I also want to extend my gratitude to the organizers of the symposium. James and Lat, you will realize that its the hardest thing to accomplish in pleasing our people. I thought you did extremely well with what you had to work with. Keep your heads up and continue giving it your best. On the syposium itself, I missed Hon. Joof's walkout; but indications were that it was unceremoniously done. I still believe he should have stayed and dealt with it...he took the cheap way out. On Hamat Bah, he is exactly what you read in the papers. He came across as a very straight shooter, calls it as it is. He will not hesitate to criticize the government at any point but he lacks something and I'm not sure if I would be fair if I call that something trust. He seems to be the type that may strike a deal with anybody at the demise of anybody, but I still think I can vote for him, he's convince me that much. Even though he assured us that he'll retain his Upper Saloum seat next year, I wasn't too convinced. I think if the APRC is going full force after any three seats it will be his, Sidia's and Kemeseng's. I honestly don't think he's a presidential material and this is my humble opinion only, but again what is the litmus test for the Gambian Presidency if any??? Of Halifa, he was a masterpiece. He's analysis was notches above everyone else's. Arguments based on facts are hard to debunk, he used real numbers to make his case. In any measuring terms, he was the clear winner of the debate I was listening to. His demeanor, his voice, his eye contacts and overall body language was second to none. He came across very trustworthy and principled. On every issue, he first talked about the problem, then offered tangible solutions...he came with a plan unlike everyone else. Can I vote for him? Yes, without hesitation! Is he a presidential material? Without a single thread of doubt he is. Is he electable? I'm not sure and it worries me. One outstanding issue I disagree with Halifa is his reservations on a "private-sector" led growth. On Mr. Tombong Jatta, the honorable member of SerreKunda East, he just wasn't prepared and I don't think Secretary Joof's walkout served him any justice. He found himself in an unfamiliar territory and took more notes than any of the panelist and still was very in-effective in putting his points accross. It was going to be hard for any other speaker to speak after Halifa that day and that was the order it happened. I felt sorry for Mr. Jatta because I think he was done a huge injustice for being sent to DC to defend the APRC in such an awkward fashion and to add salt to injury the audience weren't very kind to him at all, but he brought that to himself by frustrating the audience due to his inabilty to authenticate his position. He never connected with the audience and I didn't think because he is an APRC but simply because he just couldn't. He wasn't the salesman Hamat or Halifa was. Overall, it was a great opportunity to listen to these people and it was well cherished. The biggest winners were the people and the biggest loosers were Ousainou Darboe and the UDP. Atleast, I know the grade I gave to the three speakers I listened to but for UDP it's a BIG INCOMPLETE and I'm not sure they have time to make up for it. Good Day, Baboucarr Sillah _________________________________________________________________ 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------