Gainako Newspaper

As the world thinks about the Global Week of Action, which
commenced on 21st April in the Gambia and around the world
organized by Education for all network {EFANet}, this reporter
went around checking what some of the children are doing at the
moment.

When I first got on the road, I noticed a very small boy, about
the age of 11 years in a passenger van acting as an apprentice
driver, shouting Banjul! Banjul!! I decided to join that vehicle
up to Banjul, the Gambian capital.

This small boy managed to give back the change of all those
who gave him higher denominations than the required fee. He
is a very smart guy. As I dropped at the garage in Banjul,
another young man came rushing to their vehicle who started
shouting "ayi waa" Tabokoto! Ayi waa tabookoto!!. Then I
saw the apprentice boy stood aside. So I capitalized on his
free time and interviewed him thus; what is your name, I asked.
Alfusainy, he responded. Where are your parents? I asked
again. They are all at home he fumed.

When I asked Alfusainy whether he would want to go to school, he looked at me with an unusual look
and with shyness said, yes. So why did your father not send you to school then? I again asked. My
father wants me to go to the Darra{ koranic school}. So why are you not in Koranic School then?
But before he could answer, his adult driver called on top of his voice saying Alfusainy lets go!. Off
Alfusainy went.

So I had to look for another boy like him. They were many but whomever I go to was seen busy
trying to attract clients to his vehicle bound for Tabookoto or Serrekunda. However this reporter
decided to drop at the Buffer Zone the other day and found several children playing football in the
early morning at about 9.30am. I stopped three of them and insist that they must tell me why they have
not gone to school. They might have thought that I was going to punish them or something. So when I
asked why they did not go to school, which was easy for them; they simultaneously replied instantly.
One said he was going to afternoon classes. The other said he was not going to school and third said
he was driven from school because of school fees.

As I moved on I spotted a motor mechanic workshop and saw some small boys jointly dragging an
iron that appeared heavy for them. They are all between the ages of 10 and 14 years. I decided to
speak to their chief mechanic who is named Mbye. I asked him if the kids were his own kids. He
answered in the negative. He said they are all brought there by their parents. Asked about his own
kids, Mr. Mbye said he left them at Kaolack, Senegal. Asked also what his children are doing in
Kaolack, Mr. Mbye said they are all going to school. I decided to ask Mbye his opinion on whether
he prefers children to go to school first or to start learning skills, Mr. Mbye opined that kids should
first go to school but argued that some parents prefer skills training than education which they think is
a waste of time and resources.

So as I moved about I could see children all over the place doing all sorts of things whilst others go to
school. This reporter also noticed that many schools especially in the provinces do not have enough
teachers and if they do, they do not have sufficient qualified teachers and teaching aids are almost
none existent in many schools. This is why the theme for this year's campaign "End Exclusion Now" is
very apt. The question however remains as to how the theme could be achieved in a developing
country like the Gambia.

This reporter looked at the Gambia's annual budget for Education, about 65 million Dalasi for the
2007-2008 academic year and discovered that the amount earmarked for education is far less than
what is allocated for the president's office, 150 million dalasi, and concluded that if the cry of the
campaigners is to heard then government has to recognize and give priority to the education sector
that would greatly complement the contribution of the UNICEF and other donor agencies. This
reporter also observed that if the state reduces its exorbitant expenditure on non-priority areas and
supplement it on education, it would go a long way to alleviate the many huddles placed on the path of
the department of education.

It is estimated that over 200, 000 children are out of official school system in the Gambia and over 72
million children are out of school worldwide.

.....Journalists Should Go
..................By Ebrima Sarr, England........Posted April 24th, 2008
Dear Sir,
I'd like to think this is first of many emails I'll be sending to you. The emergence of the online media
has opened up a world of information for us in the Diaspora, on our beloved nation which hitherto
came in distorted bits and pieces, not as quick but bearing all the hallmarks of our well known radio
'kangkang'. Its a shame though that an opportunity so great is grossly misused and the blessings that
should have been its fruit like manna from heaven is now close to the forbidden fruit of Eden.

I am of the school of disagreeing to agree n believe that views, dissenting and controversial they may
be should be freely expressed and the absorption and practice of ideas be left to the discretion of the
masses with the guidance of the law of course. This is why i am very much a fan of the Gambia online
media as information that would in no way be aired on any media outlet in the country is thanks to the
former now out in the open for public consumption.

However the negativity that oozes out from some outlets is like pus from a gangrene limb, which is for
the owner best cut off lest it spreads n causes death. I will be the first to admit that my grasp of the
law is less than rudimentary as my claim to reading it ends in a one year course at GTTI. However, I
challenge you readers to this;(no doubt men of law amongst you) if a citizen is in possession of
information which could lead to the overthrow of a government, and his only effort in respect to that
info is to air and propagate its execution, not guilty of aiding and abetting treason or in the worst case
scenario, treason itself!?

This is the crime one online paper has committed in alleging receipt of a letter of treason from some
disgruntled soldiers. Lack of time and space restricts me to shred the report piecemeal but it does not
take a genius to assert that receipt of a letter of treason from the executioners is either a hoax or a
damn right lie by the recipient as the airing of such a plan would render it crushed. And to wish such a
calamity on our dear Gambia, disgruntled as one may be with the regime is surely a heinous crime n
very much immoral. By anyone's standard, The Gambia as it is better than it could ever be when law
and order ceases to exist.

I hope this paper refrains from such negative reporting and that those of us who rely on it will resort
to feeding from it without taking every word with a pinch of salt.
...........No Sitting on the Fence
I am honored to have known Ebrima Conteh from when he was a boy and even as he may not
remember me, I clearly do him and i would assert right here and now that i looked up to him. Im not
surprised, rather much impressed that he has turned out to be the successful man I ever knew he was
going to become. Congratulations on coming back from Iraq alive. As there are few good men, the
world is richer with you still breathing.

However, I would like to know where you stand on matters in the Gambia, as I am very much baffled
at your mention of Yaya's projects and praise for Halifa and FOROYAA. Last time i checked, the
only mention Halifa made of the said projects are they were built by loans and since the projects don't
generate money, yet the loans will still be paid, that it could only help in increasing tax, thereby adding
to the suffocation of the masses. Can you please enlighten me as to how you think change can be
achieved in the Gambia?

My dear brother, I look forward to your response. Flatter me with one please.

Ebrima Sarr
England

The author can be contacted at eysarr@yahoo.co.uk.
...ONLY AFRICAN JUSTICE IS RIGHT!!
......- SAY DAILY OBSERVER JOKERS
...............................By The Watchman.........................April 24th, 2008
The jokers and elementary school grade writers at The Gambia's
Daily observer are at it again. Previously, the Watchman deemed
this so called newspaper such a travesty of journalistic conscience
that it was barely mentioned on other commentaries. There is an
editorial they penned; however, that deserves some scrutiny and
lots of laughs. Titled "Tell Them to Go Shove It" and recently
cross posted at the All Africa website, this comedy of words launches a rather clumsy assault on
global attempts to prosecute African war criminals. It also pivots to defend the "justice" ministers who
had gathered like a pack of wolves at Addis Ababa to condemn internationally hailed efforts to indict
African Human Rights scofflaws. Here's one interesting excerpt:

"Those arrogant French Judges shouldn't be blamed much, for they were blinded by their ignorance of the
changing situation in African awareness. They were indeed motivated by previous cases, where Africans
connived with their neo-colonialist masters to undermine other Africans. The message for them, however, is that
Africa can never be re-colonized. As the conference of Ministers demands, all eyes are on the African
Commission. This act of insolence must be stemmed".

To hear the Daily Observer tell it, only the African brand of "justice" is legit. It is interesting to note
that whenever African "leaders" have come under intense pressure and scrutiny to thwart their gross
flouting of Human Rights, they have reached out for that most supercilious of cop outs in pushing back:
neo-colonialism. Like Robert Mugabe, African goons, aided by their sycophant presses, have
accused the West of sovereign infringement in matters of elections and democracy. The tragedy of this
charade is the fact that manipulated citizens in some of these repressed states easily fall for it. One can
go into the many ways the West and opposition parties can counter these nefarious schemes but it
would perhaps be best to challenge these buffoons to do the following:

First, if only African "justice" should be the single criterion on matters of rights, why not extend the
rule to FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in Africa? The World Investment Report 2007 Transnational
Corporations, Extractive Industries and Development, produced by the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), revealed that foreign direct investment (FDI) into Africa
doubled between 2004 and 2006 to 36 billion Dollars. Despite the fact that Africa is still lagging
behind in the global share of FDI, this was a record amount compared to years before. It also reflects
the faith investors have in the continent's potential despite the sins of its wayward rulers who no doubt
benefit from their commercial activities. If these African governments don't want outsiders to judge
their grossly erroneous mishaps on Human Rights, they should also reject the influx of Western money
into their state coffers and business societies. Let's apply some consistency here. Also it would show
self-respect on their part to rebuff the deeds of agencies like the IMF and Red Cross because since
they are dominated by the West, there is a tendency they could be "neo-colonialist."

Next, these African "resistance" governments should protest the presence of peace keepers
supplied by world bodies such as the UN in areas of the continent that have been ravaged by their
counterparts, like Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo. It can be easily noted that previous
African hotspots that are now experiencing relative peace are under the auspices of the UN especially
in these abovementioned nations. Other peace keeping operations under the supervision of African
Union forces in nations like Somalia and Sudan (Darfur) are doing abysmally. If African "justice" (or
lack thereof) is the best and not worthy of constructive criticism, shouldn't it be evident in the way
African peace keepers who are so adept at matters concerning Human Rights etc, execute the tasks
of minimizing violence in their fellow African entities? If African governments reject and denounce
intrusive "neo-colonial" pretensions to "justice", they should ask the UN to leave and allow an
African version of military intervention on matters of governance that they have botched again and
again. One only wonders how long it will take before they beg for sustenance from the global
community after embarking on that path to catastrophe. By the way why is it these same African
leaders and their "justice" ministers always make a bee line for their Western counterparts at
international symposia, mug for the camera and proceed to effusively praise them? Isn't this
"neo-colonialist" and "insolent", to use the ill chosen dictum of the Daily Observer?

Last, these outraged African "justice" ministers should goad their respective nations to boycott
international events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. They are dominated by Western
sponsors, most of the medals are won by the powerful and industrial states that hail from Europe and
North America and by the way when was the last time the Olympics were held in Africa? The rules of
all the sports have their roots in the West. Shouldn't there be an African rules based type of
football/soccer? Isn't this "neo-colonialism" and "imperialism"? I don't see African "justice"
ministers protesting the running of the Olympic torch from global city to global city like the pro-Tibetan
dissidents, who are fed up with a local version of "justice" (Chinese to be exact) and want the world to
notice. Why didn't Yahya Jammeh, proprietor of the high school newspaper that is the Daily
Observer, protest when his spouse traveled to the US to give birth and once coveted US citizenship
for his daughter? This is actual "neo-colonial" behavior isn't it? What type of "justice" is the
president doing to his local hospital, the RVTH, when he disrespects their abilities and flees to a rich
Western state to deliver his offspring?

It's easy to know what response the elves and dwarfs at The Daily Observer will give in defense of
their ever watchful master: some "neo-colonialisms" are more equal than others.

The author can be contacted at Gambiaswatchman@gmail.com.

......................................NEWS
Court Conceals Prosecution�s Witness Identity
.......in the Journalist�s Sedition Trial
........................................By MFWA..............April 23rd, 2008
The Kanifing Magistrate Court trying Fatou Jaw Manneh, a US-based
Gambian journalist for alleged sedition on April 21, 2008 restricted the
general public from the trial by ruling that only Manneh�s family members
and two journalists were to be admitted to the court.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that the
ruling followed an earlier application filed by the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP) of The Gambia, Emmanuel Fagbenle. The DPP had
earlier asked the court to protect the prosecution witnesses by concealing
their identities.

The sources said Lamin Jobarteh, Manneh�s counsel, objected to the court�s decision, arguing that
courts all over the world were open platform for the general public. This was, however, overruled.

Following the new ruling, a third witness also testified against the journalist.

Manneh, a former journalist with the Daily Observer newspaper in its early days, has been charged
with three counts of sedition, following a series of articles she wrote criticising the regime of President
Yahya Jammeh. Upon her arrival on March 28, 2007 in the Gambia, she was arrested, detained for a
week, and had her travel documents confiscated by the authorities.

Since her arrest, Manneh�s case has been moving back and forth from one magistrate�s court to
another. The courts have argued that they lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, because the said
articles were published on the internet. However, on December 7, 2007, a High Court in Banjul ruled
that the case could be tried anywhere because of the global nature of the Internet and referred it back
to the court where it was first tried � the Kanifing Magistrate Court. On March 11, 2008, the case
was delayed further as Magistrate Jawo failed to show up in court.

....................................OPINION
........The Gambia Today
.................................By Ebrima Conteh...................April 22nd, 2008
The story Karamba told about Mr Fofana is another reason for
keeping the online media a trustworthy source of information. If the
Diaspora is constantly bombarded with false information in the long
run no one will believe credible stories like Karamba's. If the current
trend continues no one will believe you when you tell your story
about Mr. Fofana. You and I have to choose, elect and demand
accurate information from the online media.

The case against Saddam was primarily based on evidence from
the widely recorded1988 chemical attack. This chemical weapon
s attack on Halabja near the end of a bloody, eight-year war was
widely reported. If the critics of the APRC are known for reporting
false information then any evidence against the APRC can be easily challenged in court and thrown
out. Reporting false information is counterproductive.

Now let us focus on why APRC keeps wining election after election, first of all the Opposition parties
are divided, weak, and under funded. They have proven time and time again that they cannot fight the
battle by themselves. Secondly the APRC regime has succeeded where the PPP regime failed.

Contrary to what the online may want us to believe there is lot of development taking place in the
Gambia. For example the road from Brikama to Banjul is paved there are traffic lights from Taboko to
West Field. There are streetlights from Lamin to Westfield. The coastal which starts from the Airport
to Senegambia Hotelis paved and there are street lights from the beginning to the end of the new road.
The Transgambia project is well underway, the road from Barra to Farafenni is paved, and it takes
under two hours to drive from Barra to Farafenni. There is very minimal disruption of electricity and
there are electrical lines from Barra to Badibu. The APRC regime has succeeded in convincing the
Gambian population that it can bring change and development unlike the former regime. No one in the
Diaspora wants to talk about these developments; in fact it is a taboo to give APRC credit for what
they are doing. Well I will say it, the Gambia is developing and it will keep developing with or without
the Diaspora.

Although we cannot trade basic human rights, freedom of expression and the rule of law for
infrastructural developments, it is self evident that the The Gambian population has bought APRC
argument by voting overwhelmingly for the APRC election after election. The Diaspora cannot expect
Gambians to vote for a disfranchised, weak, under funded, and divided opposition when the APRC is
delivering. APRC is enjoying tremendous support from a majority of Gambians because Gambians
see the good that they are doing, the current regiem's critics cannot expect a change if there is no
alternative to APRC. I am not a smart man but it makes perfect sense why Gambians are voting for
APRC and unless and until there is a credible alternative to APRC this trend will continue. APRC has
earned political capital and they have the right to spend it however they deem fit and no one can do a
dam thing about it. The keyboard will and cannot reverse the tide in the Gambia, it has not worked the
past thirteen years and it will not work in the future.

The keyboard is not the solution to the political situation in the Gambia; I am on the record for
bemoaning the decline of democratic principles for it is my believe that this will eventually lead to a one
party system in our beloved country. I know this is a unique challenge that demands attention from
every progressive Gambian but they way and manner APRC critics are going about it will achieve
very little results.

The quickest way to reverse the political tide in the Gambia is trough unity and forging a common
voice. A progressive united Gambian Diaspora that is willing to take bigger steak in the political
process can provide an alternative for Gambians. Today Gambians at home do not have an alternative
to A.P.R.C. and if the over riding goal is to defeat APRC then the opposition camp is not using the
right avenue of approach. The longer the opposition camp stays divided the longer APRC extends its
grip and dominance and there is nothing anyone can do.

After APRC's landslide victory in the last presidential elections Halifa Sallah said "The future of the
Gambia rests in the hands of its conscious, respectable and dignified citizenry who can never be
bought or intimidated but sees every human being on this earth as their equal. This Gambia is
emerging. Sooner or later the people will indeed take charge to build a society of liberty and
prosperity."

Who are these people and when will they show up to take charge? My guess is a group will show up
a year before election and try to make something happen by then it will be too late. Now is the time to
take action if the APRC critics are serious.
..........A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO
CAPTAIN YUSUPHA SIBBY
...............................By Yero Jallow...........................April 22nd, 2008
Soccer of old is far too cry from now. Like the Grammarian Quinton
Cummings of Gambia High School once put it, "Those were the good
old days when men were men" I couldn't agree more with my former
teacher especially now that it resonates with the life of a soccer star,
Captain Yusupha Sibby fondly 'Captain Sam Sibby' or simply ' Cappy '
who recently passed away in Banjul, the Gambia. It is true the activists
believe good people don't die because of their deeds that they left
behind. This is true for the case of captain Sam whose soccer endeavors
sparked a brilliant moment at Real de Banjul and the greater Banjul
neighborhood.

According to Mr. Pa Alieu Loum, former wing player for Ports FC and Walidan, Cappy was his
neighbor and a teammate at Ports FC and of the finest characters. He was a man of good spirit with
soccer talents that inspired a lot of Gambians especially those that knew his mid-field defense
(numbers 5 & 6). Cappy was a resident of Half-die, Banjul, The Gambia, believed to have died in his
fifties recently. Cappy, whose titled of honor was as a direct result of his soccer accomplishments was
the heart of Real de Banjul at the time, as narrated by Mr. Loum and Mr. Bah. Further he was an
organizer and the central unifier that combined personal skills and humor with his ambition for soccer
locally called Football.

In Mr. Loum's own words, "I know him very well as we were residing in Half-Die, Banjul. We played
in the same team 'Ports FC. My elder brother Doctor Hector Loum was among his best friends. I
therefore extend my condolences to his brothers Bladdr Sibby (Germany) and Adou Sibby (Banjul)."

Another one of his admirers, Anne Forster a resident of Minnesota also added a touching tribute to
someone she one time admired. In a tearful tone Anne recalled the vibrant soccer star whose
momentum was a moving one, thus: 'Yusupha was very down to earth, a true team player, famous and
liked by everyone. I extend my condolences to his family especially his sister 'my friend, Mariam
Sibby.'

According to Mr. Cherno Bah another resident of Minnesota, who was a coach to Ndanaan soccer
team and happened to interact with Cappy in the vicinity then, thus: 'Cappy was of a strong
personality, likewise in the field ' he was a solid rock, and off the field 'he was the sweetest person
with smiles. He was the bedrock of Real de Banjul and Gambia's National Squad.' I want to pay
tribute to my uncle Musa Njie who was a team mate to the late Cappy

With the above words coming from reliable sources, adds to the tens of others mourning a man of
soccer legacy whose contributions towards soccer cannot be forgotten just like that. In my whole life,
I didn?t have the opportunity to play soccer at a higher level because I was a herds boy but by such a
memorial piece of tribute, brought remorseful moments to why I missed the opportunity to have
played soccer, a game of my admiration - probably I would have been another 'Pele', yet still
"Biri-Biri " my long time admirers during the times that I played weakly in the field, breathing heavily.
The latest of its show was the summer of 2007 when I almost scored a golden goal in Minnesota, a
shot that surprised many and attracted a lot of echoes. At once I cried in my inner heart over the
opportunity that I missed 'to be a soccer star. The ball I handled in the 18-yards distance that angled
at a slant of 65 degrees hitting the bar and coiling in the net 'just below the cross horizontal bar,
changed my love for soccer for ever.

To the late Cappy, though I have never known you but at once began to search your love of soccer
from people who have known you then. May Almighty God's love and mercy decent on your soul for
eternity. I also take this opportunity to extend my condolence to his family, the players of Real de
Banjul especially those that played with him and all soccer lovers around.

The author of the article can be reached at editor@gainako.com. Please send in your articles
for publication.

A REJOINDER TO Gainako's
.............EDITORIAL
..............................By Janko, The Gambia.................April 21st, 2008
Cherno Baba Jallow�s (C.B.J) article "When Journalism is the Enemy", Gainako April 10th, 2008, is
a wake-up call that goes beyond Online Newspapers and their self-styled journalism/reporting.
Thanks to the communication revolution. Whatever prompted his position, whatever validity his critics
might have, the issue call for a fraction of self-search, self-reflection. On the other hand, those days
are long gone when the preacher commands his addressees; "do as I say and not as I do!" Spent are
the days when members of the congregation are spectators and not active participants in the reliability
scrutiny.

This communication revolution, when everything seems speedy and the only means forward is
self-proclamation, gives occasion to re-evaluate not only professionalism but also the concept of time
and space. The question we are faced is how we compensate the lost notion of distance and whether
the principle of "immediacy": that the nearer an event the more newsworthy, is still valid. The
perception of time and space has changed therefore news reporting is based on the relationship a
reporter has to an event and not how near (distance) the event is to the reporter. However,
cautiousness is a very appropriate tool.

Nevertheless, that is not the point here, rather focus is on C.B.J`s observation, which insinuates a
bigger misconception, the catch-22 of professionalism amid us Gambians. It is when self-proclamation
becomes overwhelming to the limit of becoming unhelpful, that we are obliged to scrutinise its validity
and its root in our society and discuss its disadvantage to our aims and objectives for development.

It is widespread that people claim being doctors, lawyers, accountants, managers, students,
businesspersons, civil servants, politicians, police, security personnel etc. without acquiring any
formal training, on-the-job-training or classroom training. However, self-given titles post great risks for
existence. What I intend to discuss here is the possible origin of the idea of self-proclamation in our
society, by remembering my own growing-up, along with recalling some events connected to
self-proclaimed professionals.

Blowing ones own trumpet, self-proclamation is a human virtue that did not start with cyber journalists
or cyberjournalism nor initiated by the communication revolution. It is typical but not genetic. From
where is this egocentric and self-fulfilling disposition? Surely, not a genetic disposition hence our
grandparents had selfless collective social and economic relations and being humble and honest are
some of the benchmarks of good neighborliness and a yardstick for good human being. Subsequently
the self �proclamation virus is from our, environment's learning process, an educational system that
excludes our everyday reality and history. The self-proclamation virus I claim is implicit in the
education mechanism, in Mary's little lamb whose face was white like snow and not bright like
morning sun, or grey like rice-field-mud, or brownish like groundnut-field-soil. The question is
complex and there is no absolute answer. One thing is certain; it is a toubabou karanding virus.
Therefore, to get a grasp of where the virus infection began calls for focusing the microscope on the
school and daily activities of the toubabou karandingo therein.

The school day begins at home, a completely different environment from the school. The aesthetics
manifested by the school-uniform sets a difference between us going to school and they farm workers,
and those going to Koran school, they and we demarcation therefore establishes at a very early stage
of our upbringing. Thereby a hierarchy between the traditional collective consciousness and individual
consciousness is established. With the help of transition rites in songs, content of textbooks and other
behavioural coaching the hierarchy is strengthen in the school system.

From the morning assembly to the classroom the pupils sing: "We are all going to our classes with
clean hands and faces to pay great attention to what we are told. Oh� learning is better than silver
and gold." The song transits the singer from normality into the roll of a pupil and signals the beginning
of no vernacular (no speaking of mother tongue) principle. In the classroom, the pupils learn
everything else except that pertaining to the everyday reality they live in. I remember the most popular
teacher in the school was the geography teacher who specialised on the American Tundra region. We
loved him; his lessons were always about the weather seasons in America and Europe nothing about
our seasons or climate. Another song that ends the school day goes: "Our daily school is over we are
going home, goodbye, goodbye teacher, we hope to see again." This song transits the pupils back to
their everyday reality and signals the end of the no vernacular period. Back at home, the pupils find
themselves in the everyday reality, again (a child of two cities).

Going to school is a privilege, pupils are treated different and feel different at home, they are exempted
from farming even whereas they work, less is expected from them than others who are in the same
age. Discontinuing school at primary school level, or junior secondary or secondary high, or technical,
or form one, or upper six, or college or university does not change belonging to the toubabou
karandingo category. The dilemma of the primary school dropout is not learning other skills like
farming and yet has no qualification to get office jobs but still belongs to the category of the
"educated". On the other hand, this false title came to hunt many in the mid 90s in the form of
a new phenomenon call "nervseh". Which befall only young unemployed youths: presumably, those
inevitably accepting the false title, educated. The symptom of this disorder is insistent obsession with
thoughts of going abroad, toubaboudu. The fatigue from restlessness, the false hope plus other social
shortcomings results in psychoses, nervseh.

The early 80�s witnessed another very serious incident caused by self-proclamation. A gentleman from
toubaboudu (a been-to), proclaimed himself a medical doctor and people entrusted him with their
lives, which turned out to be a deadly misfortune for some and a lifetime injure for others. On arrival in
Gambia, the said gentleman made a tour of the provinces. He went from village to village injecting
patience with his bewitched malsterilized syringes. By the time, he was through with his rampage many
healthy persons lost their lives and many more left lamed for life. Would the outcome of this unethical
expedition have been the same had the gentleman had a proper training? No, because the danger of
using un-sterilized syringes is a basic professional knowledge, thumb rules of medical expertise.

I met a classmate the last time I was in Gambia, 2008. While weexchanged greetings he told me; "I
am a doctor now". I was very glad for him for I knew him a hardworking man who took good care of
his family. When where you citified, I asked. Oh, no, not like that, I mean, I have a motorbike, travel
upcountry and sell medicine, he said. What kind of medicine do you sell or and administer, I asked.
Everything, from tablets to injections, he said. Oh� was my reaction, from the stunt. Nevertheless, I
managed parting with him cordially. When I later complained to my friend walking with me: these
kinds of doctors are in abundance here, he replied, without a grain of surprise in his voice.

Self-proclaimed professionals lack basic merits. Professional qualities are not just rules and regulations
but achievements gotten through many years of on- the- job- training or through a form of classroom
training. The training provides not only the occupational capability but also gives a sense of maturity to
detach work from pleasure, private from public and gives the insight that, rights come with
responsibilities, priorities with obligations, possibilities with limitations. Hocus-pocus has never been a
way to achieve professional qualities.

Is it possible that this, self-fulfilling, self-proclamation, self-entitlement, self, self, self is the virus eating
up the spirit of our collective identity? If so, we need a concoction, an immunization and an antivirus
program to remedy the deterioration. This chronic infection hinders national development and the
sense of national pride.

Copyright, 2006-2008: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers