Dear Mr ceesay, You have definitely freed yourself by your further clarification of your position.l was also very sceptical of your first report,as brother William. Your example of John P Bojang as an unseasoned diplomat is very accurate.But as no one is born a seasoned diplomat,what criteria if not political should govern the selection of diplomats.Must it be only people who have studied lnternational relations or seasoned politicians. You don`t need to respond to my wondering thoughts. Praises are due to our ancestors!! Landing Alkalo Sanyang. -----Ursprungligt meddelande----- Från: ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]> Till: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Datum: den 16 juni 1999 13:43 Ämne: Re: Two new Gambian Ambassadors Named >William Njie, > >I read your reaction to my piece titled "Two New Gambian Ambassadors Named", >and I am compelled to take issue with you, in order to set the records >straight. > >However, before taking issue with Mr Njie, I must say that it is, indeed, >encouraging to note that Gambians have now become more critically minded, >more politically mature, more analytical and more dialectical. > >Indeed, these are very encouraging signs and, for me, they typify a bright >and glossy future for our country. Consequently, let us continue to do more >and more reading; let us continue to pose more and more questions; let us be >more attentive, and do more listening, regardless of who is talking, so that >we would be better equipped to chart out the right/correct path our country >should take, especially at the dawn of the new millennium. > >I am quite sanguine that if we, as Gambians, become more open minded and >more tolerant towards each other, regardless of our differences in beliefs >and opinions, there would only be one winner: that's our country, The >Gambia. > >Politically, we may have major differences, in terms of how the Gambia >should be governed, but this shouldn't mean that we should see ourselves as >enemies, for, at the end of the day, we all want to see a more developed and >a more prosperous Gambia. > >We should always remind ourselves that the Gambia does not belong to Mr >Jammeh alone; rather, it belongs to all of us. Therefore, all of us should >have a say, in terms of how our country should be run, or managed. > >Let us continue the dialogue; let us continue to engage in healthy and >honest debates, so that what is wrong in our country is righted and what is >right is maintained. > >Now, let me move to the issue at hand. William Njie, if I understood you >very well, your piece could be summed up as follows: Firstly, you wrote that >I had said that Maodo Touray and Essa Sey were "not qualified to be >(appointed) as ambassadors, without giving concrete reasons"... > >Secondly, you urged me to try and "get the facts" and also to "make sensible >and reasonable recommendations"... In the case of Njogou Bah's withdrawal >from Paris as our ambassador, you urged me to try and "interview the parties >involved and (then) report my findings." > >Lastly, you indicated that (based on my writings), it appeared to you that I >had something "personal against the government" - "a hidden agenda". > >Well, with regard to your first point, I didn't say that these two people >are not qualified to be appointed ambassadors. In fact, I have no objection, >or reservation, as far as Maodo Touray's appointment is concerned. Belgium >is a key place, having in mind that the European Union is headquartered in >Brussels, and let's hope that Mr Touray would live up to the challenge and >do a good job for his country. > >I know he is hard working, he's been in the Foreign Ministry for a long time >now, and he also speaks impeccable French. Yes, as for Essa Sey's >appointment, I did express my reservation, but I am not going to belabour >the point, before people think that there is something personal between Essa >and myself. Anyway, thankfully, Essa himself knows that I always speak what >is in my mind. > >I know he, too, is smart and hard working, but if I, Ebrima Ceesay, were to >appoint an ambassador to such an important place like Paris, where the >ambassador also doubles as The Gambia's permanent representative to UNESCO, >it would be based on service, merit, experience, qualifications, tactfulness >and, of course, loyalty. > >I know it is Jammeh's prerogative to appoint anyone he wants as ambassador, >but, in my view, Mr Jammeh needs to appoint seasoned/career diplomats as our >ambassadors, if he wants to project a good image of the Gambia and Gambians. >Let me give you an example to back my point. > >Recently, our High Commissioner to the UK, John Bojang, unknowingly and >unintentionally uttered what was seen as "an insulting statement", during a >speech he was giving to a group of black British, who are planning to go to >the Gambia, later this month, for the Roots Homecoming Festival. > >Among other things, the ambassador had said: ..."Slavery was a blessing for >the black people".... > >Believe me, this statement angered so many black people here. In fact, many >of the black newpapers here had reported it. Out of respect for those black >British on the L, I am not going to repeat everything the High Commissioner >said. > >People on the L, who are interested in knowing what and what the ambassador >had said, can contact the editor-in-chief of the London-based Mano Vision >Magazine, one of the publications that covered the story, for the full text >of High Commissioner Bojang's speech. The editor's e-mail is >[log in to unmask] > >I know, for a fact, that Mr Bojang didn't intend to insult, or offend the >black people here. I believe he made these "insulting remarks" >inadvertently, although the damaged had already been done. But this is the >price you pay if you do not appoint tactful people, or seasoned diplomats, >as ambassadors. > >I can bet that Baboucarr Blaise Jagne in New York, Bai Ousman Secka being >currently wasted as a Commissioner in Mansa Konko, Njogou Bah or O.G Sallah, >would never make such a diplomatic blunder. > >Regarding your second point, Mr Njie, I can tell you that when it comes to >getting the facts, I am very good at it. I hardly write and people challenge >the facts. You can do your own investigation in this regard. Of course, I am >not perfect, so I am bound to make mistakes, once in a while. > >In fact, the NIA had to contact a particular government minister about me, >thinking that this minister was the one leaking confidential government >secrets to me. > >Of course, Mr Njie, I would want to interview Njogou Bah, or his wife, about >what actually happened in Paris, but you know in your heart and in your >mind, that the couple will never speak to me ON THE RECORD, because they >know what the consequences would be at home. > >So even if one of them gave me an interview, I'll still quote "reliable >sources" if I were to write the story, because the moment I attribute the >story to them, they are in trouble. > >As for your last point, I can guarantee you that I have nothing personal >against the government or Jammeh. Believe me, I have nothing against Mr >Jammeh as a person. What I oppose, in the strongest terms, are Jammeh's >policies. > >I believe his policies are retrogressing and furthermore, I, for one, am not >convinced that this current government is capable of addressing the needs >and aspirations of the Gambian People. This is Ebrima Ceesay's opinion, >which I am entitled to. Equally, you are also entitled to your opinion and >beliefs. > >And I do not also have any hidden agenda. I don't know what the future holds >for me, but my wish is to continue in the role of a social watch dog, where >I am convinced I will play a far more effective role, because it is a field >where all my instincts drive me. But, of course, if people like Jammeh were >to remain in power, it should not surprise you, if I go into full time >politics. > >By the way, I was told that Dr Saja Taal, permanent Secretary at the >Ministry of Education, had been sacked for the second time yesterday. >Interestingly, someone who read my piece on the above subject, told me >yesterday that these two latest ambassadorial appointments did not come the >him as a "surprise", because, as he put it, "the Civil Service is empty >nowadays". > >This person added: "Most of the smart people in the Civil Service have been >sacked, or retired prematurely. In fact, there are so many vacant posts in >the Civil Service right now. You want qualified people to fill these posts, >you look around, and you wouldn't see anyone"... > >Isn't it ironic that while we, in the Gambia, complain about lack of >teachers and doctors, and rely on volunteers from the US Peace Corps and the >British VSO, our own qualified people are offering their services to these >same countries. > >African development will become a reality, if and only when we are able to >tap our rich human resources. The return or presence of such human resources >will serve as a leverage for accelerated development. > >Finally, Mr Njie, if I do bore you with my postings, just use your delete >button. > >Ebrima Ceesay, >Birmingham, UK. > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------