"I would not be surprised if this rogue government of our is looking to get their hands on additional funds any way they can by coming up with these kinds of increases in fees for goods and services." Sis, This is precisely what my thoughts were when I read that this row was caused by increased crossing tariffs. Remember our government just purchased a new (re-used) ferry. Well, somehow, somewhere, the investment on that ferry has to be financed. I would think that strategies for realizing the return on the investment on the ferry would have been worked out at the cost-benefit analysis stage of the project planning. Obviously, someone hasn't done their homework right as usual. All they were focused on is put ting a re-used ferry up on the Banjul- Barra route as soon as possible without focusing on how the maintenance and operation should be financed. Typical of a reactinary leadership. No proactive mindset. Understandably, tarrifs will have to go up somehow, but by God make it a gradual increase - like 20-25% at regular intervals until you reach your goal. This way the impact will not be immediately felt by the commercial entities involved. Our planners should do everything to safeguard the prosperity of re-export trade, cuz that's what we have left. When will these people learn from their mistakes? Thanks for your thoughts. BambaLaye ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~