Mr.Sainey Faye (Interim Secretary) Welcome to the Atlanta community, and we must first commend you for your sudden reappearance to the NEW Gambia of Atlanta and your pledged commitment to make a difference in our community. We would hold you to that. We also want to agree with you that the programs you highlighted are well needed not only in Atlanta, but in all progressive communities, and any current day textbook can echo such ideas. Our issue here is that we must refrain from hopelessly sending out the false signals that all organizations have united as one, because it is a blatant misinformation and negotiations are still underway. A constitution cannot be adopted by a few people especially one which so rigidly restricts the fundamental principle of the individual to choose and furthermore, it requires scrutiny .Your tactics are both forcefully hegemonic and machiavellian giving no regard to the fundamental principles of democracy which you so often preach. While we also agree that a community organization is needed in Atlanta to address these issues, your historical perspective, albeit with a hint of revival and the possibility of tongue in cheek optimism, is deficient but well noted. One thing we disagree on is the governing structure of what a UNITED community organization should look like. It is interesting how you so prestigiously signed “Interim Secretary” under your name. We have yet to see Musa Jeng, Solomon Sylva, and the rest of the defunct AGCO members titles who are cowardly hiding behind you. Should we guess that an interim Auditor for Musa Jeng or designated July Fourth Disc Jokey for Solomon Sylva is right on the money? Enlighten us, will you? The fact of the matter is that GRO does not dance to anybody’s tune and would not lend itself to mediocrity and inadequacy. We were silent only because we believed in your commitment to EQUAL REPRESENTATION, which we collectively voted for on March 31st, 2001, until the July fourth aspirants began to show their true colors, and be rest assured that they would fail again like they miserably did last year. To reiterate our position and the rest of the organizations in Atlanta who have yet to be represented in the meetings, and to paraphrase from your initial letter sent to all the organizations in Atlanta dated September 23rd, 2000 claiming that “ A community organization could not be effectively launched without the general participation of all existing organizations, groups, clubs, religious groups and the community at large, and that the politics of the July fourth compromised the initial mission and objectives of the community organization ”, We therefore want you to understand that THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MUST COME FROM THESE pre- existing organizations, and qualified and dedicated individuals irrespective of whether you are a “KOTO or NDO”. To quote the great Kocha Barma- “MAK JARR NA BAYI CHI REW” , but also remember that “BURR DU MBO'KA because these are the tendencies that often times precipitate dictatorship. We must stop the power struggle and pay attention to issues which go beyond fourth of July and are now confronting the Atlanta Gambian community which you so eloquently highlighted. We are not interested in an interim committee to address the July fourth, unless it is reflective of all existing organizations in Atlanta, meaning that your baggage boys who so naively believe that you can give them legitimacy in the community, would either have to recreate AGCO or get out of the way, because GRO is very capable of managing a three day event. See Sainey Faye,a successful organization balances strengths by offsetting differing interests, while always taking into account public good. GRO is only interested in PUBLIC GOOD and EQUAL REPRESENTATION . Disseminating distorted and premature information to the general public while negotiations are underway is manipulative and simply irresponsible. At GRO we value CREDIBILITY and TRUST. These values, my friend, must be earned by representing the community truthfully at all times. Winning at all cost is not our forte. The public’s interest is our highest priority. Therefore we cannot afford to mislead those who gave us the responsibility to lead. This will be the last you will hear from us, because we are relaunching the community organization to reflect EQUAL REPRESENTATION, and put together a viable organization that will lend CREDIBILITY to Atlanta , so that everyone will feel represented and not acquiesce to antiquated modus operandi. Please remember that EQUAL REPRESENTATION IS THE KEY, even if it means loosing your illusionary prestigious titles because our arguments are based on nothing but FACTS. Sincerely, Ablie Njie- LEK BI G.R.O of ATLANTA. http://www.gambianreunion.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------