By Michael Scales, UK.
Dear Mr.Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity,,,,to clarify certain issues,which i may have not made clear.
It should be understood,that my work with the offices of Trade Partners U.K.{as was in 2000} ala., The British Government and the accepted response and support from Gambian Government Ministers.Was an exercise ,purely to better the economic and friendly ties ,of both great Nations.Whilst I remain proactive,in this regard through the many connections established and nurtured,including Freedom Newspaper.I must confirm ,that my current connection to Freedom Newspaper ,is as a concerned British Citizen,without any portfolio of the British Government.The views and opinions that i express,are entirely my own.I have sought to restrict myself,to matters in which i have the relevant experiance or documented evidence.Clearly, if i have stated it ,then i can prove it.The fact that i have not unvailed ,all my documentary evidence,is only in concern of confidentiality...to all my associations and transactions.These include ,Ministers, Politicians and Buisness people,Sports associations and Citizens who worked in tandem with the many trade or sports inititives i sponsered.I therefore,have tried to show impartiality and when given to critise where relevant,i have endevoured to do this with equal measure.
I have the right as a British Citizen,to free and lawful association of whom i choose,and to express opinions in the cause of Freedom of Speach and Freedom of Expression.With all these things comes some degree of responsibility.It is very much up to the consumer {The reader} If ,what i contribute is of interest or relevant.
Some notes from my Journal.....
I have expressed my lifelong interest in Africa, and shown a great deal of ignorance in its social and cultural
exchanges.I fail to understand many things.My first mistake was to try to impose my British Morality on situations which rightly rejected this.I said..if i live to be 100 i will never understand the African.
On engaging British diplomacy...I often considered that i was facing a time warp of a lost civilisation.There was a sharp contrast between Civil servants, in the U.K. and Banjul, who were approachable and human whilst discharging there duties, compared to The Diplomats in Banjul, and those of the Foriegn and Commonwealth Office.This institutionalisation, perhaps better explained by the diversity between Tradition represented by Her Majesty The Queen, and our Government,which is the office of the people.
I have long since imagined that i was perhaps the last great explorer, in the mode of Henry Livingstone and his aquaintance..Stanley..whereby Stanley searched for years in the African Jungle for his Mentor..and when he eventually found him he spoke those immortal words.....Your Henry Livingstone i presume.?It is so easy to assume that History is in the distant past and that it no longer exists....Whose to say in 400 years time...we will not considered in the same way ?
When viewing the many offices of state in the Gambia....one could not ignore the hot steamy corridors of beaurocracy,as i passed the signs on the doors...The Secretary of States office, The Permanent Secretary;s office,The Deputy Permanent Secretary;s office, the Deputy to the Deputy Permanent Secretary;s Office.When looking inside ,you noticed the computer that didnt work,or the fax machine that wasnt connected, or the secretary cleaning her nails waiting for the one visitor a day who cancelled late, to turn up perhaps, tomorrow.
The strange custom of ..when i banged my knee or my elbow my Gambian Companion would always say sorry...as though he were
responsible.Or the many greetings and good advice that Gambians always took the time to offer.The warmth of there hospitality and welcome was always worth the long and tireing Journey.Or the Jola lady who tried to sell me a necklace, only for me to pay for it but refuse to take it ..sell your necklace to a tourist and feed your children..i said calously. She followed me for hours and days to make me take her necklace....that i gladly paid for..after she pleaded..But Michael my children are hungry...When i finally took the necklace to discharge her debt..she left me alone...This strange and honerable poor lady steeped in a code of honour.How remarkable ?Could i ever aspire to such greatness ?I doubt it.
The young girl i met in Banjul City Council....supposed to be mentally retarded ?Dressed in rags with her begging bowl...She explained that from early morning to lunchtime she would sit at her pitch at Westfield Junction,to beg ..and then by lunch time ..make her way to Banjul Market,to sit at the corner.She displayed to me her few butos taken that day..to which i added the contents of my pocket....I left thinking this was no mentally retarded girl, but more that this she was a gifted survivor.In similar circumstances would i survive as well ? I doubt it .
A young taxi driver, in the early morning taking me back to my luxury Hotel and warm bed.His mercedes car streaming fumes from a broken engine block.He stopped several times to refil the engine of oil....in search of my fair...a measely 50 dalasis.I explained he was going to blow his engine....he replied ..my mother is very sick and not eaten for 3 days...I need this fair to return to her with rice and medicine....I gave him his fair and he said thankyou....i didnt even raise him a tip.I had £700 in my back pocket at the time....After all these years i have not forgiven my shame...I could have done more..?
The young waiter..always immaculately dressed in a bright white shirt.In 2000 I asked him how much do you earn...he said 700 dalasis a month, plus some tips.I enquired ..how do you survive,He said i am the only bread winner of my family .My father is dead.My mother looks after my two brothers and my baby sister.Firstly i buy a bag of rice{,275 Dalasis} then some little chicken maybe some spices.Some Dalasis are given to my brothers teacher in our compound.Each month i buy One Brick,our compound is small,I am making another room for my mother who needs privacy.We live in two rooms, We have a community stand pipe for water and a community shower.Our toilet is a concrete hole surrounded by a curtain.Each month i add one more brick to the compound.
I asked him recently...How much do you get paid today....he said i am now paid 770 Dalasis per month, but my boss does not want us to take tips anymore or we will be fired.A bag of rice is now 725 dalasis....How are you coping under such pressure i asked ..concerned..? We now dont eat good every day...we dont build anymore....we dont have a teacher for my brother.My Mother is getting sick and feels hopeless.We beg from relitives and share as best we can....
It is so often the case, that when the European, looks at Africa, they see, only famine, and poverty,and abundant corruption,allied to power struggles and bitter and relentless wars, which are brutal and without mercy.There failure is not to see the people .In Britain, we have a fine tradition of responding to such tragedies, with money, clothes, tents, even soldiers.WE even organise music concerts to raise awareness and donations.Through the United Nations and other affiliated organisations, British People pay taxes to be distributed to these fine and charitable institutions, in the form of Aid relief and medical assistance.Those Africans fortunate enough to make it to Europe, to join our Nations, send Millions of pounds back to there poor families back
home.Through there hard sweat for which in turn contributes to the entire wealth and well being of our Nations.
I have come to the opinion that this is not good enough.!!! It is in essence mere conscience money, and serves no one except our eliteism and strong hold on paradise.
It is time long overdue, to recognise, our responsibilities to our Human Kind.And sort out this mess once and for all........
I therefore ask those of strong moral conscience and fibre...to join us to come to the aid of the African......The war on Terrorism can not be won before winning the War on Poverty and InJustice.
Thankyou Freedom Newspaper...
I trust i have made my own position a little clearer..............Michael.