Madiba, Thanks for this forward. It makes a great reading. God speed! Pa Mambuna Madiba Saidy wrote: > Where we belong > > >From the Vanguard > > It was a pleasant surprise when an acquaintance told me that her son who had > emigrated abroad in the mid-nineties, to escape the social upheaval and > encroaching hard times in the country, had returned to roost. > > We all had a hard time trying to convince him then that Nigeria will climb > out of the abyss and that he had to hang on in here with the rest of us to > do his share of pulling her out. Like many young people, he thought we were > being sentimental about a hopeless case. "I'm sorry mum, auntie; I have to > obey an inner voice," he had told his mother and me. "All I see around me is > rot and continuing decay. There's no justice anywhere and no-one, absolutely > no-one, cares about the plight of the poor like us." > > "You're far from being poor," I told him. "You have a good job with lots of > prospects and you're lucky that there are no financial demands on you. Think > of the thousands of unemployed young graduates in our midst who, several > years after graduation, are still depending on their parents and relatives > for survival." > > "I think of them, auntie, and I feel that those who can get out should do > so. I'm disenchanted with everything. Bad roads, no light, no water, no good > transport system; there's danger everywhere you turn. > > If you're one of the lucky ones and you have a good means of livelihood, you > have to look over your shoulder with every step you take. > > In short, you can't enjoy your good fortune because of those who don't have, > even though you're not responsible for their plight and you're just getting > by yourself. What sort of life is that? I want no part of it as it is right > now. I don't want to remain in a sinking boat." > > "Life's not necessarily better abroad," observed the mother. "The people > over there are groaning about unemployment, inflation and danger to lives > and property. Then you also have the natural disasters too. Home is home, > whichever way you look at it. You get more justice in your own country." > > "Who says?" asked the youngman, with sarcasm. "Where I work, unworthy people > are promoted over your head if you don't lick the boss's boots. If it isn't > tribal discrimination, it's ethnic discrimination or something else. Anyway, > you always say, make hay while the sun shines, mum, so, this is the time to > get out. I think I'm right. Life isn't perfect abroad, but at least you get > the basic necessities of constant light, water, good road, and a civilised > life. Those are important." > > The youngman was born in Europe so visa was not a problem. From time to > time, the mother gave me news of him. He did a short course in his field, > so, that he could get a job with case. At first, he was contented with his > lot, even though he complained about the heavy tax he had to pay as a > bachelor; forty per cent of his salary! Also, he was not being trusted fully > by his employers to perform well. They put him under the supervision of an > indigene who was not as competent or as qualified as he. > > "Never mind that, son," his father told him over the telephone. "It's their > land. Just get on with your duties and try to be happy." > > "You're right, dad. Mind you, life's good otherwise. I have constant light, > water, and good roads. There are good programmes on radio and the telly and > the shops are well stocked. I have friends of all races. My social life is > great. I go to the parks, the beach, the countryside, etc." > > "Fine, enjoy yourself responsibly, son." > > "Thanks, dad. I wish you, mum and my siblings could come and live here too." > > "No, thank you. We'll slug it out here with the others. When we can afford > it, we'll come and visit, that's all." > > "So, what brought him back?" I asked the mother. "Your cooking? His > girlfriend? His family? Or was he er, er... > > "No, he wasn't thrown out, neither did he lose his job. Thank God for that. > What made him come home was hearing that three ex-classmates of his had been > elected around the country into the House of Assembly. He was dazed. > Suddenly, he realised that at thirty-two, he could contribute meaningfully > to national development, if he sticks around. Also, he realised that he > stands a better chance of getting on in his career here, and can be in a > position to go spend vacation abroad. Oh, and so many other things. Luckily, > his organisation re-absorbed him. He now agrees that home is home, and that > if people in the developed countries had emigrated to greener pastures, > there would be no development in their land." > > I agree totally with that last bit. Our young people emigrate abroad to go > do those jobs which they consider menial here, and they get all the > harassment and insecurity that go with such jobs. I know that the foreign > currencies make all the difference, but why run away and leave the running > of the country to others to do, as they like with? When the competent > abandon ship, the incompetent will rule. Once upon a time, the desire of > most young people was to go study abroad, get the golden fleece as it were, > and then return home to use the knowledge acquired for a better living. We > can still continue to do that. > > In fact, our institutions and parastatals should make provision for this. It > will help our development. Parents should encourage our young people > studying abroad to return home after getting the relevant qualifications and > experience. We need them. They are our future. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------