Dr. Jaiteh: To put it bluntly, the "honorable" minister is lying. The numbers he quoted are not consistent with Gambia's 2010 MDG progress report, nor is it consistent with his department's most recent household survey. If the stats from his household survey are to be believed, 60% of Gambians wallow in poverty and the number goes up to 75% in the rural areas. The figures of the MDGs achievements he also mentioned is not in line with the last MDG assessment the UN did for Gambia. Gambia is shown to be making insufficient progress in MDG 1; so what is this minister on about? If the honorable minister is incapable of reading figures from the field work that his department does around the country, then maybe he is better off just shutting the hell up. Thanks, Matarr

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From: Baba Galleh Jallow <[log in to unmask]>;
To: <[log in to unmask]>;
Subject: Re: Is this ignorance or intellectual dishonesty?
Sent: Tue, Oct 28, 2014 6:46:10 PM

Boss Karim. I know. We have to laugh to avoid crying over what's going on in our dear country. The Baboon Mansa title is particular tear-jerking!   Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 18:04:35 +0000 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Is this ignorance or intellectual dishonesty? To: [log in to unmask] My Boss I am back to your literally postulation and call it Angry laughter.  Everything in that country is a joke! Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:55:10 -0700 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Is this ignorance or intellectual dishonesty? To: [log in to unmask] Honestly Malanding, what we have in Gambia today is a veritable and mind-boggling circus of lies and make-believe! Food self-sufficiency by the year 2016 indeed! Poverty reduced, rights respected! It seems as if the lies are competing at a march past all limits and boundaries of decency! It is equally mind-boggling that Yahya Jammeh has to be addressed "His Excellency the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J Jammeh Babili Mansa"!!!! Talk about Jammeh suffering from a particularly bad case of "small man syndrome." May God rid us of this nauseating mind-sore! Thanks for sharing. Baba   Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:59:35 -0400 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Is this ignorance or intellectual dishonesty? To: [log in to unmask] Burama, A quick correction. Yes, I was director/assist. director but "Acting". And that was a generation ago, "Jawara jamano"! Forestry may have been one of the best but not as good as NIB- National Investment Board where the right honorable Touray worked. The NIB was the "creme de la creme".  The NIB transitioned to GIPFZA and that later morphed into Gambia investment and Export Promotion Agency GiEPA. Those in the know will tell you that honorable Touray is technically one of the most  qualified Minister for Finance since Babili came to the scene. It will be irresponsible to second guess what he meant to say. My beef is with The Point Newspaper that decided to print the honorable minister's statement without asking for details or qualifications. Malanding On 10/27/2014 3:07 PM, Burama Jammeh wrote: Poverty or rate of poverty? Not sure if he knows what he's talking about - poverty reduced by x% and/or rate of poverty (growth) reduced by Y%.  You were Director/Asst. Director at Forestry at one time - must know how we are careless about numbers at budget/plans. In fact Forestry is one of the best with accurate data - GTZ. We're in Abigail mess at almost all fronts.  Burama On Monday, October 27, 2014, Malanding Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: A wise guy once said, "to whom much is given much is expected". Journalist and reputable new outlets must not forget their duty to society . I believe the Point Newspaper owes its readership an explanation as how "the overall poverty rate in The Gambia had declined steadilyby about 10 percentage points to 48.4% in 2010 and it was estimated to decline to 36 percent in 2013" . Seriously, what led to the  25% decline in 4yrs?  What poverty measures is the good minister talking about? When were they compiled and by whom? Malanding Finance Minister says poverty rate in Gambia declines to 36% Africa » Gambia Monday, October 27, 2014 The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Kebba Touray, has said the overall poverty rate in The Gambia had declined steadilyby about 10 percentage points to 48.4% in 2010 and it was estimated to decline to 36 percent in 2013. The Finance minister announced this in a statement delivered at the commemoration of the 69th anniversary of the UN, held at Kairaba Beach Hotel on Friday. According to Hon. Touray, in education, the population of pupils starting Grade 1 reached 95.3% in 2011, and the country is set to achieve the MDG target of 100% by 2015. “This development also parallels our achievements in the area of health, where child mortality indicators have now surpassed MDG targets according to the latest Demographic Health Survey (2013),” he said. In 2012, The Gambia noted a historic event with the passing into law of a comprehensive National Women’s Act that aims to address underlying issues of violence against women, economic empowerment, political participation and leadership for women. On peace and security, Minister Touray said The Gambia continues to contribute troops in peacekeeping operations with a dedication to the restoration of peace and stability to many fragile states around the world. “Our peacekeepers are separating warring parties and supporting peace consolidation efforts in conflict zones,” he said. “We take great pride in upholding the doctrine of peace not just an objective inherited in the UN Charter, but also as a core value. “On terrorism, The Gambia stands firm and uncompromising and joins the rest of the world in condemning the inhumane acts of terrorism perpetrated in the name of religion.” The Finance minister further stated that The Gambia maintains a zero tolerance policy for such acts of violence, in addition to strict local laws. “We have also ratified key UN Security Council Resolutions on Counter Terrorism,” he said. On humanitarian interventions and support, Minister Touray continued: “I wish to state that The Gambia has demonstrated concern matched by financial support to the Ebola-affected countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone.” The Gambia “calls on the world to stand up to this deadly disease,” minister Touray added. “The virus has already become a global citizen and the untold economic and health consequence is already being felt by even the Ebola-free countries let alone the affected countries ones,” the minister went on. “The Gambia welcomes the decision of the UN SG to appoint a special envoy on Ebola.” The Finance minister stated the Gambia government’s unreserved association with this year’s UN theme - “Youth: A Valuable Partner in Improving Food Security and Reducing Poverty - as it falls in line with The Gambia’s national development agenda. “The Gambia is sharply focused on the agenda of youth participation and food security, as evidenced by the recent proclamation and shared Vision 2016 by His Excellency the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J Jammeh Babili Mansa, which is to attain food self-sufficiency by 2016,” he said. The country had made remarkable strides in improving food security, he added. Minister Touray on behalf of the government and the people of The Gambia commended the UN Family on the special day, and assured them of The Gambia’s continued commitment to work with the United Nations to bringing about a just and secure world where everyone shares in the abundant prosperity it offers. Author: Abdoulie Nyockeh Source: Picture: Finance Minister Kebba Touray ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

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