Konteh, Our monthly meeting is scheduled for sunday the 29th at park green apts, green road, in raleigh. We hope to see you and our folks in charlotte area. THANKS LAMIN >From: MLJ Conteh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Dr. Jones:Re: why I can support the APRC Government despite...Pt2. >Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 20:36:18 -0400 > >Dr. Jones: > >I welcome your contribution to the L, but I >partially disagree with part of your economic >theory. While I disagree in principle, I want >to reiterate that you have a right to be >nonpolitical in your assertion of elements >for a sustainable increase in The Gambia's >per capita income. > >It is also true that no two economists will >unilaterally agree in economic principle in >terms of fiscal and social parameters in >sustaining an economic growth. We are at a >point of conclusion that ideologies and lack >of sound political and economic policies are >culprits that are decaying The Gambia's >economic growth. > >The reality of the situation is that dictator >yahya has nothing to say, and thus is saying a >lot about nothing. This dictator is consumed with >power and prestige and has violated the basic >principles and foundations of human dignity and >cares less about human rights. A dictator who >cannot lead a civilian government has constantly >agitated the basic foundations of democracy. > >The Gambia of today suffers from chronic lack of >democracy, new ideas, new entrepreneurs, new >products, new services, good jobs, progressive >business sectors and life, liberty and pursuit of >happiness. In short, The Gambia is lacking >better mouse-traps. > >The burst of entrepreneurship that so amplified >economic growth and political developments in >other developing countries should be encouraged >in The Gambia. For this to take place, Dictator >yahya must be driven out of The Gambia. The >culprit is not a dearth of new ideas, but far >more spurious and chronic shortcomings: a lack >of readily available working capital and the >ignorance of the military junta of The Gambia. >It is indeed unfortunate that The Gambia's >entrepreneurial zeal is been sapped by the >chronic malady of capital financing and >military dictatorship at the direction of dictator >yahya jammeh > >Today's entrepreneurs in The Gambia should >realize that jobs, especially good jobs with >decent wages and opportunity for advancement and >growth are such precious commodities that >without them the entrepreneur sector is dead. As >such, there exists in The Gambia inadequate >operating capital in local, state and regional >economic development programs. > >Our responsibility therefore, is to engage >economists in debates that are quantifiable and >understanding. We also advocate truth in >analysis and welcome critical reasoning in our >assertions. > >Naphiyo, > >Comrae ML Jassey-Conteh > > >------Original Message------ >From: basil jones <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Sent: April 26, 2001 10:26:20 AM GMT >Subject: Re: why I can support the APRC Government despite...Pt2. > > >The sooner people stop talking about the "Vision 2020" and concentrate on >the primordial challenge of reducing the incidence of poverty in The >Gambia, >the better it is for the country. To make The Gambia a middle income >country >by 2020, means that we should achieve a minimum per capita income of $800. >The current level of per capita income is around $350. With an average >growth rate of 4 percent per annum, it will take a minimum of 18 years for >our nation's income to double to $700. (this comes from the rule of 70 in >economics). 18 years from now will take us close to 2020. So even the >lower >end of a middle income country will not be achieved. There is only one >middle income country in the whole of West Africa and surprisingly it is >Cape Verde, not Senegal or Cote d'Ivoire and these countries have a higher >per capita income that Gambia. Vision 2020 was articulated without any >empirical work done as to the sustainability of economic policies >and the attainability of making The Gambia a middle income country. > >There is no doubt that the incidence of poverty is on the increase. What we >should be concentrating on is how to achieve the development goal of >reducing poverty in the Gambia by 50 percent by 2015, achieving universal >primary education, reducing infant mortality rates. To do so need at least >a >growth rate of 7 percent. These are the challenges. For there to be >sustainable development in Gambia, accelerated investment is needed in >health and education and rural infrastructure. It is only fair to say that >the government has made some progress in these sectors. The payoffs, >however >from such investments are long term. It takes up to the time a student >finishes school to contribute productively to the society. There are >lessons >of experience we could learn from the most financially stable, democratic >and pluralistic countries in Africa (Botswana and Mauritius, the two >countries that have registered the most impressive growth and development >record in Africa). Economic development does not only depend on economic >policy. Improving the welfare of Gambians is predicated by improved >accountability for public resource management, developing democratic >institutions and an unblemished and good governance record and implementing >codes of good practice in fiscal transparency > >The government has intervened in health and education, but still the level >of poverty is on the increase. We need to take stock and reappraise the >policy interventions. COllective action is need. > >The challenge is not vision 2020 or to make The Gambia the Singapore of >Africa but integrating pro poor macroeconomic policies with social and >sectoral objectives to spur growth and reduce poverty. > >Dr. Basil Jones >26/04/01 > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >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 and remember to write >your > >full name and e-mail address. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >_________________________________________________________________________ >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 >You may also send subscription requests to >[log in to unmask] >if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your >full name and e-mail address. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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 and remember to write your >full name and e-mail address. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.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 and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------