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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
 Posted - 28 May 2008 : 07:38:39
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Dbaldeh, for similar reasons, I have decided not to bother even though I had promised Nyari that I would get back with him soon.
Nyari is a very intelligent fellow, and I respect him a lot. There are a lot of other areas I often agree with him, but when it comes to partisan politics (involving UDP and NADD) my friend loses all objectivity. His arguments are always colored by his irrational psychotic resentment of Halifa Sallah. I just find it difficult to discuss or argue with Nyari without him dragging me into issues of Mr. Sallah.
When we talk about a union or coalition of opposition parties, we are fully aware that we are bringing together different groups of different political loyalties. Therefore, it is understandable that some of them might vow not to support a candidate from another party prior to any agreement. However, once an agreement is made and documents are signed, it is everyone's duty to abide by the provisions of the agreement. It is because of this understanding that when Dardoe abandoned the NADD agreement (MOU) and walked away as a result of his failure to clinch the nomination to become the flagbearer, we hold him responsible for the failure of the opposition from unseating Jammeh.
Dardoe and UDP seemed to have the inaccurate notion that UDP and NRP together is large enough to oust Jammeh's APRC. They ignored the fact that numbers are not static. That pulling out of NADD will no doubt alienate opposition supporters, thereby giving Jammeh and APRC a big advantage. The break down of NADD was a dream-come-true for APRC, who was telling the electorate that "NADD will fail, let's wait and see". They are right, it has come to pass. Who is the cause of it? UDP! |
Edited by - kayjatta on 28 May 2008 07:39:15 |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 28 May 2008 : 15:12:38
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What is the solution!
If you guys are so smart why are you not talking about solutions? If you guys are smart you should know that partisan politics has failed each and every Gambia. The shameful break up happened about three years ago; it is about time we turn our focus on solutions. How do we solve this impasse should be our focus. The traditional seasonal style of Gambian Politics will not work.
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“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 00:17:47
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Ebou, you should say if WE are so smart instead of saying "if you guys are so smart" leaving yourself out. I understand your point but lets be inclusive when we label responsibility of the failed political change in the Gambia.
I will tell you where the solution should start. All serious parties and individuals should recognize every party and individual as part of the problem and or the solution.
We must first admit that we cannot effect political change without the current political parties, atleast not in the very near future. We can form our own parties but, that takes time.
So lets speak with a common voice and force our politicians to come to the table and try what came so close to succeeding. Failure is part of trying to achieve success. So lets reach out to individual party loyalists and say to them, it is time to pull our weight together again and see if we can succeed.
Lets consult with a body like the STGDP or Movement for Democracy (UDP branch) in New York and get the ball rolling.
This is where our solution should begin. Are we ready to go that route putting Gambia and Gambia only first?. I am willing and ready to rally behind any candidate who is willing to unite the rest of the group, being it Darboe, Halifa, or Ebou. That positive message is what we need, not an unending hatred.
Forward we go... |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 02:29:19
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Sorry DBaldeh the constant bickering and the unending Partisian fights is getting the best of me. Thanks for changing the tone and sharing your thoughts on the way forward.
Now I would like to see the same energy that we put in the partisian debates applied to the debate about which solution is the best. I have observed that when it is time for solutions we tend to be dormat.
The figths are over, now is the time for debating the way forward: have your say
I believe APRC managed to stay in power because they succeeded where PPP failed. I am making this comment because I have seen at first hand the new developments and I have spoken to different people in different parts of the country. This is the story; when PPP was here we did not have electricity, we did not have these roads, it is APRC that has brought these changes. When given a choice between a divided, weak and an under funded opposition and a government that has managed to bring changes no matter how little it may be the average gambian voter will choose the government over the opposition.
The rapid development that the APRC administration boasts of is one of the main reasons they enjoy so much support. The Diaspora should put their resources where their keyboards are; if the Diaspora expects changes in the Gambia it is not going to come cheap. The Diaspora has to be willing to put its financial resources together and back a united opposition coalition, I believe the Diaspora’s financial recourses couple with a commitment to embark on development projects through an NGO will counter and or compete with the ruling party's vast resources.
It is my beleive that no one can stop a united opposition that is funded by the Diaspora. |
“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 08:55:15
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Ebou4th, thanks for advancing the debate for a solution. You are definitely right whenever it is time to get to work, many of our people just sneak away quietly into our little comfort zones.
As you rightly said, the party bickering is not getting us anywhere. We must recognized that we have to have long term plans to fight against the kind of systems we have in the Gambia. President Jammeh contineous to consolidate power and he is going to outlive any APRC supporter right now and trust me he is going to stay in power for a long time.
On the issue of infrastructural development in the Gambia, I can attest to the samething. There has been some improvements over the PPP which was going from bad to worst until they were doomed. These physical structures even if they are not sustainable, the local people will agree that those things were not there during the Jawara regime.
Now at what cost are those structures being built we don't know but for sure they will cost generations of Gambians dearly. So whether Jammeh's projects makes sense for the long haul or not time will tell. I still have my doubts.
What I think we need to focus on is giving the Gambian electorates an alternative to the Government. Presently they don't have any other viable option except to take what the Government offers even if it is offered under duress.
So beginining now we should start to organize and force our opposition parties to come together and negotiate in good faith. We need all of them to succeed. We need to diversify and invest in local projects and civic education. This will show the Gambian people that we are just not opposing the government but that we care about them and what happens to them.
Lack of an alternative is one of the fundamental reasons why the poor Gambians rally behind the government. Their bread and butter squarely depends on the government. The largest employer, the one that runs the National Media, the hospitals, the schools, the electricity and water, and most importantly food prices and supply. Who dear come and tell these folks to drop Jammeh for an uncertain future?
This is the vision I think we need to have for the future of our nation. It might take a while to get there, but we will some day get there.
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Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 10:25:15
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Ebou and DBaldeh, i also think the best way of tackling the APRC and Jammeh is by providing an alternative no matter the scale. I once said it here but someone thought that was not feasible. His argument was we are paying our taxes to gov't therefore its up to them to provide the services. As long as the awareness of the masses is at a low, the APRC like its predecessor(PPP) could use the deceit card and blackmail. Many a times we hear Jammeh saying development will only come to those who vote them in. We all know that is very wrong. As long as the funds for those development projects are borrowed in the name of all Gambians, all Gambians should benefit if deserved.
PDOIS has shown the way, by starting there own schools, in the 80s. And starting of development funds from their salaries as MPs. The civic eductaion has also registered some success. Despite the massive resources pumped by the APRC in wuli, Sidia Jatta re-gained his seat. This is due in part the awareness of his constituents.
If a credible candidate or party emerges, the best diasporans could do is lend them technical expertise and some financial assistance.
During the first republic, there was this independent candidate who defeated a very powerful PPP MP. This was mainly due to the fact that the guy had a massive financial muscle. He provided services for that constituency and constieunts. Despite the voter buying , politics of intimidation of the PPP then, this guy won out right.
So for me the solution lies in the following: MASSES AWARENESS + ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS.
Thanks |
madiss |
Edited by - MADIBA on 29 May 2008 10:27:30 |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 14:13:11
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Very good!Possitive contributions now we are making suggestions rather than we constantly argueing.
I belief onething.......A SMALL UNITED MINORITY IS FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN A LARGE DIVEDED MAJORITY. |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 14:26:19
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| These noble ideas need serious commitment, it is going to take a long time before we relize our dreams but we nhave to start some where. If APRC's dominance continues soon Sidia too will loose his seat and on and on it goes. Gambians need to be serious about the future of our country and stop paying only keyboard service to the struggle, we should invest as much resources as possible to uplift our people from APRc's grip. APRC controls everything, I mean everything. Even our religious leaders have been turned to praise singers. This is a very serious issue and we need all the brain power to solve our common problems. |
“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 14:36:59
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United we succeed
but divided we fall .However your size,once you divided, you fall down like:::::: PRAM PRAM PRAM and finally PAAARAKAS |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 29 May 2008 14:40:25 |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 16:28:37
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| I suggest the give up option, lets leave APRC to run the show till it runs off steam and by that time may be we would have enough sense in the opposition to rally round a leader to get us out of the abyss.Do not call me a defeatist as the mandinka would say ( Korry contongho ko le lass!)As we cannot get a united front lets let give up , no? |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 18:44:38
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Kaanibaa,
I beg to defer, because I think the consequences of letting the APRC run the show as they please is allowing them to outright destroy all our democratic institutions. Is this what you want Kaanibaa? In the recent past you and I have witness an unprecedented assault on the Judiciary, the National Assembly, the traditional local government system, i.e. how chiefs are elected.
Please tell me you wish better things for the Gambia, if we allow this to happen how long will it take to fix the damage?
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“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 20:26:20
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quote:
Originally posted by kaanibaa
I suggest the give up option, lets leave APRC to run the show till it runs off steam and by that time may be we would have enough sense in the opposition to rally round a leader to get us out of the abyss.Do not call me a defeatist as the mandinka would say ( Korry contongho ko le lass!)As we cannot get a united front lets let give up , no?
Great points guys, i think you are starting something very positive here. But first we need tie Kaaniba to one of the Bantaba tree branches and stuff his mouth with leaves for his pessimism. There is no greater punishment than smelling the sweet aroma of the first round of the Attaya knowing you ain't having a "cass". Then comes the second round and you are still chewing leave. Release him only on third round, by which time the discussion is over and we would have reached an amicable solution.
Anyway back to the back to the Bantaba round table. I think any future negotiation of an opposition union should pick up from just where it broke down. That is, at the point Ousainou Darboe felt that deliberations were not heading the direction he anticipated and i don't mean this in no funny way. Allow him and those who opt out after him to put forward their grievances of what went wrong and suggestions about how they felt it should have been handled. Only this time in my opinion initial negotiations should be witnessed by an independent committee of personalities not allied to any of the opposition parties both from the Gambia and Gambia diaspora. If that mean going back and amending some points of the Memorandum of Understanding with the consent of all parties, so be it. At least then mistakes of the past would not be repeated while i believe there would enough experienced personalities to foresee any future obstacles. Once this leadership issue has been resolved, i believe the initial euphoria and excitement that had awoken and energized the political animal in most Gambians before they went into hibernation following the disintegration of NADD, would be alive and kicking once more. And that will mean, back to headaches and sleepless nights for Jammeh and the APRC. Once again this is just my opinion. |
Edited by - shaka on 29 May 2008 20:36:15 |
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dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 29 May 2008 : 21:54:39
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Encouraging contributions from all of you. "Where there is will there is a way" Since we have pretty much identified most of the problems, it is time to move to the next phrase which is planning.
I suggest that the Bantaba family meaning those contributing and reading rally behind Uncle Momodou the proprietor of Bantaba and others to organize ourselves, put together financial resources and invest in projects in the Gambia. We can help support educational institutions, local projects like healthcare (buying incubators) for hospitals etc. etc.
I understand uncle(respect) Momodou already have an educational scholarship program which has some outside support and they are also engage in school exchanges in the Gambia.
We can rally our resources and talent behind such projects and expand them into bigger undertakings. Once we gather some resources, we can initiate other projects which may include support for a stronger opposition party. This is not about getting involve in politics, rather it is about dealing with the daily issues that affects our people and society.
Uncle momodou or the administration can come up with a list of all the names and email addresses of bantaba contributors and anybody interested. We can reach out to outside groups to gather more resources.
I strongly think we should pursue this with vigor and see what we can do. We all have some resources to share. We have the love and care for our people and the only thing we lack is organizations.
Furthermore, we can create an independent group in the Gambia to help administer such projects and coordination. The wind of change is blowing and we must take advantage of it now.
On a political point, I think we should also create an independent body which consist of independent Gambians both in the Diaspora and on the Ground whose task would be to coordinate the opposition and bring them back to the table. These group should be an independent non partisan group which will also look into how the Diaspora Gambians can work with the sitting government in implementing projects. These are feasible ideas that we can start to plan on now.
My friends we have been talking far too long. Are you interested in making an impact in the lives of Gambians? then stand up and be counted.
What is your suggestion? We need actionable items going forward. |
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2008 : 00:13:59
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| Bro Shaka, I accept being gagged and shall bear the pains if you promise that things will move to a better situation than obtains here or back home. Pessimism is okay for now and your prescription might cure me . As for Ebou4th please bear with me as it seems to me that what we have is the merry go round as existed at McCarthy Square for the kids. You climb it and it sends you on a trip but off it you go dizzy wow! , you got me bro? The giants back home are not in agreement and we on the bantaba are similarly at loggerheads so wherein lies the solution but give up as I said earlier.We either compromise here and there or just forget/forgo the struggle as we shan't be making any headway. |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2008 : 00:40:57
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| You Attaya addict, does it take the threat to disown you from two rounds of Attaya to change your mind? Why am i getting the feeling that you are one of those addicts who queue for the "mboum" as well. OK i will accept your pessimism for now, but hope you will join us when the wheels of change start moving. |
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