Ebrima, i like this one! Thanks PF MANNEH >From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: My Thirteenth Message To Gambians! >Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 18:51:15 GMT > >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 >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. 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