Dad Moses , With due respect the private sector must be seen to be professionals . There has been many a time when Pilgrims have been stranded , missing Pilgrims bag gages and a lot of other issues such as flights not showing up on time and failure to deliver as agreed with intending Pilgrims . I agree with you that Government should surrender the business of hajj with the private sector as a matter of policy . I have tried several times to be part of the hajj phone pro grammes to give out professional advice without success . I have spoken to the previous Secretary's of state responsible for hajj affairs on this issue and will find time to speak to Sheikh Omar fye . --- Musa Jeng <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > meant to say those were and not these were" > > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: [log in to unmask] > > > [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering > by [log in to unmask] ] > > > > > > The Hajj package is D82,000 and the flights will > take > > off on 1st,2nd , 3rd and 4th December 2006 > according > > to the announcement . (Mr. Nyang) > > > > > > This is the result of Govt intervention, and the > naive thinking that by > > continuing to echo that you have good intentions > and that alone would invariably > > make good policy. Back in 1993, living in the > Gambia I was involved in the Hajj > > Industry - it was a booming and very competitive > industry. The Hajj package then > > varied from D22, 000 to as low as D17, 000.00. I > worked with Globe travel and we > > targeted pilgrims that were interested in staying > in relatively upscale hotels > > very close to the Kaaba, our package was much > higher because some of the other > > incentives we offered. I could still remember > having our Pilgrims days before we > > left through an orientation program at the Kairaba > Beach Hotel, and have Oustas > > who were students in Saudi as Pilgrim Guides to > explain the Hajj process and > > other pertinent information. > > > > These were interesting times for the Hajj > industry, and most importantly > > consumers had choices – whether you are talking > about price sensitivities or > > other services that other pilgrims were looking > for. Without a doubt there were > > problems with fly by night Hajj agencies trying to > exploit the industry and make > > a killing at the expense of the average pilgrim. > But, any serious Govt > > interested in honest solutions could easily > implement regulatory oversight and > > make sure that consumers are protected at all > cost. Govt should really re-visit > > the policy of getting direct involvement and > making it a political football. The > > Jammeh Govt should get away from this belief that > they have to get directly > > involve in everything. President Jammeh does not > own the country, and it is sad > > that ultimately everything in that country has to > come under his purview. For > > heaven sake, president Jammeh does not own the > entire country and it is time for > > him to concentrate in the things stipulated in > the! > > consti > > tution. > > > > To the new SOS responsible for religious affairs, > my good friend Omar Faye – I > > would really like to see whether you are only > going to be a rubber stamp SOS or > > willing to make a difference by making real > changes. It comes down to having > > that chutz-pah, although, I have serious > reservations that you have it in you to > > do what is right with the Gambian people. It seems > that in the Gambia, > > protecting one’s job is the fundamental priority > to most of you guys. Finally, > > it is time to to give the Hajj business back to > the private sector and let the > > Govt get back to its role as a regulatory agencies > - an effective overseer. If > > it is not your role to buy peanuts from farmers > (according to SOS Agric – > > Yanks) – the bedrock of our economy, how do you > reconcile that with your role > > to taking people to the Kingdom of Saudi? You guys > are full of contradictions. > > > > Note: to my owm brother, a Manger at Fahad Agency > - I say you are committing to > > what amounts to "chalit", cheerleading the > president to give you preferential > > treatment. It is your fundamental right to pursue > in business as a private > > citizen and you do not have to stoop low in any > way to be given that right. It > > is sad what our own country has become. > > > > Musa Jeng > > > > > > -------------- Original message > ---------------------- > > From: Tejan Nyang > > > Brother Saloum , > > > The Hajj package is D82,000 and the flights will > take > > > off on 1st,2nd , 3rd and 4th December 2006 > according > > > to the announcement . > > > Chi Jamma , > > > > > > --- saloum bajo wrote: > > > > > > > Hey All, > > > > Looking for any info about this year's Hajj > > > > Package; > > > > air fares and flight schedules. > > > > > > > > Cheers > > > > Saloum! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________ > > > > ____ > > > > Want to start your own business? 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