Culled from Allafrica. Yet another fabrication from Yaya Jammeh. "President Jammeh explained that The Gambia has been adversely affected by the scarcity of rainfall, dwindling domestic production of the main cash crops as trade restrictions on the external front experienced along the country's borders with her neighbours take its toll on the economy". Is this guy in denial? Where is his massive corruption in all of this? "He also blamed the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States for a huge fall in trade and significant drop in tourist arrivals." What huge fall in trade? How in the hell did 911 reduced trade with the US/Europe? What has these guys been drinking? I am exausted trying to highlight the many lies contained in the below listed document. Please read below. Jammeh Explains Govt's Poor Performance The Independent (Banjul) March 10, 2003 Posted to the web March 10, 2003 PK Jarju Banjul President Jammeh has told members of the National Assembly that a combination of factors is responsible for the poor economic performance of his government and the constant depreciation of the Dalasi and consequent price instability. Speaking at the State opening of the National Assembly Thursday, President Jammeh explained that The Gambia has been adversely affected by the scarcity of rainfall, dwindling domestic production of the main cash crops as trade restrictions on the external front experienced along the country's borders with her neighbours take its toll on the economy. Nigeria Competition Bill Your Comments Requested He also blamed the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States for a huge fall in trade and significant drop in tourist arrivals. President Jammeh believes that the Gambian economy was at the receiving end of these inimical developments, culminating in continuous depreciation of the Dalasi. He added that this has sometimes made the attainment of his administration's stated policies seem elusive especially in targeting to establish and maintain a sound, stable, liberal, transparent and effective macroeconomic management system that would lead to increased growth and poverty reduction. He added that the country has now reached a decisive point in the HIPC initiative begun in December 2000 whilst interim debt relief started subsequently and funds amounting to D94, 308,568 and D103, 308,586 were received in 2001 and 2002 respectively. He added that the bulk of these funds were used on poverty reduction expenditures mainly in the social sectors. President Jammeh further noted that this year, the HIPC initiative is providing funds amounting to D110, 000,000 most of which would focus on poverty reduction expenditure areas. He added that the Gambia is about to enter into its completion point at the end of June this year to obtain a permanent debt relief under the HIPC initiative which the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs is collaborating with other stakeholders in trying to meet the targets set for completion. He added that to sharpen the effectiveness of the country's infrastructure, some structural reforms have already been embarked upon including the establishment of an independent Revenue Authority to bring Customs and Excise and Central Revenue Department under one administration and professionalise tax collection and administration so as to raise the tax-GDP ratio. He stressed that in line with today's requirement for transparency, accountability and probity and the need for government to properly plan its procurement operations against a backdrop of resource scarcity, government must redouble its efforts to keep expenditures in check particularly in the areas of procurement where huge amounts of resources are used in the acquisition of a wide range of goods and services. This he said demands that the procurement process must be accomplished in a capable and professional manner to ensure efficiency and economy through which value for money can be achieved for the ultimate purpose of safeguarding government's interest in its drive for sustainable economic development and growth. Agriculture On agriculture, President Jammeh stated that as a result of the lack of rains, cumulative coarse grain production has also declined from 167,000 metric tons in 2001/2002 to a 118,407 metric ton loss whilst swamp rice recorded the biggest loss with a reduction of about 74 percent (i.e 2,420 metric tons) in production in comparison to last year's total production of 9,322 metric tons. He added that groundnut production also registered a sharp decline of 47 percent from 151,069 metric tons produced in 2000/2001 when compared to this year's total output of 71, 526 metric tons. He added that another factor responsible for the decline in production is the problem of the quality of the entire produce, which has dropped sharply making it unsuitable as planting materials for the next cropping season. He added that a number of key projects and programme interventions have been undertaken in the past year to increase agricultural production, improve food security and increase the income earning capacity of farmers. He added that in a bid to further increase agricultural production and meet the strategic objectives for food self sufficiency and increased export particularly for non-traditional crops, the current policy is to shift away from subsistence agriculture to a more dynamic, commercially oriented production aimed at making farming a viable business undertaking. He added that 125 tractors equipped with accessories would be distributed to farmers. Health and social welfare On health, President Jammeh stated that the quality of health service delivery has improved immensely. He added that infant, child and maternal mortality rates are declining and exclusive breast-feeding is increasing whilst life expectancy in the country is now close to 60 years. He added that government would continue to fight against malaria, diarhoea and acute respiratory illness, which continue to be the major child killer. _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~