Cassamance The Untold Story (Part.8)

The Cassamance was subject to both French and Portuguese colonial efforts before a border was negotiated in 1888 between the French colony of Senegal and Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau) to the south. Portugal lost possession of Cassamance, then the commercial hub of its colony Cassamance, to this day, has preserved the local variant of Upper Guinea Creole known as Ziguinchor Creole, and the members of the deep-rooted Creole community carry Portuguese surnames like Da Silva, Carvalho and Fonseca.

Empirical evidence and theoretical work suggest that conflicts over self-determination are particularly likely to escalate into very violent and protracted civil wars. However, the intensity of the secessionist conflict in Cassamance, Senegal, remained low.

The Movement of Democratic Forces of Cassamance (French: Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance, MFDC) is the main separatist movement in the Cassamance region of Senegal, founded in 1982. It was supported by Guinea-Bissau President João Bernardo Vieira until he was overthrown in 1999.

The MFDC has called for the independence of the Cassamance region, whose population is religiously and ethnically distinct from the rest of Senegal. The bloodiest years of the conflict were during the 1992–2001 period and resulted in over a thousand battle related deaths.

On December 30, 2004 an agreement was reached between the MFDC and the government which promised to provide the voluntary integration of MFDC fighters into the country's paramilitary forces, economic recovery programmes for Cassamance, de-mining and aid to returning refugees. Nevertheless, some hard-line factions of the MFDC soon defected from elements of the MFDC who had signed the agreement and no negotiations took place following the breakdown of talks in Foundiougne on 2 February 2005.

Fighting again emerged in 2010 and 2011 but waned following the April 2012 election of Macky Sall. Peace negotiations under the auspices of Saint Egidio community took place in Rome and on 14 December 2012, President Sall announced that Cassamance would be a test-case for advanced decentralization policy.

A 1998 Caritas census gave a figure of 62,638, out of a total Cassamance population of around 1.1 million. Ziguinchor, the capital of the western region of the Cassamance, has received some 14,000, with a further 6,000 in other Cassamance towns. UNHCR figures indicate that a further 10,000 people are refugees in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia.

Several ceasefires were agreed during the 1990s, but none lasted, and the conflict hit European headlines when four French tourists disappeared, both sides blaming each other. Father Augustin Diamacoune Senghor had come to lead the MFDC and pursued a policy of talks and reconciliation. However, the Senegalese government refused to consider independence for the region, leading some MFDC members to split and restart the fighting.

Another ceasefire was signed in 1997, but about 500 people were reported dead in battles up until March 2001, when Senghor and Abdoulaye Wade, the President of Senegal, agreed to a peace deal. This allowed for the release of prisoners, the return of refugees and clearance of land mines but did not bring autonomy. Some in the MFDC regarded this as a betrayal, and the movement split with two factions battling each other.

The MFDC's armed wing was established in 1985, and since 1990, the Cassamance conflict, a low-level insurgency led by the MFDC against the government of Senegal that has been characterized by sporadic violence and frequent but unstable ceasefire agreements. An illegal shipment of weapons hailing from Iran was seized in Lagos, Nigeria in October 2010, and the Senegalese government suspected the MFDC of having been the intended recipients of the weapons. Senegal recalled its ambassador to Tehran over the incident.

The Cassamance rebellion is much less well known internationally than other civil conflicts in West Africa, notably in Liberia and Sierra Leone. There are a number of reasons for this. First, it is on a relatively small scale. In Sierra Leone, for example, numbers of combatants, casualties and displaced people have all been an order of magnitude greater. Also, while brutal enough the conflict has not involved the same systematic mutilation of civilians, nor the forced recruitment of child soldiers both attention-grabbers in the reporting of contemporary conflicts.  (Martin Evans, 2002)

There are obstacles to disseminating information about the conflict. This is perhaps surprising, since the conflict is probably less difficult to investigate than most. Senegal has no particular habit of suppressing undesirable information, and the country has a vigorous, largely free press. Senegal also has a strong academic tradition, with good links to Western academia. The Casamance itself has been largely accessible during the conflict. However, the area is a long road journey from Dakar, where most media are based, and the trip involves a troublesome crossing of The Gambia

To be continued…

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/ Activist

Open Letter to The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. Mr. Amadou Sanneh. (Part.1)

Dear Minister,

Please be informed that your hands lies in great power. If I may be so bold as to speak truth to that power, I am going to present you with a heartfelt appeal to you to become a minister who will go down in history as a great man.

I write this letter to you, not because I am trying to hunt, introduce an Idea or put my idea against the current ideas, strategies and policies being formulated by the ministry. I am not against anything or for it. I am more worried with only facts and actualities. As far as my slender ability allows I will not concern you with anything less than a matter of great importance in this letter. I wish to emphasize that I intend no disrespect either to the Barrow lead administration, to the ministry, to professionals, or to you personally. All we want to see is a better Gambia that will be the last place of hope on earth.

Personally I believe that corruption is what transforms a leader into a common criminal beyond all human imagination. In The Gambia, we have a large quantity corrupt individuals operating as politicians, and in our government too. Transparency International said that corruption over all was on the rise in The Gambia. The last time I checked The Gambia was ranked 145 out of 175 countries in its perception of corruption index.

You, in your position, hold the keys to our state’s coffers. Those keys are all that stands between the present and the future of the Gambia youth. Therefore those keys should be kept in a safe place where even the air will not touch neither to have access to enter. It is true that corruption fuelled by poverty often occurs when the basic need of the common man has not been met.

Corruption is one of the biggest threat to the well-being of a society. It degrades the quality of the services and also ruins the life of the common man. Many countries in the world are affected by this disease called corruption.

I am fairly certain that you will receive tempting offers and bribes to make it easier to support projects that are not beneficial to the state. I believe that good lies in all of us, and I hope that you are an honorable man. If there comes such a time that you are presenting with a financial reward for your service to your leader and his backers, I hope that you will allow your conscience to speak for you and that you will find the strength and courage to allow it to say no.

Be reminded that your ministry is a pivotal organ that need to lead by example in eradicating corruption in the smiling coast of Africa, Gambia. Our future will depend on our actions of today therefore there is a need to work as per the international standard of ethics and professionalism.

You should not allow neither to watch for the dignitaries to drive our country to ruin it in pursuit of their personal gain and interest, and as the head of the ministry of our national coffers you should not be one of the architects and the engineers of the destruction of The Gambia economy.

I submit to you that The Gambia has no independent detective agency which can investigate with full power and freedom to expose the corrupt individuals beyond mountain Everest. Hence anyone who commits offense on corruption will not be as afraid of the investigation as they can escape from it by taking help of ruling political party.

I do not tender this to give advice or self-aggrandize as one is apt to do or normal in our society, where every “self-respecting” citizen is a know it all. I allow myself to draw your attention to several facts that demand immediate attention, and do not require legislative action or other time-consuming procedures. In my humble opinion, it will not require any special effort in order to transcend this shameful worship of ideas which breeds ignorance, and halt corruption in the true sense of the word

In The Gambia anyone can establish a political party. So there are many political parties in Gambia. If the political party wins, then the members in it will desire to expand the party to all over the country. To do so, they need enough financial reserves. For this, once they come into power, they opt for corrupt means to make the wealth needed to expand the party.

I am quite sure that by implementing a different paradigm in policy making, corruption may be reduced. I also believe that politics is much more complex than any industry, because reason doesn’t always play as big a role as it should, and as it does in other industries.

Therefore by having a startup mentality towards policy making our political leaders can give average citizens the power to propose policies and become involved in the implementation process, something I believe that it will bring more transparency, efficiency, and accountability to the political process.

Prevention and eradication of corruption is an absolute requirement for better public life. This corruption takes an interesting turn in such a way that everyone becomes corrupt in some other sort if situation permits.

 In every ATM there are camera to keep a watch on the public taking their money. Then why not government offices have cameras to have a watch on the employ performance. Even there are many employees who openly take bribe in presence of common men. This public bribery is due to confidence that public wants their work more than the amount they are paying to them as bribes.

Sincerely,

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Activist/Blogger

The Gambia Is a Country of All Tribes, Race and Religions!

All of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.

Tribalism? This can be defined as “the behavior and attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one's own tribe or social group”. As a result, the tribalists have disdain for and often disrespect the tribes they think are inferior to theirs. Such people, therefore, discourage association in any form be it marriage, work or friendship with tribes they deem to be inferior.

Tribalists think and preach that the men and women of their tribe or ethnic group are superior to others, and that as a result the others should serve and obey them. They try to impose the hegemony, the predominance of their tribes. Tribalist ideas and feeling are used most often to create a clientele who can help them to satisfy their selfish interests and ambitions.

The reasons for tribalism and tribal discrimination may include the following:

The first is history, as many a tribalist traces the perceived superiority of their tribe to ethnic lineage. They will recount how their forebears defeated the other tribes in a war or a series of wars, or sometimes how their forebears enslaved the other tribes.

Such people take pride in their history and no amount of persuasion can make them to see today’s reality. They believe that since their ancestors were “better” than the other tribes, so also are they now.

Another reason for tribalism is geographical location in relation to national resources and power. By this we mean that tribes which are endowed with abundant resources and opportunities often tend to disrespect people from other tribes who come to seek work on their land. Similarly, tribes which have the seat of power tend to think that they are better than others, and sometimes look down on them.

The above mentioned have been aggravated by politics. It is sad to say that most politicians either publicly or privately try to encourage tribal sentiments for their own selfish interests.

Among the effects of tribalism is that it breeds nepotism. Once people feel that their tribesmen are better than people of other tribes, they tend to surround themselves with their tribesmen when they get into positions of trust.

Often tribalists are willing to hire people from their own tribe who may not otherwise be the best candidates for a given job. Such actions deprive the nation of the right people for the right job.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is arguable that the negative effects of tribalism permeate all African countries. Millions have been killed, maimed or displaced in civil wars in sub-Sahara Africa over the past 50 years, mostly because of tribal agitation. Most of us are living witnesses to the carnage that occurred in Rwanda and is still going on in Somalia. These countries have fallen into the abyss mainly because of tribalism. (The Point, 2010).

In the overall sub-Saharan African political ethos, so long as a larger chunk of the negative vestiges of colonialism predominate, ethnicity as a political tool in the long run may, of course, involve several thoughts in the dimensions of social sciences like anthropology or sociology in the academic world, but in practical politics, especially in the contemporary African context of increasing ignorance and backwardness, ethnicity or ethnic politics exist as a blatant, gruesome instruments of accumulating private wealth and an easy accesses to unearned political power. In short, ethnic politics is an excuse to the profession of brigandage. (Yohannes Chane Metiku, 2002).

There is a LIGHT in this world. A healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometime lose sight of this force when there is suffering, and too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.

Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are

Let's not allow politics to separate us, let's dialogue as it is the only mean we can reach at a solution. Politicians come and go but the citizens stay.

"People who sow seeds of discord by preaching tribalism, racism and religious misunderstanding should find another place to go." (Mwai Kinaki).

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

I wish to see all Gambians continuing living as a family, where the joking relationship buried the menace of tribalism, for The Gambia our homeland one people, one hearth, one Tribe, one family, and one Gambia!!

May thunder and lightning split on all tribalists, may evil spirit take away all tribalist to Jupiter, Ameen!!

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Activist/Blogger/Watchdog.

Let’s Stop Lambasting Our Women’s As per Their Active Participation in Politics!

I feel very staggered, flabbergasted, bowled over, perturbed and provoked beyond all human endurance, when men use the key board to lambaste and attack our own women as far beyond the red sea.

At home they are to do all sorts of household work like cooking, washing, cleaning, harvesting etc. In the early days women were seen as wives who were intended to cook, clean, and take care of the kids. They were not allowed to vote while men took care of having jobs and paying any bills that had to be paid. Soon enough it caught on that women should have a bigger role than what other people thought they should have.

Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. A woman is entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also a vital tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improve prospects for the next generation.

Today women are playing important role in all spheres of life. They are no longer confined within the four walls of their parents’ or husbands’ house.

They have come out of the kitchens and are working hand in hand with men in all the development programs of the government. By receiving higher education they are becoming pilots, doctors, engineers, hospitality professionals, teachers, administrators etc. They have been able to prove their worth.

They not only do their household work but also work outside of their houses. They are contributing much to the economy of the country.

I discovered my life was 87% positively impacted by women! My full-time parent I learnt most from (Mom), my teachers right from kindergarten to university (8/10 have been female), all my advocacy campaigns were 64% women dominated!

Therefore, we need to amplify women’s voices out there, no matter how small their contribution is to society. The teachers, mothers, cooks, civil servants, employees, employers, leaders and more! Regardless of whom they are married to, background, looks and more! Women are the most vital part of our society and are to be celebrated. Every day, I choose to celebrate the women in my life, past and time to come.

When they’re in parliament, for example, they promote women’s rights legislation. When women are in sufficient numbers in parliaments they also promote children’s rights and they tend to speak up more for the interests of communities, local communities, because of their close involvement in community life,

The evidence shows that female leaders typically have more compassion and empathy, and a more open and inclusive negotiation style. This is not, of course, necessarily true of all women -- there are many different leadership styles. That said, modern ideas of transformative leadership are more in line with qualities women generally share: empathy, inclusiveness and an open negotiation style.

Today's global problems require leaders that have diverse skill sets and innovation that can only come from diverse ideas and players. Women bring the skills, different perspectives and structural and cultural difference to drive effective solutions. In short, female leaders change the way global solutions are forged.

But having more female leaders from politics to the boardroom is important for another reason, too. Simply having female leaders changes the norms about who can lead and what qualities are necessary in leadership. Having women in leadership roles is breaking down cultural and structural barriers improving leadership around the world and showing everyone what women can achieve.

Women face several obstacles to participating in political life. Structural barriers through discriminatory laws and institutions still limit women’s options to run for office. Capacity gaps mean women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders.

Now it has come to the realization that true development of the country is not possible keeping half of population idle at home. So it needs no telling that women are playing a great role in the socioeconomic condition of our country.

Therefore we have to give the women’s the room to so case their talents beyond any imagination. It is the only way we can make The Gambia great once more again.

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Activist/ Watchdog. 

Dissatisfaction Letter to The Inspector General Of Police, Landing Kinteh. (Part.2)

Dear Sir,

I wish I could write to you in my mother language Mandinka but I have the feeling that it will not be published if I did so hence choosing to go the usual way of the Queen’s English.

Please be reminded that Police officers play a central role in the law enforcement system. They monitor criminal activity, take part in community patrols, respond to emergency calls, make arrests, interviewing suspected criminals, taking statements, writing crime reports, dealing with paperwork, gathering prosecution evidence, giving evidence in court, fostering good relationships with the public, patrolling areas by foot and car, investigate crimes and testify in court as needed.

It is in that regards I write to you to register my total dissatisfaction as far beyond mountain Kilimanjaro as per the high increasing rate of murder, armed robbery, pickpocketing, theft and rape in the new Gambia that we dream would be the last place of hope on earth.

As we are in a democracy state but not a dictatorship or a military regime, the police are democratically and constitutionally conferred with the powers to protect the citizens of The Gambia. You as the head of the Gambia Police Force are to guarantee the safety and protection of the President in particular, and Gambians and their properties in general as far beyond all human satisfaction.

I submit to you that the citizens are not safe anymore as the rapid increasing of unconstitutional behavior of people who take the law in to their hand threatening the peace and stability of the smiling coast of Africa.

Is that The Gambia Edwards Francis Small fought for? If Small were to arise from the grave yard on see the killings, robbery, theft and rape happening in The Gambia that he dream would one day be heaven of peace. I am quite sure that he will regret the sacrifices he made to see The Gambia where one day her citizens will go to bed at any time and live without fear for being robbed.

How do you do the above requirement when lawlessness, murdering and especially armed robberies, are on the power? You are very much aware of the fact that prevalence of peace and tranquility and safety of the citizenry goes a long way to tell or measure how successful one’s presidency or administration has been. This is in addition to creating jobs for the people to better their standard of living and curtailing or wiping off institutional corruption and other criminal practices from the society.

If one is not safe inside and outside their home due to the fear of being rape and attacked by thieves and armed robbers, how will they have confidence in the President and his administration for doing a brilliant job? Is it not a popular saying among some Gambians that if you are hungry, starving but feel safe and are peaceful, you are much happier?

In another note I learnt with dismay that a herdsman at Sabi village, Upper River Region, has been arrested and placed under custody for allegedly chopping off the head of a woman. It was mentioned that the accused claimed that the boy insulted him, then he took a cutlass and threatened to chop off his head.

Sir, the above mentioned incident show a clear testimony that The Gambia is not at peace therefore you and your administration have a task to execute to ensure the safety of all citizenry despite of their tribe, race, location and political ideology.

The purpose of the police service in the state of nature is to uphold the law fairly and firmly, to prevent crime, to pursue and bring to justice those who break the law, to keep the Sovereign's peace, to protect, help and reassure the community, and to be seen to do this with integrity, common sense and sound judgment.

The rate at which crime is increasing is quite alarming. Theft and rapes seem to have be­come the order of the day. It is quite baffling that in spite of the security measures taken up by the government. There appears to be no respite. What is more shocking is the fact that these crimes are being committed in broad daylights, particularly robbery. Moreover the dowry deaths which seemed to have come down a year back, has again shown an upward trend.

Crimes against women and children have increased various during the recent past. This alarming rate of increase in crimes is a cause of concern for all right thinking citizens in the country. Lack of moral educations, propagation of violence in violence in films and television serials, irresponsible police behavior and a desire for easy money or undeserved prosperity in life is some of the reasons that lead to crimes.

This situation must be tackled before it is too late. A multipronged strategy should be developed to check crime in society. The public at large and the students in particular should be educated and told to respect the sanctity of life and individual liberty. The police force need to be educated to handle the situation intelligently and sympathetically. The media should be forced to play a responsible positive role.

The Gambians deserve to live in a state without the fear of being stalked by bandits. Therefore there is a need for creating safe places for all citizens’ recreation that will prevent them from getting involved in any criminal activity.

Sincerely,

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Activist/Watchdog. 

I Agree With Maddi Jobarteh That Gambian People And Not God Removed Yahya Jammeh And Gave Us Adama Barrow!

Knowledge is not what you cram but it have to do with the power of the mind in reminding of facts after the abiding element disappears. This is not a narrow issue but it is indeed a broad topic that one have to address with care and a broad mind with critical thinking and reasoning beyond the box in order to reach at the truth.

There are several important factors that can affect a human such as environment, education, propaganda, social culture and without doubt, the thoughts of a person. Sometimes, even one’s economic position can provide a motive for why a human being acts a certain way.

It is true that the holy Quran is a complete book and the religion of Islam is pure clean and peaceful. But the challenge faced by Islam in the 21^st century is due to the so-called Islamic intellectual and scholars who uses God to address all issues being good, bad or evil which is a threat to peace and the Islamic religion. 

I am quite sure of the fact that both true believers in the diving books and the holy religions of Islam and Christianity believe that there is only one God who is the master of the universe. 

Socrates was a classical Greek (Athenian) philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical writers, he himself acknowledge the fact of the existence of one Deity (God).

In addressing the issue that Gambian people put Barrow in to office not God one have to comprehend the meaning of destiny and predestination.

"Predestination" applies this to the salvation, and refers to the belief that God appointed the eternal destiny of some to salvation by grace, while leaving the remainder to receive eternal damnation for all their sins, even their original sin.

Predestination, in theology, is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul. Explanations of predestination often seek to address the "paradox of free will", whereby God's omniscience seems incompatible with human free will.

The Arabic word qada (قُضِي) means literally "carrying out or fulfilling". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to fulfilling or completing those duties that one may have missed due to some reason or other. It can also mean qadee, a court judgment or the art of adjudication.One of the issues which is directly related to the issue of the justice of the Creator is the question of predestination or free will.

According to the fatalists (those who believe in predestination), a human being has no choice whatsoever in his or her actions, behavior or words and the movement of his organs are just like the predestined movements of the parts of a machine.

Thus, the question arises, how does this opinion relate to Divine Justice? And perhaps because of this, the previously-mentioned group of the Ash’arites, deny intellectual good and evil and have accepted predestination. Their belief in predestination is a denial of justice. Why? Because when one accepts predestination, justice makes no sense.

In order to further clarify this point, we are obliged to study several subjects with care:

Why Believe in Predestination?

The Main Error of the Fatalists

The Social and Political Factors for Belief in Fatalism

Reasons for Belief in Free Will

The Holy Qur’an and Free Will

God’s Knowledge

It is a clear testimony that there is a Paradise and Hell. Therefore through one’s effort on earth on doing and following the teaching of Islam as per the scriptures will lead him to paradise.

The question one might asked to those people like Ebrihima Mbowe, the Deputy Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in the Gambia. Who said and quote from the holy Quran that . “Say, O Allah Lord of Sovereignty, Thou gives Sovereignty to whomsoever Thou pleases, and Thou fakest away sovereignty from whomsoever Thou pleases. Thou exactest whomsoever Thou pleases and Thou a basest whomsoever Thou pleases. In Thy hand is all good. Thou surely has power to do all things.” (3:27 Thou givest to whomsoever Thou pleasant without measure.” (3:28)

If we are to go by this revelation it’s mean that there is no need to pray, fast neither to do good as per the teaching of Islam since God have written before we were born that what will happen to the person after death being in hell or in heaven.

The truth is though Good have written everything before birth  which known deny the fact, but still the same God give us the free will to decide either to do good and follow the teaching of the holy scriptures to earn us heaven or to do the opposite to lead us to hell.

It is high time we realize the truth and understand the concept and the meaning of religion and stop accusing God for no reason.

According to the Qur'an, certain people go to hell because they chose to do bad deeds, and others to heaven by doing good deeds and even if Allah had chosen to guide them to the truth they themselves would choose to reject the faith:"And if Allah had known any good in them He would have made them hear, and if He makes them hear they would turn back while they withdraw. "Qur'an, Sura 8 (Al-Anfaal), ayat 23.

A hadith reports that Muhammad SAW said about Qadr: Ali narrated that one day the Messenger of Allah was sitting with a wooden stick in his hand with which he was scratching the ground. He raised his head and said, “There is none of you, but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise.” They (the Companions) inquired, “O Allah’s Messenger! Why should we carry on doing good deeds, shall we depend (upon Qadar) and give up work?” Muhammad said: “No, carry on doing good deeds, for everyone will find it easy (to do) such deeds that will lead him towards that for which he has been created.” Then he recited the verse: “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, and believes in al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path of Ease (goodness) (Surah al-Lail 92:5-7). Sahih Muslim.

In spite of the fact that the issue of free will is a general human sense, why do some people follow the school of the fatalists?

Therefore through the freewill given to The Gambian by God lead those to decide to vote for Adama Barrow and not God put him to office. In other words, Allah uses the citizens as Shabab to bring about the change. We had to do campaigns, form a coalition and then go to the polls on Election Day for Barrow to be elected.

Many of the despotic and selfish politicians in order to extinguish the fire of revolution among the deprived and in order to assure the continuation of their illegal rule (for every rule of regime which oppresses the people and denies people their rights is illegal from the point of view of Islam) convinced the people through all the means available to them that they have no free will, that predestination and predetermination of history holds our destiny in its hands. If one group rules and another is ruled, this is a rule of fate and the destiny of history!

It is clear how this kind of thinking can silence people and aid the policies of colonialism whereas according to our intellect and our Divine Law, destiny and fate lies in our own hands and fate and destiny in the sense of predestination and predetermination does not exist. Divine fate and destiny is determined through our action, desire, willpower, faith, effort and endeavor.

NB: If any Islamic scholar disagree I am ready for debate as per the above subject matter.

To be continued………….

By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Activist/Blogger/Watchdog. 

Mr. President Request To Redeploy Hamat Bah, The Minister Of Tourism & Culture To GTB As A Messenger?

Your Excellency Sir,

Please be informed that the government's policy is to promote tourism and its contribution to economic growth. Our objective as a country is to increase the contribution of tourism to our economy and to raise the living standards of all Gambians.

The Gambia belongs to Gambians both those home and abroad, therefore through dialogue, reasoning and critical thinking we can make The Gambia the last place of hope on earth.

Many Gambians depend on the tourism industry which is referred to as the backbone of the country. The industry contributes over 20% of our GDP, it offers lucrative employment both directly and indirectly, it provides much needed foreign exchange earnings and also contributes towards our yearly balance of payment. This sector has registered impressive growth of over 4.5 percent on average, thus encouraging the construction of more hotels and increase in the number of tourist arrivals.

The fact that the tourism industry is based on several sectors ensures that the development of the industry leads to huge transfer of development finance from foreign investors (Foreign Direct Investment). These funds are used to develop local infrastructure, such as road network s, telecommunication system, water supply as well as building super structures. This also greatly contributes to the GDP and generally advances the national economy. Tourism is at the heart of globalization as demonstrated by the increasing influence of international and multinational operators in the industry who are capable of moving significant volumes of investors. These companies engaged in extensive horizontal linkages.

Tourism promotes global understanding, peace and the sharing of values to both the host and the tourists themselves. In the Gambia for example, Europeans are married by Gambian and also some make friends to an extent that a deeper relation leading to assimilation and even resettlement may occur. This creates an environment of peace where people will not be discriminated base on the color of their skill or religion, etc. because of the degree of friendship created through tourism. This in will turn add to the global peace that we are all wanting for.

The Gambia tourism has successfully improved and developed but it is still facing some challenges beyond imagination which have greatly affected the safaris tours with in the country. These challenges include; Limited marketing due to insufficient funding as a serious problem facing the tourism industry and it has retarded many people internationally to know Gambia as a tourist destination hence   affecting safari to the smiling coast.

High competition from neighboring countries like Senegal, Mali and Guinea Bissau. These countries are selling the same products like The Gambia and this has affected Gambia’s tourism sector since it’s considered a land locked country and most tourists go to the neighboring for leisure.

As I write to you this letter now, the minister responsible for tourism is not in town as he should be on the ground to work with the relevant stakeholders on how to formulate plans and strategies that will attract tourist across the globe.  Since we are in the tourism season. The question one might asked will be is China a good market for The Gambia tourism industry?

However, the industry faces many challenges and as per the report by the online hotel booking website, these challenges need careful attention and properly structured solutions in order to provide good grounds for development.

It is that note I write to your high office requesting Hamat Bah, The Minister of Tourism to be redeployed To GTB as a Messenger. As the tourism sector is sinking like the great Titanic. Such an institution should be led by a person who have the experience, knowledge and know how to lead not only with words but with actions towards achieving the mission and vision statement of the noble ministry. The main hindrance to this is the fact that his limited understanding of the tourism industry is another major obstacle too.

Your Excellency, please be informed that there is absolutely no investor who will invest in an industry that has no previous track record of success or has no clear future. Every business person or entity will push money where they see viability or an opportunity for growth and development. This might make it difficult to find a clean pathway of these places and hence it is demotivating for tourists who may not return or even recommend the destination to family and friends and love ones.

The last time I checked on the minister’s expertise on tourism sector he was a mere entertainment manager. How can an entertainment manager have a fully understanding of the marketing strategies that can boost the tourism rate?

Part of his duties and responsibilities shall include but not limited to determine destinations by referring to addresses on packages and documents, ensure that packages or messages are delivered in a time efficient manner, ensure that the delivery is done in a timely manner, reconcile packages at recipient’s location, maintain records of daily visits in the log book, sort deliverable items in accordance to delivery route in order to ensure maximum efficiency, and perform general office or clerical work such as filing materials, operating duplicating machines, or running errands.

There are very few flights connecting to The Gambia. And not many of the very few are good enough, or at least meet international standards. We need to overhaul the entire air transport system within Gambia, and engender more airlines to fly within the smiling coast. The number of tourists visiting The Gambia every year runs into Thousands. Imagine how many more we will record if we can bring in more airlines to convey many more tourists to various destinations.

Finally, I would like to take this prospect opportunity to inform you that in order to make The Gambia great, employment should be based on merit. Therefore always give the job to the jobs friend but not your friend.

Concern citizen,

Saidina Alieu Jarjou

Blogger/Activist/Watchdog.