Freedom Newspaper: As someone, who worked with both countries, what is your position on the current situation between Carnegie and The Gambian Government?
Michael Scales; Firstly, let me reassure your readers, that I have no connection with Carnegie,in fact most surprisingly,even though they have been involved commercially in The Gambia since 1999, I have never heard of them before this accident reared its unfortunate circumstance.
Freedom Newspaper; Why do you call this an accident?
Michael Scales; Mr Mbai, I have only viewed the online reports. Some call it a missunderstanding,others have been more forceful. My feeling is that somewhere, whatever has happened bares a resemblance to an accident.I get the same feeling.......The collateral damage..involves several relationships which have been affected. These can be quantified as, International,as per the relationship of Governments.Personal, as per the relationship between citizens of the United Kingdom and the Gambia.Commercial, as per the trust between partners.Individual, as the worry and stress caused to Mr.Northfield,his wife family and 3 children.
Freedom Newspaper; But the Gambian Government says Carnegie was guilty of misinformation and deception. That the firm refuses to declare laboratory results to them regarding the said minerals discovered in The Gambia.
Michael Scales; the word guilty is a term used by a judge or jury in a court of Law.Before such a pronouncement of either guilty or not guilty...the evidence must be produced by both sides and reconciled.Their are so many voices pleading both sides, here there and everywhere.This is no longer a small dispute that could have been settled by arbitration.The British media now have it as frount page news.The collateral damage is evident.
My immediate concern is for the Gambian people and Mr.Northfield and his children.
Freedom Newspaper; Are you impressed in the way the Gambian Government has handled this matter.?
Michael Scales; I was thankful for the reassurances of Crispin Grey Johnson, that Mr Northfield was being cared for and his wife has had access to him.
I noticed in the Daily Observer that the prosecutor is not contesting the reduction in bail to $100,000.Though the case appears to have been ajourned until Monday.Carnegie have stated that Mr.Northfield is not an officer of "The Company" and only was involved for a few weeks.He further, only rejoined "The Company after assurances were made in February.Though I am unclear as to what his position is..some say an engineer, some General Manager, some Managing Director.In such matters... I would always listen carefully to what The British High Commissioner would say.Phil Sinkinson is definately very experienced and disciplined.
Freedom Newspaper; Concerns have been raised in some quarters about Gambia's reputation in this matter.That the Government move might scare potential investors.Your views please.?
Michael Scales; There are many troubling comments being made here in the U.K. and consequently..throughout the world.The British are the single largest source of trade with the Gambia,we have the biggest overseas Gambian communities here in the U.K. Our contribution to your tourist trade is by far the largest.Their are many British charitable foundations present.Also hundreds of British people contribute every penny they own to the Gambia including selling their houses.The heart of Gambia is the heart of Britain.Every blessed day of the week....many British are raising money or goods for the Gambia.The overall contribution is enormous.
Investors come in all shapes and sizes, from Mrs.Jones that runs a garden fete.To raise money....To Mrs Smith who collects white goods by the container load and ships them over.Your students come here to study everything from Law to Medicine.If you look at All Africa.com....you will see some British saying they are now scared to go to The Gambia.Others here online at home are saying..no more Live Aid for Africa..there all doomed and good ridence !!!
Others are comparing Mr.Northfield being held to ransome by terrorists.
The commercial confidence is bound to be affected.
Freedom Newspaper; What needs to be done to find a lasting solution to this matter.?
Michael Scales; You will recall when the representaives of Amnesty International were arrested.I made a plea to President Jammeh.I said,this could start a chain reaction he may live to regret.He reacted quickly.The damage was limited.Mr .Northfield is a family man of long standing good charecter.An innocent bystander....Someone who came to Gambia for a wage.To feed his children.Need I say more ?
Freedom Newspaper; In your view, how would the British Government view this latest developments.?
Michael Scales: As I have previously explained....the High Commission have a duty of care towards its citizens overseas.They will have access to Mr.Northfield and make certain all is being done within their capacity.
The High Commission will be taking advice from The Foriegn and Commonwealth Office..who inturn will be advising Government.The Government will be keeping close touch with relitives....and also public opinion.We British are increasingly experienced in these ever growing international situations.The High Commissioner's role is very important.
Freedom Newspaper; How do you see Carnegie's role.?
Michael Scales; Very sensible. They have engaged local Lawyers who understand local conditions. They have also made several gestures which are
reasonable ...offering to foot the bill for independent analysis of mineral samples.In fact their whole approach is restrained, mature and considerate.
I am certain they would do anything to resolve this unfortunate dispute.As to whether they would want to continue operations in the Gambia.Thats anyone’s guess.?
Freedom Newspaper; What is your understanding of the undisclosed mining of substances such as Uranium?
Michael Scales; Well Mr.Mbai..Ive never claimed to have "split the Atom" or hold any degree in anything other than common sense. But I see three separate issues....worth consideration..although this is maybe" the blind
leading the blind here"...But I will do my best.
Firstly...If i ask you for a bottle of Hydrogen two parts... and Oxygen One part..you may think Im "cuckoo" ? But if I asked you for a bottle of water ? you would think that quite reasonable.In fact H2o is the compound formula for water that any child in school knows.The argument put forward is that extraction of sand containing the approved licenced minerals..is certain to contain other compounds element or materials, some in trace form as supportive to the licenced minerals but in such low volumes to be considered only traces...and as such you would need to dig up half of The Gambia to find
Half a ton in total. I have no doubt that science could find someway to separate these...but you would proberbly need to construct a refining plant the size of Banjul to do this.As such common sense would say... forget it.It dosn't matter.
Provided the bulk of what you target to get is commercially viable for its extraction.
Secondly....It is reported that the buying price from the Gambia is $50 per ton and that the selling price???? is $150 per ton. Yet reported to be as much as $2000 per ton..?
I'm confused here somewhat...?
I have shipped many goods to the Gambia...for example .80 cases of laboratory and scientific equipment I donated to the NSC at the Independence Stadium..which no doubt went to The University.The measure of these were deemed at two palets in a shared container...costing me £1400 for shipment.
Plus transport to the docks....Their was no import duty..as they were a scientific donation.The weight was about...9 cwt. But they decided to charge me on volume not weight.{Quite clever uh?}
Like wise I was charged around £2000 for a 20 foot container including 20 photocopiers , 15 computers, 30 fax machines..etc.etc.etc.
I was charged 10% import tax ..another £1200.Plus transport to the docks U.K.
and to a warehouse in Kanifing.
The total journey..approx 3500 miles by ship.
I dont know what the transport cost is to China...but that depends on the route, I suppose..but your looking at what 16,000 miles by sea ?Plus import duty taxes and further transportation.....I would suspect that sending One Ton of Sand Plus mining costs...Labour..equipment..drilling...administation...Taxes duties.and God knows what else...would cost a lot more than $150 per ton ?
Thirdly....Licence...What is a licence.?Well a fishing licence...says you can fish there there and there but not there...and if you catch one too small you must throw it back.O.K...Thats fair enough.
A driving licence...two off..one provisional for learners says....You cant drive unless your with a fully qualified driver...You cant go on the motorway.
Etc.Etc.Etc.
A full driving licence says you can drive a vehicle in certain categories...and you can drive anywhere...Etc.Etc.Etc.
A mining licence....You are going to mine for certain minerals stated on the licence.OK...No problem. Lets get back to H2o....if one of those was water.
On the licence it would say....water ? But if in the extraction you also took Hydogen and Oxygen...Would you have breached the condition of the licence?
In this case you cant have the water without them....?
So we come to the person or the authority that considered the licence and it would state...the minerals to be mined.?But in order to extract those minerals
there would undoubtedly be..compounds or traces of other elements either in there constitution or as a uncommercial bi product.Did the authority understand the total compound of the volume of the mineral or minerals to be mined.Or did they...Not understand....Who is at fault...Those who issued the licence or those who accepted the licence.As I stated at the beginning....it seems like an accident.?
Freedom Newspaper; What is your view about President Jammeh's diplomatic policies.? Is the West in Jammeh's good books.?
Michael Scales; My view of President Jammeh...is of a single minded, strong individual who really tries very hard.He is a patriot to the core.He believes in Africa.....He is unique in many ways....Patience is perhaps not one of his stronger atributes.I also think he needs a good holiday somewhere to regroup and continue to think through his development programme.I have outlined what I think Britain should do in Africa.The Gambia would be a good starting place.