Joe, I would like to, first of all, apologise for the delay in getting back to you. It couldn't be helped.
You wrote:
"Brother Gassama, thanks for your thoughts regarding the state of our nation. However, what is the point you're trying to make here? I know you understand that in matters of nation building, certain things are standard upon which to build upon. One does not get points for building schools, hospitals, drum up business, provide safe and clean water, etc. These belong to ground zero and anything less is unacceptable. I believe you also understand that the voices raised against this government believes that we should be ahead of where we are today as a nation. Gambians are past the point of comparing Jammeh to Jawara, for that is not feeding the poor, healing the sick, and improving our living standard as a people. One takes a move for the better and not the worst. With a new administration, Gambians expected a Gambia against corruption and nepotism; freedom of expression for all; better standard of living; reduction in poverty etc.
On the contrary, there is massive looting of our coffers and all one needs to do is be a griot to the powers to be preferred for a position."
Joe, whereas I do not have a lot of qualms with the above, the degree to which I agree with the various issues contained therein varies accordingly. For instance, I do not accept the hopelessness which you seem to believe is widespread in the country. This is however not to say that our situation is all roses. That would be too far-fetched. I also strongly believe that most governments throughout the world are led by people whose perception of what development entails very much determine the type of development that takes place. As I write this, I can only use the Jawara regime for any meaninful comparison with what prevails today. As such, I would not hesitate to give credit where credit is due, and this goes for both regimes. It may be desirable that our elected leaders to develop our countries without anyone telling them how or congratulating them when they do, the reality throughout the world and particularly the third world. The misery we find ourselves in is not the making of only a previlleged few. We are all accomplishes because some of us who are very vocal here criticising those in the public domain are the same people who would rather die than be seen to serve the public. How many times do we hear people say, I will never work for government? How many times do we hear people say that they will never participate in politics, become lawyers etc? Plenty of times, if ou ask me.
Another issue to look at rationally is that of corruption. Do you want to tell me that you do not recall the days when hardly a month passed when someone is said to have stolen massive sums of money from government coffers? How many do you recall as having been dealt with accordingly. In fact I dare say that most were just moved to other posts or simply retired. Daylight robery as was very prevalent during the first republic is almost a thing of the past!
The last point you made concerning cronism is also not unique to this government. It has happened in the past, is happening right now and will continue to happen in the future unless our collective efforts of providing the right atmosphere whereby people do not have to rely so heavily on those in power to make ends meet. This in my opinion can only happen if certain infrastructures are put in place and our attitudes change from that of over-dependency to that of self-reliance. This will however not happen if people do not have hope. Access to education, health facilities, energy, good roads etc, is giving us all a lot of hope. This hope is absolutely necessary to keep us going.
Like I have stated before, some of the developments I harp on continuously has very little direct benefit to me or my immediate family. Take for instance, a school built in Sutukoba, in the URD. This school is very unlikely to directly benefit me or any member of my immediate family right now. However, can I rule out the possibility of that school producing a heart surgeon or Doctor who might attend to me or a member of my immediate family later in life? Absolutely NO! Can I categorically say that that school will never produce a lawyer whose services I or a member of my immediate family might need I future? Again the answer is NO!
What I detest from some quarters is the persistent potrayal of the whole country as hell. These are peddled by some whose only motive is to be seen to be anti-Jammeh and not knowing that some of the things written in media like the L do have significant ramifications. Because of that I will continue to counter those who make it their daily duty to constantly look for negative information about the country in order to make us look bad and hopeless. This is not about caring for the country and is counter productive. It does a lot of diservice to our people and country. I strongly believe that people with legitimate concerns about what prevails in the country now should share them with us so that at the end of the day we may be able to offer solutions that may help us improve our lot and not to worsen it.
Have a good day, Gassa.