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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2010 : 22:07:21
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| But as so many people have demonstrated it seems quite clear that Gambians outside Gambia (and I am sure within) help each other. That much is obvious. The question is not about helping but how. My point is only that capital projects should be funded from within. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2010 : 22:25:24
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| Not to me Lily. Everyone has different standards. |
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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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 09:50:32
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quote:
Originally posted by turk
If Gambia is one of 25 poorest countries in the world yes it is a duty for Diaspora to provide help. Gambia is no Qatar or Spain. If Diaspora has a duty to provide critism to Government daily from their comfortable homes in western world while they are not paying tax and they are not living in Gambia and their skills are utilized in west instead of Gambia, while they are the product of Gambian nation (brain drain) yes it is a duty. This is my motivation for this discussion. There needs to be balance. I never wanted silence about discussion. That is why I am discussing here. However, there are so much emphasis on political opposition and most energy spent on rhetoric. Personaly, I am not satisfied with Diaspora's priorities and obsession with the politics and lack of desire to help Gambia where needed while there are other priorities. There are projects and support, but I do not think it is enough.
Turk,
your points in this post are very valid. Most gambians together with non-gambian friends are helping at family level and some at community level, no doubt about that. However, there is still room for improvement. The kind of intervention you are advocating could even be fodder for the cannons of the opposition in dislodging the APRC. When you provide some kind of alternative to the people, they will regain part of their mortgaged dignity and freedoms. He who pays the piper calls the tunes! |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 10:33:38
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Madiba
Any action must be politic free. There are plenty of chiefs focusing on that department already.
- No politics whatsoever. because when there is a politics, people can't be united. The only common objective should be helping Gambia with capital projects.
- The umbrella organization should be present internationally with the branches in US, UK and other European Countries.
- Promoting Gambian Culture, tourism, music etc
- Run projects like school, hospitals etc
- Organize volunteerism for skilled Gambians/Non-Gambians in Gambia
- Helping Gambians abroad to invest in Gambia, real estate, etc
- Run social campaign
- Help future immigrants or students in Europe (Information, schools application, visa application etc)
- Provide scholarship for students
I realize there are already lots of help, but isn't it better to one organization that has bigger scale to accomplish bigger accomplishments. The key is being international and Bantaba is perfect platform for such organization. And there are plenty of members here to establish such organization 'Bantaba International'.
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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. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11737 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 21:17:21
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'Bantaba International'  Turk, your suggestion is commendable. However, you seem to be asking us to reinvent the wheel. If you don't know, many of the suggestions above are already created by the Diaspora and you could try and join some of them if you are interested.
Examples:
1. GESO (Gambia Education Support Organization) was established in 1998 after some Gambia-L members voiced out the need to set up an organization to support education in the Gambia. Perhaps you could start a chapter in Australia.
2. Boka Loho has Skill Training Centers in The Gambia
3. There are Gambian organisations in many countries. Organisations in Scandinavia have had yearly Gambian Cultural Weeks over three decades.
4. Gambian Organisations abroad have been raising funds for the campaign against malaria.
There are other initiatives not mentioned above which I do not know about.
Many of the hospital beds, furniture and other equipment you find in almost all hospitals in The Gambia have been and continue to be acquired through participation of the Diaspora.
Many successful companies in the Gambia are owned and run by former Diasporas.
By the way, I look forward to your promised "score-card for Diaspora" when you review the archives of Gambia-L.
Do you mean to tell us to be passive with regards to the destiny of our country? |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 22:00:51
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These are great initiatives Momodou. Hope they keep coming. These examples need to be advertised more and let others know about them. I am still reviewing the 'score-card' will let you know Momodou. But you got A+ from me.
cheers
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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. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 23:03:06
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quote:
Originally posted by turk
These are great initiatives Momodou. Hope they keep coming. These examples need to be advertised more and let others know about them. I am still reviewing the 'score-card' will let you know Momodou. But you got A+ from me.
cheers
Turk, you just have a limited knowledge of what Gambians abroad and their non-Gambian friends are contributing to the Gambia. Whether their assistance is enough or not is immaterial. Besides, the Gambia government has not done enough either. Obama hasn't done enough either, it could be argued. These are subjective things.
Furthermore, anyone who understands economics will not trivialize the remittances, in millions of dollars annually, to the Gambia from its citizens abroad. It stimulates the Gambian economy. It creates real spending power. It boosts consumption, and saves lives. It rescues Jammeh's faltering economy. I have heard some experts say that if remittances stop pouring into the Gambia, it would take a very short time for the regime to fail and fall. So in short, while we sit here and criticize, we are ironically encouraging and prospering the very thing we are fighting.
Like Madiba said, there is some sense to what you are saying, but the logic is flawed. Politics comes first. Hence, "seek ye the political kingdom first, and all else shall fall in place", Kwame Nkrummah. No matter how much help pours into the Gambia, if the political kingdom is not in order everything will continue to go to waste. For how long and how much did the developed world and other international agencies have been and have poured into the third world countries like the Gambia? Did it ever help break the cycle of poverty and inequality? No development can take place without a democratic platform. China has just overtaken Japan as the world's second largest economy, next to the United States. However, the irony of China's 'development' (economic growth) is that it is only a number. Its development has largely excluded the masses of Chinese. But that is another topic...
Please understand that while Gambians continue to assist in any small way they can in the sustenance of the Gambia, they will and must also double their efforts in arguing and provide alternative ideas for a better Gambia...
I have to also say that the gambian Diaspora are not the "Chiefs", they are the "Indians". The expansionist and voracious Gambia government is the "Chief"; and there are too many in there already... |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 23:11:20
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| Thanks kayjatta. Your points are taken. |
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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