From http://www.observer.gm Opinion Where are the dedicated men and women? By Bijou Peters Jan 7, 2004, 13:57 The recent dismissals of senior civil servants of integrity and secretaries of state and the debasing Baba Jobe saga has scandalised, baffled and saddened most Gambians. We recall that the former PPP government was ousted because it was accused of corruption and incompetence. We also remember the commissions of inquiry which were promptly initiated by the military regime, the AFPRC government, to investigate these malpractices and bring all those officers found guilty, to justice. We also know that the legal procedures were costly and dragged on for many months. Many civil servants who were found guilty of corruption had their properties confiscated. The practice of people manning important posts they are unqualified for has prevailed in the country for many years now and can be described as the “round pegs in square holes,” syndrome and is detrimental to progress generally. Unfortunately, this malpractice is prevalent in most West African states and has resulted in the gross mismanagement of government institutions, departments and funds. The public naively believed that this retrogressive practice had disappeared with the deposed PPP government. Now in the year 2003, this syndrome appears to be raising its ugly head once more as can be seen in the several dismissals reported in recent months. Does this indicate that the APRC government which decried vehemently the former government of corruption and other malpractices, are guilty of the same crimes? This is the question being asked. If so, the public is deeply dismayed and disillusioned by the latest developments. Who then can be saved? Recently, two glaring examples of mismanagement and corrupt practices were reported - the case of the Central Bank, the most important financial institution in the country where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) insisted that the bank’s performance be scrutinised and there has been the removal of some senior members of staff as a sequel to this investigation including the managing director, Mr Clark Bajo. For a long time, Mr Bajo, it is alleged, has not been physically fit to carry out his duties at the bank, yet he continued to hold on to the post for ages. This was a source of concern and much rumour-mongering; insinuating a degree of mismanagement at the Central Bank during his tenure of office - a deplorable situation. And most recently, the Baba Jobe episode which has horrified the public because of his sudden arrest and the revelations at the ongoing trial. According to reports, Mr Jobe owes the Gambia Ports Authority huge sums of money due to his failure to pay the taxation levied on customers for the discharge of cargo from overseas. Not so long ago, Mr Jobe was a popular Gambian political figure and [still] the Majority leader of the National Assembly and of whom the Hon Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, wrote passionately relating to the travel ban imposed on him and pleading for it to be lifted. Was FJC ignorant of all these alleged illegal practices of the Majority leader? That is the million dollar question. As Operation No Compromise is in progress, another bombshell was the report of the removal from office of Yankuba Touray, the de facto spokesman of the APRC party and government. Speculation has been rife about the reasons for this unexpected action. In conclusion, these sordid, unpleasant and degrading happenings are bad for the country’s image. The country is experiencing the adverse effects of the present economic crisis which have resulted in hardships and increased poverty, yet politicians are accused of misappropriating much-needed government funds. Government must now search for loyal, honest men and women of integrity who are prepared to work for the people and not exploit them by aggravating the already pitiful poverty status of the majority. © Copyright 2003 by Observer Company ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~