Katim, thanks for forwarding this post to our attention.  This money is going to be used for the APRC election fraud effort.  They ate up all our meager resources and the only avenue to supporting their fraud scheme is through loans.  We are going to see a whole lot of loans signed from now to October.  You are right, why would the bank give out a loan for a flood that occurred almost two years ago?  These banks are the life blood of the thieves we call presidents in most poor nations, such as the Gambia.  Folks we have to be vigilant and that means getting up and fighting for our rights.  We have to back our words with deeds.  I hope we see the urgency of our situation before it's too late, because no country or financier is going to do it for us.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou

>From: "Katim S. Touray" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: $500,000 AfDB Grant for The Gambia
>Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 23:34:36 -0700
>
>Hi folks,
>
>I came across this press release at the African Development Bank Web site. Two
>issues come to my mind. First, is there a typo in the release or do they really mean
>that the funds are "emergency relief" even though this is 2001, and the floods
>happened in 1999?
>
>Two, what exactly is wrong with these international financial institutions that go
>around giving grants to the likes of President Jammeh's government? This is a guy
>who is yet to explain exactly what happened to the proceeds from the sale of Nigerian
>crude oil deal that we only knew about when it landed in a London High Court.
>Publicly-available court records show that the proceeds from the sale of the crude
>oil were put in a Swiss bank account that President Jammeh was reported to own. This
>President Jammeh guy has squandered $1 million (US) in two equal payments to the same
>Public Relations firm in the US, even though students shot in last year's April
>demonstrations continue to languish in The Gambia, after the government failed to pay
>for their medical treatment in Egypt.
>
>And AfDB would turn around and say they are our development partners? I don't think
>so. They certainly are not being helpful to The Gambia by throwing money at a
>government that is demonstrably corrupt, inept, and above all, has no respect for
>human rights and the rule of law. This grant, as far as I'm concerned, is a huge
>stain on the AfDB.
>
>By the way, here's the link to the press release at the AfDB site. The release
>itself follows the link.
>
>Have a great week(end) and best wishes.
>
>Katim
>
>http://www.afdb.org/knowledge/pressreleases2001/adb_am2001_gb_emergency_29may2001e.ht
>m
>
>
>Press Release [No. COMU///01]
>
>AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: SIGNING OF A US $ 500,000 GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THE FLOOD
>VICTIMS IN GAMBIA
>
>VALENCIA, 29 MAY 2001 - His Excellency Mr. Famara L. Jata, Gambia Secretary of State
>for Finance and Economic Affairs and Mr. Cyril Enweze, Vice-president, Operations of
>the African Development Bank Group (ADB) signed today a grant agreement of 500,000 US
>$ for emergency relief to flood victims in Gambia.
>
>The objective of the emergency operation is to assist the flood-affected communities
>of the Gambia to cope with the flood damages incurred during the rainy season of
>1999. It particularly seeks to rapidly rehabilitate the agriculture infrastructure as
>well as supply the agricultural inputs needed to produce food for the victims of the
>flood as well as provide safe drinking water. The project will involve urgent repairs
>of dykes and spillways in the lowlands of the worst affected areas. It will also
>involve the purchase of long floating rice seeds and other inputs as well as the
>rehabilitation of 35 and treatment of 116 wells.
>
>Bank Group operations in Gambia started in 1971. To date, the Group has committed a
>total of US$ 195.26 million on 30 operations out of which about US$ 151.48 million
>have been disbursed.
>
>
>* 1 UC= 1,26579 $ EU au 1/05/01
>* 1UA = US$ 1.26579 as at May 1st, 2001
>Media Contact:
>K. Saiki (225) 20 20 41 18 - Email: [log in to unmask]
>Samba Chifwambwa - S. Chifwambwa @afdb.org
>Technical Contact:
>M. M. Sabri [log in to unmask]
>Tel (225)20 20 54 39 - Fax (225) 20 20 59 01
>
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