FOROYAA BURNING ISSUES NO: 7/2003 23 - 26 January, 2003 CONTENTS * Mr. President! - Where Is The Accountability? * NAMs' Reaction To The Budget Speech - continued from last issue * Another Discovery of 1.5M Fake US Dollars * Petrol Station In Basse Burnt To Ashes * The Gambiapost Group Pave The Way * Focus On Gambia's Economic Situation - Single Currency For West Africa: Is That The Answer? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr. President! Where Is The Accountability? No Financial Statement Since 1992 No Auditor General Report ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The APRC regime calls the PPP regime corrupt. Does it have moral authority to do so? Certainly not!! The reason for this is simple. It is of course common knowledge that the Auditor General under the first Republic did acknowledge that for the ten years the financial statements of the government had not been examined and no reports were submitted to the then House of presentative. The end result was over a billion dalasis in unauthorised spending. On the other hand, the first Auditor General of the second Republic also reported in 1998 that since 1992 financial statements had not been submitted to the Auditor general for review. The 1998 Auditor General's Report, which is the only report submitted to the National Assembly since the APRC came to office, stated categorically that "The accounts for the financial year from 1993 to 1997 have not been prepared and submitted to me for audit. A number of reminders to the effect were sent to the Accountant General. In their absence I am unable to report on the accounts as required by the constitution." What then is the effect of failure to prepare accounts? The Auditor General asserted: "The failure to produce financial statements is a matter of grave concern as we are unable to confirm the level of expenditure made or revenue collected by government, whether the government is operating a surplus or deficit, and the overall indebtedness of the country." Mr. President there is still no Auditor General's report. Can you tell the nation where the problem lies? Is it the failure to provide financial statement of the Auditor General? The nation is waiting for an answer. Until the government gives a legitimate answer it has no moral authority to indict anyone of corruption. __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NAMs' Reaction To The Budget Speech continued from last issue ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fabakary Tombong Jatta In reacting to the budget speech, the member for Serrekunda East, Fabakary Tombong Jatta indicated that the Gambia is a tax based economy. Based on that, he said, they should stamp out anything that will make them lose revenue. He indicated that at times revenue collectors complain about shortage of receipt books which make local government in particular lose thousands of dalasis revenue collection. On Loans The member indicated that government has to take loans to carry out certain development projects because, over 90% of the budget is spent on debt services charges personal emulation, purchases of goods and services and subsidies and current transfers. On Pensions The member indicated that there can only be stability if people have something to eat. Based on that he said, there should be minimum wages for pensioners to enable them have something to eat. On Fuel Crisis Honourable Jatta indicated that the fuel shortage facilities need to be expanded to provide room for storage to avoid shortage. On Health The member indicated that the SoS has said on page 5 paragraph 24, that "If the goals of 2015 are to be achieved each of us must act now. In doing so, we must recognise that development is not about quick fixes. Bringing lasting change requires vision, time and patience. It requires a long-term commitment, focus and discipline. And it requires us to measure effectiveness." Based on this, the member said there is need for a mechanism for drugs control in our hospitals and health centres. On Agriculture The member indicated that the things we are importing in the country could be produced here. He indicated that in order to develop the Agricultural products of this country, there should be storage facilities for preservation and marketing outlets for our farming community. Amadou Khan, member for Sandu On his part, Amadou Khan, member for Jokadu, in reacting to the budget speech indicated that they have to defend the interest of the poor farmers. He said the poverty alleviation policy should be revisited. He indicated that giving loans to farmers would make the poor poorer. He indicated that the money used to the farmers as loans, could be used to buy fertilizer for them to increase their productivity. On Crop failure Honourable Khan indicated that this year has already registered a nationwide crop failure. He indicated that government should now be thinking of ways and means of helping the farmers with seeds. He indicated that the farmers have no seed nuts this year and if government doesn't help them, they will not have seeds. On Salary Increment Honourable Khan indicated that the 6% increment right across the board in previous increments does not favour the low income earners. He indicated that 50% increment should be given to the low income earners and 5 or 6% to the top income earners in order to close the gap between the low and high income earners. Kebba Touray, Member for Kombo East Reacting to the budget, the member for Kombo East, Kebba Touray indicated that they are paying almost D8000 per annum as National Assembly members for tax, so why not non-Gambians. He indicated that people are talking about unemployment, lack of teachers and doctors. He then asked: "How can we pay them without revenue?' On Tax Measures On Tradesmen Honourable Touray indicated that these tradesmen are causing a lot of pollution in the environment and yet they are not paying anything to government. He indicated that the sad thing about the whole issue is that during feasts, these people leave us here and go to their homes with the money. He indicated that hotels and motels in the provinces are also to pay. He indicated that during the colonial era, licences were levied on bicycles. He argued that our local governments are to be encouraged to make use of our revenue. On Youth Honourable Touray indicated that our trained youths be organized to be productive. Omar Baru Camara, Member for Kuntaur On his part, the member for Kuntaur, Omar Baru Camara indicated that the economic crisis in the country should be accepted by the people. He pointed out that the crisis is caused by trade barriers for African goods in the world market and also the wars in the sub region. He argued that these affected our macro-economy. Our Revenue Honourable Camara indicated that there should be a good system for revenue collection to cut down the expenditure on revenue collection. On Central Bank He indicated that the central bank should provide capital to indigenous Gambians and that the Mortgages Act be reviewed as it is affecting Gambian businessmen. On Salaries The member indicated that the salaries of the civil service need to be reviewed and civil servants be given allowances instead of increment because a salary increment will be taken away by taxes. Another Discovery of 1.5M Fake US Dollars On Wednesday the 17th of January 2003 the members of the press were once again informed of the arrest of one Gambian in connection to the discovery of 1.5 million dollars counterfeit currency. A 27 year old Gambian by the name Sheikh Hatab Fofana has been arrested. According to the Army PRO Captain Bunja Darboe, a soldier had a tip-off that somebody wanted to take their money. He said, according to the source, two boys approached him and told him that they had a white woman from Europe who had promised to send them some money. They had to rely on a man, a Guinean since they do not have a post office box. After some time the man informed them that he had received their money but had spent D15,000 out of it before he could get it. They tried but could not get the money from the man. When officers of the National Guard were sent for the man they could not find the man but they found another man in his house. During the search they found a box of black papers sealed and a bottle liquid. According to the man found in the house one Sheikh Hatab Fofana, a 27 year old Gambian of Tallinding, KMC, when the liquid is used on the black papers they turn into visible dollar notes. Captain Darboe said Fofana even tested the liquid on one of the black and it turn to visible dollar note. But Captain Darboe added that the liquid got finished. He said the accused are said to be three in number, one Gambian and the one at large whose nationality is not known. Members of the Gambia National Guard are on their investigation. According to Darboe the members of the GNG have been given limited police role. They only conduct preliminary investigations leading to arrest. Since they cannot prosecaute they would hand over accused persons to the police for further investigation and any possible prosecution. Captain Darboe therefore called on the members of the press and the public for cooperation on what he called the fight against crime. He said criminals live in the public but through collaboration with the public and the press, the GNG would be able to do a lot. GNG will not rest until the Gambia becomes a crime free society. They are out for all types of criminals. He called for information against those house breakers who move about at night. The press briefing was done in the office of Major Mbye, head of the GNG. __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Petrol Station In Basse Burnt To Ashes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Residents, drivers, commuters as well traders around the environ of Basse garage fled helter-skelter when a fire incident occurred claiming the life of one Momodou Alieu Bah, a middle age man of Guinean nationality. The fire which cause is to be known erupted at a local petrol station on Saturday 18th January between the hours of 10 to 11am. The said petrol station owned by Momodou Yaya Jallow also a Guinean is situated at about 50 metres away from Basse Ferry terminal. The building of the petrol station, which was also built buy the colonial masters, was been partly undermined by the water of Gujuguju Bolong, which to the ordinary passerby seems to be a dilapidated building. Almost 85 barrels of fuel were reported to have been burnt down. From a distance huge explosions can be heard, and emitted dark fumes covered surrounding atmosphere, causing serious atmospheric pollution. The team of fire fighters who were dispatched to the scene had to battle for three (3) good hours before they put it under control. In fact, one of their officers by the name Basiru Badjie was reported to have sustained some injuries and hence hopitalised. The victim Momodou Alieu Bah who died in the incident was trapped by the fire while he was inside the fuel store housing more than 20 barrels of fuel. Meanwhile, the police are still investigating the cause of the fire. __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Gambiapost Group Pave The Way ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the 28th December, 2002, the members of the Gambiapost made a donation of D4,600 to Mr. Batch Jobe and his family. The Gambiapost, an internet forum joined by Gambians and non-Gambians in the Diaspora, made this donation as an answer to the call made by Batch Jobe who lost his two children in a fire incident leaving his wife hospitalised at Royal Victoria Hospital. The incident occurred at Fagikunda in November 2002. Foroyaa was called, furnished with information concerning the benevolent aid and shown the expenditure made by the family from the aforesaid amount. A receipt of D350 was shown as the hospital bill, one bag of rice for D300, one carton of peak milk D600, four dozens of Vaseline ointment D600, twenty-five days fare D500, roast meat for thirty days D750 and an account with Standard Chatered Bank, Serrekunda Branch through link save at an amount of D1500. Asked whether Malang Maane is the one making these contributions or a group of Gambians, it was made clear that it is from a group of people who are members of the Gambiapost, an internet forum where Gambians and non- Gambians joined or have access to send and receive information. When any such events happen nationally it is those who have access to the internet who will have such an information. As for Malang, he is coordinating the whole process. We have been informed that contributions have been made by both Gambians and Non-Gambians in the Diaspora. On his part, Batch Jobe said that those who sent him this amount may feel that it is small but for him it is very big because it comes at a time when he really needs it. He thanked them for their efforts. Assistance is still needed as Mr. Jobe's wife, Kumba Cham is still admitted at the Surgical Ward at the RVH with serious burns. The following people can be contacted, Batch Jobe at GPTC or Batch Jobe, Standard Chatered Bank, Serrekunda Branch, (Account Number 0150540987200), Postal address: C/o Malick Manneh, P.O. Box 3070, Serrekunda, the Gambia, West Africa. Malick Manneh:Telephone: 393177/918216, Email: [log in to unmask] Malang Maane, Telephone: (678 - 581 - 5215), Postal Address: 1019 Franklin Rd apt20-0, Marietta Ga 30067, USA. Email: [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask] __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Focus On Gambia's Economic Situation Single Currency For West Africa: Is That The Answer? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Editor, It is a pleasure for me to write you to add my voice to those who are making contributions to this column since you started it a year ago. Let me add that I am one of those readers who enjoy very much the issues treated under this column. I am also part of those who not only enjoyed reading them but enjoy discussing them with others who are less fortunate than myself. The issue of a single currency for West African states is an issue very much debated by people. The present economic difficulties which are largely blamed on the depreciation of the dalasi has become a case for concern for many Gambians, and this is why many feel that the proposed single currency for our region maybe the answer to our economic problems. Can you shed more light on the pros and cons for this most important debate in the communities? Thank you very much, Yours dear reader, Ansumana A.S. Jabbi Thank you very much Mr. Jabbi for bringing this most important of issues to the fore. The issue of common currency for West Africa or even of Africa as a whole is not new. It is as old as the issue of West African integration and African Unity, but as it has been said by several people already, the issue of building closer economic and political ties among African countries has always been a strong desire for the ordinary African masses but different conditions continued to impede progress and only improved partially. Now to answer your question as to whether a single currency for West Africa is the answer to the problems of our currency in the Gambia in particular and the region in general, we must first and foremost deal with the question what makes currencies strong? What Makes A Currency Strong? No one should delude us to believe that once our countries adopt a single currency, the currency will automatically become strong. We have said in our previous issues under this column that the Gambia must produce local products, both raw and processed products in diversified or varied forms to attract consumers both locally and internationally. Once we can attract sufficient consumers and entrepreneurs who would want to buy our products, then we can say we have created a sure way of building a strong currency for the Gambia. Apart from products, our services must also attract people, both Gambians and foreigners alike so that they would be willing to pay for such services. This will of course generate income and employment for the people. For example, our country has a lot of natural resources such as our rivers, ocean, fishes, animals, forest, water, both fresh and salt water, our human resources and so on. These are the resources we already have which we must utilise in diverse ways to produce varied products to attract consumers nationally and internationally. We must also be able to attract visitors and tourists so that they come to our country because when they come, they must be exposed to the varied products and services which will compel them to purchase them. This process of buying our currency first and then buying our products is what popularises the dalasi thereby making it stronger and stronger. If we as a country succeed in building this process and succeed in maintaining peace and stability under a vibrant democratic system, we can be rest assured that whether or not our currencies become single or not it will become strong, but if we fail to build this process, our currency is doom to failure, whether it is single or not. What is however ideal for a currency to be very strong to compete with other currencies such as the dollar, Euro etc is to have a monetary union that would bring about a new relationship with the rest of the world. In this case we need a single Central Bank that would regulate the currency when the need arises. One major benefit of a monetary union or a single currency is that if the countries involved create divergent and varied products, trade will definitely improve and the cost of transportation will be greatly minimised, thereby bringing greater gains with increased trade among member states. What must however be borne in mind is that a single currency can boost living standards when the right trade and fiscal policies are adopted, but it can also become fruitless without the right economic steps adopted. This is why in July 1995, the ECOWAS council of ministers adopted proposals, which are geared towards a marked improvement in the management of national economies of member states and the enhancement of monetary cooperation in West Africa. It has been seen that medium and long term measures are needed to achieve the goals of economic integration. The difficulty will obviously arise when inflation increases in most ECOWAS countries as it is happening in the Gambia. Effort must also be made to harmonise the exchange rates also as well as putting a ceiling for their national budgets. These must be done because no country will want to be part of a group of countries joining a currency only to see oneself instead in a more devastating problem. So as it stands now, the Gambia is far away from harmonizing inflation. Inflation is getting wider and wider. Our budget is far from being balanced and the dalasi so far is far from being stabilized. This is why some analysts argue that it is fruitless for countries like The Gambia to come under a single currency. And this in fact appears to be the case. According to analyses of the ECONOMIST Magazine and prediction for the year 2003 for the world economy, Nigeria's 130 million people are waiting for presidential and parliamentary elections for the year 2003 in June against a backdrop of a failing economy and religious violence. It says Togo's General Gnassingbe Eyadema may leave finally as the constitution demands; having shot his way to power in 1966; that true to his form, he is now grooming his son as successor. It spoke of him as one of the most brutal and corrupt leaders. For Liberia, rebellion continues which destroyed nearly all of what little productive capacity existed. Rebel activity has created thousands of refugees. Sierra Leone is another place devastated by a long and protracted civil war which reduced its economy to almost last position in the UN's World Human Development Report. Looking at another direction, all these countries are indebted and are struggling to go on with a system that mortgages their future to debt and debt services. According to Professor Mammo Muchie, it is natural that the diversities, inequalities, different levels of development, differing attitudes and interests, presents problems in constructing a workable and unified currency system. He said what is desirable is to precisely deal with these varied problems; that Africa needs a currency system to create liquidity. He said the direct exchange of local currencies promote the exchange of private labours across Africa. So there is no doubt, Mr. Jabbi, that the exchange of the existing national currencies through a global or international currency definitely fragments our countries and integrate our tiny national interests with the rest of the world instead of integrating with our neighbours. According to professor Mammo, monetary union is a key strategy to bring about a new relationship, that its proper construction requires bountiful political will that cannot be taken for granted, given the ties and propensity of the existing states not to pursue real collective action that matters. __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: FOROYAA (Freedom) NO: 7/2003 23 - 26 January, 2003 ISSN: 0796- 08573 Address: FOROYAA, P.O.Box 2306, Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa Telephone: (220) 393177 Fax: (220) 393177 Email address: [log in to unmask] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~