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jambo
3300 Posts |
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Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 14:25:06
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| this is insane, outrageous, these reasons are just simply stupid |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 15:43:37
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| I appriciate the sentiments of the previous postings and have read the write up on the ministers statement.whilst in an ideal world EVERYONE should have access to electricity but this is NOT an ideal world it is ruled by MONEY and Gambia dosn't have enough,no natural resourses etc.I found that the reasons given were probably accurate and it was a CLEAR statement made by the minister , no smiles, "and we will do this thing",where plainly it was not practical at this time in Gambian development a sad state of affairs I must admit. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 16:27:13
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Come on, the Minister was just being honest. Many people in those hamlets are more interested in having their daily meals rather than electricity. Remember The Gambia is not a welfare state. MOst of these people can't simply afford to pay the bills. Those in the cities and urban areas are struggling to pay their Nawec much more poor rural peasants. The company generating the power is not a charitable organisation.
Those who feel they can help their rural friends or folks wit alternative energy supplies are more than welcome. But plse cut out the crocodile tears! |
madiss |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 16:33:41
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madiba, you have just confirmed what i thought, i have found the name of my village, (don't ask) Tuba Kolong, by hook or crook they will have solar lamps before this christmas. 
BAH HUMBUG to the government   |
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leokat
United Kingdom
123 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 18:28:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Sibo
this is insane, outrageous, these reasons are just simply stupid
'Reasons' sound like pretty pathetic excuses to me.
Ah well I will at least try to be more understanding of my b/friend, who has gone to the north bank to farm this rainy season, when he finds it hard to get a charge for his phone and can't text me as often as I'd like (which ideally would be all the time  ) |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 19:24:29
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| Ah.......... Men! anyway, can I suggest that you get him a small solar charger for his phone,they are not much money then he will have NO Excuse not to text you! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 22:08:21
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
Come on, the Minister was just being honest. Many people in those hamlets are more interested in having their daily meals rather than electricity. .
Those who feel they can help their rural friends or folks wit alternative energy supplies are more than welcome. But plse cut out the crocodile tears!
I beg to differ. It’s the system that has made these people live in hamlets and barely hanging on to their lives. They never wished to be the scarecrows of our society. If representative government fails its people, it’s no justification to brand the villagers as almost being responsible for their predicament.
I just watched a movie on Gandhi, and I must say that his coming to India from South Africa and attacking the Indian elites who never saw the country side very well resonates in today's Gambia. He told the Indian elites that fight colonialism; they must live within the masses and have their support.
He warned them that merely attacking the British from their high advantage point as privileged will never rally the masses to support who saw very little hope for themselves when they maintain the same privileges as the colonialist. It was then that many gave up their expensive suites for traditional Indian dress to support the local industry. In the movie, he volunteered to serve the tea to his colleagues and excused the butler by saying that he does not subscribe to treating his people as slaves. He attacked the idea of untouchables and championed the rights of women.
This is why post independent Africa failed woefully. We maintained the colonial policies of patronage and unless the masses can see hope, we are all doomed. Yes they cannot afford electricity because each secretary of state maintains fleets of official cars. Even in the Jawara regime each had at least three cars: one sedan (Benz) car to work, one SUV for trekking and personal errand and one for his domestic household.
And if any so called elite in the corridors of power thinks he has escaped as is locally called " JALLA NA", they must be day dreaming because, one by one, they will bite their fingers in regret. Mile II has become by default a rendez vous for the very people who failed the masses. JALLA NA is wolf meaning “escaped’ but in this case it means successful because one has escaped poverty. It’s a term mostly used by the young folks who dream of going to the West.
I have always heard such statements that the countryside is not viable for this or that. Yes it because they have been excluded from policy formulation to the advantage of a few who can "afford" electricity. It is not by accident but by design that we all chose to look the other way. Myself included. If you have the means help your neighbor, and if all those currently at the Five Star (Mile II) had extended their minds, and resources to the poor, then they could afford electricity.
Well Senegal is changing that when another Dubai style city emerges in two years far away from Dakar. We can turn Yoro Bawol into a bustling metropolis if we are “really” committed. If you cross the Gambian Border from Amdalye heading towards Dakar, you cannot but admire what the senegalses Govt. is doing in rural electrification. All those villages have electricty whilst we cannot. Such indiffence to the need of the poor have in 1994, even led to proposals of selling water at public stand pipes in Brikama which led to demonstratons when ministers had fleets of expensive cars and the poor are only asking for water to drink which they were being denied.
Infact horse drawn ambulances were already in their final stages to take pregnant women to a health center because no telephones existed and also because there were no ambulances in the catchment areas. I was in parliament when this was being discussed and could not believe what i heard from MPs. From Kaur to Georgetown, not a single telephone line was functioning in CRD north. It was like travelling in the prehistoric times. Even the Caveman would have protested.
When the minister of works, one Mr. Jallow was asked about building a bridge over the MINI MINI YANG BOLONG, his only response was he thought " the honorable gentleman was the mini mini yang himself.." much to the laughter of his colleagues. I was there so its not hear say. Today that bridge built by Yaya Jammeh has earned him another title BAA BILI MANSA.
If we can turn Brusubi, which was a virgin land into an expensive real estate with swimming pools, private generators, with gates guarded by wild German shepherd dogs, while surrounded by poor villages of Mariama Kunda, Kukujang, etc then Yoro Bawol can also be one. Today the cost of a small pice of land is more than the life time income of many civil servants but finding land their is near impossible because its sold out. That is why URD north is not economically viable for electricity.
Today, Brusubi and its surroundings have been systematically cleansed of the poor who first came there by the increased cost of land making it impossible to resist selling their land and move on.
Unfortunately, our society has become a sort of perpetual gymnasium where the rich can practice virtue if they so wish, whilst the masses eagerly turn their faces to the skies, hoping that God will change the hearts of the few mega rich to at least drop some crumbs from what is in fact their own.
Lets continue being indifferent to the those poor farmers dressed as scarecrows. By the Will of the Creator, our society will forever remain a waste land. They have a right like anyone and they have hopes, aspirations, emotions and a whole set of human traits like anyone. They never chose to be poor and have always tilled the soil to eck out living and yet continue to pay their taxes in the face of near famine when most of us evade our taxes. That’s why we can afford electricity and they cannot.
I will recommend everyone to listen to Youssou Ndour's track titled BAI KHAT as rightly conclude "SU TAWEH, SU TAWUT, NYU FAYI BORR"( whether their is good or bad harvest, they always pay their loans as required of them) whilst offices are buying pencils for D100.00 each.
If URD north is not economical for electricity, its because we failed them and not because they chose to be the underdogs of society. Mind you, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
Throughout my years in public service, i have always been bombarded with reasons why we could not do something. I never saw or heard anyone say why we could do something. Its easy to give excuses for not doing anything. Lets for once be optimistic and understand that throughout history, those who succeeded were not the ones who looked for opportunities, but those who created opportunities. If we want to be successful, we must not follow the beaten path because its over crowded and provides no challenge. Whilst there are fewer risks, it does not ensure a leap which we so badly need now. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 23:31:08
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corrigendum
The works minister was one Mathew. He was a short man with a bald head and had glasses. I am not sure if his last name was Jallow or Baldeh but sure of his name being Mathew. |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 23:43:35
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Kondorong, i can't see what you are begging to differ from what i said. Hamlets or small settlements are found virtually everywhere in this world. The Gambian living in hamlets differs from the one living in Tunisia , Libya or MOrocco. In these north African countries, hamlets dnt necessarily mean poverty or the lack of basic amenities(elctricity + pipe borne water) but a way of life. The berbers in the mountains have electrcity because of the state of their national economy. They still live inthe mountains becos of their livestock etc. The Masai of Kenya can still be seen in the outskirts of Nairobi wit their cattle and despite their proximity to the Nairobi they still prefer to live local.
Lets face it, the main problem wit the Gambia, is attitudinal. We must be ready to develop/sacrfice for the future generations to be better. For example, the informal sector is still predominantly dominated by better and more qualified non-gambians. Most Gambians dnt want to take up trades. Everyone wants to be seen in a white collar job. One would rather be paid D600 as a registry clerk in a gov't office and seen carrying a file, than train as domestic electrician or carpenter and make almost double that amount a day.
Yes our gov'ts have been corrupt since independence. But its takes more than cutting the lifestyles of these corrupt officials to change the lives of all Gambians from the Hamlets to the cities. We must be honest, ready to work hard create sound economic policies and stop undermining each other. I too was a Civil Servant and have seen alot for more than a decade.
You mentioned Senegal, it may interest you to know that i have many relatives in Senegal and have visited many times. Most of the electrification and other projects in Fouta (northern senegal) are financed by associations of senegalese living overseas and not by the senegalese gov't. Presently Senegal is facing energy crisis unprecedented in their history. From butane gas scarcity to daily power cuts in dakar and its environs.
These people have built their villages health posts, boreholes and village electricity schemes. How many Gambians in the diaspora are doing that or are willing to do that? Mind you am not holding brief for any gov't. I am also a village boy. Though i grew up in the urban areas i know wat obtains in the village.
In summary, there is no gov't anywhere in this world that can do it alone. It needs a democratic framework, development partners, sound policies, the goodwill of the citizenry and harwork to make things better. |
madiss |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 23:45:01
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
corrigendum
The works minister was one Mathew. He was a short man with a bald head and had glasses. I am not sure if his last name was Jallow or Baldeh but sure of his name being Mathew.
It maybe Mathew Yahya Baldeh. That must have been decades ago. Kondorong you mean you missed home that long? My God |
madiss |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 00:01:08
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBAIt maybe Mathew Yahya Baldeh. That must have been decades ago. Kondorong you mean you missed home that long? My God
Who told you i missed home. gretings from Yoro Bawol
I am having milk and "lachiri" right now.
On a more serious note, change can only come from the top not the bottom. That is why TESITO failed. A little change in attitude from the top is good nough to make ordinary peolle rethink. However, we saw all the commissions of inquiries whilst other have yet to appear before the commissions.
Not one cabinet minister in the Govt. has so far been there and the executive am not sure if he plans to. When we do away with specially designed Hummer vehicles, stop building marble homes, then we can afford paracetamol or freedom balm in our pharmacies.
Madiba
Do they still have freedom balm in the Gambia. Oh bboy that was some good medication locally called "frodeh"
I respectfully differ from you notion that rural electrification in Senegal was done by individuals. I also have family in Senegal in Nioro, Matam, Podor, Kunguel, kaolack, and Charoi. Well if you visited my sarahule brethen in Allughareh, Boro Kanda Kasseh, etc, we are putting up solar panels on our roofs but the govt. is taxing panels so heavily that it beyond the reach of ordinary gambians. If they cannot provide electricity, then they must lower taxes for solar panels so TESITO can be realised. Liek the wolf say: KU MUNTA EG, MUNA BOSH KU DANU. |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 00:03:19
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
Kondorong, i can't see what you are begging to differ from what i said..............
Lets face it, the main problem wit the Gambia, is attitudinal. We must be ready to develop/sacrfice for the future generations to be better. For example, the informal sector is still predominantly dominated by better and more qualified non-gambians. Most Gambians dnt want to take up trades. Everyone wants to be seen in a white collar job. One would rather be paid D600 as a registry clerk in a gov't office and seen carrying a file, than train as domestic electrician or carpenter and make almost double that amount a day.
Yes our gov'ts have been corrupt since independence. But its takes more than cutting the lifestyles of these corrupt officials to change the lives of all Gambians from the Hamlets to the cities. We must be honest, ready to work hard create sound economic policies and stop undermining each other. I too was a Civil Servant and have seen alot for more than a decade...............
What a sensible posting,here we have a person who is not moaning " why don't other people help us?" and pointing out that it is only the people who can improve things,I like it well done. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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ylowe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 00:03:29
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MADIBA,
Remember Kondorong is in yerol bawol and there is no electricity to watch television so he dont know who the current minister is and there is no longer job tenue in the civil service. Kon i got your back. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 00:07:00
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Ylowe
You are very funny.
I am now brewing attaya for the alkalo and listening to Samba Gala Jeggi. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 00:15:13
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quote:
Originally posted by MADIBA
In summary, there is no gov't anywhere in this world that can do it alone. It needs a democratic framework, development partners, sound policies, the goodwill of the citizenry and harwork to make things better.
So are you saying the non availablity of a democratic framework is the fault of the poor farmer or is it that of representatives who have denied us a democratic system.
If representative government has ran out sound policies, then is it not time they resign?
If representative government can no loger count onthe good will of its citizens, isnt it time they change course and do self evaluation?
If representative government cannot have development partners, isn't it time they understand that in diplomacy, each nation has a right o choose their friends and they need good social skills to weather the international community. "He who pays the piper, calls the tunes."
In international relations, decrees dont work. |
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