Bro Oko, A social thinker once observed that a society is like a work of art. Just like how the sculptor carve a piece of wood or stone into a sculptor; and just like how the artist with due diligence creates a work of art, a society also can be moulded and guided in its change and transformation processes. The development of the human being must take cognizance of the value systems that are in place, and have been succintly formulated to guide the cohesiveness and integrity of the social dynamics in its formation and cultures. Our cultures, therefore, are replete with proverbs and figurative language that tend to speak of the anomaly; and in its various functions decry greed and vanity, and indeed all facets of the social fabric that has a tendency to corrupt the social and moral imperatives. The dictum, OLLOF NJIE NE NA, begins the self examination and critical component of most of these proverbs and figurative language in wollof. Therefore, our societies have always been mindful of the consequences that negatively impact the structure of our social order. Today, most of the things that are happening are alien to those whose value systems demand respect, tolerance, pride, honesty, shamefulness and humility as the core principles that underpins their social cohesiveness and milieu. And, fundamental to the social cohesiveness should be the recognition of our conscience as an integral part of the development of both the individual and social entity. Our conscience, therefore, is not only our ability to recognize what is wrong from what is right; but, it should also be a conscious determination to will against anything that is wrong, and embrace everything that is right. The individual is nurtured to follow the dictates of his conscience; the social conscience should also be nurtured to promote the dictates of what is just and proper. This can be done through various means, the least of which should not be the "death of outrage." Through opinion leaders, academic exhortations, literary criticism, journalistic activism, the media and various other organs, voices of reason can shape and influence the evolution of a just social order. Most Gambians are familiar with our colonial history; the struggles between the various parties before and after our independence. The divisiveness, the acrimony, the tribal sentiments, the religious appeal and general hostile environment in our political deliberations, did not augur well in our disposition to build an independent and prosperous homeland. Our political enterprise thrives on tribalism, individualism, self-centeredness; and while keeping the people ignorant and poor, our country wallows in the nefarous act of corruption and the deriliction of trust to public service. The failure to develop an active and well informed citizenry, besides mobilizing and using people periodically for elections, leads to a climate of stultification of the most basic rights of the people. Against this backdrop, the emergence of a new political entity with an encompassing set of principles that will guide a new political dispensation is most welcomed. The NADD MOU in my opinion, should form the core values through which we interact; through which we govern and through which we guide our social and political deliberations. A council of economic advisers should be commisioned and tasked with the job of reviewing all sectors of the Gambian economy; how well they are performing, what are the contraints and what needs to be done to make them more productive and sustainable. This council with the inputs of all other sectors of the economy can draw a blueprint that will take into account the investment needs, the job needs and the welfare needs of the Gambian people. This blueprint will serve as a guide to dictate government policy. The manifestoes and policy documents that are presently vying for the people's attention, if and when they become a government policy, can illuminate a bight future and when the dawn sets in a new day, the Gambia will awake to a new reality and a new vision. Rene いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい