Brother Yero, I was sitting here listening to your notes and I couldn't help but be a bit perplexed. I will share with you why I was none the wiser after reading you:

I will share with you your last paragraph -

[Thanks again for the great points. Without being difficult, I recognize the damage done to our citizens by Jammeh and his accomplices. That makes it quite hard especially after full knowledge of the regime's "terror" on citizens, to join in the name of changing the game. I know they will never change any game and what we have seen is the game being changed on them, and 99.99% of the time, some of those people became the first casualities.] Yero.

So if Yahya killed my brother, or assassinated my cousin, or maimed my friend, or caused the death of my fellow citizen while he/she was wrongfully imprisoned, do you suggest that I will be so defeated and broken that I will join Yahya's murder Inc. just to save my own skin????? Even with forewarning that I would suffer the same fate as my fellow citizens did sooner or later if I join Yahya's murder Inc.? Please help me understand your notes a bit more because I don't think I understood it properly.

Regarding standards and circumstance you expressed some fear;

[With regards to the standards giving you sleepless nights,it shouldn't. We are all stressing standards to be exercised. I think the problem has been who sets which standards for who. Like you stated before, our sympathy if any is clearly born out of Gambia's lawless sphere. No one as far as I am concerned is saying people must not be held accountable for wrongs they committed.I hold that standards are foremost but such standards must niether be selective nor geared on alienating a certain group.] Yero.

In our common struggle against lawlessness Yero (Law is a standard), our side of the battle does not have a discernible authority to set law. Therefore we must go by the standards, the absence of which caused the lawlessness we are fighting against. For example - to abduct someone or set their place of business on fire are crimes. To know who committed the crime and not share it with your fellow citizens and a reliable court, is also a crime. To enable the commission of either of these crimes is also a crime called aiding and abetting. Our standards therefore, set by no one of us but adopted by all of us as guide in our common fight against lawlessness are:

We will not abduct. We will not set fire to the properties of our fellows. We will EXPOSE those criminals we are aware of even if they blend among us in our fight or even if they are family members of ours. We will not work with or aid abet these criminal UNTIL they are prosecuted for their crimes and have asked for forgiveness or paid restitution to their victims. Adhering to these fundamental standards (set by no one of us because that is not necessary) means that each of us not only has to pay lipservice to them, we must live them every second of every minute of every hour of every day, week, month, and year. I see you used COMMITTED in the past tense so you are suggesting that the criminal has been prosecuted, has repented, has paid restitution to his/her victims, and has never committed the, or any more crimes. Now I want you to think about the TURNCOATS in our common fight. They continue to commit crimes, to obstruct justice, and to aid and abet other criminals. When we excuse these criminals, what we are doing is acting as their jurors and assuming fraudulent agency for their victims. We cannot hold them accountable for their crimes until they are adjudged by a competent court and jury of their fellows. All we can do is to live our standards as we fight lawlessness or the absence of standards. Standards, by their very nature, are aimed at alienating vagabonds and errant fellows. So to the extent you consider these groups of our fellow honorable citizens, standards are aimed at alienating these groups. You must be certain of that and resolute enough in your fight, to alienate and join in the prosecution of them before you begin the fight against them. Adhering to your standards. The guard against lawlessness.

On unity and reconciliation, Yero you expressed some concern as to how we can attain those:

[My worry continues to loom over how unity can be achieved which requires strategy. Further, my worry looms over how everyone will be treated fairlyIn doing this struggle to rescue Gambia and Gambians from Jammeh's impunity, we the people must neither be bullies/oppressors ourselves nor lose sight of what it means to encourage those that committed wrongs to rehabilitate, join to expose the regime and be ready to submit to justice whenever it calls. The door to welcome anyone willing to leave the dictator to join us must be left wide open, of course with greater caution. To my surprise, most of the time, such a message is misconstued to interpret something else. Moreover, you will agree some of the intolerant tendencies that surface online here and there shows that while we seek to replace Jammeh's impunity, there is still a greater fear that true liberation is not that close. We the people must act better than the rotten system we seek to replace.] Yero.

Yero, I think you're putting the cart before the horse here. Remember you're still in the battle. You risk losing your life if you should pause in the middle of putting up your shield to stop a spear, to work on the dividends of victory. Further, there no greater strategy required to achieve unity and reconciliation than honesty, sincerity, consideration, and prosecution of crimes. Before and after the battle. While in battle, you treat the foe fairly by exacting consistent lethal damage on them, and out of battle, you maintain the same standards you set for yourself and that urged you to battle in the first place. Treating folk fairly in times of peace means that you allow them their Human rights to free speech, choice, and association for religion and industry. That is what you went into battle to resurrect. The opposite of lawlessness. International standards and norms for relationships among men and women. I like your wise counsel in purple, but I think you're conflating an avowed and unrepentant criminal with your fellow errant and clueless citizen. The latter can be rehabilitated without battle. But you're in battle for the rehabilitation of the pathological criminal, so he/she will be readied to submit to justice AFTER YOU ARREST HIM/HER. When you have defeated him/her in battle because by the very act of going to battle with you, the criminal is convinced you're the criminal, and he wouldn't be taken alive by someone who in his warped mind, is a bully and an oppressor of criminals. (: The door of reconciliation that you suggest we keep wide open, let us hurry up and salvage the door from the avowed and unrepentant criminal first, then we, your fellow citizens, will help you keep it wide open for the errant and clueless citizen. Yero, there will always be a fear among men and women of the resurgens of criminals. That is exactly why you, JDAM, Demba, Olfactor, Giuseppe, and myself are in battle currently. When the defeated criminals or newer criminals resurface later, you must have the resolution to join with your fellow conscientious citizens to do battle again. That resolution comes from us living our standards each second, of every minute, of every hour, of each day, week, month, and year. You can never stop the resurgens of criminals, but if they are more resolute than you are in adhering to your standards, why you'd be fighting a lot of battles and according the law of averages, you risk being consumed by your own shortcoming in resolutions.

When you are in battle, it is not necessary to let other determine what route you should take. That may be hazardous to your health and safety. Decide upon a route, stick to it, and fight battle for it. Hope that your fellow does the same. Cumulative Infinitesimal Worth (CIW) is the Achiles heel of all battle. That is what won battles for Jesus, Musa, Omar Ibn Hattab, Ghandiji, Obama, and the multitudes who came before us. I am convinced Yero that you are sometimes your own worst enemy by constantly second-guessing your own strategy while in the midst of battle. Don't scare me to fight next to you in battle my friend.

Haruna.
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, May 2, 2013 3:27 am
Subject: Re: [G_L] [>-<] FW: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson

LJD:
 
Thanks to all for expansion of such a debate. Please allow me make closure at my end on this by saying the following and just a note that your take is entirely understood.
 
 With regards to the standards giving you sleepless nights,it shouldn't. We are all stressing standards to be exercised. I think the problem has been who sets which standards for who. Like you stated before, our sympathy if any is clearly born out of Gambia's lawless sphere. No one as far as I am concerned is saying people must not be held accountable for wrongs they committed.I hold that standards are foremost but such standards must niether be selective nor geared on alienating a certain group. My worry continues to loom over how unity can be achieved which requires strategy. Further, my worry looms over how everyone will be treated fairly. In doing this struggle to rescue Gambia and Gambians from Jammeh's impunity, we the people must neither be bullies/oppressors ourselves nor lose sight of what it means to encourage those that committed wrongs to rehabilitate, join to expose the regime and be ready to submit to justice whenever it calls. The door to welcome anyone willing to leave the dictator to join us must be left wide open, of course with greater caution. To my surprise, most of the time, such a message is misconstued to interpret something else. Moreover, you will agree some of the intolerant tendencies that surface online here and there shows that while we seek to replace Jammeh's impunity, there is still a greater fear that true liberation is not that close. We the people must act better than the rotten system we seek to replace. 
 
In any way, I have just put in my opinion on this. It is upto Gambians entirely to decide what route we want to take. I am of course with the consensus of all those sincere who believe in a democratic Gambia. This is why like many of you, I have given up on many luxuries to keep fighting. I have never worked for Jammeh, I do not have an immediate family/friend member that works for him. Even those that work for him or support him knows to give me enough space in both my local community and beyond, because I speak my opinion without fear, and that opinion I don't let anyone censor.
 
Thanks again for the great points. Without being difficult, I recognize the damage done to our citizens by Jammeh and his accomplices. That makes it quite hard especially after full knowledge of the regime's "terror" on citizens, to join in the name of changing the game. I know they will never change any game and what we have seen is the game being changed on them, and 99.99% of the time, some of those people became the first casualities.
 
Best regards,
Yero
 
 
 

 

Date: Thu, 2 May 2013 07:32:58 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] [>-<] FW: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
To: [log in to unmask]

I hear you YJ. Reconciliation is of course unavoidable under a new dispensation, but what sleepless nights you caused me by insisting on a public space without standards.

LJDarbo 


From: Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
To: a Gambia-L <[log in to unmask]>; MightyPost <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, 1 May 2013, 8:19
Subject: RE: [G_L] [>-<] FW: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson

Dear Haruna,
 
I am loving your submission. I am still thinking how would a future democratic Gambian leader handle such a delicate situation. I recognize the difficulty involved. 
 
I believe at some point in Gambia's struggle, we would have to consider reconciliation especially after Jammeh is gone, so people can forge ahead and open a new chapter. This will probably include lesser punishment for those that willingly cooperate and submit themselves for any crimes they might have committed.
 
In anyway, by my earlier submission, it is no endorsement for any that fits the description of a turncoat.
 
Thanks for the expansion Haruna. I am greatly enlightened on this topic.

 
Best always,
Yero
 

Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:40:53 -0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] [>-<] FW: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
To: [log in to unmask]

Brother Yero,

I appreciate your compass in change management and I encourage JDAM to consider your views through that prism. I rather fault parallax for the apparent divergence between the two of you. As you have indicated in your notes, it is evident that the two of you are squarely on the same side when it comes to your common enemy Yahya. What may be a problem is the definition of "Turncoat".

What JDAM et al are saying is that the "turncoat" in Gambia affairs is one who, for economic gain, expediency, self-preservation, or other personal reason, joins your oppressor. And while he/she is with the oppressor, oppressing you or covering the oppressions of the oppressor, continues to solicit your understanding and to curry your favor, for when he falls out of favor with the lunatic oppressor. For he/she knows, as Omar Ibn Hattab had always known from the history of his times, that a fallout with an unrepentant criminal is inevitable. And when he/she falls out with the avowed criminal, he/she worms his way back to your heart that he had prepared while with the criminal. So what you refer to as turncoat, JDAM, and myself, believe is a common criminal and opportunist.

In the annals of Revolution and battle (Omar Ibn Hattab), there are those innocent persons who get caught in the crossfire. And when they have the opportunity, they bear on the right side of the battle. Those people, who, under duress and forcible coercion seemed to be on the other side but when they have the minutest freedom, that you and your honorable men and women help to yield, they will come to the side of truth and justice. Those persons ought to be welcome and embraced, and protected, to never again fall victim or prey to the criminal. For JDAM, Olfactor, Giuseppe, and myself, these persons are NOT "Turncoats", but victims of the criminal.

Folk like Nana Grey, Uwaa, and a multitude others, who have the acumen and intellect, coupled with glaring historical record, who voulntarily join the criminal enterprise for their selfish reasons, and try to play both sides to maintain emolument, are TURNCOATS. Beware of parallax Ma Yero and Cous Demba. You will never win a revolutionary or even religious war with turncoats. They will undermine your treasure and frustrate your advances. So help me DaarManso.


Haruna. I do appreciate your inexhaustible hope in the time-value of circumspect. 10 years and counting Ma Yero.

-----Original Message-----
From: Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Apr 30, 2013 6:11 am
Subject: Re: [G_L] [>-<] FW: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson


LJD,

Thanks for the brilliant lecture about Bush, his predecessors, and American politics in general. I am not in any way taking away some of the credits he earned as a President. Certainly, black appointees were more in his administration as you rightly mentioned, together with some of his “cool” ways of appealing to Americans. When Bush admitted to having smoked weeds in his younger days, that was it. (LOL).  I am in no way saying that Bush was empty but I must tell you he was somewhat a problem in major things that certainly raised red flags for a healthy democracy like America.  Earlier on the day, I followed one of the former Supreme Court Judges in the person of Sandra Day O’Connor who expressed regrets over the way that the 2000 Florida decision was finalized which saw George W. Bush to power. (Star Tribune, 04/26/13). Personally, I am opposed to some of these wars waged in the name of liberation and war against terror. Like any other tax payer, I would have loved to see things directed to areas that benefit humanity, rather than create human suffering. This was a major contributor to job loss and to somewhat crippling America’s great economy. While I fully believe in America’s models of democracy, some of the wars we fought could have been handled different. We’ve seen a great deal of mess, from human loss, to destruction of infrastructure, thus creating more enemies out there. This was spelt out clearly by Obama during his first elections that brought him to power.

Regards to Gambia’s politics (Nana, Waa, etc), it is a total mess, and nothing could be more confusing.
 
I for one agree with you that our differences are more philosophical. I realized the favorite word in town, ‘Turncoats.’ I sometimes get blown away how supposedly future leaders of our country get so comfortable using the words ‘Turncoats’ and ‘apologists’ on others who are on their side. We all are too familiar with the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) struggle to win the hearts of his one time foes. Omar (RA) was one that we know much about. I know that was religion and this one is politics. The truth is we must be very careful in our battles for redemption.  Let us go after the enemy and his combatants. Those that changed positions (turncoats) to our side must be welcomed to come and fight with us. Often times, people like to blow things out of proportion to the extent of insult. This has yielded us nothing but more division and giving more victory to the common enemy. I am openly saying that we must all change in attitude, from those that are too blinded to join ranks with Jammeh, to those that enjoy saying they never worked with Jammeh, to extent mount aggression on those constantly being termed here turncoats.  The argument is weak to even label people as “lacking principle/standards” because of a person’s opinion that we must seek to unite than divide. It is not only unhealthy, it shows scary tendencies. Some of these misnomers are so unfitting and to our disadvantage, the victor is only Jammeh. A liberator cannot be a bully.

In any way, the Gambia belongs to all of us. We all must decide what Gambia we want for our children and grandchildren. If we continue on some of the paths that I observed, I am truly afraid; we will be behind for a while. For any that beats the chest in boastfulness is not the one, and the one that divides is equally not the one. 

 

Best regards & thanks for any expansion in advance. Your humbleness and ability to remain civil and calm at all times is admirable. For that, I say you are winning...and keep it even sharper!

Yero.

 

 

 

From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [>-<] FW: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:36:07 -0500

Fyi


Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:31:08 -0500
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
To: [log in to unmask]

LJD, be rest assured of our highest regards despite our differences in opinion. I will attempt to stretch this a little further for you early tomorrow inshallah. Thanks as always for being constantly civil in all your debates.   Best, Yero.


Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:23:05 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
To: [log in to unmask]

YJ

Haruna deliberately misquoted George W

In terms of conduct in the international arena, only Jimmy Carter was better than him. As the preeminent imperial power since 1945, US foreign policy is tragic through and through. On the subject of foreign policy, W's rascalism was at par with that of Obama, Clinton, Bush Snr, Reagan, and stretching back to Eisenhower. As far as appointments, he was better than Obama and all the Democratic presidents since the structures of segregation began seriously crumbling in the Kennedy/Johnson era. He was the first President to allocate State, and National Security, to Black appointees. The Bushisms and American foreign policy misadventures notwithstanding, I always have a soft spot for George W. As far as foreign policy, I think even naturalized Americans like you are no different from your presidents. You equate war with your Hollywood movies, a tragic mindset by any account. Nevertheless, I am an Americophile, someone deeply in love with the land of freedom and endless marvels. 

On Nana Grey-Johnson, I was somewhat baffled by your apparent stance. If I didn't know you better, I'd say your sympathy may be running thin for the "turncoats". I know that's not you, but I am unwilling to separate the Waa Juwaras and Grey-Johnsons from the historical cases, the class spanning the period 2000-2010. Why do you appear to separate them? 

Demba's heart is in the right place and he is a dependable partner in the struggle against tyranny in The Gambia. He is not an apologist at all. Our differences over the "turncoats" are more philosophical, and I can't see my condemnation of blatant opportunism by those who ought to know better, and did know better, changing anytime soon. 


LJDarbo


From: Yero Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, 28 April 2013, 21:11
Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson

Mawdo Demba,
 
Great Points. I equally share and respect all of your takes. That make these forums lively. Your take certainly doesn't make you an apologist. Your records during the course of Gambia's struggle speaks for itself. You have agreed to be in the line of fire at the expense of everything.
 
That aside, I think there are some lessons to learn from. From some of your points that I gathered, the most terrible dictators were crumbled from within, some reasonable even have to join to partially redirect certain things. That hasn't been the case at all in Gambia, and If LJD will permit me borrow his line, "A snow ball has more chance in hell."
 
The whole thing comes back to Haruna's line " Like President W said: You fool me once, you fool me twice, why you, you,..I mean, can't fool again. what? oh fool me once, can't fool me again."
 
Have a great weekend...
 
Best,
Yero

 

Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:06:36 -0700
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
To: [log in to unmask]

LJD,

I am in agreement with all of you in principle and am definitely not embracing Grey Johnson taking a position with Jammeh. By now anyone who slightly bothers to know my stand will not associate me with being an apologist for those associated with Jammeh... I guess there is a side of me that continue to wish and yearn that citizens will stand up to Jammeh and point their fingers right in between his eyes and say not this time.. Is avoiding him and taking a leave as we all did the best way to fight and get rid of him, hmmm... I doubt it.. I think the more we choose to fight from a distant the more he can consolidate power and be more emboldened... 

Dictators have historically survived because they alienate and send away anything that resembles a challenge... Well, I guess my dream of people who we once looked at as respectful standing up against Jammeh will never come true... My inspiration or dream if you may comes from the concept of the "nation school" where citizens' contributions can be separated from dictator's desire to be the nation and the state....This optimism in me never seems to go away!

Thanks always for the rejoinders

Demba 


On Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 5:35 PM, Baba Galleh Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Indeed Lamin. Brother Grey Johnson will survive as long as he happily licks Jammeh's boots and agrees to be a robot. The moment he seems to be too much in the public eye or takes a single half-decision without a nod from above, he is gone. The threat of perpetual money worries could well be troubling and painful. But it is no excuse to sell one's soul to the devil; which is what anyone does who decides to court and accept a position from Baboon Mansa. It is not much of a danger to predict that like many before him, Mr. Grey Johnson will not long survive in his new post. Making such a prediction is not wishing him ill; it is merely a statement of fact or at the very least, very high probability based on empirical evidence. And yes, when he is eventually booted out, it would be impossible for him to reclaim the dignity he enjoyed among his peers before he joined the dictatorship. I like your metaphor of a snowball and its chances in hell.
 
Baba
 

Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:27:53 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson
To: [log in to unmask]


Well Mboge, we are not speculating here. As if Professor Jammeh was reading us on the "L" and "the Post" on the Trojan question around the "turncoats", he clearly stated that no one comes to his Cabinet to "manage" him. He specifically made this pointless statement during the EU 17-point crisis. I termed it "pointless" because I am in no doubt he stated the dominant reality in his political territory and any suggestion to the contrary is just plain fantasy. I won't buy any Trojan product even if priced at just a butut in that as long as it relates to the Professor's Cabinet terrain, it has to be fake. Like all the other "turncoats", Nana Grey-Johnson is there for Nana Grey-Johnson and he cannot improve the plight of the private media in The Gambia. I don't know about you, but I won't live in crocodile infested waters if that habitat is totally alien to my nature, i.e., if I do not have some crocodile characteristics myself. Anyone who joined the Professor's Cabinet after April 2000 must have closed his eyes to extremely blatant realities. 

Below I illustrate!

In late October 1998, Baba Jobe (may the God of infinite mercy forgive him) called me at Banjul Magistrates Court on an administrative matter touching MansaKonko Magistrates Court. I was newly appointed Magistrate but retained my immediate past position as Senior Assistant Secretary in the Judiciary until a substantive replacement could be found. I was therefore the point-person for all non-critical administrative matters affecting the Judiciary. During the 15-20 minutes conversation, Baba informed me that anyone not supportive of President Jammeh cannot be in good terms with him. I don't know where this was coming from as I did not make any difficult decisions as of this time. Baba was at the height of his influence and he probably saw an opportunity to intimidate a new Magistrate.

Fast forward to 2004 when Baba was on trial for alleged economic crimes. Sensing the direction of the trial, Baba's lawyer filed a motion before the trial Court to say he was not confident of getting a fair trial and outcome. The absence of a fair trial was never a worry for Baba before 2004, but he must have known a thing or two about politically persecutions and closed his eyes to the tragedy inherent in that great travesty. 

When did Baba know about unfair trials in politically motivated cases? In 2004, or well before the tragedy of his unlawful conviction and sentence, a conviction and sentence that was to ultimately end in his untimely death? I am not in the business of creating any excuses for the deliberately blind and deaf intellectuals situated like Nana Grey-Johnson. They can't even slightly shake the Professor's system and I am always amused to hear this utter fantasy thrown around.


LJDarbo   


From: Modou Mboge <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, 27 April 2013, 9:36
Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson

' ...but Nana Grey-Johnson has his faculties intact. No one understands the Professor's political terrain better than those who accept his ministerial appointments. Be "fired" and live in "dignity"? A snowball has more chance in hell!'
 
LJD
 
---------------
 
LJD,
 
Thanks for the usual clarity.  Indeed  Grey-Johnson has his faculties fully intact.  The day this 'opportunist'  accepted to work for a known killer of children was the day he forfeited his integrity and dignity.  There is no dignity in working for a killer and murderer.  Jammeh is an unrepentant murderer and working for his government at the level these 'enablers' do is simply criminal.  They will never be allowed to hogwash us with their convoluted reasons for joining the devil.  We will InSaaAllah be around to remind them and their apologists of their opportunism and hyprocrisy.
 
Best,
Mboge 


On Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 3:08 AM, Lamin Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Ah Demba, I love your optimism but Nana Grey-Johnson has his faculties intact. No one understands the Professor's political terrain better than those who accept his ministerial appointments. Be "fired" and live in "dignity"? A snowball has more chance in hell!


LJDarbo


From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Saturday, 27 April 2013, 1:30
Subject: Re: [G_L] Nana Grey-Johnson

Mawdo Yero,

I feel you and have equal concerns. But I have a different perspective or should I say dream on this... I think if Minister Johnson is able to detach himself from the politics of the day and make efforts to work with the private media, he may not be successful but his efforts will be recorded in history  as one of our own who care about the media. He may not last long, but again that would have proven that were he to have the right political landscape he would indeed success in building bridges where needed.

Off course we know the bar is low in his success, but we also must recognize in the most difficult of circumstances, the most challenging and oppressing political environment, citizens can still try to work hard and independently to achieve something. So while Mr. Johnson may not last long on his role, if I were him (not in million years) I would work independently and let me be fired and live my dignity and respect. So I believe Mr. Johnson can build an independent relationship with the media and they will admire his efforts successful or not...

Thanks always mawdo for raising concerns.

Thanks

Demba


On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 1:42 PM, Yero Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Like the adage goes, "mining mining, tafal tafal, ah labang dula, tohnya."  There seems to be a new Joshua in town. He is speaking like his predecessors. I personally doubt it is possible to be with Jammeh and be with the media fraternity at the same time. Let us see it.....I bet you, if you (Nana) make any comments about investingating the deaths of Chief Ebrima Manneh and Deyda Hydara; opening the closed radios and newspapers; and the many other problems of the media including the draconium stipulation that claimed Deyda's life, you will soon make Jammeh lose patience on you and put you in the right place like he did to your predecessors.
 
What I think you (Nana) are doing is to coax (fool) the media houses by pretending that you are with them and stationing your self more on this ministry post. Please forgive my sturborness and spare me from the niceties like they say. For a long time, I have stopped being a fan of toad-politicians who change in stages overnight. These toad-politicians speak like angels during day, and at night, they are were-wolves dining with the devil and picking crumbs like the house dog. With all that this regime has done to citizens and continues to do which is clearly in the open, any of your ilks that joins this rotten administration in the name of changing the status quo is digging his own grave. Others more influential couldn't do this. What makes you think you can do it?
 
Best,
Yero
 
[‘I belong to you, I am one of you, I have not changed sides, I have not abandoned the fraternity. What I have done is I have extended the scope of the fraternity, and if you understand what that means and what advantages there are for you as an industry, I think we will begin to capture the essence of how we can mutually achieve our purposes,’ he said.] --(The Point Newspaper, 04/26/2013)
 
 
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/i-have-not-changed-sides-new-information-minister-tells-journalists
 

I have not changed sides, new Information Minister tells journalists


Friday, April 26, 2013
The new minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure has told journalists that he has not in any way changed sides or abandoned the media fraternity, stressing that what he has done is to extend the scope of the fraternity.
Nana Grey-Johnson was speaking yesterday during a press briefing at GRTS building in Kanifing at the end of a familiarization tour of institutions under his ministry.
‘I belong to you, I am one of you, I have not changed sides, I have not abandoned the fraternity. What I have done is I have extended the scope of the fraternity, and if you understand what that means and what advantages there are for you as an industry, I think we will begin to capture the essence of how we can mutually achieve our purposes,’ he said.
A veteran journalist himself, Nana Grey-Johnson, whose tour took him to institutions like Gamtel/Gamcel, GRTS, GPPC and the Department of Information Services, said it is amazing to see what power lies in these institutions to take us where we have to go.
‘The Gambia having outlined its objectives on several levels, we need to now find out, since we have spokespersons out there in the form of the media, how are they going to engage with government so that we take the objectives forward,’ he stated.
He told journalists that it goes without saying that the outlook of government is national; obviously information must reach as many people as possible, and information will only reach these people through the systems that we are.
On his reaction to what he saw during the tour, the Minister said he saw hope, power, potential all of which are not being tapped.
‘That is a general description of what I saw,’ he said.
On what immediate plans he has to ensure a nationwide coverage by GRTS, the Minister said broadcasts going on air are going on air at great costs.
‘There are resource issues to talk about, there are human resources issues to cover, the plans are there and they fall within a major strategic plan,’ he added.
According to him, he came on board and is talking about the repositioning of his Ministry, and has considered with his technicians the issues of “making sure that we have concrete short term, medium and long term use of what we are doing” between now and 2018/2020.
‘It is our major concern that somebody will call GRTS and say I am here, I am a citizen, I lived in a particular place and I know nothing that is going on through GRTS broadcasts.
‘Certainly, GRTS radio is one of my priorities, and the reason I’m saying this is that the studios I visited yesterday, I used to broadcast from them,’ he said.
He noted that what has pushed him to dream about his ministry being a self financing ministry is because he is talking about Gamtel/Gamcel, GPPC, an organization that has been able to turn itself from the black in a matter of a year or a year and half, turn its accounts from red to black simply because of proper accounting, good personnel on the ground, responsible overseership, board members paying attention to the fact that they are a corporation and have a culture of behavior.
On whether there are plans to visit media houses, Nana Grey-Johnson responded: ‘Yes, why not because if we are people who are giving information, then we should be informed ourselves. I will find some time to be able to talk to the media houses, to see how they are running, see what their problems are; because it is only then that we will be able to address issues from an informed point of view, so that we know exactly how to treat each other.’
‘We are interested in each other; we need to know what the other person is doing or thinking, so that we can formulate the national agenda, which is bigger than Nana Grey-Johnson, and it has to be so that I know exactly where I fit in within my contributions.
‘I am going to bring the media houses in so that we see a common future, a national future rather than a fragmented, agenda-filled environment which is not conducive to anything developmental,’ he stated.
Author: Njie Baldeh
Source: Picture: Nana Grey-Johnson
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