I say an utterly worthless jamboree for the ordinary of Gambia, and the rest of Africa.
Even more confounding is the rather perplexing issue of rulers, and a continent, that refuses to grow up in international transactions, public, or private. If there is
any benefit at all, the US is the main beneficiary, economically speaking, considering Africa's widely accepted status as a major, virtually untapped market. It is a vast emerging market for buying and selling, and on either side of that coin, US businesses have the resources, and the expertise, and every conceivable advantage considering the clout that anchors Uncle Sams global merchants transacting across international boundaries. If someone needs you, he comes to you, not you to him. Childish rulers leading resource-rich countries in a global economic climate every bit saturated for the mature economies in their own internal markets. The scramble is truly under-way and with rulers interested in the now, individual countries, and the continent, would be short-changed however you look
at it. And the ensuing contracts, some very long term, are going to be enforced by international rules that work only against the powerless.
The US is well aware that decision making in Africa, even in the somewhat admirable countries like Senegal, and Ghana, is still a one-stop-shop, and therefore quite immature. There is effectively no
scrutiny of even transactions that bind a country for decades in the future. All an 'investor' needs is to sort out a few persons to freely loot a national economy.
A sad occasion indeed as there is no need talking about governance in a gathering whose sole purpose is enlarging the US economic base.
LJDarbo
What was the purpose? How realistic? Or photo-up for both sides? What was talked about? How binding?
Was anyone concern with democracy and the protection of the rights of the people. Or more aid for Ebola and other problems continuous bad governance caused and/or
compounded?
What's the real benefit? Who're the beneficiaries? Why domestic oppositions/CSOs not invited to counter government heavy-handedness? Or they believe governments will police themselves without vigilant citizens?
Should the later happen - who will represent Gambian dissents? Giving we have no National Face!
What say you?
Burama
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