By Michael Scales, London UK.
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Dear Mr.Editor, The Greatest liability to The Gambias Future prosperity ,is undoubtedly ,Mr,Tweedle Dum Jammeh.He is failing as a leader ,as a role model,and as a gentleman and a visionery.
The thunder clouds of World economic downturn,are set to blow his limited vision,into the desert of failed dreams.How very sad !
The fluctuating strengths and weakness of the Pound ,the Dollar and the Euro..allied to rising World inflation,and ecomomies underpinned by trillions of personal debt currency , are set to reap the whirlwind of a world recession, which will hit the mightiest nations.Mass unemployment ,unseen for more than a generation,is forecast by many leading economic advisors.Those nations who have neglected there manufacturing industries.to aspire to market service corporations,are set to be the first casualties.For in any sustainable recovery,it is the manufacturing base that revitalises any economy.The knock on effect to aspiring nations such as The Gambia,is that its limited product range to attract foriegn currency are fair game to this very icey cold wind of falling aspirations of the Worlds Governments.
Whilst nations such as Spain,grasped the changing nature of global travel,more than 40 years ago ,to promote tourism and create temples to attract the foriegn currencies,which set a roadmap to International occupation of its terraces.Others with more exotic locations such as Africa,were very slow to cash in on this transatlantic and international migration.
In the World market place of tourism.The Gambia,has failed to understand that promotion and agressive marketing by all sustainable means,has allowed this necessary opertunity to stagnate and slowly die.It already has over capacity in Hotels ,with out developing the necessary attractions to sustain there consistant occupation.
A plain example of Mr Jammehs lack of understanding of these principals,was clearly shown on Sky World news broadcasts...whose leading reporter ,Emma Hurd asked him plain and simple questions about his alleged Hiv Cure....His response was woeful and bungleing,,,,In essence he told her... You can Get ! Lost !.
Oops Mr Jammeh..this is very bad marketing .You had a Global audiance at your disposal and you Blew It !
He then proceeded to anounce that 99 %of all Hiv suffers are Black Africans.Oops Mr Jammeh,Wrong again...
1 in every 147 people walking this Planet are affected with this virus...The Virus does NOT discriminate between Black skin,White skin,Yellow skin,Red Skin..or any other skin...It is totally indiscriminate.Neither is it disuaded by ,wealth poverty ,National or Continental boundries.In essence Mr Jammeh...as long as the human body needs blood and exchanges it with its fellow citizens.It will bugger you !!!
The Good work done by the Gambia Family Planning Network allied to the United Nations and The World Health Organisation...in The Gambia, for many years gave the Gambia an excellant reputation in promoting awareness of the dangers of sharring needles and unprotected sex.Mr Jammeh...by expelling the United Nations Representative,you sent all the wrong signals to the World,and reduced your nation to a danger area for would be tourists....Again,your a very bad salesman for The Gambia.
A quick tour of my leading tourism experts here in the U.K. predicts that advanced bookings for African destinations are falling sharply {down 29%} Several factors are given...the main one being recent rises in U.K. mortgage and lending rates...The U.K. punter is strapped of cash, and returning to traditional cheaper options in Europe, which are holding up well.My advisors site the negative effect of the Gambias Government especially in the highlighting of the prevelance of Aids in his country and drawing attention to its poor medical facilities as a very bad Government marketing example , which may contribute to falling numbers of tourists.In essence Mr Jammehs poor handling of his alleged Hiv Cure is a major liability to the Gambia.Unless he can win the support of the W.H.O. and the United nations in this regard.hes going nowhere fast.Most British citizens ,these days have home computers and transact billions of pounds everyday in Global commerce,through this chanel.Online agencies especialy news coverage is reaching unprecidented demand.Information is now available at the touch of a button.It is very important that Governments,understand the views and trends of ordinary people.If proper market research of opinion is not current and ongoing...then oppertunities are lost never to return.It is therefore very essencial that , much thought is given to public relations and its capture.In the world of Global interrogation..it is no longer acceptable to answer a public interest with the retort...Get Lost ! This is a phrase for ignorant loosers and has no place in todays accountable democratic world...Always remember Democracy is INCLUSIVE not EXCLUSIVE.....This is why i have made great play of the need for Journalists to return to The Gambia very urgently.If you listen the beat of the drums from Journalism...you will here the heart of the Nation.If you cant hear its heart ..then it is dead or dying.
In the effort of giving news to the public,there is the requirement not to abuse that position, to investigate and make public things which are the private concern of any individual.We are ALL entitled to privacy and another life out of the Public glare.If people are threatened or there families,for contributing honestly to public debate,then we are going wrong and becomming very confused and unobjective even dangerous.
I for one hold NO grudge against Mr Jammeh what so ever.He is still a young man and can change and become aloof of personal vendettas against Britain or the Whiteman or Indeed ,some of his own people.
If he continues to play Russian Roulette with The British Government,he shouldnt be surprised if the British Lion lifts its backside and blows him a wind that will drown him in sorrow.
I would be a hyporcrite and a betrayer to the 7 years ive given to The Gambian People,if i started to destroy those who i have come to admire.All i ask in return is for Gambians to listen to my arguments and discard what they feel are irrelevant.In this Small World...not everyone is against Mr Jammeh.I pray that he can Grow wiser and prosper.He must broaden his appeal and image to the Global World.One day he may need those he seeks to ridicule.? Burning so many Bridges is not the ideology of a strong man.It is a future Mantrap.
Isnt it very true in life..that those you thought were friends, turn out to be your biggest enemy.?Finding a true friend when you really need one is as rare as hens teeth..? Thanks for holding back so many spears ?
Michael.
Editors note: Thanks Mr.Scales for your masterpiece. As rightly stated, violence is not a solution to a nation's problems. Jammeh needs to grow and be tolerant to dissent. A Gambia without Yayhya Jammeh would be a great place to live. His leadership brought untold underdevelopment, economic downturn, insecurity, anxiety and worry to our poverty striken citizens. It's about time for UK, the US and other democratic nations to come to our people's aid. Jammeh got to go come what may. Democracy needs to be restored to The Gambia. Under Jammeh's watch, lawlessness and impunity continues to be the order of the day. Gambians need to taste Freedom!!!Our people deserve better. Thanks Scales.