Recently we have read on this list from a Kebba Jobe the supposed "good things" done by the present government to uplift the well being of Gambians. He listed the number schools built, the tractors rented to farmers, hospitals built and the poverty alleviation program. I ask, what is THIS governments priority? How do you expect the poor farmers to pay for their kids education in all the schools built when you don't care if they get paid for their toil in the farms? How do you expect these poor farmers to buy the medication and pay for the doctors visit at all your hospitals built? How do you expect these farmers to feed their families? I would think that if you really care about poverty, good health and above average level of education, you will first make sure that each and every farming family gets the reward of their toil at the end of the farming season. How will you motivate farmers to send their kids to school when there is nothing to eat at home? When we trashed the likes of Hilo Trading - the facilitators of this scam - here on this forum, this was what we were trying to stop from happening. These poor farmers' harvest was taken from them months ago in anticipation of the meagre dalasis they are supposed to get, only to hear lie upon lies from these what nots. Not even talking about the fact that their families are scratching for food in anticipation! Who in their right frame of mind will peddle fringes about how well this governement is doing. My standards for good governance start from the buttom up, not from the top down. We need to look at how well the masses are fairing before we look at how many schools, hospitals, arches etc. are built. Those things are all secondary to the basic needs of the society. The story below was extracted from The Daily Observer at Allfrica.com. Shows just how "WELL" the poor farmers are doing. Read on! ====================================================================== Brikama Farmers Angry Daily Observer (Banjul) February 27, 2001 Posted to the web February 27, 2001 Augustus Mendy Banjul A group of farmers in Brikama and its environs have raised their voices in protest for the late payment for their groundnuts. Speaking to Daily Observer at the Brikama Co-operative Union offices, an angry-looking farmer said, "I brought my groundnuts here since January and up till now, I cannot get my money back and nothing has been done. Whenever I come here, they tell me my money will come tomorrow at 10 O'clock only to stay here till evening. Since January, I have not got a single butut." Another farmer, Lamin Danso, complained that he brought his groundnuts to the secco in mid-January but that he had not received a butut from the buyers. "My children,' he lamented, 'were nearly sent away from school because of school fees and Tobaski is fast approaching. I cannot even buy a ram for my family and worst of all, feeding is becoming a headache for my family." Yet another farmer noted that he was totally discouraged with the way farmers were being treated. "Imagine someone bringing 40 bags of groundnuts here for four weeks now and he could not get his money. But anyway, they have promised to pay us this week, "he said. To yet another, "I have been bringing my groundnuts here. This year, I brought about 400 bags in mid-February, thinking I was going to get my money without delay, only to be given the unending "go and come tomorrow" promises. What can we do about Tobaski, feeding and school fees?" he queried. Also speaking on the issue, Sarjo Jarju, a farmer, asserted that he was discouraged about the delay in payment, threatening to take his groundnuts to Casamance next year. Contacted, the secretary of state for Agriculture, Hassan Sallah, said all those who brought their groundnuts to Brikama in January were all paid except those who brought theirs in mid-February. "We are doing our best to pay them. We have already paid many, but within the next three days, D10 million will be disbursed to all seccos country-wide. I can understand that we bought about D87 million worth of groundnuts and only D70 million was paid, remaining D17 million, which we are trying to pay within three days." SoS Sallah disclosed that groundnuts worth D289,000 were bought at Brikama secco and that D255,000 was paid, remaining a balance of D43,729.6, which would be paid within three days. He reaffirmed the APRC government's commitment to farmers and said there should be no cause for alarm as they would be paid soon. ====================================================================== Abdoulie A. 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