[The Raleigh Convention

After some thought on this and conversations with some of its organizers and other group members, I think this is another opportunity for re-grouping Gambians and to underscore the need for unity and strategize our mode of operations against Yaya Jammeh’s terroristic acts in the Gambia.

As I walk myself through these gathering details, I have had to do a lot of soul searching and to take greater caution, knowing some of the past history of some of these organizations. Specifically, the break-up of NADD and its support Diaspora pillar STGDP was the heartbreaker that just drove all nuts. As we continue on this terrain of the struggle, people just find it hard to move on without referencing this much divisive fiasco. Most definitely that wasn’t the wish of its brain-child Dr. Abdoulie Saine.

While agreeable and to the credit of the common critics including myself about the many dispersed sub-organizations some of which duplicated executives with the same common faces (probably even friends), I only see it as a problem if such organizations have barriers with others that cannot be ironed out. For example, what my choice would have been as outlined by UGAMA guidelines (2007) was to invite people without going through any conflicted organization. This will help arrest the fear of friendship shows being operated. To the credit of these local groups, they certainly need these organizations to fight in their localities and to use that group to lobby and underscore more of the wrongs committed by Jammeh’s regime.

As the time draws nearer, we can’t sit on the fence undecided on this. That is to say, even if I have my own disagreements, I can probably argue my case at such a rally. What I am willing to endorse and participate in is the unity of Gambians (the oppressed) and victims of Yaya’s regime and a continuity of such a fight to correct the system of terror already planted by this regime.

Due to some important events I have around May 17/18^th, I might not make it to the Raleigh Convention, but I wanted to openly endorse this forum to others interested in re-grouping.

On a similar vein, I wanted to salute Pa Samba (Coach), our vibrant elder Ous Mbenga and those that participated in the rally at Yaya’s Potomac residence. It was certainly the right thing to do. My only encouragement is to say keep it up and don’t let the low turnouts turn off your spirit. Having being involved in some of these efforts for a while, I have had to accept to move on with spirit rather than numbers. At any point, a small and sincere group is by far better than larger groups infected with the regime’s hypocrisy.

The struggle continues…

Best regards,

Yero] (April 14th 2013)