“I am the twelfth most wanted “villain “by the NIA,”Michael Scales

….As Scales Accuses Daily Observer Of Being A Hater!!!

Dear Mr.Editor,                                      

   May I as a concerned British citizen take abrupt exception to the editorial  "using religion as a cover for violence "  published in the Daily Observer. This without due consideration to the good bilateral relationship between the U.K. and The Gambia. The writer.. Presumed to be in the pay of The Observer, confirms the " Hell hole " status of Mile 2 prison and charges Britain for its construction. Mr. Editor..." two wrongs don't never make a right."

If the APRC are so ashamed of its continued existence, then why after 14 years do they still maintain it to good effect? It forever amazes me that it seems to double as a prison and a half way house for wayward former Government employees, who sometimes miraculously, return to  Government after some change of heart.

It reminds me of that celebrated movie with Steve Mc Queen...

" Cool Hand Luke".........                                   

where the Warden tells Luke " what we have here is a lack of communication.".

......you need to get your mind right son"...

 Insiders must repent and return to the fold after shock treatment of some sort.?

 I am reluctant to comment on the case of the British couple found guilty of God knows what ? I have seen the texts of what is alleged to have been said and would not in anyway agree with the sympathies expressed within these texts.

If their guilt is only restricted to this expression of unfortunate words, then I would have to say the sentence is very harsh indeed.

 It is not that long ago that President Jammeh sought to marginalise Christianity by blaming Britain for leaving Africa with only "Christianity”. yet I didn't see The Law getting on his case for insighting religious intolerance here...?

 There is a very healthy Christian community in The Gambia. In 7 years of meeting the people, I never saw anything other than harmony and mutual respect between the two religious communities. Is The Gambian Judicial system alleging that a 60 year old and his wife were about to " Storm the Bastille "? Come on m'lud...give us an even break here...?

Setting this question aside, their is a much bigger question emerging here, which the couple touched on in their texts and I have some sympathy for.

President Jammeh has consistently and persistently attacked the West and in particular...Britain. In fact, in the afore mentioned editorial...Britain again comes under sustained attack.

I recall the first time I set foot in The Gambia in April 2000, my guide told me that "The Whiteman is God " in The Gambia. In the eye witness testimony I gave on the April 10th massacre I refer to my Gambian wife's insistence of proclaiming " White man ! White Man ! " When entering the  " battlefield " or when an AK 47 was leveled at my head at close range. I have always taken this as a measure of Gambians respect for white people and of course....the British dominated Gambian tourist industry,,,, by still being here to tell the tale.

 What occurs to me is that The Gambian Government no longer give any credence to this view or care one way or the other if British people no longer feel safe to enter or live or work in The Gambia. This is not only particularly sad for me, as someone who loves The Gambia and her people....It is also commercially reckless and ethically bankrupt. Is The Daily Observer now committing to the view that we British are no longer welcome in The Gambia.?

My understanding is that The British dominated tourist Industry is presently

" sitting on a knife edge ." The writer here. after working so bloody hard in The Gambia's cause for so many years. is now considered a threat to The Gambia.

I am the twelfth most wanted “villain “by the NIA. Why....? Because I stand by Gambians who are out of sink with the mainstream Gambian Government.

 That’s Bollocks!!!

....I do not see any difference in this Gambian or that Gambian.

If Jammeh says something good I support it...If Freedom Newspaper says something good I support it. We British who know and respect Gambians, only have your best interests at heart. The problem is not of our making....The problem remains with the " lack of communication and unity here.....The Gambia needs to get its mind right "!!!...and pretty quickly.

     I remain Michael..U.K.