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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 07:27:55
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OK. We have hundreds of members who provide tousands of posts about politics as part of 'keyboard' revolution. These contributions (talks and blah blahs) to 'politic forum' (mostly opposition to current President)are the leading forum activity. People of Gambia (if they read your posts here) greatly appreciate your advise and talk. We have many 'Chiefs' who like to talk, give advice. However, I do not see any indians who actually do something, for example building school,(exception of the owner of this site). My apologies if there are any, but let others know about them. So other than your political advise, what else can Diaspora do? Let us hear.
- Advocacy of Gambia abroad in terms of trade, tourism and culture.
- Financial Aids, economic campaign i.e. Investment on Gambian Banks.
- Donations (I am not talking about the money to relatives or friends). I am talking about campaign to build schools, hospitals.
- Volunteering to provide skills and expertise
What else? I am sure we have lots of ideas and contribution on this subject. Or give us examples.
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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 19 Jan 2010 07:35:47 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 10:23:13
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Turk, most people who join this forum do so mainly to contribute ideas towards the discussion of how to move the Gambia forward. Their contribution to national development, even if only at the level of ideas, should be appreciated not ridiculed and trivialized. Every action must start as an idea afterall. This platform and others like it give Gambians at home and abroad the opportunity of free speech that they lack at home.
There are other organizations and (political action)groups that are more tailored for development assistance in infrastructure and finance. For example, PDOISDIASPORA, AGERA, STGDP, 'Saint's Alumni'and the 'Basse organization' (don't remember the actual official name) to name a few, are involved in financial assistance and project planning and implementations in the Gambia. Other individuals have annually shipped tons of material aid (clothes, books and medicine) to the Gambia.
Last but not the least, Gambians in the diaspora have supported the economy of the Gambia through remittances in perhaps millions of dollars annually, without which the Gambian economy would have crashed long since.
The Gambian diaspora is a force to reckon with in every aspect of Gambian life, including politics and the economy. Thank you. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 11:12:37
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| Kay, I could not have said it better. This is what Turk has to understand. People do not have to come here and tell him how/what they are contributing to their country. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 11:15:30
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| Exactly! Thanks Momodou. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 12:33:59
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| Most discussions about Gambia is political opposition to Jammeh. I have not seen much action to help Gambia. For example, most volunteer projects in Gambia European based. I have been in Gambia for years, and have been reading this forum for almost three years, I have not seen campaign or actions (maybe a few) in term of social, economic development or volunteer projects by Gambians. |
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 19 Jan 2010 12:41:07 |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 12:42:45
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Of course contributions from Gambians abroad are not only in "talks and blah blahs" as Turk puts it (I think he means politics  ) everyone who post on bantaba surley knows that "remittances" are vital to Gambians living in Gambia who otherwise would have a very very hard time indeed.
The costs of living in all westernised countries is very high only leaving small disposable income to "help" The Gambian people in big projects such as schools, clinics etc.Most of the jobs that are available to Gambians are those that are low paid and which the people of that country in which they are living do not want to do themselves.
I am not of the Gambian community so cannot comment on what the Gambian community in other countries is doing,maybe nothing, I don't know.All I do know is that there are "indians" as Turk puts it who sacrifice some of their small earnings to family in The Gambia thereby increasing their own hardship in a foreign land.
Turk is fully aware that by posting such a topic as this he will get many postings as it is something that all Gambians living and working abroad can relate to. If Turk by this posting wants to change the mindset of Gambians into one of self help instead of "talks and blah blahs" ( ) then I applaud him.
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Kay, I could not have said it better. This is what Turk has to understand. People do not have to come here and tell him how/what they are contributing to their country.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 19 Jan 2010 12:45:17 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 12:50:47
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quote:
Originally posted by turk
Most discussions about Gambia is political opposition to Jammeh. I have not seen much action to help Gambia. For example, most volunteer projects in Gambia European based.
Your views are biased Turk because they are based on your singular experience with discussions on the online Gambian media which are largely opposition media. Secondly, you seem to have a limited knowledge of the contributions of Gambians in the diaspora either as individuals or organizations. Despite opposition to the Jammeh, Gambians in the diaspora still contribute massively (in terms of ideas, money, and other material resources) to the development of the Gambia. Even the Gambia government acknowledges this in its annual budget speeches...
I tried to enlighten you above but you are still in denial |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 13:47:26
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Kay,"you are still in denial" you conclude, my feeling is that this topic is designed to be contraversial,and promote discussion, Turk knows the score very well  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 14:26:10
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I understand that the Muslim way is to share things and give modestly and quietly. There will be many many Gambians sending money home and contributing to projects without us hearing anything about it.
For example, Kolior has a committee of Kolior people based at the coast. Some of them live abroad, some of them work in Senegambia, but they ALL contribute to the village as that is still there home base. I think that is really fantastic. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 21:57:15
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Kayjatta your enlightment is not satisfactory. I may be biased, so are you. You are diaspora, are you objective about yourself? You seem like do not accept the fact that Diaspora is not organized well for such things other than political opposition to the president. Number of posts here for Politics is almost as much as all other topics. Show us a few discussion here about economic and social campaign. Show me links, news resources about the Diaspora economic, social contribution to the Gambia. Do not talk about remittence, that money is directly goes to your family. It helps but I am talking about social investment. I am talking about school, hospitals bigger projects where Diaspora organize massive campaigns. I am talking about volunteers working in Gambia. Let me know.
Gambiabev, Why should they be modest and quite about it. I mean, why political opposition is not modest and quite. Help should not be modest and quite. It should be laud. Just like politics. |
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. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2010 : 23:49:34
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Turk I am not saying they SHOULD be quiet.....but that is the FACT..they are very modest about it.
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 00:31:16
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Bev
Social projects, like the one you want to do needs lots of advertising and publicity. Because, the positive publicity/example such action generates is more important than actual action itself. I am not sure Gambian diaspora is organized well and focusing balanced activities. Most energy is spent on political opposition. Look at the posts here. Touby has a point, most posts are here about politics/religion. And look at the posts on education, cultural activites, announcements.
I think jewish diaspora is a very good model. They are excellent when it comes to support their homeland.
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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 20 Jan 2010 00:33:14 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 01:06:28
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turk, are you a chief or an Indian
Where have you been when the transnational train departed?
Seems you are alone in your Diaspora the rest have moved on, we are transnationals, having quadruple citizenship and participating in multiple economies simultaneously.
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 02:32:57
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Janko the chief.
You are doing excellent job as a chief. I am impressed. Now, let us talk about indians. Now show me the news, articles, newspapers links how Diaspora is participating in mult iple economies.
I have dual citizenships but my focus on Gambia as an indian even though I am not a Gambian national. That includes volunteer work for more than 6 months in Gambia. And still participating. During my more than three years involvement with Gambia, I have not seen any diaspora person doing any volunteer work or any community development project. None. Please correct me I am wrong. Most activity is sending money to their families and political advise. I can understand, I am providing critism about diaspora's failure and underachievement, obviously, it is not easy to accept critism.
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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 20 Jan 2010 06:19:50 |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 03:09:21
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| It is wrong to assume you know when you don't. You have been given multple examples of what the Gambia diaspora have contributed towards the development of their country and people, yet you continue to dismiss them. The Gambia problem is so huge that every little helps. Be it building schools and hospitals to buying a crucial tapalapa meal for a hungry fella, it all helps. What you've just pointed out is how you think it should be done. Now, you do not expect everyone to do it Turk's way, do you? |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 04:20:54
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| No I don't Shaka. However, Diaspora’s over emphasizing on 'political issues/talk' (to be honest it is unbalanced to me) while there are other priorities, is not right. Especially, people who do not live in Gambia, Gambians from abroad involving so much in politics is not very effective. Most my dialog and experiences in Gambia, once or twice a year, the needs/realities are different. The issues/realities people talk are very different than this forum. I will remain skeptical until I have seen otherwise. |
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 20 Jan 2010 05:17:51 |
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