Gambia-L: The e-mail below came from a source in the heart of The Gambian Government. Brother Joe Sambou: Keep up the good work you are doing on behalf of the struggle. And I have to say that I was indeed a FAN of yours during the days you were playing football in The Gambia. You were a great soccer talent. Again, keep it up! Ansumana: I am sure the FORD petition will go ahead. I'll check with Sister Jabou and Brother George Sarr and then get back to you. Ebrima _____________________________________________________________________ >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Of Leeches and Rogues >Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 > >Ebrima, >I could not get back to you on the clarifications you sought concerning my >last posting on the re-registration of the entire voting population. I >said in that posting that I smell a rat in the process on ordering voter >re-registration for two reasons: >a) the timing of the exercise raises some serious doubts in my mind as to >the motive of the APRC and IEC for this move and; >b) the cost implication can prove insurmountable for a Government already >cash-strapped to conduct the 2003 Census. >As you may have already read in the local newspapers, the APRC is at >present soliciting the financial assistance of businessmen to conduct the >2003 Census. It is indeed a shame that this Government cannot finance a >statutory exercise as important at the Census and yet they can dish out >"gifts" to potential political supporters/cronies worth millions of dalasis >every year. It is not a surprise to folks like myself because we know that >the priorities of the APRC Government are misplaced. This is a Government >of leeches because they are constantly pestering businessmen to finance >activities that are normally the exclusive function of any decent >government. The business community is now serving notice to the inept APRC >government that they should not be expected to perform the function of >government, especially a government that prides itself of being >anti-business/private sector. Don't be surprised if they turn around and >ask the business community to contribute financially to the re-registration >exercise. The IEC is on the verge of issuing an appeal to the business and >donor communities to help in the re-registration exercise. Mark my word, >they will spend invaluable time in trying to raise funds for the exercise >that there will be little time left to actually re-register voters. It is >a ploy that the Opposition should be aware of. The timing of the exercise >is cause for concern. > >Being true to their reputation as being a government of rogues, they have >commenced issuing IDs privately in the residences of APRC big wigs. IDs are >being issued to foreigners and Cassamance rebels so that they can be issued >with new voter's card. The Opposition is aware of the latest development, >and as I reported, the Commonwealth Secretariat has also been >informed-interestingly not by the Opposition but by yours truly. The >Opposition MUST SIT UP and they should do so NOW rather than in September >when it would have been too late. > >Have a nice week-end. > _________________________________________________________________________ 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------