Lamin ,Beran and Soffie,

I don't live in the US but having heard some of the problems and issues raised, it seems that there are major problems. These problems ranging from party politics, tribal, personality and control. These are problems that will surface in any organisation, it depends how one handles it and the principles behind that organisation. When I was in the UK I kept on asking why is it that other countries have organisations and it worked so well? Why can’t we have an organisation and sustain it? 

 Another important thing I will suggest is to learn from the others their experiences about Gambian organisations in the US. What went well, what went wrong, are there any lessons to learn, then one can take it from there. If I am right even in the DC area there were and are GO that are not functional and some have completely collapsed. These are all lessons to learn.

We cannot give up just because some people did not make it or others failed. This should be the more reason that we should make sure that this one works. This is not easy everywhere, to bring people together especially people with diverse interest and cultures. But structures can be put in place to address all these. I still do have hope and believe that it will work.

If we are talking about nation building here on the L and we cannot simply organise ourselves for a common good, then I don't see what we are talking about here. There is a lot we can learn from each other as an organised force, a lot to share and contribute back home. We can make Gambia a better place and make the lives of Gambians living abroad more comfortable and meaningful. Already we have a lot of work to do with Gambians abroad, young Gambians will leave home for a better live and education but there is no such organisation to guide them through. And in the process we loose them and these are very vital people in the future of our country the communities we lived in.

Soffie, I am glad that you raised some of these issues. It is very important for an organisation to have clarity of purpose. So, those people who want to be part of that will be and those who don't will keep away. I hope that this will be clarified in the meeting for people like me, who don't want to be partied to any AFPRC group will be clear. Gambia does not belong to AFPRC and Jammeh and this has to be very clear to people who believes in factional groupings. IF we have the national interest at heart I don't see any reasons why we cannot join hands and heads together by bringing our experiences and skills to such an organisation.

Beran I strongly believe that this is a good idea, with clear purpose and clarity it should work.