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Momodou
Denmark
11764 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 18:27:09
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BEACH BOYS COMPLAIN OF MALTREATMENT BY SOLDIERS AND GTA
By Isatou Bittaye
The boys at the beach, commonly called “Bumpsters”, have raised their dissatisfaction over the manner they are treated by the soldiers and staff of the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) at the beach. Speaking to this reporter, Ebrima Darboe, a beach boy, said they depend on the beach to earn their living, but that they are being denied the freedom to do so by the GTA and soldiers at the beach. He said that he has a Bar where he sells soft drinks and beer and that he does not hustle or rob the tourists, but the soldiers treat him like a “bumpster”. He said they always disturb him at the beach. Ebrima complained that the GTA set rules for them, which according to him are not reasonable, citing the GTA identity card as an example. He said that being at the beach could sometimes bring opportunities for them, as they can be fortunate to have a sponsor.
Ebrima added that they are not “bumpsters” who harass or rob tourists, but are there to help tourist’s in order to get something from them for their living. He said that he is a bar-keeper and some of his friends are fishermen and juice pressers, that the only solution to their problem is for the soldiers and the GTA to leave them to have their freedom at the beach. He added that they are also urging the government to establish factories such as fishing companies, etc as an alternative where they can be employed to enable them to contribute to the development of the Gambia.
He called on the Hotel Managers to employ them in their hotels as entertainers.
Sheriff Ceesay, another beach boy told Foroyaa that their main problem is the soldiers.
He explained that they depend on the beach to make ends meet, but the soldiers always disturb them. He said the soldiers sometimes arrest and detain them at their camps for 72 hours, punished them by forcing them to do hard work or even beat and torture them to stop going to the beach. He said this cannot stop them from going to the beach.
Sheriff said they sometimes have good opportunities at the beach, but these opportunities sometimes slip away due to the treatment meted out to them by the soldiers. He also called on the government to create employment for young people and for society to also change their perception that youths do no want to work, but rather prefer to sit at street corners drinking green tea (attaya). Sheriff challenged that everybody wants to leave a happy life and develop his family and the nation. He said that people should have sympathy and respect for each other. He agreed that there is occasionally one or two bad boys who cause trouble but that this is not a general problem that should be used as a pretext to deny them the beach.
Mr. Amadou Ceesay, the Director of Human Resources at the GTA, told this reporter that the tourism industry needs to be regulated in order to achieve the desired objectives. He said that the GTA understands that the frustrations of the boys are as a result of poverty, but they will not allow them to wreck the industry.
Mr. Ceesay said the GTA introduced the identity card to make sure that only people with bona fide businesses are allowed to go to the beach. He said before the ID card is issued to anybody, the person must register with GTA. He added that they have established the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) for the safety and well being of the tourists and they operate within all areas frequented by tourists. Mr. Ceesay said the GTA understands that the “bumpster” problem is a social problem and decided to tackle it in two approaches. He said the GTA has created employment schemes such as the official tourist guide scheme, which was introduced in 1997, that the scheme is a poverty alleviation scheme that trains and employs “bumpsters” as guides. He said they also conduct sensitisation programmes on the TV and radio and also go to schools to sensitise people on the negative effects of bumpsters and try to introduce people to ways they can contribute positively to the nation. He said that the reality is that everybody cannot be employed in the tourism industry and the beach boys “bumpst negatively”’. He said some juice presser’s method of operation at the beach is unhygienic and can cause health problems to the tourists. He said they don’t allow juice pressers to operate in an area where there is no tap. He said they have allocated places where they should operate but some boys do scatter along the beach.
He added that he received e-mail from a tourist that some boys were trying to harass her at the beach, which he said could drive tourist from the Gambia and that will be a great loss to the economy.
On his part, Lt. Ousman Bah, the head of the Tourism Security Unit, (TSU) said the unit is mandated with the responsibility of clearing the industry with all forms of illegal acts such as hustling, robbing, prostitution, bumpsting, drug dealing and other criminal acts under the Gambia Tourism Offences Act. Lt. Bah said they are trained professionally to deal with people, either Gambians or non-Gambians, and are to make sure that nobody harass or rob tourists. He denied the allegation that they arrest and beat or torture people, but noted that they arrest people they found hustling tourists and detain them for 72 hours.
He said during the 72 hours of detention, they normally ask the arrestees to perform cleansing exercises because they committed offences and that is their form of punishment and they feed them with three daily meals, which is sponsored by GTA. He said some boys did not have the valid documents to be at the beach and the TSU now has a drug squad and immigration unit and they monitor drug dealers and people without valid documents. Lt. Bah noted that they have rules governing them to provide a safe and secure environment for people doing business in the tourism development area. He said they operate from Atlantic Hotel to Sanyang on a daily basis to protect tourist, which is their responsibility, and the national interest is paramount since tourism contributes a lot to the country. He said some boys do not want their presence at the beach but they use dialogue to enlighten them on the importance of tourism.
Lt. Bah said they are trying to introduce a plan whereby anybody arrested will be taken to GTA to be recruited in their cleansing team. He said they know they are dealing with their own brothers but it is their responsibility. He said they are trying to build and foster civil-military relations and people should understand that it is their mandate to control and secure the beach.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 132/2007, 9 - 11 November, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 20:01:12
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Poverty is a factor in the problem of the Bumpster no doubt about that,but tourists come to the Gambia for peace and quiet on our super beaches and good accomodation at the hotels they do not want to be hassled by youths saying things like,"can I be your guide"?,"can I be your friend"?"can you help me? my sister has just had a baby boy and hasn't any money to buy baby milk" Tourism is VITAL to Gambia and at last the government is taking the problem seriously.Bumpsters know that this "work" is now frowned upon by the country and should they choose to continue, they run the risk of being detained for 72hours and made to take part in a "cleansing team" you cannot fine people for breaking the rules if they have no money,so they are "punished" by having to work,I wish the GTA good luck if they can employ the bumpsters as cleaning operatives,but I wonder if the pay will be up to standard,bearing in mind the almost unlimited availability of bumpsters on the beaches of Gambia. Sorry, Beach Boys,the job now no longer exists!
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 21:44:14
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This is old news. A gambian friend who came to meet me at my hotel was arrested, imprisoned without trial and tortured just for waiting for me outside the hotel.
Whilst I appreciate tourists want a peaceful holiday the country, including the beaches belong to the Gambian people.
If you want a sanitised holiday go to the American resorts in the caribean or mexico. You wont have to speak to a local person, just stay in the hotel all the time!
The GAMBIAN PEOPLE is what makes a holiday in Gambia and if people dont interact with Gambian people they are missing a good 50% of the holiday experience.
I have lived in the tourist city of York for many years. Imagine if York people were told, sorry you cant go in the Minster and you cant walk round the city walls the tourists dont like it you get in the way. Would it be tolerated? Of course not. !!!
The answer to the problem is not to ban Gambians from their own beaches but to decentralise the work opportunities and create meaningful ways for young men to earn a living.
I ALWAYS find a quick friendly chat and then move on is fine. I am NEVER rude, but ALWAYS firm.
I have a few children I help and when I am stopped and asked for help I always say I already help some people and cant afford to help everyone. I find if you are compassionate even the most persistent bumster usually says well thank you for helping my brother and thank you for listening to me.....
Gambians still respect teachers, so it helps alot that I am known at Kotu as being a teacher.....
It is a complex issue with no simple solution. But I do think we shoudl all respect the local people. They were there first and are still there after the tourists go home. We dont own the beach, we just borrow it! |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2007 : 23:58:38
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Yes its old news,but what is new news, so to speak is that government have decided to do something about it! outside the hotels is where the real Gambia and people are of course you are able to make and keep friends and you will be welcomed to share food (even if is limited in some cases)I am not talking of the bumpsters as being representitive of Local people,These boys are fine strong and healthy individuals who have taken to a way of life that I disagree with, often with a bit of begging thrown in, although I understand all the reasons.If you agree with the Bumpster "culture" I disagree with such a "culture" and we better leave it at that the subject has already been done to death,any reopening will achieve nothing!
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 12:11:39
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| It is good that the government wants to take measures (if you don't mind my adding to this already dead subject, Toubab1020) but i hope they will come up with a way to do this which is less confronting than in the past. I don't like being harassed at the beach too much (didn't happen often, being there with your Gambian partner is a good bumpster-repellent), but i hated having to watch people being beaten off the beach by security guys or police. |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 12:23:01
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I am sure most tourists wouldnt be happy to know they are detained without trial for any crime. They are starved and not given water. They are made to do hard physical exercise and sometimes beaten up and tortured.
What is their crime? Walking on the beach and talking to people.
I dont want to be harrassed on holiday, but I dont want this to be done to people in my name!   |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 14:19:04
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Well at least two posters don't think that the topic is .... ....... carry on if you want to please! |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 10 Nov 2007 14:20:13 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 17:47:15
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old news, but i have no problem with the bumsters but with there threatening behaviour, bev and others know how to deal with it, but if you are a newcomer it is off putting. also regarding the hygenie issue WHAT GAMIAN DOES NOT WANT RIGHT NOW OR AT ANYTIME is health illnesses related to poor sanitation.
REMEMBER DOMICAN REPUBLIC |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 00:55:14
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quote:
Poverty is a factor in the problem of the Bumpster no doubt about that,but tourists come to the Gambia for peace and quiet on our super beaches and good accomodation at the hotels they do not want to be hassled by youths saying things like,"can I be your guide"?,"can I be your friend"?"can you help me? my sister has just had a baby boy and hasn't any money to buy baby milk" Tourism is VITAL to Gambia and at last the government is taking the problem seriously.
toubab
You are right, but there is another factor for this problem. The problem is -some not all- 50+ european women who come to gambia for love/sex. They are factors too. These youth is not born bumpster, and while poverty is a factor, some tourists are not innocent either. I have seen many older european women they invite these bumpsters on the beach or senegambia areas. While there could be some policies on these bumpsters, what can be done to prevent or discourage those who come to gambia for Gigolos?
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 12 Nov 2007 01:07:21 |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 07:50:58
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Turk, please - don't be absurd! 'what can be done to prevent or discourage those who come to Gambia for gigolos?' Why, nothing of course! How would you go about that? Having elderly white women fill in forms stating their aims and then have a committee decide whether or not they can enter the country??
The topic is about so called beach boys complaining about the treatment by Gambian police and here you come blaming 50+ white women for something or other........
Don't hijack this topic! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 11:07:31
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anna
Hijack? What are you talking about? This is not hijack. The topic is about beach boys. Toubab indicated one reason for these beach boys exist because of the powerty. And I said another reason is for these beach boys come to beach and disturb tourists because they are used to receive financial help from the women who come to gambia for love. So there is a reason for these beach boys come to beach.
Ahem. A gambian, my wife wanted to come to visit England when I was working 2 years ago. We applied for visa, my wife went to british embassy. She filled out a forms. Stating her aims. She said she wants to visit her husband working in one of the most presitiguous company. She got the invitation from me. Financial guarantees. Then she was invited to british embassy in gambia to be question for her intension. A visa officers interview her. And interviewed me. They question her about me, about my job, about the marriage. Just for visitin visa?
So the process you find impossible is actually happening. So the process you find crazy idea is actually the process is done by many european governments to select who can go to europe from gambia. European government screen, review the applications by gambians, interview them by comnitte and decide wheather they can go to europe or not. This can't be done by gambian government? Gambians deserve this treatment but europeans do not deserve? No? How is it not realistic? Each time I go gambia, I had to go to gambian embassy for visa. The consulate ask me why I am going gambia.
If you still don't see the connection between bumpsters and european women here is a documentary for you
http://www.seneweb.com/videos/video/143.php
I am looking forward to response. If you think it is hijack, don't bother.
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 12 Nov 2007 12:22:40 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 13:53:28
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| Turk,come on now,your last posting was very disturbing and not at all nice to Anna,you have gone off the point totally, if you want to talk about Visa problems then create your own posting about it.To throw in a video and comments about over 50 white women is not fair,we all welcome discussions and putting others points of view,but a little less strongly than your postings which sometimes give the impression that the subject of a particular posting has been Hijacked by you going off the subject ,which I am sure you don't mean to do,but get carried away by your strongly held views. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 15:53:55
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Toubab, you are such a nice guy but Turk doesn't have to be 'nice' to me but he has to be fair. I read his posting when i had to rush off for work and i thought 'OK, that was not very smart - i shouldn't have come up with this image of middle-aged women filling in forms'! Because in this way i deserved it that he reminded me of Gambians having to fill in forms and stating their aims just in order to go on a holiday to some Western country. Turk, i know about all this - my partner and i have gone through the procedures several times.
But to me it is farfetched to blame over 50 white women for bumpsterism. I have seen bumpsters harassing families with young children, young couples on a honeymoon, men by themselves, women by themselves. Don't come up with this awful video again that we have all seen too many times now
and of course it is not possible to prevent women from coming to the Gambia looking for gigolos. Are all bumpsters bumpstering in order to become gigolos, by the way? Maybe somebody could start some sort of escort agency for gigolos and some of the bumpsters would become ex-bumpsters. I am not promoting this type of business, mind you - but that was what the discussion was all about: bumpsters complain about maltreatment by the police, the police have to keep them of the beaches, why are they there anyway - because there is poverty in the Gambia and not enough jobs (i suspect some of the bumpsters prefer bumpstering to being a carpenter or something).
This problem is also discussed now in the General Discussion section, where Lily tells us that also other people are chased off the beach, like some of the hairdressers or the towel seller. I thought these people had licences and they were allowed to sell their goods or services.
I remember that some months ago we discussed bumpsterism on Bantaba because an article had appeared about how the Ministry of Tourism was planning to give the bumpsters a special training so that they could have paid jobs in the tourist industry, for instance as taxi drivers. I also remember that we concluded that it was a pity that there already seemed to be more taxidrivers than tourists anyway. Maybe they could be trained for the building industry instead...
Does anyone know what has become of this training programme? |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 16:34:26
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Anna,Thanks, 
I felt that Turk had considerably unnecessarly overstepped the mark, and that was the reason for my posting,some of his points are valid,I personally think that he could not do better than take a leaf out of the oath that doctors take,the first of which is "Do no harm" Turks so strongly held views give the impression that he alone is "right" and everyone else is "wrong".
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 12 Nov 2007 16:38:07 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 21:18:19
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Many bumsters are NOT gigalos. They are Muslims and are not prostituting themselves.
Of course some (small % are) and they give the rest a bad name.
The majority of tourists dont come to Gambia for sex...they may end up having sex  but that is not the reason for the holiday.
The reasons are : sunshine, nice beaches, friendly people, flight not too long, no jet lag, prices ok, interesting country, stable environment etc....
Gambia is like Marmite you love it or hate it. I LOVE IT! |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2007 : 22:03:34
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toubab
How is it disturbing? I made a connection of bumpster and those who come to gambia for love (And I said "-some not all- ) as you make connection with the poverty. Anna suggested that is a hijack and I found it to be unfair. I believe there is a connection. Also, he found my idea of something can be done by Gambian immigration to prevent/making harder for these people to come to gambia 'crazy' than I justify my idea actually make sense by european government to screen out some gambians who want to come to europe. The only reason I mentioned visa problems because anna suggested that my idea was crazy.
Anna
Thanks for acknowledment. Back to the subject. Do you really read what I am posting? I said one of the reasons.
quote:
but there is another factor for this problem.
quote:
They are factos too
There are several reasons for bumpster, and one of the many reasons is tourists who come to gambia for love. Let me provide you some link that connects the female sex tourism and 'bumpsterism'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_sex_tourism
On this link, it states:
There are "de facto" tours, however, such as airplanes bound to the Gambia in West Africa full of British and Scandinavian women seeking affairs with beach boys.
May I point that article mentiones 'affairs with beach boys', 'The men used by tourist women.......Marlboro men (Jordan), bomsas or bumsters (the Gambia), sanky pankies.......Today, many other destinations are popular, including Morocco..... everywhere with beaches....and a surplus of underemployed men. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 12 Nov 2007 22:08:40 |
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