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Gainako on-line Newspaper (GON) Motto: Guardianship & Independence |
The President Alhagie Dr. Yahya Jammeh's 8th day of tour in the provinces was reviewed by the GRTS. According to Mr Kebba Dibba of the GRTS, who followed the president on his tour said the tour cannot be separated from politics because the issue is always cropping up during the tour. Mr. Dibba said the issue of high food prices is always coming up. He said president Jammeh said he has put in very good policies and programs but they have not succeeded as planned or have not been bearing fruits.. This is why he said the president calls on the people to go back to the land; that prices continued to go up despite the good policies that are put in place. Interestingly enough, Mr. Dibba reported that the president has also given subsidies to the farmers but as he said that too did not bring the food prices down. What is however clear is that it is against the IMF policies which the Jammeh regime accepts and signed that bar the Government from giving subsidies to farmers. So as far as the reports are concerned, the Jammeh regime has neither answers to the food crisis nor any solutions to the plight of the ordinary people. So to say that the government has given subsidies to the farmers is most surprising to many an enlightened observer. In fact the president said on the 7th day of the tour that he does not want anyone to tell him about the rising price of food; that he is tired of hearing that and all he can say is for people to go back to the land. The state however needs to come out clear and clarify whether that statement is correct or not. People are also expecting the opposition to ask for clarification as to whether the state is giving any subsidy to the farmers or has it defaulted the agreement with the IMF and the World Bank. According to Kebba Dibba, Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara also addressed a large gathering at Katamina in Niamina District where a water project has been initiated and praised president Jammeh that no one should call Jammeh a dictator because he has submitted himself to the Gambian people; that he Juwara has joined Jammeh for development. GRTS Kebba Dibba also said he has observed during the mass rally in Soma that one man who followed president Jammeh with ill intentions eventually fell down ostensibly because of Jammeh's supernatural powers. If Kebba Dibba's report is anything to go by, then the Jammeh government is very much concerned about the reports emanating from Gambia's online papers. He said people should not believe in reports presented by the online papers. Many Gambians see it as a blessing that technology has availed them with alternative news different from what the Jammeh regime deliberately and forcefully bombard them with in the national media directly financed by their tax money. Many show it as an abuse of power. However the president is said to have cut short his tour because he was to attend the International Women's Day but the president was nowhere to be seen during the celebrations which was turned into an APRC gathering in which the state provides Ashobi uniforms in Green color, the color of the ruling party to the women folk. .CRY NO MORE FARMERS ...OF MY FATHERLAND .............By Kebba Sanneh (Nyanchor) Stockholm, Sweden................May 12th, 2008 Farmers of The Gambia, your days are coming and that day no one would dare insult you again. You deserve the respect of the nation that you feed. You deserve the respect due to men and women of dignity. The Gambia would remain faithful and loyal to you. Rude and ungrateful people in the skin of Jammeh could not smear your bright and shining endeavours. It was meet the farmers tour by the head of state but Jammeh and his criminal cartels are running around the country in manner suitably called gather the people and insult them tour. I would and may clearly demonstrate that we as Gambians must be a little more careful when dealing with a man that is so unstable, half baked literate, full of anger germinated from his own sociologically and psychologically complexed childhood life. Rejected, forgotten and mattered less than any child with love of parents, Jammeh believes he could compensate for the lost time and attention due to any child. Jammeh thinks he could become a parent and father not only to his Nar son but to the entire family of his and that in his rotten brains is the Gambia. Jammeh would be surprised and he would feel abandoned and betrayed by the same people whom he dared open his big mouth and insult and scare. Psychologists and sociologist for a very long time have devoted their lives and carriers to diagnose men in the nature of Jammeh, dug and dug deeper to substantiate their claims and findings in order to give correct analyses in the sudden anger and mind change of these deprived people. Jammeh is sick and he is a pot that indeed has been boiling over for a decade now, and undoubtedly he dirties no one else but himself and his future. Time will tell and will tell it as it is and that is when Jammeh would be woken up from his nightmares or dreams and fantasies of curbing and subduing the gallant and proud people of the Gambia. We would always give fools long ropes knowing very well that they would ultimately hang themselves at the end. If President Jammeh's father, Junkung Jammeh became a sub regional play boy by being the Casanova father of a deranged man in the flesh of Jammeh, so let Jammeh blamed his mother Asombi Bojang who was seduced by the champion wrestler and Jammeh became the product. The Gambia and the people would not trade insults with Jammeh because they know that they brought him up and they can bring him down at the time of their choosing. Those criminals and academic and intellectual prostitutes that are hell bent on keeping this insanity going on for this long must be reminded that their cheap and easy lifestyles that this wicked and senseless man introduced them to at the expense of the Gambian people, would come to be tested on the high seas of the democratic and progressive force that is just behind the current waves of injustice and total cruelty and lack of mercy in our country. There would be calls for those who in one way or they other meted and inflicted harm on our people. They would be called to testify against the Pharaoh of Kanilai who claimed to be the god of our people. This shameless and fatherless child who roamed around with his accomplices from all ethnic groups in the Gambia, insulting and threatening our freedom and cherished way of life would be held responsible for the menace and lawlessness in the country. It is indeed high time, time of responsibility and selfless struggle to set the people of the Gambia free. It would take not one to accomplish this heavy duty task but it must be bored in our minds, firm and strong that our ultimate freedom and way forward could only be realised when we can take political blows that red our noses but vow to fight back to restore the dignity and widen respect lost under this decade of misrule and totalitarianism. I have said it before and again I wish to emphasise that, I NYANCHOR of the offsprings of the great Kabu empire would not rest and would not give up hope, will not compromise and is dedicated to fighting this evil until it is finally destroyed and contained. The will of our silent majority, which is the total freedom and liberty of our people, would not be surrendered to a deranged man of no parental brought up. I have no reason to hide or surrender to people who have no respect for the poor farmers of the Gambia among whom I began my life and certainly wish to end it with. I will say as it is and let the bigot come to his defence. Jammeh would learn the wrath of our people just as he dirtied himself in our sea of hospitality that we granted him in abundance. This Godless and shameless Billy- goat would kneel down and beg for mercy when we knock on his door. There would be no place to hide and no place to run. True sons of the Gambia would liberate The Gambia, not unruly guests from across the southern border. Gambia belongs to the Gambians and not Jammeh the Psycho pant. ..................................................NEWS ...GAMBIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA ......LAUDED FOR THEIR EFFORT .........................By Courtesy of the Observer......................May 12th, 2008 The University of The Gambia (UTG), on Monday received 90 cartons of Bio-medical text books worth to 70,000 US Dollars, from the United State African Development Foundation (USADF), a charitable organisation in United State. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr Gumbo Ali Touray, Director of International Affairs and Information UTG, said that, these medical books are extremely valuable for the School of Medicine and other affiliated bodies. On behalf of UTG, Dr Touray registered their appreciations and gratitude to USADF and Dr Ahmad Rufai Abdallah the president of USADF in making this donation possible. He also extended appreciation to the Gambian community in North Carolina being coordinated by Dr Cherno Jaye for devoting their time and money to assist their national university. “UTG needs all this support and assistance to make it a viable university,” he oulined. For his part, Dr Cherno Jaye, a member of UNADF, said that his organisation’s mission is to narrow the gap on both side of the Atlantic in terms of partnership in the sectors of health, science and technology. “I spoke to the president of the need for the medical text book to be sent to the UTG and we reach to the conclusion of bringing these medical books, here in the Gambia with the help of Gambians in North Carolina, USA”, he disclosed. He added that the books are purposely for the students. He urged them to make good use of it and try to apply what they learn from the book and it will obviously contribute to the quality of the people and the society. Bully Camara, president of UniGaMSA thanked the donors and called on others to emulate such an initiative ....TEMPERATURE TOO ... HIGH FOR COMFORT ............................By Solo, Banjul correspondent....May 10th, 2008 Reports reaching this reporter spoke of very high temperatures in the provinces mainly the Central River Region (CRR) and the Upper River Region (URR) of the the Gambia. According to a concerned residents in Basse and environs, temperatures on Sunday 4th May, 2008 have exceeded 45oCelsius / 113 o Fahrenheit in the URR; that people have observed that birds like bats and chameleons have been seen falling down from trees which they attribute to the unbearable temperatures. Asked how he knows that the temperature is up to 45oC, he said an overseas volunteer who has a thermometer with him told them about it. It has been observed by the weather forecasters over Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) during the period that temperatures have been fluctuating between 20 and 35oC in the Coastal areas and 26oC and above in the Inland areas of the Gambia. .........MOTHER'S DAY ........Picnic Excites Gambian In Atlanta As mother's day weekend approaches, Gambians of all ages in Atlanta- young and old are filled with excitement, anticipation and above all, an unprecedented support of the 2008 annual Mother's Day Picnic scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 1th, 2008 @ The YMCA on Campbellton Road. Organized on behalf of Gambian Women and Children by the newly formed Gambia Families Association, there are already signs and indications from the many donations, pledges and above all the number of volunteers that the Picnic will be full of entertainment, and a chance for Gambians to get together once more just to celebrate with our families and loved ones. With DJ King Solomon poised to entertain the crowd to the fullest, a package of fun programs for the children to participate in, mixed with Bai Tama's NDONGKINDONG rhythms, traditional "Hunting and Fairy" dancing complemented with a performance by Shola Lewis' mesmerizing reggae vibes, and other possible performances by other artists, it is obvious and certain that this will be a Mother's Day Picnic like none other before in Atlanta. We therefore encourage all Gambians in Atlanta to attend this picnic for a chance to win the flat screen TV GFAA will be giving away with other raffled items. The men are eager to show Gambian women folk and children their profound appreciation. All Gambian Men in the area are also strongly encouraged to contribute and participate as GFAA is geared towards bridging and building our families together. ....Press release: For immediate release ....................................7th May 2008 The National Youth Agency Getting it right for young people New resource pack on Global Youth Work - now it's personal A new resource pack from The National Youth Agency gives youth workers a host of reasons to involve themselves in global youth work and a range of practical ways in which they can do so. Global Youth Work: Taking it Personally is geared towards practitioners who work face-to-face with young people. Joint editor Momodou Sallah, from De Montfort University, said: "it will help make the personal, local, national and global connections between 'things out there' and 'things in here'." In a foreword to the pack Malcolm Payne, Head of Youth and Community at De Montfort University, Leicester, said: "To 'think globally, act locally' in the words of Friends of the Earth's founder David Brower, began to take a strong foothold in our education and training programmes for youth workers more than 15 years ago. Now, its influences can be found across the curriculum: in how our youth work values are articulated; in the approach we take to anti-oppressive practice; in examining new arenas of social policy; in the thinking we bring to our study of sociology; in the choices students make; and not least, as a specific focus of student modules. This book illustrates how thinking and practice continue to evolve." The ten sections in the pack consider a range of issues including human values; body image; gangs and crime; the clothing industry; refugees; the war on terror; religious identity; music; and sustainable development. Each chapter discusses the topic and offers a range of related activities that aim to make global youth work more accessible to youth workers both as a philosophy and a delivery tool. Momodou Sallah and joint editor Sophie Cooper, Global Youth Work Officer with Cyfanfyd, which works to develop global citizenship in Wales, said: "Globalisation has become of increasing significance as evidenced by the fact that Gordon Brown identified it as one of six priorities to build a 'stronger, fairer Britain'. It refers to the world coming together due to closer economic, cultural, environmental, political and technological interactions resulting in global interdependence". "The urgency to engage in global youth work - the process of working with young people to make the personal, local, national and global connections and, if need be take action - is exacerbated by the recognition that it goes beyond the moral and green imperatives. It is increasingly linked to the economic imperative and the security and survival imperative". "This means that engagement with Global Youth Work can no longer be about just 'doing the right thing and easing one's conscience'. Of equal importance is the growing necessity to recognise the economic and security imperatives for the survival of all humankind." Practitioners, managers, policy makers and educators will find a range of valuable resources in Global Youth Work: Taking it Personally to develop their own understanding and practice, and that of the young people with whom they work. It is available, price £14.95 plus £2 post and packaging from The National Youth Agency Publication Sales. Tel: 0116 242 7427. E-mail: sales@nya.org.uk The National Youth Agency is grateful to Ycare International for its support of this publication. Notes to News Editor For more information or to request a review copy please see The NYA website at www.nya.org.uk or e-mail Andy Hopkinson at andyh@nya.org.uk The National Youth Agency, Eastgate House, 19-23 Humberstone Road, Leicester LE5 3GJ. Tel: 0116 242 7350. E-mail: nya@nya.org.uk Websites: www.nya.org.uk youthinformation.com ...................Exclusive Interview ......THE WATCHMAN .................................By GON.................May 8th, 2008 GON: Many readers at (GON) marvel at your prose. Many admire the crispness of your insights and the concise language with which you articulate your thoughts. Many in their mails to us tip their hat to you for your immense literary prowess. However the dilemma faced by this paper is how to interview someone who is using a pen name and without his picture. While, this is unprecedented in the history of this Paper, however we also recognized the somber reality that people and their families can and have been victimized for their opinions as a consequence of using their real names in matters about the Gambia. (The State VS Fatou Jaw-Manneh) and this more than anything else is our rationale for conducting such interviews and our broader understanding on the need for some to resort to such pragmatic approaches. Please describe yourself to our readers and why you chose this nom de guerre "The watchman" The WATCHMAN: Thank you (GON). Allow me to say that your approach to online Gambian news is highly conducive to respectable interlocution between interested parties. You all have been very kind and restrained in your dealings with not only me but anyone who's made an overture. I am a proud Gambian, very shy and averse to publicity but full of passionate opinions about the fate of our country as you can tell. My interests are soccer, music, improving the intellect, African delicacies (I love Benachin) and my family. I was born and raised in Banjul, relatively young and irrepressibly optimistic about the future. I opted for the nom de guerre "The Watchman" because I observed while practically a toddler, that the watchmen who guarded my residence saw everything, knew a lot, and protected what was deemed at stake but were literally anonymous and virtually ignored. Their value was instantly recognized and exponentially increased when they fended off thieves and other threats to the household. Yahya Jammeh is a thief. I am assiduously making sure he does not pilfer the life and soul of The Gambia. Hence the name "The Watchman". GON: In September 23rd, 2007 you wrote your first piece to Gainako entitle "What Sankanu shows about Gambian democracy" in which you amongst other things stated that, and I quote " One gets the impression that when Mr. Sankanu "writes" the motive is not one of elucidating conversation but grandiose attempts to prove EVERYBODY wrong. There is also a thinly veiled anti-US slant in his rants, which betrays contempt for those Gambians residing stateside. Why this harsh assessment to a man that some considered not only a brilliant writer but also a very objective critic, and will it surprise you to know that Mr. Sankanu does have a substantial fan base on-line. The WATCHMAN: Fair question. You see, I think Mr. Sankanu has potential to do a lot of civic good with his obvious talents. What really disturbs my conscience and spurs me to object to his approach is not the person himself but the flamboyant and careless modus operandi with which his allegedly objective opined solutions have been effected. I believe that journalists and other commentators online or elsewhere should be moderate and dignified in espousing views on very critical issues such as the tools, strategies and productive abstractions that societies with a real hunger for the fruits of authentic democracy can employ to overthrow tyrants or facilitate the rule of law. This is necessary because it insulates them from accusations of a lack of credibility and makes it clear they have no ulterior yearnings. It is one thing to say life in Germany is relatively better than in The Gambia. It is absolute triviality when Sankanu slyly injects his allegedly new found opulence and supposed romantic prowess into serious discourse of life and death situations facing the less empowered back home. It makes him look like the famous bumbler and day dreamer of them all, Don Quixote de La Mancha who imagined himself a prince and engaged in duels with imaginary monsters. If Sankanu wants to engage the reading public on matters that are obviously personal or inadvertently silly, he could consider a weekly column online where he can make us laugh and shake our heads in appreciation and wonder. Then he wont be taken to task because others like me will realize it is just comedy. He has yet to totally condemn the nefarious activities of the APRC cabal. This is a glaring case of hedging his bets. GON: In all your writings, like a one-man crusade there is always a strong Anti-Yahya Jammeh theme, matter of fact you've gather quite a large following in the process. Consequently some people, wonder if you are not just another disgruntle former employee of the very man you now so despised. For we've witness far too many instances of former Gambian civil servant engaged in this double standards. The WATCHMAN: Ha! I've actually cracked up at these musings that have been rumbling for a while now. I left The Gambia 3 years before Yahya Jammeh lurked into and defiled our State House. To be honest with you, I miss home dearly and it breaks my heart to see what has been and continues to be Yahya Jammeh's messy and bloody contravention of universal Human Rights and common sense rules of decency for 14 tormented years. One trait I have which sometimes gets me into trouble is that I never mute or suppress my objection to injustice and never would have tarnished my still intact self respect by jumping onto the Jammeh freak show band wagon. In fact, had I been around him after he toppled the Jawara regime on July 22nd, Yahya Jammeh would have plotted to have me executed on July 23rd. My visceral dislike of Yahya Jammeh's antics comes from a deep belief that this man is so mediocre, so unattractive as an ambassador of Gambian or even African goodwill and so ugly in his crude machinations to hold on to power that he should be disposed of forthwith ! You and I can do a better job and garner a lot more well deserved accolades were we to be entrusted with steering the wheels of Gambia's welfare. GON: Our editorial team, with the help some behavioral science guys, made this profile of you, purely based on your writings, that you are; a) Highly educated Gambian b) You briefly worked for the APRC c) You enjoyed access & privileges during the PPP regime d) You are angry at The APRC because you lost the position in [c] e) Your criticisms are not motivated by any altruistic reasons for the love of the Gambian ....people but rather by reasons stated [d] f) Giving similar privileges in [c] by the APRC, the watchman would abandon his post How wrong is this profile? The WATCHMAN: If this was a crucial exam to pass with flying colors, you guys would have failed miserably. You only got supposition A right but flunked the rest. I was a teenager during most of the PPP regime which rules out any employment history under that administration. I was friends with all kinds of people however, from those closest to halls of power to the blind beggar at the junction who asked me for 50 Bututs on cue as I walked to school. Let me let you guys in on a secret: my family and background consist of extremely moderate and dignified individuals. None of them, myself included, will ever work for Yahya Jammeh and our pride as a family that has been involved in public service to The Gambia since the earliest of colonial times, when the Union Jack flew all over the world to warrant the saying " the sun never sets on the British Empire", wont allow us to join him in his pathetic misadventures even at gun point. There is an excellent volume on modern Chinese History by Harrison Salisbury which examines the birth of the republic from its founder Dr. Sun Yat Sen , its despot Mao Zedong and its great reformer Deng Xiaoping called The New Emperors. In it, Mr. Salisbury details how Mao Zedong, while not the brightest and smartest among the cadre of China's leaders, nevertheless used guile, treachery and organized terror to outwit and out maneuver more charismatic and intelligent rivals. This is what Yahya Jammeh has perfected to high art. This is the biggest knowledge that has honed my core value: I believe that unto whom much has been given much is required and serving Jammeh might as well be committing Seppuku, the Japanese art of ritual suicide by disembowelment. GON: Your recent criticism of Cherno Baba Jallow's article while within your purview (as well as many others) raised this Question. Is it fair for you writing as "The Watchman" to criticized people who not only uses their real name but even attached their picture to their writings, while you on the other hand shield yourself from similar scrutiny by using a pen name, in essence remain anonymous thereby limiting your critics only to the wrings you did under this pen and not to the whole body of work you probably did in the past under your real name? The WATCHMAN: You will be taken aback to know that prior to my humble contributions to various online Gambian media, I had never penned a public article or anything else for that matter. My hand was forced to act when I came upon the riotous behavior of Sankanu, Cherno Baba Jallow and their ilk. My tact on writing anonymously or via an alias takes from the style that commentators from political websites such as Daily Kos assume when they add to the views on the condition of these United States. One of the diarists, as these authors are called, is Poblano. He is very popular, prescient and accurate when it comes to poll and other electoral minutiae but no one knows who he is. Unlike the Gambian writers who crave acknowledgement and kudos and exposure for their works, the diarists at Daily Kos know what matters more is the righting of the ship that is society today, not who they are. I happen to come from that school of thought so there you have it. GON: In your views why is there always an endless cadre of Gambian intellectuals, vying for positions within the APRC government, Men & women who by their training (…higher education) should know right from wrong, yet chose to served the very government some considered autocratic. The WATCHMAN: Greed, vanity and pride are 3 of the 7 deadly sins. Greed motivates intellectuals to compromise their morals for venal gains. Vanity makes these Gambian intellectuals believe Yahya Jammeh will see them as different and appreciate their efforts to help him build the psychic and physical infrastructure of The Gambia. Pride is exhibited when they see themselves on GRTS or other media being paraded around as the newest government appointees. We all know what comes before a fall. You reminded me that I hate being called an intellectual because Pol Pot the slaughterer of Cambodia's millions in '79 and the shameless intellectuals in The Gambia's cabinet are one and the same. All of Gambia's ministers are accomplices to murder, obstruction of justice, larceny, kidnapping and public indecency. They choose to stay in the Gulag because their master Jammeh, has effectively manipulated their allegiance by shifting it from the sovereign Gambian people to himself. He is the master of puppets. GON: The Gambian opposition parties still reeling from the failure of NADD is yet to regain, its momentum. While groups such as STGDP (save the Gambia democracy project) have been rekindled as seen through their recent press release. Do you see any hope in the horizon for the opposition in the Gambia after the last debacle? The WATCHMAN: The key to effective opposition success, and I hope NADD and STGDP heeds this, is not to expect success in one fell swoop. The ANC was about 60 years or more in existence before it topple Apartheid in 1994. What Gambian opposition groups can do is set up an aggressive media opposition and shadow government in exile to counter every bit of propaganda that the Daily Observer and other state controlled orifices spew forth. This is in essence being done by exile online publications but NADD and STGDP should have media consultants and message gurus to apply pressure at all times. Next they should be aggressive in building alliances with international groups vested in the promotion of Human Rights the world over. The international outcry over China's role in Tibet is proof of strategic networking for publicity. Third they should persevere. No one gave Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe's MDC opposition any chance to bring Robert Mugabe to his creaky knees. They are very close at this juncture. It should be brought to the attention of Gambia's opposition that words wont cut it when it comes to retaking The Gambia from Jammeh's blood stained paws. Aggressive fund raising to provide material goods to the deprived back home to counter Jammeh's corrupt practice of enticing loyalty through largesse. Once these measures are embarked on with gusto, the APRC loons will quake in trepidation and the opposition can squeeze an advantage. GON: There is this "school of thought" that claims that Gambians by nature are self serving individuals who never finds anything wrong with any system as longs they are not directly affected That even if the APRC is replaced tomorrow the behavior will continued unabated into the next regime. Do you subscribe to this view? The WATCHMAN: No because the onset of the internet age has disbursed knowledge and opened the floodgates to political sophistication amongst the proletariat. Remember the APRC regime is extremely repressive and the reaction of Gambia's people is out of much needed and understandable self-preservation. The subsistence quality of life in The Gambia is such that as long as NIA operatives are not hunting for the next "terrorist" or "subversive" amongst Gambia's peace loving public, most persons will be busy fending for themselves because contrary to his lofty proclamations, Yahya Jammeh's deeds have not contributed enough food on the table for the average Gambian family. Instead he has fed them a daily diet of fear. When he is finally shooed away from the trapping of influence, the jubilation will rival that of Iraqis dancing in the street to celebrate Saddam's demise. And mark my words, after Jammeh, Gambians cannot and will not tolerate the same shenanigans to occur again. GON: While much have been made of Yahya Jammeh lack of higher education. However He has ruled the Gambia well over a decade now. He has outwitted all his former comrades that were instrumental in the July 1994 coup. He claimed to found the cure for AIDS amongst other diseases, even Dr. Mboob a trained medical practitioner validating these claims. To some, people all this is rather an aberration, an anomaly they say. But to what do you attribute his success and longevity? The WATCHMAN: In his now notorious political memoir Mein Kampf , Adolf Hitler rightly professed that only the biggest lies will be accepted as true so if one is going to fabricate castles in the air, they'd better do it grandiloquently. What desperate, low educated and suffering villager wont like to believe that finally a cure to his/her wretchedness is here at last. I think I already answered why Jammeh has been durable in extending his reign but he is master of the cult of personality. Also he is adept cultivating a sense of unpredictability even amongst his most fervent insiders. Let me give you an example. Joseph Stalin killed Russian millions in the first half of the last century. His bodyguard walked back and forth in shoes that made a particular sound and after years of protecting his master, he decided his shoes were creating a slight commotion that might prevent Stalin from sleeping soundly. When he finally swapped shoes and walked back and forth without his feet squeaking, Stalin immediately noticed, became suspicious and had the bodyguard executed. Yahya Jammeh is no Joseph Stalin but all dictators come from the same source of eternal damnation and venomous evil. Unfortunately, these traits, unless they are faced with resolve and courage, can be adequate tools at preserving heft. GON: What are your prognostics of the future of the Gambia under the APRC? The WATCHMAN: Life will be nasty, brutish and short but there is hope. I want to extend my solidarity to the family of Fatou Jaw Manneh, the Athena of African journalists. She is a bona fide hero and until she is set free, I will do my all to let justice reign. With quality individuals like her, The Gambia will surely rebound from the Dark Age of Yahya Jammeh's lunatic ravings and decadent rampages. God bless and protect our beloved homeland. ................Gambia's first UK based ..Society & Entertainment Magazine Out Soon .................................By Alieu Khan.................May 7th, 2008 The vibrant culture, tradition, society and nature of Senegambia heralded the start of Gambia's first society magazine in the United Kingdom. The maiden edition of this magazine called Nice Mag, will be out in June 2008. According to the founders of Nice Mag, the fashion, beauty, personalities and achievements of Gambians abroad have not been given the required attention in the past and this is what this new magazine is out to cover. Divorced totally from politics, Nice Mag will undoubtedly offer a holistic view of Gambian developments in the arts, sciences, culture, society and lots more. In case you wondering, one the people behind this whole initiative and the Managing Director of Nice Mag UK Ltd is best known with the sobriquet Bio. He is the manager of Gambia's most popular rap group Da Fugitivz and the European agent for Viviane. Bio lived in Sweden for many years, before he moved over to UK. His presence is always felt where ever he is, because of his commitment to Gambian showbiz. The maiden edition of Nice Mag will spotlight a hardworking Gambian entrepreneur in estate business, celebrity gossips you have never heard, exclusive interviews, Gambian parties, gatherings and much other interesting stuff. It's widely believed that it's going to be a hip, exciting magazine that will keep all Gambians smiling with joy. You can visit the magazine's site at www.nicemag.com. .....SEYFO MORRO JAWLA SACKED .........................By A Sami Resident..........................May 7th, 2008 The people of Sami district on Monday, April 21st, were the happiest people ever in the tiny Gambia when Morro Jawla was finally sacked by the powerful president Yahya Jammeh. He has been replaced by Kibo Leigh of Sami Pachonki village, a staunch supporter of APRC. Morro Jawla became chief of Sami in August, 2000 when the Supreme Court of The Gambia terminated Kebba Fanta Komma?s chieftaincy and declared an election for the vacant position. Morro Jawla has been the second chief to be humiliated by the president despite all his support for him at the district level thus making him to be at odds with people. Morro's arrogance during his chieftaincy has caught people at a great surprise as he is known to be a very disciplined and responsive man. Since his decency to the chieftaincy, he distanced himself from the people who voted him to the position. Morro is also known for his anti- opposition comments and sentiments at political rallies and on Radio Basse. Most people here in Sami are wondering what reasons must have caused the president to remove one of his loyal servants who insults people to appease him (the president). People have a very little sympathy for him and even among his own relatives who accused him for been too pompous, rude, arrogant and full of pride. At one of the village Bantaba's, the villagers said they will now resort to prayers at the mosque during their five daily congregational prayers to seek God's protection from the evils of the likes of Morro Jawla. The question that most people are asking about the fate of Morro, an illiterate and unskilled man is that if the Custom and Excise department will allow him to return to his former position. Allowing him to return to that job people wonder if that will not jeopardize the job of those at the higher authority at the Custom and Excise department by employing someone who is already been sacked by president Jammeh. Morro is in a very sorry situation. But again, he deserved it. In order to avoid embarrassment, the sacked chief hired a motorcycle to ferry him to Bansang at the early hours of Tuesday morning, April 22nd to leave the entire Sami district. As I file this report, his whereabouts is unknown. Some say he is at his marabout at Pakaliba or Serrekunda. But one thing is certain that Morro Jawla is not in the village. He is now a fugitive from his own people. .............The Chronicles of Bai Peul .....THE GRADUATION .........................By Momodou Laama Jallow.................May 6th, 2008 .."Perplexed, bewildered even embarrassed, many of the guests decide to leave before any more damaged is done in their presence. The following morning, news of this meltdown hit the community like a tornado, many .realized that what has happened is no graduation ceremony but rather the coronation of a fool, a nincompoop .who is about to unleashed his double degrees wisdom to an unsuspecting community that has nothing but love .for him. ....Many lamented how they once hope his education, and training would mold him into a better soul" Today is my day! I repeated Today! Is my day! Pointing his finger to the crowd of guest that was in attendance, punctuating with emphasis every syllable in the word "Today". I want everyone here to know that I, Bai Peul paid for this microphone, paid for this D.J playing the music, and paid for all this food and drink you are about to devour. Today I want everyone here to know, that I Bai Puel have graduated with double degrees in History and History. This was the opening speech of a bizarre graduation ceremony in the city of Waleigh that in the years since then many came to regard as a defining moment, a watershed event if you will to a character whose antics like a modern day T.V soap opera was truly remarkable. Today all my critics will know that I am now, Mr. "Andu Fof" Mr. "Ayaa Belon" Mr. "Ham Lep" Mr. "Sabi all", and Mr."Kone Tout", continues Bai Puel. His guest caught off guard by this sudden and unexpected tirade, froze for a moment unsure what to make of this bizarre introduction from a man who like a wily politician had for weeks canvases every hamlet in the community, urging folks, begging, even enticing the homeless, imploring everyone to attend his graduation ceremony. Surely this is an occasion that should be marked by congratulatory remarks and merriment some began to wonder. Suddenly someone in the crowd yelled "Boy Melah", he turned to face that direction. The name "Boy Melah", reminds him of his conquest in another realm and the word is dear to his heart, a small smile came across his face. A sweat broke from his forehead run from his face and little tears came down his cheeks. He pauses briefly to catch his breath, and then raised the microphone, and turning towards the other guest continues. His face now fully covered with sweat, his nostrils a degree larger than normal. My struggle in this town is epic and without precedence he continues. I have driven a cab for 24 hrs non-stops, not even to relieve myself once while going to school at the same time. I used to do my assignment in the cab while ferrying my customer's thro and fro. I have driven to every nocks and cranny in this state. Once I even picked the Governor of this great State as a customer and he was so impressed by my command of the English language that he said that I am the smartest African he have ever met. That I reminded him of Mr. Nelson, even gave me an autograph, a one dollar bill scribbled with the word "Bombastic" as tip for my services. I used to drive my cab with one hand, and turning the pages of my textbook with the other. With one eye on the road, and the other on the book, I would be reading and driving at the same time. This, my friends is called "Multi-Tasking" in case you don't know and this word can only be found in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, of which there are limited copies and I was lucky enough to buy the last one at the corner store. In fact I drove this cab so much that the cab gave me a disease. A skin condition, that thanks to my learned friend, the great doctor Kaczynskivile, The only man in the whole world, who can cure this rare disease. Today! Is my day and all you haters, critics will listened. I paid for this microphone and I shall not be denied! In fact, I have heard some people said that my wife is even older than me. But I will answer them today and show them how uneducated they are. Now! How can I, Bai Peul be younger than my wife when I was in the same class with her? You see those naysayers can't figure this simple answer, this simple logic but how can they? He asked when they never went to a university, never earned a single degree not to mention a double degree. This complex critical thinking requires training in advanced computational logic, statistical analysis, behavioral science and deep understanding of chaos theory. I was the only African lucky enough to ever attend this privilege class. In fact I used to challenge the professor so much so that after I left the university, they decided cancelled this class for fear it makes Africans too smart. In case many people here do not know, I was once voted "Head Boy" in my school. Out of a class of 37 girls, and 1 boy, I was the only one elected head boy by the whole student body. In fact I used to write for the school paper "Wah-Rek" and the whole school was so impressed and mesmerized by the depth of my writings, that they made me the editor. I even changed the name of paper to "Wah-Kat" to give it a new perspective, personality, class and respect I brought on-board to now this reputable school. I was the first student-Journalist reporting for radio "Kang-Kang". Once I wrote an essay that went round the world twice. This achievement was never duplicated until the advent of the internet. In my final year in High school, I was voted the most "handsome boy" in the whole school district by all 38 students in my class. In fact for those of you who don't know the "Rise and Conquest" of Bai Peul as "Boy Melah" was started as a consequence of this endorsement. Anyway I will save that topic for another day. For Today! I repeat Today! Is my Day, and I shall not be denied Perplexed, bewildered even embarrassed, many of the guests decide to leave before any more damaged is done in their presence. The following morning, news of this meltdown hit the community like a tornado, many realized that what happened is no graduation ceremony but rather the coronation of a fool, a nincompoop who is about to unleashed his wisdom of double degrees to an unsuspecting community that has nothing but love for him. Many lamented how they once hope his education, and training would mold him into a better soul. How they now wish Bai Peul had stayed and complete his "Dara" studies and never touched this so called European education "Jangi Tubab" , a knowledge they fear is obviously getting him mad. Copyright, 2006-2008: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers |
Quote of The Day |
NEWS THE PRESIDENT'S DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE'S TOUR REVIEWED; Why Is The Tour Cut Short? By Solo......May 12th, 2008 |
“ Democracy, as the ideal political ideology is also a fluid concept. What the West sometimes brand as democratic could be nothing more than puppets states. Also what the East sometimes brands as democratic could be in essence a dictatorship.” ~ Momodou Laama Jallow - axioms of a shepherd |