Gassama: While we clearly see some of the benefits in foreign companies wanting to re-support Gambia's tourist market. Problem is you point blame at all the wrong people, but you approportion no blame to where it is rightly due; ie right at the doorstep of the govt which has over the past few yrs, allowed our tourist infrastructure to fall apart, abused the human rights of Gambians, and also destroyed vital economic sectors which have resulted in our country becoming a more unpleasant place to visit. The beautiful & peaceful shining coast is no more and this has negative repurcussions on our tourist trade. In short, it is simply pathetic for you to use the poor & unemployed bumsters as scapegoats. The same applies to the taxi drivers and artisans. These folks are doing what they can to survive in a lousy economy where opportunities are sparse. Unfortunately, the article you forwarded just missed the point completely. Instead, it lays blame on the doorstep of innocent Gambian parties when we all knwo that serious work needs to be done to attract tourists and make their stays enjoyable. Some of the following are pts of concern; 1. The Human Rights climate 2. Training artisans to provide superior goods and also setting up structures to allow them to trade in a more effective and organized manner. 3. Improvemment of leisurely activities for tourists. The more activities they have to do the better. eg deep sea fishing, scuba diving, para-sailing, river boat excursions etc etc 4. Improve and expand our state parks. The natural fauna & flora of our country should be taken advantage of. 5. [Provision of jobs for the bumsters in the tourist industry so that they do not resort to crime. _yus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~