OPINION Reaction to Border Impasse Story By Lamin Sayang -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 6, 2005 Dear Editor, Pa Nderry M'bai is a person whose professionalism and integrity I have come to admire. But recently his comments about the border impasse seem to be misleadinding and unpatriotic. I think when such a crises occur (Senegal and Gambia), we should rise above political partisanship, and work towards achieving peace and stability goals that are common to all shades of political opinion. You seemed to be involved in spine, misinformation and economical with the truth. You portraying a situation where the Gambia is the main looser. I think you should conduct a thorough situational analysis of the two countries supported by economic figures to convince people that Senegal have nothing to loose. General facts are the Gambia lost a lot of revenue at both crossing points, less foreign currency, obstruction of the re-export trade which contributes a lot to our GDP and the construction industry will suffer tremendously (road construction). On the other hand, Senegalese trucks have to travel via Tamba Kunda which means increased prices for the poor, Senegal has a good manufacturing based economy, which means textiles, plastics, horticultural /agricultural products have to loose their market in the Gambia. Gravel and Gas made for the Gambia will suffer. Most Senegalese do their shopping in the Gambia and have to pay revenue to the Senegalese custom department. Go to Karang and Amdalaye, custom officers sitting down doing absolutely nothing. These are a major revenues earner for Senegal. Economic activities in these villages died. Because of the political sensitivity of the issues, even NADD analysed the problem cautiously. Look at the Senegalese News paper, how patriotic are they (supporting there governments and unions). In the Gambia both the Business Market and consumer market are affected, less buying means the re-export trading is sinking to a bottom less pit. Retailers from Senegal, crying because they cannot buy cheap goods for Mali and the two Guineas, even internally retailers cannot replenish their shops with cheap goods from the Gambia. Contraband activities are on going, who is loosing?-both governments. Please remove Nadd on your web site if you want to be involved in irresponsible Activities. These borders crisis start a long time ago. At one time went Jawara was talking about the Singapore of West Africa, the Senegal Government Closed their border causing economic hardship for both countries. A like the way Nadd co-ordinator (Halifa Sallah) handled the issue and the way OJ talked about it. The BBC also mentioned that the border closure have cause economic hardship for both countries. Go To Top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2004 AllGambian.Net. All Rights Reserved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤