NEWS APRC Chairperson Takes Jammeh to Task By Our New York Correspondent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 18, 2005 A call made by an APRC supporter for Jammeh to tackle the country's ailing energy sector, lack of medicines and teachers to man our school systems was not received well by The Gambian leader and his delegation currently in New York, The ALLGAMBIAN online newspaper can reveal. According to our correspondent who covered the Jammeh meeting, which was attended by his APRC supporters in New York, Ms. Mbara Nyang the APRC Chairperson in New York took President Jammeh to task by challenging him to address Gambia's electricity crisis once and for all, which according to Ms. Nyang is getting from bad to worst. Ms. Nyang who was repeatedly interrupted by Tijan Ceesay alias "Ecou Bopa" to hand over the microphone, told President Jammeh that due to the lack of electricity her sons could not spent their vacations in The Gambia, as they were moved from The Gambia to neighbouring Senegal Dakar. She added that despite numerous promises by NAWEC management that they will improve the situation she said, electricity is still something to come by in The Gambia. She therefore appealed to the President to address the serious state of affairs, which she said is hindering development in the tiny West African country. Also part of her concerns were the collapsing health and educational sectors in The Gambia. Ms. Mbara urged the President to throw light on claims that there are no drugs in our hospitals and teachers in Gambia's schools. While ignoring calls by Ecou Bopa for Ms. Nyang to hand over the microphone, the APRC New York Chairperson said the forum was an opportune moment for her to talk to President Jammeh and vowed not hand over the microphone without completing her address. "I want to promise to the President that once my demands are met, I will certainly return to my home village Kuntaur." she said. In response President Jammeh who earlier frowned at what many called the direct criticism of his administration by his own supporter assured Ms. Nyang that the electricity problem will soon be a thing of the past. He unveiled that his government is negotiating with Singapore to address the energy problem facing the country. On the issue of lack of teachers to man our schools, the President attributed this to the growing number of schools built by his government. While blaming the deposed PPP administration for the country's educational underdevelopment and lack of good health care services, Jammeh said under the PPP rule there were only two public schools in the country. Such schools he went on, "were The Gambia Methodist Boy High School and the Armitage High School." Jammeh added that teachers were paid from a fund provided by the Commonwealth. He attributed the lack of enough teachers to what he called the growing number schools built by his government. With regards to health delivery system, Jammeh said under Jawara's rule there were only two hospitals across the country, namely the Bansang and the Royal Victoria Hospitals. But today he went on "thanks myself Yahya Jammeh, we are able to have 350 doctors from Cuba. The PPP government could not even have 10 trained doctors at the time" Still commenting on PPP'S shortcomings, Jammeh told the New York meeting that under Jawara's rule, there were only 10 air conditioners across The Gambia, while under his government "thanks Jammeh there are 10,000 air conditioners across the country. This is the government that is trying to come back to power. This is a government that ruled The Gambia for 30 years and I was able to get rid of them within three hours." Jammeh bragged. Also speaking at the meeting was Gambia's Trade minister Neneh Macdowl Gaye, who urged APRC supporters to open their doors to the opposition. This she said, will prevent any opposition threat against the current administration. APRC Chairpersons here in the US, such as Abdoulie Sosseh of Atlanta, Penda Sarr, Washington DC, Alhagie Jobarteh, Columbus Ohio were in attendance at the New York meeting. They all Pledged their continued support and loyalty to the APRC. 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