By Michael Scales, UK.
Dear Mr.Editor,
Thankyou for allowing the piece from Mr.Lamin Bayo,formally from Ndungu Kebbeh,and lately from Boston,Ma. U.S.A...I too was a praise singer of Mr.Jammeh for many a long year, until my conscience overtook me to take a much broader view.The metamorposis,that i have undertaken ,in full view of your audience did not come easy.I am and hope i will always be...a man born of loyalty and strict confidentiality, to those who have granted me such favour.Allow me, some time to state my case, for this is not an easy undertaking for me.
Armed with the goodwill of the British Government.in 2000, I engaged both the Gambian and British Government ,to promote bilateral cooperation on trade and sport.It became apparent to me after about two years of raising several trade inititives , that my endevours ,were being blocked,at the final hurdle by the Gambian Government .The final significant ,inititive,to bring the then Minister of Trade ,the Honerable Musa H.Sillah to the U.K. as the official guest of Her Majesties Government, was scuppered by the expulsion of The British Deputy High Commisioner.Mr Bharat Joshi,3 days before embarkation, by Mr Jammeh.My anger at the time was born out of this constant frustration, which lead me to make an understandable, but fatal error.Instead of siding with my Government.I took a different view.This view born out of my personal, good, experiance of Gambian Government Ministers,allied to Mr.Jammehs declaration ,to commit to free and impartial elections leading to a Democratic State,Guided me to the following action.I was in the Gambia, the week of this political carnage,making the final preparations for this transit of Gambian officials to the U.K....Working very closely with The Foriegn and Commonwealth Office, to arrange the V.I.P. limousines and 5 star,accomodation of officials and the itinery of high profile meetings ,the length and breath of England.It should be noted,that the 100,s of hours work that i commited to these proceedings and the expense of £24.475 from my company in its connection, were of my own instigation and not reimbursed in any way shape or form by either Government.Neither, were i to gain financially in the slightest.My motus operendi, was out of my love for both countries.
On returning to the U.K. on the following weekend,I drove to my office at 10 p.m. in the evening on the Saturday, to despatch a fax to The Office of The President in The Gambia.On the following Monday..I spoke at length with my close contact at the British Government, who expressed great sympathy to me knowing how id toiled for these years to bring these two great nations together.My contact informed me that the British Government was considering,the restriction of Trade and Tourism,from the U.K. to The Gambia.A move that would have caused,devestation to Gambias fragile economy and a high level of danger towards civil unrest ,violence and the outside possibility of British Troops,being seconded to face danger in restorring order,as they had done in Sierra Leone.I was given to understand ,that this decision was imminent,to a maximum of 72 Hours.My contact.who i trusted implicitly,layed before me two very narrow options.One was to walk away and let matters take there course,or lobby the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the F.O.C. to here my advice.I recall saying to my friend that these are matters which require very careful consideration and a nights sleep to contemplate.I promised i would come back with my decision early the following morning.On the Monday evening, i recieved a phone call from the Gambia.It was from a man i knew well.He had in his hands on the letter that i had faxed to the Office of The President...I asked him to verify this by reading the words I had included in the letter....This was irrifutable proof that this man was speaking to me with the knowledge of The President.He confirmed to me that the President had read the letter.I believed him.I informed the gentleman that the situation was being viewed very gravely,by the British Government and that it was likely that trade and tourism would would suffer.The gentleman screamed !!! Block.!!! It Block It !!!
There was a panic in his voice that was most uncomfortable and desparate.I relayed this information to my confidential contact of our Government...and said that i decided to send a letter to The P.U.at the F.O.C. to outline my concern and express my deep forbodeing,should our Government take such extreme steps against The Gambia.On Tuesday evening at home The highly placed Gambian Gentleman phoned again to enquire the state of play.I confirmed that i had written a letter which was with the British Government,but could offer no guarantee that a favourable outcome would be forthcomming.In the days that followed the British reponse was to order the removal of Mr.Joshis equivalent at the Gambian High Commission in London from our shores.This is the very minimum response...which is commensurate with political protocol of this nature.For my part..I commend the British response as wise and showing mature and unreproachable wisdom.
Why should the Gambian people suffer for the actions of there Government ?
It should be noted....A British High Commissioner is in essence..the direct representative of Her Majesty The Queen of England and the Head of the Commonwealth. To ask her representative to leave the Gambia is akin to asking Her Majesty to leave.This is a grave insult to every British citizen. ...Not a matter to be taken lightly by any God fearing Englishman.
In the days that followed.i recieved a letter from The F.O.C. recommending what my future response should be.In the letter, it assumed to put words into my mouth and the thoughts in my head.I still have this letter.
My reaction was to proclaim the President of The Gambia..a true patriot...and i reminded the British Government that he had honoured his promise to take the Gambia into Democracy and been returned at the Polls with 52.7% of the votes of the Gambian People.As a result, my standing, reputation and credibility with my own Government was tarnished and all but destroyed.This was my fatal mistake.However, in similar circumstances...i would proberbly be prepared to fall on my sword again.
In my many articles to Freedom Newspaper, i have often used the phrase.....The 11th Hour.
I placed my name . my reputation .and my credibility on the assumption that by taking the Gambian People into Democracy..Your President would show the World and my Government that, my honerable faith in him , was justified .....that this incredable support that i gave him ...was not in vain. Sadly i regret to say upon my honour .That i believe that i was wrong.
In my many subsequent letters to Mr Jammeh,{to which he has only once briefly replied}I have endeavoured to implore him to release Fatou Jaw Manneh,commit himself to furthering the unification of Africa and offer amnesty to Gambian Journalists scattered to the 4 corners of the Planet.I have even offered some sympathy to his alleged herbal cure for Hiv/Aids.
I have now for many years, tried to come to his aid in all manner of disputes.Sadly ...I can no longer justify this incredable support.
I am further, very happy to meet Mr.Jammeh at anytime,at any place, at my own expense,to exchange views and to offer reconciliation to both our positions.There remains positive thoughts towards the reunification of the Gambia and his perseeved objections to the British Government.I believe i have clearly demonstrated my total impartiality consistantly, in this regard.At immense personal cost.
For my part ,i have kept the confidences entrusted to me by those mentioned.Even under the severest Provercation.In my brief summations to Freedom Newspaper..i have imposed self restriction upon myself,to speak only on matters that i have knowledge and eyewitnessed.For to comment on other such matters would indeed allow me to be rightly condemmed through my ignorance.The determination of the Gambias Future..is indeed a matter only for Gambians.I am indeed honoured, to be proclaimed a Brother of The Gambia by a man such as Ambassador Sey and a True Gambian by the Honerable Tamsil Jallow .My investiture as an Honerable Citizen of Gunjur, is by far my most cherished possession .If my small but genuine contributions to freedom of speach, offering moral support have offended any Gambian ,then i am truly sorry.This was not my intention.The further insinuation ,that by donating £500 to Freedom to encourage sports fans into there arena ,i have somehow bribed my way into there nest.Is i believe an insult to Gambians everywhere.I am happy to stand by Gambians at anywhere and at anytime.I have never paid for this privilige...I have earned it.
Thankyou for this further intrusion into your busy day.
I remain ..at The Gambias disposal.....Michael.
Editors note: Mr.Scales you have been a true friend of the Gambia. Don't waste your time responding to such hate critics whose sole objective is to derail our efforts for just and democratic Gambia. The Freedom Newspaper holds you with high esteem and would continue to work you as far as Gambia's liberation is concerned. Let move on and ignore such enemies of Freedom. Thanks Mr.Scales for standing by us. Gambians are pround of Michael Scales and the people of England.