Gambia  Diverts Half A Million Dollars Indian Grant To Order Food From Mauritania? 

THE MEAT CRISIS CONTINUES—The President is putting Profits before his starving people.

By M.B.O. Gaye, Contributing Writer

First and for most, let me say a BIG thank you to His Excellency for temporarily easing the meat crisis by signing an embarrassing agreement with SONIMEX, a Mauritanian  Food Agency, for the supply of meat and cattle as well as the generous distribution of sugar to all the APRC party loyalists. It is our hope that Allah, the Supreme and Knower of all things, will surely protect the poor and the starving population of Gambia from Yaya Jammeh’s deceitful show of magnanimity and kindness. 

As a Gambian, it shameful that, after so much pomp and pride, and with less than 10 years of realizing our Vision 2020 for food self-sufficiency,  have to depend on an equally impoverished country like Mauritania to satisfy our demand for meat and food. We have been informed that, following the visit of a high-powered delegation to Mauritania on August 24, 2010, only 100 (one hundred) heads of cattle were transported to Kanilai from Mauritania. I thought the delegations were there on behalf of the Gambia government or did they?

Incidentally, SONIMEX (Societe Nationale D’importation et D’exportation) do not supply cattle or meat. They trade in commodities such as sugar, Oil, rice , fertilizers, flour, milk powder, potatoes, onions and beans. They are the food-importing arm of the Mauritania government and established since 1967 to ensure food security in Mauritania.

It is only hoped that the five hundred thousand US Dollars given as grant by the Indian government to the Gambian people, during the Foreign Minister’s visit to India in early August 2010, was not the same money used for the payment of 12,000 bags of sugar that  President Jammeh is proudly given out as his own charity and using the state national television to cover the event? If, as we are told to believe, that  D15 million (US500 thousand) was spent for the 12,000 bags of sugar, then I am inclined to believe that it is the Indian Government’s Ramadan gifts and not Sheik Yaya Jammeh’s (I am lost with all his titles, so with respect ,I will stick to his original name). According to reports from Gambia, instead of giving out those bags of sugars to the Imams and other religious leaders so that the poor families can benefit including the Christian as well (we all need sugar especially in the face of scarcity), the sugar was given to the EIGHT regional governors including the unshameful political liability and traitor now calling himself governor of CRR.

Unsurprisingly, all those bags of sugar were given to APRC militants and supporters, branding Yaya Jammeh as the best man in the art of political gimmicks. I am sure that balloon of political gimmicks will inevitably burst if the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members of the National Assembly are brave enough to include the annual financial reports of Kanilai Farms and all the Municipalities in their yearly review of government public agencies in fulfillment of the provisions of the Constitution of the Gambia. If the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) can have its accounts scrutinized by the PAC, I see no reasons why the Area Councils, which are principally engaged in rates and tax collections, cannot be included so that their localities( inhabitants) will know how their funds are being spent.

It is also evident that Municipal Councils recruit and compensate all the ‘green boys’ and ‘green girls’ who are always seen jogging tirelessly in the company of heavily-armed presidential guards whenever Mr. Jammeh is on political campaigns and rallies. The monies that the Area Councils give out to the various ‘Yaay Combins’ and those cultural groups always shouting the praises of Yaya Jammeh, make it imperative to start scrutinizing  the financial activities of the Municipal Councils. Especially now that they are involved in the business of selling meat for Kanilai Farms.

It is not the mandate of the regional municipalities or BCC to trade in cattle or sell meat. They should be collecting rates from the butchers and other market vendors and not the other way round. Since the rates and taxes are being used to finance APRC political activities and filling the pockets of Yaya Jammeh with illicit funds, it is now necessary to tell Gambians about the financial activities of Kanilai Farms Ltd and the Area Councils. Deputies at the National Assembly, blinded by greed and fear, have woefully failed to represent the interest of their electorates, despite being sworn to serve the interest of the people without fear or favor.

Given the enormity of all the crimes committed by Yaya Jammeh, not to mention the rogue policies that are only meant to enrich himself, it is never too late to start impeachment procedures against him in line with the dictates of the Constitution.

According to Chapter V, section 67,(sub-section(2) (a, b )of the Constitution of the Gambia, The President may be removed from office on the grounds of misconduct. For the benefits of those yet to read the Constitution, below is an excerpt of section 67, sub- sections (a) and (b) of Chapter v : -

(a) abuse of office", willful violation of the oath of allegiance or the President's oath Of office, or willful violation of any Provision of this Constitution, or

(b) Misconduct in that (i) he or she has conducted himself in a manner which brings or is likely to bring the

Office of President into contempt or disrepute; or

(ii) he or she has dishonestly done any act, which is prejudicial or inimical to the economy of The Gambia or dishonestly omitted to act with similar consequences.

Over the years, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny, we chose Constitutional rule over autocracy in order for all Gambians to be free and live in dignity. The power of democracy where everybody participate in the political process of electing their leaders and hold them accountable is stronger than the fortified walls of a dictator surrounding himself with money, arms and ammunition that could one day be used against him. Dictators come and go; democracies are here to stay.

A President who threw biscuits at his people, dish out essential commodities as charities, forced women to work gratuitously at his farms and blatantly abuse the provisions of the Constitution, shall never support economic development and bring wealth to the doorsteps of every Gambian. He will always prefer his people to be poor and jobless so that they shall continue looking forward to his so-called generosity to continue providing those basic needs of life and thus further strengthen his firm hold on power. In this day in time, that is pure wishful thinking.

Gambians do not need charities and erratic supply of meat and other essential commodities. What we need are sound and sustainable policies that will lift us out of poverty; an independent judiciary to ensure equality before the law; a strong Parliament to determine our own destiny and give opportunities for the opposition to be heard to provide checks and balances on the executive.

Happy Ramadan and may Allah, help all Gambians from the strangled hold of the worst dictator of the 21st century. May Allah continues to give hope and courage to our brothers and sisters currently languishing in those torture chambers called prisons at various locations in the Gambia and Mr. Mbai, may you continue to receive Allah’s richest blessings and guidance. Thanks to your courage and fortitude.

Sincerely,

M.B.O. Gaye