i'm sorry but even bill clinton can't take care of all the needy students in the u.s mini >From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: A wonderful gesture >Date: Sat, 6 Nov 1999 08:52:02 EST > >If this gesture was done from the heart, and not another propanganda >scheme, >then it clearly deserves commendation. However, the question still remains, >how many Gambian students and families find themselves in the same >impossible >situation as miss Bah and her mother, and what is the reason for this >endless suffering? Mis-management of state funds that have plagued us >for >years, as well as an inability by our governments to manage the country in >a >competent enough way to bolster our economy, so that families can find >gainful employment to take care of their families and pay for their >children's education. These things are not supposed to be luxuries, but >essentials of daily life.If the President wants to do an even more >honourable gesture, perhaps he should give a sum that will take care of all >the needy students in the country, or better yet, come up with a plan >that >will revamp our economy, and set our country on the right path, both >politically and economically . Then, everything else will fall into place >as it should. The question though remains, is the President independently >wealthy, or is it the funds from the state coffers that are being used >to > demonstrate to the Gambian people how generous he can be? > >Jabou Joh > > >In a message dated 11/5/99 10:36:32 PM Central Standard Time, >[log in to unmask] writes: > ><< All, > Even though I have my reservations about the genuineness of this >gesture >because of the publicity involved, I truly believe that Jammeh has set a >great example here that needs to be emulated by many. > Stooges can be very generous sometimes -:) > Read on........ > > > > > President Jammeh calls Observer > helps needy Ndey > > > Tuesday, at 4.30pm, the Daily Observer editor, Sheriff >Bojang, >answered a ringing phone.The caller said, "I saw a page three story in your >paper today about a girl, a student, who needs help to continue her >education. Can you tell her to... do you know who iscalling?", the caller >asked. > > "I guess it must be the president," the editor replied >(bemused >at the thought that any Gambian could fail to identify the voice of the >caller)."Could you tell the girl to come to State House tomorrow and go to >the Chief of Protocol directly?""Yes, sir," replied Mr Bojang. > > Ndey Bah, 18, a student of Nusrat Senior Secondary School, >was >traced to her Serrekunda home and informed about the president's desire to >meet her.Accompanied by her poor mother and our reporter, Lamin Jatta, they >met the president in his office Wednesday afternoon. > > President Jammeh censured Ndey's mother, Mariama Jobe, for >keeping silent all along while Ndey's education was being jeopardised."You >should not feel shy (to ask for help) when your child's education stands at >the brink of spoiling," President Jammeh noted. > > The president gave D5,000 cash for Ndey's educational >expenses >for the 1999/2000 academic year and said he would sponsor Ndey's education >henceforth.He finally urged Ndey to take her education seriously and >advised >the mother that they can only spend the money on other needs if they had >paid >for all school > > expenses. Speaking to our reporter after meeting President >Jammeh, Ndey's mother said she was overwhelmed with President Jammeh's >kindness. She described himas "a saviour."Ndey Bah also expressed gratitude >to the president and promised that she would not let him down in her >academic >efforts. > > The event was witnessed by the director of press and public >relations at State House, Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay. > > > Abdoulie A. Jallow > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ______________________________________________________ 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------