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The Spectre Of Death Hangs Over Hamza Barracks
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 03:27
(JollofNews) – Within the vicinity and environ of former Palm Grove Hotel opposite Mile 2 central Prisons now Hamza
Barracks is becoming a spectre of sudden deaths as one Maryama Ann lost her life after being hit by a vehicle driven by a soldier from the said military camp. The sad event occurred on the 26 of August 2011 when the victim just concluded a visit to her son detained at Mile 2 State Central Prison. Sources close to the family of the victim told Jollofnews that the intensity of the shock was so big that the victim was left with her two legs broken. “This shows that the vehicle was running at full speed,” disclosed our source who was speaking under conditions of anonymity.
For Lawyer Antoumane Gaye, who is related to the late Maryama Ann, it is too early to talk about taking the matter up with the court, but he was quick to make it clear that they are not going to negotiate. The day of the funeral, he said, the Imam Ratib of Banjul Cherno Kah, State House Mosque Imam Fatty and other dignitaries came to present their condolences to the family.
Efforts to get reactions from Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) and the Director of NGOs Affairs were rendered futile by the fact that both persons of authority were busy fulfilling their “mission of public service.” Along with Daily News' Binta Bah and Foroyaa's Abubacarr Saidykhan, this reporter has been trying to shed light on the fatal accident but to no avail.
Some critics are saying that it is high time for President Jammeh to warn the soldiers who are using Gambian roads as if they are going on Safari. It is hoped that this call will be heard and Gambian soldiers will not fail to comply with traffic laws and avoid driving carelessly putting everyone at risk of fatal road accidents as seen in recent times.
Written by Abdoulie John
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Comments
Those of us who were in the college in the 80's & early 90's can remember some students doing their university programmes,thro ugh the university extension programme,with the St. Mary's University (Canada).
So the APRC supporters can claim all the credit in the world for bringing university education to The Gambia,but the truth is,efforts were already being made to achieve this aim before they emerged.
As for their human rights records,I don't think anyone with an iota of honesty can even compare the two regimes.
The PPP neither inherited these institutions (which are being relied upon today by the APRC)from the British in 1965,nor did they drop from the sky,or Allah's whatever.(no disrespect meant)
These were created,staffed and managed by the PPP government up to 1994.The people who were running these institutions up to 1994 were not trained by the AFPRC/APRC government.
In the education sector,disappoi nting as their record may be,the PPP did actually initiate the efforts to bring university education to The Gambia.
The PPP did form a commission,head ed by one Dr Marena,(I believe),to look into the feasibility of the country hosting a university and their recommendation, amongst others,was that we couldn't afford one. Instead,it was recommended that specialized institutions be created to provide skills training. That's what lead to the creation of GTTI,Gambia College(Brikama Campus) School of Nursing(Banjul) ,MDI,Hotel Training Sch..etc
Its alright to agree or disagree in a discussion,and believe me or not,I hold the PPP more responsible for what is happening in the country today than the APRC.
The reason being that they (PPP) have had more time in office than the APRC. They have created and nurtured a type of citizen,within a backward and fraudulent political system,who sees sycophancy and patronage as normal in order to gain materially or politically. The APRC leadership (at the party level), some of whom were veteran PPP/NCP activists,simpl y exploited and continued the system.
That a group of Gambians,no matter their political allegiance,can go round the country campaigning for the overthrow of our republican state for a monarchy,is an indictment on the failure of the PPP in this regard.
As for the institutions I mentioned ealier,take these for example: Central Bank,Civil Aviation,Gamtel ,Ports Authority,Chamb er of Commerce,Social Security,etc...
Thanks my brother and you have enlighten me in some areas. Truly speaking when it comes to development I completely disagree with you to compaire the APRC with PPP. Allow me to quote “the most distinguishing achievement of the PPP administration, as opposed to the APRC,is the creation of those institutions which support the economy and lend credibility to the country”. I real don’t understand what you mean? Am sorry that I got a lot of commitment but we will discuss this another time.
The Central Bank,our own currency(dalasi ),public corporations,li ke Gamtel,GPTC,Por ts Authority,Gambi a Civil Aviation Authority,Indep endent Judiciary,Chamb er of Commerce,and many others. I struggle to remember the institutions of accumulation that the AFPRC/APRC created in 17yrs.Instead,many are collapsing or being prevented from functioning properly.
You cannot just put a few ornaments & furniture in an already constructed house and then accuse the builder of doing nothing for so many years.
It takes imagination,tim e and effort to create and manage those institutions that the APRC administration is relying on today to run the government and country.
AND SORRY FOR THE LONG CONTRIBUTION. BUT I HAD SO MUCH TO SAY.
Both Denton & Brumen(Kalagi)b ridges were re-built by the PPP.The small Yundum Airport was upgraded to meet international standards,becom ing the Banjul International Airport. Jammeh built a TERMINAL but Jawara built an AIRPORT.Arguements can also be made for the PPP's health programmes,wher e smaller community health centers(like the Faji Kunda Health Center),were built and maintained rather than huge mega hospitals.So its not entirely true that the PPP did NOTHING for the country,as the APRC always claim.
I am no apologist of the PPP and have never supported them in my adult life,but we mustn't forget that many people,includin g the colonialists,(a t independence),d id not believe that The Gambia can survive on its own as a country.
The Gambia did not only survive,but became an active and respectable member of the International Community,parti cipating in such dispute resolution efforts as the Iran/Iraq war,and hosting important international institutions like the Human Rights Commission:a testimony of the PPP's diplomatic success.
It may interest you to know that I was a big admirer of Jammeh and voted 'YES' in the referendum to give the soldiers time to complete their programme.
Unlike many Jammeh supporters,deve lopment efforts are secondary in my choice of a leader. What is most important to me is the recognition and the respect of the rights of citizens to FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION without fear whatsoever,and the adherence,by the leadership,to THE RULE OF LAW.
Like you,I have lived and worked under both the PPP and APRC governments. Except for schools building projects,the APRC is no better than the PPP,honestly.
I remember when I was young, my family were PPP supporters and I was PDOIS and sometimes my granddad would say am sorry for your generation because everyone will think is educated and knows more than the other. No one will listen and the more we have highly educated people the more we will have expert thieves. I will laugh and he will tell me for us we just meet and cook benchin with meat. As long has we have eaten much then everything is fine. Did my granddad lie? I am even sorry for the next head of state and time will tell. Let me tell you no matter how much I admire you I will bitterly engage you with respect where ever I disagree with you. One thing you got to know be patience with some of us because as long we you support Jammeh we are ignorant, half educated and many more, especial me who my attack is always the west that I will never back down . But what will happen to us if the intellectuals take up leadership?
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