#GMBSolutions to #GMBProblems ‘New Gambia’
Imagine if every Online Radio highlighted one solution to a Gambian problem just once a month. This could be in the form of inviting a Gambian scholar, or anybody who feels passionate about a solution that the whole country can benefit from. Do we encourage enough Gambians (young and old) to prepare tailor made solutions for our homeland? Imagine if every Gambian involved in further education (both at home and abroad), did their thesis on solving a Gambian Problem?
As a Gambian Citizen I’m concerned that we spend a significant amount of time focusing on the problems without recommending any/enough solutions. Do we ask ourselves the pertinent questions? Are we part of the solution or just part of the problem (knowingly or unknowingly)? In the current situation facing the Gambia, we could get to 2016 (hopefully post Jammeh) and realise that there are soo many problems but very little solutions. Should we wait for Jammeh to go or can we suggest solutions now which demonstrate to Gambians that a New Gambia is on the Horizon.
We’re almost in July 2015 and it’s Graduation time in most places around the world. I want to encourage all Gambian scholars to dust their Gambian Dissertation or Recommendations. I say this to you ‘Don’t hide your solutions to the detriment of a Nation’. Bring out your solutions and connect with the ordinary Gambians who could benefit immensely from solutions and ideas that facilitate Solutions to Gambian Problems. I want to challenge media houses to actively encourage academic research into Gambian Problems. Can we invite Gambian Scholars to just one radio program once a month and highlight the countless solutions waiting to be implemented in a post Jammeh Era? Definitely there are a number of solutions which can be implemented as soon as we have ‘Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish’.
Lets take a look at the electricity crisis currently facing Gambia. The only reason why Akon’s ‘Light Up Africa’ initiative isn’t being progressed to the benefit of ordinary Gambians is because of bad Governance. Good governance can set the stage for such Initiatives to be rolled out to our beloved homeland. After we begin to get to grips with the electricity problem, can we look at resolving the water problem. How long will Rural Gambia continue to trek miles just for clean water? Can we shift our attention to developing a centralised sewerage and waste disposal system? How about the road networks? If the list of Gambian Problems are endless, should the list of Gambian Solutions also follow suit. I can keep going on, Unemployment, Poor Health Facilities, Corruption etc etc…
I am highly motivated and determined to collaborate with any individuals that are willing to help expand our database of solutions, discuss them and even debate them. Gambians should also consider making these solutions accessible by summarising their suggestions and recommendations in local languages via Radio or TV programs. Lets focus on creating a New Gambia where ‘Every Voice is Heard in Unity’ and solutions galore can take the center stage to help us create the Gambia our children and the next generation of Gambians deserve.
Yusef Taylor (Flex Dan)
Contact me on Twitter @FlexDan_YT