Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]> Received: from rly-yc03.mx.aol.com (rly-yc03.mail.aol.com [172.18.149.35]) by air-yc03.mail.aol.com (v60.28) with ESMTP; Fri, 03 Sep 1999 00:27:36 -0400 Received: from smtp-hub.mail.erols.net (smtp4.erols.com [207.172.3.237]) by rly-yc03.mx.aol.com (v60.28) with ESMTP; Fri, 03 Sep 1999 00:27:24 -0400 Received: from smtp3.erols.com (smtp3.erols.com [207.172.3.236]) by smtp-hub.mail.erols.net (8.8.8/smtp-v1) with ESMTP id AAA04896 for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 3 Sep 1999 00:27:24 -0400 (EDT) Received: from erols.com (207-172-239-49.s49.as1.rkv.md.dialup.rcn.com [207.172.239.49]) by smtp3.erols.com (8.8.8/8.8.5) with ESMTP id AAA18516 for <[log in to unmask]>; Fri, 3 Sep 1999 00:27:23 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 00:26:24 -0400 From: "Habib Ghanim, Sr" <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] Organization: B & H, Inc. X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: (no subject) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thanks Brother O B Sillah,.. You hit it right on the nail. It is not only the customs officers that are the problem . Dishonest businessmen are part of the problem. It takes two to tango. I agree let us give this new entity a chance but please let us do it gradually. God bless you for such a positive attitude . I am really proud that we have intellengent young people that are capable to take over the reins of leadership. Your words say a lot please keep in touch and whenever you are in the Washington Dc area I would like to meet you too. Habib Brother Habib, Let me for a moment bet to defer with you on the supposed creation of a Quality Control System, a means of checks and balances for both the Customs Department (Government) on one hand, and the Businessmen (Consumers) on the other. I think to say the least, it is a bit naive from my point of view (correct me if I am wrong) to lay the blame squarely for the funds being pilfered from import/export duties on the door steps of Custom Officials. I made this deduction from your statement that Government should instead employ "HONEST" officers as if that will solve the problem on its own. My point is this, both the Businessmen and Custom Officers are into these frauds of under-valuing these proforma invoice prices and altering the relevant information as to quality and quantity to their advantage. So as envisaged by Government in establishing BIVAC and until the contrary is proven, I think the raison d'etre sounds economically prudent, why not give it a shot. Let me also say at this point that, for a start the experience for all and sundry will be excruciating and this is no under statement, for we are moving from what we already know to the unknown and as usual half the time, human beings in general and Gambians in particular are hesitant to boldly and decisively accept change until the benefits start dripping in. All I am saying is, give it a try and see, if it did not work or bear the desired fruits we can always go back to the former system. For, if not for anything else, it is these flexibility, agility and adaptability which are few uncompromising beauties and good qualities of being Human. It is worth reiterating here that this is a layman's analysis and it may not necessarily hold grounds. As to the start date of operation, this I think will take effect on October 1st, 1999; which coming to your question about grace period would lend us sometime to get prepared. To conclude, thanks as always for this thought provoking topic, one thing is manifestly clear now a days, the ego of liberty, popular participation and freedom of expression are spreading their proud wings and tentacles over the people of Gambia. Therefore, take it or leave it, this is very fundamental/crucial to the success of our Government back home. God bless us all in this struggle. Au voire, OB.