so many other African countries, where the electorate has allowed poor quality leaders to assume absolute power, and bring absolute chaos in their wake. Now, in order to avoid a repetition of the past, we MUST make the RIGHT choices by electing to office, leaders who are capable of addressing their people's needs and aspirations. In most cases, our prospective leaders would make high-sounding promises which appeal to us, and we would vote them in willy-nilly and without question. They then do not deliver the goods they have so solemnly promised. Instead, they put themselves above the people who empowered them and we in turn, treat them as demi-gods. Consequently, if we really want success after Jammeh, then we have to put ourselves, the people, on a level footing with our elected leaders. There has to be full and close partnership between the governed and the governors. As an electorate, we vote our leaders into office and as such, we do have an obligation to monitor, to review, to discuss and to evaluate the work of these elected leaders. From now on, we - the Gambian people - have to assume our share of the administration of the country. We have to become deeply and commitedly interested in the running of our country, and our aim should be the building of a nation which is prosperous, forward looking and responsible, and which offers dignity, respect and socio/economic well-being for all its citizens. To achieve these goals, it is vital for us to work in tandem together. My fellow Gambians, this new century is crucial: Africa and Africans need to be proving to the world that they can effectively manage their own countries to best effect. We HAVE to prove to the world that we are up to the job, that we can do it. And in order to get on the right track, we have to ensure that the leaders we put in place are the right ones: those who will ensure that our short, medium and long-term goals are achievable and realistic: those who will look after us, and the nation. As a nation, we have to take full charge of our destiny. The blame for failure lies as much with us all, as it does with our poor quality leaders. We have to recognise and understand that this is not "play-time": our very lives are at stake as well as that of our children and grandchildren in the future. The latter have every right to expect that we have given our best efforts to securing their future: they need our assurances that we have left not one stone unturned in our efforts to take our country forwards. We know now that the leadership we "elected" in September 1996 (and which illegally seized power in 1994) is chronically and acutely awful. We allowed the worst possible applicant for the job to assume power, and we have continued to allow him to do his worst for our nation. My fellow Gambians, this has to stop forthwith: if we are public-spirited and have the best interests of The Gambia at heart, then we have to unseat Jammeh at the next elections. We have to turn ourselves around, and become critically and selectively analytical in our choice of leadership and government. We have to train ourselves to be discriminating; we have to become monitors and evaluators who are constantly overseeing the actions of our government. We have to lose our fear of offending our leaders, and become honest and open in our judgements. Africa has always had leadership crises because of our lack of selective analysis: we allow ourselves to be led without question, without comment, and without criticism. In other words, we get what we deserve. The Gambian people have to follow the example of the Senegalese voters, and show the way forward for the rest of the continent: we have to demonstrate that we can distinguish between sincere and insincere leaders: that we can learn from the lessons of the past to ensure a better future for ourselves and our country. It is so easy to blame false leaders whilst at the same time denying one’s own role. We have to be asking ourselves, "Where have we gone wrong ?", "What can we do about it ?". It is therefore crucial for all of us that we are sure of the person we next empower as a leader of our country; we have to know that we are making a sound and well-judged investment in the future. Sweet-talkers are two a penny: we have to learn to become attentive and critical judges of those who try to sweet-talk us. It is certain that no-one is perfect. But we have to use our brains and hearts to make the best possible choice, and the choice has to be based on full information. A large part of the leadership crisis we are witnessing today, stems from ourselves, the people. No-one else is to blame, except us. In The Gambia, the last six years have taken us on a backward journey: it has been a sad time for all of us. However, in this new millennium, we CAN turn things around: we can start to repair the damage suffered by our country both by electing the right people for the jobs of leadership AND by changing our attitudes. We have to learn to be openly critical, but constructively so. We have to assume our equal role in governing our nation. We as a people have an integral part/role to play in Gambia's future: a future in which the people and government work hand-in-glove together for the betterment of our nation and our own conditions. And we really do have to take time to consider all the options open to us before we make our voting decisions: we have to demand full and frank discussion of the issues with all parties during the election process, so that we can be best informed. We have to bid farewell to the politics of personality, and welcome sound, political judgements based on what we know rather than on what we assume we know. The time has come for us to be sober in our reflections: to be attentive and careful listeners: to be politically discriminating. In this new Century, Gambians should be looking to become partners in administration and government, rather than remaining as servants of both. We have to assume control of our destiny in order to achieve dignity and prosperity. It comes down to us making choices: making the right choices based on full information AND on having a good and representative list of choices from which we may choose the best in our view. As a people, we have to try and build a society which is led by people who have us, the people, and our country, as paramount. The aspirations of the people are central. The task is not going to be easy: let us not fool ourselves about that. But, if we set our heart on change for the better, then we can change things. There is no guarantee of "heaven on earth" for all, but we can be looking to guaranteeing the basics of a full and prosperous life for the majority. This is a serious time for us all: the elections are just around the corner. We have to take things beyond talk only: we cannot allow Jammeh to reassume power without challenging him root and branch. The ballot box is ours, and we have to exercise our electoral power effectively and sensibly. Following on from my last two messages, I now need to touch briefly on other issues and challenges which will face our next government and its leader. 1. Corruption Both from the bottom up, and from the top down, corruption and corrupt practices are eating away at our country’s integrity. The damage caused by corruption is irreparable, and it impacts powerfully on the economic life and stability of the nation. It is therefore going to be absolutely crucial for our next leader and his/her government to have stringent anti-corruption measures and strategies in place. Again, it is largely a question of changing public attitudes. All of us, like Caesar’s wife, have to be "above reproach". We cannot criticise those in power of corruption, if we are in any way benefiting from corruption ourselves, or acquiescing to it. We need to be identifying those areas of life where corruption is rampant, investigating these fully, and reporting instances to the proper authorities for action. In turn, the authorities need to be seen to be taking action to rid our nation of this "unseen" menace. It is vital that we institute mechanisms whereby people may report genuine cases of corruption with impunity. At the same time, we need to be looking at ourselves: at our own actions and responses. We should be asking ourselves whether we are contributing to this national scandal, actively or indirectly. If we answer "yes", or "maybe", then we have to change our own attitudes before we can possibly expect change on a national level. It will be vital for the next government to ensure that civil servants receive a decent salary: one which enables them to live comfortably, without needing to supplement income with illegal practices. If our police, immigration officials, customs officers, post office workers etc. are being paid a decent wage, then we have more hope of expecting a decent and corruption-free service from them. We shall never be able to eradicate the issue of corruption totally: it is a sad part of human nature. What we can do is set in place measures which will reduce corruption to a more acceptable level in all spheres of life. Let us make the media our watchdogs, and let us have the expectation that our leaders will be our exemplars. Let them live their lives commensurate with their legal earnings, and let them set the tone for the rest of the nation. 2. Employment In an earlier posting, I spoke of the importance of promoting a vibrant and expanding economy. Employment issues are central to this debate, and the next leader will have a huge task on his/her hands firstly to tackle the high level of unemployment in The Gambia today, secondly to promote economic growth which will create new jobs and thirdly to look to improving employment law throughout the country. Without a sound economy and guaranteed investment levels in business and commerce, the pattern of unemployment throughout the country will remain unchanged. Our new leaders will need to be actively searching for fresh investment in existing industries, for investment in new industries and for innovative ideas for national economic growth and diversification. Although we are a small nation, we have a lot to offer on the African and the world stage: our people are endlessly resourceful and full of good intent. We can ensure that new as well as existing industries in The Gambia will be staffed by hardworking, dedicated and forward-looking employees. As well as offering every possible inducement to Gambian entrepreneurs and business people, our government will also need to be trawling for investors in the wider international community. It is vital that we refresh and add to our industrial base: that we look for ways in which we may best utilise our home-produced resources for both home consumption and for export. With the right attitudes, there is nothing that we cannot achieve. As a corollary to economic diversification and growth, the new government will also need to take a close look at employment law. For too long, our Gambian workers have not enjoyed employment rights of any sort except within the Civil Service. The rights of Gambians to be protected by the law in their employment, have to be guaranteed and we need to be looking for ways in which we might best and most speedily achieve this aim. Our new leaders will need to be seeking advice from the Trade Union movement across the world, in order to ensure that the best systems are put in place for workers in The Gambia. 3. Being a good Gambian citizen It is an easy thing to describe oneself as a Gambian citizen: it requires no effort other than the speaking of the words. However, to be a good citizen requires a whole lot more than words. It requires an attitude of mind, a dedication to the common good, an acceptance of personal responsibility, a social perspective, a political will and a genuine desire to do the best for one’s country and for one’s fellows. For too long, we have been encumbered by a system which encourages people to think of themselves only: to look for the betterment of one’s own family; to ignore wider issues of cooperation and "commonwealth". One of our chief priorities will be to change these entrenched attitudes: to empower people to think both creatively and socially: to have a genuine regard for each other, and to respect each other in the fullest sense of the word. The changes will start at the top: our next leader will need to be setting the example for us all. However, in turn, we shall need to be playing our part in turning things around. Parents and teachers will have a vital role to play in ensuring that the Gambians of the future have the background knowledge and understanding to become citizens in the full sense of the word. Politcally, if we are to make progress as a fully democratic nation, our children (and we, ourselves) need thorough grounding in how best to do this. Our attitudes and beliefs have to be changed so as to accommodate the new thinking which will take our country forwards. The message is therefore clear: Gambians have to take control over their future: we know now what poverty and repression smell and taste like. We have the experience of six years to guide us. We really do now know what we do NOT want for our country and ourselves. If we were to allow a similar regime to assume power, then we should only have ourselves to blame. We know from first-hand, direct experience what the power of fire is, and if we then go on to deliberately touch fire again and get burned, who do we blame except ourselves ? We have to work together to lay the foundations for a decent society which can guarantee liberty, progress, respect and dignity for all the people. The choice is ours: let us not just get rid of Yahya Jammeh, let us also put in place a government which is truly and genuinely concerned to do the best for all its citizens: a government which working alongside the people will put in place a development paradigm which will afford all the people the basics and necessities of life. Gambians have the right to expect this as a minimum from the country’s next government. Ebrima Ceesay Birmingham, UK. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.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 You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface ----------------------------------------------------------------------------