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Michael Scales On Dida Halaki and SOS Johnson
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Michael Scales On Dida Halaki and SOS Johnson
Dear Mr.Editor,
I must admit to" chuckling " away here merrily at the front page of the Daily Observer. At the one hand we have Gambian Foreign
Secretary Crispin Gray Johnson convening an extra ordinary press conference at my "second home", the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel. The merits of which are to reassure potential foreign investors that the Gambia is "safe" for there considered investments.He proclaims that Carnegie Minerals was ripping off The Gambia,then says" ah! but it is subject to an on going police investigation".One hopes that he realises he may have prejudiced Carnegie's rights to a full hearing by declaring them "guilty" before the first shot is fired.
Then we have Mr.Halaki placing Britishers v Jammeh and sticking to a one sided article surrounding President Rooseveldt's account of British colonialism.
Of course good ol' Winston Churchills account is very different.
At the outbreak of the Second World War..and before the Americans were prepared to get out of bed to stand with Britain against the Nazi tyranny,Churchill met Rooseveldt secretly aboard a U.S. destroyer cruising in mid Atlantic to beg.... for American help.In secret papers released after the 30 year secrecy clause,
Churchill records that Rooseveldt placed a condition on there assistance, that the British in return for American help, should give America access to British colonies.Churchill ..as weak and vulnerable as Britain was....Refused!
Giving my independence of thought on the matter....I would consider that in this case, Churchills account under such incredible pressure of impending defeat by the Nazi's...... can be taken as Gospel.
I am a great admirer of President Jammeh.He says it as he sees it.
As the great American President Truman once said " The Buck Stops Here " !!! I have noticed a great improvement in his tolerence to critisism.In my life did I learn more from criticism or praise ? Of course criticism well meant...is the great leveller and the instrument of checks and balances.
I have a great respect for Mayor Julianny's position of leadership whilst Mayor of New York at the time of 9/11.His fairly recent comment of America's position in there perceived quest for world domination....was most jocular when faced with such an inquisition of American intentions...He said something like...
" America doesn't want to dominate you...we want to sell you something".
Oh ! well thats ok then.....my giddy aunt {Laugh}
Regarding the handful of British settlers at Bathhurst v Millions of Africans, I would suspect that the limited number of British could neither influence or upgrade the appalling condition of the indigenous African within there midst.
As they had done elsewhere in Africa ..as he rightly records.
The account in the Gambian museum on Independence Drive..gives praise and respect to the British contingent at the time.....Perhaps,this may be false.
But I believed its intentions and its record. If my "brother" The Mayor of Banjul
now wishes to refurbish the museum with a different view, he would have to qualify how his view of Britain may have altered.My observation was that the mutual respect shown to Arsenal F.C., Sport England, and his honour through my local council,of his visit being recorded in the VIP visitors book. This alongside to Her Majesty The Queen...trusts greatly his respect of my country and its honourable intentions to The Gambia.
It troubles... a little that Mr.Halaki is reported to be a British Citizen.He will know of the correct procedures to apply for a visa to Britain.Also why proof of residency and dependants,property and job, reassures the applicant of there need to return Home when the visa expires.The duty of any good journalist is to not only inform..but to educate.This omission from the Observer, causes me some concern.However, I do respect Mr.Halaki and the great improvement he has made to the Observer. His colleage, Mr Amadou Samba, is someone I came to admire greatly.He always gave me his valuable time and courtesy during our many meetings in and out of Great Britain.I have applied my honour of strict confidence to those meetings.
The cause of American Presidential candidate Obama, is one of immense interest to the world. He is recorded as saying the march for Human rights of the negro in America lead by Martin Luther King Jr.in the 60's only accomplished 90% of its aims.He would take the extra need for the 10 % outstanding to be completed. When speaking of Africans and colonialism in relation to America, one needs to be very very careful.Apartied..was very much a feature of conflict situated in the deep south of that country well into the 20th Century.
America has many great President's to be greatful for, Lincoln, Kennedy,Reagan,etc....unfortunately they had a habbit of shooting them.
I still remain convinced that John Lennon,{another casualty} the British working class hero who spearheaded "The Beatles" to landmark popular working class culture, will be remembered in centuries to come for his song " Imagine".This speaks of a world without countries and borders and religion." A brotherhood of man."
So say all moderate citizens of the world.
Britains moral stand against Terrorism with America is most sensible.Though why we should have been drawn into conflict with Iraq puzzles me.?Certainly opinion polls suggest that the British public was against this by 70%.It is noticeable that recent communications to the world on Africa have been signed by both David Milliband {British Foriegn Secretary} and Condolezza Rice of the U.S state department.It would appear that Britain dare not" fart "in public without the say so, of the Americans.Britain has no need to"Tow" this American line.
We are old enough and wise enough to do our own " thing".
It pleases me greatly that through the financial mangement of Gorden Brown over the last 10 years...Britain has recently announced that the British standard of living ..has overtaken the Americans for the first time since the 19th century.
Once we payed off lend / lease to the Americans for the Second World War, just a few years ago...we have flown higher and further up the International ladder of commercial success.
The question for Britain..is do we want to live with the hostility of foriegn nations...who bastardise our intentions and our well earned place in the history of the world......Or should we do as we are accused and close our borders....
or share our hard earned wealth with those who attack our dignity.?I think its high time that Britain should take the moral inititive in International affairs.The greatest advance for our people was the creation of the Modern Welfare State as determined by the great Welsh Paliamentarian Enaren Bevan in 1948.This at a time when we had nothing and food was still subject to rationing after the War.Those who came after and seek to privatise its functions to the American style of ..Pay or else...should know the working class of Britain would not tolerate such tampering of this enormous favour to the poor of our country.
The nature of British people is best described by a Gambian friend..who remarked...".British people are a gentle people, full of good intentions".
This is a modern and optomistic view that I would not take issue with.
May I thank Mr Jarju for his generosity.....This is well appreciated from such a highly respected Gambian journalist. You are most welcome in Britain .
I wish you well Sir !!!
I remain... Michael U.K.
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Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 (Archive on Thursday, February 28, 2008)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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