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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 01:44:54
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
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.
I am not moaning for someone to help us. I am asking for us to be more responsive to every member of the society. I never called for foreign aid because i dont believe in it but i also recognise that we are not an island and must be social beings too. |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 01:54:30
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Konds, you see many things are wrong at home today. The correction of these problems will be gradual and systemic. I am not blaming the rural folks for the entirety of our problems. When the masses are empowered by a genuine gov't, their destinies would be in their own hands. In whose hands lies the empowerment of the masses? Would a sadistic gov't empower the masses, for the masses to challenge it tomorow? No! Becos that would mean, they would no longer be seen as God-sent to loot and lord over the people. Now few of us advocating for a better Gambia , how much are we ready to sacrfice? I have met people here who vow never to return home. Isn't amazing? Can one run away from his shadow? Its true that many hustlers remit alot home to help family and friends. If this is well coordinated poverty would be alleviated to some extent. You made mention of my serahuleh children putting up solar panels, thats good. Yet gov't according to you heavely taxes it. If we had self-less, honest , national assembly members, who see beyond partisan politics, dnt you think something would have been done to reduce the txes levied on essential commodities?
The Gambia need industries to boost the ecomony in terms of revenue and employment. How many Gambians are NVQ holders in electrical, electronic, mechnical engineering, or quality control. These are basic qualifications for staff of manufacturing industry. Foreign companies wanting to invest need certain minimum requiremts. It is not only sufficient for gov't to offer free land, tax concession but the availability of appropraite and cheap manpower.
That brings into play the availability of reliable power supply. One stage begets another. If the national electricity company is running at a loss due certain factors such as, bad debts(gov't and private individuals), sabotage(staff neligence +thefts) etc, can they deliver satisfactorily? No! much more expand their services, simply for expansion sake. There is nothing free in this world. If there is steady and reliable electricity coupled wit qualified indigenious manpower, investors can come in. Thats good for Gov't and the people in Yero Bawol.
The gov't should also encourage the growing of staple crops (rice) etc than a cash crop which is failing every year (Pnuts). We have been farming Pnuts before independence, it was good before and now its not. Then change. If the farmer is guaranteed of his feeding for the whole year, he can then think of going an extra mile(cash cropping). The US pays subsisdies to its farmers. Can we in The Gambia afford it? Not today. Maybe tomorrow wit the right environment in place thats possible.
So lets brace up and start before its too late! |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 12 Jun 2007 01:57:32 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 02:09:50
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I think you should work for the govt. You will make a perfect propagand secretary. Quite convicing. |
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toubab1020
12311 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 10:56:19
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
I am not moaning for someone to help us.
Kons,this was not a personal observation on your postings,but a generalisation on the attiudes of ORDINARY Gambians who appear to have lost any drive that they may have had and are prepared to accept any "help" and are not prepared to help temselves,there are many problems but lack of hope and jobs and never seeing things get better appear to have erroded their spirit. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 13:21:32
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The system (if it is a system?!) of help is an interesting one. Just as difficult for some of us who are in the very fortunate position (on a persoanl, rather than governmental!) level to help.
How does one do this and not be regarded as patronising?
Anyway - another point I'd like your opinions on to do with electricity:
I have been told that the government (local gove?) has forbidden solar in town areas. My reading of this is that it is not to do with aethetics but to do with forcing people to pay the high duties and bills for electricity from the state supplier. I am also horrified at the expensive of connecting a comound to the tap (and the long wait for this).
All these things remain a barrier to the poor.
Madiba - no one can argue with what you say - but it seems to me that those with the power (e.g. the gov) who could encourage the growing of stable crops (for example) or subsidise electricity simply won't because it's not in THEIR economic interests to do so.
Gree it a very terrible thing - but that's what's standing in the way of real progress.
Whether that's government greed, individual greed - or the greed of the European tourist...... everyone wants something for very little... |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 14:04:04
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
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. .........
Kondorong am really impressed with every bit and rationale to encourage broad based planning and policy analysis. Government's rural electricfication projects should cater for North Bank. North Bank deserve electricity as there are various sources of electricity and supply cannot be expected from NAWEC as implied by Madis in my opinion.
Kanilai has developed overnight and what if Kanilai was situated at North Bank? |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 15:53:09
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
I think you should work for the govt. You will make a perfect propagand secretary. Quite convicing.
Work for my people you meant to say? Of course once i finish wat am doing here, i will go back to pick up where i left it. Dnt expect me as a gov't mouthpiece. I can better serve my people and country even outside gov't. Propaganda secretary? My God! Konds am no Squealer(Animal Farm). |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 12 Jun 2007 15:55:50 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 18:39:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Lily
The system (if it is a system?!) of help is an interesting one. Just as difficult for some of us who are in the very fortunate position (on a persoanl, rather than governmental!) level to help.
How does one do this and not be regarded as patronising?
When you give dont look back. In Islam, we are told that what we give with our right hands, should not be known by the left hand. In otherwords, be discreet and do it for the sake of helping. Do not give D10.00 to someone and the next day ask that person if he could help water your flower bed.
Haing watched the movie on Gandi, and almost completing a book on Nelson mandela, i must admit, both have impacted me so heavily, that i have from now on, rededicated myself all the more to helping the poor in our society in any form i can.
For now i will go it alone, because that seems to be the best way forward. I know what it means to be poor and to come from a point of almost no return. Lets for goodness sake, help the poor student who cannot afford school fees or books, lets help the market women with small loans to beef up their busnesses, let volunteer at the hopspitals during week ends and make others smile.
They are poor so we can be rich.
The beauty of life is not so much dependent on how much wealth you have, but how one was able to make others happy. Like Rosa Parks said "...... Memories of our lives and deeds will forever live in others....." I think i have found my calling in Mandela and Gandi. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 19:05:27
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quote:
Originally posted by kobo
Kondorong am really impressed with every bit and rationale to encourage broad based planning and policy analysis. Government's rural electricfication projects should cater for North Bank. North Bank deserve electricity as there are various sources of electricity and supply cannot be expected from NAWEC as implied by Madis in my opinion.
Kanilai has developed overnight and what if Kanilai was situated at North Bank?
Kobo
From Kaur to Lamin Koto all the way to Sami Pachonki, through URD North ( sandu, wuli etc) not a single electric bulb is being lit effectively an area almost 40% of the entire size of the country. CRD, the largest administrative region has electricity only in Kaur and Georgetown the divisional capital. This part of the country suffered dearly during 30 years of PPP rule with no roads until in 1993, when the Lamin Koto Passamass road finally came to fruition having been discussed in parliament from 1965 to 1993.
Infact whenever the road project was mentioned in parliament, the whole house burts into laughter showing how cheap they thought of the region. Jawara happens to come from this area. It has the record so far in our development history, as the project that has remained longer in the planning stage since independence.
Infcat upto this morning today, telephone service does not exist in any town or village except in Kuntaur with probably 3 telephone lines at the Gamtel and one erratic substation in Njau. People climb trees to hang their mobile phones to have a signal.
Those who dont have sons who could climb cant get signals either from Gamcel or Africell. In Yoro Bawol, our cell phones are all in the trees.
A recent telephone project was added in Yona Village and Karantaba DutoKoto but the latter only functioned for two months since completion and now is not working when the APRC candidate lost his seat in the last election. The one in Yona is also not working since the election since both settlements are in the same constituency.
Honestly, northen gambia, from Kaur to Sami Pachonki is the worst example of policy failure. Infact in 2001, the world bank chose this region of Gambia as the people who live barely on nature and untouched by modern technological advancement. The world bank official chose Demfai Village which is about 40 minutes drive from bansang and probably 20 minutes from Dobo Village where Ousainou Darboe hails from.
Independence does not guarantee anything. Demfai was the seat of a colonial Travelling Magistate where court cases were heard, but today it has become a shadow of its former self. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 19:25:39
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madiba and kons, i have as usual enjoy your postings, i will look for this village "The world bank official chose Demfai Village which is about 40 minutes drive from bansang and probably 20 minutes from Dobo Village where Ousainou Darboe hails from".
My village that i have adopted is toba kolong, i will help them get solar power some how some why.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 20:50:02
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Kons
Thanks
That says it all for me. And you are right - Ghandi is an influential film. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 21:21:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Lily
Kons
Thanks
That says it all for me. And you are right - Ghandi is an influential film.
Thats why my avatar is Gandi.
I like this quote of Gandi
"....When i despair, i remember that throughout history, the way of truth and love has always won..... There have been tyrants and murderers; and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall...." |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2007 : 21:26:13
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
quote:
Originally posted by kobo
Kondorong am really impressed with every bit and rationale to encourage broad based planning and policy analysis. Government's rural electricfication projects should cater for North Bank. North Bank deserve electricity as there are various sources of electricity and supply cannot be expected from NAWEC as implied by Madis in my opinion.
Kanilai has developed overnight and what if Kanilai was situated at North Bank?
Kobo
From Kaur to Lamin Koto all the way to Sami Pachonki, through CRD North ( sandu, wuli etc) not a single electric bulb is being lit effectively an area almost 40% of the entire size of the country. CRD, the largest administrative region has electricity only in Kaur and Georgetown the divisional capital. This part of the country suffered dearly during 30 years of PPP rule with no roads until in 1993, when the Lamin Koto Passamass road finally came to fruition having been discussed in parliament from 1965 to 1993.
Infact whenever the road project was mentioned in parliament, the whole house burts into laughter showing how cheap they thought of the region. Jawara happens to come from this area. It has the record so far in our development history, as the project that has remained longer in the planning stage since independence.
Infcat upto this morning today, telephone service does not exist in any town or village except in Kuntaur with probably 3 telephone lines at the Gamtel and one erratic substation in Njau. People climb trees to hang their mobile phones to have a signal.
Those who dont have sons who could climb cant get signals either from Gamcel or Africell. In Yoro Bawol, our cell phones are all in the trees.
A recent telephone project was added in Yona Village and Karantaba DutoKoto but the latter only functioned for two months since completion and now is not working when the APRC candidate lost his seat in the last election. The one in Yona is also not working since the election since both settlements are in the same constituency.
Honestly, northen gambia, from Kaur to Sami Pachonki is the worst example of policy failure. Infact in 2001, the world bank chose this region of Gambia as the people who live barely on nature and untouched by modern technological advancement. The world bank official chose Demfai Village which is about 40 minutes drive from bansang and probably 20 minutes from Dobo Village where Ousainou Darboe hails from.
Independence does not guarantee anything. Demfai was the seat of a colonial Travelling Magistate where court cases were heard, but today it has become a shadow of its former self.
You have already defined the strategic points and main towns for RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM along the North Bank. Senegal used cables along the main routes and electricity supplied by high capacity generators locayed in main towns and covering the satellite villages nearby. Proper feasibility studies and evaluation of affordability, effeciency and economy of use from different sources is important. Solar energy is being promoted. Funding can be tapped both from Local government, Councils or municipalities, Central government, Aid & Grants and other Projects funded by International agencies.
That was not the promise during last general elections. Silicon valley and other ambitious projects were sold to them. Its just a challenge to conquer or eradicate POVERTY!
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Edited by - kobo on 12 Jun 2007 21:29:14 |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2007 : 00:17:36
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| Brilliant quote konds |
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