Saul Lets not give this man any credit for making these pronouncements. The APRC projects agenda are basically a short term measure. Most of these projects were introduced without foresight. Take the Arch 22 for example- what economic gains has Gambia benefited from it? I await his reply before I positively respond to him on other issues. You will be surprised to know the education standard in the Gambia has deteriorated. A student could easily become a drop out after finishing his Grade 9 Exams. Yes I must admit that PPP Government never built any High Schools, but note that the salaries of the mission schools be it Muslim or Christian were paid by the government. Yes I admit that Gambia has a University now, but the problem with the institute lies on the fact that Yammeh would like to use it as his political weapon against his detractors. At present, the university has even started preparing students for degrees in Medicine. What a wrong approach, instead of allowing this institute to go through a transition, the APRC have hastiliy approved the University to provide courses on Medicine. Even the executive committee of the Gambia Medical Association have expressed its reservation to the whole idea. Why rush? Yes I must admit that Yahya has constructed more roads but take a look at the highway from Talidingng kujang to Westfield Clinic. By the way how about the roads from Brikama to Soma. Yes I admit that Yahya gave us a Television Station, How about the programmes broadcasted on air. How many people can afford to buy a TV based on its actual income. Moreover, how come this TV service focuses a great deal on Yahya Jammeh' trips anmd meetings with his so call associates. Sorry I am running out of time, I shall therefore continue my response tomorrow Best wishes Sanusi --- saul khan <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Mr. Jobe, > > I commend you for coming out plainly to state your > case for supporting the > APRC. This is simply the best case that anyone has > advanced for the APRC > here, as far as I know. I wish you were doing so > under your real name -but > that's your choice. > > On the facts you've stated, I don't have any major > problems there. The > record of the PPP in terms of overall national > development is indeed > shameful, and you're spot on about what obtained in > the various sectors > you've browsed through. > > I do have some suggestions, and questions though: > > 1. Please -if you can- provide some concrete stats > that we can verify if > needs be (pre-1994 v. now.) > > 2. Given that Finance SOS Famara Jatta has in his > last Budget Speech > admitted that poverty -despite all the developments > you've cited- has been > on the increase since '94, could you please take a > stab at explaining to us > why things continue on this downward spiral inspite > of the APRC's > "progressive" agenda. > > 3. How does the enormous brain drain (which is tied > directly to the > incessant flagrant violation of civic liberties) > currently being experienced > by the Gambia factor into the overall picture? In > other words, how does your > govt hope to develop the country when the smartest > citizens are forced into > exile because of autocracy? If you don't get what > I'm driving at, I'll put > it this way: Why is Hong Kong more advanced than > mainland China? The people > are all Chinese -same genetic material. What factors > spur human creativity > and inguinuity, and how does that correlate with the > APRC's modus operandi? > > 4. Can you name me ONE nation/society in modern > human history where people > have been able to truly develop themselves and their > society without > freedom? Just one will do. > > 5. You wrote: "In short my allegiance is to “The > Gambia and its diverse > Peoples” and ANY PARTY THAT IS IN POWER... "(your > words, my emphasis.) Do > you mean to say that you don't have any personal > principles or core values > as thresholds for your support of a government? Will > you jump on the band > wagon should the APRC be kicked out in the next > elections by say NRP without > any compunction? > > 6. Because I'm out of time, I have to ask you this: > Do you consider a govt > that has murdered little boys and girls, blamed them > for it, ignored the > recommendations of Investigative bodies that it had > setup itself, and > formally indemnifies itself against prosecution, to > be one that "puts the > aspirations of our peoples first, ahead of self or > party" which is worthy of > your support? > > I look forward to your second part, which I'm sure > will touch on public > corruption in the PPP era V. corruption under the > APRC -the magnitude, the > players, the impact on our society. I once again > thank you for stating your > govt's position so clearly. I also commend you for > sticking to a civil tone > in your exchanges. It beats Mafy Jarju and Essa > Bokarr Sey's view of our > camp (though some of us are equally harsh in our > take on y'all.) I hope > other govt officials will follow your lead, just so > we can all see where > each camp is coming from. Who knows, we may yet come > to a better > understanding after all this. If that happens, this > wouldn't have been in > vain. We'll see. Thanks for your trouble. > > Good day! > > Saul. > > > > “ …We pledge our firm allegiance, our promise we > renew, keep us great God of > nations to the Gambia ever true”. > > I start my defense of supporting the APRC government > by, first of all, > quoting the above from our national anthem. In short > my allegiance is to > “The Gambia and its diverse Peoples” and any party > that is in power and puts > the aspirations of our peoples first, ahead of self > or party will get my > support. > > INTRO. > > One of the fundamental principles of democracy is > the right of a people to > > _________________________________________________________________ > 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. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ____________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? 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