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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------